Content security in a social network
View Patent ↗Members of a social network (SNET) circle can share content with other members of SNET circle, members of the same SNET that are not members of the same circle, or send content to people or devices outside of SNET. Different levels of content security can be applied to the shared content, depending on who requests the content, the destination of the content, user preferences, content type, SNET, SNET circle, or other security parameters. Content can be tagged to limit the number of times it can be accessed, the length of time access is allowed, and to otherwise control redistribution. Content can also be protected by limiting host network access to the content, implementing SNET circle firewalls and virtual private networks, or transcoding content before allowing transmission to non-SNET circle or SNET members. Docking of devices into an SNET security circle can be restricted to properly secured devices.
1. A method used in a social network that includes a plurality of social circles, the method comprising:
receiving from a requestor, at a computing device managing at least a portion of social circle communications, a request for content available from a first social circle of the plurality of social circles;
determining, at a processing device included in the social circle, a status of the requestor with respect to the social network;
selecting a level of content protection based, at least in part, on both:
the status of the requestor with respect to the social network, wherein the status indicates whether the status of the requestor satisfies content security requirements associated with the first social circle, and
a security characteristic of a device that forms a part of a presentation pathway of the content, wherein the device includes both secure and unsecure hardware elements internal to the device, either or both of which are included in the presentation pathway; and
providing the content to the requestor using the level of content protection selected.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the status of the requestor comprises membership information.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the status of the requestor comprises a security characteristic associated with the requestor.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the level of content protection is based at least in part on applying a modification to the content.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the modification comprises watermarking.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the level of content protection is carried out via digital rights management restrictions.
7. Device circuitry within a device housing for use by a first member of a social network, the social network including a social network circle, the device circuitry comprising:
interface circuitry configured to receive content of a second member of the social network via the social network circle, the content having a first level of protection selected from a plurality of levels of protection based, at least in part, on at least one security characteristic of a presentation pathway within the device housing, wherein the presentation pathway includes either or both secure and unsecure hardware elements within the device housing;
processing circuitry configured to support digital rights management in conformance with the first level of protection of the content; and
the processing circuitry also being configured to support a security exchange with the social network via the interface circuitry, the security exchange being used to determine the first level of protection for the content.
8. The device circuitry of claim 7 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to at least assist in generating the at least one security characteristic.
9. The device circuitry of claim 7 , wherein the processing circuitry identifies a security breach that reaches within the housing.
10. The device circuitry of claim 7 , wherein security of the presentation pathway is challenged at least in part via the interface circuitry.
11. The device circuitry of claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of levels of protection comprising a set of digital rights limitations.
12. The device circuitry of claim 7 , wherein the content comprises a version of original content, and the version being produced in response to the selection of the first level of protection.
13. The device circuitry of claim 7 , further comprising a security partition supporting the security of at least a portion of the presentation pathway.
14. A social network system supporting transfer of content from a social circle to a destination device, the social network system comprising:
a communications interface configured to:
couple with the destination device, and
receive a request from the destination device to provide access to the content;
at least one processing module, coupled to the communications interface, the at least one processing module configured to:
identify a security characteristic of a presentation pathway associated with the destination device, wherein the destination device includes both secure and unsecure hardware elements internal to the device, either or both of which are included in the presentation pathway, and
identify a level of protection for the content based at least in part on the security characteristic of the presentation pathway.
15. The social networking system of claim 14 , wherein the presentation pathway includes elements within the destination device.
16. The social networking system of claim 14 , wherein the destination device supports a human member, and the level of protection for the content is also based on security information relating to the human member.
17. The social networking system of claim 14 , wherein the level of protection requires digital rights management elements within the destination device.
18. The social networking system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one processing module challenges the destination device to at least assist in the identification of the level of protection.
19. The social networking system of claim 14 , wherein the communications interface is configured to deliver a security program to the destination device, the security program supporting the identification of the level of protection.
20. The social networking system of claim 14 , wherein the identification of the level of protection is reevaluated after a period of time.
21. The social networking system of claim 14 , wherein the level of protection involves a first level of digital rights restrictions modified by the destination device to support redistribution by the destination device using a second level of digital rights restrictions.