IP Network Systems

IP Network Systems License Delivery for Windows Media DRM –
An Overview

IP Network Systems provides an outsourced License Delivery service for DRM. It is a core component of IP Network Systems Media Delivery solution that liberates companies from infrastructure costs, provides security for digital media, and allows for revenue generation from digital distribution.

IP Network Systems integrated Microsoft’s Windows Media DRM system with its industry leading global distribution platform to provide additional value added DRM services. The combined solution offers the ability to secure and Distribute digital media across a single platform.

The IP Network Systems License Delivery service is built on the Windows Media DRM standard from Microsoft. It uses the Microsoft Windows Media DRM SDK to protect and securely deliver content for playback on a consumer’s device.

Because it’s based on the Microsoft standard, the IP Network Systems License Delivery Service offers built in flexibility to support a range of business models from single downloads to subscription to physical media delivery. This type of flexibility provides consumers with even greater access to protected audio and video content enabling new business scenarios for content providers to monetize digital assets.

How it Works

Windows Media® Rights Manager packages Windows Media® audio and video files along with additional file related information from the content provider. It is in encrypted form and requires a key to unlock it. Only an authorized consumer who has obtained a license can unlock and play this packaged file.

The DRM-enabled content, along with IP Network Systems services for streaming and download provides a comprehensive solution for content owners. The complete IP Network Systems DRM solution allows them to convert their content to cash without losing any possible revenue streams due to illegal copying and other pilferage.

The following diagram describes the IP Network Systems DRM process flow:

Figure 1: License Delivery Overview

Components of IP Network Systems License Delivery
The following are the main entities in IP Network Systems License Delivery:

Content owner: Creates and owns the Windows Media® files and assigns rights to the digital media.

IPNS Content packager tool: Encodes, Encrypts the digital media using Windows Media Rights Manager and packages the digital media with associated metadata

Rights Manager User Interface: Allows the content owner to define the rights for their Windows Media files as per the needs of their specific business model.

License server: To play a packaged media file, which is in encrypted form, the consumer requires a key to unlock the file and decrypt the content. For this purpose, content owners can use IP Network Systems license delivery. Servers that create the license to decrypt the protected digital media the license is provided once the Web server verifies the consumer’s request for accessing the same.

Instant Content distribution: Consumers receive the content through streaming or downloads in IPNS enabled retailers worldwide

Consumer: Authorized end-users receive the licenses and can play the digital media. Using the DRM Content Packager Windows Media files are packaged for secure digital distribution using a ‘content packager’ application which runs as a client-side application. The application can be also easily accessed through an internet explorer browser for small companies, or as a command-line tool to be integrated and automated in existing environments for larger enterprise customers.

Rights Manager User Interface: Content owners can define the rights that effectively implement the business model they have determined – pay-per-view, fixed number of views, subscription, and free use based on registration. The Rights Manager User Interface within the IPNS Management Portal gives the content owners complete power and flexibility to manage the rights associated with their content.

Providing the License Servers: IP Network Systems provides a set of globally-deployed license servers, which act as clearing centers for generating end user (consumer) keys. After the content owner authenticates the end-user, it makes a request to IP Network Systems License Server for the license, which is then sent to the end-user. The end-user machine uses the license to extract the key which is then used to decrypt the content. Depending on the business model and consumer experience desired, IP Network Systems License server can issue licenses using the following methods:

Post-Delivery (On-Demand Delivery): In the case of On-Demand Delivery, or download, the license is delivered only when the file is played. When the end-user selects to play the file, the request goes to an IPNS server and is then delivered to an authorized consumer. This method requires that when the end-user selects to play the digital media, the system should be connected to the Internet for the content license to be delivered.

The Post-Delivery steps are:

1. Content owners create the Windows Media® audio or video file or streams. Using the IPNS Packager Tools, they package the content

2. The packaged content is uploaded tour global network, or to the clients servers for streaming or downloads.

3. They define the rights as per their business model.
Consumer requests the content over the Web
Protected content is streamed or downloaded

4. When the Windows Media Player tries to play the content, it recognizes that the content is packaged. It goes the License Acquisition URL (typically on content owners’ Web server) that the content points to and requests the authorization

5 The Web server authenticates the consumer and if required, processes the payment, once the authentication (and payment processing) is complete, the Web server passes a token back to the “IPNS License Gateway”, and the IPNS system then issues the client device the license, and also backs the license up to their “Digiport Media Locker” for further retrieval.

