KR20070102373A - System and method for offering of drm content - Google Patents

Abstract

A system and a method for offering a DRM content is provided to improve the quality of the DRM content by applying a differentiated cost according to the quality of the content. A system for offering a DRM content include a contents server(120), a license server(130), and an interoperability system(150). The content server provides the converted DRM content to a domain device by applying the scalability to a raw content. The license server provides the license corresponding to the DRM content to the domain device. The interoperability system has the DRM of the DRM content which is compatible with a different DRM.

Description

System and method for offering of DRM content {System and Method for offering of DRM content}

1 is a block diagram illustrating a DRM system.

2 is a block diagram illustrating a system for providing DRM contents according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is an exemplary diagram illustrating an example of mutual compatibility of DRM content in the DRM content providing system of FIG. 2.

4 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a configuration of DRM content to which scalability is applied.

5 is an exemplary diagram illustrating an example of a license of DRM content in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary diagram illustrating another license of DRM content in FIG. 4.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing DRM content according to an embodiment of the present invention.

8 is an exemplary flow diagram illustrating an example of a purchase process of DRM content.

9 is an exemplary diagram illustrating an example of charging for the purchase of DRM content.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

110: domain device

120: content server

130: license server

140: communication network

150: Interoperable System

160: billing server

The present invention relates to a system and method for providing digital rights management (DRM) content, and more particularly, to vary the quality by applying scalability to the DM content, and according to the quality of the content. The present invention relates to a DRM content providing system and a method for providing a user with a different price.

Recently, with the development of information and communication technology, analog media have been digitized, and the digitized contents are easily distributed through the information communication network. Such digital content is easy to illegally and unlimitedly copied and edited, and also to distribute illegally copied digital content. Accordingly, digital content protection technology has been developed that can restrict illegal copying, editing and distribution of digital content.

Digital content protection technologies include copyright tracking technologies such as Digital Object Identifier (DOI), Watermarking, and Interoperability of Data in E-Commerce System (INDECS) and Digital Rights Management (DRM). And copyright management technologies.

DRM (DRM) is a technology that prevents illegal copying, editing and distribution of digital contents and manages the use of digital contents only by legitimate users. In other words, DRM is a comprehensive digital rights management that includes the packaging of content, the delivery of content, the payment for the use of content, the monitoring of content, and the personalization of content. Configure the system (Digital Rights Management System).

At this time, the packaging of the content is to encrypt the content to make it in an appropriate form. Distribution of content is to provide content to users through offline and peer-to-peer networks, enterprise networks, and the Internet of CDs and DVDs. The charge for using the content is to link the user management system with the payment system so that the creator and producer of the content can receive a fair fee for the user. Monitoring of the content is to check the billing information and the usage right of the content user to give the user the right to use the content. Personalization of content is to provide a conversion method so that the content can be interoperable in a form suitable for a user.

Service providers providing digital content in such a DRM system adopt a specific DRM in the content packaging process to encrypt and protect their content. DRM schemes are very diverse, and different DRM schemes are adopted by service providers, so that interoperability of digital contents is very low.

Accordingly, researches on a system capable of interoperating heterogeneous DRM structures have been actively conducted in recent years, and a representative example thereof is a DRM interoperability system.

The DRM interoperability system is a system that enables interoperability between heterogeneous DRMs by properly mediating the differences between different closed DRMs. Such a DRM interoperable system is very useful in terms of service and system construction. For example, in terms of service, a user can freely use content with heterogeneous DRM even if a specific DRM is installed in his device. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the dissatisfaction of content consumers due to the closedness of DRM. In addition, in terms of system construction, it is easy to build an integrated system integrating various types of DRM services.

However, the quality of the DRM content compatible in the DRM interoperable system is limited, which is a limitation in the use of the DRM interoperable system by a content provider providing various DRM contents.

In addition, different charges are charged according to the quality of the DRM content, and the user needs to be provided with mutually compatible DRM content so that the user can select an appropriate DRM content.

