Digital transactions for the delivery of media files

• US 20040006634A1
• Filed: 01/06/2003
• Published: 01/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hillside Licensing LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Radioscape Limited
• Inventors: Ferris, Gavin Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,061,482 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/20 Arrangements for broadcast or distribution of identical information via plural systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/28 Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/71 Wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/82 using signals not modulated onto a carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/37 via a different channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/07 characterised by processes or methods for the generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/14 Arrangements for conditional access to broadcast information or to broadcast-related services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/23 using cryptography, e.g. encryption, authentication, key distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/82 the transmission system being the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/91 Mobile communication networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/85

Abstract

An incomplete/partly corrupted media file is delivered “in the clear”; in addition, a delta file is delivered to users meeting access control criteria which, when combined with the incomplete/partly corrupted parts allows a complete and uncorrupted version of the media file to be re-constructed. The method allows, in one implementation, a secure music purchase system to operate over digital radio: for example, the start of a song when played over the radio is usually deliberately talked over and the end cut short to prevent listeners being able to record a complete copy. With the present system, this practice can continue, but listeners can also purchase the missing or corrupted sections to enable them to possess a complete and uncorrupted version for playback.

Claims

1. A method of delivering a digital media file comprising the following steps:

(a) dividing a master version of a digital media file into a first series of time frames and a second series of time frames;

(b) delivering the first series of time frames to one or more users without any form of access control, the first series capable of being used to form a version of the media file which is incomplete and/or corrupted; and

(c) delivering the second series of time frames to one or more users, the second series capable of being used in conjunction with the first series to form a version of the media file which is complete and uncorrupted, in which access to the second series is only granted to users satisfying defined access control criteria.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the second series in encrypted.

3. The method of claim 1 in which any time frames missing and/or corrupted in the first series of time frames are present in an uncorrupted form in the second series.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the second series is transmitted together with the first series.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the second series is transmitted separately from the first series in response to a user request.

6. The method of claim 5 in which the user request specifies any first frames which are corrupted.

7. The method of claim 1 in which the media file is a music file broadcast over digital radio.

8. The method of claim 1 in which the media file is a media file streamed over the Internet.

9. The method of claim 1 in which the version of the media file which is complete and uncorrupted is structured to be reproducable only at a specific user receiving device to prevent serial copying.

10. The method of claim 9 in which the second series of time frames is node locked to render the version of the media file which is complete and uncorrupted to be reproducable only at a specific user receiving device.

11. A method of receiving a digital media file at a receiving device, the media file being held at a remote source as a master version divided into a first series of time frames and a second series of time frames;

the method comprising the following steps;

(a) receiving at the receiving device the first series of time frames, the first series capable of being used by the receiving device without meeting access control criteria to form a version of the media file which is incomplete and/or corrupted; and

(b) receiving at the receiving device the second series of time frames, the second series capable of being used by the receiving device in conjunction with the first series to form a version of the media file which is complete and uncorrupted, in which access to the second series is only possible if the receiving device satisfies defined access control criteria.

12. The method of claim 11 in which the receiving device automatically records a defined time period of the first series of time frames irrespective of any user selection of a record function of the device.

13. The method of claim 12 in which the pre-defined time period is adequate to enable a user to record the entirety of a media work even though the user only selects the record function of the device substantially after the start of the media work.

14. The method of claim 11 in which the second series is transmitted separately from the first series in response to a request from the receiving device.

15. The method of claim 14 in which the receiving device specifies any first frames which are corrupted.

16. The method of claim 11 in which the media file is a music file broadcast over digital radio.

17. The method of claim 11 in which the media file is a media file streamed over the Internet.

18. The method of claim 11 in which the version of the media file which is complete and uncorrupted is structured to be reproducable only at a specific user receiving device to prevent serial copying.

19. The method of claim 18 in which the second series of time frames is node locked to render the version of the media file which is complete and uncorrupted to be reproducable only at a specific user receiving device.

20. Ana apparatus for processing a digital media file, the apparatus programmed to:

(a) divide a master version of a digital media file into a first series of time frames and a second series of time frames;

(b) send the first series of time frames, the first series capable of being used at a receiving device without any form of access control to form a version of the media file which is incomplete and/or corrupted; and

(c) send the second series of time frames, the second series capable of being used at the receiving device in conjunction with the first series to form a version of the media file which is complete and uncorrupted, in which access to the second series in only granted to users satisfying defined access control criteria.

21. Apparatus for receiving a digital media file, the media file being held at a remote source as a master version divided into a first series of time frames and a second series of time frames;

the apparatus programmed to;

(a) receive the first series of time frames, the first series capable of being used by the receiving device without meeting access control criteria to form a version of the media file which is incomplete and/or corrupted;

(b) receive the second series of time frames, the second series capable of being used by the receiving device in conjunction with the first series to form a version of the media file which is complete and uncorrupted, in which access to the second series is only possible if the receiving device satisfies defined access control criteria.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 in which the apparatus automatically records a defined time period of each of the first and second time frames irrespective of any user selection of a record function of the apparatus.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 in which the pre-defined time period is adequate to enable a user to record the entirety of a media work even though the user only selects the record function of the apparatus substantially after the start of the media work.

24. The apparatus of claim 21 in which the second series is transmitted separately from the first series in response to a request from the apparatus.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 in which the apparatus specifies any first frames which are corrupted.

26. The apparatus of claim 21 in which the version of the media file which is complete and uncorrupted is structured to be reproducable only at a specific user receiving device to prevent serial copying.

27. The method of claim 26 in which the second series of time frames is node locked to render the version of the media file which is complete and uncorrupted to be reproducable only at a specific user receiving device.

28. A media file structured into a first series of time frames and a second series of time frames;

the first series capable of being used by a receiving device without meeting access control criteria to form a version of the media file which is incomplete and/or corrupted;

the second series of time frames capable of being used by the receiving device in conjunction with the first series to form a version of the media file which is complete and uncorrupted, in which access to the second series is only possible if the receiving device satisfies defined access control criteria.

29. The media file of claim 28 in which the version of the media file which is complete and uncorrupted is structured to be reproducable only at a specific user receiving device to prevent serial copying.

30. The method of claim 29 in which the second series of time frames is node locked to render the version of the media file which is complete and uncorrupted to be reproducable only at a specific user receiving device.