GB2386521A - A media playback system where data is decrypted subject to certain access conditions being met - Google Patents

A media playback system where data is decrypted subject to certain access conditions being met Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2386521A
GB2386521A GB0206007A GB0206007A GB2386521A GB 2386521 A GB2386521 A GB 2386521A GB 0206007 A GB0206007 A GB 0206007A GB 0206007 A GB0206007 A GB 0206007A GB 2386521 A GB2386521 A GB 2386521A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
data
file
terms
decoded
access
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0206007A
Other versions
GB0206007D0 (en
Inventor
Richard Newton
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
SCREENDRAGON Ltd
Original Assignee
SCREENDRAGON Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by SCREENDRAGON Ltd filed Critical SCREENDRAGON Ltd
Priority to GB0206007A priority Critical patent/GB2386521A/en
Publication of GB0206007D0 publication Critical patent/GB0206007D0/en
Publication of GB2386521A publication Critical patent/GB2386521A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L63/00—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security
    • H04L63/04—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
    • H04L63/0428—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F21/00—Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
    • G06F21/10—Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material ; Digital rights management [DRM]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L63/00—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security
    • H04L63/10—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security for controlling access to devices or network resources
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
    • H04N21/426—Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof
    • H04N21/42646—Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof for reading from or writing on a non-volatile solid state storage medium, e.g. DVD, CD-ROM
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/442—Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed, the storage space available from the internal hard disk
    • H04N21/44204—Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
    • H04N21/83—Generation or processing of protective or descriptive data associated with content; Content structuring
    • H04N21/835—Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates
    • H04N21/8355—Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Software Systems (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Computing Systems (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Technology Law (AREA)
  • Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
  • Storage Device Security (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to the conditional decoding of encoded data by use of a decoding device which determines the conditions under which decoding may take place. The data may be distributed as CD-ROM, magnetic disc etc or downloaded. The access terms may be distributed with the data or may be transmitted separately. The access limitations may include playback at certain times, a limited number of playback events, a payment requirement, the playback of other data such as advertisement or the acceptance of a service such as direct mail. Copying of the data may also be controlled.

Description

1 1 238652 1
DATA ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEM
The invention relates to the conditional decoding of encoded data by use of a decoding device which determines the conditions under which decoding may take s place.
Data such as text, images, music and video may be distributed in many ways, for example magnetic tape, compact discs and internet downloading. Unauthorized copying is a problem since it is usually only possible to control access to the data at 0 the point of delivery. Thereafter, the user can make copies it at will.
The present invention attempts to restrict unauthorized copying and to liberate the distribution process. It provides for the data to be distributed freely as a file by any means such as a compact disc or over the internet. The file encodes the data in a IS proprietary format and also contains information on the terms under which it may be decoded (the "terms of access"), e.g. before or after a certain date or for a limited number of times.
The file can only be decoded by a proprietary "media player". If the terms of access So - permit the file to be immediately decoded, the media player will do so on request. In doing so, it may modify the access terms encoded in the file, for example by incrementing the count of the number of times it has been decoded.
If the access terms do not permit the file to be immediately decoded, it may be 2s possible for the media player to attempt to contact a "subscription server" via a
l - 2 medium such as the internet. The subscription server may then instruct the media player to decode all or part of the file. In doing so it may modify the terms of access, thus allowing the file may be decoded. Alternatively, the server may refuse access and the media player will not decode the file.
s Terms of access may include: - the file being decoded within a fixed period of time; - the file being decoded a limited number of times; - the subscription server determining that a subscription has been paid; lo the user having answered questions asked by the server; - the user needing to first decode and play some other content; - the user agreeing to some other service such as a direct mail; - the user obtaining and entering a password; - access limitations such as playback quality or the permission to create a copy IS if the data in a non-proprietary file format.
It may be possible to physically split the file into two separate parts, those being the encoded data and the terms of access. This would allow the large encoded data to be stored on a dense unmodifyable storage medium such as a compact disc while keeping 20 the terms of access in a modifyable state such as on a hard disc.
The subscription server may record the user's request for access for purposes such as informing the data provider of the demographics of their user base.
2s A preferred embodiment will now be described without reference to any figures.
- 2
- 3 In the preferred embodiment, motion pictures are distributed freely as compact discs on magazine covers. If the content of the disc interests a user, he inserts it into his computer and attempts to play it. (The disc also contains the proprietary media player 5 software in case the user does not already have it installed on his computer.) The media player reads the terms of access and discovers that the file requires that the user must pay a subscription before viewing the file. The media player contacts the subscription server over the internet. The user is asked by the server to pay a lo subscription and to provide basic demographic information (e.g. age, sex, Small address). When these conditions are complied with, the server instructs the media player to modify the terms of access of the file so that and the file may decoded and play once only. If the user wishes to replay the file, the server will demand further payment. - 3

Claims (13)

