Network Attached DVR Storage with DRM Intermediary
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Solution Overview
Problem
Consumers face storage limitations for recorded audio video content while maintaining digital rights management (DRM) protections, and existing solutions often inefficiently use bandwidth when accessing content across a local area network (LAN).
Innovation Solution
A system that allows content to be recorded on either a local digital video recorder (DVR) or a network-attached storage (NAS) unit, with a processing unit managing DRM negotiations to enable access from client devices without direct negotiation with the NAS, ensuring content remains encrypted and bandwidth-efficient.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If content is recorded on local DVR only, then DRM security is maintained, but storage capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the storage function from the DRM management function. The DVR records content locally with DRM protection, while a separate NAS provides additional storage capacity. The DVR acts as an intermediary that manages DRM rights and enables remote access to content stored on the NAS without compromising security.
Solution Approach 2:
The DVR serves as an intermediary between the NAS and client devices. When content is stored on the NAS, the DVR maintains DRM control and negotiates access rights with client devices. This intermediary role allows the system to expand storage capacity while maintaining DRM security, as the DVR mediates all access requests to content regardless of its physical location.
2Ease of operation
If content is accessed from NAS directly by client devices, then storage accessibility is improved, but bandwidth usage increases due to multiple DRM negotiations
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the DRM negotiation function with the content delivery function. Instead of having separate DRM negotiations and content transfers between multiple devices, the DVR consolidates these operations. The DVR performs a single DRM negotiation with the client device and then delivers the content directly from the NAS, combining what would otherwise be separate bandwidth-consuming operations into an efficient single-path transfer.
3Reliability
If multiple DRM negotiations are performed for content access, then security is maintained, but processing time and network overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the DRM negotiation process from the content delivery path. The DVR performs DRM negotiations independently of the actual content transfer location. Whether content is stored locally on the DVR or remotely on the NAS, the DRM negotiation occurs once through the DVR, separating the security authentication phase from the data transfer phase and eliminating redundant negotiation overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
A host device, which may include a DVR, selects to record content on the host device DVR or in a network attached storage (NAS) unit. The recorded content remains bound to the host device from a DRM perspective when it is recorded on the host DVR and on the remotely located NAS. A client device can obtain access to content recorded on the NAS by negotiating DRM rights with the host device instead of the NAS. When access rights are approved, the host device provides access information to the client device so that the content is streamed directly to the client device from the NAS.