DRM License Recovery After Communication Interruption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Communication interruptions between terminal devices and secure removable media (SRM) during license interactions lead to mobility loss and waste of rights, as existing systems do not account for failures, resulting in incomplete license transfers and unreturned licenses.

Innovation Solution

Implement a method where terminal devices record interaction-related information during license exchanges, allowing for continued interaction upon connection re-establishment by detecting uncompleted interactions and requesting recovery, ensuring uncompleted tasks are resumed and licenses are properly returned or transferred.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the terminal device automatically returns the license to the SRM when stopping use, then the license management is simplified, but communication failures cause license mobility loss and rights waste

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelicense management simplicityVSAvoidlicense transfer reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device records interaction-related information in advance during the license interaction process. When communication failure occurs, this pre-recorded information enables the terminal to detect the interruption and request recovery, ensuring the license can be properly returned to the SRM without requiring continuous real-time communication for every action.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the terminal device monitors communication status with the SRM. When interruption is detected, the terminal sends a recovery request using recorded interaction information, and the SRM responds with status information. This feedback loop ensures reliable license management even under communication failures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If the terminal device continues interaction after communication recovery, then productivity is improved, but incomplete interactions cause license rights waste

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinteraction continuityVSAvoidrights waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device records interaction-related information during the interaction process, including the current step and status. When communication is recovered, the terminal checks the recorded information to determine whether the interaction is complete, allowing it to resume from the correct point without wasting rights on incomplete transfers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The SRM returns status information in response to recovery requests, providing feedback about the current interaction state. This enables the terminal device to accurately determine whether the interaction is complete and avoid attempting to transfer rights that have already been successfully transferred, preventing rights waste.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the system records and recovers interrupted interactions, then license mobility is maintained, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelicense mobilityVSAvoidinteraction management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device records interaction-related information in advance during normal operation. This pre-recording of interaction state simplifies the recovery process, as the terminal only needs to retrieve and use the recorded information when communication failure occurs, rather than implementing complex real-time monitoring and state tracking mechanisms continuously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The recorded interaction-related information acts as an intermediary that bridges the terminal device and SRM during recovery operations. Instead of requiring complex direct coordination between the two devices after interruption, the pre-recorded information serves as a mediator that enables straightforward resumption of the interaction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2477134B1Method and system of license interaction and recovering after its interrupting
Publication Date: 2014.04.02 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP2477134B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2477134B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2477134B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A method for license interaction and interaction recovery after interruption overcomes the problems of mobility loss and waste of rights of the license due to interruption of communication during the license interaction. This method includes: when license information is exchanged between a first device and a second device, both devices record the interaction related information; after the interaction is interrupted and the connection is re-established, the first device and the second device continue the interaction when determining that the interaction is uncompleted according to the recorded information. A communication device and a digital rights management (DRM) system are also disclosed.