METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING THE RETURN OF A RIGHTS MANAGEMENT OBJECT

摘要

A system and method for returning a rights management object (103) to a rights issuer (102) is provided. The system and method allows a rights issuer (102) to ensure that the rights management object (103) is removed from an electronic device (101) prior to making the refund, while providing the customer with the ability to retrieve the rights management object (103) where the return is unsuccessful. After initiating a return, an electronic device (101) transmits probabilistic data structures (226, 228) to the rights issuer (102). The probabilistic data structures (226, 228) having indicia therein of rights management objects disposed within the electronic device (101). The electronic device (101) encrypts the rights management object (103), delivers it to the rights issuer (102), and removes it from the electronic device (101). By querying the probabilistic data structures (226, 228), which may be Bloom filters, the rights issuer (102) is able to confirm that the rights management object (103) has been deleted from the electronic device (101).