Patent US7103574B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US7103574B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Enforcement architecture and method for digital rights management
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
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Filing: 1999-04-12
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Granted: 2006-09-05
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Expires: 2019-04-12
Abstract
Abstract An enforcement architecture and method for implementing digital rights management are disclosed. Digital content is distributed from a content server to a computing device of a user and received, and an attempt is made to render the digital content by way of a rendering application. The rendering application invokes a Digital Rights Management (DRM) system, and such DRM system determines whether a right to render the digital content in the manner sought exists based on any digital license stored in the computing device and corresponding to the digital content. If the right does not exist, a digital license that provides such right and that corresponds to the digital content is requested from a license server, and the license server issues the digital license to the DRM system. The computing device receives the issued digital license and stores the received digital license thereon.
Inventors
- 👤 Marcus Peinado
- 👤 Rajasekhar Abburi
- 👤 Arnold N. Blinn
- 👤 Thomas C. Jones
- 👤 John L. Manferdelli
- 👤 Jeffrey R. C. Bell
- 👤 Ramaranthnam Venkatesan
- 👤 Paul England
- 👤 Mariusz H. Jakubowski
- 👤 Hai Ying (Vincent) Yu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 12:22
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L63/00; H04L63/04; H04L63/0428; H04L63/0442; G; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/10; G06F21/109; G06F21/70; G06F21/71; G06F21/82; G06F21/84; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/06; G06Q30/0601; G07; G07F; G07F9/00; G07F9/002; H04L63/06; H04L63/068; H04L63/08; H04L63/0823; H04L63/12; G06F2211/00; G06F2211/007; G06F2221/00; G06F2221/21; G06F2221/2105; G06F2221/2137; H04L2463/00; H04L2463/101
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 136
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
An enforcement architecture for digital rights management, wherein the architecture enforces rights in protected digital content, the architecture comprising: a content server for distributing the digital content; a license server for issuing at least one digital license corresponding to and separate from the digital content; and a computing device for receiving the distributed digital content and for receiving and storing any digital license corresponding to the digital content, the computing device having: a rendering application for rendering the digital content; and a Digital Rights Management (DRM) system for being invoked by the rendering application upon such rendering application attempting to render the digital content, the DRM system for determining whether a right to render the digital content in the manner sought exists based on any digital license stored in the computing device and corresponding to the digital content, wherein the license server issues a digital license to the DRM system only if the license server trusts such DRM system to abide by the license, and wherein the content server distributes the digital content in an encrypted form, and wherein the DRM system includes a trusted black box for performing decryption and encryption functions for such DRM system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
An enforcement architecture for digital rights management, wherein the architecture enforces rights in protected digital content, the architecture comprising: a content server for distributing the digital content; a license server for issuing at least one digital license corresponding to and separate from the digital content; and a computing device for receiving the distributed digital content and for receiving and storing any digital license corresponding to the digital content, the computing device having: a rendering application for rendering the digital content; and a Digital Rights Management (DRM) system for being invoked by the rendering application upon such rendering application attempting to render the digital content, the DRM system for determining whether a right to render the digital content in the manner sought exists based on any digital license stored in the computing device and corresponding to the digital content, wherein the license server issues a digital license to the DRM system only if the license server trusts such DRM system to abide by the license, and wherein the content server distributes the digital content in an encrypted form, and wherein the DRM system includes a trusted black box for performing decryption and encryption functions for such DRM system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The architecture of claim 1 , wherein the content server is communicatively coupled to a network and distributes the digital content over the network.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The architecture of claim 2 , wherein the content server is communicatively coupled to the Internet and distributes the digital content over the Internet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The architecture of claim 1 , wherein the license server is communicatively coupled to a network and issues the at least one digital license over the network.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The architecture of claim 4 , wherein the license server is communicatively coupled to the Internet and issues the at least one digital license over the Internet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The architecture of claim 1 , wherein the content server is communicatively coupled to a portable medium writer and distributes the digital content on a portable medium written by the portable medium writer, the portable medium selected from the group consisting of an optical storage medium and a magnetic storage medium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The architecture of claim 1 , wherein the content server distributes the digital content in an encrypted form.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
The architecture of claim 7 , wherein each digital license corresponding to the digital content includes: a decryption key that decrypts the encrypted digital content; and a description of the rights conferred by the license, wherein the encrypted digital content cannot be decrypted and rendered without obtaining such license from the license server.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The architecture of claim 8 , wherein each digital license corresponding to the digital content further includes a digital signature that binds the license to the encrypted digital content.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
69 words
The architecture of claim 1 , wherein if the DRM system determines that the right to render the digital content in the manner sought does not exist, based on any digital license stored in the computing device and corresponding to the digital content, such DRM system directs a computing device user to the license server to obtain a digital license to render such digital content in the manner sought.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
67 words
