Abstract:
A multiple registration system of using the same account for a user to register different devices to a DRC (digital right certificate) server for further downloading a digital content from the network is disclosed. The system comprises a first device, which includes a first reader and a first device identity code, a second device, which includes a second reader and a second device identity code, and the DRC server. The first device and the second device can build connections with the DRC server through the network. The DRC server is for providing the first or/and the second device to apply an account and to use the same account for further downloading the digital content. During registration, the reader stores the account and an identity code of its own device in its own right record file. When the reader starts retrieving the digital content for reading, in order to prevent illegal copy and distribution, it will check if the right record file has been modified, and check if the identity code in the right record file matches correctly with the device code of the present device in use.

Description:
[0001]    This application incorporates by reference Provisional application Serial No. 89128086, Filed Dec. 28, 2000. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    This invention relates to a system and a method of registration and usage of an account, and more particularly to a system and a method capable of using the same account for registering different devices to a DRC (Digital Right Certificate) server through a network system.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    As the continuous improvement of computer technology, the applications of computers and the network have not only been limited in delivering or sharing information, but also gradually change commercial trading behaviors of consumers. In the past, consumers had to go to a shopping center personally to choose goods and proceed with a trade. As the fast development of computer network, consumers can use the E-Commerce in the Internet to buy goods now. And the supplier will deliver the sold goods to a consumer by a delivery company. In addition, a consumer can also use E-Commerce to buy a digital content, such as e-book, digital music such as MP3, or a system and software of computer application, and so on. A consumer can directly download the ordered digital content from the Internet. This trading method seems to be very convenient and effective for both consumers and suppliers.  
           [0006]    However, before the download process of the ordered digital content to the corresponding consumer, a supplier would proceed with encryption on the associated digital content in order to prevent illegal copy or unauthorized distribution. Afterwards, the supplier would then allow the download procedure by showing a download manual to consumers. In this way, the supplier can prevent the consumer from using the downloaded digital content in another machine or device, and consequently can prevent the illegal copy or unauthorized distribution of the digital content. However, by doing so, the consumer&#39;s legal right and benefit would also be restricted a lot at the same time.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a system and a method of using the same account for multiple registrations in different devices. The present invention enables a user to perform multiple registrations of the same account to a server in different devices The downloaded digital content can therefore be legally utilized in all the authorized devices, and not limited to only one single device. However, at the same time, the present invention can still achieve the important goal of preventing illegal copy or distribution to unauthorized or unregistered devices.  
           [0008]    The object of this invention is to provide a method of using the same account for multiple registrations indifferent devices. The method enables a user to proceed the registration procedure to a digital right certificate (DRC) server in a first device, in order to purchase and download a digital content through a network. In the first device, there is already a first reader or program installed for the user to open the downloaded digital content. The associated method of this invention firstly, at Step A, installs the first reader into the first device, then builds connection between the first reader and the DRC server through a network system, and begins the further registration procedure. At Step B, the DRC server generates a user identity (UID), encrypts the UID, and then transmits it to the first reader. At this step, the first reader further stores the UID and a first device identity code in an encrypted first right record file. Whenever necessary, the UID can be retrieved or read out through the first reader by the user. Then at Step C, the first reader transmits the first device identity code to the DRC server. The first right record file and the first device identity code therein help the identification process, and then decide whether to start decryption or not. That is, when the first reader is initiated to begin decryption, it checks if the first right record file has been changed, and then checks if the first device identity code in the first right record file is correct or not.  
           [0009]    Then, a user can further use a second device to register to the DRC server by using the aforementioned UID. The method of this invention further comprises step D: installing a second reader in the second device, and inputting the UID into the second reader. The second reader would then store the UID and a second device identity code in an encrypted second right record file. Furthermore, at step E, the second reader transmits the UID and the second device identity code to the DRC server. Finally, at Step F, the DRC server transmits all digital right coupons of the specific digital contents that the user purchased to the second reader. And the second reader stores the coupons in the second right record file.  
           [0010]    The invention achieves the above-identified object by further providing a system for using the same account for multiple registrations in different devices. The system enables a user to use the same account in different devices and to purchase and download a digital content via a network. The system comprises a first device and a DRC server. The first device comprises a first reader and a first device identity code. The first device can build connection with the DRC server through the network. And the DRC server is aimed at providing and controlling the related registration procedures when the first device applies for an account or a user identity (UID). The aforementioned system uses the first reader to encrypt the UID and the first device identity code, and to store them into a first right record file, and then to transmit the UID and the first device identity code to the DRC server. The first right record file and the first device identity code therein help the identification process, and then decide whether to start decryption or not. That is, when the first reader is initiated to begin decryption, it first checks if the first right record file has been changed, and then check if the first device identity code in the first right record file is correct.  
