DRM Rights Object Segmentation for Secure Content Superdistribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
The distribution of digital content to wireless devices is hindered by the susceptibility of content to unauthorized copying and distribution, despite the use of Digital Rights Management (DRM) technologies, as users can still send protected content to others through 'superdistribution', requiring additional permission and complicating content proliferation.
Innovation Solution
A method where subscriber terminals obtain and distribute encrypted content with unique identifiers and rights objects, using a rights issuing entity to manage permissions and track content distribution, ensuring secure and controlled consumption by encrypting content with Content Encryption Keys (CEK) and using Uniform Resource Identifiers (URI) to facilitate secure transactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If DRM technology is implemented to protect digital content, then content security is improved, but system complexity increases due to rights objects and permission management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments DRM functionality into separate server-side and client-side components. The server handles rights object generation and distribution, while the client handles content protection and verification. This segmentation reduces client device complexity while maintaining content security through distributed DRM management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a DRM server as an intermediary between content providers and end users. This intermediary manages the complex rights object generation, encryption key distribution, and permission verification processes, shielding end users from DRM complexity while ensuring content security through centralized control.
2Productivity
If superdistribution is allowed for content proliferation, then content distribution efficiency is improved, but unauthorized copying risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by embedding rights objects and usage permissions into content before distribution. Content is pre-authorized for specific recipients with defined usage rights, enabling efficient superdistribution while preventing unauthorized copying through pre-established cryptographic protections and permission constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where DRM servers track content distribution and usage through rights object validation. This feedback system monitors superdistribution activities, verifies recipient permissions, and can revoke or adjust rights based on usage patterns, thereby enabling efficient content proliferation while maintaining control against unauthorized copying.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for distributing content in a communications network including obtaining (210) encrypted content, for example, from a content provider or from another subscriber terminal, obtaining (220) a rights object for the content, and in some embodiments obtaining an encrypted token based on the identity of the subscriber terminal obtaining the rights object, maintaining (230) a relation between the content and identity of the subscriber obtaining the rights object, and tracking (240) distribution of the content by the subscriber terminal that obtained the rights object in the content.