PCT
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`WORLD INTELIECTUAI. PROPERTY DROANIKATION
`Inicrlnuimlal Bureau
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`
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` r.
`INTERNATIONAL AI’PUCATZON PUBLISRED UN DER TI—IE PATENT COOPERATION ‘TREA’i'Y (PCT)
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`15” International Patent Clasfificatitm I
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`N0! Lia’s'hed
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`i ll) Internafianal Publication Number:
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`W0 00mm
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`A2
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`rim international Puhiiculitm Bate:
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`24 Feltrunry 2900 (24.02.99;
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`(213 international Applicuzton Number:
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`I‘mmsggmsss
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`(221 International Filing 13319:
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`ll August I999 {12.03.99}
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`SOLZCAR’ 5‘69““? 13“ Comma!" “ml-WWI
`I743 AW“:
`P‘mpcrty Law. Building !. Mail [amp 1M0, Route 19G. PD.
`Box IOU. St'JII'Ifii'S. NY H3539 {US}.
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`{31!} Priority Data:
`09: I33 ,5 I 9
`{'29: I T1096
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`I3 August 2998 ii3.ilfi.‘}3)
`22 {kmth 1998 {22.10.08}
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`{TI}Applicani {)‘br
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`(:13 designated Smrm excrpr US}:
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`NATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORAfiON
`I'USJUS}: Maw Orchard Road. Amonk. NY IGfiE’kHUSE.
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`KI’. KR. KZ LC. LK, LR. 1.83.71“, LU. LV, MD. MG. MIL ,
`MN. MW. MK. NO. NZ. PL. PT. RO. RU. SD. SE. 50. SI.
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`SK, SL. TJ, TM, TR. Tl", LEA. LEG, US. UZ, VN. YU, ZA.
`-
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`FR. GB. GR. 1E. IT. LU. MC. NL. PT. SEI.
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`2w. Eumpcan patent (AT BE. {II-I. CY, DE. m. :55. Fl.
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`('13) {nvmwrdApplicmtts {for US only}:
`lUSIUS]: 33233 SE. 62nd Avenue. Bow Rawn. FL 33428
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`Way. 130);an Beach. FL 3343?----3303 (1)33.
`'
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`(54] TREE: SYSTEM FOR TR ACKING FWD-"USER ELECTRONIC CONTENT USAGE
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`
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`(5’?)Abstract
`
`A system for tracking usage of ciigital cement on user devices. Ekfimir stoma coupled [£3 a nttwork 531] Eiccnscs It} piuy digital
`comma data It) users. Content platyttm, which receive frmt the Itch-stark the licensed mutt-Ht dam. :u'c uscd :0 play the. Iiccnwd ciltuaztt data.
`Additimmily, a logging sit:- than is coupled to (Inc. natwatk trucks the playing 0*? the Contcnl data.
`in particular. 1h: logging site rt'Citivcs
`play Information from I11: ncEWOIk. and the 5212:}: infmnatim'. intriudus the nume-r of time: [hut
`the. mint-m data has {ac-mt played by the.
`assmiated canlcm playw. Mm pruviclw is a malted for trackiitg may; of digital content on user devices. Acconiing in the method.
`at
`iiccnsc. to play digital content data is 9:016 m a user. and {I}?! licensed mutt-m dam is trunsrtréttt-d 1L)
`:1 mutant player fer the. user. Funhttr.
`int‘mmation is transmitted to a logging Rite Wllmlfvrl' the maven: clam-
`is {:Iuycd by tag mutant player or mph-(i from the content piaycr to
`an external medium 30 that usagc: of the Iicanscd “mum data cm: Em tracked.
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`1
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`SAMSUNG-1052
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`FOR THE PURPOSES OF INFORMATION ONLY
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`Zimbabwe
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`Codes used to identify States party to the PCT on the front pages of pamphlets publishing international applications under the PCT‘
`Albania
`‘88
`mambo
`Annmin
`Lithuania
`Austria
`Luxunbourg
`Australia
`Latvia
`Monaco
`Azerbaijan
`Bosnia and Hmcguvina
`Republic of Moldova
`Barbados
`Madagascar
`Belgium
`The former Yugoslav
`Burkina F‘aso
`Republic of Macedonjn
`Mali
`Bulgaria
`flenin
`Mongolia
`Brazil
`Mauritania
`Belarus
`Malawi
`Canada
`Mexico
`Central African Republir
`Niger
`Nelhorlands
`Congo
`Swilzerl'and
`Norway
`Chic d'lvoirc
`New Zoaland
`Cameroon
`Poland
`China.