The architecture of claim 1 , wherein if the DRM system determines that the right to render the digital content in the manner sought does not exist based on any digital license stored in the computing device and corresponding to the digital content, such DRM system transparently obtains a digital license from the license server without any action necessary on the part of a computing device user.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The architecture of claim 1 , wherein the DRM system includes a license store for storing digital licenses.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The architecture of claim 1 , wherein each digital license corresponding to the digital content is bound to such digital content.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The architecture of claim 13 , wherein each digital license corresponding to the digital content is bound to such digital content by way of a public/private key technique.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The architecture of claim 1 , wherein the content server distributes the digital content in an encrypted form.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
53 words
The architecture of claim 15 , wherein each digital license corresponding to the digital content includes: a decryption key that decrypts the encrypted digital content; and a description of the rights conferred by the license, wherein the encrypted digital content cannot be decrypted and rendered without obtaining such license from the license server.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The architecture of claim 1 , wherein the black box includes a unique public/private key pair for performing the decryption and encryption functions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
66 words
The architecture of claim 17 , wherein the license server issues each digital license in response to a license request from the DRM system, the license request including the black box public key, the license server encrypting at least a portion of the digital license according to the black box public key prior to issuance of such license, thereby binding such license to such black box.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
56 words
The architecture of claim 18 , wherein the content server distributes the digital content in an encrypted form, wherein each digital license corresponding to the digital content includes a decryption key that decrypts the encrypted digital content, and wherein the license server encrypts the decryption key in the license according to the black box public key.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
61 words
The architecture of claim 19 , wherein each digital license corresponding to the digital content further includes a description of the rights conferred by the license, wherein the encrypted digital content cannot be decrypted and rendered without obtaining such license from the license server, and wherein the license server encrypts the rights description in the license according to the decryption key.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The architecture of claim 1 , wherein the black box includes a version number.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
99 words
The architecture of claim 21 wherein the license server issues each digital license in response to a license request from the DRM system, the license request including the version number of the black box, the license server determining prior to issuance of the license whether the version number of the black box is acceptable, the license server upon determining that the version number of the black box is not acceptable refusing to issue the license until the black box is updated, the architecture further comprising a black box server for providing an updated black box to the DRM system.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The architecture of claim 1 , wherein the black box includes a certifying authority signature as provided by an approved certifying authority.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
48 words
The architecture of claim 23 wherein the license server issues each digital license in response to a license request from the DRM system, the license request including the certifying authority signature, the license server determining prior to issuance of the license whether the certifying authority signature is valid.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
65 words
The architecture of claim 1 , wherein each digital license corresponding to the digital content includes a description of the rights conferred by the license, and wherein the DRM system includes a trusted license evaluator for evaluating the rights description and allowing rendering of the digital content by the rendering application only if such rendering is in accordance with the rights description of the license.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
46 words
The architecture of claim 1 further comprising an issued license database for maintaining information on digital licenses issued by the license server, wherein if the computing device loses a received license, a re-issue thereof may be provided based on the information in the issued license database.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
The architecture of claim 1 further comprising an authoring tool for authoring the digital content distributed by the content server in a form amenable to the architecture.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
The architecture of claim 27 wherein the authoring tool encrypts the digital content according to a decryption key and stores information on the digital content and the encryption key in a content-key database.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
45 words
The architecture of claim 28 wherein the license server accesses the information on the digital content and the encryption key in the content-key database prior to issuance of a license corresponding to the digital content, and includes the decryption key with such license as issued.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
The architecture of claim 16 , wherein each digital license corresponding to the digital content further includes a digital signature that binds the license to the encrypted digital content.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
251 words
A method for implementing digital rights management, wherein the method enforces rights in protected digital content, the method comprising: distributing the digital content from a content server to a computing device of a user; receiving the distributed digital content at the computing device; attempting to render the digital content by way of a rendering application; invoking, by the rendering application, a Digital Rights Management (DRM) system upon such rendering application attempting to render the digital content; determining, by the DRM system, whether a right to render the digital content in the manner sought exists based on any digital license stored in the computing device and corresponding to the digital content; and if the right does not exist: requesting from a license server a digital license that provides such right and that corresponds to and is separate from the digital content; issuing, by the license server, the digital license to the DRM system; receiving, by the computing device, the issued digital license corresponding to the digital content from the license server; and storing the received digital license on the computing device, wherein the issuing step comprises issuing, by the license server, the digital license to the DRM system only if the license server trusts such DRM system to abide by the license, and wherein the distributing step comprises distributing, by the content server, the digital content in an encrypted form, and further comprising employing a trusted black box in the DRM system to perform decryption and encryption functions for such DRM system.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
