Content protection method and apparatus

Abstract

There is disclosed a content protection method and apparatus. The content protection method and apparatus further improves such related schemes by facilitating spatial as well as temporal management of content. This is achieved by storing encrypted content and a corresponding decryption key and destroying the decryption key when suitable. In order to further facilitate the content protection, the decryption key may be received periodically, which allows for a large number of people to connect to the network at different times.

1 . A method of protecting content in a portable client device comprising the steps of:
 receiving, over a network and storing on a memory device in the portable client device, content encrypted using an encryption key;   receiving at, and storing on a memory in the portable client device, a decryption key operable to decrypt the encrypted content; and   destroying, in response to a predetermined event, the decryption key or content stored at the portable client device,   wherein the portable client device is connectable to a wireless network and the decryption key is stored locally in the portable client device and the encrypted content is stored on a portable removable data storage device and the predetermined event is determined when said portable removable data storage device is removed from the portable client device.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the decryption key is received periodically in time at the portable client device. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the network is a multi-cast network. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 decrypting the encrypted content into a secure environment within the portable client device, whereby the copying of the decrypted content is prohibited.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 validating the portable client device for use with the network before receiving the decryption key, wherein the validating step includes the steps of:
 obtaining a code unique to, and stored in, the portable client device prior to use of the network; 
 storing said code on the network; and 
 transferring said code over the network, wherein the portable client device is validated and will only connect to the network in accordance with a positive comparison between the transferred code and said unique code stored in the portable client device. 
   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 storing the validated unique client device code in association with verification information identifying the user of the portable client device.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined event is determined in accordance with the proximity of the portable client device to the wireless network. 
     
     
         8 . A portable client device operable to connect to a network, the portable client device comprising:
 a network interface operable to connect to a network and to receive encrypted content and a corresponding decryption key for decrypting the encrypted content therefrom;   a storage device operable to store the encrypted content thereon;   a storage medium operable to store the decryption key thereon; and   a decryption key destroying device operable, in response to a predetermined event, to destroy the decryption key or content stored on the storage medium, wherein the network interface is connectable to a wireless network wherein the decryption key is stored locally in the portable client device and the storage device is a portable data storage device that is removable from the portable client device, the predetermined event is determined in response to the removal of the portable data storage device from the portable client device.   
     
     
         9 . The portable client device according to  claim 8 , wherein the network interface is operable to receive the decryption key periodically in time. 
     
     
         10 . The portable client device according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a secure environment in which the encrypted content is decrypted, whereby the copying of the decrypted content in the secure environment is prohibited.   
     
     
         11 . The client device according to  claim 8 , wherein the portable client device is operative to delete said encrypted content in response to the predetermined event. 
     
     
         12 . The client device according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a validator operable to validate the portable client device for use with the network, comprising:
 a retriever operable to retrieve a unique code stored on the portable client device, a comparison device operable to compare the unique code with a code stored on, and transmitted over, the network, and only in the event of a positive comparison, the validator is operable to validate the portable client device and allow the portable client device to connect to the network. 
   
     
     
         13 . The portable client device according to  claim 8 , wherein the predetermined event is determined in accordance with the proximity of the portable client device to the wireless network. 
     
     
         14 . A network comprising:
 a server connected to a network; and   at least one network point connected to the server via the network, the or each network point being in communication with the portable client device according to  claim 8 .   
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program containing computer readable instructions, which, when executed by portable client device including a processor causes the processor to perform a method comprising:
 receiving, over a network and storing on a memory device in the portable client device, content encrypted using an encryption key;   receiving at, and storing on a memory in the portable client device, a decryption key operable to decrypt the encrypted content; and   destroying, in response to a predetermined event, the decryption key or content stored at the portable client device,   wherein the portable client device is connectable to a wireless network and the decryption key is stored locally in the portable client device and the encrypted content is stored on a portable removable data storage device and the predetermined event is determined when said portable removable data storage device is removed from the portable client device.   
     
     
         16 . The storage medium according to  claim 15 , wherein said storage medium is a Universal Media Disc.