KR100747470B1 - Method for managing contents using online rights objects and client thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a content management method using an online rights object and a client according to the present invention. The content management method using an online rights object according to the present invention includes the steps of downloading content and online rights object; Extracting location information included in the online rights object to identify a right to use the content; Requesting the state information of the content from the authority issuing server storing the state information of the content using the location information, and the client according to the present invention comprises: a receiving module for downloading the content and the online rights object; A processor for extracting location information included in the online rights object to check the usage rights of the contents, and updating the status information to the authority issuing server when a play command is received after receiving the usage rights for the contents; ; A sending module for requesting the status information of the contents from the authority issuing server storing the status information of the contents using the location information; And a playback module for playing back the content according to the status information of the content received by the status information request.

Description

Content management method using online authorization object and client accordingly {METHOD FOR MANAGING CONTENTS USING ONLINE RIGHTS OBJECTS AND CLIENT THEREOF}

1 is a flowchart illustrating a content download method according to embodiments of the present invention.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a content and usage right distribution method according to the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of sharing a rights object for content according to the present invention.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of backing up a content and an online right object according to the present invention.

5 illustrates a configuration of a client according to the present invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a content management method using an online rights object and a client thereof, and more particularly, to a content management method for sharing content according to digital rights management and a client thereof.

Digital Rights Management (DRM) is a solution that securely protects and manages copyrights of various online contents such as music, videos, and publications as well as digital assets of companies such as software, e-mail and documents. If watermarking provides clues to keep track of who used and used pirated and distributed content, DRM is capable of preventing the use of illegal content at its source. Its purpose is to prevent use thoroughly.

Accordingly, digital rights management allows digital media objects to be used under management by giving content providers the ability to manage DRM content, enabling the superdistribution of DRM content, and delivering content between clients. Make this possible.

However, in the process of transmitting and distributing content among clients, conventionally, when a specific client delivers a Rights Object in which a usage rule of DRM content is specified to another client, state information on the rights object must be transmitted together. . The client that delivered the authorization object can no longer use the content, and if the client delivers only a part of the authorization object, the permission for the corresponding content is reduced. For example, if the first client has delivered to the second client the right to play the content A five times, the first client may use the content A even if the second client does not use the content A. You cannot use Content A more than twice. If the first client wants to use the content A further, he or she must be newly issued additional rights for the content A or some or all of the rights transferred to the second client are returned.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to store the status information of the DRM authorization object in the authorization issuing server, so that when a specific client wants to share DRM content with other clients, the online authorization object includes location information of the status information of the corresponding content. The present invention provides a content management method and a client according to which the DRM content can be shared with a plurality of clients.

In order to achieve the above object, a client for providing content according to digital rights management, the content management method using an online rights object according to the present invention comprises the steps of: downloading the online rights object; Extracting location information included in the online rights object to identify a right to use content; Requesting status information of the content from the authority issuing server using the location information; And receiving a play command after receiving a use right for the content, updating the state information in the right issuing server.

In addition, in order to achieve the above object, the client according to the present invention includes a receiving module for downloading the online rights object; A processor for extracting location information included in the online rights object to check the usage rights of the contents, and updating the status information to the authority issuing server when a play command is received after receiving the usage rights for the contents; ; A sending module for requesting the status information of the contents from the authority issuing server storing the status information of the contents using the location information; And a playback module for playing back the content according to the status information of the content received by the status information request.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a flowchart illustrating a content download method according to an embodiment of the present invention, which describes a content download method that a specific client needs to perform as a previous step in order to share a right to use downloaded content with other clients. do. In one embodiment, when the client launches a browser to connect to a content server, the user searches for content stored in the server to determine the content to download. Once the DRM content is downloaded, the client connects to the rights issuing server and initiates a Rights Acquisition Protocol to obtain the rights related to the content. According to another embodiment, the content download is made based on the service subscription of the client, and the subscriber may acquire the DRM content and the authority object periodically transmitted to the client. According to another embodiment, the client may download the DRM content transmitted based on the service subscription, and the authority to use the DRM content may be acquired according to the client's request. The above embodiments are not related to each other but are shown together in FIG . 1 for convenience of description .

In more detail, an embodiment of the present invention, first, the client initializes a browsing session with the content server and searches for contents stored in the content server (S101). The client selects a specific content among the contents provided by the content server. The client may select a payment mode during the session (S102). Accordingly, the client can download the DRM content from the content server to the local storage of the client (S103). The client receiving the DRM content retrieves a Rights Issuer Uniform Resource Idnetifier (URI) in the DRM content header and initiates a connection with the rights issuing server. Then, the right acquisition protocol is started (S104). Accordingly, when the protocol is successfully completed, the client acquires a right object regarding the DRM content (S105).

