Real-time delivery of license for previously stored encrypted content

Abstract

Content is stored as ClearText by a content provider within a trusted area. Specific content is requested by an end user, preferably via a service provider, and the requested content is encrypted and then delivered over a secure communications channel to a home server system. While the encrypted content is stored on the home server system, the associated encryption keys are stored as a license with the content provider. When a playback device on the home server system is instructed to play back the encrypted content, the encrypted content is streamed from local storage within the home server system while the associated encrypted keys are simultaneously streamed from the content provider to the playback device.

1 . A method of securely providing content from a content source to a local device, the method comprising:
 a. downloading and storing encrypted content from the content source to a local storage within a local server;   b. storing one or more encryption keys at the content source; and   c. utilizing the encrypted content by streaming one or more segments of the encrypted content from the local storage to a processing circuit within the local device and streaming the one or more encryption keys from the content source to the processing circuit.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the one or more encryption keys are streamed from the content source to the processing circuit over a secure connection. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein utilizing the encrypted content comprises playing the content on an audio or display device. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the processing circuit decrypts the one or more segments of the encrypted content using the one or more encryption keys. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the encrypted content is not downloaded from the content source to the local storage in real-time. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the content comprises audio, video, or image data. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the one or more encryption keys are stored at the content source as encrypted encryption keys. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising utilizing a secure clock to synchronize streaming of the one or more segments of the encrypted content and the one or more encryption keys. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein the secure clock ensures the enforcement of time-based rules associated with the one or more encryption keys. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein the secure clock is located at the content source. 
     
     
         11 . A network of devices to securely process content, the network of devices comprising:
 a. a remote content source;   b. a home server comprising a local storage coupled to the remote content source to store encrypted content received from the remote content source; and   c. a local device coupled to the local storage to receive one or more segments of the encrypted content streamed from the local storage and one or more encryption keys streamed from the content source, wherein the local device decrypts the one or more segments of the encrypted content according to the one or more encryption keys.   
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The network of devices according to  claim 11  wherein the local device comprises the home server. 
     
     
         14 . The network of devices according to  claim 11  wherein the local device comprises a set-top box coupled to the home server. 
     
     
         15 . The network of devices according to  claim 11  wherein the local device comprises a television coupled to the home server. 
     
     
         16 . The network of devices according to  claim 11  further comprising an audio or display device coupled to the local device, wherein the local device sends the decrypted content to the audio or display device for playback. 
     
     
         17 . The network of devices according to  claim 11  wherein the content source includes a secure clock and the local device utilizes the secure clock to synchronize decryption of the one or more segments of the encrypted content according to the one or more encryption keys. 
     
     
         18 . The network of devices according to  claim 11  wherein the local device and the local storage are coupled via a home network. 
     
     
         19 . The network of devices according to  claim 18  wherein the home network and the content server are coupled to the internet. 
     
     
         20 . The network of devices according to  claim 19  wherein the home network is coupled to the internet via a broadband connection. 
     
     
         21 . The network of devices according to  claim 18  wherein the home network comprises an ethernet network. 
     
     
         22 . The network of devices according to  claim 18  wherein the home network comprises a wireless network. 
     
     
         23 . The network of devices according to  claim 11  wherein the one or more encryption keys are stored at the content source as encrypted encryption keys. 
     
     
         24 . The network of devices according to  claim 11  wherein the content comprises audio, video, or image data. 
     
     
         25 . A device to securely process content, the device comprising:
 a. an input/output interface to receive a stream of one or more segments of encrypted content from a local storage within a local server and to receive a stream of one or more encryption keys from a content source; and   b. a processing circuit coupled to the input/output interface to receive the stream of one or more segments of encrypted content and the stream of one or more encryption keys, and to decrypt the one or more segments of encrypted content according to the one or more encryption keys.   
     
     
         26 . The device according to  claim 25  wherein the device comprises the local server. 
     
     
         27 . The device according to  claim 25  wherein the device comprises a set-top box. 
     
     
         28 . The device according to  claim 25  wherein the device comprises a television. 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The device according to  claim 25  wherein the device is coupled to an audio or display device, and the processing circuit sends the decrypted content to the audio or display device via the interface for playback. 
     
     
         31 . The device according to  claim 25  wherein a secure clock is utilized to synchronize the decryption of the one or more segments of encrypted content according to the one or more encryption keys. 
     
     
         32 . The device according to  claim 31  wherein the secure clock is located on the content source. 
     
     
         33 . The device according to  claim 25  wherein the device resides within a home network. 
     
     
         34 . The device according to  claim 25  wherein the device is coupled to the content source via the internet. 
     
     
         35 . The device according to  claim 25  wherein the content comprises audio, video, or image data. 
     
     
         36 . A method of securely providing content from a content source to a local device, the method comprising:
 a. downloading and storing encrypted content from the content source to a local storage within a local server;   b. storing one or more encryption keys at the content source; and   c. utilizing the encrypted content by streaming one or more segments of the encrypted content and the one or more encryption keys to a processing circuit within the local device;   
       wherein the one or more encryption keys are never stored in the local server. 
     
     
         37 . A network of devices to securely process content, the network of devices comprising:
 a. a remote content source;   b. a home server comprising a local storage coupled to the remote content source to store encrypted content received from the remote content source; and   c. a local device coupled to the local storage to receive a stream of one or more segments of the encrypted content and a stream of one or more encryption keys;   
       wherein the local device decrypts the one or more segments of the encrypted content according to the one or more encryption keys and the one or more encryption keys are never stored in the home server.