KR101055062B1 - Method and apparatus for converting from one digital rights management scheme to another - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method, a computer program product, a computer program element, and a computer data signal 35 for providing information on supported and digital rights management features referred to as the electronic communication device and the electronic communication device 10. Reference is also made to a method, a content providing device 16, a computer program product and a computer program element for generating a right object for provision to an electronic communication device and system for managing digital rights. The electronic communication device 10 provides at least a reference to the listing or listings 36,38 of digital rights management characteristics supported by each of the at least two digital rights management schemes, the listing being referred to as a communication device, at least the listings. Convert the reference or listing to the content providing device 16. The content providing device 16 based on this listing generates the rights object 40 according to one scheme that only includes properties common to all schemes.

Telecommunication Devices, Digital Rights Management Features, Computer Program Products

Description

How to convert from one digital rights management scheme to another {ALLOWING CONVERSION OF ONE DIGITAL RIGHTS MANAGEMENT SCHEME TO ANOTHER}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to problem solving capabilities associated with digital rights management, and in particular, a method for creating a right object provided to a system for digital rights management and an electronic communication device, content provided to the device, a computer program product. And a method, computer program product, computer program element and computer data signal for providing information regarding supported digital rights management features associated with a computer program element.

In the telecommunications and computer communications fields, there is a trend that allows downloading of different types of media content such as music, for example, from other content providers. In this regard, the content needs to be used under the conditions presented by the content provider. For this implementation the content is often encoded, and a rights object is provided that presents the conditions for the use of the content. The user may, for example, be allowed to play a portion of the music within a certain amount of time or within a specified time limit.

The environment in which this can occur is established in the mobile telephony area by the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA), ie OMA DRM, which is setting up a Digital Right Management (DRM) scheme to handle rights objects. This scheme sets a number of supported features and allows the user to download and use the content with a device that downloads the content according to the conditions set by the content provider.

However, there are more such schemes that exist for other types of devices. For example, Sony's memory stick uses a different scheme called the Magic Gate.

In addition, the use of devices such as mobile phones that have downloaded content can be expected to move the content to another device for a variety of reasons. For this practice the phone may have the possibility of plugging in a memory stick, for example, where the content can be transferred, which can be used for other devices as well, and the ability to play content rather than the phone. You may have more. The memory stick may further support other digital rights management schemes, and the device equipped with the stick may support a third scheme.

In order to protect the interests of the content provider, it is necessary to convert the rights object scheme of the phone into the rights object of the memory stick. But this is not simple. Since the scheme must support different properties, there is a risk that the rights object is not converted because the first rights object has specified properties that do not exist in the scheme of the new rights object. This is a big disadvantage from the user's point of view.

At the same time, it is not appropriate to burden the content provider with the risk of tracking various types of devices and all the different schemes where these different scheme support features may exist.

Therefore, while ensuring that the interests of the content providers are protected while allowing users to use the content to achieve a high degree of freedom, from one digital rights management scheme to at least one other scheme, the content provider can be transformed without undue burden on the content provider. The method needs to be provided.

Therefore, the present invention is directed to solving the problem of allowing the transfer of content rights from one digital rights management scheme to at least one other scheme without undue burden on the content provider, while ensuring that the content provider's interests are protected. Ensure high degrees of freedom for the places used.

This problem provides a listing of digital rights management features supported by at least one reference to listing or each of a number of various digital rights management schemes associated with a communication device, wherein the at least one reference to listing or This is solved by sending a listing for each scheme to the content provider.

Therefore, one object of the present invention is to ensure that the interests of the content provider are protected while at the same time providing the user with a high degree of freedom in using the content, without overly burdening the content provider with at least one other scheme. It is to provide a method for providing information regarding supported digital rights management characteristics in connection with an electronic communication device that allows the conversion of content rights.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, this object is achieved by a method for providing information regarding digital rights management characteristics supported in connection with an electronic communication device, the method comprising: a;

Providing a digital rights management characteristic supported by each of the at least two different digital rights management schemes to at least a reference to a listing or communication device, the listing may be remotely associated with the device, and

Sending at least a reference to the listing or a listing of each scheme to the content provider.

