Patent Publication Number: US-2011078800-A1

Title: Digital content management methods and systems

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This Application claims priority of Taiwan Patent Application No. 098132893, filed on Sep. 29, 2009, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The disclosure relates generally to digital content management methods and systems, and more particularly, to methods and systems that generate a data license and a control license for digital content, wherein the data license and the control license are independent, and manage the digital content in an electronic device according to the data license and the control license, and/or transmit the digital content among electronic devices. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     With electronic devices, such as computers or portable devices, being popular, digital data has become a major data recording type for these devices. Currently, digital content can be delivered in an on-line manner. For example, the digital content and license treated by DRM (Digital Right Management) can be downloaded via a communication network to a playback device. When the digital content and the license are delivered to the playback device, the digital content will be bundled with a device ID (Identification) of the playback device, such that the digital content can be only played back in the playback device. Additionally, in some practices, the digital content can be bundled with the device ID of the playback device in advance before it is delivered to the playback device, and transmitted to the playback device. When an electronic device wants to read digital content, it must first determined whether the device ID of the electronic device matches the device ID bundled with the digital content. If the device ID of the electronic device matches the device ID bundled with the digital content, the electronic device is allowed to read the digital content. In this manner, the digital content is forced to be bundled to a specific device, thus seriously limiting a user&#39;s use right of the digital content when the user wants to access the digital content in other devices. 
     For example, Taiwan Patent No. 1249318 discloses a method that allows digital content to be played back in several devices. When a user wants to play back digital content in several devices, the user must provide related information of the devices to the content providers of the digital content in advance. The content provider can generate a license based on the related information of the devices. In this manner, as described, since the user must provide related information of related devices to the content provider in advance, it is complicated and time-consuming. Additionally, when the user wants to add or replace another device, the user must provide related information of another device again, and a license must be accordingly re-generated again, thus resulting in inconvenience to the user. Further, related conventional arts cannot record the use and transfer situations of digital content, resulting in difficulties of digital content management. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Digital content management methods and systems are provided. 
     In an embodiment of a digital content management method, a device ID of a first electronic device is received, and a data license and a control license are generated for a digital content. The data license records at least the device ID of the first electronic device, and the control license records at least a read authorization of the digital content. Then, the digital content and the control license are packed as a content package including at least the digital content and the control license, and the content package and the data license are respectively transmitted to the first electronic device. 
     In an embodiment of a digital content management method, a first electronic device obtains a content package and a data license. The data license records at least a device ID. The content package at least includes a digital content and a control license recording at least a read authorization of the digital content. It is determined whether the device ID of the first electronic device conforms to the device ID recorded in the data license. If the device ID of the first electronic device conforms to the device ID recorded in the data license, the digital content in the content package is allowed to be read according to the read authorization in the control license. 
     In an embodiment of a digital content management method for use in a first electronic device and a second electronic device, wherein the first electronic device includes a data license at least recording the device ID of the first electronic device, and a content package at least includes a digital content and a control license recording at least a read authorization of the digital content, the device ID of the second electronic device is first obtained, and a new data license is generated for the digital content according to the device ID of the second electronic device. The new data license at least records the device ID of the second electronic device. Then, the new data license is stored to the second electronic device, and the data license in the first electronic device is abrogated. Thereafter, the content package is transmitted from the first electronic device to the second electronic device. 
     An embodiment of a digital content management system includes a storage unit and a processing unit. The storage unit stores at least a digital content. The processing unit receives a device ID of a first electronic device, and generates a data license and a control license for the digital content. The data license records at least the device ID of the first electronic device, and the control license records at least a read authorization of the digital content. The processing unit packs the digital content and the control license as a content package, and respectively transmits the content package and the data license to the first electronic device. 
     An embodiment of a digital content management system includes a first electronic device having a storage unit and a processing unit. The storage unit records at least a content package and a data license. The data license records at least a device ID. The content package at least includes a digital content and a control license, recording at least a read authorization of the digital content. The processing unit obtains the data license, and determines whether the device ID of the first electronic device conforms to the device ID recorded in the data license. If the device ID of the first electronic device conforms to the device ID recorded in the data license, the processing unit allows the digital content in the content package to be read according to the read authorization in the control license. 
     An embodiment of a digital content management system includes a first electronic device and a second electronic device. The first electronic device includes a storage unit recording at least a content package and a data license. The data license records at least a device ID of the first electronic device. The content package at least includes a digital content and a control license recording at least a read authorization of the digital content. A processing unit of the first electronic device or the second electronic device obtains the device ID of the second electronic device, and generates a new data license for the digital content according to the device ID of the second electronic device. The new data license at least records the device ID of the second electronic device. The processing unit of the first electronic device or the second electronic device stores the new data license to the second electronic device, and abrogates the data license in the first electronic device. The processing unit of the first electronic device or the second electronic device transmits the content package from the first electronic device to the second electronic device. 
