JP4932058B2 - Method and apparatus for transferring rights associated with content - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates generally to rights offer and grant, and more particularly to a method, system and device for offering and granting rights using shared state variables.

  With the advent of the digital age, there is an increasing interest in copyrighted information, limited services and ownership of valuable resources, access and control. Computers and other electronic devices such as cellular phones, pagers, PDAs, ebook readers, etc. are rapidly progressing and widely deployed, and such devices include the Internet, intranets, and other networks They are interconnected via communication links. Such interconnected devices are particularly conducive to content publication, service provision, and resource availability.

  One of the most important issues that hinders the widespread distribution of digital works (ie, documents and other content in computer-readable form) over electronic means, especially over the Internet, is the distribution of digital works And the ability to enforce the intellectual property rights of content owners in use is currently lacking. Efforts to solve this problem include “Intellectual Property Rights Management” (“IPRM”), “Digital Property Rights Management” (“DPRM”), “Intellectual Property Management” (“IPM”), “Rights Management” ( Although referred to as “RM” and “electronic rights management” (“ECM”), they are collectively referred to herein as “digital rights management (DRM)”. Many problems can be considered when implementing a DRM system. For example, issues such as authentication, authorization, accounting, payments and financial settlement, rights designation, rights verification, rights enforcement and document protection should be addressed. Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2, Patent Document 3, Patent Document 4 and Patent Document 5 incorporated herein with reference to the disclosure content disclose DRM systems that deal with such problems.

  Two basic schemes are adopted: a security container and a trusted system. A “security container” (or simply an encrypted document) is the content of a document encrypted until a certain set of authorization conditions are met and some copyright terms (eg, payment for use) are observed. It provides a way to keep it up. After these various conditions and clauses are verified by the document provider, the document is opened to the user in a clear form. Products such as Cryptolopes ™ and Digiboxes fall into this category. The secure container method provides a solution to protect documents upon delivery over an insecure channel, but a legitimate user obtains a clear document and then violates the intellectual property of the content owner Obviously, it does not provide any mechanism that prevents it from being used or redistributed.

  In the “reliable system” scheme, the entire system is responsible for preventing unauthorized use and distribution of documents. Building a trusted system usually requires the introduction of new hardware such as security processors, security storage devices, and security rendering devices. It is also necessary to prove that all software applications running on a reliable system are reliable. Building a highly reliable system with anti-falsification is a very difficult task for existing technologies, but the current market trend is that PCs and workstations that access the Web using a browser This suggests that open unreliable systems such as will be dominant as systems used to access digital works. In this sense, an existing computing environment such as a PC or a workstation having a rendering application such as an operating system (for example, Windows (registered trademark), Linux (registered trademark), UNIX (registered trademark)) with a large number of users. Is not a reliable system, and it cannot be made reliable without significant changes to its architecture. Of course, changing the architecture detracts from the main purpose of the Web, namely flexibility and compatibility.

  Some DRM systems allow content owners to specify usage rights and conditions and associate them with content. These usage rights control how the content recipient can use the content. Typically, when a content distributor or consumer completes the specification and ordering of specific content, this content is sent electronically from some content repository or via a common carrier. To the recipient via a conventional distribution channel such as A corresponding DRM system used by a recipient, such as a distributor or consumer, then interprets the rights and conditions associated with the content and uses them to distribute and / or use the content. Control. Examples of usage rights include content browsing, printing and extraction, as well as content distribution, repackaging and content lending. Associated terms can include any provisions associated with the rights, such as payment, identification, time period, and the like.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a system for controlling distribution of a digital document. Each rendering device has a repository associated with it. A predefined set of usage transaction steps defines the protocol (procedure) that the repository uses when enforcing usage rights associated with a document. Usage rights are attached to the content of the document. The usage right can permit various usages such as browsing, only one use, and distribution. Usage rights can depend on payments and other conditions.

US Pat. No. 5,530,235 US Pat. No. 5,634,012 US Pat. No. 5,715,403 US Pat. No. 5,638,443 US Pat. No. 5,629,980

  However, the above paradigm where only the usage rights and conditions associated with the content are specified by the content owner or other rights licensors is limited. Once an end user, consumer or distributor of the content purchases the content according to the relevant usage rights and conditions, there is no way to legally pass it on to the next recipient in the distribution chain. In addition, these related usage rights are derived from other rights, ie, amendment, transfer, offer (suggestion), permission, acquisition, transfer (transfer), consignment, tracking, waiver, exchange, transfer, exercise, revocation, etc. There is no provision to specify the right. Common content delivery models often include a multi-tiered distribution and use chain. Known DRM systems do not support defining rights and conditions for all parties in the chain of content distribution and use. Therefore, it is difficult to use the content commercially unless the content owner itself has a relationship with each party in the distribution chain.

Exemplary aspects of the present invention include methods, systems, and devices for sharing rights configured to be associated with content, wherein the methods and systems include usage rights and meta-rights for content. Generating at least one of them, defining a usage method of the content by using a usage right, and defining a right transfer (transfer) method of the content by a meta right. The device includes receiving at least one of a usage right and a meta right for the content, interpreting the usage of the content based on the usage right, and interpreting a transfer method of the content based on the meta right. The usage right or meta right includes at least one state variable shared by one or more rights.
One aspect of the present invention is a method for transferring rights associated with content, wherein the rights consumer device has one or more rights when the conditions for obtaining the rights are met. A request to indicate that the rights supplier device is interested in obtaining a specific right for content from the rights consumer device And the rights supplier device determines whether the condition is met, and if the condition is met, the rights provider device licenses the rights consumer device. The derivation includes including the specific right in the license, including a state variable in the license, Storing a state variable, and associating the license with the content, wherein the rights consumer device transfers the license to the rights consumer device so that the rights consumer device is in accordance with the license And track the use of the particular right by a trusted agent embedded in the rights consumer device as well as by the common rights state server, wherein the tracking is performed with the trusted agent. Including updating the state variable by the common rights state server, wherein the rights provider device allows the rights consumer device to exercise the particular right according to the updated state variable.
Another aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for transferring rights associated with content, wherein a rights consumer device obtains one or more rights when conditions for rights acquisition are met. Means for generating a rights offer including a machine-readable representation to authorize, means for receiving a request from the rights consumer device indicating an interest in obtaining a particular right to content, and the condition is satisfied And means for deriving a license for the rights consumer device if the condition is satisfied, the derivation including the specific right in the license; Including a state variable in the license, storing the state variable in a common rights state server, and including the license in the content Means for deriving, including linking, means for authorizing the rights consumer device to use the content in accordance with the license by transferring the license to the rights consumer device, and the rights consumer device Means for tracking the use of the specific rights by a trusted agent embedded in the common rights state server, wherein the tracking includes the state variables by the trusted agent and the common rights state server. Means for tracking, including: updating, wherein the authorizing means authorizes the rights consumer device to exercise the particular right according to the updated state variable.

