DRM Information Separation for Multi-Device Content Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Content providers face challenges in controlling the distribution and playback of digital content across multiple devices while ensuring payment and maintaining control over usage conditions, as existing DRM systems often require DRM information to be tied to specific devices, limiting flexibility and provider control.
Innovation Solution
A system that separates DRM information from protected content, allowing it to be stored on removable media devices and accessed by multiple playback devices, with mechanisms for secure transfer, verification, and management, enabling users to play content on multiple devices while maintaining provider control through secure central storage and conditional access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If DRM information is tied to specific devices, then provider control over content is maintained, but user flexibility to play content on multiple devices is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides DRM information into two separate components: a master key stored securely by the provider and device-specific decryption keys stored on removable media devices. This segmentation allows content to be distributed to multiple devices while maintaining provider control through the master key and conditional access mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a removable media device as an intermediary carrier that holds device-specific DRM keys separately from the content. This intermediary enables the key to be transferred between devices without transferring the content, allowing flexible device access while maintaining security through conditional access requirements.
2Ease of operation
If DRM information is stored on removable media devices, then user flexibility to access content is improved, but security risks and management complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the device-specific DRM key from the content storage and places it on a separate removable media device. This extraction allows the key to be independently managed and transferred, simplifying the content file structure while enabling flexible access through the removable media carrier.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-storing device-specific DRM keys on removable media devices before content playback is needed. This allows the key to be ready for immediate use when the user inserts the removable media into a playback device, eliminating the need for real-time key generation or complex on-demand key management.
3Reliability
If content is encrypted with user DRM information, then unauthorized copying is prevented, but the ability to transfer DRM between devices becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The DRM system is segmented into a master encryption key held by the provider and device-specific decryption keys stored on removable media. This segmentation allows content to be encrypted with the master key for copy protection, while device-specific keys can be independently transferred between devices without affecting the encrypted content or requiring complex transfer procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and techniques for protection and delivery of content. Upon initiation of a user account for use in conducting transactions involving delivery of content to a user, digital rights management (DRM) information is created and stored in association with user information. A copy of the DRM information is provided to or made accessible to the user in such a way that the DRM information can made accessible to a suitable playback device to allow playing of content protected with the DRM information. When a user enters into a transaction to receive content, the DRM information associated with the user is used to protect the content before delivery to the user. When the user wishes to play the content, the removable media device storing the user's DRM information must be present in order to allow playing of the content.