     In some embodiments, identity data corresponding to a client can be received, and the client is verified according to the identity data. When the verification of the client is passed, the data license and the control license are generated. The identity data is further recorded in the data license. In some embodiments, the first electronic device can further receive identity data of a client, and determine whether the identity data of the client conforms to the identity data recorded in the data license. If the identity data of the client conforms to the identity data recorded in the data license, the digital content is allowed to be read in the first electronic device. 
     In some embodiments, a journal license can be further generated during the generation of the data license and the control license, and packed into the content package. The journal license is used to record a read record of the digital content. In some embodiments, when the digital content is read in the first electronic device, the journal license is updated by the first electronic device. 
     Digital content management methods may take the form of a program code embodied in a tangible media. When the program code is loaded into and executed by a machine, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicing the disclosed method. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will become more fully understood by referring to the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of a digital content management system of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of the structure of a server of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart of an embodiment of a digital content management method for a server of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of the structure of an electronic device of the invention; 
         FIG. 4A  is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of the appearance of a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) of the invention; 
         FIG. 4B  is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of the structure of a PDA of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart of an embodiment of a digital content management method for an electronic device of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart of another embodiment of a digital content management method for an electronic device of the invention; and 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart of another embodiment of a digital content management method for two electronic devices of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Digital content management methods and systems are provided. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of a digital content management system of the invention. The digital content management system can be used in server  1100  and/or an electronic device  2100 . The server  1100  can be located at a content provider  1000 , providing digital contents and corresponding licenses. The electronic device  2100  may be located at a client  2000 , which connects to the server  1100  of the content provider  1000  via a network  3000 , to receive digital contents and corresponding licenses. It is understood that, the implementation of the licenses may be software, a hardware, or combination of software and hardware. For example, a data license may be an encrypted data file, or a key recorded or stored in a chip, such as a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card, a memory card, or a portable hardware, such as a portable disk. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of the structure of a server of the invention. It is understood that, the server can be replaced by the other electronic device, such as a computer system, a notebook, a workstation, a portable device, or other processor-based devices. 
     The server  1100  comprises a storage unit  1110 , at least one user interface  1120 , and a processing unit  1130 . The storage unit  1110  comprises at least a digital content  1111 . In some embodiments, the digital content  1111  may be a DRM treated file. The user interface  1120  can receive related inputs from the client  2000 . The processing unit  1130  can perform the digital content management method of the invention, which will be discussed further in the following paragraphs. 
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart of an embodiment of a digital content management method for a server of the invention. 
     In step S 3100 , a device ID of the electronic device  2100  is obtained via the user interface  1120 . It is noted that, in some embodiments, the client  2000  can input the device ID of the electronic device  2100  to the server  1100  via the user interface  1120 . In some embodiments, the server  1100  can automatically obtain the device ID of the electronic device  2100  via the user interface  1120 . In step S 3200 , a data license and a control license are generated for the digital content  1111 . The data license at least records the device ID of the electronic device  2100 . The control license at least records a read authorization of the digital content  1111 . The read authorization may be the number of times that the digital content  1111  can be read. Further, the control license can also record access authority of the digital content  1111 . The access authority may be the number of times that the digital content  1111  can be accessed, transferred, and/or copied. It is noted that, the data license and the control license can be respectively stored, and/or protected using different manners. For example, the data license and the control license can be encrypted using different encryption manners, respectively transmitted, and/or hide by naming the specific file extensions different from that of general licenses. It is noted that, in some embodiments, the server  1100  can receive an authorization request corresponding to the digital content  1111  from the client  2000  via the user interface  1120 , and the server  1100  can generate the control license according to the authorization request. In some embodiments, a journal license corresponding to the digital content  1111  can be further generated in step S 3200 . The journal license can be used to record a read record of the digital content  1111 . Further, the journal license can record an access record of the digital content  1111 . The access record may be the number of times that the digital content  1111  has been accessed/read, transmitted, and/or copied. 
     It is understood that, in some embodiment, the server  1100  can further receive identity data, such as user account and password from the client  2000  via the user interface  1120 , to verify the client  2000 . It is noted that, in some embodiments, data received from the client  2000  can stored in the storage unit  1110 . When the verification of the client is passed, the server  1100  can generate the data license and the control license. At the time, the server  1100  can record the identity data of the client  2000  and the device ID of the electronic device  2100  in the data license. In step S 3300 , the digital content  1111  and the control license are packed as a content package, and in step S 3400 , the content package and the data license are respectively transmitted to the electronic device  2100 . It is understood that, when a journal license of the digital content  1111  is generated in step S 3200 , the journal license will be simultaneously packed with the digital content  1111  and the control license as the content package to be transmitted to the electronic device  2100 . 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of the structure of an electronic device of the invention. It is understood that, the electronic device may be a personal computer, a notebook, a netbook, a PDA, a mobile phone, a handheld device, a MP3 player, an e-book reader, and other electronic devices. 