  Still other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention are described in the following detailed description which briefly describes many exemplary embodiments and examples, including the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention. Will be easily understood. The invention is also capable of other and other embodiments, and its several details can be modified and modified in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are illustrative in nature and are not to be considered as limiting.

It is the schematic of the three-layer model for content delivery. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating rights offer and permission in the model of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a simple supplier / consumer push model for generating, issuing and exercising rights. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a simple supplier / consumer pull model for creating, issuing and exercising rights. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a rights offer / grant architecture according to a preferred embodiment. It is a work flowchart of the example which offers and grants the right using the push model and the pull model, respectively, between the rights supplier and the rights consumer. It is a work flowchart of the example which offers and grants the right using the push model and the pull model, respectively, between the rights supplier and the rights consumer. 4 is a flowchart of a rights offer generation process according to a preferred embodiment. 3 is a flowchart of a rights offer review process according to a preferred embodiment. 6 is a flowchart of a rights offer customization process according to a preferred embodiment. 1 is a block diagram of a DRM system utilized in connection with a preferred embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary structure of a license that includes usage rights and meta rights of a preferred embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a rights label of a preferred embodiment. FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary system that includes a rights state server. It is a figure which shows the method of using a state variable at the time of deriving an exclusive (exclusive) use right. It is a figure which shows the method of using the state variable at the time of deriving the inherited usage right. FIG. 6 illustrates a method of using state variables in deriving rights shared by a set of known rights recipients. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a method of using state variables in deriving rights shared by a set of dynamic rights recipients. It is a figure which shows the method of using the state variable at the time of maintaining the state shared by several rights. FIG. 4 illustrates a method that uses multiple state variables to represent one state of a right. FIG. 6 illustrates a case where not all rights are associated with a state. It is a figure which shows the case where not all the rights relevant to a state are shared or inherited. It is a figure which shows the case of rights sharing based on the offer which does not include a meta right explicitly.

  Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the following accompanying drawings.

  Can be used to specify and exercise usage rights and meta-rights for specific content, services or other items prior to explaining in detail the devices and methods for offering and granting rights A possible DRM system is first described below.

  FIG. 9 includes a user activation component in the form of an activation server 20 that issues public / private key pairs or other identification mechanisms to content users in a well-known and protected manner. 1 shows a DRM system 10. Typically, when a user first uses the DRM system 10, it installs software that works with or includes a rendering application for a particular content format. This software is installed on the client environment 30, eg, a computer associated with the content recipient. This software is part of the DRM10 system and is used to enforce usage rights for protected content. During the validation process, some information is exchanged between validation server 20 and client environment 30. The client component 60 is preferably tamper resistant and includes a set of public and private keys issued by the validation server 20 and other components such as, for example, a rendering component.

  The rights label 40 is associated with the content 42 and specifies the usage rights and meta rights that are available to the recipient, i.e. the consumer of the rights, when the corresponding condition is met. The license server 50 manages the encryption key and issues a license 52 for the protected content 42. The license 52 embodies an actual grant to the end user of rights including usage rights and meta rights. For example, a rights offer 40 may allow the user to view the content for a fee of $ 5 and print the content for a fee of $ 10, or the user may be referred to as, for example, a meta-right described below. By using the concept, it is possible to allow the offer of rights to another user. If a $ 5 fee is paid, a license 52 for the viewing right can be issued. The client component 60 interprets and enforces rights including usage rights and meta rights specified in the license. The rights label 40 and the license 52 are described in detail below.

  FIG. 11 shows a rights label 40 according to a preferred embodiment. Rights label 40 includes a plurality of rights options 44. Each of the rights options 44 includes a usage right 44a, a condition 44b, and a content specification 44c. Content specification 44c may include any mechanism for referencing, detecting, or otherwise specifying content 42 associated with rights offer 44.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the license 52 includes a license 52a, a license 52b, and a digital signature 52c. License 52b includes licensed usage rights and / or meta rights selected from the label. The authorization structure also includes one or more principals to whom the specified usage rights and / or meta rights are granted, a list of conditions, and state variables necessary to enforce the license. Similar to usage rights, access and enforcement of licensed meta rights is controlled by condition lists and state variables as described below.

  Clear (unprotected) content can be created by a document preparation application 72 installed on a computer 70 associated with a content publisher, content distributor, content service provider, or any other party. Content preparation (creation) consists of specifying usage rights, meta-rights and conditions that can be distributed using content 42, associating rights label 40 with content 42, and protecting content 42 with some cryptographic algorithm. ing. Rights and conditions can be specified using a rights description language such as XrML. However, the usage rights and meta rights may be specified in any way. A right can also be in the form of a predetermined specification or template simply related to content. Thus, the process of specifying rights is some process of associating rights with content. The rights label 40 associated with the content 42 and the encryption key used to encrypt the content can be transmitted to the license server 50.

  The right can designate a transfer right such as a distribution right, and can grant the right to another person or allow the right to be derived. Such rights are called "meta rights". Meta rights are rights that should be manipulated, modified, or otherwise derived from other meta rights or usage rights. Meta rights can be thought of as usage rights to usage rights. Meta rights may include rights to offer, grant, obtain, transfer (assign), delegate, track, waiver, exchange, revoke, etc., usage rights to / from others. Meta rights can include the right to modify any of the conditions associated with other rights. For example, a meta right may be a right that expands or reduces the scope of a specific right. A meta right may also be a right to increase or decrease the expiration date of the right.

