Offline DRM Authentication via Embedded Agent
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Digital Right Management (DRM) systems face challenges in authenticating devices offline, making it difficult to determine if a device is authorized to render digital content without real-time connection to an authentication server.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an authentication agent within digital content that can execute on a device to authenticate its validity, using a combination of encryption algorithms to ensure that the decryption key can be obtained and used for decrypting the digital content, allowing offline authentication and rendering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If real-time authentication by authentication server is used, then device authorization can be confirmed, but offline authentication becomes impossible and server burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication server performs preliminary authentication and generates an authentication result (license) in advance. This license contains encrypted decryption keys and authentication information that the device can use offline without needing to contact the server again, thus enabling offline authentication while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The essential authentication information and encrypted decryption keys are extracted from the server system and embedded into the digital content itself. This allows the authentication functionality to be transferred from the server to the client device, enabling offline operation while the server retains ultimate control through the encryption mechanism.
2Reliability
If authentication server is always connected, then device validity can be verified, but system complexity and network dependency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is equipped with the capability to perform self-authentication using the license information embedded in the digital content. The device can independently verify its authorization status and decrypt content without requiring continuous server connection, reducing system complexity and network dependency while maintaining authentication reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If encryption key is embedded in digital content, then offline decryption is enabled, but security against unauthorized access is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses asymmetric encryption where the decryption key is encrypted with a public key that only the authorized device can decrypt with its private key. This creates an asymmetric relationship where the content can be freely distributed with embedded decryption information, but only authorized devices can actually use it, maintaining security while enabling offline access.
Solution Approach 2:
The encryption parameters are dynamically changed based on the device's authentication status. The decryption key is encrypted with device-specific credentials, so the same digital content can be securely used across multiple devices while maintaining individual security. This allows offline decryption capability while preventing unauthorized access through parameter binding.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a method for authenticating the copy right of a device by an offline way, a digital right protection system, and a method for providing digital contents, which mainly includes embedding an authentication agent into the digital content, said authentication agent, instead of the copyright issuer at the server side, authenticates the rendering qualification of the device before rendering the digital content. If the device is a non-compliant device, the authentication agent will not permit the device to render the digital content. The technique of the invention realizes offline digital right management, so it is not restricted by the network condition and can be applied widely in various environments.