Electronic system and method for managing digital content relating to works of art

Abstract

The present invention concerns an electronic system and a method for managing digital content relating to works of art adapted for preventing the uncontrolled diffusion thereof. The electronic system (10) for managing digital content relating to works of art is characterised in that it comprises at least one importing unit (11) of files comprising digital content relating to works of art associated with at least one display unit (12) of digital content relating to works of art, wherein the importing unit (11) comprises encrypting/decrypting means (11a) of the files comprising digital content relating to works of art, the encrypting/decrypting means comprising means for generating a unique encryption key based on at least one identification code associated in a unique manner with the display unit (12,12′) and/or with at least one electronic part (12a,14a;12a′,14a′) comprised in the same (12,12′). The method (100) for managing digital content relating to works of art is characterised in that it comprises the steps consisting of importing (110) at least one file comprising digital content relating to works of art; acquiring (150) at least one identification code associated in a unique manner with a display unit (12,12′) and/or with at least one electronic part (12a,14a;12a′,14a′) comprised in the same (12,12′); generating (160) a unique encryption key based on the at least one identification code acquired; encrypting (170) the at least one imported file with the unique key generated; and storing (180) the encrypted file.

Claims

1. An electronic system for managing digital content relating to works of art comprising: at least one importing unit for importing files comprising digital content relating to works of art configured to receive said files comprising digital content relating to works of art via connection to a telecommunications network and to assign a unique serial number to each received file comprising digital content relating to works of art, the at least one importing unit comprising encrypting/decrypting means for encrypting/decrypting said files of digital content relating to works of art, and at least one display unit of digital content relating to works of art comprising electronic processing means provided with encrypting/decrypting software means and first memory means for storing encrypted files of digital content relating to works of art, the at least one display unit being operatively connected to the at least one importing unit; wherein the encrypting/decrypting means of the importing unit is configured to generate a unique encryption key for each file comprising digital content relating to works of art based on a combination of the unique serial number assigned to said file, at least one identification code associated in a unique manner with said display unit, and at least one identification code associated in a unique manner with said electronic processing means and/or said first memory means of the display unit, and to encrypt each file comprising digital content relating to works of art using the corresponding unique encryption key to produce a corresponding encrypted file; and wherein the encrypting/decrypting software means of said display unit is configured to receive said encrypted file from the importing unit, and to decrypt said encrypted file.

2. The electronic system according to claim 1, wherein said display unit is directly connected to said importing unit or is remotely connected to said importing unit through interposition of the telecommunications network.

3. The electronic system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one identification code associated in a unique manner with said display unit are coordinates measured relative to a position of said display unit.

4. The electronic system according to claim 1, wherein said encrypting/decrypting means of said importing unit is further configured to generate said a unique encryption key further based on a piece of time data.

5. The electronic system according to claim 1, further comprising back-up memory means containing back-up files comprising digital content relating to works of art, said back-up files being encrypted through a unique encryption key generated based on at least one identification code of said back-up memory means.

6. The electronic system according to claim 1, wherein said encrypting/decrypting means of said importing unit is further configured to add a secret prefix to the unique serial number assigned to the file by the importing unit.

7. A method for managing digital content relating to works of art comprising the steps of: importing, with an importing unit, at least one file comprising digital content relating to works of art via a telecommunications network; assigning, with the importing unit, a unique serial number to the at least one imported file; acquiring at least a first identification code associated in a unique manner with a display unit and at least a second identification code associated in a unique manner with electronic processing means and/or first memory means of the display unit; generating a unique encryption key based on a combination of the unique serial number, the at least first identification code and the at least second identification code; encrypting, with the importing unit, the at least one imported file with said unique encryption key to obtain an encrypted file; transferring the encrypted file from said importing unit to said display unit; and storing the encrypted file.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said identification code associated in a unique manner with said display unit are coordinates relative to a position of said display unit.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein said step of generating a unique encryption key is further based on a piece of time data.

