DIGITAL MEDIA CONTENT DISTRIBUTION
A method for distributing digital media content, including the use of a digital performance right key that is unique for a media content and a subscriber of the digital media content distribution service, and apparatuses configured to practice the method or portions thereof, are described herein.
This application claims the benefit of priority from Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/581,737, filed Jun. 21, 2004, which specification is fully incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELDEmbodiments of the present invention relate to the fields of digital media content distribution and consumption. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention are related to distribution and consumption methods and apparatuses that employ digital performance right keys that are unique for each combination of a media content and a subscriber.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONAdvances in semiconductor, processor and related technologies have made possible the availability of computing power to the average users that was once deliverable only by the large main frames. At the same time, advances in telecommunication, networking and related technologies have increased connectivity of computing devices. Further, with the advance of the Internet and the World Wide Web, abundant media contents, including video and songs, are now available to the average users.
Today, users may readily download a variety of media contents from the “Internet”, some illegally, creating a severe financial drain on the media content industries, in particular, the music industry. In response, a number of media content distribution services, such as iTunes and Netflix, and a number of portable music players, such as iPod, have emerged. These services and players provide users with relatively low cost, and somewhat efficient options to purchase and consume media contents legitimately, while providing the media content owners with reasonable protection for their property rights, i.e. against misappropriation.
However, these options still suffer from a number of disadvantages. For example, a song purchased and downloaded onto a portable music player, such as iPod, may only be consumed in the relative low fidelity digital encoding format (MP3) used by the portable music players. Further, when compared to the amount of songs that can be downloaded and stored on a typical laptop or desktop computer, the number of songs that can be downloaded and stored on a portable music player are relatively small. The relative few songs that are downloaded and stored on a portable music player are not readily shareable with others.
Still further, when a song is purchased through an iTunes like service, the purchase comes with only a limited number of copies. Over time, device failures or other reasons may cause the end-user to have to re-download, and eventually lose their legal purchase of the song. In other words, these services do not provide persistence of the purchases.
The present invention will be described by way of exemplary embodiments, but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like references denote similar elements, and in which:
Illustrative embodiments of the present invention include but are not limited to, digital media content distribution methods, portable and set-top media devices, and media content servers equipped to practice various aspects of the digital media content distribution methods.
Various aspects of the illustrative embodiments will be described using terms commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that alternate embodiments may be practiced with only some of the described aspects. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials, and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the illustrative embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that alternate embodiments may be practiced without the specific details. In other instances, well-known features are omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the illustrative embodiments.
Parts of the description will be presented in terms, such as data, media content, keys, generation, download, streaming, and so forth, consistent with the manner commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. As well understood by those skilled in the art, these quantities take the form of electrical, magnetic, RF, or optical signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, and otherwise manipulated through electrical and/or optical components of a processor and its subsystems.
Part of the descriptions will employ various abbreviations, including but are not limited to:
Further, various operations will be described as multiple discrete operations, in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the illustrative embodiments; however, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations need not be performed in the order of presentation.
The phrase “in one embodiment” is used repeatedly. The phrase generally does not refer to the same embodiment; however, it may. The terms “comprising”, “having”, and “including” are synonymous, unless the context dictates otherwise.
Referring now to
In various embodiments, the purchase of the performance rights may be persistent. That is, in the event of damage or loss of portable media device 102, the digital media content distribution service may re-provide the digital performance keys of the previously purchased/licensed media content to a replacement portable media device 102 of the service subscriber.
Resultantly, a user/subscriber of the digital media content distribution may carry a substantial portion or the entire portfolio of a user/subscriber's purchased/licensed media contents with the user/subscriber at all time. Further, the user/subscriber may enjoy purchased/licensed media content in more than one fidelity, using portable media device 102 or a proximally disposed set-top media device 104. The flexible manner of consumption also enables the user/subscriber to share consumption of the purchased/licensed media content with others, while still according reasonable protection to the property rights of the media content owners. Moreover, the subscriber's investments are protected. These are just a few exemplary possible benefits of the various embodiments of the present invention.