  In many cases, conditions must be met in order to enforce the usage specified in the right. For example, the conditions may be any desired requirement before allowing payment of fees, submission of personal data, or other usage exercises. For example, “access conditions” can also be conditions, but access conditions can be applied to specific user groups, such as college students or members of a reading club, for example. In other words, the condition is that the user is a specific person or a member of a specific group. Rights and conditions can be separate entities or can be combined. A state variable tracks a potentially dynamic state condition. A state variable is a variable that has a value that represents the status, usage rights, license, or other dynamic condition of the item. The state variable can be tracked based on the identification mechanism in the license 52 by a license at the information exchange 90 or another device at the server 30. Furthermore, the value of the state variable can be used under certain conditions. For example, the usage right may be a right to print the content 42 three times. Each time the usage right is exercised, the value “number of printings” of the state variable is incremented. In this example, if the value of the state variable is 3, the condition is no longer satisfied, and the content 42 cannot be printed. Another example of a state variable is time. As a condition of the license 52, the content 42 may be printed within 30 days. A state variable can be used to track whether 30 days have expired. Furthermore, the state of rights can be tracked as a collection of state variables. A set of changes is a state of usage rights representing its own usage history.

  An exemplary workflow for the DRM system 10 is described below. While operating in the client environment 30, a recipient such as a user is validated by the validation server 20 and receives content. As a result, the public / private key pair (and any user / machine specific information) is downloaded to the client environment 30 in the form of a client software component 60 in a well-known manner. This validation process can be performed at any time prior to issuing a license.

  If the user wants to use protected content 42, the user requests content 42. For example, the user browses (views) a Web site running on the Web server 80 associated with a licensee of rights such as a content distributor using a browser installed in the client environment 30. Attempt to download protected content 42. During this process, the user may perform a series of steps that may include fee transactions (such as when selling content) and other transactions (such as collecting information). When appropriate conditions and fee collection, verification that the user has been validated, and other prerequisites are met, the web server 80 can establish a secure communication channel, such as a channel using a secure socket layer (SSL). The license server 50 is contacted via Then, the license server 50 generates a license 52 for the content, and the Web server 80 downloads both the protected content 42 and the license 52. The license 52 can be downloaded from the license server 50 or an associated device. Content 42 can be downloaded from a computer 70 associated with a publisher, distributor, or other party.

  Next, the client component 60 under the client environment 30 further interprets the license 52 and permits the use of the content 42 based on the rights and conditions specified in the license 52. The interpretation and enforcement of usage rights is generally well known. The above steps may be performed sequentially or may be performed substantially simultaneously in various orders.

  The DRM system 10 corresponds to the security aspect of the content 42. In particular, the DRM system 10 may authenticate the license 52 issued by the license server 50. One way that the application 60 performs such authentication is to determine whether the license is reliable. In other words, the application 60 has a function of verifying and confirming the cryptographic signature of the digital signature 52c or other identification characteristics of the license. During the above validation step, both the client environment 30 and the license server 50 may allow other components such as the required component for the validated client environment 30 to verify the title 52 of the license 52 in a known manner. A set of keys is received by a software “package” having anti-tampering properties that also includes. Of course, the above example is just one way to implement a DRM system. For example, licenses and content can be distributed from different entities. Also, the rights offer 40 can be associated with the content by a party other than the party that creates the content. The information exchange 90 can also be used to process payment transactions and verify payments before issuing a license.

  For any set of rights, two types of entities are involved: "supplier" and "consumer". The supplier's function is to offer and in some cases grant rights, and the consumer's function is to select and possibly exercise rights. Both the supplier and the consumer may actually represent more than one entity. In general, multiple entities may offer and grant rights to multiple entities collectively. A supplier and a consumer represent any two entities in the content value chain that have a direct relationship with each other in terms of granting rights. In the first part of the value chain, suppliers and consumers may be authors and publishers. As you go along the value chain, the supplier and the consumer are the publisher and another publisher (for content aggregation purposes), the publisher and the distributor (content delivery), the distributor and the retailer (content retailers) ), Retailers and consumers (consumers of content), and consumers and other consumers (super-distribution or personal lending of content) To go.

  A “right offer (suggestion)” or “right offer” means how a consumer (eg, a content distributor or user) and a particular instance (entity) of content and associated usage rights and / or It expresses whether it is possible to acquire meta rights together. The offer may or may not include financial terms. An offer is simply an expression of an intention to start negotiations, and an expression of an intention to grant permission if it is a clause described therein. The offer may be expressed in the form of a rights label. “Rights review” is the part of the rights granting process in which the right consumer reviews the relevant terms and conditions that are offered and, in some cases, contracted for sale. “Rights selection” is the selection of rights and associated terms and conditions from the offer content of the rights. This demonstrates the consumer's intention to accept these rights and the corresponding provisions and conditions. For example, the selection can include an action of selecting one option from label 40. “Customization of rights” is the part of the rights granting process in which the rights supplier assembles the rights, terms and conditions based on the choices of the rights consumer. The result of this process can also be a license proposal (draft license) to be accepted by the consumer of the right. A “rights license” is a representation of rights, and in some cases conditions, accepted and agreed by the right supplier and consumer. This is the output of the rights offer and grant process. A license is a license to exercise the right to control the use of content or other items (including possibly further distribution).

  As described above, a rights label, such as rights label 40, includes a number of options 44 that allow the consumer to perform selection and negotiation (if permitted), while license 52 is a consumer. Includes the right to choose and accept. Here, the accepted right may include a right to present an offer or select an offer to others.

  An example of a distribution chain model is shown in FIG. This distribution chain includes a content supplier 100, a distributor 110, and an end user 120. Of course, the content may be created by the method described above. Assume that the content has already been created with the model of FIG. FIG. 1 is intended for content transfer. In this example, the provider 100 may publish the content to the distributor 110 or receive it from the distributor 110 for the purpose of reusing the content. It shows what you can do. The distributor 110 can then distribute the content to the user 120 and receive the return content from the user 120. The user 100 can use the content. To further illustrate how complex a multi-tiered distribution chain can be, supplier 100 can collect content from others and distributor 110 receives content from other distributors for redistribution. The user 120 can share content with other users. It is clear that there are multiple stages in the life cycle of content and that there are multiple relationships between various parties. It is important that the specification of rights be accurate and consistent across the various stages of the life cycle, and is essential for the continuous protection of content during the delivery and use of multi-layer structures.

  FIG. 2 illustrates the flow of rights in the same model, including rights generation, collection, issue, abandonment, promotion, licensing, termination, delegation and enforcement. The model of FIG. 2 includes the same entities: supplier 100, distributor 110, and user 120. With regard to the flow of rights, it is understood that each party can grant and accept rights. The user 120 can accept the rights granted by other users, which is a process called “delegation” in this example.

