Content Binding at First Access via Script Execution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing content distribution models on physical media face challenges in enforcing licensing terms such as 'per seat' or 'per user' without relying on trust or continuous server connections, as they lack control over license usage and removal from initial devices.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for binding content to a device at first use, using a second script to enforce licensing terms by verifying device configurations and updating access control, allowing unlimited use and installation on matching devices without server connection, and enabling modification, resetting, or adding licenses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If trust-based licensing is used for physical media distribution, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but control over license usage and removal from devices is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary binding of the license key to the device at the time of first access. This preliminary action establishes the relationship between the license and device before any usage occurs, enabling subsequent control over license usage without requiring continuous server connection. The binding is done in advance so that the device automatically enforces licensing terms on future accesses.
2Reliability
If DRM-based system with server connection is used, then control over license usage is improved, but device complexity increases and connection requirements are added
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the server connection requirement from the licensing mechanism by performing the binding operation locally at the time of first access. The critical licensing control logic is extracted from continuous server communication and embedded directly into the device's local storage and execution environment. This allows the device to maintain control over license usage independently without ongoing server connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs self-service by automatically executing the binding process when first accessing the content. The system uses the device's own processor and storage to execute the binding script and enforce licensing terms, eliminating the need for external server intervention. The device serves itself by locally managing the license key binding and enforcement.
3Ease of manufacture
If license key is distributed without binding control, then ease of manufacture and distribution is improved, but ability to enforce per seat or per user licensing is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces dynamic binding capability that allows the license key to adapt to different device configurations at the time of first access. Rather than a static, fixed license, the system dynamically creates a binding relationship between the license and the specific device based on its configuration. This enables the same physical media to enforce different licensing models (per seat, per user, per device) by binding to different device identifiers or configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system of binding content at first access is disclosed. A non-volatile storage device may provide a content access script and a content binding script in order to access protected content. An accessing application may attempt to access the protected content by executing a content access script. The accessing application must have permission to access and execute the content access script. If the accessing application cannot access or execute the content access script, the accessing application may access and execute the content binding script. The content binding script contains instructions that enable the accessing application to successfully execute the content access script. The content binding script, when executed, may disable itself from being executed again by moving critical information associated with the access to protected data. Thus, the content binding script may be executed once to enable an accessing application to successfully execute the content access script.