`Portugal
`Cuba
`Romania
`Russian Federation
`Czech Republic
`Sudan
`Gamany
`Denmark
`Sweden
`Estonia
`Singapore
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`SI
`SK
`SN
`82
`TD
`TG
`TJ
`TM
`TR
`TT
`UA
`UG
`US
`UZ
`VN
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`Slovenia
`Slovakia
`Smgai
`Swaziland
`Glad
`Togo
`Tajikistan
`'l‘ul‘Knienislun
`1mm
`'l'rinidad and Tobago
`Ukraine
`Uganda
`United Stains of America
`Uzbekislnn
`Viol Nam
`Yugoslavia
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`LS
`LT
`LU
`LV’
`MC
`MD
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`MK
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`ML
`MN
`MR
`MW
`MX
`NE
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`N0
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`PL
`PT
`RO
`RU
`513
`SE
`SG
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`2
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`Spain
`Finland
`France
`Gabon
`United Kingdorn
`Georgia
`Glam
`Guiana
`Greece
`Hungary
`Ireland
`Israel
`lceiand
`Italy
`Japan
`Kenya
`Kyrgyzswn
`Demmraiic Peeplc’s
`Republic oi Korea
`Republic of Korea
`Kazakslmi
`Saint Lucia
`Liechtenstein
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`MF
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`SYSTEM FOR TRACKING END-USER ELECTRONIC CONTENT USAGE
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`I.
`
`Field of the Invention
`
`The invention disclosed broadly relates to the field of electronic commerce and more particularly to a
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`system and related tools for the secure delivery and rights management of digital assets. such as print media. films.
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`games. and music over global communications networks such as the Internet and the World Wide Web.
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`2.
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`Description of the Related .Art
`
`The use of global distribution systems such as the Internet for distribution of digital assets such as music.
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`film, computer programs. pictures. games and other content continues to grow. At the same time owners and
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`publishers of valuable digital content have been slow to embrace the use ofthe Internet for distribution of digital
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`assets for several reasons. One reason is that owners are afraid of unauthorized copying or pirating of digital
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`content. The electronic delivery of digital content removes several barriers to pirating. One barrier that
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`is
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`removed with electronic distribution is the requirement of the tangible recordable medium itself (_e.g.. diskettes or
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`CD ROMs).
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`It costs money to copy digital content on to tangible media. albeit. in many cases less than a dollar for
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`a blank tape or recordable CD. However, in the case of electronic distribution. the tangible medium is no longer
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`needed. The cost of the tangible medium is not a factor because content is distributed electronically. A second
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`barrier. is the format of the content itself i.e. is the content stored in an analog format versus a digital format.
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`Content stored in an analog format, for example. a printed picture. when reproduced by photocopying. the copy is
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`of lesser quality than the original. Each subsequent copy of a copy, sometimes called a generation. is of less
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`quality than the original. This degradation in quality is not present when a picture is stored digitally. Each copy.
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`and every generation of copies can be as clear and crisp as the original. The aggregate effect of perfect digital
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`copies combined with the very low coat to distribute content electronically and to distribute content widely over the
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`Internet makes it relatively easy to pirate and distribute unauthorised copies. With a couple of keystrokes. a pirate
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`can send hundreds or even of thousands of perfect copies of digital content over the Internet. Therefore a need
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`exists to ensure the protection and security of digital assets distributed electronically.
`
`Providers of digital content desire to establish a secure. global distribution system for digital content that
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`protects the rights of content owners. The problems with establishing a digital content distribution system includes
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`developing systems for digital content electronic distribution, rights management. and asset protection. Digital
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`content that is distributed electronically includes content such as print media. films. games. programs. television.
`multimedia, and music.
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`The deployment of an electronic distribution system provides the digital content providers the ability to
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`achieve fast settlement of payment through immediate sales reporting and electronic reconciliation as well as gain
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`secondary sources of revenue through redistribution of content. Since the electronic digital content distribution
`system is not affected by physical inventory outages or returns. the digital content providers and retailers may
`realize reduced costs and improved margins. Digital content providers could facilitate new. or augnent existing,
`distribution channels for better timed-release of inventory. The transactional data from the electronic distribution
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`system could be used to obtain information regarding consumer buying patterns as well as to provide inuncdiate
`feedback on electronic marketing programs and promotions.