251 words
A method for implementing digital rights management, wherein the method enforces rights in protected digital content, the method comprising: distributing the digital content from a content server to a computing device of a user; receiving the distributed digital content at the computing device; attempting to render the digital content by way of a rendering application; invoking, by the rendering application, a Digital Rights Management (DRM) system upon such rendering application attempting to render the digital content; determining, by the DRM system, whether a right to render the digital content in the manner sought exists based on any digital license stored in the computing device and corresponding to the digital content; and if the right does not exist: requesting from a license server a digital license that provides such right and that corresponds to and is separate from the digital content; issuing, by the license server, the digital license to the DRM system; receiving, by the computing device, the issued digital license corresponding to the digital content from the license server; and storing the received digital license on the computing device, wherein the issuing step comprises issuing, by the license server, the digital license to the DRM system only if the license server trusts such DRM system to abide by the license, and wherein the distributing step comprises distributing, by the content server, the digital content in an encrypted form, and further comprising employing a trusted black box in the DRM system to perform decryption and encryption functions for such DRM system.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 31 , wherein the distributing step comprises distributing the digital content over a network.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 32 , wherein the distributing step comprises distributing the digital content over the Internet.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 31 further comprising maintaining information on digital licenses issued by the license server in an issued license database, wherein if the computing device loses a received license, a re-issue thereof may be provided based on the information in the issued license database.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 31 , wherein the distributing step comprises distributing the digital content on a portable medium selected from the group consisting of an optical storage medium and a magnetic storage medium.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 31 , wherein the distributing step comprises distributing the digital content in an encrypted form.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 36 , further comprising including with each digital license corresponding to the digital content: a decryption key that decrypts the encrypted digital content; and a description of the rights conferred by the license, wherein the encrypted digital content cannot be decrypted and rendered without obtaining such license from the license server.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 37 , wherein the including step further comprises including with each digital license corresponding to the digital content a digital signature that binds the license to the encrypted digital content.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 31 , wherein the requesting a digital license step comprises directing, by the DRM system, a computing device user to the license server to obtain a digital license to render such digital content in the manner sought.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 31 , wherein the requesting a digital license step comprises transparently obtaining, by the DRM system, a digital license from the license server without any action necessary on the part of a computing device user.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 31 , wherein the storing step comprises storing, by the DRM system, the received digital license in a license store of the DRM system.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 31 , further comprising binding, by the license server, the digital license to the corresponding digital content.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 42 , comprising binding, by the license server, the digital license to the corresponding digital content by way of a public/private key technique.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 31 , wherein the issuing step comprises issuing the digital license over a network.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 44 , wherein the issuing step comprises issuing the digital license over the Internet.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 31 , wherein the black box includes a public/private key pair, and wherein the requesting a digital license step comprises including in the request the black box public key, and further comprising encrypting, by the license server, at least a portion of the digital license according to the black box public key prior to issuance of such license, thereby binding such license to such black box.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 46 , wherein the distributing step comprises distributing the digital content in an encrypted form, and further comprising: including with each digital license corresponding to the digital content a decryption key that decrypts the encrypted digital content; and encrypting, by the license server, the decryption key in the license according to the black box public key.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 47 , further comprising: including with each digital license corresponding to the digital content a description of the rights conferred by the license, wherein the encrypted digital content cannot be decrypted and rendered without obtaining such license from the license server; and encrypting, by the license server, the rights description in the license according to the decryption key.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
104 words
The method of claim 31 , wherein the black box includes a version number, and wherein the requesting a digital license step comprises including in the request the version number of the black box, and further comprising: determining, by the license server, prior to issuance of the license whether the version number of the black box is acceptable; and upon determining that the version number of the black box is not acceptable, the license server refusing to issue the license until the black box is updated, the architecture further comprising a black box server for providing an updated black box to the DRM system.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 31 , wherein the black box includes a certifying authority signature as provided by an approved certifying authority, and wherein the requesting a digital license step comprises including the certifying authority signature, the license server determining prior to issuance of the license whether the certifying authority signature is valid.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 31 , wherein the issuing the digital license step comprises including with the digital license a description of the rights conferred by the license, and further comprising: evaluating, by a trusted license evaluator of the DRM system, the rights description; and allowing rendering of the digital content by the rendering application only if such rendering is in accordance with the rights description of the license.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 31 further comprising authoring, by an authoring tool, the digital content distributed by the content server in a form amenable to the architecture.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 52 wherein the authoring step comprises: encrypting the digital content according to a decryption key; and storing information on the digital content and the encryption key in a content-key database.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 53 wherein the issuing the digital license step comprises: accessing, by the license server, the information on the digital content and the encryption key in the content-key database prior to issuance of a license corresponding to the digital content; and including the decryption key with such license as issued.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
