Interoperable systems and methods for peer-to-peer service orchestration

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for performing policy-managed, peer-to-peer service orchestration in a manner that supports the formation of self-organizing service networks that enable rich media experiences. In one embodiment, services are distributed across peer-to-peer communicating nodes, and each node provides message routing and orchestration using a message pump and workflow collator. Distributed policy management of service interfaces helps to provide trust and security, supporting commercial exchange of value. Peer-to-peer messaging and workflow collation allow services to be dynamically created from a heterogeneous set of primitive services. The shared resources are services of many different types, using different service interface bindings beyond those typically supported in a web service deployments built on UDDI, SOAP, and WSDL. In a preferred embodiment, a media services framework is provided that enables nodes to find one another, interact, exchange value, and cooperate across tiers of networks from WANs to PAs.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . A method of managing a piece of electronic content, the method comprising:
 encrypting the piece of electronic content;   associating a license with the piece of electronic content, the license comprising a control program, the control program requiring, as a condition of authorizing decryption of the piece of electronic content, possession of a set of one or more link objects logically connecting a first node object with a second node object, the license further comprising an encrypted version of a first key operable to decrypt the piece of electronic content;   sending the piece of electronic content to a remote computer system;   determining that the remote computer system has possession of a set of one or more link objects logically connecting the first node object with the second node object, wherein at least one of the one or more link objects comprises an encrypted version of a second key operable to decrypt the first key;   upon completion of the determining step, decrypting the second key using a key associated with the remote computer system;   decrypting the first key using the second key; and   decrypting the piece of electronic content using the first key.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the license further comprises a controller object securely binding the control program with the first key. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the controller object include a hash of a content key object and a control object, wherein the content key object comprises an encrypted version of the first key, and the control object comprises the control program.