  The model of FIG. 2 includes many relationships of publishing, distributing and using specific content. Other models can be derived from this model by integrating and separating the parties differently. For example, any provider can be a distributor. This is “direct publication” and allows individual authors to distribute / sell their content without any intermediate publishers. Furthermore, any consumer can be a potential distributor. This allows consumers to pass content to each other. This includes superdistribution, gifting and personal lending. In the “Web community”, all people can publish, distribute, and consume content. By “contents aggregation”, publishers can combine content from other publishers into a composite work. Site licenses and corporate use allow content to be shared among consumers.

  In general, all rights relationships shown in FIG. 2 can be grasped by two general supplier / consumer models as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. FIG. 3A shows a “push” model and FIG. 3B shows a “pull” model. In the push model shown in FIG. 3A, a rights supplier 200 initiates a rights offer and grant process to generate an offer for rights consumer 210 and grant rights to it. In the pull model shown in FIG. 3B, rights consumer 210 initiates a process, requests an offer from rights provider 200, and accepts the rights.

  The architecture of a preferred embodiment of rights offer and grant is shown in FIG. The architecture 400 can be implemented as a combination of computer hardware and software, and can include a rights supplier component 402, a rights consumer component 438, and a communication channel 422 that links the two components. For example, the communication channel 42 may be the Internet, computer-to-computer direct connection, LAN, wireless connection, or the like. The supplier component 402 is associated with an entity that makes a right available to a supplier, ie, a consumer that is an entity that is about to exercise (consumes) a right. This supplier may be the content owner or provider, or a distributor, or any “broker” such as a retailer or website operator. Consumer component 438 is associated with a consumer who can be an end user (ie, a content consumer) or a “broker” such as a retailer, wholesaler, reseller. Note that the consumer consumes the rights, but does not necessarily use (ie, consume) the content. Both the supplier component 402 and the consumer component 438 are from any type of hardware device and / or software module, such as a personal computer, portable computer, mobile phone, server, network, or any combination thereof. It may be. The supplier component 402 generates a rights label 40 for the consumer, generates an offer, presents a proposed license, and grants the license 52. Consumer component 438 issues a request, selects option 44 option from rights label 40, generates a modified offer, and accepts license 52. The supplier component 402 and the consumer component 438 can be embedded in the same device, and the communication channel 422 may be an internal channel.

  The supplier component 402 includes a user interface module 404, a communication interface module 420, an identity module 406, a repository 412 (in the form of issued licenses) of supplier rights, and a database 414 for managing related information. Yes. The user interface 404 presents component functions to the user and accepts user interaction in a well known manner. Communication interface 422 provides appropriate formatting and protocols for messages between supplier component 402 and consumer component 438. The identity module 406 ensures that the identity of the supplier component 402 is authenticated by the consumer component 438 and also includes authentication information such as a password, encryption key or biometric information for the user of the supplier component 402. May be. Rights repository 412 may store the rights granted to the user of supplier component 402, and may include the ability to index, search, and update the rights stored therein. The management database 414 is used to archive information generated during the rights offer and grant process. Such information includes information related to initial offers, consumer choices, and possibly modified offers, arrangements and final licenses. The consumer component 438 includes a user interface module 428, a communication interface module 424, an identity module 426, a repository 434 (in the form of issued licenses) of consumer rights and a database 436 for managing related information. User interface 424 handles and handles the presentation of components to the user and the acceptance of user interaction. Communication interface 422 provides appropriate formatting and protocols for rights offer and grant messages between supplier component 402 and consumer component 438. The identity module 426 ensures that the identity of the consumer component 438 is authenticated by the supplier component 402 and may include authentication information such as a user password, encryption key or biometric information. Rights repository 434 may include functionality for storing rights granted to users of consumer component 438, indexing, searching and updating the rights stored therein. Management database 436 is used to archive information generated during the rights offer and grant process. This information includes information related to offers 44, consumer choices, possibly modified offers, arrangements and licenses 52. Here, the database 436 can store the same or different information as the database 414, but this allows the parties to interact with other parties and thus has different archive information from each other. Because.

  The supplier component 402 includes an offer generation module 408 that generates an offer, a rights configuration module 410 that configures a license, an offer template module 418 that provides an offer generation template based on a common format of previous transactions and offers, and past It also includes a consumer profile module 416 that customizes and grants rights based on consumer characteristics and consumer relationships.

  The consumer component 438 also provides an offer analysis module 430 for understanding the rights and terms and conditions presented in the offer, a selection execution module 432 for selecting preferred options specified in the offer, past and current supplies. Also included is a supplier preference (preference) module 438 that describes any preferred supplier based on the consumer's characteristics and relationships, and a selection pattern module 440 that provides the pattern and interest of the selection options in the offer. For example, the selection pattern module 440 may include a list of preferred suppliers or a list of lowest prices for items of interest to consumers. Each of the offer analysis module 430 and the selection execution module 432 may be combined into one module.

  The process of offering and granting rights within architecture 400 is based on a protocol (procedure) followed by supplier component 402 and consumer component 438. These protocols generally consist of an offer and acceptance of this offer. Specifically, these protocols include an offer from one party to another and acceptance of this offer by the person being offered. Once an offer has been made, it can be in a form that can be canceled before it is accepted, or in a form that cannot be canceled at all, or can only be canceled under certain conditions where the offer can be defined. The offer can also expire in various ways, for example when the acceptance expires. If no deadline is specified, the offer can expire for a predetermined reasonable period of time depending on the subject matter of the offer. In the case of content that can be used regularly, such as magazines, official papers, and even newspapers, the appropriate period may be, for example, depending on the content publication period. For content that is dynamically generated or provided, such as streaming content, a reasonable time period may be any time before the content becomes available. The rights supplier can determine other acceptance clauses to which the rights consumer is bound. For example, an offer may require an acceptance (acceptance) to be returned in some form via email or some web page interface.

  FIG. 5A shows a workflow of a protocol 500 of a rights grant push model. The supplier component 402 generates a rights offer, possibly in the form of a rights label 40, possibly with a number of options 44, and sends it to the consumer 438 (510). The consumer component 438 reviews this offer and its possible options and responds by selecting any of the options of the rights offer 44 to the supplier component 402 (512). The supplier component 402 customizes the rights according to the consumer's response and issues the rights to the user of the consumer component 432 in the form of a license proposal (514).

