U.S. patent application number 11/435425 was filed with the patent office on 2006-12-07 for cryptographic methods, apparatus and systems for storage media electronic rights management in closed and connected appliances.
This patent application is currently assigned to Intertrust Technologies Corp.. Invention is credited to Victor H. Shear, W. Olin Sibert, David M. VanWie, Robert P. Weber.
Application Number | 20060277122 11/435425 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23532729 |
Filed Date | 2006-12-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060277122 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shear; Victor H. ; et
al. |
December 7, 2006 |
Cryptographic methods, apparatus and systems for storage media
electronic rights management in closed and connected appliances
Abstract
A rights management arrangement for storage media such as
optical digital video disks (DVDs, also called digital versatile
disks) provides adequate copy protection in a limited, inexpensive
mass-produceable, low-capability platform such as a dedicated home
consumer disk player and also provides enhanced, more flexible
security techniques and methods when the same media are used with
platforms having higher security capabilities. A control object (or
set) defines plural rights management rules for instance, price for
performance or rules governing redistribution. Low capability
platforms may enable only a subset of the control rules such as
controls on copying or marking of played material. Higher
capability platforms may enable all (or different subsets) of the
rules. Cryptographically strong security is provided by encrypting
at least some of the information carried by the media and enabling
decryption based on the control set and/or other limitations. A
secure "software container" can be used to protectively encapsulate
(e.g., by cryptographic techniques) various digital property
content (e.g., audio, video, game, etc.) and control object (i.e.,
set of rules) information. A standardized container format is
provided for general use on/with various mediums and platforms. In
addition, a special purpose container may be provided for DVD
medium and appliances (e.g., recorders, players, etc.) that
contains DVD program content (digital property) and DVD medium
specific rules. The techniques, systems and methods disclosed
herein are capable of achieving compatibility with other protection
standards, such as for example, CGMA and Matsushita data protection
standards adopted for DVDs. Cooperative rights management may also
be provided, where plural networked rights management arrangements
collectively control a rights management event on one or more of
such arrangements.
Inventors: |
Shear; Victor H.; (Alamo,
CA) ; Sibert; W. Olin; (Lexington, MA) ;
VanWie; David M.; (Eugene, OR) ; Weber; Robert
P.; (Menlo Park, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FINNEGAN, HENDERSON, FARABOW, GARRETT & DUNNER;LLP
901 NEW YORK AVENUE, NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20001-4413
US
|
Assignee: |
Intertrust Technologies
Corp.
|
Family ID: |
23532729 |
Appl. No.: |
11/435425 |
Filed: |
May 16, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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08848077 |
May 15, 1997 |
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11435425 |
May 16, 2006 |
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PCT/US96/14262 |
Sep 4, 1996 |
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11435425 |
May 16, 2006 |
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08689606 |
Aug 12, 1996 |
5943422 |
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11435425 |
May 16, 2006 |
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08689754 |
Aug 12, 1996 |
6157721 |
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11435425 |
May 16, 2006 |
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08699712 |
Aug 12, 1996 |
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|
11435425 |
May 16, 2006 |
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PCT/US96/02303 |
Feb 13, 1996 |
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08699712 |
Aug 12, 1996 |
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08388107 |
Feb 13, 1995 |
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08699712 |
Aug 12, 1996 |
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60037931 |
Feb 14, 1997 |
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60018132 |
May 22, 1996 |
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60017722 |
May 15, 1996 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/28 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 9/3218 20130101;
H04L 2463/101 20130101; H04L 9/3263 20130101; H04N 2005/91364
20130101; G06Q 20/102 20130101; G06Q 20/1235 20130101; G06F 21/10
20130101; G06Q 50/188 20130101; H04L 63/12 20130101; H04N 21/435
20130101; G06F 2221/2137 20130101; G06Q 20/306 20200501; H04L
2209/56 20130101; H04N 21/2547 20130101; G06Q 50/184 20130101; G06Q
2220/16 20130101; G06Q 20/023 20130101; H04N 21/2347 20130101; H04N
21/44204 20130101; H04N 21/83555 20130101; G06Q 30/0609 20130101;
H04N 21/2362 20130101; H04N 21/835 20130101; H04L 9/0861 20130101;
H04N 21/4405 20130101; H04N 21/4627 20130101; G06F 2221/2135
20130101; G06Q 20/02 20130101; G06Q 20/24 20130101; H04L 63/0442
20130101; H04N 21/4325 20130101; G06Q 40/04 20130101; H04N 7/163
20130101; G06Q 20/12 20130101; H04L 9/006 20130101; H04L 2463/102
20130101; G06Q 20/123 20130101; G06F 21/31 20130101; H04L 63/0428
20130101; H04L 63/16 20130101; H04L 2209/60 20130101; H04N 21/443
20130101; G06Q 20/085 20130101; H04L 63/04 20130101; H04L 63/0435
20130101; H04L 63/123 20130101; H04L 2463/103 20130101; H04N
7/17309 20130101; G06Q 20/308 20200501; G06Q 10/087 20130101; G06Q
20/04 20130101; H04N 21/4143 20130101; G06Q 40/02 20130101; H04N
5/913 20130101; H04N 21/2541 20130101; H04L 63/08 20130101; G07F
9/026 20130101; G06F 2211/007 20130101; H04L 63/083 20130101; H04N
21/4345 20130101; H04L 9/0838 20130101; G06Q 30/0283 20130101; H04L
63/0823 20130101; H04L 63/10 20130101; H04N 21/2543 20130101; G06F
21/6209 20130101; G06Q 40/12 20131203; H04L 63/168 20130101; G06F
2221/2101 20130101; H04N 7/162 20130101; G06F 21/86 20130101; H04N
21/4753 20130101; H04N 21/8166 20130101; H04N 21/8355 20130101;
G06F 21/33 20130101; G06F 21/71 20130101; G06Q 30/06 20130101; H04N
21/8358 20130101; H04L 9/3247 20130101; H04L 63/02 20130101; H04L
63/20 20130101; H04N 21/23476 20130101; H04N 21/42646 20130101;
G06Q 20/14 20130101; H04L 9/0819 20130101; H04N 21/25875 20130101;
G06Q 30/0273 20130101; G06F 2221/0797 20130101; G06Q 30/0601
20130101; G06T 1/0021 20130101; H04N 21/6581 20130101; G06F
2221/0737 20130101; G06F 2221/2151 20130101; G06Q 20/10 20130101;
H04N 21/235 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/028 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 90/00 20060101
G06Q090/00 |
Claims
1. A system for converting analog signals to digital signals with
rights management protection, the system comprising: a device
configured to receive an analog signal, convert the analog signal
to a digital signal, and write the digital signal to a storage
medium, the device including a protected processing environment
configured to detect analog control information embedded in the
analog signal, generate digital control information based at least
in part on the analog control information, and associate the
digital control information with the digital signal.
2. The system of claim 1, in which the device is further configured
to use the digital control information to govern at least one use
of the digital signal.
3. The system of claim 1, in which the protected processing
environment is configured to use the analog control information to
govern conversion of the analog signal to the digital signal.
4. The system of claim 3, in which the device is adapted to write
the digital signal to the storage medium in degraded quality in
accordance with the analog control information.
5. The system of claim 1, in which the protected processing
environment is configured to generate additional digital control
information and associate the additional digital control
information with the digital signal.
6. The system of claim 1, in which the analog signal comprises one
or more watermarks containing the analog control information.
7. The system of claim 1, in which the protected processing
environment comprises a secure processing unit.
8. The system of claim 1, in which the storage medium is a digital
versatile disk.
9. A method of converting analog signals to digital signals with
rights management protection, the method comprising: detecting
analog control information embedded in an analog signal; converting
the analog signal to a digital signal; generating digital control
information based at least in part on the analog control
information; securely associating the digital control information
with the digital signal; and writing the digital signal and the
digital control information to a storage medium.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: receiving a request
to use the digital signal; and selectively granting the request
based at least in part on the digital control information.
11. The method of claim 9, further comprising: packaging the
digital signal and the digital control information in a secure
electronic container, and in which the step of writing the digital
signal and the digital control information to the storage medium
comprises writing the secure electronic container to the storage
medium.
12. The method of claim 9, further comprising generating additional
digital control information; and associating the additional digital
control information with the digital signal.
13. The method of claim 9, in which converting the analog signal to
the digital signal is performed in accordance with the analog
control information.
14. The method of claim 9, in which writing the digital signal and
the digital control information to a storage medium comprises
writing the digital signal in degraded quality.
15. The method of claim 9, in which the analog signal comprises one
or more watermarks containing the analog control information.
16. A system for converting digital signals to analog signals with
rights management protection, the system comprising: a device
configured to receive a digital signal and convert the digital
signal to an analog signal, the device including a protected
processing environment configured to detect digital control
information associated with the digital signal, generate analog
control information based at least in part on the digital control
information, and embed the analog control information in the analog
signal.
17. The system of claim 16, in which the protected processing
environment comprises a secure processing unit.
18. The system of claim 16, in which the protected processing
environment is configured to enforce the digital control
information associated with the digital signal when converting the
digital signal to an analog signal.
19. The system of claim 16, in which the analog control information
is embedded in the analog signal via one or more watermarks and/or
fingerprints.
20. The system of claim 16, in which the device is further
configured to write the analog signal to a storage medium.
21. The system of claim 20, in which the storage medium comprises a
VHS tape.
22. A method of converting digital content to analog content with
rights management protection, the method comprising: detecting
first digital control information associated with a first digital
content item, the first digital control information including one
or more rules specifying one or more permitted uses of the first
digital content item; converting the first digital content item to
an analog content item, including: generating analog control
information based at least in part on the first digital control
information, the analog control information including at least one
rule specifying at least one of the one or more permitted uses
specified by the first digital control information; and securely
associating the analog control information with the analog content
item.
23. The method of claim 22, in which the step of converting the
first digital content item to an analog content item is performed
in accordance with the first digital control information.
24. The method of claim 22, further comprising: writing the analog
content item and the analog control information to a storage
medium.
25. The method of claim 22, in which the step of securely
associating the analog control information with the analog content
item comprises inserting one or more watermarks and/or fingerprints
in the analog content item, the one or more watermarks and/or
fingerprints containing at least part of the analog control
information.
26. The method of claim 22, further comprising: converting the
analog content item to a second digital content item; generating
second digital control information based at least in part on the
analog control information; securely associating the second digital
control information with the second digital content item; and
writing the second digital content item and the second digital
control information to a storage medium.
27. The method of claim 26, further comprising: receiving a request
to use the second digital content item; selectively granting the
request based at least in part on the second digital control
information.
28. The method of claim 22, further comprising: receiving a request
to use the analog content item; selectively granting the request
based at least in part on the analog control information.
29. A system for converting electronic content in a first format to
a second format, the system comprising: a device configured to
receive a first electronic content item in a first format and
generate a second electronic content item in a second format, the
device including a protected processing environment configured to
detect control information in the first format associated with the
first electronic content item, generate control information in the
second format based at least in part on the control information in
the first format, and associate the control information in the
second format with the second electronic content item.
30. The system of claim 29, in which the protected processing
environment comprises a secure processing unit.
31. The system of claim 29, in which the protected processing
environment is configured to enforce the control information in the
first format when generating the second electronic content
item.
32. The system of claim 29, in which the device is further
configured to embed the control information in the second format in
the second electronic content item via one or more watermarks
and/or fingerprints.
33. The system of claim 29, in which the device is further
configured to write the second electronic content item to a storage
medium.
34. A method of converting electronic content items in a first
format to a second format, the method comprising: detecting first
control information in the first format associated with a first
electronic content item, the first control information including
one or more rules specifying one or more permitted uses of the
first electronic content item; generating a second electronic
content item in the second format, including: generating second
control information in the second format based at least in part on
the first control information, the second control information
including at least one rule specifying at least one of the one or
more permitted uses specified by the first control information; and
associating the second control information with the second
electronic content item.
35. The method of claim 34, in which the step of generating the
second electronic content item is performed in accordance with the
first control information.
36. The method of claim 34, further comprising: writing the second
electronic content item to a storage medium.
37. The method of claim 34, in which the step of associating the
second control information with the second electronic content item
comprises inserting one or more watermarks and/or fingerprints in
the second electronic content item.
38. The method of claim 34, further comprising: receiving a request
to use the second electronic content item; selectively granting the
request based at least in part on the second control
information.
39. The method of claim 34, in which the first format comprises a
digital format, and the second format comprises an analog
format.
40. The method of claim 34, in which the first format comprises an
analog format, and the second format comprises a digital format.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND PATENTS
[0001] This application is a continuation application of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 08/848,077 (U.S. Patent Publication No.
2001/0042043), filed May 15, 1997, titled "Cryptographic Methods,
Apparatus And Systems For Storage Media Electronic Rights
Management In Closed And Connected Appliances,"
[0002] which is pending and claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/037,931, filed Feb. 14, 1997, titled
"Cryptographic Method And Apparatus For Storage Media Electronic
Rights Management," and
[0003] which is a continuation-in-part application of
PCT/US96/14262 (PCT Publication No. WO 1998/10381), filed Sep. 4,
1996, titled "Trusted Infrastructure Support Systems, Methods And
Techniques For Secure Electronic Commerce, Electronic Transactions
And Rights Management," and
[0004] which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 08/689,606, filed Aug. 12, 1996, now issued
U.S. Pat. No. 5,943,422, titled "Steganographic Techniques For
Securely Delivering Electronic Digital Rights Management Control
Information Over Insecure Communication Channels," and
[0005] which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 08/689,754, filed Aug. 12, 1996, now issued
U.S. Pat. No. 6,157,721, titled "Systems And Methods Using
Cryptography To Protect Secure Computing Environments," and
[0006] which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 08/699,712, filed Aug. 12, 1996, now
abandoned, titled "Trusted Infrastructure Support Systems, Methods
And Techniques For Secure Electronic Commerce, Electronic
Transactions And Rights Management," which is a continuation
application of PCT/US96/02303 (PCT Publication No. WO 1996/27155),
filed Feb. 13, 1996, titled "System And Methods For Secure
Transaction Management And Electronic Rights Protection," and
[0007] which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No.
60/018,132, filed May 22, 1996, titled "Cryptographic Method And
Apparatus For Storage Media Electronic Rights Management," and
[0008] which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No.
60/017,722, filed May 15, 1996, titled "Cryptographic Method And
Apparatus For Storage Media Electronic Rights Management," and
[0009] which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 08/388,107, filed Feb. 13, 1995, titled
"System And Methods For Secure Transaction Management And
Electronic Rights Protection,"
[0010] all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0011] In addition, the specifications and drawings of the
following prior published patent specifications are incorporated by
reference into this patent specification:
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 4,827,508 entitled "Database Usage Metering
and Protection System and Method" dated May 2, 1989;
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 4,977,594 entitled "Database Usage Metering
and Protection System and Method" dated Dec. 11, 1990;
[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 5,050,213 entitled "Database Usage Metering
and Protection System and Method" dated Sep. 17, 1991; and
[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 5,410,598 entitled "Database Usage Metering
and Protection System and Method" dated Apr. 25, 1995; and
[0016] European Patent No. EP 329681 entitled "Database Usage
Metering and Protection System and Method" dated Jan. 17, 1996.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0017] This invention relates to information protection techniques
using cryptography, and more particularly to techniques using
cryptography for managing rights to information stored on portable
media--one example being optical media such as Digital Video Disks
(also known as "Digital Versatile Disks" and/or "DVDs"). This
invention also relates to information protection and rights
management techniques having selectable applicability depending
upon, for example, the resources of the device being used by the
consumer (e.g., personal computer or standalone player), other
attributes of the device (such as whether the device can be and/or
typically is connected to an information network ("connected"
versus "unconnected")), and available rights. This invention
further relates, in part, to cooperative rights management--where
plural networked rights management arrangements collectively
control a rights management event on one or more of such
arrangements. Further, important aspects of this invention can be
employed in rights management for electronic information made
available through broadcast and/or network downloads and/or use of
non-portable storage media, either independent of, or in
combination with portable media.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0018] The entertainment industry has been transformed by the
pervasiveness of home consumer electronic devices that can play
video and/or audio from pre-recorded media. This transformation
began in the early 1900s with the invention of the
phonograph--which for the first time allowed a consumer to listen
to his or her favorite band, orchestra or singer in his or her home
whenever he or she wishes. The availability of inexpensive video
cassette recorders/players beginning in the early 1980s brought
about a profound revolution in the movie and broadcast industries,
creating an entirely new home consumer market for films,
documentaries, music videos, exercise videos, etc.
