Content distribution system and method

• US 20040015445A1
• Filed: 05/08/2003
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yangaroo Inc
• Original Assignee: Yangaroo Inc
• Inventors: Hoch, Wojtek, Hunt, Cliff, Heaven, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,529,712 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/51
• 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: H04L 2463/101 applying security measures for digital rights management data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for commerce, e.g. marketing, shopping, billing, auctions or e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A method and system for the secure distribution of content to authorized persons. A content provider uploads encrypted content to the system and specifies the institutions or individuals to which the content is to be provided and release conditions under which it is to be made available. Encrypted content is made available to a recipient together with a decryption code, if the identity of the recipient can be confirmed through a validation procedure and if the release conditions are met. The release conditions may include a time and date at which the release is to occur. The encrypted content have an associated sample which may be streamed to the recipient so as to permit the recipient to assess whether to download the fill encrypted content or not. In one embodiment, the validation procedure includes biometric validation of the identity of the recipient.

Claims

1. A method of distributing content to a plurality of recipients from a database over a distributed computer network, each recipient having a terminal connected to the network, the database containing an encrypted content file, comprising the steps of:

(a) verifying the identity of one of the recipients, wherein said step of verifying includes obtaining a biometric input from the recipient and comparing said biometric input with a stored biometric profile;

(b) permitting the selection of said encrypted content file by said one of the recipients;

(c) if said one of the recipient'"'"'s identity is verified, providing said one of the recipients with a decrypted copy of said encrypted content file.

2. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the distributed computer network includes the internet.

3. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein said biometric input includes the recipient'"'"'s typing cadence.

4. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein said encrypted content file includes digital music.

5. The method claimed in claim 4, wherein said plurality of recipients includes a plurality of radio stations.

6. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein said database further contains a release condition, and wherein said method further includes a step of verifying that said release condition is met prior to said step of providing.

7. The method claimed in claim 6, wherein said release condition includes a time and a date before which said step of providing cannot be performed.

8. The method claimed in claim 1, further including the steps of receiving said list of the plurality of recipients and said encrypted content file for storage on the database, and notifying the plurality of recipients of said receipt.

9. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the database further includes an unencrypted sample associated with said encrypted content file and wherein said method further includes a step of streaming said unencrypted sample to the terminal of said one of the recipients.

10. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the database further includes a graphical file associated with said encrypted content file and wherein the method further includes a step of streaming or downloading said graphical file to the terminal of said one of the recipients.

11. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the database further includes a video file associated with said encrypted content file and wherein the method further includes a step of streaming or downloading said video file to the terminal of said one of the recipients.

12. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of providing includes the steps of downloading said selected encrypted content file to the terminal of said one of the recipients and decrypting said selected encrypted content file to produce the decrypted copy.

13. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of providing includes the steps of decrypting said selected encrypted content file to produce the decrypted copy and downloading said decrypted copy to the terminal of said one of the recipients.

14. The method claimed in claim 13, wherein said step of downloading includes streaming.

15. The method claimed in claim 1, further including the step of receiving and storing an opinion from said one of the recipients through the terminal of said one of the recipients.

16. The method claimed in claim 15, wherein more than one opinion is received and stored, and further including the step of determining, based upon the opinions, whether the encrypted content file is approved.

17. The method claimed in claim 16, wherein the encrypted content file includes an advertisement.

18. The method claimed in claim 17, wherein the advertisement includes a radio advertisement.

19. The method claimed in claim 15, wherein said opinion includes a selection of approval or disapproval.

20. The method claimed in claim 19, wherein said opinion further includes comments regarding the content.

21. A system for distributing content to a plurality of recipients over a distributed computer network, the system comprising:

(a) a server connected to said network and including a database having an encrypted content file, a selection module for permitting one of the recipients to select said encrypted content file, and a verification module for verifying the identity of said one of the recipients, wherein said verification module includes a biometric verification module for verifying an individual'"'"'s identity using biometric input; and

(b) a terminal connected to said network and having an input means for providing input to said verification module and a storage means for receiving said selected encrypted content file,

wherein said server includes a download module for providing said one of the recipients with a decrypted copy of said selected encrypted content file in response to an identity verification by said verification module.

22. The system claimed in claim 21, wherein said network includes the internet.

23. The system claimed in claim 22, wherein said input means includes a keyboard and said biometric verification module includes a typing cadence identity verification module.

24. The system claimed in claim 21, wherein said database further has an unencrypted sample associated with said encrypted content file, and wherein said server includes a sample streaming module for streaming said unencrypted sample to said terminal.

25. The system claimed in claim 21, wherein said download module downloads said selected encrypted content file to said terminal, and wherein said terminal further includes a decryption module for decrypting said selected encrypted content file and producing said decrypted copy.

26. The system claimed in claim 21, wherein said server further includes a decryption module for decrypting said selected encrypted content file to produce said decrypted copy, and wherein said download module downloads said decrypted copy to said terminal.

27. The system claimed in claim 26, wherein said download module streams said decrypted copy to said terminal.