Systems, devices and methods for securely distributing highly-compressed multimedia content

• US 20050018768A1
• Filed: 04/16/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interact Devices (Mad Catz Interactive Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Interact Devices (Mad Catz Interactive Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ingraham, Robert W., Wilkinson, John E., Reznick, Lawrence S., Prock, Jack A., Reynolds, Jodie L., Mabey, Danny L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,457,359 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/240.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/764 at the destination reformatting of additional data in video clients H04N21/4355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/04 Protocols for data compression, e.g. ROHC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/105 Selection of the reference unit for prediction within a chosen coding or prediction mode, e.g. adaptive choice of position and number of pixels used for prediction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/115 Selection of the code volume for a coding unit prior to coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/12 Selection from among a plurality of transforms or standards, e.g. selection between discrete cosine transform [DCT] and sub-band transform or selection between H.263 and H.264
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/122 Selection of transform size, e.g. 8x8 or 2x4x8 DCT; Selection of sub-band transforms of varying structure or type
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/124 Quantisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/142 Detection of scene cut or scene change
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/152 by measuring the fullness of the transmission buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/154 Measured or subjectively estimated visual quality after decoding, e.g. measurement of distortion use of rate-distortion criteria H04N19/147
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/162 User input
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/172 the region being a picture, frame or field
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/176 : the region being a block, e.g. a macroblock
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/177 : the unit being a group of pictures [GOP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/179 : the unit being a scene or a shot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/61 : in combination with predictive coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23406 : involving management of server-side video buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23418 : involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics television picture signal circuitry for scene change detection H04N5/147; filtering for image enhancement G06T5/00; methods or arrangements for recognising scenes G06V20/00; arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 : for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2347 : involving video stream encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 : Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25825 : involving client display capabilities, e.g. screen resolution of a mobile phone optimising the visualisation of content during browsing in the Internet G06F16/9577; processing of terminal status or physical abilities in wireless networks H04W8/22; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25858 : involving client software characteristics, e.g. OS identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 : Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440254 : by altering signal-to-noise parameters, e.g. requantization
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440281 : by altering the temporal resolution, e.g. by frame skipping television signal recording using magnetic recording on tape for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate H04N5/783
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4405 : involving video stream decryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44209 : Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 : involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6379 : directed to encoder , e.g. for requesting a lower encoding rate

Abstract

A multimedia distribution device includes a nonvolatile memory that stores a compressed media signal in which at least two scenes are selectively compressed using different codecs from a codec library, the codecs being automatically selected to produce a highest compression quality for the respective scenes according to a set of criteria without exceeding a target data rate. The nonvolatile memory also stores a plurality of codec indicators specifying which codecs from the codec library were used to respectively compress each scene within the compressed media signal.

Claims

1. A multimedia distribution device comprising:

a nonvolatile memory storing;

a compressed media signal in which at least two scenes are selectively compressed using different codecs from a codec library, the codecs being automatically selected to produce a highest compression quality for the respective scenes according to a set of criteria without exceeding a target data rate; and

a plurality of codec indicators specifying which codecs from the codec library were used to respectively compress each scene within the compressed media signal.

2. The multimedia distribution device of claim 1, wherein the nonvolatile memory further stores the codec library.

3. The multimedia distribution device of claim 1, wherein the nonvolatile memory further stores a multi-codec player to selectively decode each scene within the compressed media signal using a particular codec from the codec library specified by a codec indicator.

4. The multimedia distribution device of claim 1, wherein the nonvolatile memory includes a link to a multi-codec player on a remote server, wherein the multi-codec player is to selectively decode each scene within the compressed media signal using a particular codec from the codec library specified by a codec indicator.

5. The multimedia distribution device of claim 4, wherein the link comprises a uniform resource locator (URL).

6. The multimedia distribution device of claim 1, wherein the nonvolatile memory further stores a link to the codec library on a remote server.

7. The multimedia distribution device of claim 1, wherein the codecs in the codec library are selected from the group consisting of discrete cosine transform (DCT) codecs, fractal codecs, and wavelet codecs.

