KR100626969B1 - Rights offering and granting - Google Patents

Abstract

The disclosure relates to methods and systems for subscribing and granting digital rights that govern the distribution and use of content, services and resources. Such methods and systems provide a basis for flexible business models and transaction negotiations between content providers and users. The concept of subsequent rights allowing digital rights to be derived is to allow upstream parties in the content distribution chain to detect rights granted and received by downstream parties. Therefore, each transaction can be considered as a two party transaction between the rights provider and the rights consumer.

Digital Content, Digital Rights, Online, Internet, Electronic Distribution

Description

RIGHTS OFFERING AND GRANTING}             

Copyright notice

[0001] A portion of the specification of this patent document contains material subject to copyright protection. The copyright holder does not object to anyone reproducing the patent document and patent publication as a facsimile, as indicated in the Patent Office patent file or record, but otherwise retains all copyrights, whatever it may be.

The present invention relates to a method and system for digital rights management, and more particularly to a method and system for automatically subscribing and granting rights on a communication network or other channel.

The digital age has greatly increased the interest in ownership, access and control of copyrighted information, limited services and valuable resources. Rapid development and widespread propagation are taking place in computers and other electronic means, such as mobile phones, pagers, PADs, and e-book readers, which are interconnected via communication links including the Internet, intranets and other networks. It is connected. These interconnected means are particularly contributing to the publication of content, subscription of services and availability of resources.

[0004] One of the most important issues that hinders the wide distribution of digital works (ie, documents or other content in computer readable form) over electronic means and in particular the Internet is the distribution and use of digital works In the meantime, the content owner's ability to enforce intellectual property rights is lacking. Efforts to address these issues include "Intellectual Property Management" ("IPRM"), "Digital Property Management" ("DPRM"), "Intellectual Property Management" ("IPM"), "Rights Management" ("RM"), And "electronic rights management" ("ECM"), which are referred to collectively as "digital rights management (DRM)". There are many issues to consider in implementing a DRM system. For example, certification, authority, accounting, payment and financial liquidation, rights specifications, rights verification, rights enforcement, and document protection issues should be addressed. U.S. Patents 5,530,235, 5,634,012, 5,715,403, 5,638,443 and 5,629,980 are disclosed and disclosed herein by reference, and disclose DRM systems that address these issues.

Two basic DRM schemes have employed safe containers and trusted systems. A "secure container" (or just a coded document) provides a way to keep the document content coded until the permission conditions are met and the copyright period (i.e. payment) is maintained. After various conditions and periods have been verified with the document provider, the document is released in a form available to the user. Commercial products such as Cryptolopes ^™ and Digiboxes ^™ fall into this category. Clearly, access through a secure container provides a solution to protect documents in the course of delivery through an insecure path, but that illegal users get released documents, so that it is used and redistributed in violation of the content owner's intellectual property. It does not provide a mechanism to prevent it.

In a "trusted system" approach, the complete system is responsible for preventing unauthorized use and distribution of documents. Building a trusted system generally involves the introduction of new hardware, such as secure processors, secure storage, and secure rendering means. It also requires that all application software running on a trusted system be authenticated to be trusted. Building a tamper-proof trusted system is a real challenge for existing technologies, but current market trends include open and untrusted systems such as PCs and workstations that use browsers to access the Web. It suggests that the same system will be the flagship system used to access digital works. In this sense, existing computing environments such as PCs and workstations with popular operating systems (ie Windows ^TM , Linux ^TM , Unix) and rendering applications such as browsers are not trusted systems, but rather their structures. You won't be trusted unless you make changes. Of course, changing the structure undermines the flexibility and convenience of the web.

DRM systems allow content owners to specify licenses and conditions and integrate them with content. These licenses control how its recipients can use the content. In general, after a content distributor or consumer selects a particular content and completes an order, the content is delivered to the recipient electronically from some content storage device or through a conventional distribution channel, such as a tangible medium typically delivered via a vehicle. Delivered. Corresponding DRM systems used by the recipient, for example the distributor or consumer, then interpret the rights and conditions incorporated into the content and use them to control how the content is distributed and / or used. Examples of licenses include viewing, printing and extracting and distributing content, repackaging and rental of content. Integrated terms include any item to which a right is conditioned, such as payment, confirmation, term, etc.

[0008] US Patent 5,634,012 discloses a system for controlling the distribution of digital documents. Each rendering means has its own storage unit. A predetermined set of usage transaction steps defines the protocol used by the storage device to enforce the license integrated with the document. The license lasts with the document content. A license may allow for a variety of uses, such as just viewing, single use, distribution, and the like. License may be subject to payment or other terms.

However, the limitations are incorporated in the use cases mentioned above, of which only the rights and conditions integrated with the content are specified by the content owner or other rights approver. Once purchased by the end user, the consumer or distributor of the content whose usage rights and conditions are integrated together has no means of legally delivering to the next recipient in the distribution chain. In addition, the integrated license provides for other rights, such as modify, transfer, offer, grant, obtain, transfer, delegate, track, There is no provision for specifying the right to derive rights such as surrender, exchange, transport, exercise and revoke. Typical content distribution models often involve multilevel distribution and use chains. Known DRM systems do not facilitate the ability to define rights and conditions for all participants during the content distribution and use chain. Therefore, content owners are difficult to commercially use content unless the owner has a relationship with each party in the distribution chain.