[0019] The entertainment industry has long searched for optimal
media for distributing content to home consumers. The original
phonograph cylinders distributed by Thomas Edison and other
phonograph pioneers had the advantage that they were difficult to
copy, but suffered from various disadvantages such as high
manufacturing costs, low resistance to breakage, very limited
playback time, relatively low playback quality, and susceptibility
to damage from wear, scratching or melting. Later-developed wax and
vinyl disks could hold more music material but suffered from many
of the same disadvantages. Magnetic tapes, on the other hand, could
be manufactured very inexpensively and could hold a large amount of
program material (e.g., 2, 4 or even 6 hours of video and/or
audio). Such magnetic tapes could reproduce program material at
relatively high quality, and were not as susceptible to damage or
wearing out. However, despite the many clear advantages that
magnetic tape provides over other media, the entertainment industry
has never regarded it as an ideal or optimum medium because of its
great susceptibility to copying.
[0020] Magnetic tape has the very flexible characteristic that it
can be relatively easily recorded on. Indeed, the process for
recording a magnetic tape is nearly as straightforward as that
required for playing back pre-recorded content. Because of the
relative ease by which magnetic tape can be recorded, home consumer
magnetic tape equipment manufacturers have historically provided
dual mode equipment that can both record and play back magnetic
tapes. Thus, home audio and video tape players have traditionally
had a "record" button that allows a consumer to record his or her
own program material on a blank (un-recorded) magnetic tape. While
this recording ability has given consumers additional flexibility
(e.g., the ability to record a child's first words for posterity,
and the ability to capture afternoon soap operas for evening
viewing), it has unfortunately also been the foundation of an
illegal multi-billion dollar content pirating industry that
produces millions of illegal, counterfeit copies every year. This
illegal pirating operation--which is international in scope-leeches
huge amounts of revenue every year from the world's major
entertainment content producers. The entertainment industry must
pass along these losses to honest consumers--resulting in higher
box office prices, and higher video and audio tape sales and rental
prices.
[0021] In the mid 1980s, the audio entertainment industry developed
the optical compact disk as an answer to some of these problems.
The optical compact disk--a thin, silvery plastic platter a few
inches in diameter--can hold an hour or more of music or other
audio programming in digital form. Such disks were later also used
for computer data. The disk can be manufactured very inexpensively,
and provides extremely high quality playback that is resistant to
noise because of the digital techniques used to record and recover
the information. Because the optical disk can be made from plastic,
it is light weight, virtually unbreakable, and highly resistant to
damage from normal consumer handling (unlike the prior vinyl
records that were easily scratched or worn down even by properly
functioning phonographs). And, because recording on an optical disk
is, so far, significantly more difficult than playing back an
optical disk, home consumer equipment providing both recording and
playback capabilities is unlikely, in the near future, to be as
cost-effective as play-only equipment--greatly reducing the
potential for illicit copying. Because of these overwhelming
advantages, the music industry has rapidly embraced the new digital
compact disk technology--virtually replacing older audio vinyl disk
media within the space of a few short years.
[0022] Indeed, the threat of widespread and easy unauthorized
copying in the absence of rights management technologies apparently
has been an important contributing factor to the demise of digital
audio tape (DAT) as a media for music distribution and, more
importantly, home audio recording. Rightsholders in recorded music
vigorously opposed the widespread commercialization of inexpensive
DAT technology that lacked rights management capabilities since the
quality of the digital recording was completely faithful to the
digital source on, for example, music CDs. Of course, the lack of
rights management was not the only factor at work, since compared
with optical media, tape format made random access difficult, for
example, playing songs out of sequence.
[0023] The video entertainment industry is on the verge of a
revolution similar to that wrought by music CDs based on movies in
digital format distributed on high capacity read-only optical
media. For example, digital optical disk technology has advanced to
the point where it is now possible to digitally record, among other
things, a full length motion picture (plus sound) on one side of a
5'' plastic optical disk. This same optical disk can accommodate
multiple high-quality digital audio channels (e.g., to record
multi-channel "sensurround" sound for home theaters and/or to
record film dialog in multiple different languages on the same
disk). This same technology makes it possible to access each
individual frame or image of a movie for still image reproduction
or--even more exciting--to provide an unprecedented "random access"
playback capability that has never before existed in home consumer
equipment. This "random access" playback could be used, for
example, to delete violence, foul language or nudity at time of
playback so that parents could select a "PG" playback version of an
"R" rated film at the press of a button. The "random access"
capability also has exciting possibilities in terms of allowing
viewers to interact with the pre-recorded content (e.g., allowing a
health enthusiast to select only those portions of an exercise
video helpful to a particular day's workout). See, for example,
"Applications Requirements for Innovative Video Programming," DVD
Conference Proceedings (Interactive Multimedia Association, 19-20
Oct. 1995, Sheraton Universal Hotel, Universal City, Calif.).
[0024] Non-limiting examples of the DVD family of optical media
include: [0025] DVD (Digital Video Disk, Digital Versatile Disk), a
non-limiting example of which includes consumer appliances that
play movies recorded on DVD disks; [0026] DVD-ROM (DVD-Read Only
Memory), a non-limiting example of which includes a DVD read-only
drive and disk connected to a computer or other appliance; [0027]
DVD-RAM (DVD Random Access Memory), a non-limiting example of which
includes a read/write drive and optical media in, for example,
consumer appliances for home recording and in a computer or other
appliance for the broadest range of specific applications; and
[0028] Any other high capacity optical media presently known or
unknown.
[0029] "DVDs" are, of course, not limited to use with movies. Like
CDs, they may also be used for other kinds of information, for
example: [0030] sound recordings [0031] software [0032] databases
[0033] games [0034] karaoke [0035] multimedia [0036] distance
learning [0037] documentation [0038] policies and manuals [0039]
any kind of digital data or other information [0040] any
combination of kinds of digital data or other information [0041]
any other uses presently known or unknown.
[0042] The broad range of DVD uses presents a technical challenge:
how can the information content distributed on such disks, which
might be any kind or combination of video, sound, or other data or
information broadly speaking, be adequately protected while
preserving or even maximizing consumer flexibility? One widely
proposed requirement for the new technology (mainly within the
context of video), is, to the extent copying is permitted at all,
to either: (a) allow a consumer to make a first generation copy of
the program content for their own use, but prevent the consumer
from making "copies of copies", or multi-generational copies of a
given property (thus keeping honest people honest); or (b) to allow
unlimited copying for those properties that rightsholders do not
wish to protect against copying, or which consumers have made
themselves.
[0043] However, providing only such simplistic and limited copy
protection in a non-extensible manner may turn out to be extremely
shortsighted--since more sophisticated protection and/or rights
management objectives (e.g., more robust and selective application
of copy protection and other protection techniques, enablement of
pay-per-view models, the ability of the consumer to make use of
enhanced functionality such as extracting material or interactivity
upon paying extra charges, and receiving credit for redistribution,
to name a few) could be very useful now or in the future. Moreover,
in optimally approaching protection and rights management
objectives, it is extremely useful to take differing business
opportunities and threats into account that may relate to
information delivered via DVD media, for example, depending upon
available resources of the device and/or whether the device is
connected or unconnected.
[0044] More sophisticated rights management capabilities will also
allow studios and others who have rights in movies and/or sound
recordings to better manage these important assets, in one example,
to allow authorized parties to repurpose pieces of digital film,
video and/or audio, whether specific and/or arbitrary pieces, to
create derivative works, multimedia games, in one non-limiting
example. Solutions proposed to date for protecting DVD content have
generally focused solely on limited copy protection objectives and
have failed to adequately address or even recognize more
sophisticated rights management objectives and requirements. More
specifically, one copy protection scheme for the initial generation
of DVD appliances and media is based on an encryption method
developed initially by Matsushita and the simple CGMA control codes
that indicate permitted copying: a one-generation copy, no copies,
or unlimited copying.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONS
[0045] Comprehensive solutions for protecting and managing
information in systems that incorporate high capacity optical media
such as DVD require, among other things, methods and systems that
address two broad sets of problems: (a) digital to analog
conversion (and vice versa); and (b) the use of such optical media
in both connected and unconnected environments. The inventions
disclosed herein address these and other problems. For example, in
the context of analog to digital conversion (and vice versa), it is
contemplated that, in accordance with the present inventions, at
least some of the information used to protect properties and/or
describe rights management and/or control information in digital
form could also be carried along with the analog signal. Devices
that convert from one format and/or medium to another can, for
example, incorporate some or all of the control and identifying
information in the new context(s), or at least not actively delete
such information during the conversion process. In addition, the
present inventions provide control, rights management and/or
identification solutions for the digital realm generally, and also
critically important technologies that can be implemented in
consumer appliances, computers, and other devices. One objective of
the inventions is to provide powerful rights management techniques
that are useful in both the consumer electronics and computer
technology markets, and that also enable future evolution of
technical capabilities and business models. Another non-limiting
objective is to provide a comprehensive control, rights management
and/or identification solution that remains compatible, where
possible, with existing industry standards for limited function
copy protection and for encryption.
[0046] The present inventions provide rights management and
protection techniques that fully satisfy the limited copy
protection objectives currently being voiced by the entertainment
industry for movies while also flexibly and extensibly
accommodating a wide range of more sophisticated rights management
options and capabilities.
[0047] Some important aspects of the present inventions (that are
more fully discussed elsewhere in this application) include: [0048]
Selection of control information associated with information
recorded on DVD media (for example, rules and usage consequence
control information, that comprise non-limiting example elements of
a Virtual Distribution Environment (VDE)) that is based at least in
part on class of appliance, for example, type of appliance,
available resources and/or rights; [0049] Enabling such selected
control information to be, at least in part, a subset of control
information used on other appliances and/or classes of appliance,
or completely different control information; [0050] Protecting
information output from a DVD device, such as applying rights
management techniques disclosed in Ginter et al. and the present
application to the signals transmitted using an IEEE 1394 port (or
other serial interface) on a DVD player; [0051] Creation of
protected digital content based on an analog source; [0052]
Reflecting differing usage rights and/or content availability in
different countries and/or regions of the world; [0053] Securely
managing information on DVD media such that certain portions may be
used on one or more classes of appliance (e.g., a standalone DVD
player), while other portions may be used on the same or different
classes of appliance (e.g., a standalone DVD player or a PC);
[0054] Securely storing and/or transmitting information associated
with payment, auditing, controlling and/or otherwise managing
content recorded on DVD media, including techniques related to
those disclosed in Ginter et al. and in Shear et al.; [0055]
Updating and/or replacing encryption keys used in the course of
appliance operation to modify the scope of information that may be
used by appliances and/or classes of appliances; [0056] Protecting
information throughout the creation, distribution, and usage
process, for example, by initially protecting information collected
by a digital camera, and continuing protection and rights
management through the editing process, production, distribution,
usage, and usage reporting. [0057] Allowing "virtual rights
machines," consisting of multiple devices and/or other systems that
participate and work together in a permanently or in a temporarily
connected network to share some or all of the rights management for
a single and/or multiple nodes including, for example, allowing
resources available in plural such devices and/or other systems,
and/or rights associated with plural parties and/or groups using
and/or controlling such devices and/or other systems, to be
employed in concert (according to rights related rules and
controls) so as to govern one or more electronic events on any one
or more of such devices and/or other systems, such event governance
including, for example: viewing, editing, subsetting,
anthologizing, printing, copying, titling, extracting, saving,
and/or redistributing rights protected digital content. [0058]
Allowing for the exchange of rights among peer-to-peer relating
devices and/or other systems, wherein such devices and/or other
systems participate in a temporary or permanently connected
network, and wherein such rights are bartered, sold for currency,
and/or otherwise exchanged for value and/or consideration where
such value and/or consideration is exchanged between such
peer-to-peer participating commercial and/or consumer devices
and/or other systems. General Purpose DVD/Cost-Effective Large
Capacity Digital Media Rights Protection and Management
[0059] The inventions described herein can be used with any large
capacity storage arrangement where cost-effective distribution
media is used for commercial and/or consumer digital information
delivery and DVD, as used herein, should be read to include any
such system.
[0060] Copy protection and rights management are important in
practical DVD systems and will continue to be important in other
large capacity storage, playback, and recording systems, presently
known or unknown, in the future. Protection is needed for some or
all of the information delivered (or written) on most DVD media.
Such protection against copying is only one aspect of rights
management. Other aspects involve allowing rightsholders and others
to manage their commercial interests (and to have them enforced,
potentially at a distance in time and/or space) regardless of
distribution media and/or channels, and the particular nature of
the receiving appliance and/or device. Such rights management
solutions that incorporate DVD will become even more significant as
future generations of recordable DVD media and appliances come to
market. Rightsholders will want to maintain and assert their rights
as, for example, video, sound recordings, and other digital
properties are transmitted from one device to another and as
options for recording become available in the market.
[0061] The apparent convergence between consumer appliances and
computers, increasing network and modem speeds, the declining cost
of computer power and bandwidth, and the increasing capacity of
optical media will combine to create a world of hybrid business
models in which digital content of all kinds may be distributed on
optical media played on at least occasionally connected appliances
and/or computers, in which the one-time purchase models common in
music CDs and initial DVD movie offerings are augmented by other
models, for example, lease, pay per view, and rent to own, to name
just few. Consumers may be offered a choice among these and other
models from the same or different distributors and/or other
providers. Payment for use may happen over a network and/or other
communications channel to some payment settlement service. Consumer
usage and audit information may flow back to creators,
distributors, and/or other participants. The elementary copy
protection technologies for DVD now being introduced cannot support
these and other sophisticated models.
[0062] As writable DVD appliances and media become available,
additional hybrid models are possible, including, for example, the
distribution of digital movies over satellite and cable systems.
Having recorded a movie, a consumer may elect a lease, rental,
pay-per-view, or other model if available. As digital television
comes to market, the ability of writable DVDs to make faithful
copies of on-air programming creates additional model possibilities
and/or rights management requirements. Here too, simplistic copy
protection mechanisms currently being deployed for the initial
read-only DVD technologies will not suffice.
Encryption is a Means, Not an End
[0063] Encryption is useful in protecting intellectual properties
in digital format, whether on optical media such as DVD, on
magnetic media such as disk drives, in the active memory of a
digital device and/or while being transmitted across computer,
cable, satellite, and other kinds of networks or transmission
means. Historically, encryption was used to send secret messages.
With respect to DVD, a key purpose of encryption is to require the
use of a copy control and rights management system in order to
ensure that only those authorized to do so by rightsholders can
indeed use the content.
[0064] But encryption is more of a means, rather than an end. A
central issue is how to devise methods for ensuring, to the maximal
extent possible, that only authorized devices and parties can
decrypt the protected content and/or otherwise use information only
to the extent permitted by the rightsholder(s) and/or other
relevant parties in the protected content.
The Present Inventions
[0065] The present inventions provide powerful right management
capabilities. In accordance with one aspect provided by the present
invention, encrypted digital properties can be put on a DVD in a
tamper-resistant software "container" such as, for example, a
"DigiBox" secure container, together with rules about "no copy"
and/or "copy" and/or "numbers of permitted copies" that may apply
and be enforced by consumer appliances. These same rules, and/or
more flexible and/or different rules, can be enforced by computer
devices or other systems that may provide more and/or different
capabilities (e.g., editing, excerpting, one or more payment
methods, increased storage capability for more detailed audit
information, etc.). In addition, the "software container" such as
for example, a "DigiBox" secure container, can store certain
content in the "clear" (that is, in unencrypted form). For example,
movie or music titles, copyright statements, audio samples,
trailers, and/or advertising can be stored in the clear and/or
could be displayed by any appropriate application or device. Such
information could be protected for authenticity (integrity) when
available for viewing, copying, and/or other activities. At the
same time, valuable digital properties of all kinds-film, video,
image, text, software, and multimedia.cndot. may be stored at least
partially encrypted to be used only by authorized devices and/or
applications and only under permitted, for example
rightsholder-approved, circumstances.
