Distributed digital rights management system and methods for use therewith

Abstract

A digital rights management (DRM) node module for use in a node of a public data includes a node data module that stores DRM data associated with a plurality of digital files, the DRM data including a plurality of DRM identifiers. A packet monitoring module receives the plurality of DRM identifiers from the node data module, that receives packets containing incoming content and compares the incoming content to the DRM identifier, and generates event data when the incoming content matches at least one of the DRM identifiers. A node reporting module receives the event data, and generates node report data based on the event data.

1 . A digital rights management (DRM) host module for use in a public data network comprising:
 a host index module that stores a plurality of index data pertaining to a plurality of digital files containing media content, and DRM data associated therewith; and   a host reporting module, coupled to the host index module, that receives node report data from a plurality of nodes in the public data network, and that generates at least one DRM report based on the node report data.   
   
   
       2 . The DRM host module of  claim 1  wherein the DRM data includes a DRM identifier corresponding to each of the plurality of digital files. 
   
   
       3 . The DRM host module of  claim 2  wherein the DRM identifier includes a digital watermark. 
   
   
       4 . The DRM host module of  claim 1  wherein the DRM report includes event data pertaining to instances where at least one of the plurality of digital files was received at least one of the plurality of nodes. 
   
   
       5 . The DRM host module of  claim 1  wherein the DRM report includes billing data indicating amounts billed for passage of at least one of the plurality of digital files through at least one of the plurality of nodes. 
   
   
       6 . The DRM host module of  claim 1  wherein the DRM report includes stopped-transaction data pertaining to the transmission of at least one of the plurality of digital files stopped by at least one of the plurality of nodes. 
   
   
       7 . A digital rights management (DRM) node module for use in a node of a public data network comprising:
 a node data module that stores DRM data associated with a plurality of digital files, the DRM data including a plurality of DRM identifiers;   a packet monitoring module, coupled to the node data module, that receives the plurality of DRM identifiers from the node data module, that receives packets containing incoming content and compares the incoming content to the DRM identifier, and that generates event data when the incoming content matches at least one of the DRM identifiers; and   a node reporting module, coupled to the packet monitoring module, that receives the event data, and that generates node report data based on the event data.   
   
   
       8 . The DRM node module of  claim 7  wherein at least one of the plurality of DRM identifiers includes a digital watermark. 
   
   
       9 . The DRM node module of  claim 7  wherein the event data includes at least one of one of, a originator of the incoming content and a destination of the incoming content. 
   
   
       10 . The DRM node module of  claim 7  wherein the packet monitoring module halts transmission of the incoming content when the incoming content matches the at least one of the DRM identifiers. 
   
   
       11 . The DRM node module of  claim 7  wherein the DRM data includes a protection key associated with the at least one of the plurality of DRM identifiers, and wherein the packet monitoring module passes transmission of the incoming content when the incoming content matches at least one of the DRM identifiers, but also the protection key matches a received key from the incoming content. 
   
   
       12 . The DRM node module of  claim 7  wherein the DRM data includes a billing indicator associated with the at least one of the plurality of DRM identifiers, and wherein the packet monitoring module passes transmission of the incoming content when the incoming content matches at least one of the DRM identifiers, and the billing indicator indicates that billing is allowed. 
   
   
       13 . A method for use in a public data network, the method comprising:
 storing a plurality of index data pertaining to a plurality of digital files containing, media content, and digital rights management (DRM) data associated therewith;   sending the DRM data to a plurality of nodes in the public data network;   receiving node report data from the plurality of nodes; and   generating at least one DRM report based on the node report data.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the DRM data includes a DRM identifier corresponding to each of the plurality of digital files. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the DRM identifier includes a digital watermark. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the DRM report includes event data pertaining to instances where at least one of the plurality of digital files was received at least one of the plurality of nodes. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the DRM report includes billing data indicating amounts billed for passage of at least one of the plurality of digital files through at least one of the plurality of nodes. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the DRM report includes stopped-transaction data pertaining to the transmission of at least one of the plurality of digital files stopped by at least one of the plurality of nodes. 
   
   
       19 . A method for use in a node of a public data network, the method comprising:
 storing digital rights management (DRM) data associated with a plurality of digital files, the DRM data including a plurality of DRM identifiers;   receiving packets containing incoming content;   comparing the incoming content to the DRM identifier;   generating event data when the incoming content matches at least one of the DRM identifiers; and   generating node report data based on the event data.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein at least one of the plurality of DRM identifiers includes a digital watermark. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the event data includes at least one of one of, a originator of the incoming content and a destination of the incoming content. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 halting transmission of the incoming content when the incoming content matches the at least one of the DRM identifiers.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the DRM data includes a protection key associated with the at least one of the plurality of DRM identifiers, and wherein the method further comprises:
 passing transmission of the incoming content when the incoming content matches at least one of the DRM identifiers, but also the protection key matches a received key from the incoming content.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the DRM data includes a billing indicator associated with the at least one of the plurality of DRM identifiers, and wherein the method further comprises:
 passing transmission of the incoming content when the incoming content matches at least one of the DRM identifiers, and the billing indicator indicates that billing is allowed.