Digital content distribution, transmission and protection system and method, and portable device for use therewith

A digital content distribution, transmission, and protection system, comprising:

• a digital content provider having stored therein a digital content file, said digital content provider including a first authentication interface, said digital content provider further including a first USB port;
• a portable device conforming to a USB storage device class and including a second authentication interface and a second USB port, said portable device in communication with said digital content provider via said second USB port to receive at least the digital content file therefrom;
• and
• wherein said digital content provider establishes a trusted relationship at one of at least three levels of trust with said portable device through communications between said first and said second authentication interfaces via said first and said second USB ports;
• and
• wherein said digital content provider ensures management of digital rights for the digital content file based on an inverse relationship to said level of said trusted relationship.

A computerized digital content provider, comprising:

• storage media;
• a file system controlling the storage and retrieval of at least one digital content file to and from said storage media;
• a USB interface;
• an authentication system enabling said file system to transfer digital content files to said USB interface in accordance with a USB storage device class, said authentication system defining an authentication interface for said USB interface wherein management of digital rights for each digital content file is based on an inverse relationship to a level of trust established by said authentication system with an external device to which the digital content file is to be provided.

A computerized portable device, comprising:

• storage media;
• a file system controlling the storage and retrieval of digital content files to and from said storage media;
• a USB interface;
• an authentication system regulating access to said storage media provided by said file system for transferring digital content files to and from said USB interface in accordance with a USB storage device class, said authentication system defining an authentication interface for said USB interface.

A method of communication between a computer and a portable device, the computer having a digital content file stored therein, a first authentication interface, and a first USB port, the portable device conforming to a USB storage device class, having a second authentication interface and a second USB port, the method comprising:

• coupling the first USB port to the second USB port forming a USB interface;
• transmitting a request for device identification information from the first authentication interface over the USB interface to the portable device;
• setting an “I can authenticate” flag in the second authentication interface in response to receipt of the request for device identification information;
• transmitting device identification information and the “I can authenticate” flag from the second authentication interface over the USB interface to the computer;
• generating a challenge in the first authentication interface;
• transmitting the challenge over the USB interface to the portable device;
• generating a unique response to the challenge in the second authentication interface;
• transmitting the unique response over the USB interface to the computer;
• analyzing the unique response in the first authentication interface to determine a level at which to trust the portable device.