Local Domain Authority Module for Legacy DRM Enrollment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional Digital Rights Management (DRM) systems require network-enabled devices to access and manage domains, making it difficult for legacy devices without network functionality to participate, and the process of domain membership is complex and time-consuming, limiting their utilization.

Innovation Solution

A domain management method and device utilizing a local domain authority (LDA) with a location-limited channel (LLC) interface for device authentication and registration, allowing devices without network access to join a domain, and enabling quick authorization and flexible domain management through a local domain authority module.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If devices use conventional DRM domain management requiring network access, then content protection is achieved, but devices without network functionality cannot participate and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice compatibilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

A mobile phone acts as an intermediary device between the rights issuer and legacy devices. The mobile phone communicates with the rights issuer over the network and establishes domains, then locally manages legacy devices through short-range wireless communication. This mediator approach allows legacy devices without network capability to participate in DRM domain management while maintaining content protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The domain management function is segmented into two parts: network communication functions (performed by the mobile phone with LDA module) and local device management functions (performed by the mobile phone's LDA module through LLC interface). This segmentation allows legacy devices to join domains without requiring network functionality, as the network communication is handled separately by the mobile phone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If devices access rights issuer over network for domain membership, then authorization is granted, but the process takes very long time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthorization securityVSAvoidauthorization time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile phone pre-establishes the domain and stores domain information locally before legacy devices need to join. When legacy devices request domain membership, the mobile phone's LDA module can quickly authenticate them using pre-stored domain credentials without requiring real-time network communication with the rights issuer, thus reducing authorization time while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile phone's LDA module serves as an intermediary that can perform local authentication of legacy devices using pre-obtained domain credentials. This intermediary approach allows quick local authorization without requiring each legacy device to communicate directly with the rights issuer over the network, significantly reducing authorization time while maintaining the security established by the rights issuer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If all member devices are registered when creating domain, then domain security is maintained, but the operation becomes complicated and inflexible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedomain securityVSAvoiddomain management flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The domain membership management is made dynamic. The mobile phone's LDA module maintains a local domain member list that can be updated in real-time as legacy devices join or leave the domain. This dynamic approach allows flexible addition and removal of devices without requiring complete re-registration of all members, simplifying domain management operations while maintaining security through the LDA module's authentication capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile phone acts as an intermediary that maintains the domain member list and manages device enrollment dynamically. When legacy devices join the domain, the mobile phone's LDA module authenticates them and updates the local member list without requiring communication with the rights issuer or re-registration of existing members. This intermediary management simplifies domain operations while maintaining security through centralized authentication control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS7793105B2Method and apparatus for local domain management using device with local authority module

Publication Date: 2010.09.07 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A method and device for local domain management are provided and include a local domain authority device. The local domain authority (LDA) device includes a location limited channel (LLC) interface for transmitting and receiving information of devices which are positioned within a limited location and a (LDA) module for authenticating a device which is selected as a member of a domain from the devices, transmitting device authentication information corresponding to the domain, to the authenticated device via the LLC interface, and registering the authenticated device as a member of the domain. The method and device provide an easy and secure means for domain management.