6. The Windows Media® Player uses the license to decrypt the content and plays it as per the associated rights.

Pre-Delivery: For live streaming scenarios, Pre-Delivery is available where the license is delivered as soon as the end-user subscribes for the content. The end-user is now authorized to play the file at their leisure, without further processing.

Live Streaming: For live events, a captured signal can be encoded into the Windows Media® format and encrypted with Windows Media DRM through the Windows Media Encoder in a single step and then delivered over the internet. Both pre- and post-delivery methods are supported. However, license pre-delivery is particularly well-suited for live streaming so that the viewers are not required to wait for payment processing at the time of the event.

Download: If a business model is based on downloads instead of streaming, the packaged files can be distributed using Download service. Users will need to download the files to their computers before they can be played. In the pre-delivery method, the license is served along with the packaged file and no internet connection is required to view the file. This option is particularly useful in bandwidth-constrained markets

Scenario 1

Customer Profile: Online Movie Retailer

Customer Requirement
• Consumers can download and play movies from the online movie retailer’s Web site.
• Payment is pay-per-view based.
• If files are transferred to another machine or user, the file remains protected and the pay-per-view model is still preserved.

IPNS Solution
The IPNS License Delivery service integrated with the Download delivery provides the solution. The content owner (the online movie retailer) subscribes to IPNS services, applies appropriate rights for the movies, and enables the digital media DRM before it is distributed. The IPNS License Delivery Gateway works with the Web site to charge the consumer each time a movie is downloaded.

Benefits and Return on Investment (ROI)
• IPNS License Delivery service, along with the Download service, provides the necessary customer infrastructure to allow customers to distribute the DRM-enabled Windows Media® content reducing up front investment costs and speeding time to market.
•The IPNS portal provides detailed reports, access to logs and management tools for easy access to business intelligence.
• Pay-per-view payment model provides flexibility for consumers and offers additional ways to monetize content.

Scenario 2: Streaming Music

Customer Profile: Online Music Provider

Customer Requirement
• Consumers can select songs from the online music provider’s Web site, which are then streamed to them. This means that the songs are played instantly without the need to wait for downloads from the Web site.
• Payment is subscription-based. A consumer subscribes for a specified time period by paying a specified charge and is allowed to play and listen to any song during that period
• Download option is not provided.

IPNS Solution
The IPNS License Delivery service allows the customer to apply appropriate rights to each song before they are distributed

Benefits and Return on Investment (ROI)
• IPNS License Delivery service along with the Streaming service allows customers to stream the DRM-enabled Windows Media® content. No license delivery server infrastructure is required from the customer’s side reducing up front investment costs and speeding time to market.
• Subscription-based payment model provides flexibility for consumers and offers additional ways to monetize content
• The IPNS portal provides detailed reports, access to logs and management tools for easy access to business intelligence.

Scenario 3: Subscription

Customer Profile: Music Streaming Web site
The business allows subscribed consumers to listen to music of their choice, any number of times, and within subscription period. The consumer can either download the music onto their PC, or play it from the Web site. The Web site also allows premium consumers to copy music onto a CD. For unsubscribed or new consumers, the Web site promotes the music by allowing consumers to listen to short music clips.

Customer Requirement
• Unsubscribed consumers are allowed to play music for a short period of time.
• Subscribed consumers are able to play music from the Web site or download songs onto their PCs. They are not permitted to copy music onto a CD.
• Premium consumers are allowed to copy music onto a CD.

IPNS Solution
The Web site requires the IPNS License Delivery service to be integrated with both the Streaming and Media Download.

Benefits and Return on Investment (ROI)
• The IPNS License Delivery service, along with the Streaming and Download services, lets content owners provide various purchasing options to the consumer resulting in a more efficient method of generating revenue from the online content.
• Minimal infrastructure requirements improve profitability and reduce time to market.
• The IPNS portal provides detailed reports, access to logs and management tools for easy access to business intelligence.