[0066] Another aspect provided in accordance with the present
invention (in combination with certain capabilities disclosed in
Ginter et al.) is that multiple sets of rules could be stored in
the same "container" on a DVD disk. The software then applies rules
depending on whether the movie, for example, was to be played by a
consumer appliance or computer, whether the particular apparatus
has a backchannel (e.g., an on-line connection), the national
and/or other legal or geographic region in which the player is
located and/or the movie is being displayed, and/or whether the
apparatus has components capable of identifying and applying such
rules. For example, some usage rules may apply when information is
played by a consumer device, while other rules may apply when
played by a computer. The choice of rules may be left up to the
rightsholder(s) and/or other participants--or some rules may be
predetermined (e.g., based on the particular environment or
application). For example, film rightsholders may wish to limit
copying and ensure that excerpts are not made regardless of the
context in which the property is played. This limitation might be
applied only in certain legal or geographic areas. Alternatively,
rightsholders of sound recordings may wish to enable excerpts of
predetermined duration (e.g., no more than 20 seconds) and that
these excerpts are not used to construct a new commercial work. In
some cases, governments may require that only "PG" versions of
movies and/or the equivalent rating for TV programs may be played
on equipment deployed in their jurisdiction, and/or that the
applicable taxes, fees and the like are automatically calculated
and/or collected if payments related to content recorded on DVD is
requested and/or performed (e.g., pay-per-use of a movie, game,
database, software product, etc.; and/or orders from a catalog
stored at least in part on DVD media, etc.).
[0067] In a microprocessor controlled (or augmented) digital
consumer appliance, such rules contemplated by the present
inventions can be enforced, for example, without requiring more
than a relatively few additions to a central, controlling
microprocessor (or other CPU, a IEEE 1394 port controller, or other
content handling control circuitry), and/or making available some
ROM or flash memory to hold the necessary software. In addition,
each ROM (or flash or other memory, which such memory may be
securely connected to, or incorporated into, such control circuitry
in a single, manufactured component) can, in one example, contain
one or more digital documents or "certificate(s)" that uniquely
identifies a particular appliance, individual identity,
jurisdiction, appliance class(es), and/or other chosen parameters.
An appliance can, for example, be programmed to send a copy of a
digital property to another digital device only in encrypted form
and only inside a new, tamper-resistant "software container." The
container may also, for example, carry with it a code indicating
that it is a copy rather than an original that is being sent. The
device may also put a unique identifier of a receiving device
and/or class of devices in the same secure container. Consequently,
for example, in one particular arrangement, the copy may be
playable only on the intended receiving device, class(es) of
devices, and/or devices in a particular region in one non-limiting
example and rights related to use of such copy may differ according
to these and/or other variables.
[0068] The receiving device, upon detecting that the digital
property is indeed a copy, can, for example, be programmed not to
make any additional copies that can be played on a consumer device
and/or other class(es) of devices. If a device detects that a
digital property is about to be played on a device and/or other
class(es) of devices other than the one it was intended for, it can
be programmed to refuse to play that copy (if desired).
[0069] The same restrictions applied in a consumer appliance can,
for example, be enforced on a computer equipped to provide rights
management protection in accordance with the present inventions. In
this example, rules may specify not to play a certain film and/or
other content on any device other than a consumer appliance and/or
classes of appliances, for example. Alternatively, these same
powerful capabilities could be used to specify different usage
rules and payment schemes that would apply when played on a
computer (and/or in other appliances and/or classes of appliances),
as the rightsholder(s) may desire, for example, different pricing
based upon different geographic or legal locales where content is
played.
[0070] In addition, if "backchannels" are present--for example,
set-top boxes with bi-directional communications or computers
attached to networks--the present inventions contemplate
electronic, independent delivery of new rules if desired or
required for a given property. These new rules may, for example,
specify discounts, time-limited sales, advertising subsidies,
and/or other information if desired. As noted earlier,
determination of these independently delivered rules is entirely up
to the rightsholder(s) and/or others in a given model.
[0071] The following are two specific examples of a few aspects of
the present invention discussed above:
1. An Analog to Digital Copying Example
[0072] a) Bob has a VHS tape he bought (or rented) and wants to
make a copy for his own use. The analog film has copy control codes
embedded so that they do not interfere with the quality of the
signal. Bob has a writable DVD appliance that is equipped to
provide rights management protection in accordance with the present
invention. Bob's DVD recorder detects the control codes embedded in
the analog signal (for example, such recorder may detect watermarks
and/or fingerprints carrying rights related control and/or usage
information), creates a new secure container to hold the content
rules and describe the encoded film, and creates new control rules
(and/or delivers to a secure VDE system for storage and reporting
certain usage history related information such as user name, time,
etc.) based on the analog control codes and/or other information it
detected and that are then placed in the DigiBox and/or into a
secure VDE installation data store such as a secure data base. Bob
can play that copy back on his DVD appliance whenever he
chooses.
[0073] b) Bob gives the DVD disk he recorded to Jennifer who wishes
to play it on computer that has a DVD drive. Her computer is
equipped to provide rights management protection in accordance with
the present invention. Her computer opens the "DigiBox," detects
that this copy is being used on a device different from the one
that recorded it (an unauthorized device) and refuses to play the
copy.
[0074] c) Bob gives the DVD disk to Jennifer as before, but now
Jennifer contacts electronically a source of new rules and usage
consequences, which might be the studio, a distributor, and/or a
rights and permissions clearinghouse, (or she may have sufficient
rights already on her player to play the copy). The source sends a
DigiBox container to Jennifer with rules and consequences that
permit playing the movie on her computer while at the same time
charging her for use, even though the movie was recorded on DVD by
Bob rather than by the studio or other value chain participant.
2. A Digital to Analog Copying Example
[0075] a) Jennifer comes home from work, inserts a rented or owned
DVD into a player connected to, or an integral part of her TV, and
plays the disk. In a completely transparent way, the film is
decrypted, the format is converted from digital to analog, and
displayed on her analog TV.
[0076] b) Jennifer wishes to make a copy for her own use. She plays
the film on an DVD device incorporating rights management
protection in accordance with the present invention, that opens the
DigiBox secure container, accesses the control information, and
decrypts the film. She records the analog version on her VCR which
records a high-quality copy.
[0077] c) Jennifer gives the VCR copy to Doug who wishes to make a
copy of the analog tape for his own use, but the analog control
information forces the recording VCR to make a lower-quality copy,
or may prevent copying. In another non-limiting example, more
comprehensive rights management information may be encoded in the
analog output using the methods and/or systems described in more
detail in the above referenced Van Wie and Weber patent
application.
[0078] In accordance with one aspect provided by this invention,
the same portable storage medium, such as a DVD, can be used with a
range of different, scaled protection environments providing
different protection capabilities. Each of the different
environments may be enabled to use the information carried by the
portable storage medium based on rights management techniques
and/or capabilities supported by the particular environment. For
example, a simple, inexpensive home consumer disk player may
support copy protection and ignore more sophisticated and complex
content rights the player is not equipped to enable. A more
technically capable and/or secure platform (e.g., a personal
computer incorporating a secure processing component possibly
supported by a network connection, or a "smarter" appliance or
device) may, for example, use the same portable storage medium and
provide enhanced usage rights related to use of the content carried
by the medium based on more complicated rights management
techniques (e.g., requiring payment of additional compensation,
providing secure extraction of selected content portions for
excerpting or anthologizing, etc.). For example, a control set
associated with the portable storage medium may accommodate a wide
variety of different usage capabilities--with the more advanced or
sophisticated uses requiring correspondingly more advanced
protection and rights management enablement found on some platforms
and not others. Lower-capability environments can, as another
example, ignore (or not enable or attempt to use) rights in the
control set that they don't understand, while higher-capability
environments (having awareness of the overall capabilities they
provide), may, for example, enable the rights and corresponding
protection techniques ignored by the lower-capability
environments.
[0079] In accordance with another aspect provided by the invention,
a media- and platform-independent security component can be scaled
in terms of functionality and performance such that the elementary
rights management requirements of consumer electronics devices are
subsets of a richer collection of functionality that may be
employed by more advanced platforms. The security component can be
either a physical, hardware component, or a "software emulation" of
the component. In accordance with this feature, an instance of
medium (or more correctly, one version of the content irrespective
of media) can be delivered to customers independently of their
appliance or platform type with the assurance that the content will
be protected. Platforms less advanced in terms of security and/or
technical capabilities may provide only limited rights to use the
content, whereas more advanced platforms may provide more expansive
rights based on correspondingly appropriate security conditions and
safeguards.
[0080] In accordance with a further aspect provided by the present
invention, mass-produced, inexpensive home consumer DVD players
(such as those constructed, for example, with minimum complexity
and parts count) can be made to be compatible with the same DVDs or
other portable storage media used by more powerful and/or secure
platforms (such as, for example, personal computers) without
degrading advanced rights management functions the storage media
may provide in combination with the more powerful and/or secure
platforms. The rights management and protection arrangement
provided and supported in accordance with this aspect of the
invention thus supports inexpensive basic copy protection and can
further serve as a commercial convergence technology supporting a
bridging that allows usage in accordance with rights of the same
content by a limited resource consumer device while adequately
protecting the content and further supporting more sophisticated
security levels and capabilities by (a) devices having greater
resources for secure rights management, and/or (b) devices having
connectivity with other devices or systems that can supply further
secure rights management resources. This aspect of the invention
allows multiple devices and/or other systems that participate and
work together in a permanently or temporarily connected network to
share the rights management for at least one or more electronic
events (e.g., managed through the use of protected processing
environments such as described in Ginter et al.) occuring at a
single, or across multiple nodes and further allows the rights
associated with parties and/or groups using and/or controlling such
multiple devices and/or other systems to be employed according to
underlying rights related rules and controls, this allowing, for
example, rights available through a corporate executive's device to
be combined with or substitute for, in some manner, the rights of
one or more subordinate corporate employees when their computing or
other devices of these parties are coupled in a temporary
networking relationship and operating in the appropriate context.
In general, this aspect of the invention allows distributed rights
management for DVD or otherwise packaged and delivered content that
is protected by a distributed, peer-to-peer rights management. Such
distributed rights management can operate whether the DVD appliance
or other electronic information usage device is participating in a
permanently or temporarily connected network and whether or not the
relationships among the devices and/or other systems participating
in the distributed rights management arrangement are relating
temporarily or have a more permanent operating relationship. In
this way, the same device may have different rights available
depending on the context in which that device is operating (e.g.,
in a corporate environment such as in collaboration with other
individuals and/or with groups, in a home environment internally
and/or in collaboration with external one or more specified
individuals and/or other parties, in a retail environment, in a
classroom setting as a student where a student's notebook might
cooperate in rights management with a classroom server and/or
instructor PC, in a library environment where multiple parties are
collaboratively employing differing rights to use research
materials, on a factory floor where a hand held device works in
collaboration with control equipment to securely and appropriately
perform proprietary functions, and so on).
[0081] For example, coupling a limited resource device arrangement,
such as a DVD appliance, with an inexpensive network computer (NC),
or a personal computer (PC), may allow an augmenting (or replacing)
of rights management capabilities and/or specific rights of parties
and/or devices by permitting rights management to be a result of a
combination of some or all of the rights and/or rights management
capabilities of the DVD appliance and those of an Network or
Personal Computer (NC or PC). Such rights may be further augmented,
or otherwise modified or replaced by the availability of rights
management capabilities provided by a trusted (secure) remote
network rights authority.
[0082] These aspects of the present invention can allow the same
device, in this example a DVD appliance, to support different
arrays, e.g., degrees, of rights management capabilities, in
disconnected and connected arrangements and may further allow
available rights to result from the availability of rights and/or
rights management capabilities resulting from the combination of
rights management devices and/or other systems. This may include
one or more combinations of some or all of the rights available
through the use of a "less" secure and/or resource poor device or
system which are augmented, replaced, or otherwise modified through
connection with a device or system that is "more" or "differently"
secure and/or resource rich and/or possesses differing or different
rights, wherein such connection employs rights and/or management
capabilities of either and/or both devices as defined by rights
related rules and controls that describe a shared rights management
arrangement.
[0083] In the latter case, connectivity to a logically and/or
physically remote rights management capability can expand (by, for
example, increasing the available secure rights management
resources) and/or change the character of the rights available to
the user of the DVD appliance or a DVD appliance when such device
is coupled with an NC, personal computer, local server, and/or
remote rights authority. In this rights augmentation scenario,
additional content portions may be available, pricing may change,
redistribution rights may change (e.g., be expanded), content
extraction rights may be increased, etc.
[0084] Such "networking rights management" can allow for a
combination of rights management resources of plural devices and/or
other systems in diverse logical and/or physical relationships,
resulting in either greater or differing rights through the
enhanced resources provided by connectivity with one or more
"remote" rights authorities. Further, while providing for increased
and/or differing rights management capability and/or rights, such a
connectivity based rights management arrangement can support
multi-locational content availability, by providing for seamless
integration of remotely available content, for example, content
stored in remote, Internet world wide web-based, database supported
content repositories, with locally available content on one or more
DVD discs.
[0085] In this instance, a user may experience not only increased
or differing rights but may use both local DVD content and
supplementing content (i.e., content that is more current from a
time standpoint, more costly, more diverse, or complementary in
some other fashion, etc.). In such an instance, a DVD appliance
and/or a user of a DVD appliance (or other device or system
connected to such appliance) may have the same rights, differing,
and/or different rights applied to locally and remotely available
content, and portions of local and remotely available content may
themselves be subject to differing or different rights when used by
a user and/or appliance. This arrangement can support an overall,
profound increase in user content opportunities that are seamlessly
integrated and efficiently available to users in a single content
searching and/or usage activity by exploiting the rights management
and content resources of plural, connected arrangements.
[0086] Such a rights augmenting remote authority may be directly
coupled to a DVD appliance and/or other device by modem, or
directly or indirectly coupled through the use of an I/O interface,
such as a serial 1394 compatible controller (e.g., by communicating
between a 1394 enabled DVD appliance and a local personal computer
that functions as a smart synchronous or asynchronous information
communications interface to such one or more remote authorities,
including a local PC or NC or server that serves as a local rights
management authority augmenting and/or supplying the rights
management in a DVD appliance).
[0087] In accordance with yet another aspect provided by this
invention, rights provided to, purchased, or otherwise acquired by
a participant and/or participant DVD appliance or other system can
be exchanged among such peer-to-peer relating devices and/or other
systems through the use of one or more permenantly or temporarily
networked arrangments. In such a case, rights may be bartered,
sold, for currency, otherwise exchanged for value, and/or loaned so
long as such devices and/or other systems participate in a rights
management system, for example, such as the Virtual Distribution
Environment described in Ginter, et al., and employ rights transfer
and other rights management capabilities described therein. For
example, this aspect of the present invention allows parties to
exchange games or movies in which they have purchased rights.
Continuing the example, an individual might buy some of a
neighbor's usage rights to watch a movie, or transfer to another
party credit received from a game publisher for the successful
superdistribution of the game to several acquaintances, where such
credit is transferred (exchanged) to a friend to buy some of the
friend's rights to play a different game a certain number of times,
etc. In accordance with yet another aspect provided by this
invention, content carried by a portable storage medium such as a
DVD is associated with one or more encryption keys and a secure
content identifier. The content itself (or information required to
use the content) is at least partially cryptographically
encrypted--with associated decryption keys being required to
decrypt the content before the content can be used. The decryption
keys may themselves be encrypted in the form of an encrypted key
block. Different key management and access techniques may be used,
depending on the platform.
[0088] In accordance with still yet another aspect provided by this
invention, electronic appliances that "create" digital content (or
even analog content)--e.g., a digital camera/video recorder or
audio recorder--can be readily equipped with appropriate hardware
and/or software so as to produce content that is provided within a
secure container at the outset. For example, content recorded by a
digital camera could be immediately packaged in a secure container
by the camera as it is recording. The camera could then output
content already packaged in a secure container(s). This could
preclude the need to encapsulate the content at a later point in
time or at a later production stage, thus, saving at least one
production-process step in the overall implementation of electronic
rights management in accordance with the present invention.
Moreover, it is contemplated that the very process of "reading"
content for use in the rights management environment might occur at
many steps along a conventional production and distribution process
(such as during editing and/or the so called "pressing" of a master
DVD or audio disk, for example). Accordingly, another significant
advantage of the present invention is that rights management of
content essentially can be extended throughout and across each
appropriate content creation, editing, distribution, and usage
stages to provide a seamless content protection architecture that
protects rights throughout an entire content life cycle.
[0089] In one example embodiment, the storage medium itself carries
key block decryption key(s) in a hidden portion of the storage
medium not normally accessible through typical access and/or
copying techniques. This hidden key may be used by a drive to
decrypt the encrypted key block--such decrypted key block then
being used to selectively decrypt content and related information
carried by the medium. The drive may be designed in a secure and
tamper-resistant manner so that the hidden keys are never exposed
outside of the drive to provide an additional security layer.