10. The method according to claim 7 further comprising the steps of: generating a unique encryption key based on at least one identification code of back-up memory means; encrypting the at least one imported file with the unique key generated from the identification code of said back-up memory means to obtain an encrypted file; and storing the encrypted file in said back-up memory means.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein prior to the step of generating the unique encrypted key, the method comprises the step of adding a prefix to the unique serial number.

12. The electronic system according to claim 4, wherein the piece of time data is a piece of time limit data.

13. The electronic system according to claim 1, wherein the encrypting/decrypting software means of said display unit is configured to generate a unique decryption key based on said combination of the unique serial number assigned to said encrypted file, said at least one identification code associated in a unique manner with said display unit, and said at least one identification code associated in a unique manner with said electronic processing means and/or said first memory means of the display unit, and to decrypt said encrypted file using said unique decryption key.

Description

(1) Further features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following detailed description of some preferred embodiments thereof, made with reference to the attached drawings.

(2) The different features in the single configurations can be combined together as desired according to the previous description, if it is necessary to take advantage of the advantages resulting specifically from a particular combination.

(3) In such drawings,

(4) FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first preferred embodiment of the electronic system for managing digital content relating to works of art according to the present invention;

(5) FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a second preferred embodiment of the electronic system for managing digital content relating to works of art according to the present invention;

(6) FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the step of loading digital content relating to a work of art into the electronic system according to the present invention;

(7) FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the step of displaying digital content relating to a work of art managed by the electronic system according to the present invention.

(8) In the following description, in order to illustrate the figures identical reference numerals or symbols are used to indicate structural elements with the same function. Moreover, for the sake of clarity of illustration, some references may not be repeated in all of the figures.

(9) With reference to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of an electronic system for managing digital content relating to works of art is shown, wholly indicated with 10.

(10) Such a system 10 comprises a plurality of units 11,12,13,18,19 including at least one unit 11 for importing digital content relating to works of art, as well as a unit 12 for displaying digital content relating to works of art.

(11) In particular, according to the illustrated embodiment, the display unit 12 comprises first memory means 14a adapted for conserving the digital content relating to works of art. The first memory means 14a contain a plurality of encrypted files each relating to the digital content of a work of art and data concerning the relative works of art. For example, the first memory means 14a contain the serial number of every work, the name of the authors of the works, the dates of creation of the works, the number of copies for sale, the current availability, descriptions of what the works of art represent and/or of the styles with which they were made, the printing methods, and so on.

(12) The system 10 also comprises second memory means 14b containing a back-up copy of the digital content relating to works of art.

(13) The system 10 comprises in addition third memory means 14c containing data relating to the owners of the digital content relating to works of art acquired. Such data is updated every time there is a change of ownership, therefore constituting a historical record of the single changes of ownership.

(14) Among the units that make up the system 10, it is also foreseen for there to be a unit 13 for managing the printing of the digital content relating to works of art connected to at least one printer 17 for two- and/or three-dimensional printing of the digital content relating to works of art.

(15) The importing 11, display 12 and printing 13 units are connected to interface means (not shown) with a global telecommunications network 15, for example Internet, through which the digital content is transmitted and received.

(16) The importing unit 11 is adapted for managing the receiving of files of digital content relating to works of art through connection to the global telecommunications network 15.

(17) The importing unit 11 comprises encrypting/decrypting means 11a of the files received in input.

(18) The encrypting/decrypting means 11a comprise means for generating a unique encryption key based on a unique serial number associated with the file in the acquisition step by the importing unit 11, preferably after modification, as well as on an identification code of at least one electronic part of the display unit 12 through which the encrypted file will be displayed. For example, the electronic part of the display unit 12 are the first memory means 14a or alternatively electronic processing means 12a of such a display unit 12.

(19) The means for generating the key are adapted for adding a prefix (possibly generated by a random algorithm) known only to the same means for generating the key to the unique serial number associated with the file in the acquisition step.

(20) Preferably, the means for generating the key are provided with obscuring means adapted for preventing access to the operating algorithm thereof.

(21) In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the display unit 12 is adapted for managing a flow of encrypted digital content relating to works of art upon request received through connection to the telecommunications network 15.

