Overview of PlayReady for Network Device Receivers

Microsoft PlayReady for Network Device Receivers (PlayReady-ND) is a protocol in the PlayReady DRM system that extends the reach of protected content to consumer electronic devices on home Internet Protocol (IP) networks. PlayReady-ND protects digital content from unauthorized use. PlayReady can define, incorporate, and enforce rights for digital media content. It allows the distribution of multimedia content securely within the home and enforces rules and policies that the content provider chooses, such as expiration dates.

PlayReady-ND gives you the tools to develop apps on receiving devices that can play back protected content streamed from a PlayReady ND-transmitter. In typical use a PlayReady for network device transmitter streams protected audio or video content, such as content from a movie or an audio library, or streamed live premium TV, such as cable or satellite content. Apps that use the PlayReady-ND APIs to receive media streamed from a PlayReady-ND transmitter can provide a superior end user experience by enabling those users to consume protected content on devices throughout their homes.

To use an encrypted file, users need a license. This license is the primary way to control content (the encrypted file). PlayReady grants a license to a single client (such as a media player) or a domain. The license does not work on other clients or other domains. Each license contains rights and restrictions, defining exactly how the content may be used and under what conditions. For example, a music file license may enable a "right to play" but restrict the "right to burn to CD." The license might be valid for the period between October 1, 2014 and November 1, 2014. A single file may have multiple licenses. A user has access to PlayReady-protected content and can use that content so long as one of the licenses grants the appropriate rights, and the restrictions that the license defines do not prevent access.

The rest of this section describes the interactions between transmitters and receivers.

Topic	Description
Overview of Transmitter-Receiver Interactions	Provides details of the processing and communication operations between transmitters and receivers.
Registration, Authorization, and Revalidation	Describes the operations that receivers and transmitters perform for registration, authorization, and revalidation.
Proximity Detection	Describes the operations that receivers and transmitters perform for proximity detection.
License Fetch	Describes the operations that receivers and transmitters perform during license checking and validation.
App Operations	Describes new interfaces and enumerations in PlayReady Client SDK for Windows Store Apps that support communications between receivers and transmitters in PlayReady-ND apps.