Extensible rights expression processing system

Abstract

Extensible grammar-based rights expression system for processing rights expressions including an interpreter with plug-in subcomponents, a validator, and a framework. In another embodiment, system includes a framework having an extensible architecture with extensibility points for adding extensions to the grammar, and an interpreter, the extensions defining semantics and syntax of new rights expressions. A method for processing rights expressions is also provided having the steps of registering plug-in components, making a programmatic call, finding and invoking appropriate plug-in components, evaluating the request against the grant, and returning an authorization result. In another embodiment, method includes the steps of providing an extensible grammar-based rights expression system having an extensible architecture with an interpreter, evaluating the request against the grant using the interpreter, and returning an authorization result. The method may include the step of adding new extensions to the rights expression system to allow processing of new rights expressions.

1 . An extensible rights expression system for processing a plurality of rights expressions, the system comprising:
 at least one interpreter configured to evaluate the plurality of rights expressions;   a computer processor configured to process the rights expressions based on the at least one interpreter; and   an extensible framework configured to provide an interface between the at least one interpreter and the computer processor, wherein the framework registers configuration information of at least one of plural interpreters, and invokes an interpreter of the plural interpreters for processing the rights expressions based on a programmatic call from the computer processor and the registered configuration information.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer processor is associated with a user of the system. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the user is a creator, a distributor, or a consumer of the rights expressions. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer processor is associated with a rights authoring application or a digital content rendering application. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rights expressions include a grant that includes a usage right associated with the digital content and a principal to whom the usage right is granted. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rights expressions include a request that includes a usage right associated with the digital content and a principal requesting use of the digital content. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the interpreter is configured to authorize the request based on the grant. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the rights expressions are authorized by the interpreter by comparing the request and the grant. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the comparing comprises comparing the usage rights, the digital contents, and the principals in the request and the grant. 
     
     
         10 . A method for processing rights expressions used in an extensible rights expression system, the method comprising:
 registering, with a computing device, configuration information of at least one of plural interpreters with a framework, wherein the framework provides an interface between the at least one of plural interpreters and a computer processor configured to process the rights expressions based on the at least one of plural interpreters;   invoking, with the framework, an interpreter of the plural interpreters for processing the rights expressions based on a programmatic call from the computer processor and the registered configuration information; and   authorizing, by the invoked interpreter, digital content use or distribution in accordance with the rights expressions.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the registering step further comprises registering rights expressions that may be authorized by the interpreter. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the invoking step further comprises locating the interpreter by determining if the interpreter is capable of authorizing the rights expressions. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the computer processor is associated with a user of the system. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the user is a creator, a distributor, or a consumer of the rights expressions. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the computer processor is associated with a rights authoring application or a digital content rendering application. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the rights expressions include a grant that includes a usage right associated with the digital content and a principal to whom the usage right is granted. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the rights expressions include a request that includes a usage right associated with the digital content and a principal requesting use of the digital content. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising authorizing, by the invoked interpreter, the request based on the grant. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the authorizing step comprises comparing the request and the grant. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the comparing step comprises comparing the usage rights, the digital contents, and the principals in the request and the grant. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for processing rights expressions used in an extensible rights expression system, the apparatus comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory having instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 register configuration information of at least one of plural interpreters with a framework, wherein the framework provides an interface between the at least one of plural interpreters and a computer processor configurable to process the rights expressions based on the at least one of plural interpreters; 
 invoke an interpreter of the plural interpreters for processing the rights expressions based on a programmatic call from the computer processor and the registered configuration information; and 
 authorize digital content use or distribution in accordance with the rights expressions. 
   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the registering step further comprises registering rights expressions that may be authorized by the interpreter. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the invoking step further comprises locating the invoked interpreter by determining if the invoked interpreter is capable of authorizing the rights expressions. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the computer processor is associated with a user of the system. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the user is a creator, a distributor, or a consumer of the rights expressions. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the computer processor is associated with a rights authoring application or a digital content rendering application. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the rights expressions include a grant that includes a usage right associated with the digital content and a principal to whom the usage right is granted. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the rights expressions include a request that includes a usage right associated with the digital content and a principal requesting use of the digital content. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the memory further comprises instructions for authorizing the request based on the grant. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the instructions for authorizing comprise instructions for comparing the request and the grant. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the instructions for comparing comprise instructions for comparing the usage rights, the digital contents, and the principals in the request and the grant. 
     
     
         32 . Computer-readable code stored on a computer-readable medium that, when executed by a processor, performs a method for processing rights expressions in an extensible rights expression system, the method comprising:
 registering, with a computing device, configuration information of at least one of plural interpreters with a framework, wherein the framework provides an interface between the at least one of plural interpreters and a computer processor configured to process the rights expressions based on the at least one of plural interpreters;   invoking, with the framework, an interpreter of the plural interpreters for processing the rights expressions based on a programmatic call from the computer processor and the registered configuration information; and   authorizing, by the invoked interpreter, digital content use or distribution in accordance with the rights expressions.   
     
     
         33 . The computer-readable code of  claim 32 , wherein the registering step further comprises registering rights expressions that may be authorized by the interpreter. 
     
     
         34 . The computer-readable code of  claim 32 , wherein the invoking step further comprises locating the interpreter by determining if the interpreter is capable of authorizing the rights expressions. 
     
     
         35 . The computer-readable code of  claim 32 , wherein the computer processor is associated with a user of the system. 
     
     
         36 . The computer-readable code of  claim 35 , wherein the user is a creator, a distributor, or a consumer of the rights expressions. 
     
     
         37 . The computer-readable code of  claim 32 , wherein the computer processor is associated with a rights authoring application or a digital content rendering application. 
     
     
         38 . The computer-readable code of  claim 32 , wherein the rights expressions include a grant that includes a usage right associated with the digital content and a principal to whom the usage right is granted. 
     
     
         39 . The computer-readable code of  claim 32 , wherein the rights expressions include a request that includes a usage right associated with the digital content and a principal requesting use of the digital content. 
     
     
         40 . The computer-readable code of  claim 39 , further comprising authorizing, by the invoked interpreter, the request based on the grant. 
     
     
         41 . The computer-readable code of  claim 40 , wherein the authorizing step comprises comparing the request and the grant. 
     
     
         42 . The computer-readable code of  claim 41 , wherein the comparing step comprises comparing the usage rights, the digital contents, and the principals in the request and the grant.