A second aspect of the present invention is directed to a method that includes the features of the first aspect, wherein each listing is provided in a format that allows automatic generation of a rights object in accordance with the first digital rights management scheme.

A third aspect of the invention is directed to a method that includes the features of the first aspect, wherein providing a reference to the listing or providing a listing is provided by providing a reference to the listing or by each digital rights management scheme. Providing a listing of all supported digital rights management features.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is directed towards a method that includes the features of the first aspect, wherein providing a reference to the listing or providing the listing includes listing common to at least two digital rights management schemes or only all digital. Providing a list of rights management properties.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is directed to a method comprising the features of the first aspect, the method further comprising sending a request for content to at least a content provider, the request comprising at least the reference or the listing. can do.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is directed to a method comprising the features of the first aspect, wherein a rights object is created by a content provider in accordance with a scheme for requested content that includes only features common to the scheme, and Sending the rights object to the telecommunication device.

A seventh aspect of the present invention is directed to a method that includes the features of the sixth aspect, further comprising retrieving the listing by the content provider from the location indicated by the reference.

An eighth aspect of the present invention is directed to a method incorporating the features of the sixth aspect, further comprising receiving, at a communication device, a rights object and converting the object into an object according to the other scheme.

Another object of the present invention is that the present invention is overburdened by content providers from one digital rights management scheme to at least one other scheme so that the user can gain a high degree of freedom while using the content while ensuring that the interests of the content provider are protected. The present invention provides a method for generating a rights object for providing permission to convert content rights without providing to an electronic communication device.

According to a ninth aspect of the invention, this object is achieved by a method of creating a rights object for providing a provision to an electronic communication device, the method comprising;

Receiving, from the telecommunications device, a reference to a listing supported by each of at least two digital rights management schemes associated with the communication device or a listing of digital rights management characteristics, the listing being remotely related to the communication device. Can be, and

Generating a rights object according to one scheme that contains only properties common to all schemes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide content rights without excessive burden on content providers from one digital rights management scheme to at least one other scheme to ensure that the interests of the content providers are protected while at the same time allowing the user a high degree of freedom in using the content. It is to provide an electronic communication device for communication of a content provider that allows the conversion of.

According to a tenth aspect of the invention, this object is achieved by an electronic communication device for communicating with a content provider, the device comprising:

A digital rights management control unit configured to provide a reference to a listing supported by each of at least two different digital rights management schemes associated with the telecommunication device or a listing of digital rights management characteristics, the listing may be remotely related to the device; And

And a sending unit, configured to send at least a reference to the list or a listing of each scheme to the content provider.

An eleventh aspect of the present invention is directed to an electronic communication device including the features of the tenth aspect, each listing provided in a format that allows automatic generation of a rights object in accordance with the first digital rights management scheme.

A twelfth aspect of the present invention is directed to an electronic communication device including the features of the tenth aspect, wherein the digital rights management control unit provides a reference to the listing or a reference to the listing or each digital rights management scheme when providing the listing. It is configured to provide a listing that includes all digital rights management features supported by it.

A thirteenth aspect of the present invention is directed towards an electronic communication device comprising the features of the tenth aspect, wherein the digital rights management control unit provides only digital common to at least two digital rights management schemes when providing a reference or listing to a listing. It is configured to provide a reference or list of rights management properties.

A fourteenth aspect of the present invention is directed to an electronic communication device comprising the features of the tenth aspect, wherein the digital rights management control unit sends a request for content to the content provider via the sending unit, the request being at least on the list. It may also include a reference to or a list of the above.

A fifteenth aspect of the present invention is directed to an electronic communication device including the features of the tenth aspect, further comprising a first fixed media content storage device associated with the first digital rights management scheme.

A sixteenth aspect of the present invention is directed to an electronic communication device including the features of the fifteenth aspect, further comprising a removable media content storage device associated with the second digital rights management scheme.

A seventeenth aspect of the present invention is directed to an electronic communication device including the features of the tenth aspect, wherein the electronic communication device is a portable communication device.

