Apparatuses and methods for enabling a user to consume protected contents of a content provider

A method, in a server of a content provider, for enabling at least one user to consume content provided by the content provider, the content provider capable of operating in a digital rights management system;

• the method comprising:
• receiving, from a client device, a request for rights for consuming a content, the request indicating which content to consume;
• determining if an identifier of an upgrade key is present in the request;
• in response to determining that the identifier of the upgrade key is present in the request:
• verifying that the identifier of the upgrade key identifies the upgrade key that is associated with the content;
• retrieving the upgrade key from a repository;
• generating a rights object;
• encrypting the rights object by using at least the retrieved upgrade key;
• and
• sending, to the client device, a response comprising the encrypted rights object for enabling the client device to decrypt the rights object using the upgrade key and to start to use the rights object for consuming the content;
• wherein the upgrade key is a group upgrade key;
• wherein the at least one user belongs to a group to which the group upgrade key is associated.

A computer program product stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium for enabling at least one user to consume content provided by a content provider, the content provider capable of operating in a digital rights management system;

• the computer program product comprising software instructions which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to:
• assemble, in at least one message, a request for rights for consuming content and indicating in the request which content;
• determine if an upgrade key associated with the content is present in the client device;
• in response to determining that the upgrade key is present in the client device:
• include in the request an identifier of an upgrade key that is associated with the content;
• send the request, including the identifier of the upgrade key, to the content provider;
• receive, from the content provider, a response comprising a rights object encrypted by using at least the upgrade key;
• decrypt the encrypted rights object using the upgrade key;
• and
• start using the rights object for consuming the content;
• wherein the upgrade key is a group upgrade key;
• wherein the at least one user belongs to a group to which the group upgrade key is associated.

A computer program product stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium for enabling at least one user to consume content provided by a content provider, the content provider capable of operating in a digital rights management system;

• the computer program product comprising software instructions which, when run on a server of a content provider, causes the server to:
• receive, from a client device, a request for rights for consuming a content, the request indicating which content to consume;
• determine if an identifier of an upgrade key is present in the request;
• in response to determining that the identifier of the upgrade key is present in the request:
• verify that the identifier of the upgrade key identifies the upgrade key that is associated with the content;
• retrieve the upgrade key from a repository;
• generate a rights object;
• encrypt the rights object by using at least the retrieved upgrade key;
• and
• send, to the client device, a response comprising the encrypted rights object for enabling the client device to decrypt the rights object using the upgrade key and to start to use the rights object for consuming the content;
• wherein the upgrade key is a group upgrade key;
• wherein the at least one user belongs to a group to which the group upgrade key is associated.

A client device, for enabling at least one user to consume content provided by a content provider, the content provider capable of operating in a digital rights management system;

• the client device comprising:
• an assembling circuit configured to:
• assemble, in at least one message, a request for rights for consuming a content;
• indicate in the request which content to consume;
• a determination circuit configured to determine if an upgrade key associated with the content is present in the client device;
• wherein the assembling circuit is configured to, in response to determining that the upgrade key is present in the client device, include an identifier of an upgrade key that is associated with the content in the request;
• a transmitter circuit configured to, in response to determining that the upgrade key is present in the client device, send the request comprising the identifier of the upgrade key to the content provider;
• a receiver circuit configured to, in response to determining that the upgrade key is present in the client device, receive, from the content provider, a response comprising a rights object encrypted by using at least the upgrade key;
• a decryption circuit configured to decrypt the encrypted rights object using the upgrade key;
• and
• a processing circuit configured to use the rights object for consuming the content;
• wherein the upgrade key is a group upgrade key;
• wherein the at least one user belongs to a group to which the group upgrade key is associated.

A server of a content provider, for enabling at least one user to consume content provided by the content provider capable in operating in a digital rights management system;

• the server comprising:
• a receiver circuit configured to receive, from a client device, a request for rights for consuming a content, the request indicating which content to consume;
• a determination circuit configured to determine if an identifier of an upgrade key is associated with the content;
• a verification circuit adapted to, in response to determining that the identifier of the upgrade key is present in the request, verify the identifier of the upgrade key is identifying the upgrade key that is associated with the content;
• a retrieving circuit configured to, in response to determining that the identifier of the upgrade key is present in the request, retrieve the upgrade key from a repository;
• a generating circuit configured to generate a rights object;
• an encryption circuit configured to, in response to determining that the identifier of the upgrade key is present in the request, encrypt the rights object by using at least the retrieved upgrade key;
• and
• a transmitter circuit configured to send a response comprising the encrypted rights object to the client device, in order to enable the client device to decrypt the rights object using the upgrade key;
• wherein the upgrade key is a group upgrade key;
• wherein the at least one user belongs to a group to which the group upgrade key is associated.