A first aspect of the invention is a method of transmitting a license adapted to be integrated into items. The method generates a supplier with at least one first subscription that includes a license for the item and meta-rights, wherein the license defines how to use the items, the subsequent right being a license or other subsequent right. Specifying a right to derive a value, presenting the offer to a first consumer, receiving a selection indicating a desired license and subsequent rights from the first consumer, and receiving the desired license and subsequent rights. And granting the first consumer a granting first license.

A second aspect of the invention is a system for transmitting usage rights adapted to be incorporated into a licensed item with at least one level granted downstream rights and conditions within multi-tier distribution channels. The system includes a supplier user interface module, a provider generator module for generating subscriptions including at least licenses and subsequent rights, a rights creator module for drafting draft licenses, and a supplier element including storage for supplier rights and a supplier management database. do. The system includes a consumer element comprising a consumer user interface module, a subscription determination module configured to analyze the subscriptions generated by the supplier component and select subscriptions based on the analysis, and a consumer rights storage device and a consumer management database. Additionally included.

A third aspect of the invention is a method for generating a license for digital content for use in a system that manages at least one of the use and distribution of digital content. The method includes presenting a subscription to a consumer that includes a subsequent right, receiving a selection made by the consumer for at least one subsequent right in the subscription, and generating a license based on the selection; The license permits the consumer to exercise at least one subsequent right and permits the consumer to subscribe to at least one derived right derived from the at least one subsequent right and to generate a license that includes at least one derived right. It is characterized by.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a diagram of a three-stage model of content distribution,

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating rights subscription and grant processes in the model of FIG. 1;

3 (a) is a diagram of a simple supplier-consumer push model for generating, issuing and exercising rights,

3 (b) is a diagram of a simple supplier-consumer pull model for generating, issuing and exercising rights,

4 is a block diagram showing a rights subscription-grant structure according to the presently preferred embodiment,

5A and 5B are operational flowcharts showing an example of subscribing and granting rights between a rights provider and a rights consumer in the push and pull models, respectively;

6 is a flowchart of a rights subscription generation process according to the present preferred embodiment;

7 is a flowchart of a rights subscription determination process according to the present preferred embodiment,

8 is a flowchart of a rights subscription adaptation process according to the present preferred embodiment,

9 is a block diagram of a DRM system used in connection with the present preferred embodiment,

10 is a block diagram of an exemplary structure of a license that includes a right of use and subsequent rights in this preferred embodiment,

11 is a diagram of a rights label of this preferred embodiment.

Prior to providing a detailed description of an apparatus and method for subscribing and granting rights, a DRM system that can be used to identify and enforce licenses and subsequent rights for particular content, services, or other items. The description will first be described below.

FIG. 9 shows a DRM system 10, which includes a user activation element in the form of an activation server 20 and protects a public key pair, or other identification mechanism as well known to the content user. Issued by Typically, when a user uses a DRM system for the first time, the user installs software to work with or includes a rendering application for a particular content format. The software is installed in a client environment 30, for example, a computer integrated into the content recipient. The software is part of the DRM system 10 and is used to enforce usage rights for protected content. During the activation process, some information is exchanged between the activation server 20 and the client environment 30. The client element 60 preferably comprises a pair of public key sets issued by tamper resistant and activation server 20 as well as other elements, such as rendering elements.

The rights label 40 specifies the usage rights and subsequent rights available to the recipient, ie the rights consumer, when incorporated into the content 42 and the corresponding conditions are met. The license server 50 manages the encoding keys and issues a license 52 for the protected content 42. License 52 includes a substantial grant to the last user of a right, including a right of use and subsequent rights. For example, the rights subscription 40 allows the user to view the content at a fee of $ 5 and print the content at a fee of $ 10, or the user may have a concept of subsequent rights described to another user, for example, described below. You can allow to provide the right by using. License 52 may be issued for viewing rights when a $ 5 fee is paid. The client element 60 interprets and enforces the rights, including the usage rights and subsequent rights specified in the license. Right label 40 and license 52 are described in detail below.

11 shows a rights label 40 according to the present preferred embodiment. The rights label 40 includes a plurality of rights options 44. Each right option 44 includes a right 44a, a condition 44b, and a content specification 44c. The content specification 44c may include mechanisms for referencing, calling, positioning, or on the one hand, for specifying the content 42 incorporated in the rights subscription 44.

As shown in FIG. 10, license 52 includes a license 52a, a grant 52b, and a digital signature 52c. Grant 52b includes a subsequent right selected from the granted license and / or label. The structure of the grant also includes a list of one or more subjects, conditions to which the specified license and / or subsequent rights are granted, and the state variables required to execute the license. Like the right of use, the access and exercise of subsequent rights granted are controlled by the condition list and state variables described below.                 

Pure (unprotected) content may be prepared by a document preparation application 72 installed on a computer 70 integrated with a content publisher, content distributor, content service provider, or other party. The preparation of the content includes the process of specifying licenses, subsequent rights, and conditions with the content 42 being used and distributed, integrating the rights label 40 into the content 42 and protecting the content 42 with a cryptographic algorithm. The process takes place. A rights language, such as XrML ^™ , can be used to specify rights and conditions. However, licenses and subsequent rights may be specified in any way. In addition, the rights may be in the form of a predefined specification or simply a template incorporated into the content. Thus, the process of specifying a right relates to the process of incorporating a right with content. The rights label 40 incorporated in the content 42 and the encryption key used to encrypt the content may be passed to the license server 50.

