DYNAMIC MEDIA ZONES SYSTEMS AND METHODS
Systems and methods are described for applying digital rights management techniques to manage zones in electronic content. In one embodiment, zones are defined in a piece of electronic content, and a license is associated with the electronic content that indicates how the zones are to be accessed or otherwise used. A digital rights management engine governs access to or other use of the zoned content in accordance with the license.
1 - 20 . (canceled)
21 . A method of packaging a first piece of electronic content, the method being performed on a system comprising at least one processor, the method comprising:
creating, using the processor, a first zone map defining a plurality of zones, a first zone of the plurality of zones being associated with at least a first portion of the first piece of electronic content; and
associating, by the processor, an electronic license with the first piece of electronic content, the electronic license comprising at least one control program, the electronic license defining one or more first conditions associated with access to or other use of the at least a first portion of the piece of electronic content on a device;
wherein the control program is configured to, when executed by the device, determine that a first predefined condition associated with the first zone is met and, after the first predefined condition is met, to impose a first obligation on access to or use of the at least a first portion of the first piece of electronic content.
22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of zones further comprise a second zone associated with at least a second portion of the first piece of electronic content, wherein the electronic license further defines one or more second conditions associated with access to or other use of the at least a second portion of the piece of electronic content on the device, and wherein the control program is further configured to determine that a second predefined condition associated with the second zone is met and, after the second predefined condition is met, to impose a second obligation on access to or use of the at least a second portion of the first piece of electronic content.
23 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the electronic license comprises code for removing the first obligation after a second predefined condition is met.
24 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising digitally signing the first zone map using a first key configured to decrypt at least part of the first piece of electronic content.
25 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising:
calculating a hash value of a first key configured to decrypt at least part of the first piece of electronic content; and
digitally signing the first zone map using the hash value.
26 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising digitally signing the first zone map using a first key derived from a second key configured to decrypt at least part of the first piece of electronic content.
27 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the first zone map further comprises a reference to at least one external zone, the at least one external zone being associated with a second piece of electronic content separate from the first piece of electronic content.
28 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the second piece of electronic content is associated with a second zone map, the second zone map defining at least one zone in the second piece of electronic content.
29 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the first obligation is associated with a playback condition of the at least a first portion of the first piece of electronic content.
30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the playback condition comprises a condition associated with at least one of playing, skipping, and fast-forwarding the at least a first portion of the first piece of electronic content.
31 . The method of claim 21 , wherein each of the plurality of zones is associated with at least one zone identifier included in the first zone map.
32 . The method of claim 31 , wherein at least one zone of the plurality of zones is associated with a plurality of zone identifiers included in the first zone map.
33 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a system comprising a processor, cause the system to perform a method of packaging a first piece of electronic content comprising:
creating a zone map defining a plurality of zones, a first zone of the plurality of zones being associated with at least a first portion of the first piece of electronic content; and
associating an electronic license with the first piece of electronic content, the electronic license comprising at least one control program, the electronic license defining one or more first conditions associated with access to or other use of the at least a first portion of the piece of electronic content on a device;
wherein the control program is configured to, when executed by the device, determine that a first predefined condition associated with the first zone is met and, after the first predefined condition is met, to impose a first obligation on access to or use of the at least a first portion of the first piece of electronic content.
34 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 33 , further comprising digitally signing the zone map using a first key configured to decrypt at least part of the first piece of electronic content.
35 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 33 , wherein the method further comprises:
calculating a hash value of a first key configured to decrypt at least part of the first piece of electronic content; and
digitally signing the zone map using the hash value.
36 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 33 , wherein the method further comprises digitally signing the zone map using a first key derived from a second key configured to crypt at least part of the first piece of electronic content.
37 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 33 , wherein the zone map further comprises a reference to at least one external zone, the at least one external zone being associated with a second piece of electronic content separate from the first piece of electronic content.
38 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 33 , wherein the first obligation is associated with a playback condition of the at least a first portion of the first piece of electronic content.
39 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 33 , wherein each of the plurality of zones is associated with at least one zone identifier included in the zone map.
40 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 39 , wherein at least one zone of the plurality of zones is associated with a plurality of zone identifiers included in the zone map.