DRM Client Format Conversion for Secure Mobile Content Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing prevalence of mobile data processing devices, such as smartphones and tablets, poses a challenge in delivering content securely while satisfying user demand and content provider requirements, due to the large number of devices and varying operating systems, which complicates content protection.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that involves a device executing a digital rights management (DRM) client, receiving encrypted content portions packaged in a conditional access system format, converting them to a DRM system format, and using rights objects to obtain decryption keys for decryption, ensuring secure content access without decrypting the content within an untrusted environment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If content is delivered to mobile data processing devices, then user demand is satisfied, but security level deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent delivery capabilityVSAvoidsecurity level
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a DRM client as an intermediary component that mediates between the content delivery system and mobile devices. This DRM client, executing in a trusted environment, acts as a security gateway that enables content delivery while maintaining protection through rights objects and controlled decryption processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the content into multiple encrypted portions and distributes them across different packages. Each portion is protected by separate rights objects, allowing selective decryption and playback control. This segmentation prevents unauthorized access to the complete content while enabling legitimate delivery to multiple devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If content is protected with high security, then content provider requirements are satisfied, but device compatibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity levelVSAvoiddevice compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal DRM client architecture that can operate across different mobile devices and operating systems. The DRM client implements a standardized interface for handling rights objects and encrypted content portions, enabling the same security mechanism to function universally across diverse device platforms while maintaining high security standards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs parameter changes in the form of adaptable encryption and decryption parameters. The DRM client can adjust its operation based on device capabilities, using rights objects that contain flexible decryption key information. This allows the security system to maintain its integrity while adapting to different device environments and operating systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If encrypted content portions are converted from conditional access system format to DRM system format, then security is maintained, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity maintenanceVSAvoidformat conversion complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary conversion of encrypted content portions from conditional access system format to DRM system format before final playback. The DRM client pre-processes the encrypted portions and prepares rights objects in advance, so that during actual playback, the decryption process is simplified and does not require complex real-time format conversion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10387628B2Accessing content at a device
Publication Date: 2019.08.20 IRDETO BV
  • US10387628B2 patent drawing
  • US10387628B2 patent drawing
  • US10387628B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method for accessing content at a device, wherein the device is arranged to execute a digital rights management (DRM) client of a DRM system and wherein the device is arranged to receive a broadcast signal comprising a plurality of encrypted portions of content for an item of content, each encrypted portion being packaged in a format of a conditional access system and being decryptable using a corresponding decryption key, wherein the method comprises an application executing on the device performing the steps of: for each of one or more of the encrypted portions: converting said encrypted portion from being packaged in the format of the conditional access system to being packaged in a format of the DRM system; providing said encrypted portion is packaged in the format of the DRM system to the DRM client; and either (a) providing a rights object according to the DRM system to the DRM client or (b) triggering the DRM client to obtain a rights object according to the DRM system; wherein the rights object corresponds to said encrypted portion by comprising decryption key data for use by the DRM client to obtain the decryption key corresponding to said encrypted portion.