A right may specify a transfer right, such as a distribution right, and may permit granting or derivation of a right to another person. Such rights are referred to as "meta-rights." Subsequent rights are those rights in which a person reproduces, alters, or otherwise derives other subsequent rights or licenses. Subsequent rights may be identified as a license to the license. Subsequent rights may include the right to subscribe, grant, obtain, transmit, act, detect, deliver, alter and waive a license to / from others. Subsequent rights may include the right to change the terms incorporated in other rights. For example, subsequent rights may be rights that extend or diminish the protection of specific rights. Subsequent rights may also be the right to extend or diminish the validity of the right.

Often, conditions should be satisfied to implement the method of use within the specified rights. For example, a condition may be a requirement that is required before allowing payment of a fee, submission of personal data, or execution of a method of use. Conditions may also be “access conditions”, for example, and access conditions may apply to a special group of users, such as college students, or members of a book club. In other words, the condition is whether the user is a member of a special person or a special group. Rights and conditions can exist as separate entities or can be combined.

[0031] State variables track potentially dynamic state conditions. A state variable is a variable whose value represents the state of an item, license, license, or other dynamic condition. The state variable may be detected based on the identification mechanism in the license 52 by a license of the clearinghouse 90 or other means of the server 30. Furthermore, state variable values can be used within conditions. For example, the usage rights may be the right to print the content 42 three times. Each time a license is executed, the value of the state variable "number of prints" is increased. In this example, when the state variable value is 3, the condition is no longer satisfied and the content 42 cannot be printed. Another example of a state variable is time. The conditions of license 52 may require content 42 to be printed within three days. The state variable can be used to detect expiration of three days. Furthermore, the right state can be detected as a collection of state variables. The collection of changes is the state of a license indicating the history of use of that right.                 

The general operational flow of the DRM system 10 is described below. Recipients operating within the client environment 30, for example, users, are activated by the activation server 20 to receive content. As a result, the public key pair (and any user / machine specific information) is downloaded to the client environment 30 in a well known manner in the form of a client software element 60. This activation process can be performed prior to issuing a license.

When a user wants to use protected content 42, the user requests the content. For example, a user navigates a website running on a grantee, such as a web server 80 integrated into a content distributor, using a browser installed in the client environment 30, and downloads protected content 42. Try to During this process, the user undergoes a series of steps, possibly including a commission transaction (in the sale of the content) or other transactions (eg information gathering). When the appropriate conditions and other requirements, such as the collection of fees and the verification that the user is active, are satisfied, the web server 80 connects to the license server 50 via a secure communication channel such as a secure socket layer (SSL). Contact. License server 50 then generates a license 52 for content, and web server 80 causes protected content 42 and license 52 to be downloaded. The license 52 can be downloaded from the license server 50 or the integration means. Content 42 may be downloaded from computer 70 integrated into a publisher, distributor, or other party.

The client element 60 in the client environment 30 will then proceed with the interpretation of the license 52 and permit the use of the content 42 based on the rights and conditions specified in the license 52. The interpretation and implementation of the license is generally well known. The steps may occur in series, approximately simultaneously or in various instructions.

DRM system 10 is focused on the security aspects of protecting the content (42). In particular, the DRM system 10 authenticates the license 52 issued by the license server 50. One way to perform such authentication is for the application 60 to determine if the license can be trusted. In other words, the application 60 has the ability to verify and validate the cryptographic signature of the digital signature 52c or other discernible features of the license. During the activation phase described above, client environment 30 and license server 50 receive a pair of keys within a tamper-resistant software “package”, which means that other components, such as activated client environment 30, It includes the elements necessary to verify the signature of license 52 in a known manner. Of course, the above example is just one example of implementing a DRM system. For example, licenses and content may be distributed from other entities. In addition, rights subscription 40 may be incorporated into content by parties other than the party preparing the content. Information center 90 may also be used to process payment transactions and verify payment prior to issuing a license.

For the establishment of a right, there are two kinds of related beings, namely "supplier" and "consumer". The function of the supplier is to subscribe and, preferably, to grant rights, and the function of the consumer is to select and preferably exercise rights. Both a supplier and a consumer can actually be represented by two or more beings. In general, many beings will collectively subscribe and grant rights to many beings. Providers and consumers indicate two entities within the content value chain and have a direct relationship to each other in terms of granting rights. At the start of the value chain, suppliers and consumers can be authors and publishers. Down the value chain, suppliers and consumers are required to move publishers and other publishers (for content collection), publishers and distributors (for content distribution), distributors and other distributors (for multilevel content distribution) Retailers, retailers and consumers (for content consumption), and consumers and other consumers (for content supper-distribution and personal rental).

"Offer of rights" or "rights offer" refers to a license in which a consumer (eg, a content distributor or user) incorporates a particular instance of the content into the content. And / or with the meta-rights. Subscriptions may or may not include financial terms. Subscriptions are simple expressions of commerce negotiation and also expressions of permission for specified conditions. The offer may be expressed in the form of a rights label. The "consideration of rights", as part of granting rights, is the process by which the rights consumer reviews the rights being offered, or commits them and incorporates terms and conditions. "Choice of rights" is a choice from the subscription of rights and their consolidated terms and conditions. It represents the consumer's tendency to accept these rights and their corresponding terms and conditions. For example, the selection may include selecting one option 44 from the label 40. "Adaptation of rights" is the processing as part of the grant of rights by the rights provider to collect rights, terms and conditions based on the rights consumer's choice. The output of this process may be a draft license accepted by the rights consumer. "License of Right" is an expression of rights and is preferably a condition that is accepted and agreed to by the rights provider and consumer. It is the discharge of the right subscription and grant treatment. A license is a license that exercises a right to control the use of content or other items, preferably including additional distribution.

