Media network environment

• US 20040117440A1
• Filed: 10/15/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Pictures Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Pictures Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Lakamp, Brian David, Singer, Mitch Fredrick
• Application Number:
  US10/687,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20040117440A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1012 to domains
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2812 describing content present in a home automation network, e.g. audio video content retrieval from the Internet G06F16/95
• 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 41/509 wherein the managed service relates to media content delivery, e.g. audio, video or TV
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• 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 21/25816 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 21/2585 Generation of a revocation list, e.g. of client devices involved in piracy acts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41422 located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• 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 21/433 Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request, caching operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43622 : Interfacing an external recording device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 : involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4367 : Establishing a secure communication between the client and a peripheral device or smart card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4402 : involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display details of conversion of video standards at pixel level H04N7/01; video transcoding H04N19/40; adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal G09G5/005; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4405 : involving video stream decryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 : Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44231 : Monitoring of peripheral device or external card, e.g. to detect processing problems in a handheld device or the failure of an external recording device configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network H04L12/2823; monitoring the status of connected device in data switched networks H04L43/0817
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 : Rights management associated to the content 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 21/63345 : by transmitting keys key distribution for secret or secure communication H04L9/08; network support of key management H04L63/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 : involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for managing devices and content in a network environment. In one implementation, a network media environment includes: a first hub network including a first server and a first client, and said first server is connected to said first client; a second hub network including a second server and said first client, and said second server is connected to said first client, such that said first hub network and said second hub network overlap; wherein said first client stores first content bound to said first hub network and stores second content bound to said second hub network.

Claims

1. A network media environment, comprising:

a first hub network including a first server and a first client, and said first server is connected to said first client;

a second hub network including a second server and said first client, and said second server is connected to said first client, such that said first hub network and said second hub network overlap;

wherein said first client stores first content bound to said first hub network and stores second content bound to said second hub network.

2. The network media environment of claim 1, wherein

said first server, said first client, and said second server are each compliant devices, and

a compliant device that is a member of a hub network will not present bound content that is not bound to that hub network.

3. The network media environment of claim 1, wherein

said first client stores said first content in a first sub-copy version of locked content data having a first license bound to said first hub network and stores said second content in a second sub-copy version of locked content data having a second license bound to said second hub network.

4. The network media environment of claim 3, wherein

said first client is a compliant device, and

a compliant device that is a member of a hub network will not present bound content that is not bound to that hub network.

5. The network media environment of claim 3, wherein

each sub-copy version has a corresponding license that is bound to only one hub network.

6. The network media environment of claim 1, wherein

said first server stores said first content bound to said first hub network, and

said second server stores said second content bound to said second hub network.

7. The network media environment of claim 6, wherein

said first server stores said first content in a first source version of locked content data, and

said second server stores said second content in a second source version of locked content data.

8. The network media environment of claim 7, wherein

said first source version has a corresponding first root license bound to said first hub network, and

said second source version has a corresponding second root license bound to said second hub network.

9. The network media environment of claim 1, wherein

said first hub network defines a first local environment based on said first server, and

said second hub network defines a second local environment based on said second server.

10. The network media environment of claim 9, wherein

a local environment for a hub network is a limited area defined relative to the server in that hub network.

11. The network media environment of claim 9, wherein

a local environment for a hub network is a limited logical area defined relative to the position of the server in that hub network.

12. The network media environment of claim 9, wherein

a local environment for a hub network is defined by travel time of packets within that hub network.

13. The network media environment of claim 1, wherein

said first hub network has a first local environment,

said second hub network has a second local environment, and

said first local environment and said second local environment overlap such that

said first sever, said first client, and said second server are each in both the first local environment and the second local environment.

14. The network media environment of claim 1, wherein

said first client is connected to a terminal device for presenting content, and

said terminal device is not a member of said first hub network and is not a member of said second hub network.

15. A network media environment, comprising:

a first hub network including a first server and a first client, and said first server is connected to said first client;

a second hub network including a second server and said first client, and said second server is connected to said first client, such that said first hub network and said second hub network overlap;

wherein said first server stores first content in a first source version of locked content data,

said first server stores a first root license bound to said first hub network for said first source version,

said second server stores second content in a second source version of locked content data,

said second server stores a second root license bound to said second hub network for said second source version,

said first client receives said first content streamed from said first source version by said first server, and

said first client receives said second content streamed from said second source version by said second server.

16. A network media environment, comprising:

a first hub network including a first server;

a second hub network including a second server and said first server, and said second server is connected to said first server, such that said first hub network and said second hub network overlap;

wherein said first server stores a first license and a first version of locked content data, and said first version stores first content,

said first server stores a second license and a second version of locked content data, and said second version stores second content,

said first license is bound to said first hub network, and

said second license is bound to said second hub network.

17. The network media environment of claim 16, wherein

said second server stores a third license and a third version of locked content data,

said third version stores said second content, and

said third license is bound to said second hub network.

18. A hub network, comprising:

a server storing a root license and a source version of locked content data;

a client connected to said server, and storing a first license, a first sub-copy version of locked content data, a second license, and a second sub-copy version of locked content data;

wherein said source version of locked content data stores first content,

said root license is bound to said hub network,

said first sub-copy version stores said first content,

said first license is bound to said hub network,

said second sub-copy version stores second content, and

said second license is bound to another hub network.

19. The hub network of claim 18, wherein

said hub network defines a local environment including said server and said client.

20. The hub network of claim 19, wherein

said local environment is a limited area defined relative to said server.

21. The hub network of claim 18, wherein

said client is a compliant device, and

a compliant device that is a member of a hub network will not present bound content without a license that is bound to that hub network.