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 accessing content information, the method performed by a first electronic appliance, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a first communications interface of the first electronic appliance, a secure electronic container, the secure electronic container comprising:
 content information; 
 hierarchal data comprising a plurality of first attributes, the plurality of first attributes defining first level organizational elements of the secure electronic container; and 
 one or more rules governing use of the content information; 
   receiving, from a user of the first electronic appliance, a request to use the content information;   accessing, based at least in part on the plurality of first attributes, the one or more rules governing use of the content information;   determining that the request to access the content information is allowed by the one or more rules; and   allowing access to the content information based on the determination.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein each of the plurality of first attributes of the hierarchal data comprise one or more second attributes, the one or more second attributes defining second level organizational elements of the secure electronic container. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the hierarchal data comprises access information defining one or more access conditions of the content information. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein allowing access to the content information is further based on a determination that the one or more access conditions of the content information are satisfied. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the access conditions are included, at least in part, in the plurality of first attributes. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein each of the plurality of first attributes of the hierarchal data comprise one or more second attributes, the one or more second attributes defining second level organizational elements of the secure electronic container, and wherein the access conditions are included, at least in part, in the plurality of second attributes. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein at least one of the first or second attributes comprises information specifying fields relating to at least one atomic transaction. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the one or more rules require that payment information be transmitted to a second electronic appliance associated with a clearinghouse prior to accessing the content information. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the method further comprises transmitting, by the communications interface, payment information to the second electronic appliance, and the determining step further comprises determining that the payment information was transmitted to the second electronic appliance. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the method further comprises transmitting, to a second electronic appliance associated with a clearinghouse, usage data relating to use of the content information. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the hierarchal data is encrypted. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein hierarchal data is cryptographically sealed. 
     
     
         41 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor included in a first electronic appliance, cause the first electronic appliance to:
 receive, at a first communications interface of the first electronic appliance, a secure electronic container, the secure electronic container comprising:
 content information; 
 hierarchal data comprising a plurality of first attributes, the plurality of first attributes defining first level organizational elements of the secure electronic container; and 
 one or more rules governing use of the content information; 
   receive, from a user of the first electronic appliance, a request to use the content information;   access, based at least in part on the plurality of first attributes, the one or more rules governing use of the content information;   determine that the request to access the content information is allowed by the one or more rules; and   allow access to the content information based on the determination.   
     
     
         42 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 41 , wherein each of the plurality of first attributes of the hierarchal data comprise one or more second attributes, the one or more second attributes defining second level organizational elements of the secure electronic container. 
     
     
         43 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 41 , wherein the hierarchal data comprises access information defining one or more access conditions of the content information. 
     
     
         44 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 43 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the first electronic appliance to allow access to the content information based at least in part on a determination that the one or more access conditions of the content information are satisfied. 
     
     
         45 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 43 , wherein the access conditions are included, at least in part, in the plurality of first attributes. 
     
     
         46 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 43 , wherein each of the plurality of first attributes of the hierarchal data comprise one or more second attributes, the one or more second attributes defining second level organizational elements of the secure electronic container, and wherein the access conditions are included, at least in part, in the plurality of second attributes. 
     
     
         47 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 42 , wherein at least one of the first or second attributes comprises information specifying fields relating to at least one atomic transaction. 
     
     
         48 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 41 , wherein the one or more rules require that payment information be transmitted to a second electronic appliance associated with a clearinghouse prior to accessing the content information. 
     
     
         49 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 48 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the first electronic appliance to transmit, by the communications interface, payment information to the second electronic appliance, and determine that the payment information was transmitted to the second electronic appliance. 
     
     
         50 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 41 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the first electronic appliance to transmit to a second electronic appliance associated with a clearinghouse, usage data relating to use of the content information. 
     
     
         51 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 41 , wherein the hierarchal data is encrypted. 
     
     
         52 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 41 , wherein hierarchal data is cryptographically sealed.