Techniques for defining, using and manipulating rights management data structures

Abstract

A descriptive data structure provides an abstract representation of a rights management data structure such as a secure container. The abstract representation may describe, for example, the layout of the rights management data structure. It can also provide metadata describing or defining other characteristics of rights management data structure use and/or processing. For example, the descriptive data structure can provide integrity constraints that provide a way to state rules about associated information. The abstract representation can be used to create rights management data structures that are interoperable and compatible with one another. This arrangement preserves flexibility and ease of use without compromising security.

1 - 28 . (canceled)  
   
   
       29 . A method of creating and using a secure container comprising: 
 defining a descriptive data structure that generically defines a class of interoperable, compatible container structures;    using the descriptive data structure to create at least one secure container;    distributing the descriptive data structure to plural electronic appliances; and    interoperating with the secure container at said plural electronic appliances by at least in part using the descriptive data structure to locate and/or specify information within the secure container.    
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the descriptive data structure corresponds to an atomic transaction, and the method further includes the step of performing the atomic transaction on at least one of said plural electronic appliances at least in part in accordance with the descriptive data structure.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 29  further including the step of independently using and/or providing controls relating to the descriptive data structure.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 29  further including the step of defining at least one class of descriptive data structure based on at least one parameter.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the descriptive data structure includes organization information at least in part describing a required or desired organization of a content section of the secure container.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the descriptive data structure includes metadata information at least in part specifying one step required or desired for creation of the secure container.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the method is conducted at least in part on a secure electronic appliance.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the descriptive data structure includes entries pertaining to events within the atomic transaction.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the entries define where in the container the events can be found.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the entries include metadata that provides additional characteristics corresponding to the events.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the metadata provides information related to how the events should be displayed.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the controls govern at least one aspect of access to or use of at least a portion of the secure container.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the step of distributing the descriptive data structure to plural electronic appliances is performed over an electronic network.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the descriptive data structure is used by the plural electronic appliances to create secure containers.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the descriptive data structure is contained in a separate secure container having rules controlling access to the separate secure container.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the descriptive data structure includes entries pertaining to events (data fields) within the transaction/container structure.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the entries define where in the container the events can be found.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the entries include metadata that provides additional characteristics corresponding to the events.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the metadata provides information related to how the events should be displayed.