  Next, the consumer component 438 accepts (516) if the proposed license corresponds to or is acceptable for the selection made above. If accepted (approved), the supplier component 402 issues a license 52 and sends the license 52 to the consumer component (518). Note that grant 52b of license 52 may include usage rights and / or meta rights. Accordingly, the license 52 allows the user of the consumer component 438 to grant rights to others in a similar manner. However, derivable rights are controlled by upstream parties by using meta rights. Additionally, the above protocol includes the steps of the supplier component 402 requesting the user of the consumer component 438 to pay by credit card, and the user component 402 providing information and approving the charge. May be included. Both the supplier component 402 and the consumer component 438 can generate a status report regarding whether this process was successful or unsuccessful. Further, the parties can authenticate each other during this process and maintain authentication throughout this process.

  FIG. 5B shows a protocol for a rights grant pull model. Initially, consumer component 438 sends a request to supplier component 402 indicating that it is interested in obtaining certain rights in the content (520). The supplier component 402 then responds accordingly by presenting an offer having the form of a label 40 having a plurality of offer options 44 that cover the rights requested by the consumer component 438 and sends this offer to the consumer component 438 ( 522).

  The consumer component 438 then reviews the offer and its options and responds to the supplier component 402 by selecting one of these offer options (524). The supplier component 402 customizes the rights according to the response and grants the rights to the consumer in the form of a license proposal (526). Next, the consumer component 438 accepts this proposed license (528), and the supplier component 402 issues a license 52 that grants rights to the consumer component 438 (530). This right may also include a meta right.

  FIG. 6 shows an offer generation process 600 performed by the offer generation module 408 in the supplier component 402. In the offer generation process 600, the available rights are first collected at block 602. Rights can be obtained from previous suppliers or first created by deriving from meta-rights granted to the suppliers. In step 604, it is determined whether the supplier has the right to make an offer to the consumer. For example, if the consumer is known to be a minor and the content is limited to adult consumers, or the consumer is on the list of prohibited content recipients The supplier can not offer. In such a case, the offer generation process ends at step 606. If there is a right that the supplier can offer, the process determines in step 608 all the rights that can be offered to the consumer by analyzing the rights collected in step 602. Next, at step 610, the process determines whether the consumer is requesting any particular rights. If a request has been received, the process further filters the rights determined to be available by considering the rights requested by the received consumer and comparing them to the available rights. Next, the process determines in step 614 whether an offer template needs to be applied.

  For example, consumers can be offered standard rights that are included in the template, such as the right to print or archive content. If an offer template is available and needed, the offer template is applied at step 616. At step 618, a human may intervene to further adjust either this offer template or the rights available for offer purposes up to this point in the process. It can then be limited by condition variables and / or state variables. For example, at step 620, a time limit may be imposed on certain rights. Finally, at step 622, a digital signature or other authentication is provided along with a set of rights to be offered, an authenticated offer is made in the form of a rights label 40 at step 624, and to the consumer component 438 at step 624. Present.

  FIG. 8 illustrates a rights customization process 800 performed by the rights configuration module 410 in the supplier component 402. Initially, a consumer selection is received at step 802. Selection refers to the rights and conditions option 44 in the label 40 selected in step 624 (FIG. 6). Next, it is determined in step 804 whether the supplier component 402 has the right to grant rights to the consumer component 438. For example, if a consumer does not meet certain requirements such as minimum age or evidence that the content resides where it can be licensed, it is inappropriate to grant a license and the rights customization process 800 ends at step 806. If such requirements are met, the selections selected by the consumer are analyzed at step 808 to see if these contents are recognizable by the supplier component 402. For example, it is possible to analyze this selection content and confirm whether it can be understood (interpreted).

  Next, it is determined in step 810 whether consumer information is available. For example, a consumer profile can be stored in database 414 (FIG. 4). If available, in step 812, the consumer's selection is further analyzed by considering this consumer information. In step 812, it is also possible to consider dynamic information as described below. For example, a profile may include a confidence rating or a consumer address that indicates whether it is desirable or undesirable to provide a right. Next, at step 814, it is determined whether the selected content is valid. This determination is performed, for example, by computer calculation or with human intervention. If the consumer selection is deemed inappropriate, block 816 is renegotiated for the consumer selection. In this renegotiation process, the customer is presented with a new offer based on an analysis of the previous selection, given the chance to submit a new offer selection, and the rights customization process 800 begins again at step 802. Is done. If the content is appropriate, a license containing the selected rights is created at step 818.

  After the license is created, if acceptance by the consumer is required (step 820), it is presented to the consumer for viewing at step 822. If the consumer does not agree to the terms in the license at step 824, renegotiation is initiated at step 816, which restarts the rights customization process 800 from step 802 again. In step 820, if viewing by the consumer is unnecessary, the license is authenticated in step 826 and the completed license 52 is created and issued in step 828 and associated with the content 42.

FIG. 7 illustrates an offer review process 700 performed by the offer analysis module 430 and the selection execution module 432 of the consumer component 438. Available offers are first collected at step 702. At step 704, process 700 determines whether there is a right to accept the offer from the supplier. For example, consumers may not be able to accept offers if there are certain restrictions on the purchase of content, such as age restrictions or restrictions on accepting content from outside the company. In such a case, the offer review process ends at step 706. If the consumer has the right to accept the offer from the supplier, the offer is analyzed at step 708 to determine if it is recognizable. If it is determined in step 710 that a supplier preference is available, then in step 712 the offers are filtered based on this preference. For example, a consumer may trust a particular supplier or may prefer transactions with this supplier over other suppliers for other reasons. Next, in step 714, it is determined whether a consumer preference is available, and if so, this preference is applied to the offer in step 716. Once all offers have been analyzed by applying the logic of steps 708-714 and any other desired logic, the consumer selects an option at block 718 and selects contingency at block 720. specify. Option selection can be performed automatically. If human intervention is required, the consumer can intervene and further specify additional choices and conditions as desired. Any priority, rule or other logic may be used to analyze the offer.

  Overall, as can be seen from the description of FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 above, the consumer sends a request and a license is constructed. Either the supplier or the consumer may draft the content of the license, but in the above example, the supplier drafts the content. This request is a sub-set of offers, and this offer has one or more options. The supplier shall make this offer available to the consumer sending the request (and other consumers if desired) and then the consumer (and other consumers if applicable) will choose I do. The supplier then analyzes this selection and builds a license (ie grants rights). Here, the request can be rejected, or a correction proposal can be made and the same process repeated for this correction proposal.

