Digital Rights Management Using Extraction and Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital rights management techniques are susceptible to hacking and fail to effectively prove ownership of digital files, making unauthorized copying prevalent and prosecution of copyright infringers impractical.
Innovation Solution
A method that embeds a customer number and file identifier within a digital file using steganographic encoding, allowing for authorized transfers and ownership tracking through a central database, enabling proof of ownership and managing file usage rights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If digital rights management restrictions are encoded within the file, then unauthorized copying is prevented, but the security features become accessible to hacking attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the security features from the file content and places them in a separate location (metadata or sidecar file). This separation means that even if the file is copied, the security restrictions remain with the original file and cannot be transferred to unauthorized copies.
Solution Approach 2:
The DRM system is divided into multiple components: the protected content file, separate metadata containing security information, and a verification system. This segmentation allows the security features to be independently managed and verified without being embedded in the copyable content.
2Loss of information
If digital watermark is encoded within a file, then ownership tracking is enabled, but the digital watermark can be copied reducing its value
Solution Approach 1:
The ownership information is extracted from the file content and stored separately in metadata or a database. This allows ownership tracking without embedding traceable information in the file itself that could be copied along with the content.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a universal identifier system that can track ownership across multiple files and platforms. Instead of file-specific watermarks, a universal customer number and file identifier system provides ownership proof that works across the entire DRM ecosystem.
3Productivity
If play count restrictions are embedded in DIVX files, then rental control is achieved, but hackers can access and bypass the security features
Solution Approach 1:
The play count and licensing information are extracted from the video file and stored separately in metadata or a centralized database. The file itself contains only the content, while the usage restrictions are enforced by checking the separate metadata or database records during playback.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary verification system that checks licensing information against a centralized database or metadata before allowing playback. This intermediary layer prevents direct access to security features in the file while maintaining rental control through external verification.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for digital rights management includes receiving a selection input from a user, associating a customer number with a file based on the selection input, embedding the customer number and a file identifier associated with the file in the file, and sending the file with the embedded customer number and file identifier to the user. One embodiment includes receiving a customer number change request, revising the central database in response to the customer number change request, determining a new customer number responsive to the customer number change request, and embedding the determined new customer number in the file. Another embodiment includes receiving an authorization request associated with a file, determining an authorization based on the central database and authorization request, and sending an authorization notice response to the determined authorization.