System, method, and apparatus for secure sharing of multimedia content across several electronic devices

• US 20050226170A1
• Filed: 02/23/2005
• Published: 10/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Khare, Rajendra, Mishra, Brajabandhu, Relan, Sandeep
• Application Number:
  US11/063,944
• Publication Number:
  US 20050226170A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/33 via the broadcast channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2396 characterized by admission policies admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; arrangements for network security using user profiles for access control H04L63/102; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/24 Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of server load, available bandwidth, upstream requests monitoring of server performance or load G06F11/34; arrangements for observation, testing or troubleshooting for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2408 Monitoring of the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. client requests monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• 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 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• 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 21/4183 providing its own processing capabilities, e.g. external module for video decoding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/422 Input-only peripherals , i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] input devices also receiving signals from specially adapted client devices H04N21/4104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42201 biosensors, e.g. heat sensor for presence detection, EEG sensors or any limb activity sensors worn by the user input arrangements for interaction with the human body based on nervous system activity detection G06F3/015
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• 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 21/44218 : Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV program methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 : Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 : involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 : involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 : involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6181 : involving transmission via a mobile phone network arrangements for providing broadcast or conference services to substation in data switching networks in combination with wireless systems H04L12/189; wireless uplink channel access H04W74/004
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6193 : involving transmission via a satellite arrangements for data linking, networking or transporting, or for controlling an end to end session in a satellite broadcast system H04B7/18526
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 : Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/63 : Generation or supply of power specially adapted for television receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 : Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 : Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 : between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a secure, media exchange network and a method of securely exchanging media between electronic devices across the network. In an embodiment according to the present invention, media may be securely and simultaneously exchanged between friends, family members, business associates, government entities, military entities, law enforcement entities, and 3rd party media providers over a closed and secure media exchange network. The media may include, for example, digital video, digital audio, digital images, digital data, or any other form of digital information. Security features may include security techniques, associated security hardware, and associated security software.

Claims

1. A secure media exchange network comprising:

a plurality of electronic devices adapted to securely communicate via the network; and

a plurality of peripheral electronic devices adapted to communicate with the plurality of electronic devices, wherein media originating on a first peripheral electronic device is transmittable to a first electronic device, and wherein the first electronic device is adapted to securely transmit the media to a second electronic device via the network, and wherein the media is consumable by a media consumption device associated with the second electronic device.

2. The media exchange network according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of peripheral electronic devices comprise one of a digital/analog media recording device, a digital/analog video cassette player, a digital/analog video cassette recorder, a digital video disc player, a digital video disc recorder, a digital MP3 audio player, a digital/analog telephone, a wireless cellular handset, a personal digital assistant, an analog audio tape player, an analog audio tape recorder, a digital compact disc player, a digital compact disc recorder, a digital still camera, a digital video camera, and a digital gaming console.

3. The media exchange network according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of electronic devices and the network are adapted to securely communicate via one of a wire, a cable, an optical fiber, and wirelessly in two-way communication.

4. The media exchange network according to claim 1, wherein the media comprises one of audio, video, text, images, and documents.

5. The media exchange network according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of electronic devices comprise one of a personal computer (PC), a set-top-box (STB), a television (TV) display device comprising STB circuitry and software, and a media box (M-Box).

6. The media exchange network according to claim 1, further comprising a broadband infrastructure comprising at least one of the Internet infrastructure, a copper cable infrastructure, a fiber optic cable infrastructure, a wireless telephone infrastructure, a wired telephone infrastructure, a direct subscriber line (DSL) infrastructure, an Over-The-Air (OTA) infrastructure, and an intranet infrastructure.

7. The media exchange network according to claim 1, wherein the media consumption device comprises a device adapted to display one of video, audio, text, images, and digital information to a media receiving end-user.

8. The media exchange network according to claim 1, wherein secure media transmission comprises one of security techniques, associated security hardware, and associated security software.

9. The media exchange network according to claim 8, wherein the one of security techniques, associated security hardware, and associated security software comprise one of a secure set-top-box, a secure digital TV product, a fingerprint reading device and associated method, a voice recognition device and associated method, an eye scanning device and associated method, an identification card reader and associated method, a bar code reader and associated method, a password-based authentication device and associated method, a digital certificate-based authentication device and associated method, a smart card-based authentication device and associated method, a GPS-based authentication device and associated method, and a receiver adapted to receive a signal transmitted from one of an implantable and a wearable micro-device and associated respective methods.

10. The media exchange network according to claim 1, wherein the media exchange network is adapted to simultaneously share media with the plurality of electronic devices, wherein sharing media simultaneously comprises transmitting media content from one electronic device to multiple other electronic devices simultaneously via the media exchange network.

11. An electronic device adapted to securely transmit media via a media exchange network, the electronic device comprising:

a secure communicative interface to the media exchange network; and

a communicative interface to a plurality of peripheral electronic devices, wherein media originating on a first peripheral electronic device is transmittable to the electronic device, and wherein the electronic device is adapted to securely transmit the media to a remote electronic device via the network, and wherein the media is consumable by a media consumption device associated with the remote electronic device.

12. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of peripheral electronic devices comprise one of a digital/analog multimedia-program recorder, a digital/analog video cassette player, a digital/analog video cassette recorder, a digital/analog video disc player, a digital/analog video disc recorder, a digital/analog MP3 audio player, a digital/analog telephone, a wireless cellular handset, a personal digital assistant, an digital/analog audio tape player, an digital/analog audio tape recorder, a digital/analog compact disc player, a digital/analog compact disc recorder, a digital/analog still camera, a digital/analog video camera, and a digital/analog gaming console.

13. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the electronic device is adapted to securely communicate via one of a wire, a cable, an optical fiber, and wirelessly in two-way communication with the media exchange network.

14. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein media comprises one of audio, video, text, images, and documents.

15. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the electronic device comprises one of a personal computer (PC), a set-top-box, a television (TV) display device comprising STB circuitry and software, and a media box (M-Box).

16. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the media consumption device comprises a device adapted to display one of video, audio, text, and digital information to a media receiving end-user.

17. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the electronic device is adapted to securely communicate with a media exchange network comprising a broadband infrastructure, the broadband infrastructure comprising at least one of the Internet infrastructure, a copper cable infrastructure, a fiber optic cable infrastructure, a wireless telephone infrastructure, a wired telephone infrastructure, a direct subscriber line (DSL) infrastructure, an Over-The-Air (OTA) infrastructure, and an intranet infrastructure.

18. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein secure media transmission further comprises one of security techniques, associated security hardware, and associated security software.

19. The electronic device according to claim 18, wherein the one of security techniques, associated security hardware, and associated security software comprise one of a secure set-top-box, a secure digital TV product, a fingerprint reading device and associated method, a voice recognition device and associated method, an eye scanning device and associated method, an identification card reader and associated method, a bar code reader and associated method, a password-based authentication device and associated method, a digital certificate-based authentication device and associated method, a smart card-based authentication device and associated method, a GPS-based authentication device and associated method, and a receiver adapted to receive a signal transmitted from one of an implantable and a wearable micro-device and associated respective methods.

20. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein a media exchange network is adapted to simultaneously share media with a plurality of electronic devices, wherein sharing media simultaneously comprises transmitting a media content from at least one electronic device to multiple other electronic devices simultaneously via the media exchange network.

21. A method of securely exchanging media over a media exchange network, the method comprising:

receiving media in a first electronic device from a peripheral electronic device;

securely transmitting the received media from the first electronic device to a second electronic device via the media exchange network;

securely receiving the transmitted media at the second electronic device;

transmitting the media from the second electronic device to a media consumption device; and

consuming the media.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the peripheral electronic device comprises at least one of a digital/analog media player/recorder, a digital video cassette player, a digital video cassette recorder, a digital video disc player, a digital video disc recorder, a digital MP3 audio player, a digital/analog telephone, a wireless cellular handset, a personal digital assistant, an analog audio tape player, an analog audio tape recorder, a digital compact disc player, a digital compact disc recorder, a digital still camera, a digital video camera, and a digital gaming console.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the electronic device is adapted to securely communicate via one of a wire, a cable, an optical fiber, and wirelessly in two-way communication with the media exchange network.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein media comprises one of audio, video, text, documents, and images.

25. The method according to claim 21, wherein the electronic devices comprise one of a same two and a different two of electronic device in a group comprising a personal computer (PC), a set-top-box, a television (TV) display device comprising STB circuitry and software, and a media box (M-Box).

26. The method according to claim 21, wherein media is consumed by a media consumption device adapted to display one of video, audio, text, images, documents, and digital information to a media receiving end-user.

27. The method according to claim 21, wherein the electronic device is adapted to securely communicate with a media exchange network comprising a broadband infrastructure, the broadband infrastructure comprising at least one of the Internet infrastructure, a copper cable infrastructure, a fiber optic cable infrastructure, a wireless telephone infrastructure, a wired telephone infrastructure, a direct subscriber line (DSL) infrastructure, an Over-The-Air (OTA) infrastructure, and an intranet infrastructure.

28. The method according to claim 21, further comprising employing one of security techniques, associated security hardware, and associated security software.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein employing security techniques and associated security hardware comprises employing one of a secure set-top-box, a secure digital TV product, a fingerprint reading device and associated method, a voice recognition device and associated method, an eye scanning device and associated method, an identification card reader and associated method, a bar code reader and associated method, a password-based authentication device and associated method, a digital certificate-based authentication device and associated method, a smart card-based authentication device and associated method, a GPS-based authentication device and associated method, and a receiver adapted to receive a signal transmitted from one of an implantable and a wearable micro-device and associated respective methods.

30. The method according to claim 21, wherein the method further comprises simultaneously sharing media with a plurality of electronic devices via a media exchange network, wherein simultaneously sharing media comprises simultaneously transmitting a media content from one electronic device to multiple other electronic devices via the media exchange network.