System for uniquely identifying assets and subsribers in a multi-media communicaion network

• US 20030204592A1
• Filed: 03/07/2002
• Published: 10/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hallmark Interactive LLC (Hallmark Cards Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Crown Media Holdings, Inc. (Hallmark Cards Incorporated)
• Inventors: McClain, Ned, Hanafee, Timothy, Crouse-Kemp, Susan, Hein, Trent, Snyder, William, Ross, Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US10/092,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20030204592A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/12 Applying verification of the received information cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for data integrity or data verification H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234309 by transcoding between formats or standards, e.g. from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 or from Quicktime to Realvideo conversion of standards in analog television systems H04N7/01
• 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 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• 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 21/835 Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8352 involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

The present system for uniquely identifying assets and subscribers in a multi-media communication network assigns a unique and substantially self-identifying signature to every asset managed by the multi-media communication network as well as the subscribers who access the multi-media communication network. The signature ID system operates as an overlay on the multi-media communication networks to receive individual subscriber requests for a selected multi-media asset and deliver that asset as desired to the requesting subscriber. This service is facilitated by the use of the signature ID system which is used to assign each subscriber and asset a unique identification, that contains both immutable and dynamically assignable segments. The registration system component functions to authorize the registration of subscribers and/or assets and assign their respective unique identification. In addition, the content authority component uses the subscriber identifier and asset identifier to determine whether a subscriber is authorized to access assets, and to initiate the delivery of that asset to the subscriber via a communication medium.

Claims

1. A registration system for assigning unique signature identifications to objects in a multi-media communication network to enable subscribers to access multi-media objects that are stored in storage systems served by said communication network, comprising:

means for receiving data, comprising an object, at said registration system;

means for registering said object by generating a unique signature identification for said received object comprising a digital code of predetermined length, comprising;

means for generating an object payload comprising object-specific information,

means for inserting a digital code that identifies said registration system, and

means for assigning a registrar-specific digital code to uniquely identify said received object.

2. The registration system of claim 1 wherein said means for registering further comprises:

means for combining said object payload, said digital code that identifies said registration system, said registrar-specific digital code, each having a predetermined length, in a predetermined order.

3. The registration system of claim 1, wherein said object comprises one of a media asset and a subscriber application, further comprising:

means for storing said received object in a storage medium for access by subscribers; and

means for indexing and describing said stored received object using said unique signature identification.

4. The registration system of claim 3 wherein said object comprises a media asset, said means for generating an object payload comprises at least one of:

means for generating content expiry data that defines a date when said object is no longer available for access by said subscribers;

means for generating a content rating that defines characteristics of a content of said object;

means for generating quality of service data; and

means for generating version data that identifies a version of said received object.

5. The registration system of claim 3 wherein said object comprises a subscriber application, said means for generating an object payload comprises at least one of:

means for generating subscriber ratings data;

means for generating subscriber permissions data;

means for generating subscriber device data;

means for generating subscriber service provider identification data.

6. The registration system of claim 3 further comprising:

means, responsive to receipt of a query from a subscriber where said query includes a unique signature identification for an object, for identifying an object stored on said storage medium that corresponds to said unique signature identification included in said query;

means, responsive to receipt of a query from a subscriber where said query includes a unique signature identification for said subscriber, for identifying object access permissions for said subscriber that corresponds to said unique signature identification included in said query; and

means for retrieving said stored object from said storage medium where said subscriber'"'"'s object access permissions authorize access.

7. A method of operating a registration system for assigning unique signature identifications to objects in a multi-media communication network to enable subscribers to access multi-media objects that are stored in storage systems served by said communication network, comprising the steps of:

receiving data, comprising an object, at said registration system;

registering said object by generating a unique signature identification for said received object comprising a digital code of predetermined length, comprising;

generating an object payload comprising object-specific information,

inserting a digital code that identifies said registration system, and

assigning a registrar-specific digital code to uniquely identify said received object.

8. The method of operating a registration system of claim 7 wherein said step of registering further comprises:

combining said object payload, said digital code that identifies said registration system, said registrar-specific digital code, each having a predetermined length, in a predetermined order.

9. The method of operating a registration system of claim 7, wherein said object comprises one of a media asset and a subscriber application, further comprising the steps of:

storing said received object in a storage medium for access by subscribers; and

indexing said stored received object using said unique signature identification.

10. The method of operating a registration system of claim 9 wherein said object comprises a media asset, said step of generating an object payload comprises at least one of:

generating content expiry data that defines a date when said object is no longer available for access by said subscribers;

generating a content rating that defines characteristics of a content of said object;

generating quality of service data; and

generating version data that identifies a version of said received object.