[0090] In accordance with another example embodiment, a video disk
drive may store and maintain keys used to decrypt an encrypted key
block. The key block decryption keys may be stored in a drive key
store, and may be updatable if the video disk drive may at least
occasionally use a communications path provided, for example, by a
set top box, network port or other communications route.
[0091] In accordance with a further example embodiment, a virtual
distribution environment secure node including a protected
processing environment such as a hardware-based secure processing
unit may control the use of content carried by a portable storage
medium such as a digital video disk in accordance with control
rules and methods specified by one or more secure containers
delivered to the secure node on the medium itself and/or over an
independent communications path such as a network.
[0092] Certain conventional copy protection for DVD currently
envisions CGMA copy protection control codes combined with certain
encryption techniques first proposed apparently by Matsushita
Corporation. Notwithstanding the limited benefits of this approach
to digital property protection, the present invention is capable of
providing a supplementary, compatible, and far more comprehensive
rights management system while also providing additional and/or
different options and solutions. The following are some additional
examples of advantageous features provided in accordance with the
inventions: [0093] Strong security to fully answer content supplier
needs. [0094] Value chain management automation and efficiencies
including distributed rights protection, "piece of the tick"
payment disaggregation to value chain participants, cost-effective
micro-transaction management, and superdistribution, including
offline micropayment and microtransaction support for at least
occasionally connected devices. [0095] Simplified, more efficient
channel management including support for the use of the same
content deliverable on limited resource, greater resource,
standalone, and/or connected devices. [0096] Can be used with any
medium and application type and/or all forms of content and content
models--not just compressed video and sound as in some prior
techniques and supports the use of copies of the same or materially
the same content containers across a wide variety of media delivery
systems (e.g., broadcast, Internet repository, optical disc, etc)
for operation on a wide variety of different electronic appliances
(e.g., digital cameras, digital editing equipment, sound recorders,
sound editing equipment, movie theater projectors, DVD appliances,
broadcast tape players, personal computers, smart televisions,
etc). [0097] Asset management and revenue and/or other
consideration maximizing through important new content revenue
and/or other consideration opportunities and the enhancement of
value chain operating efficiencies. [0098] Is capable of providing
100% compatibility with the other protection techniques such as,
for example, CGMA protection codes and/or Matsushita data
scrambling approaches to DVD copy protection. [0099] Can be
employed with a variety of existing data scrambling or protection
systems to provide very high degrees of compatibility and/or level
of functionality. [0100] Allows DVD technology to become a
reusable, programmable, resource for an unlimited variety of
entertainment, information commerce, and cyberspace business
models. [0101] Enables DVD drive and/or semiconductor component
manufacturers and/or distributors and/or other value adding
participants to become providers of, and rights holders in, the
physical infrastructure of the emerging, connected world of the
Internet and Intranets where they may charge for the use of a
portion (e.g., a portion they provided) of the distributed,
physical infrastructure as that portion participates in commercial
networks. Such manufacturers and/or distributors and/or other value
adding participants can enjoy the revenue benefits resulting from
participation in a "piece of the tick" by receiving a small portion
of the revenue received as a result of a participating transaction.
[0102] Provides automated internationalization, regionalization,
and rights management in that:-- [0103] DVD content can be supplied
with arrays of different rule sets for automatic use depending on
rights and identity of the user; and [0104] Societal rights,
including taxes, can be handled transparently.
[0105] In addition, the DVD rights management method and apparatus
of the present invention provides added benefits to media
recorders/publishers in that it: [0106] Works with a current "keep
honest people honest" philosophy. [0107] Can provide 100%
compatibility with other protection schemes such as for example,
Matsushita data scrambling and/or CGMA encoded discs. [0108] Can
work with and/or supplement other protection schemes to provide
desired degree and/or functionality, or can be used in addition to
or instead of other approaches to provide additional and/or
different functionality and features. [0109] Provides powerful,
extensible rights management that reaches beyond limited copy
protection models to rights management for the digitally convergent
world. [0110] Empowers recording/publishing studios to create
sophisticated asset management tools. [0111] Creates important
business opportunities through controlled use of studio properties
in additional multimedia contexts. [0112] Uniquely ties
internationalization, regionalization, superdistribution,
repurposing, to content creation processes and/or usage
control.
[0113] Other aspects of the present invention provide benefits to
other types of rightsholders, such as for example: [0114]
Persistent, transparent protection of digital content--globally,
through value chain and process layers. [0115] Significant
reduction in revenue loss from copying and pass-along. [0116]
Converts "pass-along," copying, and many forms of copyright
infringement from a strategic business threat to a fundamental
business opportunity. [0117] A single standard for all digital
content regardless of media and/or usage locality and other rights
variables. [0118] Major economies of scale and/or scope across
industries, distribution channels, media, and content type. [0119]
Can support local usage governance and auditing within DVD players
allowing for highly efficient micro-transaction support, including
multiparty microtransactions and transparent multiparty
microtransactions. [0120] Empowers rightsholders to employ the
broadest range of pricing, business models, and market
strategies--as they see fit.
[0121] Further aspects of the present invention which may prove
beneficial to DVD and other digital medium appliance manufacturers
are: [0122] Capable of providing bit for bit compatibility with
existing discs. [0123] Content type independent. [0124] Media
independent and programmable/reusable. [0125] Highly portable
transition to next generation of appliances having higher density
devices and/or a writable DVD and/or other optical media format(s).
[0126] Participation in revenue flow generated using the appliance.
[0127] Single extensible standard for all digital content
appliances. [0128] Ready for the future "convergent" world in which
many appliances are connected in the home using, as one example,
IEEE 1394 interfaces or other means (e.g., some appliances will be
very much like computers and some computers will be very much like
appliances).
[0129] Aspects of the present inventions provide many benefits to
computer and OS manufacturers such as for example: [0130]
Implementation in computers as an extension to the operating
system, via for example, at least one transparent plug-in, and does
not require modifications to computer hardware and/or operating
systems. [0131] Easy, seamless integration into operating systems
and into applications. [0132] Extremely strong security, especially
when augmented with "secure silicon" (i.e., hardware/firmware
protection apparatus fabricated on chip). [0133] Transforms user
devices into true electronic commerce appliances. [0134] Provides a
platform for trusted, secure rights management and event
processing. [0135] Programmable for customization to specialized
requirements.
[0136] Additional features and advantages provided in accordance
with the inventions include, for example: [0137] Information on the
medium (for example, both properties and metadata) may be encrypted
or not. [0138] Different information (for example, properties,
metadata) may be encrypted using different keys. This provides
greater protection against compromise, as well as supporting
selective usage rights in the context of a sophisticated rights
management system. [0139] There may be encrypted keys stored on the
medium, although this is not required. These keys may be used to
decrypt the protected properties and metadata. Encrypted keys are
likely to be used because that allows more keying material for the
information itself, while still keeping access under control of a
single key. [0140] Multiple sets of encrypted keys may be stored on
the medium, either to have different sets of keys associated with
different information, or to allow multiple control regimes to use
the same information, where each control regime may use one or more
different keys to decrypt the set of encrypted keys that it uses.
[0141] To support the ability of the player to access rights
managed containers and/or content, a decryption key for the
encrypted keys may be hidden on the medium in one or more locations
that are not normally accessible. The "not normally accessible"
location(s) may be physically enabled for drives installed in
players, and disabled for drives installed in computers. The
enablement may be different firmware, a jumper on the drive, etc.
[0142] The ability of the player to access rights managed
containers and/or content may also be supported by one or more
stored keys inside the player that decrypts certain encrypted keys
on the medium. [0143] Keys in a player may allow some players to
play different properties than others. Keys could be added to,
and/or deleted from the player by a network connection (e.g., to a
PC, a cable system, and/or a modem connection to a source of new
and/or additional keys and/or key revocation information) or
automatically loaded by "playing" a key distribution DVD. [0144]
Controlling computer use may be supported by some or all of the
same techniques that control player use of content and/or rights
management information. [0145] Controlling computer use of content
and/or rights management information may be supported by having a
computer receive, through means of a trusted rights management
system, one or more appropriate keys. [0146] A computer may receive
additional keys that permit decryption of certain encrypted keys on
the medium. [0147] A computer may receive additional keys that
permit decryption of one or more portions of encrypted data
directly. This may permit selective use of information on the
medium without disclosing keys (e.g., a player key that decrypts
any encrypted keys).
[0148] In accordance with further aspects provided by the present
invention, a secure "software container" is provided that allows:
[0149] Cryptographically protected encapsulation of content, rights
rules, and usage controls. [0150] Persistent protection for
transport, storage, and value chain management. [0151]
Sophisticated rules interface architecture.
[0152] Elements can be delivered independently, such as new
controls, for example, regarding discount pricing (e.g. sale
pricing, specific customer or group discounts, pricing based on
usage patterns, etc.) and/or other business model changes, can be
delivered after the property has been distributed (this is
especially beneficial for large properties or physical distribution
media (e.g., DVD, CD-ROM) since redistribution costs may be avoided
and consumers may continue to use their libraries of discs). In
addition, encrypted data can be located "outside" the container.
This can allow, for example, use of data stored independently from
the controls and supports "streaming" content as well as "legacy"
systems (e.g., CGMS).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0153] These and other features and advantages provided in
accordance with these inventions may be better and more completely
understood by referring to the following detailed description of
presently preferred examples in conjunction with the drawings, of
which:
[0154] FIG. 1A shows example home consumer electronics equipment
for using portable storage media such as digital video disks;
[0155] FIG. 1B shows example secure node equipment for using the
same portable storage media but providing more advanced rights
management capabilities;
[0156] FIG. 1C shows an example process for manufacturing protected
optical disks;
[0157] FIG. 2A shows an example architecture of the FIG. 1A
consumer electronics equipment;
[0158] FIG. 2B shows an example architecture for the FIG. 1B secure
node equipment;
[0159] FIG. 3 shows example data structures used by the FIG. 1A
equipment;
[0160] FIGS. 3A and 3B show example control set definitions;
[0161] FIGS. 4A and 4B show example usage techniques provided by
the FIG. 1A appliance;
[0162] FIG. 5 shows example data structures used by the FIG. 1B
secure node for accessing information on the storage medium;
[0163] FIG. 6 shows an example usage technique performed by the
FIG. 1B secure node;
[0164] FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a
special secure software container contained on a DVD;
[0165] FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a
secure container along with the video property content stored on a
DVD medium;
[0166] FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating another example of a
standard container stored on a DVD medium including an additional
container having a more complex rule arrangement for use, for
example, with a secure node;
[0167] FIG. 10 shows an example use of a DVD having a container
(i.e., stored on the medium) with a DVD player provided with a
secure rights management node, and also shows use of the same DVD
with a DVD player that does not have a secure rights management
node;
[0168] FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating use of a DVD that
does not have a container on a DVD player that is provided with
rights management secure node in accordance with the present
invention as compared with use of the same DVD with a DVD player
that does not have a secure node;
[0169] FIGS. 12-14 show example network configurations; and
[0170] FIGS. 15A-15C show an example virtual rights process.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PRESENTLY PREFERRED EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
Overall Example Digital Video Disk Usage System
[0171] FIG. 1A shows example inexpensive mass-produced home
consumer electronics equipment 50 for using information stored on a
storage medium 100 such as a portable digitally-encoded optical
disk (e.g., a digital video disk or "DVD"). Consumer equipment 50
includes a dedicated disk player 52, that in some embodiments, may
also have the capability to write optical media (writeable DVD
disks, or "DVD-RAM") for example) as well, connected to a home
color television set 54. A remote control unit 56 may be used to
control the disk player 52 and/or television set 54.
[0172] In one example, disk 100 may store a feature length motion
picture or other video content. Someone wishing to watch the
content stored on disk 100 may purchase or rent the disk, insert
the disk into player 52 and use remote control 56 (and/or controls
58 that may be provided on player 52) to control the player to play
back the content via home television set 54.
[0173] In some embodiments, remote control 56 (and/or controls 58
that may be provided on device 52) may be used to control the
recording of a movie, for example. Player 52 reads the digitized
video and audio information carried by disk 100, converts it into
signals compatible with home color television set 54, and provides
those signals to the home color television set.
[0174] In some embodiments, television set 54 (and/or a set top
box) provide the video signals to be recorded by device 52 on
writable optical media, DVD-RAM in one non-limiting example.
Television set 54 produces images on screen 54a and produces sounds
through loudspeakers 54b based on the signals player 52 provides to
the television set.
[0175] The same disk 100 may be used by a more advanced platform 60
shown in FIG. 1B. Platform 60 may include, for example, a personal
computer 62 connected to a display monitor 64, a keyboard 66, a
mouse pointing device 68, and a loudspeaker 70. In this example,
platform 60 may be able to play back the content stored on disk 100
in the same way as dedicated disk player 52, but may also be
capable of more sophisticated and/or advanced uses of the content
as enabled by the presence of secure node 72 within the platform.
(In some embodiments, platform 60 may also be able to record
content on writable optical media, DVD-RAM, in one non-limiting
example.) For example, it may be possible, using platform 60 and
its secure node 72, to interactively present the motion picture or
other content such that the user may input choices via keyboard 66
and/or mouse pointing device 68 that, in real time, change the
presentation provided via display 64 and loudspeaker 60.
[0176] As one example, the platform 60 user selects from options
displayed on display 64 that cause the content presentation
sequence to change (e.g., to provide one of a number of different
endings, to allow the user to interactively control the flow of the
images presented, etc.). Computer 62 may also be capable of using
and manipulating digital data including for example computer
programs and/or other information stored on disk 100 that player 52
cannot handle.
[0177] Secure node 72 provides a secure rights management facility
that may, for example, permit more invasive or extensive use of the
content stored on disk. For example, dedicated player 52 may
prevent any copying of content stored by disk 100, or it may allow
the content to be copied only once and never again. Platform 60
including secure node 72, on the other hand, may allow multiple
copies of some or all of the same content--but only if certain
conditions are met (e.g., the user of equipment 60 falls within a
certain class of people, compensation at an agreed on rate is
securely provided for each copy made, only certain excerpts of the
content are copied, a secure audit trail is maintained and reported
for each copy so made, etc.). (In some embodiments, dedicated
player 52 may send protected content only to devices authenticated
as able to enforce securely rights management rules and usage
consequences. In some embodiments, devices may authenticate using
digital certificates, one non-limiting example being certificates
conforming to the X.509 standard.) Hence, platform 60 including
secure node 72 can, in this example, use the content provided by
disk 100 in a variety of flexible, secure ways that are not
possible using dedicated player 52--or any other appliance that
does not include a secure node.
Example Secure Disk Creation and Distribution Process
[0178] FIG. 1C shows an example secure process for creating a
master multimedia DVD disk 100 for use with players 50, 60. In this
example, a digital camera 350 converts light images (i.e.,
pictures) into digital information 351 representing one or a
sequence of images. Digital camera 350 in this example includes a
secure node 72A that protects the digital information 351 before it
leaves camera 350. Such protection can be accomplished, for
example, by packaging the digital information within one or more
containers and/or associating controls with the digital
information.
[0179] In this example, digital camera 350 provides the protected
digital image information 351 to a storage device such as, for
example, a digital tape recorder 352. Tape recorder 352 stores the
digital image information 351 (along with any associated controls)
onto a storage medium such as magnetic tape cartridge 354 for
example. Tape recorder 352 may also include a secure node 72B.
Secure node 72B in this example can understand and enforce the
controls that the digital camera secure node 72A applies to and/or
associated with the digital information 351, and/or it may apply
its own controls to the stored information.
[0180] The same or different tape recorder 352 may play back
protected digital information 351 to a digital mixing board 356.
Digital mixing board 356 may mix, edit, enhance or otherwise
process the digital information 351 to generate processed digital
information 358 representing one or a sequence of images. Digital
mixing board 356 may receive additional inputs from other devices
such as for example other tape recorders, other digital cameras,
character generators, graphics generators, animators, or any other
image-based devices. Any or all of such devices may also include
secure nodes 72 to protect the information they generate. In some
embodiments, some of the digital information can be derived from
equipment including a secure node, and other digital information
can be derived from equipment that has no secure node. In still
other embodiments, some of the digital information provided to
digital mixer 356 is protected and some is not protected.
[0181] Digital mixing board 356 may also include a secure node 72C
in this example. The digital mixing board secure node 72C may
enforce controls applied by digital camera secure node 72A and/or
tape recorder secure node 72B, and/or it may add its own
protections to the digital information 358 it generates.
