Premises composition and modular rights management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional digital rights management systems are limited in their ability to enforce restrictions on copyrighted materials across multiple user devices, particularly in a multi-tiered environment where devices have varying capabilities and are not always connected to a server, and they lack flexibility in managing permissions and data usage across different tiers.
Innovation Solution
A tier-based restricted usage management system that enables encryption, compression, and permission management across multiple nodes (T0 to T3) in a multi-tiered architecture, allowing for secure data handling and usage restrictions on devices such as lawnmowers, vacuum cleaners, and smartphones, with each node capable of managing incoming and outgoing data and enforcing permissions dynamically.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional digital rights management techniques are used, then digital content protection is provided, but the system lacks flexibility in managing permissions across multiple user devices and tiers
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments digital content into multiple tiers (T0-T3) with different permission levels and usage restrictions. Each tier represents a distinct layer of content access, allowing fine-grained control over what devices can do with copyrighted materials. This segmentation enables flexible permission management across heterogeneous devices without requiring a monolithic complex system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hierarchical dimension to rights management by organizing content access into vertical tiers (T0-T3) rather than using flat permission structures. This dimensional approach allows the system to manage permissions across multiple levels of abstraction, where each tier has specific capabilities and restrictions, thereby increasing adaptability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
2Ease of operation
If digital rights management requires constant server connection, then centralized control is maintained, but the system cannot operate offline or on immobile devices
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing tier-based permission structures and encryption schemes before devices need to access content. Rights management policies are pre-configured across tiers, and content is pre-encrypted with tier-specific keys. This allows devices to operate offline within their authorized tier boundaries without requiring constant server connection, while maintaining reliability through pre-established control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces tier-based permission structures as intermediaries between centralized server control and decentralized device operation. These tiers act as mediators that enforce rights management policies locally on devices without requiring continuous server communication. The intermediary tier structure maintains centralized control reliability while enabling offline operation capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If digital content is encrypted to prevent theft, then copyright protection is strengthened, but the system lacks flexibility in allowing legitimate usage across different devices
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different encryption and permission characteristics to different tiers locally. Each tier (T0-T3) has its own encryption scheme, permission set, and usage restrictions tailored to specific device types and use cases. This local differentiation allows legitimate flexibility for authorized devices while maintaining strong copyright protection through tier-specific security measures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes encryption parameters and permission levels based on tier classification. Content encrypted for higher tiers has different security parameters than content for lower tiers, allowing the system to balance copyright protection strength with device usage flexibility. By varying encryption parameters across tiers, the system protects against infringement while enabling appropriate legitimate access.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a single integrated unit is used for content unlocking, then system simplicity is maintained, but the system cannot support multi-tiered environments with varying device capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The unlocking system is segmented into multiple independent tier components (T0-T3), each capable of handling specific types of content and devices. Rather than a single integrated unit, the system uses separate unlocking modules for each tier, allowing it to support multi-tiered environments with varying device capabilities while keeping individual tier components relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
Each tier-based unlocking component is designed with universality to handle multiple content types and device configurations within its tier scope. The tier structure provides multi-functionality where each tier can unlock and manage content appropriate to its capability level, enabling the overall system to support diverse multi-tiered environments without requiring a single complex universal unlocking mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-tired, modular, electronic system which utilizes restricted usage management. In a multi-tiered environment, lower tiered systems contain, based on configuration, mobile units that are capable of performing simple tasks such as lawnmowers, vacuum cleaners, mobile audio/video players to more complex ones capable of performing as human assistants such as robots. Higher tiered systems typically reside in the cloud. Lower tiered mobile units contain modular sensors such as temperature sensor and image/video cameras that generate vast amount of data. The lower tiered mobile units also contain modular emitters that consume vast amount of data. Restrictions for the usage of these mobile units are sent, in the form of metadata, to the lower tiered mobile units, from an intermediate to higher tiered control devices and the rendering app may limit the usage. The intermediate tiered renderer can interact to make sure rules have been followed.