Time information management system
View Patent ↗A rights validator system for controlling access to content, the system including a query processor to receive a rights query and to provide a result to the rights query based on an estimated time, and a time-based query response module operationally connected to the query processor, the time-based query response module being operative to determine the estimated time as a function of a most recently updated time, and a plurality of indications of elapsed time since the most recently updated time, the indications of elapsed time being from a plurality of different sources of time indication. Related apparatus and methods are also included.
1. A rights validator system for controlling access to content, the system comprising:
a query processor to receive a rights query and to provide a result to the rights query based on an estimated current time when a trusted time source is unavailable; and
a time-based query response module operationally connected to the query processor, the time-based query response module being operative to determine the estimated current time as a function of: a most recently updated time being a trusted time previously received from the trusted time source; and a plurality of indications of elapsed time since the most recently updated time, the elapsed time being the time between the most recently updated time and the current time, the indications of elapsed time being from a plurality of different sources of time indication such that each of the indications of elapsed time being based on a counter value of a different incrementing counter.
2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the most recently updated time is digitally signed.
3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the time-based query module is operative to determine the estimated current time as a function of: the most recently updated time; and an average of the indications of elapsed time since the most recently updated time.
4. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the time-based query module is operative to determine the average of the indications as a weighted average based on a plurality of weights associated with each of the indications of elapsed time.
5. The system according to claim 4 , wherein the time-based query module is operative to determine the weights based on a degree of certainty of each of the indications of elapsed time.
6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the query processor is operative to provide a result to the rights query based on the estimated current time and a degree of certainty of the estimated current time.
7. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the time-based query module is operative to determine the degree of certainty of the estimated current time as a function of a degree of certainty of each of the indications of elapsed time.
8. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the time-based query module is operative to determine the degree of certainty of the estimated current time as an average of the degrees of certainty of the indications of elapsed time.
9. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the time-based query module is operative to determine the degree of certainty of the estimated current time as a weighted average of the degrees of certainty of the indications of elapsed time.
10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the time-based query response module is operative to determine the estimated current time also as a function of a degree of certainty of each of the indications of elapsed time.
11. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the time-based query response module is operative to determine the degree of certainty of at least one of the indications of elapsed time such that the degree of certainty decreases as the at least one indication of elapsed time increases.
12. The system according to claim 5 , wherein time-based query response module is operative to at least partially base the degree of certainty of each of the indications of elapsed time on historical data of the indications of elapsed time.
13. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the time-based query response module is operative to determine the degree of certainty of at least one of the indications of elapsed time is based on learning user behavior.
14. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the time-based query module is operative to base at least one of the indications of elapsed time on a user-initiated event.
15. The system according to claim 14 , wherein time-based query module is operative to determine the one indication of elapsed time as a function of a number of occurrences of the user-initiated event since the most recently updated time.
16. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the time-based query module is operative to: learn user behavior in relation to the user-initiated event; and adapt how the one indication of elapsed time is based on a number of occurrences of the user-initiated event.
17. The system according to claim 14 , wherein time-based query module is operative to base the one indication of elapsed time on an average user behavior in relation to the user-initiated event.
18. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the user initiated event is a key stroke during a game.
19. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the user initiated event is playing a media item.
20. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the user initiated event is a power up or power down.
21. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the time-based query response module is operative to: determine the estimated current time also as a function of a degree of certainty of each of the indications of elapsed time, wherein the degree of certainty of the one indication of elapsed time is based on learning user behavior in relation to the user-initiated event.
22. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the time-based query module is operative such that the function determining the estimated current time adapts depending on which of a plurality of access control criteria are being employed to control access to the content.
23. A rights validator system for controlling access to content, the system comprising:
a query processor to receive a rights query and to provide a result to the rights query based on an estimated current time when a trusted time source is unavailable; and
a time-based query response module operationally connected to the query processor, the time-based query response module being operative to determine the estimated current time as a function of: a most recently updated time being a trusted time received from the trusted time source; and an indication of elapsed time since the most recently updated time, the elapsed time being the time between the most recently updated time and the current time, the indication of elapsed time being based on a counter value of an incrementing counter, the indication of elapsed time being based on a user-initiated event.
24. The system according to claim 23 , wherein time-based query module is operative to determine the indication of elapsed time as a function of a number of occurrences of the user-initiated event since the most recently updated time.
25. The system according to claim 23 , wherein the time-based query module is operative to: learn user behavior in relation to the user-initiated event; and adapt how the indication of elapsed time is based on a number of occurrences of the user-initiated event.
26. The system according to claim 23 , wherein time-based query module is operative to base the indication of elapsed time on an average user behavior in relation to the user-initiated event.
27. The system according to claim 23 , wherein the user initiated event is a key stroke during a game.
28. The system according to claim 23 , wherein the user initiated event is playing a media item.
29. The system according to claim 23 , wherein the user initiated event is a power up or power down.