System and method for providing global media content delivery

• US 20030221127A1
• Filed: 09/04/2002
• Published: 11/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Music Public Broadcasting, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Music Public Broadcasting, Inc.
• Inventors: Risan, Hank, Fitzgerald, Edward Vincent
• Granted Patent: US 7,721,103 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/201
• 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 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention enables global delivery of “on-demand” high fidelity media content to client computers via a network, such as, the Internet or a wide area network (WAN) while restricting unauthorized users from directly retrieving media content from its sources. The present embodiment includes a global media content delivery network that may include multiple “points of presence” which may be located throughout the world. Each point of presence may store a portion or the entirety of a media content library that may be provided to client devices. Each one of the points of presence may provide media content to client devices in their respective vicinity of the world. Once a client receives media, it is stored using hidden directories to prevent easy redistribution with other devices. An access key procedure and rate control restrictor may also be implemented to monitor and restrict suspicious media requests.

Claims

1. A system for providing media content while preventing unauthorized access to a plurality of content sources, said system comprising:

a media content library having a plurality of media content pieces;

a global media content delivery network having said plurality of content sources, each content source of said plurality of content sources stores a portion of said media content library; and

a security system coupled to said plurality of content sources for allowing delivery of a media content piece from said media content library to an authorized client device while preventing unauthorized access to said media content library stored by said plurality of content sources.

2. The system as described in claim 1 wherein said global media content delivery network comprises a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN) or the Internet.

3. The system as described in claim 1 wherein said authorized client device is selected from a computer system, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, and a portable computing device.

4. The system as described in claim 1 wherein said media content piece comprises audio, music, video, a picture, graphics, or multimedia.

5. The system as described in claim 1 wherein said media content piece comprises a digital watermark or an embedded key.

6. The system as described in claim 1 wherein said security system for further providing an access key to said authorized client device for accessing said media content piece from a content source of said plurality of content sources.

7. The system as described in claim 6 wherein said access key is a time sensitive access key that becomes obsolete after a defined amount of time.

8. The system as described in claim 1 wherein said security system for further preventing access to said media content library when a media player application operating on a client device is determined invalid.

9. The system as described in claim 1 wherein said security system for further preventing access to said media content library when an identification provided by a client device is determined invalid.

10. A method for providing media content to a client device from a plurality of content sources while preventing unauthorized access to said media content, said method comprising:

transmitting a first request for a media content list of a media content library from said client device;

in response to receiving said first request, transmitting to said client device said media content play list together with a unique identification;

in response to receiving said media content list, transmitting a second request for delivery of said media content together with said unique identification from said client device;

provided said unique identification is valid, transmitting to said client device an access key together with a location of a content source of said plurality of content sources containing said media content;

in response to receiving said access key together with said location of said content source, transmitting a third request together with said access key to said content source from said client device; and

provided said access key is valid, transmitting said media content to said client device.

11. The method as described in claim 10 further comprising:

determining which content source of said plurality of content sources is nearest to the location of said client device.

12. The method as described in claim 10 further comprising:

determining which content source of said plurality of content sources contains said media content.

13. The method as described in claim 10 wherein said client device is selected from a computer system, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, and a portable computing device.

14. The method as described in claim 10 wherein said access key is a time sensitive access key that becomes obsolete after a defined amount of time.

15. The method as described in claim 10 wherein said media content is selected from an audio clip, a song, a video clip, a picture, a graphics picture, and a multimedia clip.

16. The method as described in claim 10 wherein said media content comprises a digital watermark or an embedded key.

17. The method as described in claim 10 wherein said location of said content providing source comprises an address to said media content.

18. The method as described in claim 17 wherein said address is changed after said transmitting said media content to said client device.

19. The method as described in claim 10 wherein each content source of said plurality of content sources stores a portion of said media content library.

20. The method as described in claim 10 wherein each content source of said plurality of content sources stores a copy of said media content library.

21. A system for providing media content while restricting unauthorized access to a plurality of content sources, said system comprising:

a media content library having a plurality of media content pieces;

a global media content delivery network having said plurality of content sources, each content source of said plurality of content sources stores a portion of said media content library; and

an authorization system coupled to said plurality of content sources for regulating delivery of a media content piece from said media content library to an authorized client computer while restricting unauthorized access to said media content library stored by said plurality of content sources.

22. The system as described in claim 21 wherein said global media content delivery network comprises a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN) or the Internet.

23. The system as described in claim 22 wherein said authorized client computer is selected from a computer system, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, and a portable computing device.

24. The system as described in claim 21 wherein said media content piece comprises audio, music, video, a picture, graphics, or multimedia.

25. The system as described in claim 24 wherein said media content piece comprises a digital watermark or an embedded key.

26. The system as described in claim 21 wherein said authorization system for further providing an access key to said authorized client computer for accessing said media content piece from a content source of said plurality of content sources.

27. The system as described in claim 26 wherein said access key is a time sensitive access key that becomes obsolete after a defined amount of time.

28. The system as described in claim 21 wherein said authorization system for further preventing access to said media content library when a media player application operating on a client computer is determined invalid.

29. The system as described in claim 21 wherein said authorization system for further preventing access to said media content library when an identification provided by a client computer is determined invalid.