System for controlling the distribution and use of digital works using secure components
A system for controlling the distribution and use of digital works using digital tickets. In the present invention, a “digital ticket” is used to entitle the ticket holder to exercise some usage right with respect to a digital work. Usage rights are used to define how a digital work may be used or distributed. Each usage right may specify a digital ticket which must be present before the right may be exercised. Digital works are stored in repositories which enforce a digital works usage rights. Each repository has a “generic ticket agent” which punches tickets. In some instances only the generic ticket agent is necessary. In other instances, punching by a “special ticket agent” residing on another repository may be needed.
1. A digital right management system, comprising:
a secure component;
an interface between said secure component and a software application;
said secure component processes the requests coming from said software application through said interface;
said secure component validates signatures of one or more certificate documents to verify that said software application is compatible with said secure component;
in the case of verification of compatibility, said secure component allows operation of said software application; and
in the case of incompatibility, said secure component refuses to allow operation of said software application through said interface.
2. A digital right management system according to claim 1 , wherein said software application comprises a rendering engine.
3. A digital right management system according to claim 2 , wherein said rendering engine is connected to a printer.
4. A digital right management system according to claim 2 , wherein said rendering engine is connected to a computer monitor.
5. A digital right management system according to claim 2 , wherein said rendering engine is connected to a handheld device.
6. A digital right management system according to claim 2 , wherein said rendering engine is connected to a wireless device.
7. A digital right management system according to claim 2 , wherein said rendering engine is connected to a device with one or more optical communication ports.
8. A digital right management system according to claim 1 , wherein said secure component performs rights management.
9. A digital right management system according to claim 1 , further comprising one or more self-protecting documents.
10. A digital right management system according to claim 1 , further comprising one or more structured storages.
11. A digital right management system according to claim 1 , further comprising one or more structured file systems.
12. A digital right management system according to claim 1 , further comprising information specifying content types.
13. A digital right management system according to claim 1 , further comprising information specifying licenses.
14. A digital right management system according to claim 9 , wherein said secure component detects whether any of said one or more protecting documents is tampered with.
15. A digital right management system according to claim 1 , further comprising an encryption engine.
16. A digital right management system according to claim 1 , further comprising a user-interface module.
17. A digital right management system according to claim 16 , wherein said user-interface module includes one or more menus or toolbars.
18. A digital right management system according to claim 1 , wherein said secure component acts as a shell to be compatible to plug-ins which are designed based on a predetermined specification of said secure component's interface.
19. A digital right management system according to claim 1 , further comprising a software development kit that enables the creation of applications to protect, distribute, and consume content.
20. A digital right management system according to claim 1 , wherein said system is connected to one or more storefronts.
21. A digital right management system according to claim 1 , wherein said system is connected to one or more backoffices.
22. A digital right management system according to claim 1 , wherein said system creates one or more rights labels.
23. A digital right management system according to claim 1 , wherein said system creates one or more rights templates.
24. A digital right management system according to claim 1 , wherein said system creates one or more metadata.
25. A digital right management system according to claim 1 , wherein said secure component comprises a secure environment;
said interface comprises an application programming interface which provides interface between said secure environment and said software application;
said secure environment processes the requests coming from said software application through said application programming interface; and
said secure environment validates one or more documents.
26. A digital right management system according to claim 1 , wherein said secure component comprises a secure environment;
said interface comprises an application programming interface which provides interface between said secure environment and said software application;
said secure environment processes the requests coming from said software application through said application programming interface; and
said secure environment validates one or more documents to verify that said one or more documents are compatible with said secure environment.
27. A digital right management system according to claim 1 , wherein said secure component comprises a secure environment;
said interface comprises an application programming interface which provides interface between said secure environment and said software application;
said secure environment processes the requests coming from said software application through said application programming interface; and
said secure environment validates signatures of one or more documents to verify that said one or more documents are compatible with said secure environment.
28. A digital right management system according to claim 1 , wherein said secure component comprises a secure container;
said interface comprises an application programming interface which provides interface between said secure container and said software application;
said secure container processes the requests coming from said software application through said application programming interface; and
said secure container validates signatures of one or more documents to verify that said one or more documents are compatible with said secure container.
29. A digital right management system according to claim 1 , wherein said secure component comprises a secure repository;
said interface comprises an external interface which provides interface between a processing means and an external environment;
said secure repository processes requests for access to a digital work; and
said secure repository checks usage rights, and after checking, grants the access to said digital work.
30. A digital right management system according to claim 1 , wherein said secure component composes one of a secure container a secure environment, and a secure repository.
31. A digital right management system according to claim 1 , wherein said interface composes an application programming interface.
32. A digital right management system according to claim 1 , wherein in the case of verification of compatibility, said secure component initiates loading of one or more dynamically linked libraries.
33. A digital right management system according to claim 1 , wherein in the case of incompatibility, said secure component refuses to load any data coming through said application programming interface.