Patent Publication Number: US-2012036349-A1

Title: Datebase server, customer terminal and protection method for digital contents

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to copyright security, particularly, to a database server, a customer terminal and a protection method for digital contents. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     For the protection of digital contents, encryption of the digital contents by an encryption algorithm before publishing on the internet is often used. A customer terminal cannot use the digital content unless the customer terminal owns a key corresponding to the encryption algorithm for encrypting the digital content. However, since the key is often not terminal-specific, once the key is obtained, it is easy to copy the key by other customer terminals, which allows an unauthorized customer terminal to use the digital content. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the views. 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a protection system for digital contents, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart of downloading a digital content implemented by the protection system for digital contents of  FIG. 1 , according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart of decrypting the digital content of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a protection system for digital contents  10  according to an exemplary embodiment includes a copyright owner  100 , a database server  200 , and a customer terminal  300 . 
     The copyright owner  100  provides digital content to the database server  200 . 
     The customer terminal  300  is connected to the database server  200 . The customer terminal  300  sends a request to the database server  200  for downloading the digital content through the network (not shown). 
     The database server  200  includes a storage unit  210 , an obtaining module  220 , an encryption module  230 , and a transmission module  240 . The storage unit  210  stores digital contents. The obtaining module  220  is used for obtaining hardware information of the customer terminal  300 , for example, such as motherboard identification or hard disk identification, in response to the request from the customer terminal  300 . The encryption module  230  is used for encrypting the digital content utilizing the hardware information. The transmission module  240  is used for transmitting the encrypted digital content to the customer terminal  300  through the network. 
     The customer terminal  300  includes a receiving module  310  and a decryption module  320 . The receiving module  310  is used for receiving the encrypted digital content from the database server  200  or other customer terminal  300 . The decryption module  320  is used for decrypting the encrypted digital content utilizing the hardware information of the customer terminal  300 . If the hardware information of the customer terminal  300  matches the hardware information of the encrypted digital content, the decryption module  320  decrypts the encrypted digital content successfully and the customer terminal  300  uses the digital content freely. If the hardware information of the customer terminal  300  does not match the hardware information of the encrypted digital content, the decryption module  320  unsuccessfully decrypts the encrypted digital content, and the customer terminal  300  is forbidden to use the digital content. By utilizing the present disclosure, if another customer terminal copies the digital content from the customer terminal  300 , because the hardware information of the other customer terminal does not match the hardware information of the encrypted digital content. The encrypted digital content cannot be decrypted successfully and the other customer terminal cannot use the digital content, thereby protecting the copyright of the digital content. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a flowchart of downloading a digital content is provided. 
     In step S 601 , the customer terminal  300  sends a request to the database server  200  to download the digital content through the network. 
     In step S 603 , the obtaining module  220  obtains the hardware information of the customer terminal  300  in response to the request from the customer terminal  300 . 
     In step S 605 , the encryption module  230  encrypts the digital content utilizing the hardware information obtained from the customer terminal  300 . 
     In step S 607 , the transmission module  240  transmits the encrypted digital content to the customer terminal  300  through the network. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a flowchart of decrypting the digital content is provided. 
     In step S 801 , the receiving module  310  receives the encrypted digital content encrypted by the hardware information of the customer terminal  300 . 
     In step S 803 , the decryption module  320  decrypts the encrypted digital content utilizing the hardware information of the customer terminal  300 . If the hardware information of the encrypted digital content matches the hardware information of the customer terminal  300 , the decryption module  320  decrypts the encrypted digital content successfully and the customer terminal  300  can freely use the digital content. If the hardware information of the encrypted digital content does not match the hardware information of the customer terminal  300 , the decryption module  320  decrypts the encrypted digital content unsuccessfully, and the customer terminal  300  is forbidden to use the digital content. 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure have been set fourth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the present disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.