[0182] In this example, an audio microphone 361 receives sound and
converts the sound into analog audio signals. The audio signals in
this example are inputted to a digital audio tape recorder 362. In
the example shown, tape recorder 362 and audio mixer 364 are
digital devices. However, in other embodiments, one, the other or
both of these devices may operate in the analog domain. In the
example shown, digital audio tape recorder 362 converts the analog
audio signals into digital information representing the sounds, and
stores the digital information (and any associated controls) onto a
tape 362.
[0183] In this example, audio tape recorder 362 includes a secure
node 72E that may associate controls with the information stored on
tape 363. Such controls may be stored with the information on the
tape 363. In another embodiment, microphone 361 may include its own
internal secure node 72 that associates control information with
the audio information (e.g., by steganographically encoding the
audio information with control information). The tape recorder 362
may enforce such controls applied by microphone 361.
[0184] Alternatively, microphone 361 may operate in the digital
domain and provide digital representations of audio, perhaps
including control information supplied by secure node 72 optionally
incorporated in microphone 361, directly to connected devices such
as audio tape recorder 362. Digital representations may optionally
be substituted for analog representations of any signals between
the devices in the example FIG. 1C.
[0185] The same or different tape recorder 362 may play back the
information recorded on tape 363, and provide the information 366
to an audio mixer 364. Audio mixer 364 may edit, mix, or otherwise
process the information 366 to produce information 368 representing
one or a sequence of sounds. Audio mixer 364 may also receive
inputs from other devices such as for example other tape recorders,
other microphones, sound generators, musical synthesizers, or any
other audio-based devices. Any or all of such devices may also
include secure nodes 72 to protect the information they generate.
In some embodiments, some of the digital information is derived
from equipment including a secure node, and other digital
information is derived from equipment that has no secure node. In
still other embodiments, some of the digital information provided
to audio mixer 364 is protected and some is not protected.
[0186] Audio mixer 364 in this example includes a secure node 72F
that enforces the controls, if any, applied by audio tape recorder
secure node 72E; and/or applies its own controls.
[0187] Digital image mixer 356 may provide digital information 358
to "DVD-RAM" equipment 360 that is capable of writing to master
disks 100 and/or to disks from which master dicks may be created
Similarly, audio mixer 364 may provide digital information 368 to
equipment 360. Equipment 360 records the image information 358 and
audio information 368 onto master disk 100. In this example,
equipment 360 may include a secure node 72D that enforces controls
applied by digital camera secure node 72A, tape recorder secure
node 72B, digital mixer secure node 72C audio tape recorder secure
node 72E and/or audio mixer secure node 72F; and/or it may add its
own protections to the digital information 358 it writes onto
master disks 100. A disk manufacturer can then mass-produce disks
100(1)-100(N) based on the master disk 100 using conventional disk
mass-production equipment for distribution through any channels
(e.g., video and music stores, websites, movie theaters, etc.).
Consumer appliances 50 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B may play back the
disks 100--enforcing the controls applied to the information stored
on the disks 100. Secure nodes 72 thus maintain end-to-end,
persistent secure control over the images generated by digital
camera 350 and the sounds generated by microphone 361 during the
entire process of making, distributing and using disks 100.
[0188] In the FIG. 1C example shown, the various devices may
communicate with one another over so-called "IEEE 1394" high-speed
digital serial busses. In this context, "IEEE 1394" refers to
hardware and software standards set forth in the following
standards specification incorporated by reference herein: 1394-1995
IEEE Standard for a High Performance Serial Bus, No. 1-55937-583-3
(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1995). This
specification describes a high-speed memory mapped digital serial
bus that is self-configuring, hot pluggable, low cost and scalable.
The bus supports isochronous and asynchronous transport at 100, 200
or 400 Mbps, and flexibly supports a number of different
topologies. The specification describes a physical level including
two power conductors and two twisted pairs for signalling. The
specification further describes physical, link and transaction
layer protocols including serial bus management. Alternatively, any
other suitable electronic communication means may be substituted
for the "IEEE 1394" medium shown in FIG. 1C, including other wired
media (e.g., Ethernet, universal serial bus), and/or wireless media
based on radio-frequency (RF) transmission, infra-red signals,
and/or any other means and/or types of electronic
communication.
Example Dedicated Player Architecture
[0189] FIG. 2A shows an example architecture for dedicated player
52. In this example, player 52 includes a video disk drive 80, a
controller 82 (e.g., including a microprocessor 84, a memory device
such as a read only memory 86, and a user interface 88), and a
video/audio processing block 90. Video disk drive 80 optically and
physically cooperates with disk 100, and reads digital information
from the disk. Controller 82 controls disk drive 80 based on
program instructions executed by microprocessor 84 and stored in
memory 86 (and further based on user inputs provided by user
interface 88 which may be coupled to controls 58 and/or remote
control unit 56). Video/audio processing block 90 converts digital
video and audio information read by disk drive 80 into signals
compatible with home color television set 54 using standard
techniques such as video and audio decompression and the like.
Video/audio processing block 90 may also insert a visual marking
indicating the ownership and/or protection of the video program.
Block 90 may also introduce a digital marking indicating to a
standard recording device that the content should not be
recorded.
Example Secure Node Architecture
[0190] FIG. 2B shows an example architecture for platform 60 shown
in FIG. 1B--which in this example is built around a personal
computer 62 but could comprise any number of different types of
appliances. In this example, personal computer 62 may be connected
to an electronic network 150 such as the Internet via a
communications block 152. Computer equipment 62 may include a video
disk drive 80' (which may be similar or identical to the disk drive
80 included within example player 52). Computer equipment 62 may
further include a microprocessor 154, a memory 156 (including for
example random access memory and read only memory), a magnetic disk
drive 158, and a video/audio processing block 160. Additionally,
computer equipment 62 may include a tamper-resistant secure
processing unit 164 or other protected processing environment.
Secure node 72 shown in FIG. 1B may thus be provided by a secure
processing unit 164, software executing on microprocessor 154, or a
combination of the two. Different embodiments may provide secure
node 72 using software-only, hardware-only, or hybrid
arrangements.
[0191] Secure node 72 in this example may provide and support a a
general purpose Rights Operating System employing reusable kernel
and rights language components. Such a commerce-enabling Rights
Operating System provides capabilities and integration for advanced
commerce operating systems of the future. In the evolving
electronic domain, general purpose, reusable electronic commerce
capabilities that all participants can rely on will become as
important as any other capability of operating systems. Moreover, a
rights operating system that provides, among other things, rights
and auditing operating system functions can securely handle a broad
range of tasks that relate to a virtual distribution environment. A
secure processing unit can, for example, provide or support many of
the security functions of the rights and auditing operating system
functions. The other operating system functions can, for example,
handle general appliance functions. The overall operating system
may, for example, be designed from the beginning to include the
rights and auditing operating system functions plus the other
operating system functions, or the rights and auditing operating
system functions may, in another example, be an add-on to a
preexisting operating system providing the other operating system
functions. Any or all of these features may be used in combination
with the invention disclosed herein.
Example Disk Data Structures and Associated Protections
[0192] FIG. 3 shows some example data structures stored on disk
100. In this example, disk 100 may store one or more properties or
other content 200 in protected or unprotected form. Generally, in
this example, a property 200 is protected if it is at least in part
encrypted and/or associated information needed to use the property
is at least in part encrypted and/or otherwise unusable without
certain conditions having being met. For example, property 200(1)
may be completely or partially encrypted using conventional secure
cryptographic techniques. Another property 200(2) may be completely
unprotected so that it can be used freely without any restriction.
Thus, in accordance with this example, disk 100 could store both a
movie as a protected property 200(1) and an unprotected interview
with the actors and producers or a "trailer" as unprotected
property 200(2). As shown in this example, disk 100 may store any
number of different properties 200 in protected or unprotected form
as limited only by the storage capacity of the disk.
[0193] In one example, the protection mechanisms provided by disk
100 may use any or all of the protection (and/or other) structures
and/or techniques described in the above-referenced Shear patents.
The Shear patents describe, by way of non-exhaustive example, means
for solving the problem of how to protect digital content from
unauthorized use. For example, the Shear patent specifications
describe, among other things, means for electronically
"overseeing"--through distributed control nodes present in client
computers--the use of digital content. This includes means and
methods for fulfilling the consequences of any such use.
[0194] Non-limiting examples of certain elements described in the
Shear patent specifications include: [0195] (a) decryption of
encrypted information, [0196] (b) metering, [0197] (c) usage
control in response to a combination of derived metering
information and rules set by content providers, [0198] (d) securely
reporting content usage information, [0199] (e) use of database
technology for protected information storage and delivery, [0200]
(f) local secure maintenance of budgets, including, for example,
credit budgets, [0201] (g) local, secure storage of encryption key
and content usage information, [0202] (h) local secure execution of
control processes, and [0203] (i) in many non-limiting instances,
the use of optical media.
[0204] Any or all of these features may be used in combination in
or with the inventions disclosed herein.
[0205] Certain of the issued Shear patents' specifications also
involve database content being local and remote to users. Database
information that is stored locally at the end-user's system and
complemented by remote, "on-line" database information, can, for
example, be used to augment the local information, which in one
example, may be stored on optical media (for example, DVD and/or
CD-ROM). Special purpose semiconductor hardware can, for example,
be used to provide a secure execution environment to ensure a safe
and reliable setting for digital commerce activities.
[0206] The Shear patents also describe, among other things,
database usage control enabled through the use of security,
metering, and usage administration capabilities. The specifications
describe, inter alia, a metering and control system in which a
database, at least partially encrypted, is delivered to a user
(e.g., on optical media). Non-limiting examples of such optical
media may, for example, include DVD and CD-ROM. Subsequent usage
can, for example, be metered and controlled in any of a variety of
ways, and resulting usage information can be transmitted to a
responsible party (as one example).
[0207] The Shear patent specifications also describe the generation
of a bill in response to the transmitted information. Other
embodiments of the Shear patents provide, for example, unique
information security inventions which involve, for example, digital
content usage being limited based on patterns of usage such as the
quantity of particular kinds of usage. These capabilities include
monitoring the "contiguousness," and/or "logical relatedness" of
used information to ensure that the electronic "conduct" of an
individual does not exceed his or her licensed rights. Still other
aspects of the Shear patents describe, among other things,
capabilities for enabling organizations to securely and locally
manage electronic information usage rights. When a database or a
portion of a database is delivered to a client site, some
embodiments of the Shear patents provide, for example, optical
storage means (non-exhaustive examples of which include DVD and
CD-ROM) as the mechanism of delivery. Such storage means can store,
for example, a collection of video, audio, images, software
programs, games, etc., in one example, on optical media, such as
DVD and/or CD-ROM, in addition to other content such as a
collection of textual documents, bibliographic records, parts
catalogs, and copyrighted or uncopyrighted materials of all kinds.
Any or all of these features may be used in the embodiments
herein.
[0208] One specific non-limiting embodiment could, for example,
involve a provider who prepares a collection of games. The provider
prepares a database "index" that stores information pertaining to
the games, such as for example, the name, a description, a creator
identifier, the billing rates, and the maximum number of times or
total elapsed time each game may be used prior to a registration or
re-registration requirement. Some or all of this information could
be stored in encrypted form, in one example, on optical media,
non-limiting examples of which include DVD and CD-ROM. The provider
may then encrypt some or all portions of the games such that a game
could not be used unless one or more encrypted portions were
decrypted. Typically, decryption would not occur unless provider
specified conditions were satisfied, in one example, unless credit
was available to compensate for use and audit information
reflecting game usage was being stored. The provider could
determine, for example: which user activities he or she would
allow, whether to meter such activities for audit and/or control
purposes, and what, if any, limits would be set for allowed
activities. This might include, for example, the number of times
that a game is played, and the duration of each play. Billing rates
might be discounted, for example, based on total time of game
usage, total number of games currently registered for use, or
whether the customer was also registered for other services
available from the same provider, etc.
[0209] In the non-limiting example discussed above, a provider
might, for example, assemble all of the prepared games along with
other, related information, and publish the collection on optical
media, non-limiting examples of which include CD-ROM and/or DVD.
The provider might then distribute this DVD disk to prospective
customers. The customers could then select the games they wish to
play, and contact the provider. The provider, based on its business
model, could then send enabling information to each authorized
customer, such as for example, including, or enabling for use,
decryption keys for the encrypted portion of the selected games
(alternatively, authorization to use the games may have arrived
with the DVD and/or CD-ROM disk, or might be automatically
determined, based on provider set criteria, by the user's secure
client system, for example, based on a user's participation in a
certified user class). Using the user's client decryption and
metering mechanism the customer could then make use of the games.
The mechanism might then record usage information, such as for
example, the number of times the game was used, and, for example,
the duration of each play. It could periodically transmit this
information the game provider, thus substantially reducing the
administration overhead requirements of the provider's central
servers. The game provider could receive compensation for use of
the games based upon the received audit information. This
information could be used to either bill their customers or,
alternatively, receive compensation from a provider of credit.
[0210] Although games provide one convenient, non-limiting example,
many of these same ideas can be easily applied to all kinds of
content, all kinds of properties, including, by way of non-limiting
examples: [0211] video, [0212] digitized movies, [0213] audio
[0214] images, [0215] multimedia, [0216] software, [0217] games,
[0218] any other kind of property [0219] any combination of
properties.
[0220] Other non-limiting embodiments of the Shear patent
specifications support, for example, securely controlling different
kinds of user activities, such as displaying, printing, saving
electronically, communicating, etc. Certain aspects further apply
different control criteria to these different usage activities. For
example, information that is being browsed may be distinguished
from information that is read into a host computer for the purpose
of copying, modifying, or telecommunicating, with different cost
rates being applied to the different activities (so that, for
example, the cost of browsing can be much less than the cost of
copying or printing).
[0221] The Shear patent specifications also, for example, describe
management of information inside of organizations by both
publishers and the customer. For example, an optional security
system can be used to allow an organization to prevent usage of all
or a portion of an information base unless the user enters his
security code. Multiple levels of security codes can be supported
to allow restriction of an individual's use according to his
security authorization level. One embodiment can, for example, use
hardware in combination with software to improve tamper resistance,
and another embodiment could employ an entirely software based
system. Although a dedicated hardware/software system may under
certain circumstances provide assurance against tampering,
techniques which may be implemented in software executing on a
non-dedicated system may provide sufficient tamper resistance for
some applications. Any or all of these features may be used in
combination with the technology disclosed in this patent
specification.
FIG. 3 Disks May Also Store Metadata, Controls and Other
Information
[0222] In this example, disk 100 may also store "metadata" in
protected and/or unprotected form. Player 52 uses metadata 202 to
assist in using one or more of the properties 200 stored by disk
100. For example, disk 100 may store one metadata block 202(1) in
unprotected form and another metadata block 202(2) in protected
form. Any number of metadata blocks 202 in protected and/or
unprotected form may be stored by disk 100 as limited only by the
disk's storage capacity. In this example, metadata 202 comprises
information used to access properties 200. Such metadata 202 may
comprise, for example, frame sequence or other "navigational"
information that controls the playback sequence of one or more of
the properties 200 stored on disk 100. As one example, an
unprotected metadata block 202 may access only selected portions of
a protected property 200 to generate an abbreviated "trailer"
presentation, while protected metadata block 202 may contain the
frame playback sequence for the entire video presentation of the
property 200. As another example, different metadata blocks 202 may
be provided for different "cuts" of the same motion picture
property 200 (e.g., an R-rated version, a PG-rated version, a
director's cut version, etc.).
[0223] In this example, disk 100 may store additional information
for security purposes. For example, disk 100 may store control
rules in the form of a control set 204--which may be packaged in
the form of one or more secure containers 206. Commerce model
participants can securely contribute electronic rules and controls
that represent their respective "electronic" interests. These rules
and controls extend a "Virtual Presence.TM." through which the
commerce participants may govern remote value chain activities
according to their respective, mutually agreed to rights. This
Virtual Presence may take the form of participant specified
electronic conditions (e.g., rules and controls) that must be
satisfied before an electronic event may occur. These rules and
controls can be used to enforce the party's rights during
"downstream" electronic commerce activities. Control information
delivered by, and/or otherwise available for use with, VDE content
containers may, for example, constitute one or more "proposed"
electronic agreements which manage the use and/or consequences of
the use of such content and which can enact the terms and
conditions of agreements involving multiple parties and their
various rights and obligations.
