DRM Subscription Validation via Device Entity Population Evolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital rights management systems face challenges in determining the validity of digital content subscriptions, especially when users are offline, as they rely on untrusted user device clocks that can be tampered with, making it difficult to ensure subscription status without online verification.
Innovation Solution
A method that compares collision-free images of entity populations on a user device at different times to determine subscription validity, using evolutionary algorithms to assess changes in file and directory attributes, ensuring the user device environment has not been manipulated to circumvent DRM protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the DRM process relies on the user device system clock to determine subscription validity, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates because the system clock can be tampered with by users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a trusted third-party time source as an intermediary to verify subscription validity. Instead of relying solely on the user device's system clock, the DRM process queries a trusted time server to obtain the current time and compares it with the subscription expiration time. This intermediary verification mechanism ensures that even if the user device clock is tampered with, the subscription validity can still be accurately determined through the trusted time source.
2Productivity
If the user is offline, then the productivity is improved, but the reliability of subscription verification deteriorates because the DRM cannot access the trusted time source
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the user device obtain and store subscription information including expiration time before the user goes offline. The DRM process pre-loads the subscription details and expiration timestamp into the user device's local storage. When the user is offline and attempts to access content, the device uses this pre-stored expiration time to verify subscription validity locally, eliminating the need for real-time online verification while maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If the DRM process performs frequent online verification, then the reliability is improved, but the loss of time increases due to continuous connection requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the user device obtain and cache subscription information including expiration time before offline use. The DRM process pre-loads all necessary subscription verification data into the device's local storage during online periods. This allows the device to perform subscription validity checks locally using pre-stored data, eliminating the need for frequent online connections and reducing time loss while maintaining verification reliability.
4Device complexity
If the system uses a one-time fee model, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability deteriorates because it cannot support flexible subscription periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by using a generic subscription verification mechanism that can handle different subscription models and periods. Instead of implementing separate verification systems for one-time fees, monthly subscriptions, or other models, the DRM process uses a unified approach where the expiration time parameter can be set to different values based on the subscription type. This allows the same basic verification infrastructure to adapt to various subscription models by simply changing the expiration time parameter, reducing device complexity while maintaining versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments provide a method for determining whether a subscription for using digital content on a user device has elapsed. The method compares a first collision free image of a first set of entities in the user device with a second collision free image for a second set of entities in the user device at a second instance in time. Based on the comparison, the method determines whether the subscription has elapsed.