Secure Content Transcoding Between DRM Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face limitations in copying recorded content from digital video recorders (DVRs) to portable multimedia devices due to format incompatibility and different digital rights management (DRM) systems, preventing playback on these devices.
Innovation Solution
A source device with a processor and data storage that determines content rights using a rights data file, transcodes encrypted content from one encoding standard to another, and manages encryption keys to securely transfer the content to a transcoder, which re-encrypts and transfers it to a compatible device, ensuring compatibility and compliance with DRM policies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If content is copied directly from DVR to PMD, then copying operation is simple, but format incompatibility prevents playback on PMD
Solution Approach 1:
A transcoder device is introduced as an intermediary between the DVR and PMD. The transcoder receives content in the first encoding standard from the DVR, transcodes it to the second encoding standard, and outputs it to the PMD. This mediator resolves the format incompatibility issue while maintaining ease of operation for the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The encoding standard parameter of the content is changed from the first encoding standard to the second encoding standard through the transcoder. This parameter transformation enables the content to be compatible with the PMD's playback requirements while preserving the original content's integrity.
2Quantity of substance
If content is copied to PMD with different DRM system, then storage is possible, but DRM system incompatibility prevents playback
Solution Approach 1:
The transcoder acts as a DRM-compatible intermediary that translates between different DRM systems. It receives content protected by the first DRM system from the DVR, processes the content with appropriate rights management, and outputs content protected by the second DRM system that the PMD can recognize and play.
Solution Approach 2:
DRM rights verification and transformation are performed in advance during the transcoding process. The transcoder checks the content rights information, determines whether transcoding is allowed, and applies the appropriate DRM protection before outputting to the PMD, ensuring playback compatibility is established beforehand.
3Adaptability or versatility
If transcoding is performed to enable playback on PMD, then format compatibility is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transcoding system is segmented into distinct functional modules: a rights verification module that checks content rights, a transcoding module that performs format conversion, and a DRM transformation module that handles rights management. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall system architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
A source device determines content rights for encrypted content in the first encoding standard using a first rights data file. The source device creates a second rights data file for transcoded content in the second encoding standard. The source device performs a key management operation including communicating a decryption key for the encrypted content in the first encoding standard to a transcoder. The source device transfers the encrypted content in the first encoding standard to the transcoder. The transcoder decrypts the encrypted content, transcodes the content from the first encoding standard to the content in the second encoding standard, and re-encrypts the content in the second encoding standard using a second encryption key. The transcoder then transfers the encrypted content in the second encoding standard to an indicated device.