`to order to meet these goals, a need exists for digital
`content providers to use an electronic distribution model to make digital content available to a wide range of users
`and businesses while ensuring protection and metering of digital assets.
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`Other commercially available electronic distribution systems for digital content. such as real audio. A23
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`from AT&T. Liquid Audio Pro fi'om Liquid Audio Pro Corn. City Music Netwurk from Audio Soft and others
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`offer transmission ofdlgttat data over secured and unsecured electronic networks. The use of secured electronic
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`networks gently reduces the requirement of digital content providers of distributing digital to a wide audience.
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`The use of unsecured networks such as the Internet and Web allows the digital content to arrive to an end- user
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`securely such as through the use of encryption. However. once the merypted digital content is de-encrypted on the
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`end-user‘s machine.
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`the digital content
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`is readily available to the end-user for unauthorized redistribution.
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`Therefore a need exists for a secure digital content electronic distribution system that provides protection of digital
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`assets and ensures that the Content Providcr(s)‘ rights are protected even after the digital content is delivered to
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`consumers and businesses. A need thus exists for rights management
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`to allow for secure delivery. licensing
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`audiorization. and control of the usage of digital assets.
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`Another reason owners of digital content have been slow to embrace electronic distribution is their desire
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`to maintain and foster existing channels of distribution. Most content outners sell through retailers.
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`In the music
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`market these U.S. retailers include Tower Records. Peaches, Blockbuster. Circuit City and others. Many of these
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`retailers have Web sites that allow Internet users to makes selections over the Internet and have Selections mailed
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`to the end-user. Example music Web sites include @tower, Music Boulevard and Columbia House. The use of
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`electronic distribution can remove the ability of the retail stores from differentiating themselves from each other
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`and differentiate themselves from the content owners, especially on the Web. Therefore a need exists to provide
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`retailers of electronic content such as pictures. games. music. programs and videos a way to differentiate
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`themselves from each other and the content owuers when selling music through electronic distribution.
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`Content owners prepare their digital content for electronic distribution through distribution sites such as
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`electronic stores.
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`Electronic stores on the Internet. or through other online services. want
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`to differentiate
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`themselves from each other by their product offerings and product promotions. A traditional store. i.e.
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`- the
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`non—electronic. non-online analogs to electronic stores - use product promotions, product sales. product samples,
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`liberal
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`return policies
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`and other promotional programs to differentiate themselves from their competitors.
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`However, in the online world where the content providers impose usage conditions on the digital content. the
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`ability of electronic stores to differentiate themselves may be severely limited. Moreover. even if the usage
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`conditions can be changed. electronic stores are faced with the difficult task of processing the metadata associated
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`with the digital content from the content providers to promote and sell products electronically. Electronic stores
`need to manage several requirements when processing the meladata. First, the electronic store is required to
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`receive the metadata associated with the digital content from the content providers. Many times. parts of this
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`metadata may be sent encrypted, so the content provider must create a mechanism to decrypt the encrypted content.
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`Second, the electronic store may wish to preview metadata from the content provider either before the content is
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`received fiom the content provider or after the content is received by the electronic store, in order to assist with
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`product marketing, product positioning and other promotional considerations for the content. Third. the electronic
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`store is required to extract certain metadata used for promotional materials such as graphics and artist information.
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`Ofien. this promotional material
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`is used directly by the electronic store in its online promotions. Fourth. the
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`electronic stores may wish to differentiate themselves from one another by modifying some of the permitted usage
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`conditions to create different ofi‘erings of the digital content. Fiflh. the electronic store may have to insert or alter
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`certain address. such as URLs. in the metadata to direct payment reconciliation to an account reconciliation house
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`automatically by the purchaser without the need to go through the electronic store for payment clearance. Sixth,
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`the electronic store may need to create licenses for the permitted use of the copyrighted digital content that match
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`usage conditions. For example. the license may grant the permission to make a limited number of copies of the
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`digital content. A license is needed to tell act the terms and conditions of the permission granted.
`
`in light of all these requirements. to process the metadata related to the digital content, many electronic
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`stores write customized software programs to handle these requirements. The time. cost and testing needed to
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`create these customized software programs can be large. Accordingly. a need exists to provide a solution to these
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`requirements.