  Also, when a supplier analyzes a request, this analysis may be performed automatically or by human intervention. When a consumer reviews an offer, selection or acceptance may be performed automatically or by human intervention. Offers or licenses, or both, may be generated based on dynamic information, consumer information, and consumer requests as described above.

  This dynamic information includes pricing, network status, momentary website traffic, discounts granted, coupon coupons granted, consumer hobbies, content usage times, content usage time, content Many types of information may be included, including information related to the location of use. The dynamic information can be tracked as a state variable, and the value of this state variable can be checked and updated as necessary.

  Dynamic information is information that can be changed or created (though not actually required) with reference to non-static elements. For example, dynamic information may include formulas, databases, curves, predetermined tables, percentages of values, functions, references to other data, such as changes in the official discount rate or stock market index, and / or human intervention by users and distributors. It can be obtained based on intervention and / or consumer input.

  Consumer information includes consumer age, consumer credit history, consumer credit limit, consumer income, type of rights and licenses obtained, consumer password, and key assigned to the consumer. Information such as access and discount club membership, consumer grade based on pre-determined criteria, or other data, identifying features and information may be included. The supplier information includes a part or all of the information object as consumer information, and may also include, for example, available options and variations, supplier, shipping information, and other information.

  The system and process disclosed in the present invention supports multi-layered content structure and super-distribution. Described below is a use case that shows how this can be modeled and supported. The process of offering and granting rights by demonstrating the process of converting the offered rights for the rights supplier (in this case the content distributor) into licensed rights for the rights consumer (in this case the end user) Explain. Specifically, how an offer is generated from an existing license, how this offer is considered according to the selection, and how the final license is issued Show. Meta rights provide a mechanism that allows rights to be transferred from one party in the content distribution chain to the next.

  A content provider P of a certain content C gives a distributor “D” a “play” right to any end user in the United States (US) territory for a flat fee of $ 1 at a cost of $ 4 per sheet. Suppose we want to specify that both rights may be sold (both paid from D to P). The provider also allows content distributors to add their own conditions to the “play” and “print” rights that they issue to end users.

  The license from the content provider to the distributor is as follows when the XrML rights language is used.

  The distributor can offer to the end user based on the rights expressed in the license. Here, the usage right and each optional condition are described as XML between the <grant> tags. In the offer below, the distributor will charge the “play” right to charge the end user $ 2 ($ 1 more than the payment to the provider), and for every print to the end user. Note that there is an additional fee condition for "printing" rights acquisition that charges $ 6 (one more than the payment to the provider). Distributors also limit the offer acceptance period (until December 31, 2002). Depending on the meta right granted to the distributor, the distributor can modify the licensed items in the license as described above and offer the contents.

  When this offer is presented to the end user, the end user may choose to obtain only a $ 2 “play” right for a flat fee, and the <choice> Respond with a choice written as XML between the tags.

  Note that this request can also be rejected. It should also be noted that the response can be constructed as a modified offer for rights that the distributor has not initially offered. When the distributor receives this selection from the end user, the distributor issues a license as shown below to the user.

  It should be noted here that in all the above XML documents, the issuer can choose to digitally sign the document using any digital signature algorithm. The recipients of such documents have the option of verifying the validity of these documents by checking the validity of the attached digital signature. Access to various documents and their elements can be controlled using well-known techniques.

  Under certain circumstances, when offered and licensed, the license will result in a new usage status for the content. When starting to exercise a right, the derived right resulting from the meta right inherits and / or shares the value of the state variable associated with this right. For example, if a document is granted the right to print four copies and copy four copies, all new copies may have the same set of rights, but share state (or residual rights) with the original. When the original is printed twice and newly copied, this copy and the original can be printed a total of three times to make another two copies.

  Thus, this exemplary embodiment includes a method for transferring usage rights configured to be associated with an item. The method generates at least one first offer by the supplier that includes usage rights and meta rights for the item, where the usage rights define how to use the item, and the meta rights are usage rights or other Specifies a right to derive a meta right, presents the offer to the first consumer, receives a selection from the first consumer indicating the desired usage right and meta right, and selects the desired Generating a first license that grants a usage right and a meta right to the first consumer. The exemplary embodiment further includes a system for transferring usage rights configured to be associated with licensed items in a multi-layered distribution channel, along with downstream rights and conditions assigned at least one level downstream. Including. The system includes a supplier user interface module, an offer generation module that generates an offer that includes at least usage rights and meta-rights, a rights configuration module that synthesizes a license proposal, a repository of supplier rights, and a supplier Includes a supplier component with a management database. The system includes a consumer user interface module, an offer review module configured to analyze offers generated by the supplier component and select offers based on the analysis, a repository of consumer rights, and consumption A consumer component comprising a consumer management database. The exemplary embodiments further include a method for generating a license for digital content used in a system that performs at least one of digital content management and distribution. The method includes presenting an offer including a meta right to a consumer, receiving a selection of at least one meta right in the offer by the consumer, and generating a license based on the selection; The license allows the consumer to exercise the at least one meta right, and the consumer offers at least one derived right derived from the at least one meta right and the at least one It is possible to generate a license that includes two derived rights.

  FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary system that includes a common rights state server in accordance with the present invention. In FIG. 12, the exemplary system includes a common rights state server 1201 of a system that includes a rights state manager 1209 and one or more rights state repositories 1214, a meta rights manager 1210, a usage rights manager 1212, an authentication component 1208, A condition validator 1206, a rights state manager 1204, one or more rights state repositories 1216, a license manager 1203, a license interpreter 1202, and one or more license servers 1218 including one or more license repositories 1218. Is possible.

  The common rights state server 1201 can be configured as a remote server connected to one or more license servers 1200. The common rights state server 1201 provides a service comparable to the rights state manager 204 in the license server 1200 via the rights state manager 1209. The service provided from the rights status server 1201 and the status managed by the server 1201 can be shared by one or more rights suppliers and rights consumers (not shown).

  The rights state server 1201 can be configured as a remote server connected to one or more license servers 1200 via one or more remote communication links 1220 or the like. Services provided by rights state server 1201 can also be integrated into one or more of license servers 1200, such services being accessible from other rights suppliers, rights consumers, and the like. is there.

