Back from vacation. New patents are issued by the PTO on Tuesdays. Both of today's Spotlight Patents concern aspects of digital rights management. Assigned to Omnifone (GB), the first patent addresses techniques for enabling digital music content to be downloaded to and used on a portable wireless computing device. Assigned to NCR, the second patent addresses techniques for secure distribution of protected content.
9,065,792, "Method of enabling digital music content to be downloaded to and used on a portable wireless computing device," assigned to Omnifone (GB).
Abstract
The invention enables digital music content to be downloaded to and used on a portable wireless computing device. An application running on the wireless device has been automatically adapted to parameters associated with the wireless device without end-user input (e.g. the application has been configured in dependence on the device OS and firmware, related bugs, screen size, pixel number, security models, connection handling, memory etc. This application enables an end-user to browse and search music content on a remote server using a wireless network; to download music content from that remote server using the wireless network and to playback and manage that downloaded music content. The application also includes a digital rights management system that enables unlimited legal downloads of different music tracks to the device and also enables any of those tracks stored on the device to be played so long as a subscription service has not terminated.9,064,096, "Methods and apparatus for secure distribution of protected content," assigned to NCR.
Abstract
Systems and techniques for protection and delivery of content. Upon initiation of a user account for use in conducting transactions involving delivery of content to a user, digital rights management (DRM) information is created and stored in association with user information. A copy of the DRM information is provided to or made accessible to the user in such a way that the DRM information can made accessible to a suitable playback device to allow playing of content protected with the DRM information. When a user enters into a transaction to receive content, the DRM information associated with the user is used to protect the content before delivery to the user. When the user wishes to play the content, the removable media device storing the user's DRM information must be present in order to allow playing of the content.