An object of the present invention is to apply the scalability (content) to the content to provide the user with a difference in the quality of the content, the system and method for providing DRM (DRM) content billing in accordance with the provision of various quality content In providing.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a DM content providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein a content server and a DM content provide a converted DM content to a domain apparatus by applying scalability to raw content. It includes a license server for generating a license corresponding to the provided to the domain device.

In addition, the DM content providing system may further include a mutual compatible system that can be compatible with the DM of the DM content of the different types of DM.

The content server may convert the raw content into a base layer and an enhancement layer, and may package the base layer and the enhancement layer into heterogeneous RDMs.

When the domain apparatus wants to receive the DM content corresponding to the enhancement layer in addition to receiving the DL content corresponding to the base layer, the domain device corresponds to the DM content corresponding to the enhancement layer. A license may be provided from the license server.

Meanwhile, the DM content providing system may further include a billing server that charges for the use of the DM content.

The billing server performs at least one of quantitative billing and qualitative billing, wherein the quantitative billing is billed according to at least one of the access time and data amount of the DM content, and the qualitative billing of the DM content. The charging is performed according to at least one of the resolution and the frame rate.

In order to achieve the above object, a method for providing a DM content according to an embodiment of the present invention to a domain device provides a base layer by applying scalability to raw content of a quality requested to be provided from the domain device. generating the DM content of the base layer and at least one enhancement layer, and transmitting the DM content to the domain device, wherein the domain device is configured to apply the scalability. The license corresponding to the DM content is provided from the license server.

On the other hand, the method of providing the contents of the DM content may further comprise the step of converting the contents of the DM content to be compatible with each other.

On the other hand, the method of providing the DM content may further comprise the step of charging the use of the DM content.

The charging may include: a quantitative charging method of charging according to at least one of access time and data amount of the DM content, and a qualitative charging method of charging according to at least one of a resolution and a frame rate of the DM content. It can be charged in at least one way.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily carry out the present invention.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a DRM system.

Referring to FIG. 1, a DRM system may be divided into a domain 10 and a DRM core region 20 according to its function.

The domain 10 is a basic unit of the DRM Trusted Framework, and means a DRM application area to which the DRM system is practically applied. In this case, the DRM application area may mean an area of physical concept or may mean an area logically designated.

In order to form the domain 10, a local network in which devices 11 to 14 belonging to the domain 10 can interoperate with each other must be formed, and the local network can also be linked to an external wide area network such as the Internet. It should be possible.

The devices 11 to 14 in the domain 10 are devices registered in the domain 10 to receive various multimedia services through the DRM core area 20. Devices 11-14 in domain 10 may be various fixed devices or mobile devices. For example, the fixed device may be a desktop PC, a TV, a home theater, and the like, and the mobile device may be a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a notebook, an MP3 player, or the like. Among the devices 11 to 14 in the domain 10, a domain representative device 11 that determines the range and environment of the domain 10 can be selected. In FIG. 1, the device 1 11 becomes a domain representative device.

Meanwhile, the DRM core area 20 means an area in which the DRM core system 21 is provided. The DRM core system 21 plays a central role in configuring the trust system of the entire DRM system, and verifies the validity and rights of the content running on the devices 11 to 14 belonging to the domain 10 to securely distribute the content. Provide a plan. Although the connection between the DRM core region 20 and the devices 11 to 14 in the domain 10 may be made online, some functions of the DRM core system 21 may be provided in a specific device in the domain 10. May be This is to enable the establishment of DRM trust even offline, not connected to the wide area network.

The DRM core system 21 may be a vendor-specific closed DRM core system or a DRM interoperable core system. If the DRM core system 21 is a DRM interoperable core system, the DRM interoperable environment is applied to the domain. That is, in this case, even if a plurality of closed DRM technologies are applied to specific content in the domain 10, the devices 11 to 14 existing in the domain 10 may share the content according to the allowed usage rights. It becomes possible.

