Streaming media security system

• US 20030037070A1
• Filed: 07/31/2001
• Published: 02/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Firstlook Com
• Original Assignee: Firstlook Com
• Inventors: Marston, Eric E.
• Application Number:
  US09/921,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20030037070A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2119 Authenticating web pages, e.g. with suspicious links
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/167 Systems rendering the television signal unintelligible and subsequently intelligible
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A streaming media security system provides for delivery to users of an encrypted URL identifying the address of a desired streaming media file. More particularly, the system receives a request from a user via the network to deliver a desired streaming media file. The system retrieves a uniform resource locator (URL) corresponding to the desired streaming media file from a database. The system then encrypts the URL, and embeds the encrypted URL within a Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) document linking the user to the desired streaming media file. The HTML document is then delivered to the user via the network. Upon receipt of a request from the user for the encrypted URL, the system delivers the desired streaming media file to the user. In an embodiment of the invention, the encrypted URL further includes a time-based token that identifies the time when the original user request for the streaming media file was received. Upon receipt of a subsequent request from the user for the encrypted URL, the system checks the time-based token to determine whether a pre-determined time has elapsed. If the pre-determined time has not elapsed, the system delivers the desired streaming media file to the user. But, if the pre-determined time has elapsed, the system does not deliver the desired streaming media file to the user.

Claims

1. A method for providing streaming media in a computer network, comprising:

receiving a request from a user via said network to deliver a desired streaming media file;

retrieving a uniform resource locator (URL) corresponding to the desired streaming media file;

encrypting the URL;

embedding the encrypted URL within a Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) document linking said user to said desired streaming media file;

delivering the HTML document to the user via said network;

receiving a request from said user for the encrypted URL; and

delivering said desired streaming media file to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said embedding step further comprises embedding a time-based token within said HTML document.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of delivering said desired streaming media file further comprises determining whether a pre-determined period of time has elapsed and delivering said desired streaming media file only if said pre-determined period of time has not elapsed.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining a database of plural streaming media files.

5. A system for providing streaming media, comprising:

a host computer coupled to a network and being operable to provide the functions of;

receiving a request from a user via said network to deliver a desired streaming media file;

retrieving a uniform resource locator (URL) corresponding to the desired streaming media file;

encrypting the URL;

embedding the encrypted URL within a Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) document linking said user to said streaming media file;

delivering the HTML document to the user via said network;

receiving a request from said user for the encrypted URL; and

delivering said desired streaming media file to the user.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said embedding function further comprises embedding a time-based token within said HTML document.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said function of delivering said desired streaming media further comprises determining whether a pre-determined period of time has elapsed and delivering said desired streaming media file only if said pre-determined period of time has not elapsed.

8. The system of claim 5, further comprising a database of plural streaming media files.