Digital rights management negotiation for streaming media over a network
View Patent ↗A digital rights management (DRM) method is negotiated prior to initiating delivery of a DRM encoded content item over a digital network between a client and a target server. The client identifies a link to the target server for accessing the DRM encoded content item. The client initiates a network session with the target server. The client sends an offer message to the target server containing a list of at least one supported DRM method. The target server sends an answer message to the client containing a corresponding list 1) indicating whether each DRM method listed in the to offer message is supported by the target server, and 2) providing a network address of a DRM license server for each supported DRM method. The client selects a supported DRM method. The client obtains a DRM license using the network address listed for the selected DRM method. The target server delivers the DRM encoded content item to the client using the selected DRM method.
1. A method for serving digital rights management (DRM) encoded content item from a target server to a digital network in accordance with a plurality of DRM methods, said target server being capable of providing said DRM encoded content item in a plurality of respective DRM methods, said target server including a plurality of ports wherein each port serves said DRM encoded content item using a respective DRM method, said method comprising the steps of:
establishing a link on said target server for accessing said DRM encoded content item;
establishing a network session between said target server and a client accessing said link;
said target server receiving an offer message from said client containing a list of at least one supported DRM method;
said target server sending an answer message to said client containing a corresponding answer list 1) indicating whether each DRM method listed in said offer message is one of said plurality of respective DRM methods supported by said target server, 2) providing a respective network address of a DRM license server for each supported DRM method, and 3) indicating a port of said target server for accessing said DRM encoded content item for each supported DRM method, respectively; and
said target server receiving a request message from said client and delivering said DRM encoded content item to said client using said DRM method corresponding to a port identified in said request message, whereby said target server delivers said DRM encoded content item according to a respective DRM method selected by said client.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said offer message and said answer message further indicate supported transport methods for delivering said DRM encoded content item.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said answer message contains an explicit response to each DRM method listed in said offer message.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein said explicit response corresponding to a DRM method not supported by said target server is comprised of a zero value.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein said offer message and said answer message are exchanged using a session description protocol.
6. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with software for operating a computer system for distribution of digital rights management (DRM) encoded content items over a digital network between clients and a target server in accordance with a plurality of DRM methods, said target server being capable of providing said DRM encoded content item in a plurality of respective DRM methods, said target server including a plurality of ports wherein each port serves said DRM encoded content item using a respective DRM method, wherein when executed by said target server, said software is operable to perform the steps comprising:
establishing a link on said target server for accessing said DRM encoded content item;
establishing a network session between said target server and a client accessing said link;
receiving an offer message from said client containing a list of at least one supported DRM method;
sending an answer message to said client containing a corresponding answer list 1) indicating whether each DRM method listed in said offer message is one of said plurality of respective DRM methods supported by said target server, 2) providing a respective network address of a DRM license server for each supported DRM method, and 3) indicating a port of said target server for accessing said DRM encoded content item for each supported DRM method, respectively; and
receiving a request message from said client and delivering said DRM encoded content item to said client using said DRM method corresponding to a port identified in said request message, whereby said target server delivers said DRM encoded content item according to a respective DRM method selected by said client.
7. The software of claim 6 further operable to indicate supported transport methods for delivering said DRM encoded content item.
8. The software of claim 6 further operable to provide an explicit response to each DRM method listed in said offer message.
9. The software of claim 8 wherein said explicit response corresponding to a DRM method not supported by said target server is comprised of a zero value.
10. The software of claim 6 wherein said offer message and said answer message are exchanged using a session description protocol.