           [0011]    In addition, the system of the present invention further comprises a second device. The second device includes a second reader and a second device identity code. The second device builds connection with the DRC server through the network. The user, who wishes to apply multiple registrations, can then input the same UID into the second reader. The second reader encrypts and stores the UID and the second device identity code in a second right record file. And the second device identity code is also transmitted to the DRC server. The second right record file and the second device identity code therein also help the identification process, and then decide whether to start decryption or not. That is, when the second reader is initiated to begin decryption, it will firstly check if the second right record file has been changed, and then check if the second device identity code in the second right record file is correct or not. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    Objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred but non-limiting embodiments. The description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a system structure diagram of one preferred embodiment of the system capable of using the same account for multiple registrations in different devices  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the process steps for the first device in FIG. 1 to register to a DRC server and receive a user account.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is an illustration of content format of a digital right coupon corresponding to a digital content.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the process steps for the second device in FIG. 1 to use the same registration account in the first device to perform multiple registrations to the DRC server. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0017]    Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a system structure diagram of one preferred embodiment of the system of using the same account for multiple registrations in different devices. In FIG. 1, the first device  101  and the second device  103  can build connections with a digital right certificate (DRC) server  107  through the network  1105 . The first device  101  and the second device  1103  can either be a personal computer, a notebook, a laptop, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smart phone, or a device capable of receiving or transmitting message through wired or wireless network. The DRC server  107  performs the functions of controlling, managing and maintaining user&#39;s registration data, the record and rights of the purchased digital contents by a user. The user can proceed the registration procedure to the DRC server  107  via the first device  101  or the second device  103 .  
         [0018]    The system of the present invention utilizes reader programs  111 ,  121  to perform multiple registrations of the same account in different devices  101 ,  103 . Please refer to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the process steps for the first device  101  in FIG. 1 to register to a DRC server  107  and receive a user account. In FIG. 2, at Step  201 , it shows to install a reader  111  in the first device  101 , and to build connection with the DRC server  107  to begin the registration process. The user can download the reader  111  from the DRC server  107  or related network shops and fill registration data. The registration data includes the user&#39;s name, age, address or other related information.  
         [0019]    At Step  203 , the DRC server  107  examines and checks the user&#39;s registration data. If the examination is passed and approved, the method proceeds to Step  205 ; otherwise, this method ends. At this step, the DRC server  107  also checks to see if the user&#39;s registration data is enough and correct.  
         [0020]    At Step  205 , after the registration is approved, the DRC server  107  generates a user&#39;s identity (UID) to represent the user&#39;s account for further identification. As shown in FIG. 1, the DRC server  107  further comprises a digital right database  109 . The DRC server  107  stores the UID in the digital right database  109 . Then, the DRC server  107  transmits the UID to the reader  111 . For securely delivering the UID through the network, the DRC server  107  encrypts UID and then transmits the UID to the reader  111 . The reader  111  stores the UID and a device identity code  113  of the first device  101  in a rights record file  115 , which is an encrypted file. It is possible for the user to retrieve or read out the exact value of UID through the reader  111 , but the user has no way to change it. Besides, the device identity code  113  can be a serial number of a hard disk drive, an identified number of a CPU, a card number of a network card or other unique serial number of hardware parts in the first device  101 .  
         [0021]    At Step  207 , the reader  111  asks if the user agrees to transmit the device identity code  113  to the DRC server  107 . It is done because of the privacy policy concern. If the user agrees, the method proceeds to Step  209 , otherwise, the procedure is ended.  
         [0022]    At Step  209 , the reader  111  transmits the device identity code  113  to the DRC server  107 . The DRC server  107  stores the device identity code  113  in the digital right database  109 . When the aforementioned procedures are finished, the registration process of the first device  101  is completed.  
         [0023]    Afterwards, the user can use the first device  101  to order and download a desired digital content. Before the desired digital content is downloaded, the server  107  that supplies downloadable digital contents uses a unique encryption key to encrypt this digital content. Then the encrypted digital content can be downloaded to the first device  101 . There is an accompanied digital right coupon  110  in association with the corresponding digital content for recording the associated digital rights and related information for this particular UID to use the digital content. And the digital right coupon  110  is stored in the digital right database  109  of the DRC server  107 . Please refer to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is an illustration of content format of the digital right coupon  110 . As shown in FIG. 3, the content format of the digital right coupon  110  comprises at least the following fields: owner identity, serial number of digital content, allowable times for downloading, expiry date, password of encrypted digital content.  