[0224] The rules and controls from multiple parties can be used, in
one example, to form aggregate control sets ("Cooperative Virtual
Presence.TM.") that ensure that electronic commerce activities will
be consistent with the agreements amongst value chain participants.
These control sets may, for example, define the conditions which
govern interaction with protected digital content (disseminated
digital content, appliance control information, etc.). These
conditions can, for example, be used to control not only digital
information use itself, but also the consequences of such use.
Consequently, the individual interests of commerce participants are
protected and cooperative, efficient, and flexible electronic
commerce business models can be formed. These models can be used in
combination with the present invention.
Disks May Store Encrypted Information
[0225] Disk 100 may also store an encrypted key block 208. In this
example, disk 100 may further store one or more hidden keys 210. In
this example, encrypted key block 208 provides one or more
cryptographic keys for use in decrypting one or more properties 200
and/or one or more metadata blocks 202. Key block 208 may provide
different cryptographic keys for decrypting different properties
200 and/or metadata blocks 202, or different portions of the same
property and/or metadata block. Thus, key block 208 may comprise a
large number of cryptographic keys, all of which are or may be
required if all of the content stored by disk 100 is to be used.
Although key block 208 is shown in FIG. 3 as being separate from
container 206, it may be included within or as part of the
container if desired.
[0226] Cryptographic key block 208 is itself encrypted using one or
more additional cryptographic keys. In order for player 52 to use
any of the protected information stored on disk 100, it must first
decrypt corresponding keys within the encrypted key block 208--and
then use the decrypted keys from the key block to decrypt the
corresponding content.
[0227] In this example, the keys required to decrypt encrypted key
block 208 may come from several different (possibly alternative)
sources. In the example shown in FIG. 3, disk 100 stores one or
more decryption keys for decrypting key block 208 on the medium
itself in the form of a hidden key(s) 210. Hidden key(s) 210 may be
stored, for example, in a location on disk 100 not normally
accessible. This "not normally accessible" location could, for
example, be physically enabled for drives 80 installed in players
52 and disabled for drives 80' installed in personal computers 62.
Enablement could be provided by different firmware, a jumper on
drive 80, etc. Hidden key(s) 210 could be arranged on disk 100 so
that any attempt to physically copy the disk would result in a
failure to copy the hidden key(s). In one example a hidden key(s)
could be hidden in the bit stream coding sequences for one or more
blocks as described by J. Hogan (Josh Hogan, "DVD Copy Protection,"
presentation to DVD copy protect technical meeting #4, May 30,
1996, Burbank, Calif.)
[0228] Alternatively, and/or in addition, keys required to decrypt
encrypted key block 208 could be provided by disk drive 80. In this
example, disk drive 80 might include a small decryption component
such as, for example, an integrated circuit decryption engine
including a small secure internal key store memory 212 having keys
stored therein. Disk drive 80 could use this key store 212 in order
to decrypt encrypted key block 208 without exposing either keys 212
or decrypted key block 208--and then use the decrypted key from key
block 208 to decrypt protected content 200, 202.
Disks May Store and/or Use Secure Containers
[0229] In yet another example, the key(s) required to decrypt
protected content 200, 202 is provided within secure container 206.
FIG. 3A shows a possible example of a secure container 206
including information content 304 (properties 200 and metadata 202
may be external to the container--or alternatively, most or all of
the data structures stored by video disk 100 may be included as
part of a logical and/or actual protected container). The control
set 204 shown in FIG. 3 may comprise one or more permissions record
306, one or more budgets 308 and/or one or more methods 310 as
shown in FIG. 3A. FIG. 3B shows an example control set 204
providing one or more encryption keys 208, one or more content
identifiers 220, and one or more controls 222. In this example,
different controls 222 may apply to different equipment and/or
classes of equipment such as player 52 and/or computer equipment 62
depending upon the capabilities of the particular platform and/or
class of platform. Additionally, controls 220 may apply to
different ones of properties 200 and/or different ones of metadata
blocks 202. For example, a control 222(1) may allow property 200(1)
to be copied only once for archival purposes by either player 52 or
computer equipment 62. A control 222(2) (which may be completely
ignored by player 52 because it has insufficient technical and/or
security capabilities but which may be useable by computer
equipment 62 with its secure node 72) may allow the user to request
and permit a public performance of the same property 200(1) (e.g.,
for showing in a bar or other public place) and cause the user's
credit or other account to be automatically debited by a certain
amount of compensation for each showing. A third control 222(3)
may, for example, allow secure node 72 (but not player 52) to
permit certain classes of users (e.g., certified television
advertisers and journalists) to extract or excerpt certain parts of
protected property 200(1) for promotional uses. A further control
222(4) may, as another example, allow both video player 52 and
secure node 72 to view certain still frames within property
200(1)--but might allow only secure node 72 to make copies of the
still frames based on a certain compensation level.
Example Disks and/or System May Make Use of Trusted
Infrastructure
[0230] Controls 222 may contain pointers to sources of additional
control sets for one or more properties, controls, metadata, and/or
other content on the optical disk. In one example, these additional
controls may be obtained from a trusted third party, such as a
rights and permissions clearinghouse and/or from any other value
chain participant authorized by at least one rightsholder to
provide at least one additional control set. This kind of rights
and permissions clearinghouse is one of several distributed
electronic administrative and support services that may be referred
to as the "Distributed Commerce Utility," which, among other
things, is an integrated, modular array of administrative and
support services for electronic commerce and electronic rights and
transaction management. These administrative and support services
can be used to supply a secure foundation for conducting financial
management, rights management, certificate authority, rules
clearing, usage clearing, secure directory services, and other
transaction related capabilities functioning over a vast electronic
network such as the Internet and/or over organization internal
Intranets, or even in-home networks of electronic appliances.
Non-limiting examples of these electronic appliances include at
least occasionally connected optical media appliances, examples of
which include read-only and/or writable DVD players and DVD drives
in computers and convergent devices, including, for example,
digital televisions and settop boxes incorporating DVD drives.
[0231] These administrative and support services can, for example,
be adapted to the specific needs of electronic commerce value
chains in any number of vertical markets, including a wide variety
of entertainment applications. Electronic commerce participants
can, for example, use these administrative and support services to
support their interests, and/or they can shape and reuse these
services in response to competitive business realities.
Non-exhaustive examples of electronic commerce participants include
individual creators, film and music studios, distributors, program
aggregators, broadcasters, and cable and satellite operators.
[0232] The Distributed Commerce Utility can, for example, make
optimally efficient use of commerce administration resources, and
can, in at least some embodiments, scale in a practical fashion to
optimally accommodate the demands of electronic commerce
growth.
[0233] The Distributed Commerce Utility may, for example, comprise
a number of Commerce Utility Systems. These Commerce Utility
Systems can provide a web of infrastructure support available to,
and reusable by, the entire electronic community and/or many or all
of its participants. Different support functions can, for example,
be collected together in hierarchical and/or in networked
relationships to suit various business models and/or other
objectives. Modular support functions can, for example, be combined
in different arrays to form different Commerce Utility Systems for
different design implementations and purposes. These Commerce
Utility Systems can, for example, be distributed across a large
number of electronic appliances with varying degrees of
distribution.
[0234] The "Distributed Commerce Utility" provides numerous
additional capabilities and benefits that can be used in
conjunction with the particular embodiments shown in the drawings
of this application, non-exhaustive examples of which include:
[0235] Enables practical and efficient electronic commerce and
rights management. [0236] Provides services that securely
administer and support electronic interactions and consequences.
[0237] Provides infrastructure for electronic commerce and other
forms of human electronic interaction and relationships. [0238]
Optimally applies the efficiencies of modem distributed computing
and networking. [0239] Provides electronic automation and
distributed processing. [0240] Supports electronic commerce and
communications infrastructure that is modular, programmable,
distributed and optimally computerized. [0241] Provides a
comprehensive array of capabilities that can be combined to support
services that perform various administrative and support roles.
[0242] Maximizes benefits from electronic automation and
distributed processing to produce optimal allocation and use of
resources across a system or network. [0243] Is efficient,
flexible, cost effective, configurable, reusable, modifiable, and
generalizable. [0244] Can economically reflect users' business and
privacy requirements. [0245] Can optimally distribute
processes--allowing commerce models to be flexible, scaled to
demand and to match user requirements. [0246] Can efficiently
handle a full range of activities and service volumes. [0247] Can
be fashioned and operated for each business model, as a mixture of
distributed and centralized processes. [0248] Provides a blend of
local, centralized and networked capabilities that can be uniquely
shaped and reshaped to meet changing conditions. [0249] Supports
general purpose resources and is reusable for many different
models; in place infrastructure can be reused by different value
chains having different requirements. [0250] Can support any number
of commerce and communications models. [0251] Efficiently applies
local, centralized and networked resources to match each value
chain's requirements. [0252] Sharing of common resources spreads
out costs and maximizes efficiency. [0253] Supports mixed,
distributed, peer-to-peer and centralized networked capabilities.
[0254] Can operate locally, remotely and/or centrally. [0255] Can
operate synchronously, asynchronously, or support both modes of
operation. [0256] Adapts easily and flexibly to the rapidly
changing sea of commercial opportunities, relationships and
constraints of "Cyberspace."
[0257] Any or all of these features may be used in combination with
the inventions disclosed herein.
[0258] The Distributed Commerce Utility provides, among other
advantages, comprehensive, integrated administrative and support
services for secure electronic commerce and other forms of
electronic interaction. These electronic interactions supported by
the Distributed Commerce Utility may, in at least some embodiments,
entail the broadest range of appliances and distribution media,
non-limiting examples of which include networks and other
communications channels, consumer appliances, computers, convergent
devices such as WebTV, and optical media such as CD-ROM and DVD in
all their current and future forms.
Example Access Techniques
[0259] FIGS. 3, 4A and 4B show example access techniques provided
by player 52. In this example, upon disk 100 being loaded into
player disk drive 80 (FIG. 4A, block 400), the player controller 82
may direct drive 80 to fetch hidden keys 210 from disk 100 and use
them to decrypt some or all of the encrypted key block 208 (FIG.
4A, block 402). In this example, drive 80 may store the keys so
decrypted without exposing them to player controller 82 (e.g., by
storing them within key store 212 within a secure decryption
component such as an integrated circuit based decryption engine)
(FIG. 4A, block 404). The player 52 may control drive 80 to read
the control set 204 (which may or may not be encrypted) from disk
100 (FIG. 4A, block 406). The player microprocessor 82 may parse
control set 204, ignore or discard those controls 222 that are
beyond its capability, and maintain permissions and/or rights
management information corresponding to the subset of controls that
it can enforce (e.g., the "copy once" control 222(1)).
[0260] Player 52 may then wait for the user to provide a request
via control inputs 58 and/or remote control unit 56. If the control
input is a copy request ("yes" exit to FIG. 4A, decision block
408), then player microprocessor 84 may query control 222(1) to
determine whether copying is allowed, and if so, under what
conditions (FIG. 4A, decision block 410). Player 52 may refuse to
copy the disk 100 if the corresponding control 222(1) forbids
copying ("no" exit to FIG. 4A, decision block 410), and may allow
copying (e.g., by controlling drive 80 to sequentially access all
of the information on disk 100 and provide it to an output port not
shown) if corresponding control 222(1) permits copying ("yes" exit
to FIG. 4A, decision block 410; block 412). In this example, player
52 may, upon making a copy, store an identifier associated with
disk 100 within an internal, non-volatile memory (e.g., controller
memory 86) or elsewhere if control 222(1) so requires. This stored
disk identifier can be used by player 52 to enforce a "copy once"
restriction (i.e., if the user tries to use the same player to copy
the same disk more than once or otherwise as forbidden by control
222(1), the player can deny the request).
[0261] If the user requests one of properties 200 to be played or
read ("yes" exit to FIG. 4A, decision block 414), player controller
82 may control drive 80 to read the corresponding information from
the selected property 200 (e.g., in a sequence as specified by
metadata 202) and decrypt the read information as needed using the
keys initially obtained from key block 208 and now stored within
drive key storage 212 (FIG. 4A, block 416).
[0262] FIG. 4B is a variation on the FIG. 4A process to accommodate
a situation in which player 52 itself provides decryption keys for
decrypting encrypted key block 208. In this example, controller 82
may supply one or more decryption keys to drive 80 using a secure
protocol such a Diffie-Hellman key agreement, or through use of a
shared key known to both the drive and some other system or
component to which the player 52 is or once was coupled (FIG. 4B,
block 403). The drive 80 may use these supplied keys to decrypt
encrypted key block 208 as shown in FIG. 4A, block 404, or it may
use the supplied keys to directly decrypt content such as protected
property 200 and/or protected metadata 202(2).
[0263] As a further example, the player 52 can be programmed to
place a copy it makes of a digital property such as a film in
encrypted form inside a tamper-resistant software container. The
software container may carry with it a code indicating that the
digital property is a copy rather than an original. The sending
player 52 may also put its own unique identifier (or the unique
identifier of an intended receiving device such as another player
52, a video cassette player or equipment 50) in the same secure
container to enforce a requirement that the copy can be played only
on the intended receiving device. Player 52 (or other receiving
device) can be programmed to make no copies (or no additional
copies) upon detecting that the digital property is a copy rather
than an original. If desired, a player 52 can be programmed to
refuse to play a digital property that is not packaged with the
player's unique ID.
Example Use of Analog Encoding Techniques
[0264] In another example, more comprehensive rights management
information may be encoded by player 52 in the analog output using
methods for watermarking and/or fingerprinting. Today, a
substantial portion of the "real world" is analog rather than
digital. Despite the pervasiveness of analog signals, existing
methods for managing rights and protecting copyright in the analog
realm are primitive or non-existent. For example: [0265] Quality
degradation inherent in multigenerational analog copying has not
prevented a multi-billion dollar pirating industry from
flourishing. [0266] Some methods for video tape copy and pay per
view protection attempt to prevent any copying at all of
commercially released content, or allow only one generation of
copying. These methods can generally be easily circumvented. [0267]
Not all existing devices respond appropriately to copy protection
signals. [0268] Existing schemes are limited for example to
"copy/no copy" controls. [0269] Copy protection for sound
recordings has not been commercially implemented.
[0270] A related problem relates to the conversion of information
between the analog and digital domains. Even if information is
effectively protected and controlled initially using strong digital
rights management techniques, an analog copy of the same
information may no longer be securely protected.
[0271] For example, it is generally possible for someone to make an
analog recording of program material initially delivered in digital
form. Some analog recordings based on digital originals are of
quite good quality. For example, a Digital Versatile Disk ("DVD")
player may convert a movie from digital to analog format and
provide the analog signal to a high quality analog home VCR. The
home VCR records the analog signal. A consumer now has a high
quality analog copy of the original digital property. A person
could re-record the analog signal on a DVD-RAM. This recording will
in many circumstances have substantial quality--and would no longer
be subject to "pay per view" or other digital rights management
controls associated with the digital form of the same content.
[0272] Since analog formats will be with us for a long time to
come, rightsholders such as film studios, video rental and
distribution companies, music studios and distributors, and other
value chain participants would very much like to have significantly
better rights management capabilities for analog film, video, sound
recordings and other content. Solving this problem generally
requires a way to securely associate rights management information
with the content being protected.
[0273] In combination with other rights management capabilities,
watermarking and/or fingerprinting, may provide "end to end" secure
rights management protection that allows content providers and
rights holders to be sure their content will be adequately
protected--irrespective of the types of devices, signaling formats
and nature of signal processing within the content distribution
chain. This "end to end" protection also allows authorized analog
appliances to be easily, seamlessly and cost-effectively integrated
into a modern digital rights management architecture.
[0274] Watermarking and/or fingerprinting may carry, for example,
control information that can be a basis for a Virtual Distribution
Environment ("VDE") in which electronic rights management control
information may be delivered over insecure (e.g., analog)
communications channels. This Virtual Distribution Environment is
highly flexible and convenient, accommodating existing and new
business models while also providing an unprecedented degree of
flexibility in facilitating ad hoc creation of new arrangements and
relationships between electronic commerce and value chain
participants--regardless of whether content is distributed in
digital and/or analog formats.
