Patent ID: 7353209
Filing Date: 2008-04-01
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for releasing digital content to a rendering application, the rendering application for forwarding the digital content to an ultimate destination by way of a path therebetween, the path being defined by at least one module, the digital content initially being in an encrypted form, the method comprising: performing an authentication of at least a portion of the path to determine whether each defining module thereof is to be trusted to appropriately handle the digital content passing therethrough; decrypting the encrypted digital content if in fact each such defining module is to be trusted; and forwarding the decrypted digital content to the rendering application for further forwarding to the ultimate destination by way of the authenticated path, wherein performing the authentication comprises: traversing the at least a portion of the path to develop a map of each module in the path; and authenticating each module in the map, and wherein performing the authentication comprises, for each module in the at least a portion of the path: receiving from the module a certificate as issued by a certifying authority; determining from the received certificate whether such received certificate is acceptable for purposes of authenticating the module; checking a revocation list to ensure that the received certificate has not been revoked; and refusing to decrypt the encrypted digital content if at least one module in the at least a portion of the path fails to provide an acceptable certificate.