Continuing to refer to
For the embodiments, to support the earlier described (sharing and) consumption of a licensed media content via set-top media device 104, both portable media device 102 and set-top media device 104 are equipped with hardware and/or software components to support data communication with another similarly equipped device within the supported communication range. Typically, the communication range is a relatively “short” range. In various embodiments, both portable media device 102 and set-top media device 104 are equipped to support wireless communication in accordance with wireless communication protocol specified by the IEEE 802.11g standard (Wi-Fi). In other embodiments, other wireless communication protocols such as Bluetooth may be supported instead or in addition. In yet other embodiments, portable media device 102 and set-top media device 104 may be equipped to communicate with each other over a wired connection, e.g. a serial (USB or IEEE 1394) connection.
In various embodiments, portable media device 102 may be a portable music player, or a portable video player. For the embodiments, portable media device 102 is also equipped with hardware and/or software components to provide wireless telephony and data communication, in particular, in accordance with the GSM and GPRS standards. In other words, for the embodiments, portable media device 102 may double as a wireless mobile phone. Stated in another manner, portable media device 102 is a wireless mobile phone enhanced to support the purchasing/licensing, consumption and sharing of digital media content offered/distributed by digital media content distribution service implemented by media content servers 120.
The term “wireless mobile phone” as used herein refers to the class of telephony devices equipped to make and receive calls wirelessly, notwithstanding movement, as long as the device is within the communication reach of a service or base station of a wireless network service provider. Unless specifically excluded, these terms are to include the analog subclass as well as the digital subclass (of all signaling protocols).
Similarly, in various embodiments, set-top media device 104 may be a set-top audio player, a set-top video player, or a computer of any one of a number of form factors, e.g. laptop, desktop, and so forth.
Still referring to
Referring now to
In various embodiments, SIM 212 is similarly packaged like a GSM SIM (see e.g.
In yet other embodiments, media content distribution SIM 212 may be integrated with the GSM SIM, as illustrated in
In various embodiments, each smart card, e.g. 604, 608, adapted to provide the digital media content distribution service may be further equipped with a clock (not shown) to track the amount of elapsed time, since the SIM was last able to check in with MCS 120. In still other embodiments, each of such smart cards may be adapted with a circuit element that effectively disables the smart card on loss of power, to prevent theft of the SIM 600a/600b. An example of such circuit element may include but are not limited to a properly placed capacitor that discharges over time, on loss of power, and when fully discharged, effectively disables the smart card 604/608
Referring now to
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Referring now specifically to
As shown, in response to a user/subscriber's request to initiate such a transaction (via e.g. a provided end user interface), PMD 102 requests a connection with MCS 120 (via e.g. a GPRS or other connection), operation 202. In response, MCS 120 accepts the request, and jointly establishes a communication connection, operation 204.
Later, PMD 102 submits a request to purchase/license the performance rights to a media content offered by MCS 120, operation 206. The request may be submitted e.g. after MCS 120 has presented to PMD 102 a list of media content available for purchase/license from MCS 120 (not illustrated). In various embodiments, the list may be presented by media types or based on one or more user/subscriber's attributes (e.g. the user demographic attributes, past purchases/licensing, and so forth). In various embodiments, PMD 102 may present the user/subscriber's subscriber identifier stored in its SIM 212 as part of the request to purchase/license. In alternate embodiments, PMD 102 may present the user/subscriber's subscriber identifier stored in its SIM 212 as part of the initial request to establish a connection, and MCS 120 may conduct the transaction based on this earlier provided subscriber identifier.
In any event, for the embodiments, in response to the request to purchase/license, and successful verification of payments (assuming the service is a pay per transaction service), MCS 120 generates a DPK for the media content requested. Further, MCS 120 returns the generated DPK to PMD 102, operation 208, which in turn stores the DPK in SIM 212. In alternate embodiments, the service may be a subscription service. For these embodiments, successful verification of payment may mean successful verification of the subscriber being current in payment of the periodic subscription service charge.