[0275] Watermarking together with distributed, peer-to-peer rights
management technologies providers numerous advantages, including,
but not limited to: [0276] An indelible and invisible, secure
technique for providing rights management information. [0277] An
indelible method of associating electronic commerce and/or rights
management controls with analog content such as film, video, and
sound recordings. [0278] Persistent association of the commerce
and/or rights management controls with content from one end of a
distribution system to the other--regardless of the number and
types of transformations between signaling formats (for example,
analog to digital, and digital to analog). [0279] The ability to
specify "no copy/one copy/many copies" rights management rules, and
also more complex rights and transaction pricing models (such as,
for example, "pay per view" and others). [0280] The ability to
fully and seamlessly integrate with comprehensive, general
electronic rights management solutions. [0281] Secure control
information delivery in conjunction with authorized analog and
other non-digital and/or non-secure information signal delivery
mechanisms. [0282] The ability to provide more complex and/or more
flexible commerce and/or rights management rules as content moves
from the analog to the digital realm and back. [0283] The flexible
ability to communicate commerce and/or rights management rules
implementing new, updated, or additional business models to
authorized analog and/or digital devices.
[0284] Any or all of these features may be used in combination in
and/or with the inventions disclosed in the present
specification.
[0285] Briefly, watermarking and/or fingerprinting methods may,
using "steganographical" techniques, substantially indelibly and
substantially invisibly encode rights management and/or electronic
commerce rules and controls within an information signal such as,
for example, an analog signal or a digitized (for example, sampled)
version of an analog signal, non-limiting examples of which may
include video and/or audio data, that is then decoded and utilized
by the local appliance. The analog information and stenographically
encoded rights management information may be transmitted via many
means, non-limiting examples of which may include broadcast, cable
TV, and/or physical media, VCR tapes, to mention one non-limiting
example. Any or all of these techniques may be used in combination
in accordance with the inventions disclosed herein.
[0286] Watermarking and/or fingerprinting methods enable at least
some rights management information to survive transformation of the
video and/or other information from analog to digital and from
digital to analog format. Thus in one example, two or more analog
and/or digital appliances may participate in an end-to-end fabric
of trusted, secure rights management processes and/or events.
Example, More Capable Embodiments
[0287] As discussed above, the example control set shown in FIG. 3B
provides a comprehensive, flexible and extensible set of controls
for use by both player 52 and computer equipment 62 (or other
platform) depending upon the particular technical, security and
other capabilities of the platform. In this example, player 52 has
only limited technical and security capabilities in order to keep
cost and complexity down in a mass-produced consumer item, and
therefore may essentially ignore or fail to enable some or all of
the controls 222 provided within control set 204. In another
example, the cost of memory and/or processors may continue to
decline and manufacturers may choose to expand the technical and
security capabilities of player 52. A more capable player 52 will
provide more powerful, robust, and flexible rights management
capabilities.
[0288] FIG. 5 shows an example arrangement permitting platform 60
including secure node 72 to have enhanced and/or different
capabilities to use information and/or rights management
information on disk 100, and FIG. 6 shows an example access
technique provided by the secure node. Referring to FIG. 5, secure
node 72 may be coupled to a network 150 whereas player 52 may not
be--giving the secure node great additional flexibility in terms of
communicating security related information such as audit trails,
compensation related information such as payment requests or
orders, etc. This connection of secure node 72 to network 150
(which may be replaced in any given application by some other
communications technique such as insertion of a replaceable memory
cartridge) allows secure node 72 to receive and securely maintain
rights management control information such as an additional
container 206' containing an additional control set 204'. Secure
node 72 may use control set 204' in addition or in lieu of a
control set 204 stored on disk 100. Secure node 72 may also
maintain a secure cryptographic key store 212 that may provide
cryptographic keys to be used in lieu of or in addition to any keys
208, 210 that may be stored on disk 100. Because of its increased
security and/or technical capabilities, secure node 72 may be able
to use controls 222 within control set 204 that player 52 ignores
or cannot use--and may be provided with further and/or enhanced
rights and/or rights management capabilities based on control set
204' (which the user may, for example, order specially and which
may apply to particular properties 200 stored on disk 100 and/or
particular sets of disks).
Example Secure Node Access Techniques
[0289] The FIG. 6 example access technique (which may be performed
by platform 60 employing secure node 72, for example) involves, in
this particular example, the secure node 72 fetching property
identification information 220 from disk 100 (FIG. 6, block 502),
and then locating applicable control sets and/or rules 204 (which
may be stored on disk 100, within secure node 72, within one or
more repositories the secure node 72 accesses via network 150,
and/or a combination of any or all of these techniques) (FIG. 6,
block 504). Secure node 72 then loads the necessary decryption keys
and uses them to decrypt information as required (FIG. 6, block
506). In one example, secure node 72 obtains the necessary keys
from secure containers 206 and/or 206' and maintains them within a
protected processing environment such as SPU 164 or a
software-emulated protected processing environment without exposing
them externally of that environment. In another example, the secure
node 72 may load the necessary keys (or a subset of them) into disk
drive 82' using a secure key exchange protocol for use by the disk
drive in decrypting information much in the same manner as would
occur within player 52 in order to maintain complete compatibility
in drive hardware.
[0290] Secure node 72 may monitor user inputs and perform requested
actions based on the particular control set 204, 204'. For example,
upon receiving a user request, secure node 72 may query the control
set 204, 204' to determine whether it (they) permits the action the
user has requested (FIG. 6, block 508) and, if permitted, whether
conditions for performing the requested operation have been
satisfied (FIG. 6, block 510). In this example, secure node 72 may
effect the operations necessary to satisfy any such required
conditions such as by, for example, debiting a user's
locally-stored electronic cash wallet, securely requesting an
account debit via network 150, obtaining and/or checking user
certificates to ensure that the user is within an appropriate class
or is who he or she says he is, etc. --using network 150 as
required (FIG. 6, block 510). Upon all necessary conditions being
satisfied, secure node 72 may perform the requested operation
(and/or enable microprocessor 154 to perform the operation) (e.g.,
to release content) and may then generate secure audit records
which can be maintained by the secure node and/or reported at the
time or later via network 150 (FIG. 6, block 512).
[0291] If the requested operation is to release content (e.g., make
a copy of the content), platform 60 (or player 52 in the example
above) may perform the requested operation based at least in part
on the particular controls that enforce rights over the content.
For example, the controls may prevent platform 60 from releasing
content except to certain types of output devices that cannot be
used to copy the content, or they may release the content in a way
that discourages copying (e.g., by "fingerprinting" the copy with
an embedded designation of who created the copy, by intentionally
degrading the released content so that any copies made from it will
be inferior, etc.). As one specific example, a video cassette
recorder (not shown) connected to platform 60 may be the output
device used to make the copy. Because present generations of analog
devices such as video cassette recorders are incapable of making
multigenerational copies without significant loss in quality, the
content provider may provide controls that permit content to be
copied by such analog devices but not by digital devices (which can
make an unlimited number of copies without quality loss). For
example, platform 60 may, under control of digital controls
maintained by secure node 72, release content to the video cassette
recorder only after the video cassette recorder supplies the
platform a digital ID that designates the output device as a video
cassette recorder--and may refuse to provide any output at all
unless such a digital ID identifying the output device as a lower
quality analog device is provided. Additionally or in the
alternative, platform 60 may intentionally degrade the content it
supplies to the video cassette recorder to ensure that no
acceptable second-generation copies will be made. In another
example, more comprehensive rights management information may be
encoded by platform 60 in the analog output using watermarking
and/or fingerprinting.
Additional Examples of Secure Container Usage
[0292] FIG. 7 shows a basic example of a DVD medium 700 containing
a kind of secure container 701 for use in DVDs in accordance with
the present invention. As shown in this example, container 701
("DigiBox for DVDs") could be a specialized version of a "standard"
container tailored especially for use with DVD and/or other media,
or it could, alternatively (in an arrangement shown later in FIG.
8), be a fully "standard" container. As shown in this example, the
specialized container 701 incorporates features that permit it to
be used in conjunction with content information, metadata, and
cryptographic and/or protection information that is stored on the
DVD medium 700 in the same manner as would have been used had
container 701 not been present. Thus, specialized container 701
provides compatibility with existing data formats and organizations
used on DVDs and/or other media. In addition, a specialized
container 701 can be tailored to support only those features
necessary for use in support of DVD and/or other media, so that it
can be processed and/or manipulated using less powerful or less
expensive computing resources than would be required for complete
support of a "standard" container object.
[0293] In this example, specialized "DVD only" container 701
includes a content object (a property) 703 which includes an
"external reference" 705 to video title content 707, which may be
stored on the DVD and/or other medium in the same manner as would
have been used for a medium not including container 701. The video
title content 707 may include MPEG-2 and/or AC-3 content 708, as
well as scrambling (protection) information 710 and header,
structure and/or meta data 711. External reference 705 contains
information that "designates" (points to, identifies, and/or
describes) specific external processes to be applied/executed in
order to use content and other information not stored in container
701. In this example, external reference 705 designates video title
content 707 and its components 708, 710, and 711. Alternatively,
container 701 could store some or all of the video title content in
the container itself, using a format and organization that is
specific to container 701, rather than the standard format for the
DVD and/or other medium 700.
[0294] In this example, container 701 also includes a control
object (control set) 705 that specifies the rules that apply to use
of video title content 707. As indicates by solid arrow 702,
control object 705 "applies to" content object (property) 703. As
shown in this example, rule 704 can specify that protection
processes, for example CGMA or the Matsushita data scrambling
process, be applied, and can designate, by external reference 709
contained in rule 704, data scrambling information 710 to be used
in carrying out the protection scheme. The shorthand "do CGMA"
description in rule 704 indicates that the rule requires that the
standard CGMA protection scheme used for content on DVD media is to
be used in conjunction with video title content 707, but a
different example could specify arbitrary other rules in control
object 705 in addition to or instead of the "do CGMA" rule,
including other standard DVD protection mechanisms such as the
Matsushita data scrambling scheme and/or other rights management
mechanisms. External reference 709 permits rule 704 to be based on
protection information 710 that is stored and manipulated in the
same format and manner as for a DVD medium that does not
incorporate container 701 and/or protection information that is
meaningful only in the context of processing container 701.
[0295] FIG. 8 shows a example of a DVD medium 800 containing a
"standard" secure container 801. In this example, the "standard"
container provides all of the functionality (if desired) of the
FIG. 7 container, but may offer additional and/or more extensive
rights management and/or content use capabilities than available on
the "DVD only" container (e.g., the capacity to operate with
various different platforms that use secure nodes).
[0296] FIG. 9 shows a more complex example of DVD medium 800 having
a standard container 901 that provides all of the functionality (if
desired) of the FIG. 7 container, and that can function in concert
with other standard containers 902 located either on the same DVD
medium or imported from another remote secure node or network. In
this example, standard container 902 may include a supplementary
control object 904 which applies to content object 903 of standard
container 901. Also in this example, container 902 may provide an
additional rule(s) such as, for example, a rule
permitting/extending rights to allow up to a certain number (e.g.,
five) copies of the content available on DVD 900. This arrangement,
for example, provides added flexibility in controlling rights
management of DVD content between multiple platforms via access
through "backchannels" such as via a set-top box or other hardware
having bi-directional communications capabilities with other
networks or computers.
Additional Use of a DVD Disk with a Secure Container
[0297] FIG. 10 illustrates the use of a "new" DVD disk--i.e., one
that includes a special DVD secure container in the medium. This
container may, in one example, be used or two possible use
scenarios: a first situation in which the disk is used on an "old"
player (DVD appliance, i.e., a DVD appliance that is not equipped
with a secure node to provide rights management in accordance with
the present invention; and a second situation in which the disk is
used on a "new" player--i.e., a DVD appliance which is equipped
with a secure node to provide rights management in accordance with
the present invention. In this example, a secure node within the
"new" player is configured with the necessary capabilities to
process other copy protection information such as, for example,
CGMA control codes and data scrambling formats developed and
proposed principally by Matsushita.
[0298] For example, in the situation shown in FIG. 10, the "new"
player (which incorporates a secure node in accordance with the
present invention) can recognize the presence of a secure container
on the disk. The player may then load the special DVD secure
container from the disk into the resident secure node. The secure
node opens the container, and implements and/or enforces
appropriate rules and usage consequences associated with the
content by applying rules from the control object. These rules are
extremely flexible. In one example, the rules may, for example,
call for use of other protection mechanisms (such as, for example,
CGMA protection codes and Matsushita data scrambling) which can be
found in the content (or property) portion of the container.
[0299] In another example shown in FIG. 10, the special DVD
container on the disk still allows the "old" player to use to a
predetermined limited amount content material which may be used in
accordance with conventional practices.
Example Use of A DVD Disk with no Secure Container
[0300] Referring now to FIG. 11, a further scenario is discussed.
FIG. 11 illustrates use of an "old" DVD disk with two possible use
examples: a first example in which the disk is used on an "old"
player--i.e., a DVD appliance that is not equipped with a secure
node for providing rights management in accordance with the present
invention--and a second example in which the disk is used on a
"new" player (i.e., equipped with a secure node).
[0301] In the first case, the "old" player will play the DVD
content in a conventional manner. In the second scenario, the "new"
player will recognize that the disk does not have a container
stored in the medium. It therefore constructs a "virtual" container
in resident memory of the appliance. To do this, it constructs a
container content object, and also constructs a control object
containing the appropriate rules. In one particular example, the
only applicable rule it need apply is to "do CGMA"--but in other
examples, additional and/or different rules could be employed. The
virtual container is then provided to the secure node within the
"new" player for implementing management of use rights in
accordance with the present invention. Although not shown in FIGS.
10 and 11, use of "external references" may also be provided in
both virtual and non-virtual containers used in the DVD
context.
Example Illustrative Arrangements for Sharing, Brokering and
Combining Rights when Operating in at Least Occasionally Connected
Scenarios
[0302] As described above, the rights management resources of
several different devices and/or other systems can be flexibly
combined in diverse logical and/or physical relationships,
resulting for example in greater and/or differing rights. Such
rights management resource combinations can be effected through
connection to one or more remote rights authorities. FIGS. 12-14
show some non-limiting examples of how rights authorities can be
used in various contexts.
[0303] For example, FIG. 12 shows a rights authority broker 1000
connected to a local area network (LAN) 1002. LAN 1002 may connect
to wide area network if desired. LAN 1002 provides connectivity
between rights authority broker 1000 and any number of appliances
such as for example a player 50, a personal computer 60, a CD
"tower" type server 1004. In the example shown, LAN 1002 includes a
modem pool (and/or network protocol server, not shown) 1006 that
allows a laptop computer 1008 to connect to the rights authority
broker 1000 via dial-up lines 1010. Alternatively, laptop 1008
could communicate with rights authority broker 1000 using other
network and/or communication means, such as the Internet and/or
other Wide Area Networks (WANs). A disk player 50A may be coupled
to laptop 1008 at the laptop location. In accordance with the
teachings above, any or all of devices shown in FIG. 12 may include
one or more secure nodes 72.
[0304] Rights authority broker 1000 may act as an arbiter and/or
negotiator of rights. For example, laptop 1008 and associated
player 50A may have only limited usage rights when operating in a
stand-alone configuration. However, when laptop 1008 connects to
rights authority broker 1000 via modem pool 1006 and LAN 1002
and/or by other communication means, the laptop may acquire
different and/or expanded rights to use disks 100 (e.g.,
availability of different content portions, different pricing,
different extraction and/or redistribution rights, etc.) Similarly,
player 50, equipment 60 and equipment 1004 may be provided with an
enhanced and/or different set of disk usage rights through
communication with rights authority broker 1000 over LAN 1002.
Communication to and from rights authority broker 1000 is
preferably secured through use of containers of the type disclosed
in the above-referenced Ginter et al. patent specification.
[0305] FIG. 13 shows another example use of a rights authority
broker 1000 within a home environment. In this example, the laptop
computer 1008 may be connected to a home-based rights authority
broker 1000 via a high speed serial IEEE 1394 bus and/or by other
electronic communication means. In addition, rights authority
broker 1000 can connect with any or all of: [0306] a high
definition television 1100, [0307] one or more loudspeakers 1102 or
other audio transducers, [0308] one or more personal computers 60,
[0309] one or more set-top boxes 1030, [0310] one or more disk
players 50, [0311] one or more other rights authority brokers
1000A-1000N and [0312] any other home or consumer equipment or
appliances.
[0313] Any or all of the equipment listed above may include a
secure node 72.