- 4 CLAIM:S
1. A method for encrypting data into a file and a decoder which determines 5 whether decoding is permitted before it decodes all or part of the file.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the terms under which the data may be decoded are included in the file.
3. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the terms under which the data may be decoded may be modified by the decoder.
lo
4. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the terms under which the data may be decoded include the number of times the file has already been decoded.
5. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the terms under which the data may be decoded include the period of time during which the file may be decoded.
6. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the decoder obtains permission to decode the file from a separate computer.
7. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the separate computer keeps a record of requests for permission to decode the file.
20
8. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein decoding permission obtained from a separate computer depends upon a payment being made.
- 4 -
- -
9. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the terms of access include confirmation that another action has already been executed.
10. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the terms of access include confirmation that another file has been decoded.
s
11. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the terms of access . include confirmation that certain questions have been answered.
12. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the terms of access include confirmation that a password has been obtained.
13. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the terms of access lo include confirmation that the user has agreed to some other service.
- 5
GB0206007A 2002-03-14 2002-03-14 A media playback system where data is decrypted subject to certain access conditions being met Withdrawn GB2386521A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0206007A GB2386521A (en) 2002-03-14 2002-03-14 A media playback system where data is decrypted subject to certain access conditions being met

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0206007A GB2386521A (en) 2002-03-14 2002-03-14 A media playback system where data is decrypted subject to certain access conditions being met

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0206007D0 GB0206007D0 (en) 2002-04-24
GB2386521A true GB2386521A (en) 2003-09-17

Family

ID=9932952

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0206007A Withdrawn GB2386521A (en) 2002-03-14 2002-03-14 A media playback system where data is decrypted subject to certain access conditions being met

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2386521A (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2870952A1 (en) * 2004-05-25 2005-12-02 Lassad Toumi METHOD OF DOWNLOADING WITH ADVERTISING INSERTION AND SPECIFIC PLAYER

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0598587A1 (en) * 1992-11-13 1994-05-25 Hewlett-Packard Company File locking based on disk location
WO1996027155A2 (en) * 1995-02-13 1996-09-06 Electronic Publishing Resources, Inc. Systems and methods for secure transaction management and electronic rights protection
WO1996041445A1 (en) * 1995-06-07 1996-12-19 Spyrus, Inc. System and method for access control for data storage media
EP1130490A2 (en) * 2000-02-18 2001-09-05 M. Ken Co. Ltd. Method for secure distribution of digital products
US20020007456A1 (en) * 1999-03-27 2002-01-17 Marcus Peinado Secure processor architecture for use with a digital rights management (DRM) system on a computing device

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0598587A1 (en) * 1992-11-13 1994-05-25 Hewlett-Packard Company File locking based on disk location
WO1996027155A2 (en) * 1995-02-13 1996-09-06 Electronic Publishing Resources, Inc. Systems and methods for secure transaction management and electronic rights protection
WO1996041445A1 (en) * 1995-06-07 1996-12-19 Spyrus, Inc. System and method for access control for data storage media
US20020007456A1 (en) * 1999-03-27 2002-01-17 Marcus Peinado Secure processor architecture for use with a digital rights management (DRM) system on a computing device
EP1130490A2 (en) * 2000-02-18 2001-09-05 M. Ken Co. Ltd. Method for secure distribution of digital products

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2870952A1 (en) * 2004-05-25 2005-12-02 Lassad Toumi METHOD OF DOWNLOADING WITH ADVERTISING INSERTION AND SPECIFIC PLAYER
WO2005119537A1 (en) * 2004-05-25 2005-12-15 Lassad Toumi Method for downloading with an advertising insert and specific player

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0206007D0 (en) 2002-04-24

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7159126B2 (en) Digital content cryptograph and process
US7627750B1 (en) Information distribution and processing system
US20150058631A1 (en) Content distribution service providing system and content distribution device and user terminal device thereof
US7024485B2 (en) System for controlling and enforcing playback restrictions for a media file by splitting the media file into usable and unusable portions for playback
US6456725B1 (en) Method for increasing the functionality of a media player/recorder device or an application program
RU2219678C2 (en) System for submitting video program on request
US8090920B2 (en) Recording medium, and information processing device and information processing method for the recording medium
US20080114992A1 (en) Interoperable Digital Rights Management
JP2004350150A (en) Content distribution service providing apparatus and content distribution service terminal device
KR20090018529A (en) Method and apparatus for purchasing contents using a portable storage medium or through a network
KR100373811B1 (en) Data encription system and method thereof and portable data-carring device for use in the method
GB2386521A (en) A media playback system where data is decrypted subject to certain access conditions being met
CN100447879C (en) Multimedia storage device having digital write-only area
US8903087B2 (en) Method and device for distributing secure digital audiovisual contents by interoperable solutions
JP2006523055A (en) Method and facility for supplying digital video products with certain viewing rights and restrictions on reproduction rights
JP2003345662A (en) Contents data reproducing device, contents data distributing server, contents data management system, and contents data reproducing program
JP2009048508A (en) Content distribution system and image receiving apparatus
KR100370225B1 (en) Apparatus and method for transcopying data
KR20000055722A (en) Encryption apparatus for digital data player
JP4453177B2 (en) Content distribution system and method
WO2003021907A1 (en) Mechanism for storing, transferring, encrypting and locking multi-media files
WO2004001745A1 (en) Enabling use of encrypted data
JP2006114950A (en) Video content distribution system, video content transmitting apparatus, video content reproduction method, and program
WO2000070539A1 (en) A method for increasing the functionality of a media player/recorder device or an application program
KR20060125024A (en) Method and system for reproducing multimedia

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)