An eighteenth aspect of the present invention is directed to an electronic communication device comprising the features of the seventeenth aspect, wherein the electronic communication device is a mobile telephone.

Another aspect of the invention provides content rights without undue burden on content providers from one digital rights management scheme to at least one other scheme to ensure that the interests of the content providers are protected while at the same time allowing a user a high degree of freedom in using the content. It is to provide a system for managing digital rights that allow the conversion of.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, this object is achieved by a system for maintaining digital rights, the system providing an electronic communication device for communicating with a content provider and providing content for providing media content to the electronic communication device. A device comprising: an electronic communication device,

A digital rights management control unit configured to provide at least a reference to a listing or a digital rights management characteristic supported by each of two different digital rights management schemes related to the communication device, the listing may be remotely related to the device, and

At least a sending unit configured to send each scheme of the listing to a reference or content provider for the listing,

An apparatus for providing media content to the electronic communication device,

Receive at least a reference to the listing or the listing from the telecommunications device and create a rights object according to one scheme that only includes properties common to all schemes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide content rights without excessive burden on content providers from one digital rights management scheme to at least one other scheme to ensure that the interests of the content providers are protected while at the same time allowing a user a high degree of freedom in using the content. It is to provide a content providing device for generating a rights object to an electronic communication device that allows the conversion of.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, this object is achieved by a content providing device for providing a rights object to an electronic communication device, the apparatus comprising:

Receive a listing from the telecommunications device of at least a reference to the listing or a digital rights management characteristic supported by each of two different digital rights management schemes associated with the communication device, the listing being remotely related to the communication device; , And a rights object is constructed according to one scheme containing only properties common to all schemes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide content rights without excessive burden on content providers from one digital rights management scheme to at least one other scheme to ensure that the interests of the content providers are protected while at the same time allowing a user a high degree of freedom in using the content. To provide a computer program product for providing information on supported digital rights management characteristics with respect to an electronic communication device that permits the conversion of.

According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, this object is achieved by a computer program product for providing information about digital rights management characteristics supported in connection with an electronic communication device comprising a readable computer medium, said readable computer. The medium is:
Computer program code means for causing the electronic communication device to execute when the program is in an electronic communication device, the computer program code means:

Provide a listing of digital rights management features supported by at least a reference to the listing or each of at least two different digital rights management schemes related to the telecommunications device, the listings may be remotely associated with the device, and

Instruct them to send at least a reference to the listing or a listing of each scheme to the content provider.

Another object of the present invention is to provide content rights without excessive burden on content providers from one digital rights management scheme to at least one other scheme to ensure that the interests of the content providers are protected while at the same time allowing a user a high degree of freedom in using the content. To provide a computer program element for providing information about supported digital rights management characteristics with respect to an electronic communication device that allows conversion of the < RTI ID = 0.0 >

According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, this object is achieved by a computer program element for providing information about supported digital rights management characteristics with respect to an electronic communication device, when the program is in the electronic communication device. The program element is:

Provide a listing of digital rights management features supported by at least a reference to the listing or each of at least two different digital rights management schemes related to the telecommunications device, the listings may be remotely associated with the device, and

Computer program code means for instructing the content provider to transmit at least a reference to the listing or each scheme of the listing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide content rights without excessive burden on content providers from one digital rights management scheme to at least one other scheme to ensure that the interests of the content providers are protected while at the same time allowing a user a high degree of freedom in using the content. It is to provide a computer program product to generate a right object for providing to an electronic communication device that allows the conversion of.

According to a twenty third aspect of the present invention, this object is achieved by a computer program product for creating a rights object for providing to an electronic communication device comprising a readable computer medium, the readable computer medium comprising:

So that the computer can run when the computer program is located on the computer,

Upon receiving from the telecommunications device at least a reference to a listing or a reference to a digital rights management characteristic listing or listing supported by each of at least two different digital rights management schemes related to the communication device, the listing is adapted to the communication device. Remotely related to

Computer program code means for generating a rights object according to one scheme that contains only properties common to all schemes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide content rights without excessive burden on content providers from one digital rights management scheme to at least one other scheme to ensure that the interests of the content providers are protected while at the same time allowing a user a high degree of freedom in using the content. A computer program element is provided for generating a rights object for providing to an electronic communication device that permits the conversion of.

