TECHNIQUE FOR SECURELY COMMUNICATING PROGRAMMING CONTENT

摘要

A technique is provided for securely transferring programming content from a first device in a first layer, e.g., a trusted domain, to a second device in a second layer, e.g., outside the trusted domain. When a user requests that the first device transfer protected content to the second device, the first device needs to authenticate the second device. After the second device is authenticated, the first device may transfer to the second device the protected content, together with a rights file associated therewith. The rights file specifies the rights of the second device to use the protected content, according to its security level indicative of its security. These rights may concern, e.g., the number of times that the second device may subsequently transfer the protected content to other devices, the time period within which the second device may play the protected content, etc.; The higher the security level of the second device is, the more rights accorded thereto. Indeed, the second device may need to meet a minimum security level requirement in order for it to receive or keep the protected content.