243 words
An enforcement architecture for digital rights management, wherein the architecture enforces rights in protected digital content, the architecture comprising: a content server communicatively coupled to a network for distributing the digital content over the network; a license server for issuing at least one digital license corresponding to and separate from the digital content, the license server being communicatively coupled to the network for issuing the at least one digital license over the network; and a computing device communicatively coupled to the network for receiving the distributed digital content and for receiving any digital license corresponding to the digital content, the computing device also having: a memory for storing any digital license corresponding to the digital content; a rendering application for attempting to render the digital content; and a Digital Rights Management (DRM) system for being invoked by the rendering application upon such rendering application attempting to render the digital content, the DRM system for determining whether a right to render the digital content in the manner sought exists based on any digital license stored in the computing device and corresponding to the digital content; wherein the license server issues a digital license to a DRM system only if the license server trusts such DRM system to abide by the license, and wherein the content server distributes the digital content in an encrypted form, and wherein the DRM system includes a trusted black box for performing decryption and encryption functions for such DRM system.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
243 words
An enforcement architecture for digital rights management, wherein the architecture enforces rights in protected digital content, the architecture comprising: a content server communicatively coupled to a network for distributing the digital content over the network; a license server for issuing at least one digital license corresponding to and separate from the digital content, the license server being communicatively coupled to the network for issuing the at least one digital license over the network; and a computing device communicatively coupled to the network for receiving the distributed digital content and for receiving any digital license corresponding to the digital content, the computing device also having: a memory for storing any digital license corresponding to the digital content; a rendering application for attempting to render the digital content; and a Digital Rights Management (DRM) system for being invoked by the rendering application upon such rendering application attempting to render the digital content, the DRM system for determining whether a right to render the digital content in the manner sought exists based on any digital license stored in the computing device and corresponding to the digital content; wherein the license server issues a digital license to a DRM system only if the license server trusts such DRM system to abide by the license, and wherein the content server distributes the digital content in an encrypted form, and wherein the DRM system includes a trusted black box for performing decryption and encryption functions for such DRM system.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
27 words
The architecture of claim 55 further comprising an authoring tool for authoring the digital content distributed by the content server in a form amenable to the architecture.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
24 words
The architecture of claim 55 , wherein the content server is communicatively coupled to the Internet and distributes the digital content over the Internet.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
27 words
The architecture of claim 55 , wherein the license server is communicatively coupled to the Internet and issues the at least one digital license over the Internet.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
75 words
The architecture of claim 55 , wherein the content server is also communicatively coupled to a portable medium writer and distributes the digital content on a portable medium written by the portable medium writer, the portable medium selected from the group consisting of an optical storage medium and a magnetic storage medium, and wherein the computing device includes a portable medium reader corresponding to the portable medium writer for receiving and reading the portable medium.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
18 words
The architecture of claim 55 , wherein the content server distributes the digital content in an encrypted form.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
53 words
The architecture of claim 60 , wherein each digital license corresponding to the digital content includes: a decryption key that decrypts the encrypted digital content; and a description of the rights conferred by the license, wherein the encrypted digital content cannot be decrypted and rendered without obtaining such license from the license server.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
29 words
The architecture of claim 61 , wherein each digital license corresponding to the digital content further includes a digital signature that binds the license to the encrypted digital content.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
69 words
The architecture of claim 55 , wherein if the DRM system determines that the right to render the digital content in the manner sought does not exist based on any digital license stored in the computing device and corresponding to the digital content, such DRM system directs a computing device user to the license server to obtain a digital license to render such digital content in the manner sought.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
67 words
The architecture of claim 55 , wherein if the DRM system determines that the right to render the digital content in the manner sought does not exist based on any digital license stored in the computing device and corresponding to the digital content, such DRM system transparently obtains a digital license from the license server without any action necessary on the part of a computing device user.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
18 words
The architecture of claim 55 , wherein the DRM system includes a license store for storing digital licenses.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
21 words
The architecture of claim 55 , wherein each digital license corresponding to the digital content is bound to such digital content.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
28 words
The architecture of claim 66 , wherein each digital license corresponding to the digital content is bound to such digital content by way of a public/private key technique.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
