DRM Client Agent Parental Control Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current digital rights management (DRM) systems and parental control management applications are not compatible, making it difficult to perform parental control on content protected by a DRM license in a flexible manner.

Innovation Solution

A method where a terminal client agent verifies the conditions of use for content protected by a DRM license, including a condition for parental control, by transmitting a parental control management module identifier to a server, which performs the parental control operation and returns the result to authorize or refuse content access, allowing for flexible management of parental control modules.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate DRM systems and parental control applications are used, then each system can function independently, but compatibility and ease of use are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent functionVSAvoidcompatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the parental control functionality into the DRM system by integrating a parental control management module that works within the existing DRM architecture. The DRM client agent communicates with the parental control management module to verify parental control conditions, combining what were previously separate systems into a unified approach that maintains independent functionality while improving compatibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If parental control is integrated into DRM system, then compatibility is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecompatibilityVSAvoidsystem integration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the parental control functionality into a separate parental control management module that can be independently installed and configured. This modular approach allows the parental control features to be added to the DRM system without requiring complete system redesign, thus improving compatibility while managing complexity through separation of concerns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The DRM client agent acts as an intermediary between the parental control management module and the rest of the DRM system. It handles the communication and coordination between the parental control module and other DRM components, simplifying the integration process and reducing overall system complexity by centralizing the interaction logic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If fixed parental control module is used, then implementation is simplified, but flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimplementation simplicityVSAvoidmodule switching
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic parental control module selection mechanism where users can switch between different parental control modules based on their needs. The system maintains a list of available modules and allows dynamic selection during content access requests, providing flexibility while keeping the implementation relatively simple through standardized module interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2494489B1Method and client agent for monitoring the use of protected content
Publication Date: 2018.02.28 ORANGE SA
  • EP2494489B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2494489B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP2494489B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

According to the invention, the protected content is related to a digital rights management license. Said license contains conditions (COND_USE1, COND_USE2) for using the content (Ci). The content use conditions are verified upon receipt of a content use request by a client agent for monitoring the content use. During said verification, it is determined that the use of the content (Ci) is subordinated to an obligation (COND_USE1) for carrying out an operation for parental monitoring of the content (Ci). An authorization request (REQ_AUTH(Ci)) for using the content (Ci) is then transmitted (E10) from the monitoring client agent to a parental monitoring management module. After the parental monitoring management module carries out an operation (E12-E16) for parental monitoring of said content (Ci), the agent (40) receives a parental monitoring result. In the event that the parental monitoring result is negative, notification (E21) of a refusal to use the content (Ci) is made in response to the request to use the content (Ci).