Remote DRM File Streaming via Windows Media Connect
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing media player technologies face limitations in accessing and playing DRM-protected files across devices due to licensing constraints and security vulnerabilities when using traditional file operations and streaming protocols.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a secure access protocol that authenticates remote devices to access DRM-encrypted content by constructing specific streaming URLs and utilizing Windows Media Connect to manage user permissions and encryption, allowing playback without reacquiring licenses on the remote device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional file operations (SMB) are used to access DRM-protected files, then file management and playback are straightforward, but security is compromised and licensing constraints limit multi-device access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces Windows Media Connect as an intermediary service that sits between the DRM-protected file system and the remote device. This mediator handles the complex licensing validation and DRM authentication, allowing simple file access operations on remote devices without exposing security vulnerabilities or licensing constraints to the user interface.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If streaming protocols are used to access protected content, then security and licensing flexibility improve, but file operations like metadata updates and content updates are not permitted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes Windows Media Connect universally applicable by enabling it to work with both protected and unprotected content, and to support both streaming and direct file access modes. This multi-functional service can handle diverse content types and access requirements through a single unified interface, eliminating the need for separate specialized services.
3Reliability
If DRM licensing is enforced on each device, then content protection is maintained, but access across multiple devices becomes limited and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the licensing mechanism through Windows Media Connect. Instead of physically copying DRM licenses to multiple devices, the service creates a virtual licensing layer that validates permissions centrally, allowing unlimited device access while maintaining content protection through centralized license management.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If encryption is added to streaming protocols to protect copyright, then content security improves, but the complexity of protocol management and compatibility increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of encryption from being protocol-specific to being service-level. Windows Media Connect handles encryption as a configurable parameter rather than requiring different protocols for different content types, simplifying protocol management while maintaining security through centralized encryption control.
Data Source
AI summary
A source device permits a user of a remote device to access a protected file on the source device when the user of the remote device has a right to access the protected file. The user locates the protected file on the source device using the remote device and accesses the protected file using a media player on the remote device. The media player constructs a path by which the source device streams the protected file. The remote device responds to an authentication request from the source device that the user of the remote device has a right to access the protected file. The user is authenticated to confirm that the user of the remote device has a right to access the protected file. The protected file is streamed to the remote device via a path constructed by the remote device.