33 words
The architecture of claim 56 wherein the authoring tool encrypts the digital content according to a decryption key and stores information on the digital content and the encryption key in a content-key database.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
45 words
The architecture of claim 68 wherein the license server accesses the information on the digital content and the encryption key in the content-key database prior to issuance of a license corresponding to the digital content, and includes the decryption key with such license as issued.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
23 words
The architecture of claim 55 , wherein the black box includes a unique public/private key pair for performing the decryption and encryption functions.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
66 words
The architecture of claim 70 , wherein the license server issues each digital license in response to a license request from the DRM system, the license request including the black box public key, the license server encrypting at least a portion of the digital license according to the black box public key prior to issuance of such license, thereby binding such license to such black box.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
56 words
The architecture of claim 71 , wherein the content server distributes the digital content in an encrypted form, wherein each digital license corresponding to the digital content includes a decryption key that decrypts the encrypted digital content, and wherein the license server encrypts the decryption key in the license according to the black box public key.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
61 words
The architecture of claim 72 , wherein each digital license corresponding to the digital content further includes a description of the rights conferred by the license, wherein the encrypted digital content cannot be decrypted and rendered without obtaining such license from the license server, and wherein the license server encrypts the rights description in the license according to the decryption key.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
14 words
The architecture of claim 55 , wherein the black box includes a version number.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
99 words
The architecture of claim 74 wherein the license server issues each digital license in response to a license request from the DRM system, the license request including the version number of the black box, the license server determining prior to issuance of the license whether the version number of the black box is acceptable, the license server upon determining that the version number of the black box is not acceptable refusing to issue the license until the black box is updated, the architecture further comprising a black box server for providing an updated black box to the DRM system.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
22 words
The architecture of claim 55 , wherein the black box includes a certifying authority signature as provided by an approved certifying authority.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
48 words
The architecture of claim 76 wherein the license server issues each digital license in response to a license request from the DRM system, the license request including the certifying authority signature, the license server determining prior to issuance of the license whether the certifying authority signature is valid.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
65 words
The architecture of claim 55 , wherein each digital license corresponding to the digital content includes a description of the rights conferred by the license, and wherein the DRM system includes a trusted license evaluator for evaluating the rights description and allowing rendering of the digital content by the rendering application only if such rendering is in accordance with the rights description of the license.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
46 words
The architecture of claim 55 further comprising an issued license database for maintaining information on digital licenses issued by the license server, wherein if the computing device loses a received license, a re-issue thereof may be provided based on the information in the issued license database.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
297 words
An enforcement architecture for digital rights management, wherein the architecture enforces rights in protected digital content, the architecture comprising: an authoring tool for authoring the digital content in a form amenable to the architecture; a content server for receiving the digital content from the authoring tool and distributing the digital content; and a license server for issuing at least one digital license corresponding to and separate from the digital content, wherein a computing device receives the distributed digital content and receives and stores any digital license corresponding to the digital content, the computing device having a rendering application for rendering the digital content; and a Digital Rights Management (DRM) system for being invoked by the rendering application upon such rendering application attempting to render the digital content, the DRM system for determining whether a right to render the digital content in the manner sought exists based on any digital license stored in the computing device and corresponding to the digital content, wherein the license server issues a digital license to a DRM system only if the license server trusts such DRM system to abide by the license, and wherein the content server distributes the digital content in an encrypted form, wherein the DRM system includes a trusted black box for performing decryption and encryption functions for such DRM system, wherein the black box includes a unique public/private key pair for performing the decryption and encryption functions, and wherein the license server issues each digital license in response to a license request from the DRM system, the license request including the black box public key, the license server encrypting at least a portion of the digital license according to the black box public key prior to issuance of such license, thereby binding such license to such black box.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
297 words
An enforcement architecture for digital rights management, wherein the architecture enforces rights in protected digital content, the architecture comprising: an authoring tool for authoring the digital content in a form amenable to the architecture; a content server for receiving the digital content from the authoring tool and distributing the digital content; and a license server for issuing at least one digital license corresponding to and separate from the digital content, wherein a computing device receives the distributed digital content and receives and stores any digital license corresponding to the digital content, the computing device having a rendering application for rendering the digital content; and a Digital Rights Management (DRM) system for being invoked by the rendering application upon such rendering application attempting to render the digital content, the DRM system for determining whether a right to render the digital content in the manner sought exists based on any digital license stored in the computing device and corresponding to the digital content, wherein the license server issues a digital license to a DRM system only if the license server trusts such DRM system to abide by the license, and wherein the content server distributes the digital content in an encrypted form, wherein the DRM system includes a trusted black box for performing decryption and encryption functions for such DRM system, wherein the black box includes a unique public/private key pair for performing the decryption and encryption functions, and wherein the license server issues each digital license in response to a license request from the DRM system, the license request including the black box public key, the license server encrypting at least a portion of the digital license according to the black box public key prior to issuance of such license, thereby binding such license to such black box.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