As noted above, a rights label, such as rights label 40, includes many options 44 that allow the consumer to choose and (if allowed) to conduct negotiations, while license 52 is a consumer. Includes the rights granted and granted. Note that the rights granted may include the right to mark an offer to others or to select offers.

One example of a distribution chain is shown in FIG. 1. This distribution chain includes the content provider 100, the distributor 110, and the end user 120. Of course, the content can be prepared in the manner described above. Assume that the content has already been prepared in the model of FIG. 1 is directed to the delivery of content, in this example the provider 100 publishes the content to the distributor 110 or receives the content from the distributor 110 for reuse. The distributor 110 then distributes the content to the user 120 or receives the content returned from the user 120. The user 100 can use the content. Potential complexity of multi-level distribution chains To further illustrate, subscriber 100 may collect content from others, distributor 110 may receive content from another distributor for redistribution, and user 120 may Share content with other users. It is evident that there are multiple stages in the content life cycle and multiple relationships between the various parties. The clear and consistent specification of the rights that relate to other life cycle stages is critical and crucial to the continued protection of content in multilevel distribution and use.

FIG. 2 shows the flow of rights in the same model, including the generation, collection, issuance, renunciation, enforcement, grant, delivery, invalidation and exercise of rights. The model of FIG. 2 includes the same entities, namely the provider 100, the distributor 110, and the user 120. With regard to the flow of rights, each party appears to be able to grant and accept rights. User 120 may grant and accept rights from another user, and in this example this process is named “delegation”.

The model of FIG. 2 embraces many specific content publishing, distribution, and usage relationships. Other models can be derived from other mergers or separations of the parties from this model. For example, all providers can be distributors. This is "direct publishing", which allows individual authors to distribute / sell their content without other intermediate publishers. Furthermore, every consumer can be a potential distributor. This allows consumers to pass content to each other. This includes super-distribution, gifts, and personal rentals. In a "web society" everyone can publish, distribute, and consume content. A "content collection" allows publishers to make content from other publishers into mixed works. Site licenses and corporate use allow for sharing of content among consumers.

In general, all rights relationships shown in FIG. 2 may be obtained by two integrated supplier-consumer models, as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b). 3 (a) shows a “push” model and FIG. 3 (b) shows a “pull” model. In the push model shown in FIG. 3 (a), the rights provider 200 initiates the rights subscription and grant process to generate and grant the rights to the rights consumer 210. In the pull model shown in FIG. 3 (b), the rights consumer 210 initiates processing to request a subscription from the rights provider 200 and accepts the rights.

[0043] The structure of this preferred embodiment for rights subscription and granting is shown in FIG. The structure 400 may be implemented in a combination of computer hardware and software and includes a rights provider element 402, a rights consumer element 438, and a communication channel 42 connecting these two components. For example, communication channel 42 may be the Internet, a direct computer-to-computer connection, a local area network (LAN), a wireless connection, or the like. The supplier element 402 is integrated into the supplier, i.e., the entity that exercises the rights, i.e., the entity that makes the rights available to the consumer consuming the rights. The provider may be a content owner or provider, or a distributor or "middle man" such as a retailer or an operator of a website. The consumer element 438 is incorporated into an ultimate user (ie, content consumer) or consumer who is an "middle person" such as a retailer, wholesaler, or reseller. Consumers consume rights and do not necessarily use (ie, consume) content. Both provider element 402 and consumer element 438 may accommodate some form of hardware means and / or software modules, such as a personal computer, portable computer, mobile phone server, network, or a combination thereof. have. The supplier element 402 generates a rights label 40 in subscription and displays the draft license and the grant license 52 to the consumer. Consumer element 438 issues a request, performs a selection of options from rights label 40, generates a counter offer, and accepts license 52. The provider element 402 and the consumer element 438 may be installed in the same means (s) and the communication channel 422 may be an internal channel.

The supplier element 402 is a user interface module 404, a communication interface module 420, an identification module 406, a storage device 412 for provider rights (eg, in the form of a issued license). And a database 414 for information related to management. The user interface 404 displays the component functions to the user and performs the granting of the user interaction in a known manner. Communication interface 422 provides suitable formatting and protocols for messages between provider element 402 and consumer element 438. The identification module 406 allows the identification of the provider element 402 to be authenticated by the consumer element 438 and may include authentication information, such as passwords, encryption keys or biometric information of the user of the provider element 402. have. Rights storage 412 may include functions to store rights granted to a user of provider element 402 and to index, search, and update rights stored therein. The management database 414 is used to aggregate information generated during rights subscription and grant processes. Such information includes information relating to initial subscriptions, consumer choices, likely counter-offers, consents, and final licenses.