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`Still, another reason owners of digital content have been slow to embrace electronic distribution is the
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`difficulty in preparing content for electronic distribution. Today, many providers of content have thousands or
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`even tens of thousands of titles in their portfolio.
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`in a music example. it is not unusual for a content owner to have
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`a single master sound recording available on several difi‘erent
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`formats simultaneously (cg. CD.
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`tape and
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`MiniDisc}.
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`In addition, a single format can have a master sound recording rc-rnastered or rte-mixed for a specific
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`distribution channel. As an example. the mixing for broadcast radio may be different than the mixing for a dance
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`club sound track, which may be different than a generally available consumer CD.
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`Inventory-log and keeping track
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`of these different mixes can be burdensome. Moreover, many owucrs of master recordings often times re-issue old
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`recordings in various subsequent collections. such as “The Best Of“. or
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`in compilations for musical sound tracks
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`to movies and other collections or compilations. As more content is offered digitally. the need to re-mix and
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`encode the content for electronic distribution grows. Many times providers need to use old recording formats as
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`guides to select the correct master sound recordings and have these sound recordings reprocessed and encoded for
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`release for electronic distribution. This may be especially true for content providers that wish to use their old
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`formats to assist them in re— releasing the old sound recording for electronic distribution. Providers will
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`look
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`through databases to match up titles. artists and sound recordings to set the encoding parameters. This process of
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`manually searching databases for recording portfolios is not without its shortcomings. One shortcoming is the
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`need to have an operator manually search a database and set the processing parameters appropriately. Another
`shortcoming is the possibility of operator transcription error in selecting data from a database. Accordingly. a need
`exists to provide content providers a method to automatically retrieve associated data and master recordings for
`content such as audio.
`
`Content owners prepare their digital content for electronic distribution through a process known as
`encoding. Encoding involves taking the content1 digitising it. if the content is presented in an analog format. and
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`compressing it. The process of compressing allows the digital content to he transferred over networks and stored
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`on recordable medium more efficiently because the amount of data transmitted or stored is reduced. However,
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`compression is not without its shortcomings. Most compression involves the loss of some information. and is
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`called lossy compression. Content providers must make decisions on what compression algorithm to use and the
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`compression level required.
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`For example.
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`in music.
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`the digital content or song may have very different
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`characteristics depending on the genre of the music. The compression algorithm and compression level selected
`
`for one genre may not be the optimal choice for another genre of music. Content providers may find certain
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`combinations of compression algorithms and compression levels work very well
`
`for one genre of music. say
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`classical. but provide unsatisfactory results for another genre of music such as heavy metal. Moreover. audio
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`engineers must often equalize the music. perform dynamic range adjustments and perform other preprocessing and
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`processing settings to ensure the genre of music encoded produces the desired results. The requirement to always
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`have to manually set these encoding parameters such as setting the equalization levels and the dynamic range
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`settings for each digital content can be burdensome. Returning to the music example. a content provider for music
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`with a collection covering a variety of musical genre could have to manually select for each song or set of songs to
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`be encoded. the desired combination of encoding parameters. Accordingly, a need exists to overcome the need for
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`manually selection of process parameters for encoding.
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`The process to compress content can require a large amount of dedicated computational resources.
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`especially for larger content items such as hill-length feature movies. Providers of compression algorithms offer
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`various tradeofi‘s and advantages associated with their compression techniques. These tradeofi's include: the
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`amount of time and computational resources needed to compress the content; the amount of compression achieved
`
`from the original content; the desired bit rate for playback; the performance quality of the compressed content; and
`
`other factors. Using an encoding program which take as input a multimedia file and generate an encoded output
`
`file with no interim indication of progress or status is a problem. Moreover.
`
`in many circumstances. other
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`programs are used to call or to manage an encoding program with no interim indication of progress. This leaves
`
`the calling application with no way to gauge the amount of content that has been encoded as a percentage of the
`
`entire selection of designated to be encoded.
`
`In circtnnstances where the calling program is trying to schedule
`
`several different programs to run at once this can be a problem. Furthermore. this can be especially burdensome in
`
`cases where batches of content have been selected for encodin g and the content provider wants to determine the
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`progress of the encoding process. Accordingly. a need exists to overcome these problems.
