Digital Rights Management Policy for Application Functionality Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Software providers face challenges in effectively managing digital rights to offer full-function applications with limited functionalities initially, requiring separate versions or updates, which can be cumbersome and inefficient in terms of bandwidth and resource usage.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a digital rights management system that uses license policies to manage application functionalities, allowing for the replacement or updating of these policies without distributing new application versions, enabling seamless transitions from limited to full functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate limited-function versions of applications are distributed, then users can try applications before purchasing, but distribution bandwidth is consumed and multiple versions must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the functionality limitations from the application code itself and places them in a separate license policy file. The full-function application is distributed once, and the license policy controls which functions are available. This separates the application binary from the rights management, eliminating the need to distribute multiple versioned applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a license policy as an intermediary between the user and the application functions. This license file acts as a mediator that the application reads to determine what functions to enable or disable. The license policy serves as the intermediary layer that controls access without requiring separate application versions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate limited-function versions are created and distributed, then trial usage is enabled, but device storage is consumed and updates become cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the trial/limited functionality control mechanisms from the application code and stores them externally in license policy files. This allows the full application to be installed once on the device, consuming minimal storage, while the license policy (a small text file) controls the trial period and function limitations without requiring separate application installations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes a single full-function application universal by using license policies to adapt its behavior. The same application binary can serve as a trial version, a purchased version, or a subscription version depending on the license policy attached to it. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for multiple versioned applications occupying device storage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple versions of applications are distributed to manage functionality, then user needs can be met, but system complexity increases and maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complexity of version management from the application distribution system and relocates it to a simple license policy file format. Instead of managing multiple application versions with different codebases, the system uses a single application version controlled by external license files that specify functionality limits, trial periods, and usage rights in a standardized format.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls application functionality by changing parameters in the license policy file rather than creating different application versions. The license policy contains parameters such as trial period duration, enabled features, and usage limits. By modifying these parameters in the license file, the application behavior changes without requiring version updates or redistribution of the application binary.
Data Source
AI summary
This document describes policies for digital rights management that enable distribution of full-function versions of applications that, while fully functional, have functions limited by an associated policy. A policy may be replaced or updated, thereby enabling use of previously limited functions without distribution of another version of the application.