Digital Rights Management Rule Adjustment via User Certification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current digital rights management systems fail to effectively manage and restrict the use of captured content, particularly when it is captured and distributed by unauthorized users across various locations, leading to unauthorized usage and lack of control for content owners.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that embeds certifications within captured content to adjust digital rights management rules based on specific locations, allowing for monitoring and enforcement of usage rights, including blocking unauthorized use when restricted elements are detected.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If current digital rights management systems are used to distribute content with DRM rules, then authorized digital copies can be protected, but content owners cannot manage or restrict unauthorized captured content distributed by other users

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveDRM protection effectivenessVSAvoidDRM rule applicability to captured content
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments DRM management into two distinct pathways: one for authorized digital copies with full DRM protection, and another for user-captured content with certification-based rule adjustment. This segmentation allows the system to handle different types of content distribution with appropriate DRM strategies for each, resolving the contradiction between protecting authorized content and managing unauthorized captured content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary certification of captured content before distribution, where users declare what restricted elements are present or absent in their captures. This preliminary action allows DRM rules to be adjusted in advance based on the certification, enabling content owners to manage captured content effectively rather than attempting to control it after unauthorized distribution occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If portable capture devices are widely distributed to enable easy content capture and sharing, then user accessibility and content distribution capability improve, but unauthorized capture and distribution of protected content increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveContent capture and distribution easeVSAvoidUnauthorized content usage
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where captured content includes embedded certifications from users declaring the presence or absence of restricted elements. This feedback loop allows the DRM system to respond appropriately to each captured instance, adjusting rules based on the certification provided. This maintains ease of capture and distribution while combating unauthorized use through intelligent rule application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The certification mechanism acts as an intermediary between the user's capture action and the DRM enforcement system. Rather than directly blocking all captures or requiring complex authentication for each captured item, the certification intermediary provides a simplified declaration process that enables the DRM system to make informed decisions about rule application, balancing ease of use with protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If DRM rules are strictly enforced to prevent unauthorized use of restricted elements, then content owner rights are protected, but legitimate uses of captured content without restricted elements are unnecessarily restricted

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveContent owner rights protectionVSAvoidOver-restriction of legitimate content use
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameters of DRM rule application by introducing certification-based adjustments. Instead of applying fixed, uniform DRM rules to all captured content, the system modifies rule parameters based on the user's certification about what restricted elements are present. This allows strict protection when needed while permitting legitimate uses when restricted elements are absent, resolving the contradiction between protection and over-restriction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8850594B2Digital rights management of captured content based on capture associated locations
Publication Date: 2014.09.30 RAKUTEN GROUP INC
  • US8850594B2 patent drawing
  • US8850594B2 patent drawing
  • US8850594B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A certification is received from a user stating that captured content does not comprise a particular restricted element and a request from the user for an adjustment of a digital rights management rule identified for the captured content based on the captured content comprising the particular restricted element. At least one term of the digital rights management rule is adjusted to reflect that the captured content does not comprise the particular restricted element. The usage of the captured content by the user is monitored to determine whether the usage matches the certification statement.