56 words
The architecture of claim 80 , wherein the content server distributes the digital content in an encrypted form, wherein each digital license corresponding to the digital content includes a decryption key that decrypts the encrypted digital content, and wherein the license server encrypts the decryption key in the license according to the black box public key.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
61 words
The architecture of claim 81 , wherein each digital license corresponding to the digital content further includes a description of the rights conferred by the license, wherein the encrypted digital content cannot be decrypted and rendered without obtaining such license from the license server, and wherein the license server encrypts the rights description in the license according to the decryption key.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
46 words
The architecture of claim 80 further comprising an issued license database for maintaining information on digital licenses issued by the license server, wherein if the computing device loses a received license, a re-issue thereof may be provided based on the information in the issued license database.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
24 words
The architecture of claim 80 , wherein the content server is communicatively coupled to a network and distributes the digital content over the network.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
24 words
The architecture of claim 84 , wherein the content server is communicatively coupled to the Internet and distributes the digital content over the Internet.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
27 words
The architecture of claim 80 , wherein the license server is communicatively coupled to a network and issues the at least one digital license over the network.
Claim 91
Dependent Claim
27 words
The architecture of claim 86 , wherein the license server is communicatively coupled to the Internet and issues the at least one digital license over the Internet.
Claim 92
Dependent Claim
51 words
The architecture of claim 80 , wherein the content server is communicatively coupled to a portable medium writer and distributes the digital content on a portable medium written by the portable medium writer, the portable medium selected from the group consisting of an optical storage medium and a magnetic storage medium.
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
64 words
The architecture of claim 80 wherein each digital license corresponding to the digital content includes a description of the rights conferred by the license, and wherein the DRM system includes a trusted license evaluator for evaluating the rights description and allowing rendering of the digital content by the rendering application only if such rendering is in accordance with the rights description of the license.
Claim 94
Dependent Claim
33 words
The architecture of claim 80 wherein the authoring tool encrypts the digital content according to a decryption key and stores information on the digital content and the encryption key in a content-key database.
Claim 95
Dependent Claim
45 words
The architecture of claim 90 wherein the license server accesses the information on the digital content and the encryption key in the content-key database prior to issuance of a license corresponding to the digital content, and includes the decryption key with such license as issued.
Claim 96
Dependent Claim
71 words
The architecture of claim 80 , wherein a computing device user is directed to the license server by the DRM system to obtain a digital license to render the digital content in the manner sought if the DRM system determines that the right to render such digital content in the manner sought does not exist based on any digital license stored in the computing device and corresponding to the digital content.
Claim 97
Dependent Claim
67 words
The architecture of claim 80 , wherein the DRM system transparently obtains a digital license from the license server without any action necessary on the part of a computing device user if the DRM system determines that the right to render the digital content in the manner sought does not exist based on any digital license stored in the computing device and corresponding to the digital content.
Claim 98
Dependent Claim
21 words
The architecture of claim 80 , wherein each digital license corresponding to the digital content is bound to such digital content.
Claim 99
Dependent Claim
28 words
The architecture of claim 94 , wherein each digital license corresponding to the digital content is bound to such digital content by way of a public/private key technique.
Claim 100
Dependent Claim
109 words
The architecture of claim 80 , wherein the black box includes a version number, and wherein the license server issues each digital license in response to a license request from the DRM system, the license request including the version number of the black box, the license server determining prior to issuance of the license whether the version number of the black box is acceptable, the license server upon determining that the version number of the black box is not acceptable refusing to issue the license until the black box is updated, the architecture further comprising a black box server for providing an updated black box to the DRM system.
Claim 101
Dependent Claim
66 words
The architecture of claim 80 , wherein the black box includes a certifying authority signature as provided by an approved certifying authority, and wherein the license server issues each digital license in response to a license request from the DRM system, the license request including the certifying authority signature, the license server determining prior to issuance of the license whether the certifying authority signature is valid.
Claim 102
Dependent Claim
180 words
A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for implementing a method for enforcing rights in protected digital content, the method comprising: receiving digital content distributed from a content server; receiving and storing at least one digital license issued from a license server, the at least one digital license corresponding to and separate from the digital content; attempting to render the digital content on a rendering application in a particular manner; invoking a Digital Rights Management (DRM) system upon such rendering application attempting to render the digital content; and determining, by the DRM system, whether a right to render the digital content in the manner sought exists based on the at least one stored digital license corresponding to the digital content, wherein the method comprises receiving and storing at least one digital license only if the license server trusts the DRM system to abide by the license, and wherein the method comprises receiving the digital content in an encrypted form, and further comprises performing decryption of the digital content by way of a trusted black box of the DRM system.