According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the invention, this object is achieved by a computer program element for generating a rights object for providing to an electronic communication device, the computer program element:

So that the computer can run when the computer program is on the computer,

Upon receiving from the telecommunications device a reference to a listing or a reference to a digital rights management characteristic listing or listing supported by each of at least two different digital rights management schemes related to the communication device, the listing is transmitted to the communication device. Remotely related,

Computer program code means for generating a rights object according to one scheme that contains only properties common to all schemes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide content rights without excessive burden on content providers from one digital rights management scheme to at least one other scheme to ensure that the interests of the content providers are protected while at the same time allowing the user a high degree of freedom in using the content. A computer data signal is provided for providing information about supported digital rights management characteristics relating to an electronic communication device that permits conversion of the < RTI ID = 0.0 >

According to a twenty-fifth aspect of the invention, this object is achieved by a computer data signal for providing information about supported digital rights management characteristics related to the telecommunication device, the data signal being:

At least a reference to the listing or a digital rights management feature listing related to the telecommunications device, which listing may be remotely related to the device.

The present invention has the following advantages. The conversion of content rights from one digital rights management scheme to at least one other scheme is allowed, which allows content users to move additional content between different devices. The content provider does not need to keep track of which different feature schemes are supported because these are provided to them. The content provider will further check directly whether these characteristics are sufficient to protect the content provider's interests. The content provider can further assure the user that the selected characteristics for inclusion in the rights object can be handled by the telecommunications device and other devices associated therewith.

 In accordance with the second and eleventh aspects of the invention, the listing is provided in a format that allows automatic generation of a rights object in accordance with the first digital rights management scheme, so that the content provider does not know about more than one scheme, but different schemes. It is still possible to provide content to users who want to use its content. According to the third and twelfth aspects, different listing provisions for each scheme allow the provider to determine for themselves whether or not the content will be provided to the telephone user and to what extent it will be used in other devices having a scheme other than the telephone.

The phrase "comprises / comprising" as used herein is used to describe the presence of the described property, integer, step, or element, but the presence of one or more properties, integers, steps, elements, or groups thereof. It should be emphasized that no addition should be excluded.

The invention will now be described in further detail in relation to the disclosed figures, which are:

1 is a block diagram illustrating an overview of a system including an electronic communication device and a content providing device according to the present invention.

2 is a block diagram showing an overview of an electronic communication device according to the present invention;

3 is a block diagram showing an outline of a content providing device according to the present invention;

4 is a schematic diagram of transmission of a content request from an electronic communication device and delivery of a requested content from the content providing device.

5 is a flow chart of a method for providing information on supported digital rights management schemes as well as content reception in accordance with the present invention.

6 is a schematic diagram of a computer program product in the form of a CD ROM disk according to the present invention.

The system according to the invention will now be described in connection with FIG. 1. The electronic communication device in the form of a mobile phone 10 communicates with a content providing device via a cellular communication network 14 having a base station 12. A server 17 is also connected to the network 14 that stores information about digital rights management (DRM) supporting the telephone. The phone downloads content from the content providing device 16, which may be in the form of different types of media files such as video, music or still pictures depending on the different types of formats the phone can handle. When the user downloads the content, a rights object is also provided, which defines how the user will use the content between the others. The telephone user may however wish to transfer the downloaded content to another device he owns, since the rights object is specific to the scheme used and cannot be converted to a rights object associated with the other device. The transmission may not be easily implemented unless all of the properties of are supported by the rights object scheme of the other device.