2 is a block diagram illustrating a DRM content providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the digital rights management (DRM) content providing system includes a device 110 in a domain that enables a user to use content, and a content server 120 for providing a user with content packaged in an appropriate form. The license server 130 for generating and managing licenses and the charging server 160 for charging the use of the content are connected and configured through the communication network 140. In this case, the mutual compatibility system 150 may be provided to mutually compatible the content provided by the content server 120 and the license server 130 with the license.

Here, the domain device 110 refers to a device existing in the aforementioned domain 10. That is, it is a device that can be authenticated and registered in the domain 10 within the scope of the domain 10 and receive various multimedia services.

The content server 120 is a server in which a content service provider provides various contents to a user. The content server 120 retains the DRM content packaged by a specific DRM method, provides the content according to a user's request, and provides the license server 130 with information on the method of packaging the content and the DRM method for generating a license of the content. To provide.

In this case, the content server 120 applies scalability to raw content, converts it into a base layer and an enhancement layer, and packages the content to a user. to provide. Detailed description thereof will be given in FIG. 4.

In addition, the content server 120 may include metadata indicating the type of the content, the ID of the content, the format of the data, the information on the creator and creator of the content, the information on the content itself, and the like. DRM content is generated by encrypting the metadata in the base layer and the enhancement layer by DRM method.

The license server 130 generates and manages a license indicating a user's authority to use specific content. The license server 130 receives the metadata of the corresponding content from the content server 120, holds the management information of the content, receives the user information from the domain apparatus 110, and transmits the user information to the content server 120. The license server 130 generates a license using the metadata of the corresponding content and the user information and provides the license to the user. For example, the license server 130 may generate a license 1 corresponding to the base layer of the content server 120 and provide it to the user, and generate a license 2 corresponding to the enhancement layer to the user according to the user's request. Can be.

The mutual compatibility system 150 converts the DRM content provided by the content server 120 to be compatible with each other, and converts a license for a specific DRM content provided by the license server 130 into a license for another DRM content. System.

For example, if the domain device 110 supports A type DRM content, the mutual compatibility system 150 decodes the content packaged with the B type DRM, and encodes the decoded content with the A type DRM. To the domain device 110. In addition, when the user of the domain device 110 is obtaining a license for the B type of DRM content and uses the A type of DRM content, the mutual compatibility system 150 grants the license for the B type of DRM content to the A type. Compatible with the license for the content.

The mutual compatibility system 150 may be configured as various modules required for conversion of DRM content and compatibility of a license. These modules may be gathered in one server or distributed in the content server 120, the license server 130, and the domain 10.

The billing server 160 manages the billing method for the authentication of the billing of the user and the use of the content. The billing server 160 provides a security settlement system for making a payment using a kind of security means. The billing server 160 may perform a payment processing with a payment means authentication function in the billing server 160 itself, It is also possible to authenticate the billing payment in connection with a financial service server that provides a separate payment method. As such, when the billing payment is authenticated by the billing server 160, the user may use services such as license generation and content download for the use of the content from the content server 120 and the license server 130.

As an example of billing settlement, RSA (Rivest Shamir Adleman) 1024bit encryption algorithm and SEED 128bit encryption algorithm developed by Korea Information Security Agency (KISA), public key infrastructure consisting of private key and public key using electronic certificate Infrastructure, PKI) There is an Internet Secure Payment (ISP).

In addition, the billing server 160 may manage and apply a billing method for the use of the content. The charging method can be divided into quantity charging and quality charging.

Full-time pay-as-you-go fee based on quantitative billing, a fixed rate of the lower limit is charged up to a certain amount of time or a certain amount of data, and a cap fee to which a fee is added when the amount is exceeded. In the case of excess access, there are full-time tablets with fixed time-based semen / time-based pay and rates.

Qualitative billing can vary the quality of the content, such as the resolution and frame rate of content provided to the user by transcoding the raw content or applying scalability. This is how you decide to charge.

Hereinafter, a process of using the DRM content to which the scalability is applied in the DRM content providing system is compatible with each other.

3 is an exemplary diagram illustrating an example of mutual compatibility of DRM content in the DRM content providing system of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 3, in the content providing system of FIG. 2, a plurality of content servers 120 providing DRM content may exist, and each content server 120 may provide a DRM content by applying a specific DRM scheme. .

