Hybrid DRM Server Unifies Adobe and Microsoft Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital rights management systems, such as Adobe LiveCycle and Microsoft Active Directory, have limitations in flexibility and compatibility, particularly in managing user access rights across multiple documents and platforms, leading to inflexible document protection schemes and lack of seamless integration with third-party programs.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid digital rights management system that integrates user databases, policy databases, and document storage, allowing seamless interaction with multiple DRM systems like Adobe LiveCycle and Microsoft Active Directory, using a hybrid RMS server to manage policies and access rights across different platforms and applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate DRM systems (Adobe LiveCycle, Microsoft Active Directory) are used for different document types, then each system can provide specialized document protection, but the system complexity increases and user experience becomes fragmented requiring separate logins
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate DRM systems (Adobe LiveCycle DRM and Microsoft Active Directory RMS) into a single hybrid DRM system. The hybrid server integrates the functionality of both specialized DRM systems, allowing unified management of PDF and Office documents through a single interface and authentication mechanism, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining comprehensive document protection coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The hybrid DRM server is designed to perform multiple functions by supporting both Adobe LiveCycle DRM protocols and Microsoft Active Directory RMS protocols simultaneously. This multi-functional architecture allows a single system to provide specialized document protection for different document types without requiring separate specialized systems, resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity
2Reliability
If multiple separate DRM systems are implemented, then comprehensive document protection is achieved, but user authentication becomes complex requiring separate logins for each system
Solution Approach 1:
The hybrid DRM system merges the authentication mechanisms of Adobe LiveCycle DRM and Microsoft Active Directory RMS into a unified authentication process. Users perform a single login through the hybrid server, which then manages authentication with the appropriate underlying DRM system based on the document type, eliminating the need for separate logins while maintaining comprehensive document protection
Solution Approach 2:
The hybrid DRM server acts as an intermediary between users and the multiple underlying DRM systems. It receives user authentication requests, determines which DRM system is appropriate based on the document type, and handles the authentication process transparently, thereby simplifying user interaction while maintaining reliable document protection through the specialized DRM systems
3Adaptability or versatility
If a hybrid DRM system integrates multiple DRM systems, then system complexity increases, but compatibility and flexibility across different platforms improve
Solution Approach 1:
The hybrid DRM server is designed with universal functionality to support multiple DRM protocols (Adobe LiveCycle and Microsoft Active Directory RMS) and work with different document types (PDF and Office documents) across various platforms. This multi-functional design achieves broad platform compatibility while managing system architecture complexity through a unified interface layer
Solution Approach 2:
The hybrid DRM system segments the complexity by separating the interface layer from the implementation layer. The hybrid server presents a unified, simplified interface to users while internally managing the complexity of multiple DRM systems through modular integration, allowing platform compatibility to improve without proportionally increasing perceived system complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A hybrid digital rights management (DRM) system includes a hybrid digital rights management server (RMS server) connected to first and second RMS servers and a client computer. The hybrid RMS server stores a policy mapping table that maps its DRM policies to remote DRM policies on the first or second RMS servers, and can also create policies that satisfy the schema requirements of the first or second RMS server using policies stored in the hybrid RMS server. When the hybrid RMS server receives a document protection request from the client computer, it extracts the filename extension for the document to be protected, and uses the filename extension to select one of the first and second RMS servers as a target RMS server. The document is protected by the target RMS server, and also added to a protected document database on the hybrid RMS server.