As described earlier, in various embodiments, the DPK is also persisted by the digital media content distribution service in case the SIM is lost or stolen. In the even the SIM is lost or stolen it may be deactivated, and physically replaced without exposing the subscriber to loss of their purchased media content.
In various embodiments, MCS 120 further automatically provides the media content encoded in a digital format designed for the relatively more resource constraint portable devices, e.g. MP3 in the case of music/song, operation 208. In various embodiments, each of the encoded media content is encrypted at least in part using the corresponding unique DPK for the subscriber and the particular media content. On receipt, PMD 102 stores the provided media content in local storage, no longer requiring communication with the digital media content distribution service to consume the media content. However, the media content cannot be fully decoded without access to the DPK stored on the SIM. The SIM may use the DPK in a variety of ways to decrypt the protected media content including providing selected decryption of pieces of the media content directly on the SIM. The decrypted content is then either decoded by the PMD, the set-top media device, or by the SIM itself as processing power allows.
In various embodiments, MCS 120 may provide the purchased/licensed media content only at the explicit request of the user/subscriber. That is, the user/subscriber may purchase/license the performance right without any plan to ever play/consume the purchased/licensed media content, when PMD 102 is not connected to MCS 120. In various embodiments, regardless whether the media content is provided automatically or on explicit request of the user/subscriber, the transaction and download responsibilities may be divided among different servers of MCS 120, with the transaction server providing PMD 102 with a uniform resource locator (URL) of a download server, from which PMD 102 may obtain the purchased/licensed media content. PMD 102 may in turn download the purchased/licensed media content using the provided URL.
Referring now to
As shown, in response to a user/subscriber's request to initiate streaming of a media content, PMD 102 requests a connection with MCS 120 (via e.g. a GPRS or other connection), operation 232. In response, MCS 120 accepts the request, and jointly establishes a communication connection, operation 234.
Next, PMD 102 submits a streaming request for a previously purchased/licensed media content, operation 236. The request may be submitted e.g. after PMD 102 presents a list of purchased/licensed media content available for streaming (not illustrated). In various embodiments, the list may be presented by media types, artists or other attributes (e.g. when the media content was last played by). In various embodiments, PMD 102 may present the DPK for the requested media content as part of the streaming request, or upon request. In various embodiments, PMD 102 may also specify other information as part of the streaming request, e.g. the desired digital encoding format (such as Windows Media Player or Real Player, in the case of music/song), and whether the contents are streamed to PMD 102 or a proximally disposed set-top media device 104. The latter specification may also include location information of the specified set-top media device 104, e.g. its IP address.
In various embodiments, MCS 120 may validate the DPK based on the subscriber identifier stored in SIM 212 of PMD 102, to ensure the DPK has not been improperly transferred to or acquired by another user. The MCS can deactivate a SIM, invalidate a single DPK, or a single subscriber's unique ID. The SIM can optionally be required to establish a connection with the MCS on a periodic basis in order to continue to decrypt media assets stored locally.
Referring now to
For the illustrated embodiments, streaming media content is provided from MCS 120 to set-top media device 104 through PMD 102, operation 256. In alternate embodiments, media content may be streamed or downloaded from MCS 120 to set-top media device 104 directly. In various ones of these embodiments, where e.g. streaming/download requests may be made in batch, in lieu of the lower risk manner of one media content at a time, MCS 120 may further practice a validation procedure that periodically verifies PMD 102 and set-top media device 104 remain proximally disposed to each other, i.e. PMD 102 has not moved away. In various embodiments, an verification may involve having set-top media device 104 provides one or more answers to one or more challenges from MCS 104, where the answer or answers have to come from the SIM either through direction connection or through PMD 102 over a “short” range communication (in lieu of or in addition to having the SIM check in with MCS 120 periodically). In this scenario, the SIM might directly decrypt all or portions of the digital media content stream for additional security. Any device accessing the digital media content stream from the MCS will lose its ability to decrypt the encrypted portions of the stream if the SIM is disconnected or is moved out of physical proximity in the case of ‘wireless connectivity’.