To allow this conversion, the telephone includes the units described in FIG. 2 that represent the part associated with the telephone. The telephone therefore comprises a transmission unit 18 configured to communicate with the network of FIG. 1 via an antenna 20. The transmission unit 18 is connected to the digital rights management control unit 22 and the first fixed media content storage device 24. The application unit 26 is connected to the first media content storage device in order to make the content downloaded to the first fixed media content storage device 24 for the device user available. The second removable media content storage device 28 is connected to the first fixed media content storage device 24. The first digital rights management scheme is associated with the telephone. Since the content is downloaded to the first media content storage device 24, the first scheme may appear to be associated with this first fixed media content storage device 24. The second digital rights management scheme is associated with a second removable storage device, which in this embodiment is a memory stick. The digital rights management control unit 22 is connected to these storage devices 24 and 28. It should be understood that the telephone 10 includes more units than described for transmitting and receiving telephone calls and performing other functions not related to the downloaded content. They are not, however, related to the present invention and have been omitted for easier understanding of the present invention. The methods that have been linked and described with respect to the above different media content storage places, application units, communication units and digital rights management units are merely examples of how the invention can be implemented. It should be appreciated that these configurations and functions may be modified and changed in many ways. 3 shows a block diagram of an associated portion of a content providing device 16 in accordance with the present invention. This includes the communication unit 30, the content providing control unit 32 and the content storage device 34. The content providing control unit 32 is connected to the content storage device 30 as well as the communication unit 30.

The functional description of the system begins with the telephone function. This functionality will be described with reference to FIGS. 1,2,3,4 and 5, where FIG. 4 illustrates a number of scheme characteristics (count, interval, datetime, adaptive TRansform Acoustic). Coding), a first list 36 related to a first DRM scheme that lists MPEG Audio Layer-3 (MP3), advanced audio coding (AAC), and a number of which are transmitted from the telephone 10 to the content provider. Schematically illustrates a content request signal 35 comprising a second list 38 associated with a second DRM scheme listing the scheme characteristics (count, ATRAC) of the < RTI ID = 0.0 >. ≪ / RTI > In practice, the signal only contains a reference to the list provided to the server 17. Figure 4 shows the content provider with the rights object 40 according to a scheme with two used properties. Provided content 42 Also included is a schematic representation of the response signal 39, where the characteristic count is set on the device 10 and the coding used is ATRAC The response signal 39 is sent from the content provider to the telephone 10. FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of a method performed by telephone 10 and content provider in accordance with the present invention.

The method starts with a user who wants to download some type of media content from a content provider to which the content providing device belongs. This selection is made using a user input unit, such as a keypad, which is read by the digital rights management control unit. The phone first recognizes that some different type of digital rights management scheme is supported. So when the user wants to download some content, the digital rights management control unit 22 already recognizes the scheme that the phone supports, either by itself or through the second removable content storage device 28. An example of the list of schemes supported by the removable content storage device 28 is shown in FIG. 4 and is designated 38. The list illustrates the Magic Gate Scheme, where the "count" property, which indicates how many hours of content can be played, is shown along with the ATRAC property, where the ATRAC property indicates what type of coding is the second memory. It can be used when stored in the device 28. It should be appreciated that this is only an example of the type of supported property, and in fact some more can be supported by this scheme. However, the list includes all the features supported by the storage device 28, including one possible option. The digital rights management control unit 22 also recognizes a scheme that supports the phone itself, whose list for the characteristics of the first scheme 36 is supported by the phone, which is also the OMA DRM scheme shown in FIG. 4. Illustrated here by. The scheme can be reproduced well by the different types of coding that support ATRAC, MP3 and AAC, the count characteristics as mentioned above, the time intervals over which content can be played, and the interval characteristics used to represent typical intervals without a fixed start date. It supports a datetime feature that represents a fixed time interval of content. Also here list 36 includes all the features supported by the scheme including one of the possible options, but for easier understanding of the invention, only a small part is shown in FIG. 4. It should be appreciated that such a file or list does not represent a detailed scheme but merely represents a different characteristic that each scheme supports. Both lists are further provided in the form of the syntax used for the rights object provided by the first scheme. The advantage of this will be explained later. When the first scheme is OMA DRM, this means that the property is provided as a parameter value used in the OMA Rights Expression Language vocabulary using the parameters defined by the User Agent Profile (UAProf). In a preferred embodiment, this list is provided to the server 17 in a document provided from the telephone producer. The phone then provides or includes to the server 17 a reference or link using, for example, a URL. The method begins by providing a reference to the feature list in step 44 to all DRM schemes associated with the phone.

