Program Entitlement Blocks in Media Platform DRM

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional Digital Rights Management (DRM) systems are inadequate for modern online video services, particularly in supporting complex business rules for both Video-On-Demand and live programming, as they fail to provide granular entitlements and flexible digital rights management across various devices and user scenarios.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for providing program and device class entitlements in a media platform, allowing for detailed entitlements such as play count, expiration time, device type, network connection, and geographic restrictions, which can be applied to specific programs within a channel and delivered securely, enabling more scalable and flexible digital rights management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional DRM systems are used for content protection, then basic entitlement management is provided, but granular program-level entitlements and device class-specific rules cannot be enforced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveentitlement granularityVSAvoidentitlement management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments entitlements from channel-level to program-level granularity. Each program within a channel can have its own entitlement block specifying distinct digital rights, allowing different entitlements for different programs while maintaining a hierarchical structure that reduces overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by allowing device class-specific entitlements where different device types (smartphone, tablet, set-top box, PC) can have different entitlement rules for the same program. This enables tailored access control based on the specific device characteristics and capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple entitlement blocks are provided for different device classes, then device-specific digital rights are enforced, but manifest file size and processing overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice class supportVSAvoidmanifest data volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal entitlement block structure that can serve multiple device classes simultaneously. The manifest contains entitlement blocks that are applicable across different device types, with each block containing device class identifiers that allow the client to select the appropriate entitlement set, reducing redundant data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial action by allowing clients to selectively process only the entitlement blocks relevant to their device class. Clients receive the full manifest but only need to parse and enforce the specific entitlement block matching their device type, reducing processing overhead despite receiving comprehensive entitlement data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS10455265B2Program and device class entitlements in a media platform

Publication Date: 2019.10.22 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

A method and apparatus for managing entitlements in a broadcast stream are disclosed. The method includes receiving a manifest containing program information for a program in the broadcast stream, with the program information providing a program entitlement block. The method uses entitlements specified in the program entitlement block to enforce entitlements for the program.