For example, 'content a' is a DRM content type A, D type B type, D type C type DRM content in content server A 310, content server B 320, and content server C 330. Can be generated and provided. In this case, each content server 310, 320, 330 may provide the DRM content of the base layer and the enhancement layer to which the scalability is applied. That is, the content server A 310 may provide the DRM content of the base layer A and the enhancement layer A, and the content server B 320 may provide the DRM content of the base layer B and the enhancement layer B, and the content server. C 330 may provide the DRM content of the base layer C and the enhancement layer C.

When the user's domain device 110 using the 'content a' is a device that supports the A-type DRM method, the user may purchase and use the DRM content of the base layer A in the content server A 310. In this case, the DRM content of the base layer A may be provided in the mutual compatibility system 150 without conversion of the content.

When the enhancement layer is used in the domain device 110 using the DRM content of the base layer A, the enhancement layer C of the content server B 320 and the enhancement layer C of the content server C 330 as well as the DRM content of the enhancement layer A are used. Can also be used. That is, when the user of the domain device 110 using the DRM content of the base layer A purchases the DRM content of the enhancement layer B from the content server B 320, the interoperable system 150 may determine the DRM content of the enhancement layer B. Is converted into A type DRM content supported by the domain device 110 and transmitted to the domain device 110. Therefore, regardless of the DRM scheme supported by the domain apparatus 110, a user can purchase and use DRM content of an enhancement layer corresponding to the base layer.

Hereinafter, the DRM content to which the scalability provided by the content server 120 of the DRM system is applied will be described.

4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of DRM content to which scalability is applied.

Referring to FIG. 4, the content server 120 applies scalability to raw content. When coding is applied by applying scalability to the raw content, the content is converted into a base layer and an enhancement layer.

Raw content is a content source that a service provider of the content server 120 intends to provide to a user, and has a constant bit rate (CBR) that uses a fixed bit rate, and is variable. Video or audio data compressed at Variable Bit Rate (VBR) using in-bitrate, Average Bit Rate (ABR) encoding with varying bitrates automatically approaching the specified average bitrate number Can be.

The base layer is a independently decodeable bitstream, and the enhancement layer is a bitstream that is additionally applied to improve the bitstream in the base layer. For example, when the base layer is content having resolution QCIF (Quater CIF), enhancement layer 1 may be added to be content having resolution Common Intermediate Format (CIF). The enhancement layer 2 may be added to the content having the resolution CIF to be the content having the resolution VGA, and the enhancement layer 3 may be added to the content having the resolution VGA to the content having the resolution XGA.

Scalability includes spatial scalability, temporal scalability, SNR scalability, and the like.

Spatial scalability is used to increase the size or increase the resolution of small or low resolution pictures. Temporal scalability increases the frame rate per second to increase temporal resolution. SNR scalability is a method of improving image quality by dividing the bits of each picture element according to the resolution of the representation.

In this way, by applying scalability to the original content, the resolution and frame rate of one content can be varied.

5 is an exemplary diagram illustrating an example of a license of DRM content in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 5, the content server 120 generates metadata and keys for encryption of each of the base layer and the enhancement layer to which the scalability is applied, and the base layer and the enhancement. Included in the layer and packaged in the DRM method.

In this case, the license server 130 may generate a license for each of the base layer and the enhancement layer by using the metadata and the key obtained from the content server 120 and provide the license to the user. That is, a license may be granted to each layer of the content consisting of the base layer and the enhancement layer.

For example, in order to use a DRM content of higher quality, a user having a license 0 of the DRM content of the base layer needs to add and receive the DRM content of the enhancement layer, and acquire and obtain a license of the enhancement layer. That is, a user who uses the DRM content of the base layer has the DRM content and license 0 of the base layer, and the DRM content and the license 1 of the enhancement layer 1 are required to use the higher quality DRM content added with the enhancement layer 1. Must be obtained. At this time, the license server 130 recognizes the license 0 of the base layer and the license 1 of the enhancement layer 1 so that the user can use the DRM content of higher quality.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary diagram illustrating another license of DRM content in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 6, the license server 130 may generate and provide a license including a base layer and an enhancement layer to a user.

