1. A method for processing DRM-enabled files, implemented in a computer, the method comprising:
coupling a license server according to a first DRM-enabled file, wherein the first DRM-enabled file is encrypted with a first encryption key;
transmitting a device key of a playback device to the license server;
downloading a first license from the license server after the license server generating the first license, the first license including a first decryption key and metering information, wherein the first encryption key and the first decryption key are key pairs and the first license is generated using the device key;
decrypting the first DRM-enabled file with the first decryption key to convert the first DRM-enabled file into a raw file;
generating a second encryption key and a second decryption key, wherein the second encryption key and the second decryption key are key pairs;
generating a second license, the second license including the metering information and the second decryption key;
encrypting the raw file with the second encryption key to create a second DRM-enabled file for being decrypted by the playback device; and
transmitting the second DRM-enabled file and the second license to the playback device.
2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the act of downloading the first DRM-enabled file to the computer.
3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the act of deleting the raw file.
4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first DRM-enabled file is a music file, an image file, a video file or an electronic book file.
5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first DRM-enabled file is a Windows Media Audio format file, an Advanced Audio Coding format file or a Real Audio format file.
6. A computer-readable medium storing a software module, the software module comprising:
a license-downloading module, configured to couple a license server according to a first DRM-enabled file, and download a first license from the license server to a computer based on a device key of a playback device, the first license including a first decryption key and a metering information;
a license-transforming module, configured to generate key pairs including a second encryption key and a second decryption key, and convert the first license to a second license with the second decryption key, the second license having the second decryption key and the metering information;
a decryption module, configured to decrypt the first DRM-enabled file of the computer into a raw file with the first decryption key; and
an encryption module, configured to encrypt the raw file into a second DRM-enabled file with the second encryption key.
7. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 6, wherein the raw file is storied in the computer memory.
8. A computer-readable mediums as recited in claim 6, wherein the first DRM-enabled file is a music file, an image file, a video file or an electronic book file.
9. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 6, wherein the first DRM-enabled file is a Windows Media Audio format file, an Advanced Audio Coding format file or a Real Audio format file.
10. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 6, wherein the computer has a virtual-device driver and a standard DRM application, the software module having a virtual-device control module, the virtual-device control module configured to communicate with the standard DRM application through the virtual-device driver.
11. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 10, wherein the standard DRM application is a Windows Media Player application, a Real Player application or an i-TUNES application.
12. A system for processing DRM-enabled files comprising:
a playback device; and
a software module comprising:
a license-downloading module, configured to couple a license server according to a first DRM-enabled file, and download a first license from the license server to a computer based on a device key of a playback device, the first license including a first decryption key and metering information;
a license-transforming module, configured to generate key pairs including a second encryption key and a second decryption key in the computer, and convert the first license to a second license with the second decryption key, the second license having the second decryption key and the metering information;
a decryption module, configured to decrypt the first DRM-enabled file of the computer into a raw file with the first decryption key; and
an encryption module, configured to encrypt the raw file into a second DRM-enabled file with the second encryption key;
wherein the playback device is configured to decrypt the second DRM-enabled file with the second license.
13. A system as recited in claim 12, wherein the computer has a virtual-device driver and a standard DRM application, the software module having a virtual-device control module, the virtual-device control module configured to communicate with the standard DRM application through the virtual-device driver.
14. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein the standard DRM application is a Windows Media Player application, a Real Player application or an i-TUNES application.
15. A system as recited in claim 12, wherein the software module communicates with the playback device using a Media Transfer Protocol.
16. A system as recited in claim 12, wherein the first DRM-enabled file is a music file, an image file, a video file or an electronic book file.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:
1. A method for communicating between a monitored device and a monitoring device, comprising the steps of:
determining information to be transmitted by the monitored device, the information to be transmitted including information from sensors in the monitored device;
determining a mode of communication between the monitored and the monitoring device by determining if the information to be transmitted is to be transmitted using one of a connection-mode and a connectionless-mode of communication;
transmitting the information by a connection-mode of communication from the monitored device to the monitoring device, when the step of determining the mode of communication has determined that a connection-mode of communication is to be used; and
transmitting the information by a connectionless-mode of communication from the monitored device to the monitoring device, when the step of determining the mode of communication has determined that a connectionless-mode of communication is to be used.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the information by the connectionless-mode of communication comprises:
transmitting the information as an Internet electronic mail message over the Internet.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the information by the connection-mode of communication comprises:
transmitting the information using one of a telephone line and an ISDN line.