11. The method of operating a registration system of claim 9 wherein said object comprises a subscriber application, said step of generating an object payload comprises at least one of:

generating subscriber ratings data;

generating subscriber permissions data;

generating subscriber device data;

generating subscriber service provider identification data.

12. The method of operating a registration system of claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

identifying, in response to receipt of a query from a subscriber where said query includes a unique signature identification for an object, an object stored on said storage medium that corresponds to said unique signature identification included in said query;

identifying, in response to receipt of a query from a subscriber where said query includes a unique signature identification for said subscriber, object access permissions for said subscriber that corresponds to said unique signature identification included in said query; and

retrieving said stored object from said storage medium where said subscriber'"'"'s object access permissions authorize access.

13. A registration system for assigning unique signature identifications to objects in a multi-media communication network to enable subscribers to access multi-media objects that are stored in storage systems served by said communication network, comprising:

means for receiving data, comprising an object, at said registration system;

means for registering said object by generating a unique signature identification for said received object comprising a digital code of predetermined length, comprising;

means for generating a segment of said unique signature identification that comprises a set of immutable data, and

means for generating a segment of said unique signature identification that comprises a set of dynamic data comprising object-specific information that can vary during the existence of said object.

14. The registration system of claim 13 wherein said means for registering further comprises:

means for combining said segment of said unique signature identification that comprises a set of immutable data, said segment of said unique signature identification that comprises a set of dynamic data, each having a predetermined length, in a predetermined order.

15. The registration system of claim 13, wherein said object comprises one of a media asset and a subscriber application, further comprising:

means for storing said received object in a storage medium for access by subscribers; and

means for indexing said stored received object using said unique signature identification.

16. The registration system of claim 13 wherein said object comprises a media asset, said means for generating an object payload comprises at least one of:

means for generating content expiry data that defines a date when said object is no longer available for access by said subscribers;

means for generating a content rating that defines characteristics of a content of said object;

means for generating quality of service data; and

means for generating version data that identifies a version of said received object.

17. The registration system of claim 16 wherein said object comprises a subscriber application, said means for generating an object payload comprises at least one of:

means for generating subscriber ratings data;

means for generating subscriber permissions data;

means for generating subscriber device data;

means for generating subscriber service provider identification data.

18. The registration system of claim 16 wherein said means for registering comprises:

means, responsive to receipt of a query from a subscriber where said query includes a unique signature identification for an object, for identifying an object stored on said storage medium that corresponds to said unique signature identification included in said query;

means, responsive to receipt of a query from a subscriber where said query includes a unique signature identification for said subscriber, for identifying object access permissions for said subscriber that corresponds to said unique signature identification included in said query; and

means for retrieving said stored object from said storage medium where said subscriber'"'"'s object access permissions authorize access.

19. A method of operating a registration system for assigning unique signature identifications to objects in a multi-media communication network to enable subscribers to access multi-media objects that are stored in storage systems served by said communication network, comprising:

receiving data, comprising an object, at said registration system;

registering said object by generating a unique signature identification for said received object comprising a digital code of predetermined length, comprising;

generating a segment of said unique signature identification that comprises a set of immutable data, and

generating a segment of said unique signature identification that comprises a set of dynamic data comprising object-specific information that can vary during the existence of said object.

20. The method of operating a registration system of claim 19 wherein said step of registering further comprises:

combining said segment of said unique signature identification that comprises a set of immutable data, said segment of said unique signature identification that comprises a set of dynamic data, each having a predetermined length, in a predetermined order.

21. The method of operating a registration system of claim 19, wherein said object comprises one of a media asset and a subscriber application, further comprising the steps of:

storing said received object in a storage medium for access by subscribers; and

indexing said stored received object using said unique signature identification.

22. The method of operating a registration system of claim 19 wherein said object comprises a media asset, said step of generating an object payload comprises at least one of:

generating content expiry data that defines a date when said object is no longer available for access by said subscribers;

generating a content rating that defines characteristics of a content of said object;

generating quality of service data; and

generating version data that identifies a version of said received object.

23. The method of operating a registration system of claim 22 wherein said object comprises a subscriber application, said step of generating an object payload comprises at least one of:

generating subscriber ratings data;

generating subscriber permissions data;

generating subscriber device data;

generating subscriber service provider identification data.

24. The method of operating a registration system of claim 19 wherein said step of registering comprises:

identifying, in response to receipt of a query from a subscriber where said query includes a unique signature identification for an object, an object stored on said storage medium that corresponds to said unique signature identification included in said query;

identifying, in response to receipt of a query from a subscriber where said query includes a unique signature identification for said subscriber, object access permissions for said subscriber that corresponds to said unique signature identification included in said query; and

retrieving said stored object from said storage medium where said subscriber'"'"'s object access permissions authorize access.