After having such a reference provided to the two lists 36 and 38, in step 46, the digital rights management control unit 22 sends a request signal to the content providing device 16 using the transmission unit 18. Send 35). This request is a request for a portion of the content along with a reference to the characteristics of the two lists 36 and 38 supported by the telephone 10 and the removable storage 28. The list is expressed in terms used by the first scheme and stored in the server 17. Then in step 48, the content provider 16 receives in the communication unit 30 a content request directed to the content providing control unit 32. The content providing control unit 32 then retrieves the list from the server 17 using the reference received from the telephone in step 49 and generates a rights object 40 for the content in step 50. do. The rights object is preferably provided in the form of an XML-file. This rights object is created according to the first scheme, that is, the scheme of the telephone, and contains only the features supported by both schemes. Since the property is listed using the syntax for a rights object according to the first scheme, it is easy for a content provider to automatically create such a rights object. In the case illustrated simply above, the rights object 40 has only two properties, the first "count" is set to 10, i.e. the user is allowed to play the content 10 times, and the coding used with the ATRAC setting property Is ATRAC. The content providing control unit 32 then recovers the encoded content 40 from the content storage device 34 or, conversely, executes the encoding of the content. The content 42 and the content right 42 are then sent in step 52 to the answer signal 39 from the content provider 16 using the communication unit 30 to the telephone 10. Here the content may be encoded and the phone receives the decryption key in some suitable way in order to be able to actually play the content. In the preferred example, this decryption key is provided to the rights object 40. The content and rights objects are provided with the phone in the embodiment described above. But it should also be recognized that they can be provided separately.

The content 42 and the rights object 40 are then received in step 54 by the transmitting unit 18 of the telephone 10 and under the control of the digital rights management control unit 22 the first fixed media content. It is stored in the storage device 24. In this way, the application unit 26 can play the content.

From now on, suppose the user wants to play the content somewhere, for example with his stereo device. He then wants to move the content to removable storage 28. To do this, the digital rights management control unit 22 converts, in step 56, the rights object into a rights object according to the scheme 38 supported by the removable storage device 28. Then in step 58, the content and the new rights object are transferred to removable storage 28, which may now not be connected to the phone, for example to be imported into stereo, video or computer. While the interests of the content provider are protected, in this way the user can freely move the content from one device to another.

The different control units are preferably provided in the form of one or more processors associated with the program memory, which carry out the various method steps according to the invention. The storage device is preferably provided as a conventional memory. The communication unit is preferably provided in the form of a conventional communication circuit, for example an ASIC circuit.

The program code for carrying out the present invention is also provided by one or more data carriers in the form of a CD ROM disk 60 shown in FIG. 6, which, when loaded into a telephone or content providing device, implements the present invention. do. This is just one such data carrier example. The other type is convenient for convenience, for example a memory stick. The program code may also be downloaded from a telephone or content provider server or from an external server.

The present invention has a number of advantages. This allows for the conversion of content rights from one digital rights management scheme to at least one other scheme, which gives the content user the freedom of additional content movement between different devices. The content provider does not need to keep track of which characteristics are supported by the different schemes after this information is provided to the user. The content provider further checks directly whether this feature is sufficient to protect its own interests. The content provider can also assure the user of the characteristics selected for inclusion in the rights object that can be handled by the electronic communication device and other devices associated with it. Since two lists with properties are presented according to the syntax used for the rights object according to the first scheme provided, the content provider does not need to know more than one scheme, while using the content in several different schemes. It is still possible to provide content to users who need to. The use of the syntax according to the first scheme also allows the content provider to automatically create a rights object. The provision of a different list further gives the content provider the possibility that the content provider will decide for themselves whether or not and to what extent the content will be provided to other devices than the phone.

