Inventors:
Talal G. Shamoon - Palo Alto CA, US
Ralph D. Hill - Los Gatos CA, US
Chris D. Radcliffe - Redwood City CA, US
John P. Hwa - Fremont CA, US
W. Olin Sibert - Lexington MA, US
David M. Van Wie - Eugene OR, US
Assignee:
Intertrust Technologies Corporation - Sunnyvale CA
International Classification:
H04N 7/167
US Classification:
380201, 380229, 380200, 380202, 380203, 380232, 380217, 726 26, 726 30, 726 27, 726 28, 726 29, 726 31, 726 32, 726 33, 713193, 705 51, 705 52, 705 57, 705 58, 360 60, 369 84, 369 85
Abstract:
A novel method and apparatus for protection of streamed media content is disclosed. In one aspect, the apparatus includes control means for governance of content streams or content objects, decryption means for decrypting content streams or content objects under control of the control means, and feedback means for tracking actual use of content streams or content objects. The control means may operate in accordance with rules received as part of the streamed content, or through a side-band channel. The rules may specify allowed uses of the content, including whether or not the content can be copied or transferred, and whether and under what circumstances received content may be “checked out” of one device and used in a second device. The rules may also include or specify budgets, and a requirement that audit information be collected and/or transmitted to an external server. In a different aspect, the apparatus may include a media player designed to call plugins to assist in rendering content.