For example, a user of the DRM content of the base layer has a license 0, and a user of the DRM content of the base layer and the enhancement layer 1 has a license 1. Therefore, in order for the user of the DRM content of the base layer to use the DRM content of the base layer and the enhancement layer 1, the license 1 must be newly acquired, and the user of the DRM content of the base layer and the enhancement layer 1 uses the DRM content of the base layer. In order to do so, you must acquire a new license. At this time, even if license 1 is recognized among the licenses obtained by the user, the license server 130 may not authorize the use of the content of the base layer.

Hereinafter, a process in which a user purchases and pays various contents provided by the content server 120 will be described.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing DRM content according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, the content server 120 generates scalability of the base layer and the enhancement layer by applying scalability to the raw content (S10). In this case, a plurality of enhancement layers may be provided to configure DRM content having various qualities. On the other hand, the content server 120 transmits the information of the content to the license server 130 to provide the information necessary for generating a license.

If there is a request of the DRM content from the user, that is, the domain device 110 (S20), the content server 120 obtains the user's information from the domain device 110. That is, the DRM supported by the user's domain device 110 is supported. The information about the method and the content previously held by the user is obtained from the domain apparatus 110.

The content server 120 determines whether the DRM content to be transmitted to the domain device 110 from the user information obtained from the domain device 110 requires a DRM conversion process in the mutual compatible system 150 (S40).

If a DRM conversion process is required, the DRM content is converted (S40).

If the DRM conversion process is not necessary, the DRM content is transmitted to the domain apparatus 110 without converting the DRM content (S50).

Upon receiving the DRM content, the domain apparatus 110 requests a license for using the DRM content to the license server 130. The license server 130 determines whether the corresponding DRM content is paid or free (S60).

If the DRM content is paid, the billing server 160 requests the billing to the domain device 110 to allow the user to bill (S70).

When the user pays the bill, the license server 130 generates a license for the corresponding DRM content and transmits the license to the user (S80).

The user can use the DRM content using the received license.

8 is an exemplary flow diagram illustrating an example of a purchase process of DRM content.

Referring to FIG. 8, the user may access the content server 120 through the communication network 140 from the domain apparatus 110 and select a content list including various quality contents from various types of contents (S110).

The user determines whether content of various qualities included in the selected content list is properly implemented in the device or a content test (S120).

The user may select mini content for a test that is pre-produced or converted into transcoding in a manual for content test (S121). In this case, the user may request the content from the content purchase manual without performing the content test.

The content server 120 transmits the mini content to the domain device 110 so that the user can check whether the corresponding content is properly implemented in the domain device 110 (S122).

The user determines the content to purchase and determines whether to request the content from the purchase manual of the content (S130).

If there is a content request of the user, the license server 130 checks the level of the license according to the free of charge of the corresponding content or the upper and lower levels with the license previously obtained by the user (S140).

The user determines whether to select content provided for a fee and content provided for free in a purchase manual of the content (S150). In this case, when the license previously obtained by the user is higher than the license of the corresponding content or when the user selects the content provided for free, the charging server 260 does not perform the charging process.

The user selects content of desired quality implemented in his device from among contents provided for a fee (S160).

When the user selects the content, the billing server 260 presents the authentication process necessary for billing to the user, and the user pays the bill for the use of the corresponding content as a means for payment (S170).

If the billing is paid, the billing server 260 transmits the billing payment information of the user to the license server 130, the license server 130 generates a user's license and user account so that the user can use the content (S180) .

When the license server 130 transmits the user's license and the user account to the domain device 110, the domain device 110 is streamed or downloaded from the content server 120 (S190).

Hereinafter, differential charging charged by the user according to the quality of the content provided from the content server 120 will be described.

9 is an exemplary diagram illustrating an example of charging for the purchase of DRM content.