(22) For this purpose, at least one electronic device 16a,16b of a user like for example a smart TV 16a, a personal computer 16b and so on, comprises a software application adapted for interfacing remotely with the display unit 12 to generate a secure transmission channel, for example of the SSL type, through which to receive digital content relating to a work of art.

(23) The software application manages access to the system 10 by the user through credentials. In this way, the user acquires access to the digital content associated with him/her. Specifically, the user acquires access to the digital content that has previously been the object of a sale which has brought ownership thereof to the user.

(24) In this way, the user can select among the digital content associated with him/her, which content to display through his/her electronic device 16a,16b and/or other electronic devices associated with the user possibly all connected to the same local telecommunications network.

(25) The software application installed on the electronic device 16a,16b of the user only allows the digital content associated with the specific user to be displayed remotely, said content in any case remaining in the memory means 14a of the display unit 12. Therefore, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the electronic device 16a,16b of the user is not sent an encrypted copy of the digital content, in such a way preventing local storage thereof.

(26) With reference to FIG. 2, a second embodiment of the electronic system for managing digital content relating to works of art is shown, wholly indicated with 10′.

(27) The second embodiment of the electronic system 10′ differs from the first substantially by the display unit 12′, which is arranged remotely with respect to the importing unit 11 and communicates with it through the telecommunications network 15.

(28) Such system architecture therefore foresees that the display unit 12′ is arranged at the user. For example, the display unit 12′ can be a smart TV, a personal computer and so on, comprising software means 12b′ adapted for interrogating at least one electronic part 12a′,14a′ of the display unit 12′ (for example the relative first memory means 14a′ or electronic processing means 12a′) and for interfacing with the importing unit 11 in order to transmit the at least one identification code detected.

(29) Therefore, the encrypting/decrypting means 11a of the importing unit 11 carry out the encrypting of the file based on the identification code of the electronic part 12a′,14a′ of the remote display unit 12′.

(30) Once encrypted, the file is transferred into the first memory means 14a′ of the remote display unit 12′ and, to open it, the software means 12b′ comprise encrypting/decrypting means analogous to those 11a present in the importing unit 11. The file can therefore be decrypted locally, but remains restricted to the specific remote display unit 12′. In other words, the content of the file is not accessible except through the remote display unit 12′.

(31) In both of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the unit for managing printing 13 is adapted for managing a printing queue and distributing the printing jobs to at least one printer 17.

(32) The at least one printer 17 can alternatively or in addition be arranged at the unit for managing printing 13 or remotely (for example at a printing works). In such a second case the connection between the unit for managing printing 13 and the at least one printer 17 is made through the global telecommunications network 15.

(33) The electronic system 10,10′ for managing digital content relating to works of art also comprises a user interface unit 18 also connected to interfacing means (not shown) with the global telecommunications network 15, and a unit 19 for managing sales operations of the digital content relating to works of art.

(34) The unit 19 for managing sales operations allows different modes of interaction between the users including offering digital content relating to a work of art for sale on the market (i.e. the whole of the remaining users) by an artist user, a user who is the owner of digital content previously acquired or an art dealer user. The unit 19 for managing sales operations is adapted for making the offers for sale on the market in the form of an auction or at a fixed price. Moreover, the unit 19 for managing sales operations is adapted for making a private offer for sale between two users.

(35) The user interface unit 18 and the unit 19 for managing sales operations interface with the third memory means 14c in order to keep the ownership data of the digital content relating to works of art object of sale up to date.

(36) Preferably, it is possible to provide temporary access for displaying digital content relating to works of art for sale.

(37) The method 100,200 for managing digital content relating to works of art implemented by the system 10 according to the present invention is schematically illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

(38) Once a file of digital content relating to works of art is received in input 100, through connection to the global telecommunications network, it is assigned a unique serial number (step 130).

(39) After the serial number has been assigned, a step 160 of generating an encryption key takes place. Such an encryption key is generated from the unique serial number previously associated with the file (during step 130) and with the identification code of an electronic part 12a,14a,12a′,14a′ of the display unit 12,12′ that is previously acquired (step 150) and transferred to the encrypting/decrypting means 11a of the importing unit.

