Dynamic constraints for content rights

Abstract

A device for playing digital media comprises a connection for receiving content over a network and a digital rights management (“DRM”) module that identifies rights for the received content by accessing a DRM data structure. The DRM data structure can be a temporal cache. The device receives content and the DRM module identifies identifiers associated with the content and/or the device. The DRM module uses the identifiers to access the DRM data structure and identify rights associated with the content. The identified rights are applied to the content to prevent and/or permit activities with respect to the content. Permitted activities for the content may be presented in a display of the device and can be updated as the content changes and/or as rights associated with content change. Content providers and other authorized entities can change the rights associated with particular content by updating the DRM data structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for specifying digital rights to content using a multi-dimensional matrix, the method comprising:
 creating a multi-dimensional matrix for specifying digital rights governing a device's access to a first item of content, the multi-dimensional matrix defining at least three axes for defining the digital rights, the at least three axes representing at least a device state defining a state the device must be in to access the first item of content, a source of the first item of content, and a channel over which the first item of content is received by the device;   in response to a request to access the first item of content on the device, accessing the multi-dimensional matrix to determine the digital rights the device has to access the first item of content, wherein determining the digital rights comprises identifying an entry in the multi-dimensional matrix that defines which digital rights the device has to the first item of content, wherein identifying an entry comprises:
 determining a source of the first item of content that the device has requested to access; 
 determining a channel over which the first item of content is accessed; 
 determining a current state of the device; and 
 traversing the multi-dimensional matrix based on the determined source, channel and current state of the device to identify the entry; and 
   allowing access to the first item of content based on the digital rights defined in the identified entry.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-dimensional matrix includes one or more entries corresponding to a first source, the method further comprising:
 receiving a request from the first source to modify at least one of the one or more entries corresponding to the first source; and   updating the at least one of the one or more entries.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the updates comprise updates to a device state required to access the first item of content provided by the first source. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the updates comprise updates to a channel over which the first item of content is provided by the first source. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the updates comprise an addition or subtraction of digital rights to access the first item of content provided by the first source. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 receiving a request from a first source to add an entry to the multi-dimensional matrix, the entry to be added defining a device state required to access the first item of content from the first source over a particular channel.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least three axes comprises a fourth axis representing a format of the first item of content. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the device state defines a capability of the device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the device state defines a subscription status of the device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein allowing access to the first item of content based on the digital rights defined in the identified entry comprises denying access to the first item of content. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the digital rights defined in the identified entry comprise one or more of recording rights or sharing rights. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-dimensional matrix includes a plurality of entries defining digital rights the device has to access the first item of content, wherein each of the plurality of entries defines digital rights based on a different combination of the source, channel, and current state of the device. 
     
     
         13 . One or more non-transitory computer readable media storing a multi-dimensional matrix for defining digital rights to digital content, wherein the multi-dimensional matrix defines at least two axes for defining the digital rights, the at least two axes representing at least a device state defining a state the device must be in to access the digital content and a source of the digital content, and wherein the multi-dimensional matrix defines a plurality of different device states and a plurality of different sources such that a unique entry exists in the multi-dimensional matrix for each possible combination of device state and source;
 wherein the multi-dimensional matrix is accessed to determine the digital rights a device has to access the digital content by:
 identifying the current state of the device; 
 identifying the source of the digital content to which access is requested; 
 traversing the multi-dimensional matrix to identify the unique entry corresponding to the identified current state and the identified source; and 
 obtaining the digital rights from the identified unique entry. 
   
     
     
         14 . The computer readable media of  claim 13 , wherein the at least two axes comprises a third axis which represents the channel over which the digital content is accessed such that the multi-dimensional matrix includes a unique entry for each possible combination of device state, source, and channel. 
     
     
         15 . The computer readable media of  claim 13 , wherein the at least two axes comprise a third axis which represents the format of the digital content such that the multi-dimensional matrix includes a unique entry for each possible combination of device state, source, and format. 
     
     
         16 . A system for controlling a device's access to a first item of content using a multi-dimensional matrix, the system comprising:
 one or more processors;   memory storing computer executable instructions which when executed by the one or more processors implement a method comprising:
 creating a multi-dimensional matrix for specifying digital rights governing a device's access to a first item of content, the multi-dimensional matrix defining at least three axes for defining the digital rights, the at least three axes representing at least a device state defining a state the device must be in to access the first item of content, a source of the first item of content, and a channel over which the first item of content is received by the device; 
 in response to a request to access the first item of content on the device, accessing the multi-dimensional matrix to determine the digital rights the device has to access the first item of content, wherein determining the digital rights comprises identifying an entry in the multi-dimensional matrix that defines which digital rights the device has to the first item of content, wherein identifying an entry comprises:
 determining a source of the first item of content that the device has requested to access; 
 determining a channel over which the first item of content is accessed; 
 determining a current state of the device; and 
 traversing the multi-dimensional matrix based on the determined source, channel and current state of the device to identify the entry; and 
 
 allowing access to the first item of content based on the digital rights defined in the identified entry. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the multi-dimensional matrix is stored on the device. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the multi-dimensional matrix is stored on the system. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the multi-dimensional matrix includes a plurality of entries defining digital rights the device has to access the first item of content, wherein each of the plurality of entries defines digital rights based on a different combination of the source, channel, and current state of the device. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the multi-dimensional matrix includes one or more entries corresponding to a first source, the method further comprising:
 receiving a request from the first source to modify at least one of the one or more entries corresponding to the first source; and   updating the at least one of the one or more entries.