On Tuesdays the USPTO issues new patents. Both of today's Spotlight Patents address aspects of DRM. Assigned to Philips, the first patent concerns techniques for enhanced content resolution that also entail DRM. Assigned to Sony Ericsson, the second patent concerns techniques for DRM based on device proximity.
7,730,303, "Enhanced content resolution method," assigned to Philips (NL).
AbstractA method of providing automatically verifiable trust in a content resolution process in which a PDR resolves a content reference identifier (CRID) identifying a content item using a resolution authority record (RAR) to obtain a locator identifying a location where the PDR can obtain the content item. Preferably, the measure comprises computing a digital signature over at least part of the contents of the CRID, the locator and/or the RAR. The method may also comprise encrypting at least a data portion of the CRID, RAR or locator. Digital rights needed to access the content item can be provided with the CRID, RAR or locator.
7,730,184, "Digital rights management based on device proximity," assigned to Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications (SE).
Abstract
The present invention discloses a digital rights management (DRM) system and method based on device proximity for controlling what devices can utilize DRM protected content. DRM data and DRM protected content are copied from a first device to a second device such that the DRM protected content on the first device becomes locked out and the copied DRM protected content is not locked out on the second device. The first device periodically performs a proximity check between the first and second devices such that if the first and second devices are determined to be within a short range of one another the DRM lockout of the first device is disabled.