(40) The file is therefore encrypted 170 with the encryption key generated and the encrypted file is stored 180, for example on the memory means 14a,14a′ of the display unit 12,12′.

(41) Correspondingly, given that the back-up memory means 14b in which the back-up copy files are stored are characterised by a different identification code with respect to the code of the memory means 14a,14a′ of the display unit 12,12′, the acquisition step 150 of an identification code of an electronic part, the step of generating 160 an encryption key, the encryption step 170 of the file and the subsequent storage 180 of the encrypted file in the corresponding back-up memory means 14b are also carried out for such a copy. In this case the encryption key is generated based on the identification code of the back-up memory means 14b.

(42) In other words, the means for generating a unique encryption key generate a second encryption key, different from the first, based on which the encryption of the back-up copy file takes place.

(43) Such a copy file can therefore be opened only if arranged in the back-up memory means 14b.

(44) If, for operative reasons, the files must be moved from memory means to other memory means, it will be necessary to decrypt the file still arranged in the starting memory means to then move the file unencrypted and repeat the encryption operation once the file is located in the other memory means, generating a new encryption key from the identification code of the destination memory means.

(45) Preferably, the step of generating the encryption key foresees a prior step that consists of adding 140 a prefix (possibly generated by a random algorithm) to the unique serial number associated with the file being acquired. The prefix is preferably known only to the means for generating the key themselves.

(46) Correspondingly, once a request to display digital content relating to a work of art has been received (step 210) from a user associated with such digital content (owner), the identification code of an electronic part 12a,14a,12a′,14a′ of the display unit 12,12′ is acquired (step 215) and transferred to the encrypting/decrypting means 11a of the importing unit 11 or to the encrypting/decrypting means comprised in the software means 12b of the remote display unit.

(47) Based on the acquired code a specific decryption key for the file containing the requested digital content is generated (step 220). The decryption key is generated based on the unique serial number associated with such digital content (possibly modified with a prefix) and the identification code previously acquired relating to at least one electronic part 14a,14a′,12a,12a′ of the display unit 12,12′ through which the encrypted file will be displayed. For example, the identification code is that of the memory means 14a,14a′ of such a display unit 12,12′. In the case of the back-up file, the identification code is that of the back-up memory means 14b.

(48) Based on the decryption key thus obtained, the access (step 230) to the digital content of the file takes place.

(49) Depending on the different embodiments, the user is therefore capable of displaying the digital content that he/she owns.

(50) In a first case, the decryption takes place on the local display unit 12 and the content of the unencrypted file is transmitted (step 240) through the global telecommunications network 15 to at least one electronic device 16a,16b without the file being physically transferred (unencrypted or encrypted) to it. Such an electronic device 16a,16b is only responsible for displaying the digital content.

(51) In a second case, the remote display unit 12′, on which the file is housed, is equipped with the software means 12b′ that, as already outlined above, are adapted for interrogating at least one electronic part 12a′,14a′ of the display unit 12′ itself in order to acquire the identification code thereof, as well as for carrying out the decryption of the file originally encrypted through the encrypting/decrypting means 11a resident on the importing unit 11. The displaying of the digital content takes place through the remote display unit 12′ itself.

(52) In both cases, the encrypted file is linked in a unique manner to the display unit 12,12′ so that any attempt at copying is prevented and the diffusion of the file is strongly blocked. Indeed, it should be considered that if the file were taken onto a different display unit, it could not be opened, since the identification codes of the electronic parts of such a display unit would be different, not allowing a decryption key adapted for opening the file to be reconstructed. In this way, the file is prevented from being able to be effectively duplicated and diffused.

(53) From the description that has been made, the features of the system and of the method for managing digital content relating to works of art object of the present invention are clear, just as the relative advantages are also clear.

(54) Further variants from the embodiments described above are possible, without departing from the teaching of the invention.

(55) Finally, it is clear that a system and a method for managing digital content relating to works of art thus conceived can undergo numerous modifications and variants, all of which are covered by the invention; moreover, all of the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements. In practice, the materials used, as well as the sizes, can be whatever according to the technical requirements.