KDM Distribution System Geographic Enforcement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital cinema content distribution systems lack effective enforcement of geographic restrictions on Key Delivery Messages (KDMs), leading to potential misuse by unscrupulous parties and limiting film production companies' willingness to provide KDMs to third-party entities, as they cannot ensure compliance with territorial agreements.
Innovation Solution
An enhanced KDM distribution system that incorporates geographic restrictions by using a database of device certificates and theatre details to generate KDMs with location-aware digital cinema players, allowing only authorized players within specified regions to access and play encrypted content, thereby enforcing both validity and geographic rules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If KDMs are distributed to third-party entities for content delivery, then content distribution reach and efficiency are improved, but security and compliance control deteriorate due to inability to enforce geographic restrictions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by embedding geographic restriction data and validity window parameters into the KDM before distribution. The KDM is pre-configured with location-aware rules that automatically enforce territorial agreements, allowing third-party distributors to operate independently while maintaining compliance control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where digital cinema players report their location and KDM validation status back to the distribution system. This enables continuous monitoring and verification of geographic restriction compliance, allowing the system to respond to potential violations and maintain security control over distributed content.
2Reliability
If conventional region coding systems are used, then basic territorial control is provided, but security and compliance enforcement are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameters of territorial control by transitioning from simple region codes to location-aware KDMs with embedded geographic restriction data. This includes adding validity windows, location verification parameters, and compliance tracking mechanisms that dynamically control content access based on actual player location and authorized distribution territories.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary layer between the content and the player through the enhanced KDM structure. This intermediary contains geographic restriction rules and validity parameters that mediate access control, verifying both the player's location and the authorization status before allowing content playback, thereby reducing content misuse risk.
3Reliability
If geographic restriction enforcement is implemented, then content security is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves universality by designing the KDM distribution framework to handle multiple functions within a unified structure. The same KDM mechanism simultaneously provides content decryption keys, geographic restriction enforcement, validity window control, and compliance tracking. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate complex subsystems while maintaining comprehensive security control.
Data Source
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AI summary
An exhibition key delivery message (KDM) distribution system operable to receive a distribution KDM (DKDM), a method of creating an exhibition KDM, a system for controlling digital cinema content distribution, an exhibition KDM and a digital cinema player employing the exhibition KDM to play a digital cinema package. In one embodiment, the KDM distribution system includes: (1) a device list database containing device certificates of at least some target digital cinema players located in a region corresponding to the KDM distribution system, (2) booking data database containing schedules regarding a composition pertaining to the DKDM and (3) a KDM generator operable to create an exhibition KDM for the composition using the DKDM, a device certificate from the device list and the booking data.