4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting a message from the monitored device comprises:
transmitting a message from a business office device.
5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the step of transmitting a message from a business office device comprises:
transmitting a message from one of a copier, a facsimile machine, and a printer.
6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising, performed before the determining or transmitting steps, the step of:
registering address information of the monitoring device so that connection-mode and connectionless-mode communications can be sent to the monitoring device by the monitored device.
7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:
encrypting the information to be transmitted when the step of determining the mode of communication has determined that a connectionless-mode of communication is to be used.
8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:
receiving the connectionless-mode communication by the monitoring device through a firewall.
9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
storing the transmitted information in a data base; and
sharing information in the data base between more than one department in a company.
10. A method for communicating between a monitored device and a monitoring device, comprising the steps of:
determining information to be transmitted by the monitoring device to the monitored device, the information including a request for a status of the monitored device determined using sensors within the monitored device; and
transmitting the information by a connectionless-mode of communication from the monitoring device to the monitored device.
11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the step of transmitting the information by the connectionless-mode of communication comprises:
transmitting the information as an Internet electronic mail message over the Internet.
12. A method according to claim 10, wherein the step of transmitting a message from the monitoring device comprises:
transmitting a message to the monitored device which is a business office device.
13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the step of transmitting a message to the business office device comprises:
transmitting a message to one of a copier, a facsimile machine, and a printer.
14. A method according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of:
receiving the transmitted information by the monitored device; and
transmitting a connectionless-mode communication from the monitored device to the monitoring device containing status information of the monitored device, in response to the transmitted information from the monitoring device.
15. A method according to claim 10, wherein the transmitting step comprises:
transmitting the information from the monitoring device to a plurality of monitored devices including the monitored device.
16. A method for communicating between a machine and a monitoring device, comprising the steps of:
determining status information using at least one of a mechanical and electrical sensor; and
transmitting a connectionless-mode message from the machine to the monitoring device containing the status information.
17. A method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of:
analyzing the status information by the machine, wherein the status information is transmitted using the connectionless-mode message when the status information is analyzed and determined to be within a standard operating range.
18. A method according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of:
determining status information which is outside of normal operating parameters exists in the machine using at least one of the mechanical and electrical sensor; and
transmitting a connection-mode message from the machine to the monitoring device containing the status information which is outside of the normal operating parameters.
19. A method according to claim 17, wherein the step of transmitting between the business office machine and the monitoring device comprises:
transmitting an Internet electronic mail message between a device selected from the group consisting of a copier, a facsimile machine, and a printer, and the monitoring device.
20. A method for communicating between a machine and a monitoring device comprising the steps of:
receiving a connectionless-mode message from the monitoring device by the machine;
analyzing the message by the machine; and
performing an action by the machine in response to the message, after the message is analyzed.
21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the analyzing step includes:
parsing the message; and
determining an action which the message requests to be taken.
22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the step of performing an action comprises:
transmitting a response message from the machine to the monitoring device in response to the message.
23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the step of transmitting comprises:
transmitting the response message which contains information of the machine including information obtained from sensors, when the received connectionless-mode message requests a value to be returned.
24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the step of transmitting comprises:
transmitting the response message which is a connectionless-mode message.
25. A method according to claim 20, wherein the receiving step comprises:
receiving the connectionless mode message which is an internet electronic mail message.
26. A computer program product having a computer readable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for implementing communication between two devices, comprising:
means for determining information to be transmitted by a first device;
means for determining a mode of communication between the first and a second device by determining if the information to be transmitted is to be transmitted using one of a connection-mode and a connectionless-mode of communication;
means for transmitting the information by a connection-mode of communication from the first device to the second device, when the means for determining the mode of communication has determined that a connection-mode of communication is to be used; and
means for transmitting the information by a connectionless-mode of communication from the first device to a second device, when the means for determining the mode of communication has determined that a connectionless-mode of communication is to be used.
