Media Rights Technologies and Microsoft DRM Issued Patents

Tuesdays the USPTO issues new patents. Today's spotlight patents both address various aspects of Digital Rights Management. Assigned to Media Rights Technologies, the first patent addresses techniques for controlling the recording of audio and video. Assigned to Microsoft, the second patent describes techniques for producing a new black box for a digital rights management (DRM) system that encrypts and decrypts information.

7,316,033, "Method of controlling recording of media," assigned to Music Public Broadcasting, Inc.

Abstract

A method of preventing unauthorized recording of electronic media is described. The method is comprised of activating a compliance mechanism in response to receiving media content by a client system. The compliance mechanism is coupled to the client system. The media content presentation application is operable and coupled to the compliance mechanism. The method is further comprised of controlling a data output path of the client computer with the compliance mechanism. The method is further comprised of directing the media content via the data output path to a custom media device for selectively restricting output of the media content. The custom media device is coupled to the compliance mechanism and to the media content presentation application. The method is further comprised of preventing a recording application coupled to the client computer system from recording the media content file when recording violates usage restriction applicable to the media content.

7,319,759, "Producing a new black box for a digital rights management (DRM) system," assigned to Microsoft.

Abstract

A new ((n)th) black box is produced for a digital rights management (DRM) system. The (n)th black box is for being installed in and for performing decryption and encryption functions in the DRM system. The (n)th black box is produced and delivered to the DRM system upon request and includes a new ((n)th) executable and a new ((n)th) key file. The (n)th key file has a new ((n)th) set of black box keys and a number of old sets of black box keys. The request includes an old ((n-1)th) key file having the old sets of black box keys. A code optimizer/randomizer receives a master executable and randomized optimization parameters as inputs and produces the (n)th executable as an output. A key manager receives the (n-1)th key file and the (n)th set of black box keys as inputs, extracts the old sets of black box keys from the (n-1)th key file, and produces the (n)th key file including the (n)th set of black box keys and the old sets of black box keys as an output. The (n)th executable and the (n)th key file are forwarded to the requesting DRM system.