DRM-Agnostic Entitlement Gateway for Multi-Format Media Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital rights management (DRM) systems are limited to handling a single type of DRM mechanism and require separate implementations for multiple types, leading to integration challenges, data duplication, consistency issues, and difficulties in real-time access across different databases.
Innovation Solution
A DRM-agnostic entitlement gateway system that identifies the appropriate DRM type and server for protected media content, allowing for seamless authorization and license management across various DRM technologies, enabling access to multiple types of DRM-protected content without requiring a full system redesign.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate implementations are used for each DRM type, then each DRM system can be handled with dedicated logic, but system complexity increases and integration becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component (DRM type identifier and gateway) that mediates between the media content server and multiple DRM systems. This intermediary automatically identifies the DRM type of incoming content and routes it to the appropriate DRM server, eliminating the need for complex integration logic at each component level while maintaining reliable DRM protection.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate DRM systems are implemented, then each DRM type can be managed independently, but data duplication occurs across different databases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the entitlement data storage into a single centralized database that is shared across all DRM types. Instead of maintaining separate databases for each DRM system, the unified database stores entitlement information that can be accessed by any DRM type, eliminating data duplication while maintaining the ability to handle multiple DRM formats.
3Ease of manufacture
If separate DRM implementations are used, then each system can optimize for its specific DRM type, but consistency problems arise across multiple databases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal gateway component that can handle multiple DRM types through a single interface. This gateway uses DRM type identification to route requests to the appropriate DRM server while maintaining a unified view of entitlement data, ensuring consistency across all DRM systems without requiring separate implementations for each type.
4Reliability
If multiple separate systems are used for different DRM types, then each system can be optimized for its specific protocol, but real-time access becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-identifying the DRM type of media content and preparing the appropriate routing information in advance. When a playback request occurs, the system can quickly retrieve the pre-identified DRM type and immediately route to the correct DRM server, enabling real-time access while maintaining protocol-specific reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing digital rights management (“DRM”)-agnostic entitlement gateway and verification system. In various embodiments, an entitlement gateway might receive a query from a client device, and might determine whether a user is authorized to access requested DRM-protected media content. If not, the entitlement gateway might send a deny signal to the client device that prevents the user from accessing the media content. If so, the entitlement gateway might identify, from among a plurality of DRM types, a DRM type that is used to protect the media content. The entitlement gateway might identify, from among a plurality of DRM servers each associated with a particular DRM type, a DRM server associated with the identified DRM type, and might send a request for a license for accessing the media content from the identified DRM server, the license enabling the user to access the media content.