Referring to FIG. 9, content a may be classified into Qcif (Quater CIF), Common Intermediate Format (CIF), Video Graphics Array (VGA), Extended Graphics Array (XGA), and the like, according to quality.

In general, CIF is a video format used in video conferencing or video telephony systems, has a resolution of 480x720, Qcif has a resolution of 288x360, which is one quarter the size of CIF, and VGA has a resolution of 12-13 inches with a resolution of 640x480. The standard resolution of XGA is used as the standard resolution of 16-17 inch monitors with a resolution of 1024x768.

In addition, the content a may be classified into a download method and a streaming method according to an implementation method.

The download method is a method of copying a file of content from the content server 120 and playing it on the domain device 110 of the user when necessary.

The streaming method is a method of playing a content transmitted without downloading the content. The content can be played by the domain apparatus 110 even before all the contents are transmitted. However, the streaming server is affected by the data transmission speed and the content server is used each time. Access 120 and receive the data.

Meanwhile, according to the policy of the content provider, charges for using the content may be imposed on the members of the service server and the non-members.

The charging charged to the user according to the above-described classification of the content a may vary. For example, if a non-member user uses the Qcif resolution content as a download method, 300 won is charged. However, if a user as a member uses the Qcif resolution content as a download method, the user is not charged. As a result, the content service provider may induce a user to subscribe as a member of the content server. In addition, if a member user uses the content of Qcif resolution by streaming method, it is provided free of charge, but when using the content of XGA resolution, the charge of 800 won is charged, and the charge can be differentiated according to the quality of the content. And if a member user uses XGA resolution content in a streaming method, a charge of 800 won will be charged. However, if a user uses XGA resolution content as a download method, a charge of 1,600 won will be charged. Can be.

As such, the content service provider may charge a differentiated charge according to the quality of the content, the implementation method, the membership, etc., and the user may select and use the appropriate content from the various contents.

As mentioned above, preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, but those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains should understand the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. It will be appreciated that various modifications or changes can be made. Accordingly, modifications to future embodiments of the present invention will not depart from the technology of the present invention.

By applying scalability to the content to differentiate the quality of the DRM content, and by charging differentiation according to the quality of the content, content providers can easily improve the quality of the DRM content as the environment of the domain device improves. In addition, the user may select DRM contents that are appropriate for the environment of their domain device from DRM contents of various quality at an appropriate price. In addition, the content provider may help the user to determine whether to purchase the content by providing a mini-content of the content of various quality, whether the content of the corresponding quality is implemented in the device.

Claims (10)

In the DM content providing system, A content server providing the converted DM content to a domain device by applying scalability to raw content; License server for generating a license corresponding to the DM content to provide to the domain device RM contents providing system comprising a. The system of claim 1, further comprising an interoperable system capable of interchanging the DLs of the DM contents with heterogeneous DLs. The DM content providing method of claim 1, wherein the content server converts the raw content into a base layer and an enhancement layer, and packages the base layer and the enhancement layer into heterogeneous RMBs. system. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the domain apparatus adds the DM content corresponding to the base layer to receive the DM content corresponding to the enhancement layer. A system for providing a DM content, wherein the license for a DM content is provided from the license server. The system of claim 1, further comprising a billing server that charges for use of the DM content. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the billing server performs at least one of quantitative billing and qualitative billing, wherein the quantitative billing is charged according to at least one of the access time and data amount to the DM content, the qualitative billing The DM content providing system, characterized in that for billing according to at least one of the resolution and frame rate of the DM content. In the DM content providing method for providing a DM content to the domain device, Generating the DM content of a base layer and at least one enhancement layer by applying scalability to raw content of a quality requested to be provided from the domain apparatus; Transmitting the DM content to the domain device, And the domain apparatus receives a license corresponding to the DM content to which scalability is applied from a license server. 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising converting the DM content to be compatible with each other. 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of charging a usage of the DM content. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the charging of the charge comprises at least one of a quantitative charging method for charging according to at least one of the access time and data amount of the DM content and the resolution and frame rate of the DM content. RM content providing method characterized in that the charging in at least one of the qualitative charging method according to the charging.

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