Binding Content Playback to Removable Storage via Token Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital multimedia playback systems face challenges in binding content playback to specific devices, as existing DRM systems rely on user accounts and physical media, failing to securely authorize content access when digital content is streamed without physical ties.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that bind content playback to the pairing of a playback device and a removable memory storage device by using tokens and identifiers to authenticate and authorize playback, involving a process that generates coupon codes, storefront tokens, ticket tokens, and license files to grant playback rights, ensuring content access is tied to specific device-storage combinations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If digital content is streamed over a network without physical media, then content accessibility and convenience are improved, but content protection and rights management become weaker
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a removable memory storage device as an intermediary carrier that physically connects the user to the playback device. This mediator enables content access without network streaming while maintaining DRM protection, as the device requires authentication and binding to authorized playback devices only
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the content protection mechanism into separate components: the removable storage device containing encrypted content, the playback device with authentication capabilities, and the binding mechanism that links them. This segmentation allows content to be protected while enabling flexible access through the physical device
2Reliability
If content is bound to user accounts with registered playback devices, then rights management is improved, but device portability and flexibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the content and authentication credentials from the network-based user account system and places them on a removable memory storage device. This allows the content to be accessed without being tied to a specific user account or registered device, while maintaining protection through the physical device's authentication mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The removable memory storage device serves multiple functions: it stores encrypted content, contains authentication credentials, acts as a portable license, and can be used with different authorized playback devices. This multi-functionality replaces the need for account-based registration while maintaining rights management
3Reliability
If a complex token generation and verification process is implemented, then content protection is improved, but system complexity and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The binding between the removable storage device and playback device is established in advance during an initialization process. The playback device's unique identifier is written to the storage device beforehand, creating a pre-bound relationship that simplifies subsequent authentication to a simple verification step rather than complex real-time generation
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for binding content to pairing of a playback device and removable memory storage device are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for requesting authorization to play content using a playback device and a removable memory storage device includes retrieving a coupon identifier from a removable memory storage device while it is attached to the playback device, generating a coupon code using the coupon identifier, sending a request for storefront token that includes a device match data token and an application identifier, receiving a storefront token associated with a storefront identifier where the storefront identifier identifies a storefront application, sending a request for ticket token that includes the coupon code, the storefront identifier, and a content identifier that identifies the content, sending a request for license file that includes the ticket token, and receiving a license file that grants playback rights to the piece of content.