System and method for using digital strings to provide secure distribution of digital content

摘要

A method and system for secure distribution of digital content, using a disintegration tool under control of a distributor of the digital content to divide the digital content into protected and unprotected segments, delivering the unprotected segments to the customer along with installation software and identification information. The segments to be protected are modified using the identification information on the distribution medium and hardware information unique to a particular customer device. Upon communication of this information from the customer device, the modified segments are sent to the customer device for integration with the unprotected segments to generate a modified digital content operable only on the particular customer device.

主权项

1. A computer implemented method for secure distribution of digital content, the method comprising:
receiving at a particular customer device from a hardware server via a medium for distribution installation software and distribution identification information, the medium for distribution also including unprotected segments of the digital content, the unprotected segments being the segments remaining after the hardware server has disintegrated the digital content into a plurality of segments and selected segments to be protected; executing the installation software on the particular customer device, the installation software extracting from the particular customer device hardware identification information unique to the particular customer device; transmitting to the hardware server the distribution identification information and the unique hardware identification information extracted from the particular customer device; receiving at the particular customer device from the hardware server the selected segments modified to include the distribution identification information and the unique hardware identification information extracted from the particular customer device; integrating on the particular customer device the remaining unprotected unselected segments with the modified segments, thereby generating on the particular customer device modified digital content operable only on the particular customer device; and executing the modified digital content, wherein the selected modified segments include a routine for testing whether the particular customer device has hardware corresponding to the hardware identification information.