There may be a number of possible variations in the present invention. In cases where the phone may include additional information, such as a DIF-header, it is possible to further download the features and applications in a request to the content providing device, where the additional information may include information about the additional functionality of the phone. Can be. The phone may itself be provided with two or one list, and may send the list or lists directly to the content providing device. The phone or server can also provide a list of features that are common or supported only by both DRM schemes. This relieves the content provider of the burden of checking which features support both, but also limits the options for delivering or not delivering content. The list is also provided to a third device, for example a computer with a video, stereo or memory stick inserted. Information about schemes for other devices may be received directly via a device such as, for example, Bluetooth ^™ . Such information may be received from other devices, such as assembly devices, and may also be applied to removable storage devices. Therefore, in general, the present invention is not limited to two lists, but can be applied to more than one, and the only limitation is the limited memory space of the phone. The present invention further exists in connection with mobile phones. However, it should be recognized that it can be provided by some other type of device, such as communicators, electronic organizers, smartphones, palm top computers, lap top computers. Or even a device such as a PC. Similarly used communication networks used the requirement to use any communication network other than a cellular network. Therefore, the invention is limited only by the following claims.

Claims (25)

A method of providing information about supported digital rights management features associated with an electronic communication device (10): Providing, by the telecommunications device, at least a reference to a listing, or a listing (36,38) of digital rights management characteristics supported by each of at least two different digital rights management schemes associated with the telecommunications device, wherein A first scheme is associated with the telecommunication device itself, a second scheme is associated with the removable media content storage device 28 of the telecommunication device, and at least one listing may be remotely associated with the telecommunication device. , Providing step 44, Sending a request for content 35 and a reference to the listing or listing from the telecommunications device to the content provider (46), and Receiving, by the telecommunications device, a rights object 40, according to one of the schemes for the requested content 42, which only comprises a characteristic common to the scheme. How to provide information about digital rights management characteristics. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein each listing is provided in a format that allows automatic generation of a rights object according to the first digital rights management scheme. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein providing a reference to the listing or providing a listing comprises providing a reference to the listing or providing a listing of all digital rights management features supported by the respective digital rights management scheme. Method comprising a. 3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein providing a reference to the listing or providing a listing comprises providing a list or only a reference to a list of all digital rights management features common to at least two digital rights management schemes. Method comprising a. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step 52 of creating the rights object 40 by a content provider in accordance with one of the schemes for the requested content 42 that includes only features common to the scheme. How to feature. 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising retrieving the listing by the content provider from the location indicated by the reference. 7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising the step of converting (56) the object into an object according to another scheme. In a method for generating, by a content provider, a rights object 40 for provision of an electronic communication device 10: A listing of digital rights management features supported by the content provider by each of the at least two digital rights management schemes associated with the request or the request for content 35 and listings from the electronic communication device. 36,38), wherein the first scheme is associated with the telecommunication device itself, the second scheme is associated with the removable media content storage device 28 of the telecommunication device, and one listing is the electronic A receiving step 48, which may be remotely associated with the communication device, Generating, by the content provider, a rights object 40 for the requested content 42 according to one of the schemes that includes only properties common to all schemes, and 50 And transmitting (52) a rights object to the telecommunications device. In an electronic communication device (10) for communicating with a content provider: Digital rights management control arranged to provide a listing 36, 38 of digital rights management characteristics supported by at least a reference to a listing, or each scheme of at least two or more other digital rights management schemes related to the telecommunication device. As unit 22, a first scheme is associated with the telecommunications device itself, and a second scheme is associated with removable media content storage 28 of the telecommunications device, and a listing is associated with the telecommunications device. A digital rights management control unit, which can be remotely associated, and Under the control of the digital rights management control unit, a request for the content 35 and a reference to the listing or a listing of each scheme are sent to the content provider, and to the requested content 42 containing only the characteristics common to the scheme. And a sending unit (18) arranged to receive a rights object (40) according to one of the schemes for the content provider. 10. The telecommunications device of claim 9, wherein each listing is provided in a format that allows automatic generation of a rights object in accordance with a first one of the digital rights management schemes. 11. The digital rights management control unit 22 according to claim 9 or 10, comprising all digital rights management features supported by each digital rights management scheme when a reference or listing to the listing is provided. And provide a reference or a reference to the listing. 