Digital media distribution method and system

• US 20020146122A1
• Filed: 04/04/2002
• Published: 10/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Destiny Software Productions Incorporated (Destiny Media Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Destiny Software Productions Incorporated (Destiny Media Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Vestergaard, Steve, Kolic, Edward, Tsu, Che-Wai
• Granted Patent: US 7,466,823 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/041 using an encryption or decryption engine integrated in transmitted data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 applying security measures for digital rights management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/062 for key distribution, e.g. centrally by trusted party cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving a central third party H04L9/0819
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols

Abstract

The invention presents a method and system for secure distribution of digital media files including text, video, audio and combinations of these. The preferred embodiment describes the distribution of audio files (particularly music) which are presently being widely distributed over the Internet without compensating the various rights holders. The invention encrypts the audio content (except for an optional preview section) in a single executable file, allowing it to be freely distributed. When Consumers want to access the encrypted portion of the file, a decryption key is obtained from a remote server, but because the file includes an integral decryption engine, a decrypted copy of the file never appears on the Client side. Thus, there is no unprotected copy that the Consumer can illegally distribute. The invention also describes other advantageous techniques, such as bonding the decryption key to the consumer'"'"'s computer, so it cannot be used by others.

Claims

1. A method of distributing electronic media comprising the steps of:

downloading a media file including an integral decryption engine and encrypted media content;

requesting a decryption key from a remote server; and

responding to receipt of said decryption key from said remote server by;

decrypting said media content using said integral decryption engine.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step subsequent to said step of decrypting, of:

viewing said media content by executing viewer software integral with said media file whereby a decrypted copy of said media content is not stored locally.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step subsequent to said step of decrypting, of:

viewing said media content by executing external viewer software linked to said media file, whereby a decrypted copy of said media content is not stored locally.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein said media file includes Web links to one or more of:

artist, retailer, distributor and record label.

14. A system for executing the method of any one of claims 1 through 13.

15. A computer readable memory medium for storing software code executable to perform the method steps of any one of claims 1 through 13.

16. A carrier signal incorporating software code executable to perform the method steps of any one of claims 1 through 13.

4. A method of managing distribution of proprietary electronic media comprising the steps of:

downloading a single file executable to;

decrypt an integral media file using an integral decryption engine and a decryption key; and

view said decrypted media file using an integral viewer.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said step of downloading comprises the step of:

downloading said single file from a remote server via a communication network.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of:

downloading said decryption key from said remote server via said communication network.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

requesting a decryption key from a remote server; and

said remote server responding to said request and responding to a digital wallet having sufficient funds, by returning said decryption key.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

bonding said media file to a computing device from which said request has initiated.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said step of bonding comprises the step of:

communicating bonding information back to said remote server for storage.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein said remote server tracks an originating Web site, enabling it to distribute revenues to rights holders.

9. A method of securely distributing media files comprising the steps of:

generating an executable, encrypted media file which will execute to play only a portion of the corresponding original media file, without use of a decryption key.

13. A method of secure distribution of content over a communication network comprising the steps of:

a Consumer sending a request to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) for a media file; and

said ISP returning said media file to said consumer, said media file being wrapped in a single executable file including an integral decryption engine.