Claim 103
Dependent Claim
180 words
A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for implementing a method for enforcing rights in protected digital content, the method comprising: receiving digital content distributed from a content server; receiving and storing at least one digital license issued from a license server, the at least one digital license corresponding to and separate from the digital content; attempting to render the digital content on a rendering application in a particular manner; invoking a Digital Rights Management (DRM) system upon such rendering application attempting to render the digital content; and determining, by the DRM system, whether a right to render the digital content in the manner sought exists based on the at least one stored digital license corresponding to the digital content, wherein the method comprises receiving and storing at least one digital license only if the license server trusts the DRM system to abide by the license, and wherein the method comprises receiving the digital content in an encrypted form, and further comprises performing decryption of the digital content by way of a trusted black box of the DRM system.
Claim 104
Dependent Claim
22 words
The medium of claim 98 wherein the method comprises receiving and storing at least one digital license bound to the digital content.
Claim 105
Dependent Claim
29 words
The medium of claim 99 wherein the method comprises receiving and storing at least one digital license bound to the digital content by way of a public/private key technique.
Claim 106
Dependent Claim
50 words
The medium of claim 98 wherein the method comprises receiving the digital content in an encrypted form, and further comprises performing decryption of the digital content by way of a trusted black box of the DRM system, the black box including a unique public/private key pair for performing the decryption.
Claim 107
Dependent Claim
67 words
The medium of claim 101 wherein the method comprises receiving and storing at least one digital license in response to a license request from the DRM system, the license request including the black box public key, at least a portion of the digital license being encrypted according to the black box public key prior to issuance of such license, thereby binding such license to such black box.
Claim 108
Dependent Claim
53 words
The medium of claim 102 wherein the method comprises receiving the digital content in an encrypted form, wherein each digital license corresponding to the digital content includes a decryption key that decrypts the encrypted digital content, and wherein the decryption key is encrypted in the license according to the black box public key.
Claim 109
Dependent Claim
46 words
The medium of claim 101 wherein the method comprises receiving and storing at least one digital license further including a description of the rights conferred by the license, wherein the encrypted digital content cannot be decrypted and rendered without obtaining such license from the license server.
Claim 110
Dependent Claim
58 words
The medium of claim 98 wherein the method comprises receiving and storing at least one digital license in response to a license request from the DRM system, the license request including a version number of the black box, the license server determining prior to issuance of the license whether the version number of the black box is acceptable.
Claim 111
Dependent Claim
69 words
The medium of claim 98 wherein the method comprises receiving and storing at least one digital license including a description of the rights conferred by the license, the method further comprising evaluating by a trusted license evaluator of the DRM system the rights description and allowing rendering of the digital content by the rendering application only if such rendering is in accordance with the rights description of the license.
Claim 112
Dependent Claim
20 words
The medium of claim 98 wherein the method comprises receiving digital content distributed from the content server over a network.
Claim 113
Dependent Claim
20 words
The medium of claim 107 wherein the method comprises receiving digital content distributed from the content server over the Internet.
Claim 114
Dependent Claim
25 words
The medium of claim 98 wherein the method comprises receiving and storing at least one digital license issued from the license server over a network.
Claim 115
Dependent Claim
25 words
The medium of claim 109 wherein the method comprises receiving and storing at least one digital license issued from the license server over the Internet.
Claim 116
Dependent Claim
17 words
The medium of claim 98 wherein the method comprises receiving the digital content in an encrypted form.
Claim 117
Dependent Claim
55 words
The medium of claim 111 wherein the method comprises receiving and storing at least one digital license including: a decryption key that decrypts the encrypted digital content; and a description of the rights conferred by the license, wherein the encrypted digital content cannot be decrypted and rendered without obtaining such license from the license server.
Claim 118
Dependent Claim
37 words
The medium of claim 112 wherein the method comprises receiving and storing at least one digital license corresponding to the digital content and further including a digital signature that binds the license to the encrypted digital content.
Claim 119
Dependent Claim
65 words
The medium of claim 98 wherein the method further comprises directing a user to the license server to obtain a digital license to render such digital content in the manner sought if the DRM system determines that a right to render the digital content in the manner sought does not exist based on the at least one stored digital license corresponding to the digital content.
