On-Demand Protection And Authorization Of Playback Of Media Assets

A computer implemented method comprising:

• sending, at a client computer, a request to a server for digital media;
• receiving a protected copy of the digital media;
• after receiving the protected copy, sending a request to access the digital media;
• receiving a response, the response indicating whether the client computer is authorized to access the digital media, the response further comprising cryptographic data to decrypt the protected digital media if the client computer is authorized to access the digital media;
• and
• if the client computer is authorized to access the digital media,
• decrypting a sample of the protected digital media;
• and
• rendering the sample.

An apparatus comprising:

• a data store configured to store intermediary data;
• a database configured to store a description of a protected copy of digital media;
• one or more processors configured to:
• receive digital media;
• generate intermediary data;
• receive a request from a client for digital media;
• generate from the digital media and the intermediary data a protected copy of the digital media;
• store in the database a description of the protected copy;
• send the protected copy to the client;
• after sending the protected copy, receive a request from the client to access the digital media;
• read the description from the database based on information in the request;
• and
• send a response to the client, the response indicating whether the client is authorized to access the digital media, the response further comprising cryptographic data to decrypt the protected digital media if the client is authorized to access the digital media.

An apparatus comprising:

• a data store;
• and
• one or more processors configured to:
• send a request to a server for digital media;
• receive a protected copy of the digital media;
• after receiving the protected copy, send a request to access the digital media;
• receive a response, the response indicating whether the apparatus is authorized to access the digital media, the response further comprising cryptographic data to decrypt the protected digital media if the apparatus is authorized to access the digital media;
• and
• if the apparatus is authorized to access the digital media,
• decrypt a sample of the protected digital media;
• and
• render the sample.

An apparatus comprising:

• means for receiving, at a server computer, digital media;
• means for storing intermediary data in a data store;
• means for, after storing the intermediary data, receiving a request from a client for the digital media;
• means for generating from the digital media and the intermediary data a protected copy of the digital media;
• means for storing a description of the protected copy;
• means for sending the protected copy to the client;
• means for, after sending the protected copy, receiving a request from the client to access the digital media;
• means for reading the description from the database based on information in the request;
• and
• means for sending a response to the client, the response indicating whether the client is authorized to access the digital media, the response further comprising cryptographic data to decrypt the protected digital media if the client is authorized to access the digital media.

An apparatus comprising:

• means for sending, at a client computer, a request to a server for digital media;
• means for receiving a protected copy of the digital media;
• means for, after receiving the protected copy, sending a request to access the digital media;
• means for receiving a response, the response indicating whether the client computer is authorized to access the digital media, the response further comprising cryptographic data to decrypt the protected digital media if the client computer is authorized to access the digital media;
• and
• means for, if the client computer is authorized to access the digital media,
• decrypting a sample of the protected digital media;
• and
• rendering the sample.

A program storage device readable by a machine, embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method, the method comprising:

• receiving, at a server computer, digital media;
• storing intermediary data in a data store;
• after storing the intermediary data, receiving a request from a client for the digital media;
• generating from the digital media and the intermediary data a protected copy of the digital media;
• storing a description of the protected copy in a database;
• sending the protected copy to the client;
• after sending the protected copy, receiving a request from the client to access the digital media;
• reading the description from the database based on information in the request;
• and
• sending a response to the client, the response indicating whether the client is authorized to access the digital media, the response further comprising cryptographic data to decrypt the protected digital media if the client is authorized to access the digital media.

A program storage device readable by a machine, embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method, the method comprising:

• sending, at a client computer, a request to a server for digital media;
• receiving a protected copy of the digital media;
• after receiving the protected copy, sending a request to access the digital media;
• receiving a response, the response indicating whether the client computer is authorized to access the digital media, the response further comprising cryptographic data to decrypt the protected digital media if the client computer is authorized to access the digital media;
• and
• if the client computer is authorized to access the digital media,
• decrypting a sample of the protected digital media;
• and
• rendering the sample.