NFC Digital Media Gifting with DRM Key Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The transfer of copyright-protected digital media files between devices is often hindered due to digital rights management restrictions, making it difficult to share media content while ensuring copyright compliance.
Innovation Solution
A method for gifting digital media files using near-field communication (NFC) and online digital media provider systems, where the initiating device authorizes a gift charge, creates a DRM-protected gift file, and transfers it to the receiving device, allowing playback while ensuring copyright compliance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If digital rights management techniques are applied to protect copyrighted digital media files, then copyright holder rights are honored and compensation is ensured, but the transfer of files between devices becomes restricted and files may become unplayable on receiving devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a digital media provider server as an intermediary that facilitates the gifting process. The server receives gift requests from the initiating device, processes DRM key generation using the receiving device's identification, and delivers the gifted media file to the receiving device. This intermediary resolves the contradiction by enabling secure DRM-protected transfer while ensuring compatibility with the receiving device through server-mediated key management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the DRM protection parameters dynamically based on the receiving device's identification information. Instead of using fixed DRM keys, the system generates device-specific DRM keys that are tailored to the receiving device's characteristics. This parameter change enables the gifted file to be playable on the specific receiving device while maintaining copyright protection, thus resolving the adaptability-versus-protection contradiction.
2Adaptability or versatility
If DRM keys are generated using the receiving device's identification information, then the gifted file can be authorized for playback on the receiving device, but the system complexity increases due to the need for device identification verification and key management
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs self-service mechanisms where the receiving device automatically provides its identification information to the digital media provider server during the gift acceptance process. The server then automatically generates the appropriate DRM keys and configures the gifted file for playback without requiring manual intervention from users or complex key management procedures. This self-service approach reduces system complexity while maintaining the ability to authorize playback on specific devices.
3Reliability
If the initiating device transmits a gift request to the online digital media provider, then the account can be charged and the gift file can be properly licensed, but the process requires network connectivity and server communication which may not always be available
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary actions by having the receiving device pre-accept the gift offer and provide its identification information to the initiating device before the actual gift request is sent to the server. The initiating device prepares the gift request with all necessary information including the receiving device's ID, so that when the server is reached, the licensing and charging process can proceed immediately without requiring additional interactions or network interruptions. This preliminary preparation improves ease of operation while maintaining reliable payment processing.
Data Source
AI summary
Various techniques are provided for the gifting between multiple electronic devices of media content provided by an online digital media provider. An offer and acceptance of a selected gift file is accomplished between a gifter device and a receiving giftee device using a near-field communication (NFC) connection. If a connection to the online provider is available, the gifter device may transmit a gift request by which the gifter's account is charged for the gift file. Thereafter, a gift file created using DRM keys associated with the giftee's account may be downloaded to the giftee device. If a network connection is unavailable, the giftee device may transfer a locked gift file and a corresponding gift license to the giftee device using a peer-to-peer connection. The giftee device may authenticate the license and unlock the gift file once a connection to the online provider is available.