Media Storage Structure with Multiple Encrypted Content Pieces

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing Digital Rights Management (DRM) systems do not allow flexible purchasing or licensing of subsets of related digital content, often requiring recipients to acquire entire sets of content or forgo access to all related content.

Innovation Solution

A method for distributing a single media storage structure with multiple pieces of encrypted content, where devices receive a set of keys allowing access to specific pieces of content based on user permissions, enabling decryption and access to one or both pieces of content.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a DRM system distributes related content (e.g., song and music video) as a bundled set, then content protection and rights management are simplified, but user flexibility to purchase only desired content is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser flexibility to purchase content subsetsVSAvoidDRM system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the DRM system into separate modules: a content distribution module that distributes encrypted content, a key distribution module that distributes decryption keys, and a rights management module that tracks user permissions. This segmentation allows the system to handle multiple related content items independently while maintaining overall rights management, enabling users to purchase subsets of content without requiring complete bundle licensing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If cryptographic keys are distributed with encrypted content, then content access is enabled, but security against unauthorized access and key theft is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent access便利性VSAvoidsecurity against unauthorized access
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a rights management server as an intermediary between the content distribution and key distribution processes. The server verifies user permissions, manages digital rights, and controls key release based on licensing agreements. This intermediary layer ensures that decryption keys are only distributed to authorized users while maintaining ease of content access through automated verification processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple related content items are distributed together, then content coherence and user experience are improved, but the ability to license individual items is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent licensing flexibilityVSAvoidcontent distribution volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic licensing where the rights management system can adaptively grant access to different subsets of related content based on user preferences and licensing agreements. The system dynamically generates and distributes appropriate decryption keys for each licensed content item, allowing users to purchase individual songs, videos, or bundles as needed, rather than requiring fixed bundled licensing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3770778B1Use of media storage structure with multiple pieces of content in a content-distribution system
Publication Date: 2024.07.03 APPLE INC
  • EP3770778B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3770778B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3770778B1 patent drawingFigure 7~10

AI summary

There is provided a method of a user receiving permission to access media content comprising receiving a unitary media storage structure with a plurality of protected media portions, receiving from a license authority a key for each protected media portion that the user has permission to access, and using the respective key to access each protected media portion that the user has permission to access.