The consumer element 438 is a user interface module 428, a communication interface module 424, an identification module 426, a storage device for consumer rights 434 (eg, in the form of a issued license). , And a database 436 for information related to management. The user interface 424 handles the handle presentation to the user of the consumer element and the granting of user interactions. Communication interface 422 provides formatting and protocols suitable for entitlement and grant messages between provider element 420 and consumer element 438. The identification module 426 ensures that the identification of the consumer element 438 can be authenticated by the provider element 402 and can include authentication information such as a password, encryption key or user biometric information. Rights storage 434 includes functions for storing rights granted to a user of consumer element 438 and for indexing, searching, and updating rights stored therein. The management database 436 is used to store information generated during rights subscription and grant processing. This information includes those related to subscription 44, consumer choice, likely objection subscription, consent, and license 52. Note that the database 436 can aggregate the same or different information as the database 414. This is because the parties can interact with other parties, and thus have different aggregated information.

The provider element 402 also provides a subscription generator module 408 for generating subscriptions, a rights creator module 410 for creating a license, a template for generating subscriptions based on the general format of the preceding transaction and subscription. A subscription template module 418 and a consumer profiles module 416 that adapts and grants rights based on past consumer characteristics and relationships.

The consumer element 438 is a subscription analyzer module 430 that understands the rights and their terms and conditions present in the offer, a selection manufacturer module 432 that selects the preferred options specified in the offer, past and present. A supplier preference module 438 describing preferred suppliers based on supplier features and relationships, and a selection pattern module 440 that provides patterns and interest within options in the subscription. Include. For example, selection pattern module 440 may include a list of preferred suppliers or a list of lowest prices for items of interest to the consumer. Each of the subscription analyzer module 430 and the selection manufacturer module 432 may be combined into one module.

Right subscription and grant processing in structure 400 is based on protocols performed by supplier element 402 and consumer element 438. These protocols generally consist of subscriptions and the granting of such subscriptions. In particular, these protocols include the subscription of rights by one party to another party and the acceptance of the offer by the creator. Once a subscription has been made in a certain style, it cannot be withdrawn at the time of acceptance, or the subscriber can make it in a specific format so that it cannot be changed under any circumstances that can be defined by all or just the subscriber. Subscriptions can also expire in various ways, for example when the deadline for acceptance has passed. If no deadline is specified, the offer will expire on the subject of the offer within a reasonable time set. In timely available content such as magazines, journals and newspapers, a reasonable time will coincide with the timing of content publication, for example. For content that is generated or provided dynamically, for example streaming content, the reasonable time may be the time before the content is available. The rights provider may detect other conditions of acceptance that bind the rights consumer. For example, an offer may require approval by sending it back in some form via e-mail or via any web page interface.

FIG. 5 (a) shows the operational flow of the protocol 500 of the push model for granting rights. The supplier element 402 generates an offer of rights, for example in the form of a rights label 40 with as many options as possible, and sends it to the consumer element 438. (510) The consumer element 438 Determine the offer and its possible options, and respond to the supplier element 402 with the selection of the optional right offer 44. (512) The supplier element 402 adapts the right according to the consumer's response, Is issued to a user of the consumer element 432 in the form of a draft license (514).

The consumer element 438 then accepts the draft license if it is acceptable while matching the selection made with the draft license. (516) Upon acceptance, the supplier element 402 generates a license 52 and licenses 52. (518) Note that grant 52b of license 52 may include a right of use and / or a subsequent right. Thus, license 52 may allow a user of consumer element 438 to grant a similar type of rights to others. However, the derivable right is controlled through subsequent rights by the upstream party. In addition, the protocol may require the provider element 402 to pay via the credit card of the user of the consumer element 438, which may include the steps of providing the information and authenticating the fee. The supplier element 402 and the consumer element 438 can generate status reports regarding the success or failure of the process. Further, the parties can authenticate each other during processing and can maintain authentication through the processing.

FIG. 5 (b) shows the protocol of the full model for granting rights. First, the consumer element 438 indicates a participation in obtaining any rights in the content by sending a request to the provider element 402. (520) The provider element 402 then selects a plurality of subscription options 44 In the form of a label 40 with), responding with an offer that embraces the rights requested by the consumer element 438, and sends the offer to the consumer element 438.

The consumer element 438 then determines the offer and its options and responds to the supplier element 402 with one of the offer options. 524 The supplier element 402 responds to the response. Adapt the rights and grant the rights to the consumer in the form of a draft license. (526) The consumer element 438 then accepts the draft license, and 528 the supplier element 402 grants the right. 530 is issued to the consumer 438. (530) Again, the rights may include subsequent rights.

FIG. 6 shows a subscription generation process 600 performed in the provider element 402 by the subscription generator module 408. In the subscription generation process (step 600), the available rights are first collected in a block (step 602). The rights may be available or originally created by deriving from subsequent rights granted to the supplier from the former supplier. Determine if the provider has the right to subscribe to the consumer (step 604). For example, if the consumer is a minor and the content is restricted to an adult consumer or if the consumer is on a list of those who are prohibited from receiving the content, the supplier Will not. If so, the subscription generation process ends (step 606). If the supplier has the right to subscribe, the process then determines all the rights that can be subscribed to the consumer by analyzing the rights collected in step 602. Next, determine whether the consumer has requested a particular right. (Step 610) When the request is received, determine the received consumer's request rights and compare them with the available rights to filter the determined rights that can be subscribed to. Proceed further processing. Then, it is determined whether an offer template needs to be applied (step 614).

For example, a consumer may subscribe to standard rights, such as print rights, storage rights, etc., included in a template. If a subscription template is available and needed, then the subscription template is applied (step 616). Human intervention may be provided to adjust the subscription template or further any rights available in the process. Next, the restriction can be applied through conditions and / or state variables. For example, a time limit may exist on some rights. Eventually, the digital signature or other certificate is subscribed to with the collection of subscribed rights (step 622), and an authenticated offer in the form of a rights label 40 is generated and displayed on the consumer element 438 (step 624).

