Smart Module Proxy for Offline Content Playback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile stations in wireless communication systems cannot play protected stored content when outside the coverage area due to the inability to receive secure content keys from the remote content rights manager.
Innovation Solution
A mobile station equipped with a smart module acting as a proxy content rights manager and a security agent, which stores content presentation units and securely issues and transfers secure content keys, allowing content presentation even when outside the coverage area by using stored units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mobile station uses remote content rights manager for content protection, then content security is improved, but content accessibility deteriorates when outside coverage area
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile station performs preliminary actions by storing content presentation units and secure content keys locally before losing network coverage. The smart module pre-issues content presentation units and the security agent pre-stores secure content keys, enabling content playback to continue without real-time network connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary components including a smart module that acts as a local rights manager and a security agent that mediates key management. These intermediaries enable the mobile station to autonomously manage content protection functions independently of the remote content rights manager when network coverage is unavailable.
2Adaptability or versatility
If mobile station stores content presentation units locally, then content playback capability is improved when outside coverage, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The smart module and security agent perform multiple functions: storing content presentation units, managing secure content keys, issuing rights information, and controlling content playback. By consolidating these diverse functions into integrated components, the patent avoids the complexity of having separate dedicated systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile station's smart module and security agent enable the device to self-manage content protection functions. The system automatically issues content presentation units, manages secure content keys, and controls playback without requiring continuous external intervention or complex manual configuration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If mobile station uses proxy content rights manager, then content access independence is improved, but security risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The smart module and security agent are implemented with localized security functions that operate independently but maintain security standards. Each component has specific security responsibilities: the smart module issues content presentation units with embedded rights information, while the security agent manages secure content keys with appropriate access controls, ensuring security is tailored to local operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the mobile station reports usage statistics and rights information back to the network. This feedback loop enables the network to monitor and control content access, maintaining security oversight even when the mobile station operates independently using stored content presentation units.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method for securely presenting content in a mobile station. The mobile station may have a smart module, a security agent, and an air interface for communicating with a content provider and with a remote content rights manager. The smart module stores content presentation units and has a proxy content rights manager for when the mobile station is unable to receive secure content keys from the remote content rights manager using the air interface. In the method, content presentation units are transferred from the remote rights manager to the smart module for storage. Secure content keys are requested from the smart module for allowing presentation of content requested while the mobile station is unable to communicate with the remote rights manager. The secure content keys are transferred, based on a stored content presentation unit, from the proxy content rights manager to the security agent for allowing content presentation.