27. A system for communicating between a monitored device and a monitoring device, comprising:
sensors within the monitored device which sense information to be transmitted to the monitoring device;
means for determining a mode of communication between the monitored and the monitoring device by determining if the information to be transmitted it to be transmitted using one of a connection-mode and a connectionless-mode of communication;
a connection-mode transmitter which transmits the information by a connection-mode of communication from the monitored device to the monitoring device, when the means for determining the mode of communication has determined that a connection-mode of communication is to be used; and
a connectionless-mode transmitter which transmits the information by a connectionless-mode of communication from the monitored device to the monitoring device, when the means for determining the mode of communication has determined that a connectionless-mode of communication is to be used.
28. A system according to claim 27, wherein the connectionless-mode transmitter comprises:
a transmitter which transmits the information as an Internet electronic mail message over the Internet.
29. A system according to claim 27, wherein the connection-mode transmitter comprises:
a transmitter which transmits the information using one of a telephone line and an ISDN line.
30. A system according to claim 27, wherein the monitored device is a business office device.
31. A system according to claim 30, wherein the business office device is one of a copier, a facsimile machine, and a printer.
32. A system according to claim 27, further comprising:
means for registering address information of the monitoring device so that connection-mode and connectionless-mode communications can be sent to the monitoring device by the monitored device.
33. A system according to claim 27, further comprising:
means for encrypting the information to be transmitted when the means for determining the mode of communication has determined that a connectionless-mode of communication is to be used.
34. A system according to claim 27, further comprising:
a firewall, connected to monitoring device, through which connection-mode communications from the monitored device pass.
35. A system according to claim 27, further comprising:
a data base which stores the transmitted information; and
means for sharing information in the data base between more than one department in a company.
36. A system for communicating between a monitored device and a monitoring device, comprising:
means for determining information to be transmitted by the monitoring device to the monitored device, the information including a request for a status of the monitored device determined using sensors within the monitored device; and
a connectionless-mode transmitter which transmits the information by a connectionless-mode of communication from the monitoring device to the monitored device.
37. A system according to claim 36, wherein the connectionless-mode transmitter comprises:
a transmitter which transmits the information as an Internet electronic mail message over the Internet.
38. A system according to claim 36, wherein the monitoring device is a business office device.
39. A system according to claim 38, wherein the business office device is one of a copier, a facsimile machine, and a printer.
40. A system according to claim 36, wherein the monitored device further comprises:
a receiver which receives the transmitted information; and
a transmitter which transmits a connectionless-mode communication from the monitored device to the monitoring device containing status information of the monitored device, in response to the transmitted information from the monitoring device.
41. A system according to claim 36, wherein the connectionless-mode transmitter comprises:
a transmitter which transmits the information from the monitoring device to a plurality of monitored devices including the monitored device.
42. A system for communicating between a machine and a monitoring device, comprising:
sensors within the machine which senses status information to be transmitted to the monitoring device; and
a connectionless-mode transmitter which transmits the status information by a connectionless-mode of communication from the machine to the monitoring device.
43. A system according to claim 42, further comprising:
means for analyzing the status information by the machine,
wherein the status information is transmitted using the connectionless-mode transmitter when the status information is analyzed and determined to be within a standard operating range.
44. A system according to claim 43, further comprising:
means for determining status information which is outside of normal operating parameters exists in the machine using said sensors; and
transmitting a connection-mode message from the machine to the monitoring device containing the status information which is outside of the normal operating parameters.
45. A system according to claim 43, wherein the connectionless-mode transmitter comprises:
a transmitter which transmits the information as an Internet electronic mail message over the Internet.
46. A system for communicating between a machine and a monitoring device comprising:
a receiver within the monitored device which receives a connectionless-mode message from the monitoring device;
means for analyzing the message by the machine; and
means for performing an action by the machine in response to the message, after the message is analyzed.
47. A system according to claim 46, wherein the analyzing means includes:
a parser which parses the message; and
means for determining an action which the message requests to be taken.
48. A system according to claim 47, wherein the means for performing an action comprises:
a transmitter which transmits a response message from the machine to the monitoring device in response to the message.
49. A system according to claim 48, wherein the transmitter comprises:
a transmitter which transmits the response message which contains information of the machine including information obtained from sensors, when the received connectionless-mode message requests a value to be returned.
50. A system according to claim 49, wherein the transmitter is a connectionless-mode transmitter.
51. A system according to claim 46, wherein the receiver is an Internet electronic mail receiver.