According to another embodiment, it is assumed that the client is already subscribed to the service for providing the content, and the billing agreement has been made with the authority generating server. If the client is in a state of being subscribed to the content providing communication company according to the present invention and the billing with the authority generating server is made, the content server transmits the content Y to the client (S106). The authority for Y is transmitted (S107). That is, the content server and the rights issuing server may transmit the DRM content and the rights object to the client at regular intervals.

According to another embodiment, the content server transmits a content Z to the client according to the subscription information of the client, and provides a rights object for the content Z according to the client's request. The content server delivers the DRM content Z having the header including the location information of the rights issuing server to the client (S108), and the client is connected to the rights issuing server when the content is received to trigger a Rights Acquisition Protocol. (S109). If the protocol is successfully completed, an authorization object is issued to the client (S110).

The client that has downloaded the DRM content as described above may super-distribute the DRM content to other clients. Super-distribution allows (1) users to distribute DRM content to other clients over potentially insecure channels, and (2) allows users of the client to obtain rights objects for super-distributed DRM content. It is a mechanism to do it.

Clients that have downloaded the DRM content from a content server may distribute the DRM content to other clients in turn using various network links as well as mobile media. The DRM content is encrypted, and the client receiving the DRM content may use the content when the authority for the DRM content is obtained. A client receiving the super-distributed content will find a rights issuing server URI in the DRM content header and connects to the rights issuing server using the information to obtain the rights.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a content distribution method according to an embodiment of the present invention. The content distribution method according to the present invention will be described in detail through the following three embodiments. Each embodiment is not related to each other but is shown together in Figure 2 for convenience of description.

First, steps S201 to S203 according to the first embodiment are described.

Client 1 stores the previously downloaded DRM Content X, and if you want to share the DRM Content X with Client 3, client 3 uses the local connection or the mobile medium to transfer the online authorization object for Content X and Content X to Client 3 It transmits (S201). Here, the online rights object is a function of checking the status information of the corresponding content in addition to the function of the existing rights object, and the location information of the server providing the status information and the location information of the status information stored in the server. Include. The online rights object includes location information of the server for requesting status information about the content X and location information of the status information stored in the server, and does not include the status information and / or constraints for the content X. The location information for requesting the status information may be a Uniform Resource Indentifier (URI) of the authorization issuing server, and the location information of the status information may be a URI of status information of the content X stored in the authorization issuing server.

Upon reception of the DRM content X, the client 3 finds an authorization issuing server URI in the header of the DRM content X, and accesses the authorization issuing server to request confirmation of status information about the DRM content X (S202). Here, the state information is information based on determining whether the number of times of use of the content is within a valid range in which the content can be used. For example, when the state information has a value of 0, the content can no longer be used. The client 3 may access the state information of the content X stored in the authority issuing server by using the URI information of the state information of the content X, and the authority issuing server may provide the client with respect to the content X according to the state information. Grant the use authority (S203). For example, if the client 1 acquires the right to play the content X five times and plays it three times, and then performs the steps S201 to S202, the client 3 issues the right to use the content X twice using the step S203. Can be obtained from the server.

Now, step S204 to step S207 according to the second embodiment are described.

Client 2 transmits the content Y and the online authorization object for content Y to client 3 (S204). Here, the online rights object includes location information of a server for requesting status information regarding content Y and location information of status information in the server, and does not include status information and / or constraints for content Y. . The location information for requesting the status information may be a URI of the authorization issuing server, and the location information of the status information may be a URI of status information about content Y stored in the authorization issuing server. The content Y has a 'Preview' header, and may provide an 'Instant Preview' to show a part of the content Y.

Accordingly, the client 3 that has received the content Y may provide the user with a 'preview' for the content Y, and the user may determine whether to obtain the use authority of the content Y (S205). When a command for obtaining a usage right of the content Y is input to the client 3, the client 3 accesses the authority issuing server and requests confirmation of status information about the content Y (S206). Accordingly, the client 3 may acquire the usage right of the content Y from the authority issuing server using the URI information of the state information of the content Y (S207).

Next, steps S208 to S212 according to the third embodiment are described.