8. The multimedia distribution device of claim 1, wherein at least one codec is selected by an artificial intelligence (AI) system based on a plurality of characteristics of a scene.

9. The multimedia distribution device of claim 1, wherein at least one codec is selected by testing at least a subset of the codecs of the codec library on a scene and automatically selecting the codec that produces a highest compression quality for the scene according to a set of criteria without exceeding the target data rate.

10. The multimedia distribution device of claim 1, wherein the nonvolatile memory further stores media identifier that, when presented with authentication data to a token server, results in a transmission of a token comprising a key for decrypting the compressed media signal.

11. A method for distributing multimedia content comprising:

storing in a nonvolatile memory a compressed media signal in which at least two scenes are selectively compressed using different codecs from a codec library, the codecs being automatically selected to produce a highest compression quality for the respective scenes according to a set of criteria without exceeding a target data rate; and

storing in the nonvolatile memory a plurality of codec indicators specifying which codecs from the codec library were used to respectively compress each scene within the compressed media signal.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

storing the codec library within the nonvolatile memory.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

storing a multi-codec player within the nonvolatile memory, wherein the multi-codec player is to selectively decode each scene within the compressed media signal using a particular codec from the codec library specified by a codec indicator.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

storing within the nonvolatile memory a link to a multi-codec player on a remote server, wherein the multi-codec player is to selectively decode each scene within the compressed media signal using a particular codec from the codec library specified by a codec indicator.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the link comprises a uniform resource locator (URL).

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

storing within the nonvolatile memory a link to the codec library on a remote server.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the codecs in the codec library are selected from the group consisting of discrete cosine transform (DCT) codecs, fractal codecs, and wavelet codecs.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one codec is selected by an artificial intelligence (AI) system based on a plurality of characteristics of a scene.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one codec is selected by testing at least a subset of the codecs of the codec library on a scene and automatically selecting the codec that produces a highest compression quality for the scene according to a set of criteria without exceeding the target data rate.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

storing within the nonvolatile memory a media identifier that, when presented with authentication data to a token server, results in a transmission of a token comprising a key for decrypting the compressed media signal.

21. A multimedia distribution device comprising:

a nonvolatile memory storing a compressed media signal in which at least two segments are compressed using different automatically-selected quality settings of a codec, the quality settings for each segment being automatically selected to maintain within a target range a data rate of an output signal to which the compressed segments are to be added.

22. The multimedia distribution device of claim 21, wherein an automatically-selected quality setting comprises at least one of a quality quantizer, a frame size, and a frame rate.

23. The multimedia distribution device of claim 21, wherein the quality settings are selected by testing a plurality of different automatically-selected quality settings for compressing a segment and selecting one of the tested quality settings that is to produce a data rate that is closest to a target range when the segment is compressed using the selected setting and added to the output signal.

24. The multimedia distribution device of claim 21, wherein the nonvolatile memory stores the codec and a player for using the codec to decode the compressed media signal.

25. The multimedia distribution device of claim 21, wherein the nonvolatile memory further stores a media identifier that, when presented with authentication data to a token server, results in a transmission of a token comprising a key for decrypting the compressed media signal.

26. A method for distributing multimedia content comprising:

storing in a nonvolatile memory a compressed media signal in which at least two segments are compressed using different automatically-selected quality settings of a codec, the quality settings for each segment being automatically selected to maintain within a target range a data rate of an output signal to which the compressed segments are to be added.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein an automatically-selected quality setting comprises at least one of a quality quantizer, a frame size, and a frame rate.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the quality settings are selected by testing a plurality of different automatically-selected quality settings for compressing a segment and selecting one of the tested quality settings that is to produce a data rate that is closest to a target range when the segment is compressed using the selected setting and added to the output signal.

29. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

storing within the nonvolatile memory the codec and a player for using the codec to decode the compressed media signal.

30. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

storing within the nonvolatile memory a media identifier that, when presented with authentication data to a token server, results in a transmission of a token comprising a key for decrypting the compressed media signal.