11. The digital rights management control unit of claim 9 or 10, wherein the digital rights management control unit provides a reference to a listing or, when a listing is provided, a list common to at least two digital rights management schemes or a reference to only all digital rights management feature lists. And provide an electronic communication device. 10. The electronic communication device of claim 9, further comprising a first fixed media content storage device (24) associated with a first one of the digital rights management schemes. 10. The electronic communication device according to claim 9, further comprising the removable media content storage device (28). The electronic communication device of claim 9, wherein the electronic communication device is a portable communication device. 16. The electronic communication device according to claim 15, wherein said electronic communication device is a mobile telephone. In the system of managing digital rights: An electronic communication device (10) is in communication with a content provider, the electronic communication device comprising: As a digital rights management control unit 22 arranged to provide at least a reference to a listing, or a listing 36, 38 of digital rights management supported by each of at least two different digital rights management schemes related to the electronic communication device. Digital rights, the first scheme being associated with the telecommunication device itself, the second scheme being associated with the removable media content storage device 28 of the device, and a list of which may be remotely associated with the telecommunication device. Management control unit 22, and A request for content 35 and a reference to the listing, or a rights object according to one of the schemes for the requested content 42, which sends a listing of each scheme to the content provider, including properties common to the scheme. A transmission unit 18 arranged to operate under the control of the digital rights management control unit, to receive 40, and A content providing device for providing media content to an electronic communication device, comprising: receiving a request for content and the reference to the listing or the listing, and the content in accordance with one of the schemes containing only characteristics common to all schemes. System for generating a rights object (40) and arranged to transmit the rights object to an electronic communication device.  A content providing device for generating a rights object in an electronic communication device, From the telecommunications device 10, a reference to the request and listing for content 35, or a listing 36 of digital rights management features supported by each of at least two different digital rights management schemes related to the telecommunications device, 38), a first scheme is associated with the telecommunication device itself, a second scheme is associated with the removable media content storage device 28 of the telecommunication device, and one listing is remote to the telecommunication device. Arranged to be associated with Arranged to generate a rights object 40 for the requested content 42 according to one of the schemes containing only properties common to all schemes, And provide the rights object to the electronic communication device. A computer readable storage medium included in an electronic communication device (10), wherein a computer program is stored therein, the computer program providing information about digital rights management characteristics supported by the electronic communication device (10). A computer readable storage medium, The computer readable storage medium includes computer program code means for causing an electronic communication device to execute when the computer program is loaded into the electronic communication device, the computer program code means comprising: Provide a listing 36, 38 of digital rights management features supported by at least a reference to the listing, or at least by each of at least two different digital rights management schemes related to the electronic communication device, the first scheme being associated with the electronic communication device itself. A second scheme is associated with the removable media content storage device 28 of the telecommunication device, one listing may be remotely associated with the telecommunication device, Directing a request for content 35 from the telecommunications device to a content provider and a reference to a list or listing of each scheme, A storage medium for storing a computer program, characterized in that receiving a rights object (40) in accordance with one of the schemes for the requested content (42) containing only properties common to the scheme. delete  A storage medium for storing a computer program for generating a rights object for provision of an electronic communication device (10), Computer program code means for causing an electronic communication device to be executed when said computer program is loaded into a computer, said computer program code means being: A request for content 35 and a reference to a listing, or from the telecommunications device of listings 36 and 38 of digital rights management characteristics supported by each of at least two different digital rights management schemes related to the telecommunications device. Upon receipt, a first scheme is associated with the telecommunication device itself, a second scheme is associated with the removable media content storage device 28 of the telecommunication device, and one listing is remotely associated with the telecommunication device. Can be, Generate a rights object 40 for the requested content 42 according to one of the schemes containing only properties common to all schemes, And transmit the rights object to an electronic communication device. delete An electronic communication device (10) for transmitting a computer data signal (35), said computer data signal (35) providing information about digital rights management characteristics supported for said electronic communication device (10), and said electronic communication In an electronic communication device (10) transmitted from a device to a content providing device: The computer data signal; In order for the telecommunications device to receive the rights object 40 according to one of the schemes for the requested content 42 that includes only properties common to the scheme, a reference to the request and listing for the content, or an electronic communication And a listing (36,38) of digital rights management characteristics supported by each of at least two different digital rights management schemes associated with the device. delete delete

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