Dynamic Rights Management Rule Re-evaluation for Downloaded Content
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital rights management (DRM) systems fail to dynamically re-evaluate rights management rules for policy enforcement on content that has been downloaded and stored on client devices, leading to a gap in ensuring up-to-date policy application.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a special control logic component that dynamically evaluates and re-evaluates rights management rules at the time of access, using a server-side mechanism to determine current policies applicable to the content, ensuring that policies remain current and up-to-date, and enforcing permissions accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If DRM systems use static policy enforcement on downloaded content, then implementation complexity is reduced, but policy currency and control effectiveness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic re-evaluation of rights management rules by introducing a rules engine that continuously assesses current policies against downloaded content. Instead of static enforcement, the system dynamically checks whether content accessed on client devices still complies with updated rules, transforming the DRM approach from static to adaptive and responsive to policy changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback loop where the rules engine continuously monitors policy changes and re-evaluates downloaded content against current rules. This feedback mechanism ensures that policy enforcement remains current by comparing stored content usage rights with newly enacted policies and triggering re-enforcement actions when discrepancies are detected.
2Reliability
If DRM systems implement dynamic re-evaluation of rights management rules, then policy enforcement currency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the DRM system into distinct functional components: a rules engine for policy evaluation, a content protection module for encryption/decryption, and a license management system. This segmentation allows the complex dynamic re-evaluation functionality to be isolated in the rules engine, making the overall system more manageable and maintainable while enabling sophisticated policy enforcement.
Solution Approach 2:
The rules engine acts as an intermediary layer between the content protection system and the policy management infrastructure. It mediates between static downloaded content and dynamic policy changes, translating high-level policy rules into actionable enforcement decisions without requiring direct modification of the core DRM infrastructure.
3Reliability
If existing DRM systems enforce policies on downloaded content, then access control is provided, but dynamic adaptation to policy changes is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system transforms static access control into a dynamic process by implementing continuous policy re-evaluation. When policies change, the rules engine automatically re-assesses downloaded content against new rules and enforces updated permissions, enabling the DRM system to adapt dynamically to policy changes while maintaining secure access control.
Solution Approach 2:
A feedback mechanism is implemented where the system continuously monitors for policy changes and triggers re-evaluation cycles. This feedback loop ensures that access control enforcement remains aligned with current policies by detecting policy updates and automatically re-applying relevant rules to downloaded content without user intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
A control logic component at the server side may, responsive to a request to access protected content residing on a client machine, dynamically evaluate one or more rules. The request may be received from a client application running on the client machine by a rights management services server or by an agent running on the client machine. In some embodiments, the control logic component can be hosted in a cloud computing environment, on an enterprise server, or provided as a service. Each rule may reference a policy such as a digital rights management policy. The control logic component may determine, based on condition(s) set forth in the rule, if any policy is current and applicable to the protected content and communicate its findings to the requesting server or agent such that they can take appropriate action to protect the downloaded content.