Method and apparatus for facilitating over-the-air activation of pre-programmed memory devices

A method for facilitating access to secure content via a mobile terminal, comprising:

• providing a removable memory device pre-programmed with at least one item of secure content and a secure rights database of rights files, wherein each item of secure content is associated with an activation address;
• initiating an over-the-air (OTA) activation request from the mobile terminal equipped with the removable memory device to an activation service identified by the activation address;
• removing a security feature protecting the secure rights database to make available the corresponding rights database, in response to information received OTA from the activation service;
• importing the rights database from the removable memory device to an active rights database in the mobile terminal;
• and
• disabling the rights database on the removable memory device.

A mobile terminal, comprising:

• a memory card pre-programmed with at least one item of secure content and a secure rights database of rights files, wherein each item of secure content has associated metadata which includes an activation address;
• a transceiver to send and receive over-the-air (OTA) transmissions between the mobile terminal and an activation service identified by the activation address;
• an active rights database;
• and
• a processor configured to send an OTA activation request via the transceiver to the activation service and receive an OTA activation response from the activation service via the transceiver, to decrypt the secure rights database using an encryption key provided via the OTA activation response and import the rights files from the memory card into the active rights database, and to disable the secure rights database on the memory card from unauthorized use.

A system for distributing content on removable memory devices in a secure manner, comprising:

• a network for communicating wireless data transmissions;
• a network activation service coupled to the network and accessible via a network address;
• a plurality of mobile terminals capable of communicating wireless data transmissions via the network, each mobile terminal comprising:
• (a) a removable memory card pre-programmed with at least one item of secure content and a secure rights database of rights files, wherein each item of secure content has associated metadata which includes the network address of the network activation service;
• (b) a transceiver to communicate wireless data transmissions between the mobile terminal and the network activation service;
• (c) an active rights database;
• and
• (d) a processor configured to send a wireless activation request via the transceiver to the network activation service and receive a wireless activation response from the network activation service via the transceiver, to decrypt the secure rights database using an encryption key provided via the wireless activation response and import the rights files from the removable memory card into the active rights database, and to disable the secure rights database on the removable memory card from unauthorized use.

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for allowing access to secure content via a mobile terminal, wherein the secure content, associated metadata, and a secure rights database of rights files is provided on a pre-programmed portable memory device, the computer-executable instructions performing steps comprising:

• obtaining an address of an activation service from the metadata associated with the secure content to which user access is requested;
• initiating an over-the-air (OTA) content activation with an activation service corresponding to the activation service address;
• disabling a security feature that is protecting the secure rights database to make available the corresponding rights database in response to an encryption key received over-the-air from the activation service;
• importing the rights database from the portable memory device to an active rights database in the mobile terminal;
• and
• prohibiting further access to the rights database on the portable memory device.

A memory device configured to couple to a mobile terminal, the memory device comprising:

• at least one item of pre-programmed secure content;
• a pre-programmed secure rights database of rights files associated with the at least one item of secure content;
• and
• a pointer to an activation service that provides a rights file for the secure rights database for over the air activation of the at least one item of pre-programmed secure content.