31. A method for securely distributing multimedia content comprising:

encrypting a compressed media signal in which at least two segments have been selectively compressed using different codecs from a codec library, the codecs being automatically selected to produce a highest compression quality for the respective segments according to a set of criteria without exceeding a target data rate; and

storing the encrypted media signal on a multimedia distribution device with a plurality of codec indicators specifying which codecs from the codec library were used to respectively compress each segment within the compressed media signal.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

storing a media identifier on the multimedia distribution device identifying the encrypted media signal.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

in response to receiving the media identifier from a destination system;

authorizing the destination system to play the compressed media signal; and

transmitting a token to the destination system comprising a key for decrypting the encrypted media signal to recover the compressed media signal.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein authorizing comprises verifying payment information received with the media identifier.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein authorizing comprises:

verifying that a device identifier received with the media identifier corresponds to an authorized destination system.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the token includes a use restriction specifying a number of remaining viewings for the compressed media signal, the method further comprising:

in response to positive number of viewings remaining within the token, selectively decoding each segment within the compressed media signal using a particular codec from the codec library specified by a codec indicator; and

decrementing the number of remaining viewings within the token.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein the token includes a use restriction specifying a an expiration time for viewing the compressed media signal, the method further comprising:

in response to the expiration time not having passed, selectively decoding each segment within the compressed media signal using a particular codec from the codec library specified by a codec indicator.

38. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

storing the token within the multimedia distribution device.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein storing comprises:

encrypting the token to make it readable only by the destination system.

40. A method for securely distributing multimedia content comprising:

storing on a multimedia distribution device a compressed media signal in which at least two segments have been selectively compressed using different codecs from a codec library, the codecs being automatically selected to produce a highest compression quality for the respective segments according to a set of criteria without exceeding a target data rate;

encrypting a plurality of codec indicators specifying which codecs from the codec library were used to respectively compress each segment within the compressed media signal; and

storing the encrypted codec indicators with the compressed media signal on the multimedia distribution device.

41. A system for securely distributing multimedia content comprising:

an encryption module to encrypt a compressed media signal in which at least two segments have been selectively compressed using different codecs from a codec library, the codecs being automatically selected to produce a highest compression quality for the respective segments according to a set of criteria without exceeding a target data rate;

an output module to store the encrypted media signal on a multimedia distribution device with a plurality of codec indicators specifying which codecs from the codec library were used to respectively compress each segment within the compressed media signal.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the output module is to store a media identifier on the multimedia distribution device identifying the encrypted media signal.

43. The system of claim 42, further comprising a token server that, in response to receiving the media identifier from a destination system, is to authorize the destination system to play the compressed media signal and transmit a token to the destination system comprising a key for decrypting the encrypted media signal to recover the compressed media signal.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the token server is to authorize the destination system to play the compressed media signal by verifying payment information received with the media identifier.

45. The system of claim 43, wherein the token server is to authorize the destination system to play the compressed media signal by verifying that a device identifier received with the media identifier corresponds to an authorized destination system.

46. The system of claim 43, wherein the token includes a use restriction specifying a number of remaining viewings for the compressed media signal, and wherein the destination system, in response to positive number of viewings remaining within the token, is to selectively decode each segment within the compressed media signal using a particular codec from the codec library specified by a codec indicator and decrement the number of remaining viewings within the token.

47. The system of claim 43, wherein the token includes a use restriction specifying an expiration time for viewing the compressed media signal, and wherein the destination system, in response to the expiration time not having passed, is to selectively decode each segment within the compressed media signal using a particular codec from the codec library specified by a codec indicator.

48. The system of claim 43, wherein the destination system is to store the token within the multimedia distribution device.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the destination system is to encrypt the token within the multimedia distribution device to make it readable only by the destination system.

50. A system for securely distributing multimedia content comprising:

an output module to store on a multimedia distribution device a compressed media signal in which at least two segments have been selectively compressed using different codecs from a codec library, the codecs being automatically selected to produce a highest compression quality for the respective segments according to a set of criteria without exceeding a target data rate;

an encryption module to encrypt a plurality of codec indicators specifying which codecs from the codec library were used to respectively compress each segment within the compressed media signal; and

wherein the output module is to store the encrypted codec indicators with the compressed media signal on the multimedia distribution device.