FIG. 8 shows rights adaptation processing 800 performed in provider element 402 by rights creator module 410. Initially, the consumer's choice is received. (Step 802) The choice is the right and condition of option 44 selected from label 40 of step 624 (FIG. 6). The process then determines whether the provider element 402 has the right to grant the consumer element 438. (step 804) For example, if the consumer is in a certain need, such as a minimum age or where the content is licensed If the proof of existence does not match, for example, granting a license is not appropriate, and the rights adaptation process 800 ends (step 806). On the other hand, the consumer who selects the option is analyzed so that they have a supplier element 402. (Step 808) For example, the selection can be analyzed to see if they can be understood.

Next, determine if consumer information is available (step 810). For example, a consumer profile will be stored in database 414 (FIG. 4). If possible, consumer information is considered to analyze consumer selection. (Step 812) In step 812, profile information may also be considered as described below. For example, the profile may include a trust rating or the address of the consumer and indicate that it is desirable or undesirable for subscribing to any rights. The process then determines whether the selection is reasonable (step 814). This determination can be performed, for example, computationally or by human adjustment. If the consumer's choice tends to be irrational, then a renegotiation of the consumer's choice is performed (step 816). In this renegotiation process, the consumer receives a newly offered offer based on the previously analyzed choice, and the consumer receives the new offer. You are given the opportunity to submit, and the rights adaptation process 800 begins at step 802 again. On the other hand, a license is generated that includes the selected rights (step 818).

After the license is generated, if consumer consent is needed (step 820), it is displayed to the consumer for review (step 822). If the consumer does not agree to the license period (step 824), then the renegotiation is started and (Step 816), In step 802, the right adaptation process 800 is restarted. In step 820, if no review by the consumer is required, the license is authorized 826 to generate a complete license 52 that is issued and incorporated into the content 42. (step 828).

FIG. 7 illustrates a subscription determination process 700 performed by the subscription analyzer module 430 and the selection manufacturer module 432 of the consumer element 438. The available subscriptions are collected for the first time (step 702). The process 700 determines whether the user has the right to accept the offer from the supplier (step 704). For example, a consumer restriction on content purchase, such as an age restriction. Or, if there are restrictions against accepting content outside the enterprise, the consumer may not accept the offer. In such a case, the subscription decision process ends (step 706). If the consumer has the right to accept the offer from the supplier, then the offer is analyzed to see if they can recognize it (step 708). If a supplier's superiority is determined to be available (step 710), then the offer is filtered based on that superiority (step 712). For example, a consumer may trust a particular supplier or, on the other hand, trade with that supplier. Would prefer over other suppliers. Next, determine if consumer superiority is available (step 714), and if so, they apply to the offer (step 716). If all subscriptions are analyzed by applying the logic of steps 708-714 and other desired logic, the consumer selects. (Step 718) and specify incidental events (step 720). Selection of the option may be performed automatically. If human intervention is required, the consumer can mediate and further specify additional choices or requirements. Any advantage, rule or other logic can be used to analyze the offer.

Overall, as discussed in the description of FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 above, the consumer sends a request, so the license is configured. Either the supplier or the consumer can draft the contents of the license, but in the above example the supplier is doing it. The request is a subset of the offer, and the offer has one or more options. The provider makes the subscription available to the consumer sending the request (and other consumers if required), and the consumer (including other consumers, if applicable) makes a choice. The supplier then analyzes the choices and constructs a license (ie grant of rights). Note that the request can also be rejected, or a counter proposal can be made and then the same processing can be repeated during the counter proposal.

In addition, when the provider analyzes the request, the analysis may be performed automatically or by human coordination. When a consumer considers subscription, selection or acceptance can be performed automatically or by human intervention. Either or both of the subscription or license may be generated based on dynamic information, consumer information, and consumer request as described above.

Dynamic information may include price, network status, traffic of a website at every moment, discounts provided, coupons provided, consumer habits, the number of times the content is used, the length of time the content is used, It can include many kinds of information, including information related to things such as the place used. Dynamic information can be detected as a state variable, and the value of the state variable can be checked and updated if necessary.

[0062] Dynamic information is information that is created with reference to changeable information (although it does not actually need to be changed) or to a non-static element. For example, dynamic information may be based on formulas, databases, curves, preset tables, percentage values, functions, references to other data, such as changes in initial profit margins or stock market indices, and / or artificial adjustments of users or distributors, and And / or may be obtained by the input of the consumer.

Consumer information may include information such as the age of the consumer, the credit history of the consumer, the credit limit of the consumer, the income of the consumer, the type of rights or licenses purchased, the password of the consumer, the keys signed to the consumer, for access or discount It may include club membership, consumer ranks based on predetermined criteria, or other data, identifying features and information. The supplier's information includes some or all information subjects as the consumer's information, and may also include, for example, the options or changes available, the suppliers, shipping information and other information.

The systems and processes disclosed in the present invention support multilevel and super-distribution of content. The following is an example of how this can be modeled and supported. It demonstrates the process of subscribing and granting rights by showing the process of the rights provider (in this case, the content distributor) sending the entitlement rights as granted rights to the rights consumer (in this case, the last user). It shows in particular how subscriptions arise from existing licenses, how these subscriptions are considered for selection, and how the final license is issued. Subsequent rights provide a mechanism that allows the transfer of rights from one party to the next in the content distribution chain.

