Even on New Years, the USPTO issues new patents on Tuesdays. Both of today's Spotlight Patents address aspects of digital rights management. Assigned to Adobe, the first patent concerns techniques for protecting a document with multiple digital rights management systems. Assigned to Microsoft, the second of today's patents concerns the use of DRM to secure and monitize modular software defined radio components.
8,347,087, "Support for multiple digital rights management systems for same content," assigned to Adobe.
Abstract
Techniques, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for protecting a document with multiple digital rights management systems are presented. A described technique includes encrypting content in accordance with a first digital rights management scheme using a key and an encryption scheme, generating a first header associated with the encrypted content in accordance with the first digital rights management scheme, generating a second header associated with the encrypted content in accordance with a second digital rights management scheme, and creating a protected document that includes the first header, the second header, and the encrypted content.8,346,900, "Network service for modularly constructing a software defined radio," assigned to Microsoft.
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided that disclose a network service for modularly constructing a software defined radio ("SDR"). A server system provides an SDR kernel (i.e., a potentially platform-neutral definition of digital signal processing functionality and control operations necessary to implement the core portion of a software defined radio implementing a particular radio standard) to a client system. The client system may select a desired SDR kernel through a variety of means disclosed herein. While some SDR kernels may be provided for free and unrestricted use, others may be purchased or subscribed to and additionally restricted by digital rights management ("DRM") policies. Based upon the agreed upon payment terms and any other restrictions, a customized set of DRM policies may be applied by the server system to the SDR kernel before sending it to a client system. Additionally, the server system may provide a description of governmental regulations applicable to a given locality.