Client 1 transmits the content Z and the online rights object for content Z to client 2 (S208). Here, the online rights object includes location information for confirming validity of the status information regarding the content Z and location information of the status information, and does not include the status information and / or constraints for the content Z. The location information for requesting the status information may be a URI of the authorization issuing server, and the location information of the status information may be a URI of status information about the content Z stored in the authorization issuing server.

Upon receiving the DRM content Z, the client 2 may provide a preview of the content Z upon obtaining the preview right object for the content Z. Accordingly, Client 2 obtains a rights object that is connected to the rights issuing server and enables preview (S209 to S210). The provided permission object is a permission object with all privileges except that permissions and constraints are limited to the preview of content Z only.

After that, if the client 2 wants to acquire the authority to use the entire content Z, the client 2 accesses the authority issuing server and requests confirmation of the status information of the content Z (S211). The client 2 may access the state information of the content Z stored in the authority issuing server using the online authority object, and the authority issuing server grants the client the authority to use the content Z according to the state information (S212). ).

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of sharing a rights object for content according to the present invention. A method in which a client stores state information of content in a rights issuing server and shares a usage right of the content using an online rights object.

The client receiving the DRM content and the authorization object from the server or another client drives the DRM content list application to play the DRM content (S301). The DRM content uses a DRM Contents Format, which is equipped with a security authentication system for each content based on Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology so that the content cannot be used without a legal use path. Is sent.

Specific content is selected from the DRM content list by the client user (S302), and the client searches for a rights object of the selected content and checks whether the right object is an online rights object (S303). Here, the online authorization object includes location information for confirming the status information of specific content, so that the usage status of the authorization object stored in the authorization generation server can be checked online using the location information.

At this time, if the authority object for the selected content is not an online object, the authority of the content is checked in a conventional manner (S304), and if the authority object is an online authority object, location information for checking status information is extracted from the online authority object (S304). S305).

In operation S306, the client requests confirmation of status information of the content from the authority issuing server using the location information. That is, the server can access the authority generating server using the location information for the status information request, and access the status information stored in the authority generating server through the location information of the status information. It is possible to check whether there is a usage right for the content (S307).

If the client does not have a right to use the content, the process in the case of no existing use right proceeds (S308), and if there is a use right to the content, the user is asked whether to play the content (S309). In this case, the client may skip the step of inquiring the user of whether to play the selected content if the user has the right to use it, but proceed directly to the next step. .

Therefore, when the client receives a request to play the content from the user, the client updates the state information on the corresponding content (S311 to S312). In this case, the updating process of the state information is different depending on whether the content is content having an online rights object, and thus, it is checked whether the rights object of the content is an online rights object (S310).

As a result of the check, if the rights object of the content is an online rights object, the status information is updated to the rights issuing server (S311). If not, the status information stored in the client is updated (S312). For example, if the client has the right to play the content X ten times, when the content X is selected and there is a request to play the content X, the status information of the content X is updated to update the content X nine times. Record that you can play. In the case of the content having the general authority object, the status information is updated in the client that downloaded the content, and in the case of the content having the online authority object, the status information is stored in the authority issuing server. It will update the server.

Accordingly, if the authority to use the selected content is confirmed from the DRM content list and the status information is updated, the client plays the corresponding content (S313).

4 illustrates a method for backing up and restoring an online rights object for content in accordance with the present invention.

The client receiving the DRM content and the authorization object from the server or another client drives the DRM content list application to play the DRM content (S401). In operation S402, a content for backup is selected from the DRM content list.

When specific content is selected from the DRM content list, the corresponding online rights object is copied to the backup space together with the content (S403). When the content and online rights object are stored in a backup space, original location information of the content and online rights object is also stored. The backup space is a storage space separate from the space in which the online rights object provided by the client from the rights issuing server is stored, and is another storage in the client separated from the storage in which the downloaded content and the online rights object are stored. The storage medium may be detachable from the client, or may be a storage medium capable of exchanging data with the client through a wireless connection.

Accordingly, when the backup of the selected contents is completed, the backed up contents may be restored as necessary. First, to restore the online right object, a backup content list composed of the backup contents generated in the above steps S401 to S403 is driven (S404).

When a specific content is selected in the backup content list (S405), the content and the online right object for the content are copied back to the original location in the backup space (S406). When the content and the online rights object are copied to the original location, the restoration of the content is completed, and the content can be reproduced through the process as shown in FIG. 3.