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`Yet, still another reason digital content providers have been slow to adapt electronic distribution for their
`
`content is lack of standards for creating digital players on end-user devices for electronically delivered content.
`
`Content providers. electronic stores. or others in the electronic distribution chain may want to offer customized
`
`players on a variety of devices such as PCS. set~top boxes. hand-held devices and more. A set of tools that can
`
`handle the decryption of the digital content ina tamper resistant environment. that is. an environment to deter the
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`unauthorized access to the content during playmg by a third party is needed. Moreover. a set of tools is needed to
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`enable an end user to manage of a local library of digital content without allowing the end user to have access to
`
`the content for uses other than what was purchased.
`
`Further information on the background of protecting digital content can be found from the fitilowing three
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`sources. “Music on the Internet and the Intellectual Property Protection Problem“ by Jack Lacy. James Snyder.
`
`David
`
`Maher.
`
`of
`
`AT&T
`
`Labs.
`
`Fiorham
`
`Park.
`
`NJ.
`
`available
`
`online
`
`URL
`
`http:f!wvm.a2bmusic.convaboutipapersfmusicippJ'ttm. Crwtographically protected container. called DigiBox. in
`
`the article “Securing the Content, Not the Wire for Information Commerce" by Olin Sibert, David Bernstein and
`
`David
`
`Van Wic.
`
`lnterTrust
`
`Technologies
`
`Corp.
`
`Sunnyvale.
`
`CA
`
`available
`
`online
`
`URL
`
`htlpu'fwww.intertrust.comrarchitecturelstchtml. And “Cryptolope Container Technology“. an IBM White Paper.
`
`available online URL http:lllcyptolope.ibm.com.twhite.htm.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`It is an object of the present invention to remove the above-mentioned drawbacks and to provide a system
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`for tracking usage of content data. One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for tracking usage
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`of digital content on user devices. Electronic stores coupled to a network sell licenses to play digital content data
`
`to users. Content players, which receive from the network the licensed content data. are used to play the licensed
`
`content data. Additionally. a logging site that is coupled to the network tracks the playing of the content data.
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`In
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`particular. the logging site receives play information from the network. and the play information includes the
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`number of times that the content data has been played by the associated content player.
`
`A further embodiment of the present invention provides a method for tracking usage of digital content on
`
`user devices. According to the method. a license to play digital content data is sold to a user. and the licensed
`
`content data is transmitted to a content player for the user. Further, information is transmitted to a logging site
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`whenever the content data is played by the content player or copied from the content player to an external medium
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`so that usage of the licensed content data can be tracked.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG.
`
`I is a block diagram illustrating an over view of a Secure Digital Content Electronic Distribution
`
`System according to the present invention.
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`FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example Secure Container {SC} and the associated graphical
`
`representations according to the present invention.
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`FIG. 3 is a block diagram iilostrating an overview of the encryption process for a Secure Container (SC)
`according to the presenl invention.
`
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an overview of the tic-encryption process for a Secure Container
`
`(SC) according to the present invention.
`
`FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an overview of the layers for the Rights Management Architecture
`
`of the Secure Digits! Content Distribution System of FIG. 1 according to the present invention.
`
`FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an overview of the Content Distribution and Licensing Control as it
`
`applies to the License Control Layer of FIG. 5.
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`FIG. 3'
`
`is an illustration of an example user interface for the Work Fimv Manager Tool of FIG.
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`1
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`according to the present invention.
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`FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the major tools. components and processes of the Work Flow Manager
`
`corresponding to the user interface in FIG. '3 according to the present invention.
`
`FIG. 9 is a block diagram
`
`illustrating the major tools. components and processes of an Electronic Digital Content Store of FIG.
`to the present invention.
`
`1 according
`
`FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating the major components and processes of an End- User Devicets) of
`
`FIG. 1 according to the present invention.
`
`FIG. [I is a flow diagram of a method to calculate an encoding rate factor for the Content Preproeessing
`
`and Compression tool of FIG. 8 according to the present invention.
`
`FIG. 12 is a flow diagram of a method to automatically retrieve additional information for the Automatic
`
`Metadala Acquisition Tool of FIG. 8 according to the present invention.
`
`FIG, 13 is a flow diagram ofa method to automatically set the Preproeessing and Compression parameters
`
`of the Preprocessing and Compression Tool of FIG. 8 according to the present invention.
