Patent ID: 8291057

Claim:
A computer-implemented method comprising: by a first device, transmitting, to a second device, a message that requests for authenticating the first device to join a domain, wherein the second device is designated as a controller by an election process performed amongst devices associated with the domain, and wherein during the election process, the second device: sequentially broadcasts a first message to other devices in the domain, the first message including a capability of the second device, compares, each time a second message is received from one of the other devices in the domain, the capability of the second device with capability information included in the second message, and if the capability of the second device is lower than the capability information included in the second message, terminates broadcasting the first message; receiving a transfer request that requests to transmit content or license from a third device, the transfer request including information about a source and a receiver; exporting, in response to the received transfer request, the requested content or license from the source; transforming the exported content or license into a corresponding common content or license which can be used as interoperable content or license within the domain; establishing a secure authenticated channel with the receiver; and transmitting the common content or license to the receiver through the established secure authenticated channel.