Electronic content distribution and exchange system

• US 20030131252A1
• Filed: 01/08/2003
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TiVo Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Barton, James M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,131,648 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/193
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1417 Boot up procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/005 Reproducing at a different information rate from the information rate of recording for television signals H04N5/783
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/032 on tapes G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/036 Insert-editing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; 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 21/2542 for selling goods, e.g. TV shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 : for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 : involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 : between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 : on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 : Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/025 : Systems for the transmission of digital non-picture data, e.g. of text during the active part of a television frame transmission of digital non-picture data during the vertical blanking interval only H04N7/088
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7921 : for more than one processing mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8063 : using time division multiplex of the PCM audio and PCM video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 : involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

An electronic content distribution and exchange system provides authenticated, reliable content downloads and tracking capabilities. Content is distributed to users through the invention'"'"'s architecture. A user registers for the purchase of content through an interface on a client system or via a Web site. The purchase is for a license to the content, not for the content itself. A list of available content is displayed to the user through the client system or the Web site. The invention'"'"'s central servers log the purchase of the content into a license database. The electronic copy of the song may be already resident on the client system in a hidden area, carouseled in a protected broadcast channel, in the central database ready to be sent out in slices, or resident on a secure server on the Internet. The user accesses content through the client system'"'"'s user interface where the user plays the content and controls its playback. The invention'"'"'s service provides an exchange capability similar to stock trading whereby owners offer licenses to various electronic for sale. A seller places his license for a particular content up for sale on the central server where a buyer that is interested in the license places a bid. When a price is agreed to, the invention'"'"'s central server transfers license ownership in the license database to the new owner.

Claims

1. A process for protecting and distributing licensed electronic content, comprising the steps of:

providing a central license database;

providing a plurality of client systems;

wherein said central license database contains client system identifications and a list of licensed content associated with each client system;

providing licensing means for registering a user'"'"'s purchase of a license for an electronic content;

wherein said licensing means records the user'"'"'s client system identification along with a description of said purchased license in said central license database; and

providing content delivery means for delivering electronic content associated with said user'"'"'s purchase to the user'"'"'s client system.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein said user'"'"'s purchase is transacted via a user interface on the user'"'"'s client system, and wherein a list of available licensable electronic content is displayed to the user through the user'"'"'s client system.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein said user'"'"'s purchase is transacted via a Web site, and wherein a list of available licensable electronic content is displayed to the user through the Web site.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein said user'"'"'s purchase occurs over an Internet connection to said licensing means.

5. The process of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing a telephony server;

wherein said user'"'"'s purchase is transmitted to said licensing means through a log that is backhauled when the user'"'"'s client system contacts the service through said telephony server.

6. The process of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

transmitting said user'"'"'s purchase from said licensing means to a backend transaction service that provides clearing-house capabilities.

7. The process of claim 1, wherein said content delivery means carousels licensable content in a protected broadcast channel received by client devices, and wherein a client system extracts licensed content from said protected broadcast channel.

8. The process of claim 1, wherein said content delivery means gathers electronic content to be delivered to client systems into distribution packages called “

slices”

, and wherein said content delivery means transmits slices to client devices via communication mediums such as broadcast mechanisms, modems, networks, or the Internet.

9. The process of claim 1, wherein said content delivery means resides on a secure server on the Internet, and wherein said content delivery means delivers electronic content associated with a user'"'"'s purchase to the user'"'"'s client system via the Internet.

10. The process of claim 1, wherein the electronic content associated with said user'"'"'s purchase is accessed by the user through the user'"'"'s client system'"'"'s user interface, and wherein the user plays licensed content as desired and controls how the licensed content is played back via said user interface.

11. The process of claim 1, wherein if a user'"'"'s client system fails, said licensing means validates which songs are licensed to the user'"'"'s client system from said license database, enabling the user to retrieve new copies of his licensed content onto his new client system.

12. The process of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing a central server;

wherein a user places his license for an electronic content up for sale on a central server;

wherein a buyer that is interested in said user'"'"'s license places a bid on said central server;

wherein when a price is agreed to, said licensing means transfers license ownership of the content sold in said license database to the buyer'"'"'s client system and instructs the user'"'"'s client system to delete the content sold; and

wherein said content delivery means delivers the content sold to the buyer'"'"'s client system.