Removable accessory cover 302 provides a convenient way of upgrading base WMP unit 304 to include the earlier described media content purchasing/licensing and consumption/sharing functions of PMD 102. Moreover, exterior surfaces of removable accessory cover 302 provide digital media content distribution service an opportunity to brand the service. Further, it may optionally provide dedicated media controls, such as fast forward, stop, rewind, track forward, track back and record.
Additionally, base WMP unit 304 is endowed with a software implementation of media player 214 having one or more CODEC adapted to support one or more digital encoding formats. In alternate embodiments, media player 214 may be implemented in hardware using e.g. ASIC.
Except for media player 214 provided to base WMP unit 304, each of these elements 502-514 performs its conventional function known in the art, and is intended to represent a broad range of such element and its equivalents. Further, TX/RX 512 may be designed to support one or more of any of the known signaling protocols, including but are not limited to CDMA, TDMA, GSM, and so forth, and adapted to send and receive location information, including GPS information. Moreover TX/RX 512 may be implemented using separate transmitter and receiver.
Accordingly, elements 502-514 will not be further described. Further, in alternate embodiments, PMD/WMP 102 may assume other form factors, including but not limited to a conventional substantially rectangular unibody form factor, or a conventional substantially rectangular flip phone form factor, with or without one or more removable attachable covers.
Each of these elements performs its conventional functions known in the art. In particular, system memory 704 and mass storage 706 are employed to store a working copy and a permanent copy (not shown) of the programming instructions implementing media player 242 or DPK generator 222, depending on whether computing device 700 is employed to implement media device 104 or server 120. Additionally, if computing device 700 is employed to implement server 120, mass storage 706 may also be employed to store media content 224.
The permanent copy of the programming instructions may be loaded into mass storage 706 in the factory, or in the field, through e.g. a distribution medium (not shown) or through communication interface 710 (from a distribution server (not shown). Similarly, media content 224 may be provided to server 120 and stored in mass storage 706 in any one of a number of techniques known or to be designed.
The constitution of these elements 702-712 are known, and accordingly will not be further described.
Thus, it can be seen from the above descriptions, a novel digital media content distribution method, media devices and servers to practice the method, have been described. While the present invention has been described in terms of the earlier described embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described. The present invention can be practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Thus, the description is to be regarded as illustrative instead of restrictive on the present invention.
Claims
1-36. (canceled)
37. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program code, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform a method for providing media content, the method comprising:
- receiving directly from a subscriber device a request to stream media content independent from the subscriber device directly to an apparatus located proximally to the subscriber device, the request including a performance key;
- performing a validation procedure to verify that the subscriber device is proximally disposed to the proximally located apparatus, wherein performing the validation procedure comprises periodically transmitting a challenge to the proximally located apparatus, wherein the challenge requires the proximally located apparatus to request a response from the subscriber device using a short range communication; and
- solely in response to the request received directly from the subscriber device, streaming the media content directly to the proximally located apparatus without additionally receiving the request from the proximally located apparatus.
38. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 37, wherein the challenge requires the subscriber device to decrypt a portion of the media content.
39. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 38, wherein the challenge requires the subscriber device to connect to a server to be able to continue decrypting.
40. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 37, wherein the method further comprises initially detecting that the subscriber device and proximally located apparatus are proximally disposed based on location data received from the subscriber device and the proximally located apparatus.
41. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 37, wherein the request from the subscriber device includes at least one of a media type and an encoding format supported by the proximally located apparatus.
42. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 37, wherein the media content is provided in a format of higher quality than the subscriber device is able to render.