[0314] FIG. 14 shows another example use of a rights authority
broker 1000. In this example, rights authority broker 1000 is
connected to a network 1020 such as a LAN, a WAN, the Internet,
etc. Network 1020 may provide connectivity between rights authority
broker 1000 and any or all of the following equipment: [0315] one
or more connected or occasionally connected disk players 50A, 50B;
[0316] one more networked computers 1022; [0317] one or more disk
reader towers/servers 1004; [0318] one or more laptop computers
1008; [0319] one or more Commerce Utility Systems such as a rights
and permissions clearinghouse 1024 (see Shear et al., "Trusted
Infrastructure . . . " specification referenced above); [0320] one
or more satellite or other communications uplinks 1026; [0321] one
or more cable television head-ends 1028; [0322] one or more set-top
boxes 1030 (which may be connected to satellite downlinks 1032
and/or disk players 50C); one or more personal computer equipment
60; [0323] one or more portable disk players 1034 (which may be
connected through other equipment, directly, and/or occasionally
unconnected; [0324] one or more other rights authority brokers
1000A-1000N; and [0325] any other desired equipment.
[0326] Any or all of the above-mentioned equipment may include one
or more secure nodes 72. Rights authority broker 1000 can
distribute and/or combine rights for use by any or all of the other
components shown in FIG. 14. For example, rights authority broker
100 can supply further secure rights management resources to
equipment connected to the broker via network 1020. Multiple
equipment shown in FIG. 14 can participate and work together in a
permanently or temporarily connected network 1020 to share the
rights management for a single node. Rights associated with parties
and/or groups using and/or controlling such multiple devices and/or
other systems can be employed according to underlying rights
related rules and controls. As one example, rights available
through a corporate executive's laptop computer 1008 might be
combined with or substituted for, in some manner, the rights of one
or more subordinate corporate employees when their computing or
other devices 60 are coupled to network 1020 in a temporary
networking relationship. In general, this aspect of the invention
allows distributed rights management for DVD or otherwise packaged
and delivered content that is protected by a distributed,
peer-to-peer rights management. Such a distributed rights
management can operate whether the DVD appliance or other content
usage device is participating in a permanently or temporarily
connected network 1020, and whether or not the relationships among
the devices and/or other systems participating in the distributed
rights management arrangement are relating temporarily or have a
more permanent operating relationship.
[0327] For example, laptop computer 1008 may have different rights
available depending on the context in which that device is
operating. For example, in a general corporate environment such as
shown in FIG. 12, the laptop 1008 may have one set of rights.
However, the same laptop 1008 may be given a different set of
rights when connected to a more general network 1020 in
collaboration with specified individuals and/or groups in a
corporation. The same laptop 1008 may be given a still different
set of rights when connected in a general home environment such as
shown by example in FIG. 13. The same laptop 1008 could be given
still different rights when connected in still other environments
such as, by way of non-limiting example: [0328] a home environment
in collaboration with specified individuals and/or groups, [0329] a
retail environment, [0330] a classroom setting as a student, [0331]
a classroom setting in collaboration with an instructor, in a
library environment, [0332] on a factory floor, [0333] on a factory
floor in collaboration with equipment enabled to perform
proprietary functions, and so on.
[0334] As one more particular example, coupling a limited resource
device arrangement such as a DVD appliance 50 shown in FIG. 14 with
an inexpensive network computer (NC) 1022 may allow an augmenting
(or replacing) of rights management capabilities and/or specific
rights of parties and/or devices by permitting rights management to
be a result of a combination of some or all of the rights and/or
rights management capabilities of the DVD appliance and those of an
Network or Personal Computer (NC or PC). Such rights may be further
augmented, or otherwise modified or replaced by the availability of
rights management capabilities provided by a trusted (secure)
remote network rights authority 1000.
[0335] The same device, in this example a DVD appliance 50, can
thus support different arrays, e.g., degrees, of rights management
capabilities, in disconnected and connected arrangements and may
further allow available rights to result from the availability of
rights and/or rights management capabilities resulting from the
combination of rights management devices and/or other systems. This
may include one or more combinations of some or all of the rights
available through the use of a "less" secure and/or resource poor
device or system which are augmented, replaced, or otherwise
modified through connection with a device or system that is "more"
or "differently" secure and/or resource rich and/or possesses
differing or different rights, wherein such connection employs
rights and/or management capabilities of either and/or both devices
as defined by rights related rules and controls that describe a
shared rights management arrangement.
[0336] In the latter case, connectivity to a logically and/or
physically remote rights management capability can expand (by, for
example, increasing the available secure rights management
resources) and/or change the character of the rights available to
the user of the DVD appliance 50 or a DVD appliance when such
device is coupled with an NC 1022, personal computer 60, and/or
remote rights authority 1000. In this rights augmentation scenario,
additional content portions may be available, pricing may change,
redistribution rights may change (e.g., be expanded), content
extraction rights may be increased, etc.
[0337] Such "networking rights management" can allow for a
combination of rights management resources of plural devices and/or
other systems in diverse logical and/or physical relationships,
resulting in either greater or differing rights through the
enhanced resources provided by connectivity with one or more
"remote" rights authorities. Further, while providing for increased
and/or differing rights management capability and/or rights, such a
connectivity based rights management arrangement can support
multi-locational content availability, by providing for seamless
integration of remotely available content, for example, content
stored in remote, Internet world wide web-based, database supported
content repositories, with locally available content on one or more
DVD discs 100.
[0338] In this instance, a user may experience not only increased
or differing rights but may be able to use to both local DVD
content and supplementing content (i.e., content that is more
current from a time standpoint, more costly, more diverse, or
complementary in some other fashion, etc.). In such an instance, a
DVD appliance 50 and/or a user of a DVD appliance (or other device
or system connected to such appliance) may have the same rights,
differing, and/or different rights applied to locally and remotely
available content, and portions of local and remotely available
content may themselves be subject to differing or different rights
when used by a user and/or appliance. This arrangement can support
an overall, profound increase in user content opportunities that
are seamlessly integrated and efficiently available to users in a
single content searching and/or usage activity.
[0339] Such a rights augmenting remote authority 1000 may be
directly coupled to a DVD appliance 50 and/or other device by modem
(see item 1006 in FIG. 12) and/or directly or indirectly coupled
through the use of an I/O interface, such as a serial 1394
compatible controller (e.g., by communicating between a 1394
enabled DVD appliance and a local personal computer that functions
as a smart synchronous or asynchronous information communications
interface to such one or more remote authorities, including a local
PC 60 or NC 1022 that serves as a local rights management authority
augmenting and/or supplying the rights management in a DVD
appliance) and/or by other digital communication means such as
wired and/or wireless network connections.
[0340] Rights provided to, purchased, or otherwise acquired by a
participant and/or participant DVD appliance 50 or other system can
be exchanged among such peer-to-peer relating devices and/or other
systems so long as they participate in a permanently or temporarily
connected network. 1020. In such a case, rights may be bartered,
sold, for currency, otherwise exchanged for value, and/or loaned so
long as such devices and/or other systems participate in a rights
management system, for example, such as the Virtual Distribution
Environment described in Ginter, et al., and employ rights transfer
and other rights management capabilities described therein. For
example, this aspect of the present invention allows parties to
exchange games or movies in which they have purchased rights.
Continuing the example, an individual might buy some of a
neighbor's usage rights to watch a movie, or transfer to another
party credit received from a game publisher for the successful
superdistribution of the game to several acquaintances, where such
credit is transferred (exchanged) to a friend to buy some of the
friend's rights to play a different game a certain number of times,
etc.
Example Virtual Rights Process
[0341] FIGS. 15A-15C shows an example of a process in which rights
management components of two or more appliances or other devices
establish a virtual rights machine environment associated with an
event, operation and/or other action. The process may be initiated
in a number of ways. In one example, an appliance user (and/or
computer software acting on behalf of a user, group of users,
and/or automated system for performing actions) performs an action
with a first appliance (e.g., requesting the appliance to display
the contents of a secure container, extract a portion of a content
element, run a protected computer program, authorize a work flow
process step, initiate an operation on a machine tool, play a song,
etc.) that results in the activation of a rights management
component associated with such first appliance (FIG. 15A, block
1500). In other examples, the process may get started in response
to an automatically generated event (e.g., based on a time of day
or the like), a random or pseudo-random event, and/or a combination
of such events with a user-initiated event.
[0342] Once the process begins, a rights management component such
as a secure node 72 (for example, an SPE and/or HPE as disclosed in
Ginter et al.) determines which rights associated with such first
appliance, if any, the user has available with respect to such an
action (FIG. 15A, block 1502). The rights management component also
determines the coordinating and/or cooperating rights associated
with such an action available to the user located in whole or in
part on other appliances (FIG. 15A, block 1502).
[0343] In one example, these steps may be performed by securely
delivering a request to a rights authority server 1000 that
identifies the first appliance, the nature of the proposed action,
and other information required or desired by such a rights
authority server. Such other information may include, for example:
[0344] the date and time of the request, [0345] the identity of the
user, [0346] the nature of the network connection, [0347] the
acceptable latency of a response, etc.), and/or [0348] any other
information.
[0349] In response to such a request, the rights authority server
1000 may return a list (or other appropriate structure) to the
first appliance. This list may, for example, contain the identities
of other appliances that do, or may, have rights and/or rights
related information relevant to such a proposed action.
[0350] In another embodiment, the first appliance may communicate
(e.g., poll) a network with requests to other appliances that do,
or may, have rights and/or rights related information relevant to
such proposed action. Polling may be desirable in cases where the
number of appliances is relatively small and/or changes
infrequently. Polling may also be useful, for example, in cases
where functions of a rights authority server 1000 are distributed
across several appliances.
[0351] The rights management component associated with the first
appliance may then, in this example, check the security level(s)
(and/or types) of devices and/or users of other appliances that do,
or may, have rights and/or rights related information relevant to
such an action (FIG. 15A, block 1506). This step may, for example,
be performed in accordance with the security level(s) and/or device
type management techniques disclosed in Sibert and Van Wie, and the
user rights, secure name services and secure communications
techniques disclosed in Ginter et al. Device and/or user security
level determination may be based, for example, in whole or in part
on device and/or user class.
[0352] The rights management component may then make a decision as
to whether each of the other appliance devices and/or users have a
sufficient security level to cooperate in forming the set of rights
and/or rights related information associated with such an action
(FIG. 15A, block 1508). As each appliance is evaluated, some
devices and/or users may have sufficient security levels, and
others may not. In this example, if a sufficient security level is
not available ("No" exit to decision block 1508), the rights
management component may create an audit record (for example, an
audit record of the form disclosed in Ginter et al.) (FIG. 15A,
block 1510), and may end the process (FIG. 15A, block 1512). Such
audit record may be for either immediate transmission to a
responsible authority and/or for local storage and later
transmission, for example. The audit recording step may include, as
one example, incrementing a counter that records security level
failures (such as the counters associated with summary services in
Ginter et al.)
[0353] If the devices and/or users provide the requisite security
level ("Yes" exit to block 1508), the rights management component
in this example may make a further determination based on the
device and/or user class(es) and/or other configuration and/or
characteristics (FIG. 15B, block 1514). Such determination may be
based on any number of factors such as for example: [0354] the
device is accessible only through a network interface that has
insufficient throughput; [0355] devices in such a class typically
have insufficient resources to perform the action, or relevant
portion of the action, at all or with acceptable performance,
quality, or other characteristics; [0356] the user class is
inappropriate due to various conditions (e.g., age, security
clearance, citizenship, jurisdiction, or any other class-based or
other user characteristic); and/or [0357] other factors.
[0358] In one example, decision block 1514 may be performed in part
by presenting a choice to the user that the user declines.
[0359] If processes within the rights management component
determines that such device and/or user class(es) are inappropriate
("No" exit to block 1514), the rights management component may
write an audit record if required or desired (FIG. 15B, block 1516)
and the process may end (FIG. 15B, block 1518).
[0360] If, on the other hand, the rights management component
determines that the device and/or user classes are appropriate to
proceed ("Yes" exit to block 1514), the rights management component
may determine the rights and resources available for performing the
action on the first appliance and the other appliances acting
together (FIG. 15B, block 1520). This step may be performed, for
example, using any or all of the method processing techniques
disclosed in Ginter et al. For example, method functions may
include event processing capabilities that formulate a request to
each relevant appliance that describes, in whole or in part,
information related to the action, or portion of the action,
potentially suitable for processing, in whole or in part, by such
appliance. In this example, such requests, and associated
responses, may be managed using the reciprocal method techniques
disclosed in Ginter et al. If such interaction requires additional
information, or results in ambiguity, the rights management
component may, for example, communicate with the user and allow
them to make a choice, such as making a choice among various
available, functionally different options, and/or the rights
management component may engage in a negotiation (for example,
using the negotiation techniques disclosed in Ginter et al.)
concerning resources, rights and/or rights related information.
[0361] The rights management component next determines whether
there are sufficient rights and/or resources available to perform
the requested action (FIG. 15B, decision block 1522). If there are
insufficient rights and/or resources available to perform the
action ("No" exit to block 1522), the rights management component
may write an audit record (FIG. 15B, block 1524), and end the
process (FIG. 15B, block 1526).
[0362] In this example, if sufficient rights and/or resources are
available ("Yes" exit to block 1522), the rights management
component may make a decision regarding whether additional events
should be processed in order to complete the overall action (FIG.
15B, block 1528). For example, it may not be desirable to perform
only part of the overall action if the necessary rights and/or
resources are not available to complete the action. If more events
are necessary and/or desired ("Yes" exit to block 1528), the rights
management component may repeat blocks 1520, 1522 (and potentially
perform blocks 1524, 1526) for each such event.
[0363] If sufficient rights and/or resources are available for each
of the events ("No" exit to block 1528), the rights management
component may, if desired or required, present a user with a choice
concerning the available alternatives for rights and/or resources
for performing the action (FIG. 15B, block 1530). Alternatively
and/or in addition, the rights management component may rely on
user preference information (and/or defaults) to "automatically"
make such a determination on behalf of the user (for example, based
on the overall cost, performance, quality, etc.). In another
embodiment, the user's class, or classes, may be used to filter or
otherwise aid in selecting among available options. In still
another embodiment, artificial intelligence (including, for
example, expert systems techniques) may be used to aid in the
selection among alternatives. In another embodiment, a mixture of
any or all of the foregoing (and/or other) techniques may be used
in the selection process.
[0364] If there are no acceptable alternatives for rights and/or
resources, or because of other negative aspects of the selection
process (e.g., a user presses a "Cancel" button in a graphical user
interface, a user interaction process exceeds the available time to
make such a selection, etc.), ("No" exit to block 1530) the rights
management component may write an audit record (FIG. 15B, block
1532), and end the process (FIG. 15B, block 1534).
[0365] On the other hand, if a selection process identifies one or
more acceptable sets of rights and/or resources for performing the
action and the decision to proceed is affirmative ("Yes" exit to
block 1530), the rights management component may perform the
proposed action using the first appliance alone or in combination
with any additional appliances (e.g., a rights authority 1000, or
any other connected appliance) based on the selected rights and/or
resources (FIG. 15C, block 1536). Such cooperative implementation
of the proposed actions may include for example: [0366] performing
some or all of the action with the first appliance; [0367]
performing some or all of the action with one or more appliances
other than the first appliance (e.g., a rights authority 1000
and/or some other appliance); [0368] performing part of the action
with the first appliance and part of the action with one or more
other appliances; or [0369] any combination of these.
[0370] For example, this step may be performed using the event
processing techniques disclosed in Ginter et al.
[0371] As one illustrative example, the first appliance may have
all of the resources necessary to perform a particular task (e.g.,
read certain information from an optical disk), but may lack the
rights necessary to do so. In such an instance, the first appliance
may obtain the additional rights it requires to perform the task
through the steps described above. In another illustrative example,
the first appliance may have all of the rights required to perform
a particular task, but it may not have the resources to do so. For
example, the first appliance may not have sufficient hardware
and/or software resources available to it for accessing, processing
or otherwise using information in certain ways. In this example,
step 1536 may be performed in whole or in part by some other
appliance or appliances based in whole or in part on rights
supplied by the first appliance. In still another example, the
first appliance may lack both rights and resources necessary to
perform a certain action, and may rely on one or more additional
appliances to supply such resources and rights.
[0372] In this example, the rights management component may, upon
completion of the action, write one or more audit records (FIG.
15C, block 1538), and the process may end (FIG. 15C, block
1540).
[0373] An arrangement has been described which adequately satisfies
current entertainment industry requirements for a low cost,
mass-produceable digital video disk or other high capacity disc
copy protection scheme but which also provides enhanced, extensible
rights management capabilities for more advanced and/or secure
platforms and for cooperative rights management between devices of
lessor, greater, and/or differing rights resources. While the
invention has been described in connection with what is presently
considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is
to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the
disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover
various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within
the spirit and scope of the invention.
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