13. The process of claim 12, wherein bidding takes place via the user'"'"'s and the buyer'"'"'s respective client systems or through a Web site connected to said central server.

14. The process of claim 1, wherein a content originator publishes an offering of licenses for new material to client systems.

15. The process of claim 1, wherein a user registers ownership of a user device with said licensing means, wherein the user requests a copy of an electronic content be downloaded to the user device, and wherein said licensing means checks that the user device is registered to the user and that the user has a license to the requested electronic content before making the electronic content available to the user device via the user'"'"'s client system.

16. The process of claim 1, wherein an owner registers ownership of at least two client systems with said licensing means, and wherein said licensing means provides each client system with authentication information for the other client systems owned by the owner.

17. The process of claim 16, wherein an owner initiates copying of electronic content from one client system to another client system through one of the client systems, wherein the client systems authenticate each other using said authentication information, and wherein the client systems initiate the copying of content between themselves after successful authentication.

18. The process of claim 16, wherein an owner initiates copying of electronic content from one client system to all other client systems registered by the owner through one of the client systems, wherein the client systems authenticate each other using said authentication information, and wherein the client systems initiate the copying of content between themselves after successful authentication.

19. An apparatus for protecting and distributing licensed electronic content, comprising:

a central license database;

a plurality of client systems;

wherein said central license database contains client system identifications and a list of licensed content associated with each client system;

licensing means for registering a user'"'"'s purchase of a license for an electronic content;

wherein said licensing means records the user'"'"'s client system identification along with a description of said purchased license in said central license database; and

content delivery means for delivering electronic content associated with said user'"'"'s purchase to the user'"'"'s client system.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said user'"'"'s purchase is transacted via a user interface on the user'"'"'s client system, and wherein a list of available licensable electronic content is displayed to the user through the user'"'"'s client system.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said user'"'"'s purchase is transacted via a Web site, and wherein a list of available licensable electronic content is displayed to the user through the Web site.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said user'"'"'s purchase occurs over an Internet connection to said licensing means.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

a telephony server;

wherein said user'"'"'s purchase is transmitted to said licensing means through a log that is backhauled when the user'"'"'s client system contacts the service through said telephony server.

24. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

a module for transmitting said user'"'"'s purchase from said licensing means to a backend transaction service that provides clearing-house capabilities.

25. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said content delivery means carousels licensable content in a protected broadcast channel received by client devices, and wherein a client system extracts licensed content from said protected broadcast channel.

26. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said content delivery means gathers electronic content to be delivered to client systems into distribution packages called “

slices”

, and wherein said content delivery means transmits slices to client devices via communication mediums such as broadcast mechanisms, modems, networks, or the Internet.

27. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said content delivery means resides on a secure server on the Internet, and wherein said content delivery means delivers electronic content associated with a user'"'"'s purchase to the user'"'"'s client system via the Internet.

28. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the electronic content associated with said user'"'"'s purchase is accessed by the user through the user'"'"'s client system'"'"'s user interface, and wherein the user plays licensed content as desired and controls how the licensed content is played back via said user interface.

29. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein if a user'"'"'s client system fails, said licensing means validates which songs are licensed to the user'"'"'s client system from said license database, enabling the user to retrieve new copies of his licensed content onto his new client system.

30. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

a central server;

wherein a user places his license for an electronic content up for sale on a central server;

wherein a buyer that is interested in said user'"'"'s license places a bid on said central server;

wherein when a price is agreed to, said licensing means transfers license ownership of the content sold in said license database to the buyer'"'"'s client system and instructs the user'"'"'s client system to delete the content sold; and

wherein said content delivery means delivers the content sold to the buyer'"'"'s client system.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein bidding takes place via the user'"'"'s and the buyer'"'"'s respective client systems or through a Web site connected to said central server.

32. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein a content originator publishes an offering of licenses for new material to client systems.

33. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein a user registers ownership of a user device with said licensing means, wherein the user requests a copy of an electronic content be downloaded to the user device, and wherein said licensing means checks that the user device is registered to the user and that the user has a license to the requested electronic content before making the electronic content available to the user device via the user'"'"'s client system.

34. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein an owner registers ownership of at least two client systems with said licensing means, and wherein said licensing means provides each client system with authentication information for the other client systems owned by the owner.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein an owner initiates transfer of electronic content from one client system to another client system through one of the client systems, wherein the client systems authenticate each other using said authentication information, and wherein the client systems initiate the copying of content between themselves after successful authentication.

36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein an owner initiates copying of electronic content from one client system to all other client systems registered by the owner through one of the client systems, wherein the client systems authenticate each other using said authentication information, and wherein the client systems initiate the copying of content between themselves after successful authentication.

37. A program storage medium readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for protecting and distributing licensed electronic content, comprising the steps of:

providing a central license database;

providing a plurality of client systems;

wherein said central license database contains client system identifications and a list of licensed content associated with each client system;

providing licensing means for registering a user'"'"'s purchase of a license for an electronic content;

wherein said licensing means records the user'"'"'s client system identification along with a description of said purchased license in said central license database; and

providing content delivery means for delivering electronic content associated with said user'"'"'s purchase to the user'"'"'s client system.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said user'"'"'s purchase is transacted via a user interface on the user'"'"'s client system, and wherein a list of available licensable electronic content is displayed to the user through the user'"'"'s client system.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein said user'"'"'s purchase is transacted via a Web site, and wherein a list of available licensable electronic content is displayed to the user through the Web site.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein said user'"'"'s purchase occurs over an Internet connection to said licensing means.

41. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of:

providing a telephony server;

wherein said user'"'"'s purchase is transmitted to said licensing means through a log that is backhauled when the user'"'"'s client system contacts the service through said telephony server.

42. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of:

transmitting said user'"'"'s purchase from said licensing means to a backend transaction service that provides clearing-house capabilities.

43. The method of claim 37, wherein said content delivery means carousels licensable content in a protected broadcast channel received by client devices, and wherein a client system extracts licensed content from said protected broadcast channel.

44. The method of claim 37, wherein said content delivery means gathers electronic content to be delivered to client systems into distribution packages called “

slices”

, and wherein said content delivery means transmits slices to client devices via communication mediums such as broadcast mechanisms, modems, networks, or the Internet.

45. The method of claim 37, wherein said content delivery means resides on a secure server on the Internet, and wherein said content delivery means delivers electronic content associated with a user'"'"'s purchase to the user'"'"'s client system via the Internet.

46. The method of claim 37, wherein the electronic content associated with said user'"'"'s purchase is accessed by the user through the user'"'"'s client system'"'"'s user interface, and wherein the user plays licensed content as desired and controls how the licensed content is played back via said user interface.

47. The method of claim 37, wherein if a user'"'"'s client system fails, said licensing means validates which songs are licensed to the user'"'"'s client system from said license database, enabling the user to retrieve new copies of his licensed content onto his new client system.

48. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of:

providing a central server;

wherein a user places his license for an electronic content up for sale on a central server;

wherein a buyer that is interested in said user'"'"'s license places a bid on said central server;

wherein when a price is agreed to, said licensing means transfers license ownership of the content sold in said license database to the buyer'"'"'s client system and instructs the user'"'"'s client system to delete the content sold; and

wherein said content delivery means delivers the content sold to the buyer'"'"'s client system.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein bidding takes place via the user'"'"'s and the buyer'"'"'s respective client systems or through a Web site connected to said central server.

50. The method of claim 37, wherein a content originator publishes an offering of licenses for new material to client systems.

51. The method of claim 37, wherein a user registers ownership of a user device with said licensing means, wherein the user requests a copy of an electronic content be downloaded to the user device, and wherein said licensing means checks that the user device is registered to the user and that the user has a license to the requested electronic content before making the electronic content available to the user device via the user'"'"'s client system.

52. The method of claim 37, wherein an owner registers ownership of at least two client systems with said licensing means, and wherein said licensing means provides each client system with authentication information for the other client systems owned by the owner.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein an owner initiates transfer of electronic content from one client system to another client system through one of the client systems, wherein the client systems authenticate each other using said authentication information, and wherein the client systems initiate the copying of content between themselves after successful authentication.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein an owner initiates copying of electronic content from one client system to all other client systems registered by the owner through one of the client systems, wherein the client systems authenticate each other using said authentication information, and wherein the client systems initiate the copying of content between themselves after successful authentication.