`
`FIG. 14 is an example of user interface screens of the Piayer Application downloading content to a local
`
`library as described in FIG. 15 according to the present invention.
`
`FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating the major components and processes of a Player Application
`
`running on End-User Device of FIG. 9 according to the present invention.
`
`FIG. 16 is an example user interface screens of the Player Application of FIG. 15 according to the present
`invention.
`
`FIG. 1? is a flow diagram of an alternate embodiment to automatically retrieve additional information for
`
`the Automatic Metadata Acquisition Tool of FIG. 8 according to the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT
`
`A Table of Contents is provided for this present invention to assist the reader in quickly locating different
`sections in this embodiment.
`
`I.
`
`SECURE DIGITAL CONTENT ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
`
`IO
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`30
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`35
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`8
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`PCTI‘USQW 18383-
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`A.
`
`System Overview
`
`1.
`
`2.
`
`3.
`
`Rights Management
`
`Metering
`
`Open Architecture
`
`5
`
`B.
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`System Functional Elements
`
`Content Providerts)
`
`Electronic Digital Content Storeis]
`
`Intermediate Market Partners
`
`Clearinghousds)
`
`End-User Devicet's}
`
`Transmission infrastructures
`
`I.
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4.
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`5 6
`
`C.
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`System Uses
`
`IO
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`II.
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`CRYPTOGRAPHY CONCEPTS AND THEIR APPLICATION TO THE SECURE DIGITAL CONTENT
`
`15
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`ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
`
`A.
`
`B.
`
`C.
`
`D.
`
`E.
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`F.
`
`20
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`Symmetric Algorithms
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`Public Key Algorithm:
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`Digital Signature
`
`Digital Certificates
`
`Guide To The SC(5} Graphical Representation
`
`Example ofa Secure Container Encryption
`
`III.
`
`SECURE DIGITAL CONTENT ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FLOW
`
`25
`
`W.
`
`RIGHTS MANAGENHENT ARCHITECTURE MODEL
`
`A.
`
`B.
`
`Architecture Layer Functions
`
`Function Partitioning and Flows
`
`I.
`
`2.
`
`3.
`
`4.
`
`Content Formatting Layer
`
`Content Usage Control Layer
`
`Content Identification Layer
`
`License Control layer
`
`C.
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`Content Distribution and Licensing Control
`
`V.
`
`SECURE CONTAINER STRUCTURE
`
`A.
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`3.
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`General Structure
`
`Rights Management Language Syntax and Semantics
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`30
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`35
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`Overview of Secure Container Flow and Processing
`Mctadata Secure Container 620 Format
`
`Offer Secure Container 64l Format
`
`Transaction Secure Container 640 Format
`
`Order Secure Container (:50 Format
`
`License Secure Container 660 Format
`
`Content Secure Container Format
`
`VI.
`
`SECURE CONTAINER PACKING AND UNPACKJNG
`
`A.
`
`B.
`
`C.
`
`Overview
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`Bill of Materials {BUM} Part
`
`Key Description Part
`
`VII.
`
`CLEARINGHOUSEG)
`
`A.
`
`B.
`
`C.
`
`D.
`
`E.
`
`F.
`
`G.
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`Overview
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`Rights Management Processing
`
`Country Specific Parameters
`
`Audit Logs and Tracking
`
`Reporting of Results
`
`Billing and Payment Verification
`
`Retransmissions
`
`VIII.
`
`CONTENT PROVIDER
`
`A.
`
`B.
`
`Overview
`
`Work Flow Manager
`
`Products Awaiting Actionflnfonnation Process
`
`New Content Request Process
`
`Automatic Metadata Acquisition Process
`
`Manual Metadata Entry Process
`
`Usage Conditions Process
`
`Supervised Release Process
`
`Metadata SCts) Creation Process
`
`Watermarking Process
`
`Prcprocessing and Compression Process
`
`Content Quality Control Process
`
`Encryption Process
`
`‘5“:‘49‘1-"PPF"
`
`ll}.
`
`11.
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`10
`10
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`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`30
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`12.
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`13.
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`14.
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`15.
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`Content SC{s) Creation Process
`
`Final Quality Assurance Process
`
`Content Dispersement Process
`
`Work Flow Rules
`
`(3.
`
`Mctadata Assimilation and Entry Tool
`
`1.
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4.