5 illustrates a configuration of a client according to the present invention. The client 100 according to the present invention providing a sharing function of DRM content includes a receiving module 110, a transmitting module 120, a playing module 130, and a client. Processor 140.

The receiving module 110 downloads an online rights object for the DRM content along with the DRM content from another client. The online rights object may be downloaded separately from the DRM content or may be downloaded while being included in a header of the DRM content. Here, the online rights object does not have a right to use DRM content, unlike the existing rights object, and includes location information for checking the status information of the DRM content online. Accordingly, the online rights object includes location information (first location information) for confirming status information of the DRM content and location information (second location information) for the status information. The first location information may be a URI of a rights issuing server that issues a right to use the DRM content, and the second location information may be a URI of status information stored in the rights issuing server.

The transmission module 120 requests permission to use the content from the authority issuing server using the first and second location information. That is, the authority issuing server is accessed using the first location information, and the authority issuing server is enabled to check the state information stored in the authority issuing server using the second location information. The authority issuing server checks the state information of the DRM content and transmits a use right according to the status information request, and the use right for the DRM content may be downloaded through the receiving module 110.

When the right to use the DRM content is received, the playback module 140 plays back the content or an instant preview that can be played without using the right to the DRM content. Alternatively, the playback module 140 plays the preview content when a usage right limited to the preview content is obtained after the DRM content including the preview content is downloaded.

The processor 130 extracts the first location information and the second location information included in the online authority object downloaded by the reception module 110 and transmits the extracted location information to the transmission module 120. Then, when the play command is received after receiving the usage right for the DRM content, the state information of the content is updated in the rights issuing server. In addition, the processor 130 may copy and store the content and online rights object in a separate storage space from which the content and online rights object are downloaded and stored. At this time, the content and the online rights object stored in the separate storage space include their original location information.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, this is merely exemplary, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention will be defined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

Accordingly, the content management method using the online rights object and the client according to the present invention improve the method of sharing the DRM content by a plurality of clients by storing the state information of the content in a server that the client can access online. It is effective.

Claims (22)

In the client providing content according to digital rights management, Downloading an online rights object; Extracting location information included in the online rights object to identify a right to use content; Requesting status information of the content from the authority issuing server using the location information; And updating the status information to the authority issuing server when a play command is received after receiving the use authority for the content. The method of claim 1, wherein downloading the online rights object comprises: Content management method using an online rights object, characterized in that can be downloaded with the content. The method of claim 1, wherein the location information, And a location information indicating a location for checking the status information.  The method of claim 1, wherein the location information, And the location information of the authority issuing server for granting the client the authority to use the content. The method of claim 3, wherein the location information, And the location information of the state information stored in the authority issuing server. The method of claim 1, wherein the status information, And a data for determining whether the usage right of the content is valid. The method of claim 1, wherein the online rights object, Content management method using an online rights object, characterized in that downloaded in the header of the content. delete The method of claim 1, And storing the content and the online rights object by copying the contents and the online rights object to a storage space different from the storage space from which the contents and the online rights object are downloaded. The method of claim 1, wherein the downloaded content is And an instant preview that can be played back without using a right for the content.  The method of claim 1, wherein the downloaded content is And preview content for the content, wherein the preview content is reproducible when a usage right limited to the preview content is obtained. A receiving module for downloading the online rights object; A processor for extracting location information included in the online rights object to check the usage rights of the contents, and updating the status information to the authority issuing server when a play command is received after receiving the usage rights for the contents; ; A sending module for requesting the status information of the contents from the authority issuing server storing the status information of the contents using the location information; And a playback module for playing the content according to the status information of the content received by the status information request. The client of claim 12, wherein the location information includes location information indicating a location for confirming the status information.  The method of claim 12, wherein the location information, And location information of a rights issuing server for granting the client rights to use the content. The method of claim 13, wherein the location information, And location information of the state information stored in the authority issuing server. The method of claim 12, wherein the receiving module, And download the online rights object included in the header of the content. delete The method of claim 12, wherein the processor, And copy and store the content and the online rights object in a separate storage space different from the storage space in which the content and online rights objects are downloaded. The method of claim 12, wherein the processor, Checking whether the downloaded content includes an instant preview that is playable without a right to use the content. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the content includes the instant preview. And the playback module plays the instant preview. The method of claim 12, wherein the processor, And checking whether the downloaded content includes playable preview content when there is a usage right limited to preview content. The method of claim 21, wherein the content includes the preview content. The playback module, the client characterized in that for playing back the preview content when the right to use the preview content is obtained.

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