         [0024]    The field for an owner identity of the digital right coupon  110  can be the UID of the corresponding user who purchases the digital content. The field of the serial number of a digital content is the unique serial number for this particular downloaded digital content. The field of allowable times for downloading is for recording times for the user to download this particular digital content. For example, when a user purchases a digital content with a right of 5 times download permission, then the value is 5. Afterwards, every time when the user uses a different device to download the digital content, this value would be subtracted one. If the user uses the same device to download the same digital content again, this value remains the same and would not change. And the filed of expiry date is for recording the expiration date of the digital content wherein the user is authorized to use this digital content. The field of password of encrypted digital content is for recording a necessary password when the user uses the first reader to open the digital content. This password is corresponding to the encryption key to encrypt this particular digital content to be downloaded.  
         [0025]    Then the first device  101  downloads an encrypted digital right coupon  110  in associated with the particular digital content and stores it into the right record file  113  in the first device  101 .  
         [0026]    The reader  111  further comprises a checking procedure. When the reader  111  is initiated to begin decrypting a digital content, it would start the checking procedure to see if the right record file  115  is an original file downloaded from a DRC server  107 . If the right record file  115  is fabricated or modified, the checking procedure would stop the normal execution of the reader  111 . In addition, the reader  111  would also check the device identity code of the present device. If the present device code is different from the device identity code  113  already stored in the right record file  115 , that means, the right record file  115  is copied from another device. Therefore, the reader  111  would not continue to perform the normal execution and then terminate.  
         [0027]    After the right record file  115  is checked and the reader  111  is then to open a downloaded digital content, the reader  111  would still check the digital right coupon of the digital content in the right record file  115 . This is for the examination of the expiry day thereon. If the digital right coupon of the digital content is expired, the reader  111  would not open the expired digital content. If the coupon is within the expiry date, the reader  111  would read the password of the encrypted digital content from the filed of the password of encrypted digital content, and then perform decryption and open the encrypted digital content.  
         [0028]    However, when a user tries to use or read the digital content in the second device  103  or other devices, that user needs to install a reader in that device first. And after registering that device to the DRC server  107 , the user can then open the digital content. Please refer to the following description how the other devices are registered to the DRC server  107 .  
         [0029]    Please refer to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart of the process steps for the second device  103  in FIG. 1 to use the same registration account (UID) in the first device  101  to perform multiple registrations to the DRC server  107 . At Step  401 , the user first installs a reader  121  in the second device  103 , and inputs the same registration account UID into the reader  121 . The UID can be retrieved and read out from the reader  111  in the first device  101 , and the value of the UID can be inputted into the reader  121 . At this step, the reader  121  stores the UID and a device identity code  123  of the second device  103  in a right record file  125 . The right record file  125  is an encrypted file. And the device identity code  123  can be a serial number of a hard disk drive, an identity number of a CPU, a card number of a network card or other unique serial number of hardware parts of the second device  103 .  
         [0030]    At Step  403 , the reader  121  asks if the user agrees to transmit the device identity code  123  to the DRC server  107  in order to proceed the further registration. This is also done due to the privacy policy concern. If yes, then the method proceeds to Step  405 . Otherwise, the registration procedure of the second device  103  is ended.  
         [0031]    At Step  405 , the reader  121  transmits the UID and the device identity code  123  to the DRC server  107 . The DRC server  107  would store the device identity code  123  in the digital right database  109 .  
         [0032]    Afterwards, at Step  407 , the DRC server  107  examines and checks the registration of the second device  103 . If the DRC server  107  approves the registration of the second device  103 , then the method proceeds to Step  309 ; otherwise, the registration procedure of the second device  103  is ended. During this step, the DRC server  107  examines the rights of the user recognized as UID, by checking if the UID is still within its expiry date, and if the UID has the right for fetching the digital content in other different devices.  
         [0033]    At Step  409 , the DRC server  107  transmits all the digital right coupons of the associated digital contents, which the user purchased in the original register account of UID, to the second device  103 . After the reader  121  receives these digital right coupons and stores them in the right record file  125 , the second device  103  can download those purchased digital contents from the DRC server  107 . Then the reader  121  checks the right record file  125  and opens the downloaded digital content. Basically, the processing principle of the reader  121  is the same as the aforementioned process of the reader  111  in the first device  101 .  
         [0034]    The present invention revealed by the above embodiments has two advantages.  
         [0035]    (1) To protect the right of suppliers: the invention provides the function of avoiding illegally copy or distribution of a digital content. Because the reader in this invention would check user&#39;s identity, a device identity code and the password of an encrypted digital content when the reader opens a digital content. If there is any illegal copy, the digital content cannot be opened.  
         [0036]    (2) To enhance the convenience of a user: the present invention enables a user, after purchasing and downloading a digital content, to use the digital content in different devices which previously have passed the registration approval and examination procedure. That means, the digital content is not limited to only one single device usage, and at the same time not breaking the supplier&#39;s security policy.  
         [0037]    While the invention has been described above, by way of example and in terms of a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements and procedures.