License manager 1203 can include any suitable machine-readable representation, and can optionally derive new rights based on offers that include meta rights. When deriving a right, the license manager 1203 can create a new state variable associated with the derived right. The creation of a state variable and its scope can be defined in the offer or by any other function in the system. This state variable can be created in one or more instances, for example, before derivation of the right, during the derivation of the right, as soon as the condition is met, during the initial exercise of the right associated with the state variable, and so on. State variables can be specified exclusively for a particular rights consumer, shared between rights consumers, or shared between other entities such as rights consumers and rights suppliers. is there. License manager 1230 can interact with rights state manager 1204 to associate new state variables with physical addresses in one or more rights state repositories 1216. Rights state manager 1204 can access one or more rights state repositories 1216 and interact with rights state server 1201 to access shared state variables from one or more rights state repositories 1214. It is possible.

  It is possible to support a license that grants the right to print the content to the recipient of the license five times using the specified state variable, and uses the shared state variable to For example, it is possible to support a site license that grants a group the right to print content 100 times in total. The designated state variable can be updated when the corresponding right is exercised, and the shared state variable can be updated when the authorized user exercises the corresponding right. In other words, shared state variables can include data variables that are updated in response to actions by multiple users and applied globally to each of these users.

  There are several ways to specify the range of a state variable, but any of these methods can share a derived state variable, whether or not it can be shared. It can have an impact on things. For example, the state variable may be local and limited to the recipient alone, or global and shareable by a given group of recipients. Global state variables are not specified when derived rights are issued, and can be shared by a group of recipients specified later, possibly based on certain rules or other means defined in the license. is there. Global state variables can be shared among one or more rights providers, predetermined recipients, unspecified recipients, and the like. Advantageously, state variables can be created at various stages of the value chain due to a shared relationship between a given business model and rights granted within the meta-rights.

  A set of non-exclusive exemplary usages of state variables is described below. For example, a state variable may be unspecified within a meta right, which means that the state variable identifier and value have not yet been determined by the meta rights manager module 1210 and are not yet included in the derived right. Means not. Assigning mutually distinct state variables to each derived right, the scope of this state variable for the derived right is usually limited to the recipient.

FIG. 13 shows a method of using a state variable when deriving an exclusive use right according to the present invention. In FIG. 13, the rights 1302 and 1303 derived from offer 1301 are exclusive to each consumer. Offer 1301 is a type of meta-right in which a recipient has the right to obtain a derivative right when a condition for obtaining a particular derivative right is met. Accordingly, the exemplary offer 1301 has an unspecified state variable 1304. However, the specific state variables 1305 and 1306 are each assigned a unique ID and are included in the derived rights 1302 and 1303. Derived state variables 1305 and 1306 are bound to their associated derived rights, for example, “AlicePlayEbook” (ie, Alice has the right to play an ebook) is bound to the derived right 1302 , “BobPlayEbook” (ie, Bob has the right to play the ebook) is bound to the derived right 1303. The “AlicePlayEbook” variable can be updated when Alice exercises her play right, and the “BobPlayEbook” variable can be updated when Bob exercises her play right.

Besides deriving rights from an offer, rights can be transferred from an entity to a recipient. When the right is transferred, the associated state variable control is also transferred to this recipient. When a right is transferred, the source party is usually no longer able to exercise that right, but the recipient can exercise that right. The license server that controls the exercise of the rights of the receiver is responsible for managing the status. However, when the common rights state server 1201 manages state variables, it is necessary to notify the rights state server 1201 of the transfer of rights. Specifically, the state variable can be managed in the context of the recipient after the transfer of rights.

  When sharing a right between a source party and a recipient, the associated state variable is referenced in the derived right. When sharing this right among multiple recipients, typically all of these recipients share the same state variables as the source party. In this case, the shared state can be managed by an entity accessible from all the sharers.

  FIG. 14 illustrates a method for using state variables in deriving inherited usage rights according to the present invention. In FIG. 14, derived rights can inherit state variables from meta rights. For example, Alice's personal computer (PC), the user, can be configured to play an ebook in accordance with a license 1403. If the PC and PDA share the same state variables 1404 and 1405, eg, “AlicePlayEbook”, Alice's PDA (personal digital assistant) can also obtain the right to play ebooks according to offer 1401. . Derived rights 1402 allow Alice to play an ebook on his PDA as long as the PDA and PC share the same count limit 1406 of 5 times.

  When sharing a usage right with a given set of recipients, it is possible to specify a state variable that tracks the corresponding usage right in the meta right using the same state variable ID for all recipients. . While exercising this meta right, the same state variable ID is included in all derived rights.

  FIG. 15 illustrates a method of using state variables in deriving rights that are shared among a known set of rights recipients according to the present invention. In FIG. 15, a site license 1501 is issued to the University of FooU. For example, the site license 1501 allows a librarian to indicate that a FooU student performs actions such as playing and browsing the corresponding content such as an ebook, and such usage rights are assigned to a state variable 1504, for example, “www”. As long as it is tracked by ".foo.edu", you are granted the right to issue the rights that you want. Thus, the rights 1502 and 1503 derived from the site license 1501 include “www.foo.edu”, which are the state variables 1505 and 1506, which means that the corresponding students Alice and Bob are ebooks. Can be updated by playing.

  When sharing usage rights with a dynamic set of recipients, the state variable may remain unspecified within the usage rights. If the exercise of the meta right and the set of recipients are known, the state variable can be specified with some ID that is unique to this known recipient and can be included in the derived right .

  FIG. 16 illustrates a method of using state variables in deriving rights shared by a dynamic set of rights recipients according to the present invention. In FIG. 16, an offer 1601 issues a site license to a club with which a distributor is affiliated, and performs activities such as viewing and playing content such as an ebook for five members of each club. Specifies that it is possible to execute simultaneously. A corresponding state variable 1607 associated with such rights may be unspecified in offer 1601. When the corresponding rights 1602 and 1603 are issued to the affiliated club, the corresponding club identifier is used to specify the state variables 1608 and 1609 in the issued rights. Offers 1602 and 1603 are meta-rights derived from offer 1601 that are assigned separate state variables 1608 and 1601. Additional offers 1604-1606 can be derived from offers 1602 and 1603 and shared among members of the respective clubs. Licenses 1604 and 1605 are examples of rights derived from offer 1602 and inherit state variables 1608, eg, “um: acme: club”, and license 1606 is a state variable 1609, eg, “um: foo: club. Is inherited.

  State variables can be shared not only by parties such as rights suppliers, consumers, etc., but also by multiple enforceable rights. FIG. 17 illustrates a method for using state variables to maintain a state shared by multiple rights according to the present invention. In FIG. 17, the same state variable 1703 is associated with both the print right 1702 and the play right 1701 so that the total number of actions such as play and print can be traced collectively.

