A Sample DRM System

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to introduce a sample DRM system along with its basic functionalities, system components and internal information flow. An investigation of prevailing DRM systems shows that there are many variants of DRM system architecture, which makes it difficult to describe a ‘typical’ DRM system. However, what is typical in each DRM system is the basic functionality the systems provide. Therefore this chapter starts with a brief look at DRM systems from the functional perspective and identifies their basic functionalities, namely: Content Provision, Content Safekeeping, Offer Creation, Content Preparation, Content Distribution, Booking, Payment, Authorization, and Content Consumption. The functionalities identified are provided by DRM system parties such as the content provider, DRM platform, etc. A good deal of DRM systems can be described on the basis of these functions, although all these systems have different technical architectures. The sample DRM system described in the second section comprises all basic functionalities identified and displays a classic architecture in which the parties customer, DRM platform, content provider, and clearing house interact. The subsequent section describes the information flow through the sample DRM system. The chapter closes with an introduction of some commercial DRM systems with respect to their functionalities and system components; it finally addresses DRM system designs which differ architecturally from the sample DRM system. In some of these systems, additional parties come into play and assume responsibility for one or more DRM functionalities, thus changing the DRM’s architecture and information flow.