     The electronic device  2100  comprises a storage unit  2110  and a processing unit  2120 . The storage unit  2110  comprises a content package  2111  and a data license  2112 . The content package  2111  comprises a digital content  1111  and a control license  1112 . Similarly, the control license  1112  at least records a read authorization of the digital content  1111 . Further, the control license can also record an access authority of the digital content  1111 . The data license  2112  records the device ID of the electronic device  2100 . The processing unit  2120  can perform the digital content management method of the invention, which will be discussed further in the following paragraphs. 
     In some embodiments, the electronic device may be a portable device, such as a PDA, and the appearance of the PDA is shown in  FIG. 4A . As shown in  FIG. 4A , the PDA  4000  has a shell  4100  and a display unit  4200 . The display unit  4200  is set outside the shell  4100  to display a digital content  4300 .  FIG. 4B  is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of the structure of a PDA of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 4B , the PDA  4000  comprises a display unit  4200 , a storage unit  4400 , and a processing unit  4600 . The storage unit  4400  is set inside of the shell  4100 , and coupled to the processing unit  4600 . The storage unit  4400  comprises a content package  4410  and a data license  4420 . In another embodiment, the data license  4420  is not stored in the storage unit  4400 . A portable hardware, such as a SIM card, a memory card, an IC (Integrated Circuit) card or a portable disk, can be used to store the identification data of the PDA  4000  as the data license. Similarly, the content package  4410  can comprise a digital content and a control license. The processing unit  4600  is set inside the shell  4100 , to perform the digital content management method of the invention. The processing unit  4600  can further execute a browser or a reader to read the digital content, which will be discussed further in the following paragraphs. The display unit  4200  can be used to display related digital contents and data. 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart of an embodiment of a digital content management method for an electronic device of the invention. In this embodiment, the content package  2110  stored in the storage unit  2110  of the electronic device comprises the digital content  1111  and the control license  1112 . 
     In step S 5100 , the processing unit  2120  obtains the device ID of the electronic device  2100 . In step S 5200 , it is determined whether the device ID of the electronic device  2100  conforms to the device ID recorded in the data license  2112 . If the device ID of the electronic device  2100  does not conform to the device ID recorded in the data license  2112  (No in step S 5200 ), the procedure is completed. If the device ID of the electronic device  2100  conforms to the device ID recorded in the data license  2112  (Yes in step S 5200 ), in step S 5300 , the processing unit  2120  allows the digital content  1111  in the content package  2111  to be read according to the control license  1112 . It is noted that, when the control license records an access authority, such as the number of times that the digital content  1111  can be accessed/read, transferred, and/or copied, the processing unit  2120  further allows the digital content  1111  to be accessed, transferred, and/or copied according to the control license  1112 . 
     It is understood that, in some embodiments, when the device ID of the electronic device  2100  conforms to the device ID recorded in the data license  2112 , the digital content  1111  and the control license  1112  can also be read and modified. It is noted that, the processing unit  2120  can further execute a browser or a reader to browse the digital content  1111 . It is understood that, in some embodiments, the data license  2112  can record identity data, and the electronic device  2100  can further receive identity data of a client, and determines whether the identity data of the client conforms to the identity data recorded in the data license  2112 . If the identity data of the client conforms to the identity data recorded in the data license  2112 , the digital content  1111  is allowed to be read according to the control license  1112 . 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart of another embodiment of a digital content management method for an electronic device of the invention. In this embodiment, the content package  2111  stored in the storage unit  2110  of the electronic device  2100  comprises the digital content  1111 , the control license  1112 , and a journal license. The journal license can be used to record a read record of the digital content  1111 . 