  The status of the rights can be based on more than one state variable. FIG. 18 is used to illustrate a method of using a plurality of state variables to represent one state of a right according to the present invention. The example described with reference to FIG. 18 is based on the example described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 18, usage rights can be tracked using multiple state variables 1807 and 1808 in offer 1801. For example, the state variable 1808 representing the priority level may remain unspecified in the corresponding offers 1802 and 1803 (eg, site license). For example, corresponding state variables 1809-1811 that set priorities can be assigned to each of the corresponding members 1804, 1805, and 1806. Thus, the right to perform actions such as browsing and playing can depend on two state variables, and in practice, the actions such as browsing and playing are limited to five at the same time for each priority level. To do.

  A single state variable can represent a set of states. For example, it is possible to represent a state variable using a unique ID, and using an appropriate mechanism, such a unique ID can be represented in a database of variables, each representing a separate state. It is possible to map.

  Using the scope of state variables, it is possible to determine entities that can manage state variables. For example, in the case of local state variables, usage tracking of the associated rights can be managed only by trusted agents embedded within the rights consuming environment, such as a media player. Additionally, such usage tracking can be performed by a trusted remote service, such as the common rights state server 1201. In addition, shared global state variables can be accessible by multiple trusted agents. Management of these shared global state variables to avoid privacy issues, security issues, trust issues, rights issues, etc. related to accessing content such as data contained within the peer rights consumption environment It can be executed by a remote service such as the rights state server 1201.

  A counter is a common form that uses state variables. For example, such state sharing includes counter sharing. In this case, the state represents the number of rights exercised, the number of events generated, and the like. Such counter sharing can be seen in various forms and can occur in many situations, such as tracking concurrent usage, tracking continuous usage, ordering (eg, , Commercials must be viewed before free content can be accessed), one-time use limit, number of transactions, consignment control level, super distribution level, depending on at least one service or device, etc. .

  In addition, the state variable can be embodied in various forms. For example, use state variables to transfer broadcast rights to specific TV stations by a movie studio, transfer broadcast rights shared by a group of TV stations, transfer broadcast rights assigned in the bidding process, etc. It is possible to track a specific time slot during a period, such as used for.

  State variables can also be used in the form of statements from financial information exchanges, for example in regional sales and rights distribution, and whether commercials were seen before free content became accessible It is possible to confirm that an appropriate fee has been paid.

  Not all rights need to be associated with a state. FIG. 19 is used to illustrate the case where not all rights are associated with a state according to the present invention. In FIG. 19, the offer 1901 allows the user Alice to grant rights such as unlimited play rights and viewing rights to his PDA. Such a play right need not be associated with any state. Accordingly, the derived right 1902 also has an unlimited play right to the content, like the right 1903 to its own PC.

  Not all rights associated with state are shared or inherited. For example, there is a right to be used offline, which can be transferred to another device as a whole and is therefore not shared with other devices. FIG. 20 is used to illustrate the case where not all rights associated with a state are shared or inherited according to the present invention. In FIG. 20, although Alice's play right 2003 as a user, Alice's PDA play right 2002, and Alice's PC play right 2003 are assigned the same state variable ID 2004, they do not have to share the same state. This is because each device can track its state locally. Such an embodiment is advantageous in that each PC and PDA can play the corresponding content up to five times.

  FIG. 21 shows an offer form that does not explicitly include meta rights. In FIG. 21, the offer 2101 is configured as a site license written in English. Licenses 2102 and 2103 are instances derived from offer 2101. In the exemplary embodiment, variables 2104 and 2105 may be created based on an interpretation of offer 2101 by the system of FIG. 12, for example.

  The present preferred embodiment can use various devices such as a personal computer, a server, a workstation, a PDA, and a thin client. For example, the client environment may be a mobile device such as a mobile phone or PDA. Various communication channels can be used. Furthermore, various functions can be integrated into one device. For example, the license server function can be implemented by software in the client environment. Furthermore, the functions of a license server for making offers, selecting rights, and licensing can be implemented in the same device. The functional modules disclosed in this specification are separated by function for easy understanding. However, these various functions can be combined and separated as hardware and / or software in any way. These various functions can be useful either separately or in combination.

  Various elements and portions thereof can be stored on the same device or on separate devices. For example, the license can be stored with the content or separately. Furthermore, the various elements of the license can be stored on different devices. For example, the value of the state variable can be stored in a state variable repository of the system that tracks the current value of the state variable. These elements can be related using various links, references, designations, and the like.

  The invention has been described using exemplary embodiments and examples. However, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and legal equivalents.

Claims (2)

  A method for transferring rights associated with content,
  The rights supplier device generates a rights offer that includes a machine readable representation that allows the rights consumer device to obtain one or more rights if the conditions for obtaining the rights are met;
  The rights supplier device receives a request from the rights consumer device indicating that it is interested in obtaining a particular right to content;
  The rights supplier device determines whether the condition is satisfied;
  If the condition is met, the rights provider device derives a license for the rights consumer device, the derivation includes the particular right in the license, and a state variable is added to the license. Including, storing the state variable in a common rights state server, and associating the license with the content;
  Allowing the rights consumer device to use the content in accordance with the license by transferring the license to the rights consumer device;
  The use of the specific right is tracked by a trusted agent embedded in the rights consumer device and the common rights state server, the tracking being performed by the trusted agent and the common rights state server. Including variable updates,
  The rights supplier device allows the rights consumer device to exercise the particular rights according to the updated state variable;
  Including a method.   A device that transfers rights associated with content,
  Means for generating a rights offer that includes a machine-readable representation that permits the rights consumer device to obtain one or more rights if conditions for rights acquisition are met;
  Means for receiving from the rights consumer device a request indicating an interest in obtaining a particular right to the content;
  Means for determining whether or not the condition is satisfied;
  Means for deriving a license for the rights consumer device if the condition is satisfied, the derivation including the specific right in the license, including a state variable in the license, common Means for deriving comprising storing the state variable in a rights state server and associating the license with the content;
  Means for allowing the rights consumer device to use the content in accordance with the license by transferring the license to the rights consumer device;
  Means for tracking the use of the particular right by a trusted agent embedded in the rights consumer device and the common rights state server, wherein the tracking comprises the trusted agent and the common rights state; Means for tracking, including updates of said state variables by a server;
  And wherein the means for authorizing authorizes the rights consumer device to exercise the particular right according to the updated state variable.

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