43. An apparatus for providing media content, the apparatus comprising:
- a communication interface configured to: receive directly from a subscriber device a request to stream media content independent from the subscriber device directly to an apparatus located proximally to the subscriber device, the request including a performance key, perform a validation procedure to verify that the subscriber device is proximally disposed to the proximally located apparatus, wherein performing the validation procedure comprises periodically transmitting a challenge to the proximally located apparatus, wherein the challenge requires the proximally located apparatus to request a response from the subscriber device using a short range communication; and solely in response to the request received directly from the subscriber device, stream the media content directly to the proximally located apparatus without additionally receiving the request from the proximally located apparatus.
44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the communication interface is further configured to periodically request that the subscriber device check in with a server.
45. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the communication interface is further configured to initially detecting that the subscriber device and proximally located apparatus are proximally disposed based on location data received from the subscriber device and the proximally located apparatus.
46. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the request from the subscriber device includes at least one of a media type and an encoding format supported by the proximally located apparatus.
47. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program code, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform a method for providing media content, the method comprising:
- transmitting a request from a subscriber device directly to a server to stream media content independent from the subscriber device directly to an apparatus proximally located to the subscriber device, the request including a performance key, wherein the server streams the media content solely in response to the request transmitted directly to the server;
- receiving a portion of the media content from the proximally located apparatus using a short range communication;
- decrypting the portion of the media content; and
- transmitting the decrypted portion of the media content to the proximally located apparatus.
48. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 47, wherein the method comprises periodically receiving and decrypting portions of the media content.
49. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 47, wherein the method further comprises periodically connecting to the server, and wherein the periodic connections to the server are needed to continue decryption.
50. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 47, wherein the method further comprises initially providing location data to the server to determine the presence of the proximally located apparatus.
51. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 47, wherein the method further comprises initially sending a discovery packet to detect the presence of the proximally located apparatus.
52. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 51, wherein the method further comprises receiving a response from the proximally located apparatus, wherein the response includes at least one of a media type and an encoding format supported by the proximally located apparatus.
53. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 47, wherein transmitting the request comprises transmitting an encoding format, and wherein the encoding format is of a higher quality than the subscriber device is able to render.
54. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program code, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform a method for rendering media content, the method comprising:
- receiving, at a media device, streaming of media content directly from a server, the media content being streamed solely in response to a request received by the server directly from a subscriber device without the media device additionally transmitting the request to the server, the subscriber device being proximally located to the media device, and the request including a performance key of the media content;
- receiving periodic challenges from the server;
- in response to the periodic challenges, verifying that the subscriber device remains proximally disposed to the media device; and
- rendering the received media content.
55. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 54, wherein verifying that the subscriber device remains proximally disposed comprises requesting a response from the subscriber device using a short range communication.
56. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 54, wherein verifying that the subscriber device remains proximally disposed comprises transmitting a portion of the media content to the subscriber device for decryption.
57. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 54, wherein the method further comprises initially receiving a discovery packet from a subscriber device seeking proximally located apparatuses.
58. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 57, wherein the method further comprises responding to the discovery packet, wherein the response includes at least one of a media type and an encoding format supported.
59. An apparatus for rendering media content, the apparatus comprising:
- a communication interface configured to: receive streaming of media content directly from a server, the media content being streamed solely in response to a request received by the server directly from a subscriber device without the communication interface additionally transmitting the request to the server, the subscriber device being proximally located to the apparatus, and the request including a performance key of the media content, receive periodic challenges from the server, and in response to the periodic challenges, verify that the subscriber device remains proximally disposed to the apparatus; and
- a user interface configured to render the received media content.
60. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the challenge requires the communication interface to request a response from the subscriber device using a short range communication.
61. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the challenge requires the communication interface to transmit a portion of the media content to the subscriber device for decryption.
62. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the communication interface is configured to initially receive a discovery packet from a subscriber device seeking proximally located apparatuses.
63. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the communication interface is configured to respond to the discovery packet, wherein the response includes at least one of a media type and an encoding format supported by the user interface.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 28, 2014
Publication Date: Aug 14, 2014
Inventors: Eric Engstrom (Kirkland, WA), Peter Zatloukal (Seattle, WA)
Application Number: 14/263,785
International Classification: H04L 29/06 (20060101);