Content provider (P) of a certain content (C) is a distributor (D) to a certain end user in the region of the United States (US), "play right" (one month) and "print" right is Suppose you want to specify what you sell at a cost of $ 4 per copy. The provider also allows the content distributor to add his own conditions to the "execute" and "print" rights, which issue to the end users.                 

The license from the content provider to the distributor may be written as follows using the XrML ^™ rights language.

<license> <grant> <forAll varName = "user" /> <forAll varName = "distributorConditionForPlay" /> <principal id = "distributor" /> <issue /> <grant> <principal varRef = "user" /> < play /> <digitalResource licensePartId = "book" /> <allCondition> <region regionCode = "US" /> <condition varRef = "distributorConditionForPlay" /> </ allCondition> </ grant> <fee> <flat currencycode = "USD "> 1 </ flat> <to licensePartId =" provider "/> </ fee> </ grant> <grant> <forAll varName =" user "/> <forAll varName =" distributorConditionForPrint "/> <principal id =" distributor "/> <issue /> <grant> <principal varRef =" user "/> <play /> <digitalResource licensePartId =" book "/> <allCondition> <region regionCode =" US "/> <condition varRef =" distributorConditionForPrint "/> </ allCondition> </ grant> <fee> <perUse regionCode =" USD "> 5 </ perUse> <to lic ensePartId = "provider" /> </ fee> </ grant> <issuer id = "provider" /> </ license>

The distributor subscribes to the last user based on the rights as expressed in the license. Note that the license and the conditions of each option are placed as XML ^TM elements between the <grant> tags. In the next subscription, the Distributor adds a fee condition for the "execute" right to collect $ 2 ($ 1 more than the provider pays) to the end user, and adds another fee condition for the "print" right. Note that the end user collects $ 6 per print ($ 1 more than paying the provider). The Distributor also restricts the offer to the acceptance date (until 30 December 2002). Subsequent rights granted to the Distributor permit the Distributor to change the grants in the License and apply as described above.

<offer> <grant> <forAll varName = "user" /> <principal varRef = "user" /> <obtain /> <grant> <principal varRef = "user" /> <play /> <digitalResource licensePartId = "book "/> <region regionCode =" US "/> </ grant> <fee> <flat currencyCode =" USD "> 2 </ flat> <to licensePartId =" distributor "/> </ fee> </ grant> < grant> <forAll varName = "user" /> <principal varRef = "user" /> <obtain /> <grant> <principal varRef = "user" /> <print /> <digitalResource licensePartId = "book" /> < allCondition> <region regionCode = "US" /> <fee> <perUse currencyCode = "USD"> 6 </ perUse> <to licensePartId = "distributor" /> </ fee> </ allCondition> </ grant> </ grant> <issuer id = "distributor"> <validityInterval> <until> 2002: 12: 31 </ until> </ validityInterval> </ issuer> </ offer>

When the subscription is displayed to the last user, the last user may choose to get just "execute" rights for a fee of $ 2, and the distributor is placed as XML ^TM elements between <choice> tags as follows: Answer with a choice.

<choice> <grant> <principal id = "anEndUser" /> <obtain /> <grant> <principal id = "anEndUser" /> <play /> <digitalResource licenseParId = "book" /> <region regionCode = "US "/> </ grant> <fee> <flat currencyCode =" USD "> 2 </ flat> <to licenseParId =" distributor "/> </ fee> </ grant> <issuer id =" anEndUser "> <validityInterval > <until> 2002: 12: 31 </ until> </ validityInterval> </ issuer> </ choice>

Note that the request can also be rejected. Also note that the response may be constructed as a counter offer of rights not originally subscribed by the distributor. When the distributor receives a selection from the last user, it issues a license to the user as shown below.

<license> <grant> <principal id = "anEndUser" /> <obtain /> <grant> <principal id = "anEndUser" /> <play /> <digitalResource licenseParId = "book" /> <region regionCode = "US "/> </ grant> <fee> <flat currencyCode =" USD "> 2 </ flat> <to licenseParId =" distributor "/> </ fee> </ grant> <issuer id =" distributor "> <issuedTime > 2002: 05: 06 </ issuedTime> </ issuer> </ license>

[0071] Note that in all of the above XML documents, the publisher can digitally select and sign the document using any digital signature algorithm. Recipients of these documents have options to verify the validity of these documents by checking the validity of attached digital signatures. Access to various documents and their components can be controlled using known techniques.

In some situations, subscriptions and grants result in a license becoming a fresh state for content use. In one beginning to exercise a right, derived rights obtained as a result of subsequent rights may inherit and / or share state variable values incorporated in those rights. For example, when a right is granted five times to print and makes four copies of a document, all new copies have the same rights set, but cannot share status (or remaining rights) with the original. . After the original has been printed twice, and as a result a new copy has been made, the copy and the original can be printed three times in total to make two more new copies.

The present preferred embodiment may use various means, such as a personal computer, server, workstation, PDA, thin client, and the like. For example, the client environment may be a portable means such as a mobile phone or a PDA. Various channels may be used for communication. Furthermore, various functions may be integrated in one means. For example, the license server function may be performed by software in the client environment. Furthermore, the functionality of the license server or other modules that create subscriptions, select rights and grant licenses can be performed within the same means. The published functional modules are clearly separated by function. However, various functions may be combined or separated in some way as hardware and / or software. Various functions may be used separately or in combination.