`
`5
`
`Automatic Mctadata Acquisition Tool
`
`Manual Metadata Entry Tool
`
`Usage Conditions Tool
`
`Parts of the Metadata SC(s}
`
`Supervised Release Too]
`
`0.
`
`Content Processing Tool
`
`1.
`
`2.
`
`3.
`
`4.
`
`Watermarking Tool
`
`Prcprocessing and Compression Tool
`
`Content Quality Control Too]
`
`Encryption Tool
`
`E.
`
`F.
`
`(3.
`
`H.
`
`i.
`
`Content 50(5) Creation Tool
`
`Final Quality Assurance Tool
`
`Content Dispersement Tool
`
`Content Promotions Web Site
`
`Content Hosting
`
`1.
`
`2.
`
`Content Hosting Sites
`
`Content Hosting Site(s) l l 1 provided by the Secure Digital
`
`Content Electronic Distribution System
`
`ELECTRONIC. DIGITAL CONTENT STORE(S)
`
`A.
`
`B.
`
`Overview - Support for Multiple Electronic Digital Content Store(s)
`
`Point-to-Point Electronic Digital Content Distribution Service
`
`1 .
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4.
`
`5
`
`integration Requirements
`
`Content Acquisition Tool
`
`Transaction Processing Module
`
`Notification Interface Module
`
`Account Reconciliation Tool
`
`C.
`
`Broadcast. Electronic Digital Content Distribution Service
`
`END-USER DEVICEtSi
`A.
`Overview
`
`11
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`B.
`
`C.
`
`D.
`
`Application Installation
`
`Secure Container Processor
`
`The Player Application
`
`1.
`
`[4
`
`Pct-'99P?”
`
`Overview
`
`End-User InterfaceCorrmoncnts
`
`Copyil‘lay Management Components
`
`Decryption 1505, Decompression 1306 and Playback Components
`
`Data Management 1502 and Library Access Components
`
`Inter-application Communication Components
`
`Other Miscellaneous Components
`
`The Generic Player
`
`10
`
`I.
`
`SECURE DIGITAL CONTENT ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
`
`15
`
`A.
`
`System Overview
`
`The Secure Digital Content Electronic Distribution System is a technical platform that encompasses the
`
`technology, specifications, tools. and software needed for the secure delivery and rights management of Digital
`
`Content and digital content-related content to an end-user. client device. The End-User Device(s) include PCS. set
`
`top boxes (lRDsl, and Internet appliances. These devices may copy the content to external media or portable
`
`consumer devices as permitted by the content proprietors. The term Digital Content or simply Content, refers to
`
`information and data stored in a digital format including: pictures. movies. videos, music. programs. multimedia
`
`and games.
`
`The technical platform specifies how Digital Content
`
`is prepared, securely distributed through
`
`point-to-point and broadcast infiastructttres (such as cable, Internet, satellite. and wireless) licensed to End-User
`
`Deviee(s). and protected against unauthorized copying or playing.
`
`In addition. the architecture of the technical
`
`platform allows
`
`for
`
`the
`
`integration and migration of various
`
`technologies
`
`such as water-marking,
`
`compressionfeneoding. encryption. and other security algorithms as they evolve over time.
`
`The base components of the Secure Digital Content Electronic Distribution System are:
`
`(1) rights
`
`management for the protection of ownership rights of the content proprietor: (2)
`
`transaction metering for
`
`immediate and accurate compensation; and (3} an open and well-documented architecture that enables Content
`
`Provider(s) to prepare content and permit its secure delivery over multiple network infrastructures for playback on
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`any standard compliant player.
`
`I.
`
`Rights Management
`
`12
`12
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`PCTfUS99f18383
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`Rights management in the Secure Digital Content Electronic Distribution System is implemented through
`a set of fiinctions distributed among the operating components of the system.
`Its primary fimctiorts include:
`
`licensing authorization and control so that content is unlocked only by authorized intermediate or End~User(s) that
`
`have secured a license: and control and enforcement of content usage according to the conditions of purchase or
`
`license, such as permitted number of copies. number of plays. and the time interval or term the license may be
`
`valid. A secondary function of rights management is to enable a means to identify the origin of unauthorized
`
`cepies of content to combat piracy.
`
`Licensing authorization and control are implemented through the use of a Clearinghouse(s_i entity and
`
`Secure Container
`
`(SC)
`
`technology.
`
`The Clearinghouscls} provides licensing authorization by enabling
`
`intermediate or End