     In step S 6100 , the processing unit  2120  obtains the device ID of the electronic device  2100 . In step S 6200 , it is determined whether the device ID of the electronic device  2100  conforms to the device ID recorded in the data license  2112 . If the device ID of the electronic device  2100  does not conform to the device ID recorded in the data license  2112  (No in step S 6200 ), the procedure is completed. If the device ID of the electronic device  2100  conforms to the device ID recorded in the data license  2112  (Yes in step S 6200 ), in step S 6300 , the processing unit  2120  performs an authority authentication according to the control license  1112  and the journal license in the content package  2110 . It is understood that, in some embodiments, in step S 6300 , it is determined whether the number of times the digital content  1111  has been read is less than the number of times that the digital content  1111  can be read recorded in the control license  1112 . When the number of times that the digital content  1111  has been read is less than the number of times that the digital content  1111  can be read recorded in the control license  1112 , the authority authentication is passed. If the authority authentication fails (No in step S 6400 ), the procedure is completed. If the authority authentication passes (Yes in step S 6400 ), in step S 6500 , the processing unit  2120  updates the journal license. For example, the number of times that the digital content  1111  has been read recorded in the journal license is added by one. Then, in step S 6600 , the processing unit  2120  allows the digital content  1111 , in the content package  2111  to be read. Similarly, the processing unit  2120  can further execute a browser or a reader to browse the digital content  1111 . Similarly, in some embodiments, the data license  2112  can record identity data, and the electronic device  2100  can further receive identity data of a client, and determines whether the identity data of the client conforms to the identity data recorded in the data license  2112 . If the identity data of the client conforms to the identity data recorded in the data license  2112 , the digital content  1111  is allowed to be read according to the control license  1112 . 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart of another embodiment of a digital content management method for two electronic devices of the invention. In this embodiment, a first electronic device and a second electronic device can be coupled with each other via a wired or wireless communication manner, and a digital content can be transferred between the first and second electronic devices. The first electronic device comprises a data license and a content package. The data license records at least a device ID of the first electronic device. The content package at least includes a digital content and a control license, wherein the control license records at least a read authorization of the digital content. In some embodiments, the content package can further comprise a journal license. It is noted that, in some embodiments, a processing unit of the first electronic device or the second electronic device can perform the digital content management method, such that the digital content can be transferred between the devices. 
     In step S 7100 , the processing unit of the first electronic device or the second electronic device executes a content transfer procedure to obtain the device ID of the second electronic device, and in step S 7200 , generate a new data license for the digital content  1111  according to the data license in the first electronic device and the device ID of the second electronic device. The new data license at least records the device ID of the second electronic device. It is noted that, when the data license in the first electronic device comprises identity data, the new data license may also comprise the identity data. It is understood that, in some embodiments, after the new data license is generated, a transfer record of the digital content can be generated, and recorded in the new data license. The transfer record can be used for subsequent management. It is also understood that, in some embodiments, when the digital content is transferred between the electronic devices of the same user, the identity data in the old data license and the new data license is the same. In some embodiments, when the digital content is transferred between the electronic devices of different users, the identity data in the old data license and the new data license is different. For example, after the first user sells the digital content to a second user, the identity data of the second user will be recorded in the new data license. 
     In step S 7300 , the new data license is transmitted and/or stored in the second electronic device, and the data license in the first electronic device is abrogated. It is noted that, the abrogation of the data license can be performed by directly deleting the data license, marking invalid data in the data license, or removing a unique ID from the data license, and moving the unique ID to the new data license, wherein only the new data license having the unique ID is valid. It is noted that, in some embodiments, after the unique ID is moved to the new data license, the old data license must be deleted. Further, in some embodiments, step S 7300  can be accomplished using a transaction mechanism. The transaction mechanism is a series of data processing procedures, which can ensure the old data license is abrogated after the new data license is generated. In the transaction mechanism, an original state can be resumed if a failure occurs during the procedures, and the original state cannot be resumed when the old data license is abrogated. 
     Then, in step S 7400 , the content package is transmitted from the first electronic device to the second electronic device. 
     It is understood that, as described, the implement of the licenses may be software, hardware, or combination of software and hardware. When the license is a chip or a portable device with the data license, the transfer of data license can be performed by disconnecting the chip or the portable device from the first electronic device, and connecting the chip or the portable device to the second electronic device. 
     It is understood that, the electronic device  2100  can have a specific application to perform related operations of digital content management. In some embodiments, the data license generated by the server  1100  can further comprise a specific application code, used to determine whether the specific application is authorized by the server  1100 . Before the electronic device  2100  wants to read the content package, the specific application code in the data license can be used to authenticate the specific application in the electronic device. When the authentication is passed, the subsequent procedure of digital content management can be performed. 
     Therefore, the digital content management methods and systems can generate an independent data license and control license for digital content, and manage the digital content according to the data license and the control license, thus maintaining the user&#39;s right of digital content. The digital content management methods and systems further provide convenient manners to transfer digital content among electronic devices. Further, the digital content management methods and systems can record the use and transfer situations of digital content, thus enhancing the management of digital content. 
     Digital content management methods, or certain aspects or portions thereof, may take the form of a program code (i.e., executable instructions) embodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMS, hard drives, or any other machine-readable storage medium, wherein, when the program code is loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machine thereby becomes an apparatus for practicing the methods. The methods may also be embodied in the form of a program code transmitted over some transmission medium, such as electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via any other form of transmission, wherein, when the program code is received and loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicing the disclosed methods. When implemented on a general-purpose processor, the program code combines with the processor to provide a unique apparatus that operates analogously to the application of specific logic circuits. 
     While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those who are skilled in this technology can still make various alterations and modifications without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention shall be defined and protected by the following claims and their equivalents.