Various components and portions thereof may be stored on the same means or other means. For example, the license may be stored with or separately from the content. Furthermore, various components of the license may be stored on separate means. For example, the state variable value may be stored in the state variable storage of the system to detect the current value of the state variable. Various links, references, specifications, and the like can be used to integrate the components.

The invention has been described through the preferred embodiments and examples. However, various modifications may be made by the appended claims and legal equivalents without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (22)

Generating, by the supplier, at least one first subscription comprising use rights and subsequent rights in the item; The license defines how to use the items, and the subsequent rights specify the right to derive the license or other subsequent rights, Displaying the offer to a first consumer; Receiving a selection from the first consumer indicating the desired license and subsequent rights; And Generating a first license granting the desired license and subsequent rights to the first consumer, The first supplier is at least one of a supplier, a distributor, a retailer, a consumer or a user, And wherein said first consumer is at least one of a supplier, a distributor, a retailer, a consumer or a user. The method of claim 1, wherein the first license specifies one or more conditions that must be met for at least one of the desired licenses and subsequent rights to be exercised. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a request for a license from the first consumer. The method of claim 1, further comprising: generating, by the second provider, a second subscription comprising a right derived from the subsequent rights included in the second subscription; The second supplier is characterized in that the first consumer, Displaying the offer to a second consumer; Receiving a selection from the second consumer indicating the desired license and subsequent rights; And Generating, by a second supplier, a second license comprising a right derived from the subsequent right contained in the second subscription, wherein the derived right includes the desired license and subsequent rights from the second consumer. Characterized in that it is a right. The method of claim 1 wherein the item comprises digital content. The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing the first license to the first consumer as a adapted draft license; Receiving confirmation of the adapted draft license from the first consumer; And Authenticating the draft license to generate an authorized license. The name entity of claim 1, wherein the first license includes a license identification, a digital signature, and at least one grant, wherein the at least one grant specifies a licensee, subsequent rights, and a first consumer to whom the rights are granted. And a condition list. delete delete The method of claim 1, wherein generating the at least one subscription Collecting licenses and subsequent rights available for subscription; Determining whether the supplier has the right to subscribe to available licenses and subsequent rights; If there is no right to subscribe for another use and subsequent rights, ending generating the setting of the subscription; If the supplier has the right and subsequent rights to subscribe for another use, creating an offer based on the available rights; And Authenticating the subscription. The method of claim 10, wherein the preparing step Determining whether the consumer has requested an offer including a specific license and subsequent rights; Applying said particular license and subsequent rights as a filter to said subscription; And Determining if an offer template corresponds to the filtered offer, and if so, applying the offer template as an offer. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the first license comprises: Determining whether the provider has the right to grant the right; If the supplier does not have the right to grant the rights, terminating the step of adapting the draft license; Analyzing one or more selections received from the consumer; Determining if the selection is acceptable; And If the selection is acceptable, further comprising generating a draft license based on the one or more selections. The method of claim 12, wherein the generating step Displaying the draft license to the consumer; If the first license is not approved by a consumer, renegotiating a license; And If the first consumer approves the draft license, further comprising authenticating the draft license. The method of claim 1, wherein the license is to copy, transfer, rent, execute, print, back-up, resave, delete, compress, insert, edit, authenticate, install or remove the content. Characterized by specifying the rights to do so. A provider user interface module; A subscription generator module for generating subscriptions including at least licenses and subsequent rights; A rights creator module for drafting a draft license; Storage for supplier rights; And a supplier element comprising a supplier management database; A consumer user interface module; An offer determination module configured to analyze the offer generated by the supplier element and to select an offer based on the analysis; Consumer rights storage; A consumer element comprising a consumer management database; And A system adapted to transmit a license adapted to be integrated into an item, including a communication connection linking the provider element and the consumer element, to be licensed in downstream rights and at least one level of conditions in the multi-stage channels of distribution. . 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the supplier element further comprises a subscription template and consumer profile information, wherein the subscription template includes one or more predetermined licenses and subsequent rights, wherein the consumer profile information includes consumer identification information, accounting information. , At least one of purchase history information, consumer advantage information, and credit related information. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the consumer component further comprises a supplier superiority module for providing supplier information. The method of claim 15, wherein the subscription judgment module Means for determining if the consumer can accept the offer; Means for applying the selection logic to the subscription; Means for specifying incidental events; And Means for authenticating a selection and providing a selection to the supplier element. 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the application means Means for analyzing the offer and selecting the desired license and subsequent rights within the offer; Means for filtering subscriptions based on supplier superiority; Means for applying consumer dominance; And Means for selecting a selection based on an output of said analysis means, said filtering means and said consumer advantage application means. Displaying the offer to the consumer, including the subsequent rights; Receiving a selection by the consumer of at least one subsequent right in the subscription; Generating a license based on the selection, wherein the license permits the consumer to exercise at least one subsequent right and that the consumer subscribes to at least one derived right derived from the at least one subsequent right. And generating a license that includes at least one derived right. 20. A method for generating a license for digital content for use within a system for at least one administrative use and distribution of digital content. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein said at least one derived right in a license for a second party includes a use rights exercised by the second party and subsequent rights granting derived rights to be subscribed to the third party. How to. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a request issued by a second consumer for a license that includes at least one license and subsequent rights on the item.

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