Claim 120
Dependent Claim
65 words
The medium of claim 98 wherein the method further comprises transparently obtaining a digital license from the license server without any action necessary on the part of a computing device user if the DRM system determines that a right to render the digital content in the manner sought does not exist based on the at least one stored digital license corresponding to the digital content.
Claim 121
Independent Claim
235 words
A method for implementing digital rights management, wherein the method enforces rights in protected digital content, the method comprising: receiving the distributed digital content at the computing device; attempting to render the digital content by way of a rendering application; invoking, by the rendering application, a Digital Rights Management (DRM) system upon such rendering application attempting to render the digital content; determining, by the DRM system, whether a right to render the digital content in the manner sought exists based on any digital license stored in the computing device and corresponding to the digital content; and if the right does not exist: requesting from a license server a digital license that provides such right and that corresponds to and is separate from the digital content; receiving, by the computing device, the issued digital license corresponding to the digital content from the license server; and storing the received digital license on the computing device, the method further comprising employing a trusted black box in the DRM system to perform decryption and encryption functions for such DRM system, wherein the black box includes a public/private key pair, and wherein requesting the digital license comprises including in the request the black box public key, wherein the license server encrypts at least a portion of the digital license according to the black box public key prior to issuance of such license, thereby binding such license to such black box.
Claim 122
Independent Claim
235 words
A method for implementing digital rights management, wherein the method enforces rights in protected digital content, the method comprising: receiving the distributed digital content at the computing device; attempting to render the digital content by way of a rendering application; invoking, by the rendering application, a Digital Rights Management (DRM) system upon such rendering application attempting to render the digital content; determining, by the DRM system, whether a right to render the digital content in the manner sought exists based on any digital license stored in the computing device and corresponding to the digital content; and if the right does not exist: requesting from a license server a digital license that provides such right and that corresponds to and is separate from the digital content; receiving, by the computing device, the issued digital license corresponding to the digital content from the license server; and storing the received digital license on the computing device, the method further comprising employing a trusted black box in the DRM system to perform decryption and encryption functions for such DRM system, wherein the black box includes a public/private key pair, and wherein requesting the digital license comprises including in the request the black box public key, wherein the license server encrypts at least a portion of the digital license according to the black box public key prior to issuance of such license, thereby binding such license to such black box.
Claim 123
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 116 comprising receiving the digital content in an encrypted form.
Claim 124
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 117 comprising receiving the issued digital license including: a decryption key that decrypts the encrypted digital content; and a description of the rights conferred by the license, wherein the encrypted digital content cannot be decrypted and rendered without obtaining such license from the license server.
Claim 125
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 118 comprising receiving the issued digital license further including a digital signature that binds the license to the encrypted digital content.
Claim 126
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 116 wherein the issued digital license includes a description of the rights conferred by the license, and further comprising: evaluating, by a trusted license evaluator of the DRM system, the rights description; and allowing rendering of the digital content by the rendering application only if such rendering is in accordance with the rights description of the license.
Claim 127
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 116 comprising receiving the digital content in an encrypted form and receiving the digital license including a decryption key that decrypts the encrypted digital content, the decryption key being encrypted according to the black box public key.
Claim 128
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 121 comprising receiving the digital license including a description of the rights conferred by the license, wherein the encrypted digital content cannot be decrypted and rendered without obtaining such license from the license server, the rights description in the license being encrypted according to the decryption key.
Claim 129
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 116 wherein requesting a digital license comprises directing, by the DRM system, a computing device user to the license server to obtain a digital license to render such digital content in the manner sought.
Claim 130
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 116 wherein requesting a digital license comprises transparently obtaining, by the DRM system a digital license from the license server without any action necessary on the part of a computing device user.
Claim 131
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 116 comprising receiving a digital license bound to the corresponding digital content by way of a public/private key technique.
Claim 132
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 116 further comprising maintaining information on digital licenses issued by the license server in an issued license database, wherein if the computing device loses a received license, a re-issue thereof may be provided based on the information in the issued license database.
Claim 133
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 116 wherein each receiving step comprises receiving over a network.
Claim 134
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 127 wherein each receiving step comprises receiving over the Internet.
Claim 135
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 116 comprising receiving the digital content on a portable medium selected from a group consisting of an optical storage medium and a magnetic storage medium.
Claim 136
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 116 wherein the black box includes a certifying authority signature as provided by an approved certifying authority, and wherein requesting a digital license comprises including the certifying authority signature, the license server determining prior to issuance of the license whether the certifying authority signature is valid.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2009-09-04 | 2010-03-06 | 2010-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-09-04 | 2014-03-06 | 2014-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-09-04 | 2018-03-06 | 2018-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |