Method and system for secure distribution of content over a communications network
First Claim
1. A method for secure distribution of a content item over a communications network, comprising:
- packaging the content item into a plurality of blocks of data;
distributing at least one block of data from the plurality of blocks of data for the content item to at least one of a content source and a peer-to-peer network, wherein the at least one content source and peer-to-peer network serve as a distribution point for the block of data;
receiving a request from a subscriber for the content item, the content item made available over the communications network; and
providing to the subscriber a list identifying at least one content source, wherein the listed content source makes available to the subscriber at least one block of data for the content item.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for the secure distribution of content over a communications network such as the Internet where a content owner distributes content broken down into blocks to one or more content sources, the content sources serving as distribution points to subscribers, with the content owner retaining control over the distribution transaction. A subscriber requesting a content item from a content owner receives a list of content sources with available blocks of the content item in addition to the subscriber determining blocks available from peers on available peer-to-peer networks, and uses this information to determine a more optimal distribution of blocks of the content.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A method for secure distribution of a content item over a communications network, comprising:
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packaging the content item into a plurality of blocks of data;
distributing at least one block of data from the plurality of blocks of data for the content item to at least one of a content source and a peer-to-peer network, wherein the at least one content source and peer-to-peer network serve as a distribution point for the block of data;
receiving a request from a subscriber for the content item, the content item made available over the communications network; and
providing to the subscriber a list identifying at least one content source, wherein the listed content source makes available to the subscriber at least one block of data for the content item. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for secure distribution of a content item over a communications network, comprising:
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receiving from a content owner a block of data for the content item;
receiving from a subscriber a request for the block of data for the content item, the request automatically generated without a user interaction as a function of a prior request to a content owner for the content item;
adding an additional data item to the block of data for the content item as a function of the received request; and
sending the block of data to the subscriber as a function of the received request. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for secure distribution of a content item over a communications network, comprising:
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receiving from a content owner the content item;
dividing the content item into a plurality of blocks of data in order to facilitate the distribution of the content item over the communications network;
receiving from a subscriber a request for a block of data for the content item, the request automatically generated without a user interaction as a function of a prior request to the content owner for the content item;
adding an additional data item to the block of data for the content item as a function of the received request; and
sending the block of data to the subscriber as a function of the received request. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for secure distribution of a content item over a communications network, comprising:
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selecting the content item, the content item made available over the communications network by a content owner;
receiving from the content owner a list identifying a content source for the content item, the content source making available at least one block of data for the content item, the block of data representing a portion of the content item broken down to facilitate distribution of the content item over the communications network;
requesting at least one block of data from the content source automatically without a user interaction as a function of the selecting step; and
receiving the at least one block of data from the content source. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for secure distribution of a content item over a communications network, comprising the steps of:
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selecting the content item, the content item made available over the communications network by a content owner;
activating a viewer process as a function of selecting the content item;
receiving from the content owner a list identifying at least one content source for the content item, the content source making available at least one block of data for the content item, the block of data representing a portion of the content item broken down to facilitate distribution of the content item over the communications network;
searching by the viewer process for a peer-to-peer source for the content item, the peer-to-peer source making available at least one block of data for the content item;
requesting from a determined location the block of data for the content item, the determined location including at least one of the content source and the peer-to-peer source and the viewer process selecting the determined location automatically without a user interaction as a function of the selecting step and as a function of an availability for the block of data;
receiving by the viewer process the block of data from the determined location; and
assembling by the viewer process the block of data into the content item. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A system for secure distribution of a content item over a communications network, comprising:
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a program memory;
a storage device; and
a processor, wherein the processor is adapted to;
(i) package the content item into a plurality of blocks of data;
(ii) distribute at least one block of data from the plurality of blocks of data for the content item to at least one of a content source and a peer-to-peer network, wherein the at least one content source and peer-to-peer network serve as a distribution point for the block of data;
(iii) receive a request from a subscriber for the content item, the content item made available over the communications network; and
(iv) provide to the subscriber a list identifying at least one content source, wherein the listed content source makes available to the subscriber at least one block of data for the content item.
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37. A system for secure distribution of a content item over a communications network, comprising:
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a program memory;
a storage device; and
a processor, wherein the processor is adapted to;
(i) receive from a content owner a block of data for the content item;
(ii) receive from a subscriber a request for the block of data for the content item, the request automatically generated without a user interaction as a function of a prior request to a content owner for the content item;
(iii) add an additional data item to the block of data for the content item as a function of the received request; and
(iv) send the block of data to the subscriber as a function of the received request.
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38. A system for secure distribution of a content item over a communications network, comprising:
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a program memory;
a storage device; and
a processor, wherein the processor is adapted to;
(i) receive from a content owner the content item;
(ii) divide the content item into a plurality of blocks of data in order to facilitate the distribution of the content item over the communications network;
(iii) receive from a subscriber a request for a block of data for the content item, the request automatically generated without a user interaction as a function of a prior request to the content owner for the content item;
(iv) add an additional data item to the block of data for the content item as a function of the received request; and
(v) send the block of data to the subscriber as a function of the received request.
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39. A system for secure distribution of a content item over a communications network, comprising:
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a program memory;
a storage device; and
a processor, wherein the processor is adapted to;
(i) select the content item, the content item made available over the communications network by a content owner;
(ii) receive from the content owner a list identifying a content source for the content item, the content source making available at least one block of data for the content item, the block of data representing a portion of the content item broken down to facilitate distribution of the content item over the communications network;
(iii) request at least one block of data from the content source automatically without a user interaction as a function of the selecting step; and
(iv) receive the at least one block of data from the content source.
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40. A system for secure distribution of a content item over a communications network, comprising:
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a program memory;
a storage device; and
a processor, wherein the processor is adapted to;
(i) select the content item, the content item made available over the communications network by a content owner;
(ii) activate a viewer process as a function of selecting the content item;
(iii) receive from the content owner a list identifying at least one content source for the content item, the content source making available at least one block of data for the content item, the block of data representing a portion of the content item broken down to facilitate distribution of the content item over the communications network;
(iv) search by the viewer process for a peer-to-peer source for the content item, the peer-to-peer source making available at least one block of data for the content item;
(v) request from a determined location the block of data for the content item, the determined location including at least one of the content source and the peer-to-peer source and the viewer process selecting the determined location automatically without a user interaction as a function of the selecting step and as a function of an availability for the block of data;
(vi) receive by the viewer process the block of data from the determined location; and
(vii) assemble by the viewer process the block of data into the content item.
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41. A computer readable medium including instructions adapted to execute a method for secure distribution of a content item over a communications network, the method comprising:
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packaging the content item into a plurality of blocks of data;
distributing at least one block of data from the plurality of blocks of data for the content item to at least one of a content source and a peer-to-peer network, wherein the at least one content source and peer-to-peer network serve as a distribution point for the block of data;
receiving a request from a subscriber for the content item, the content item made available over the communications network; and
providing to the subscriber a list identifying at least one content source, wherein the listed content source makes available to the subscriber at least one block of data for the content item.
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42. A computer readable medium including instructions adapted to execute a method for secure distribution of a content item over a communications network, the method comprising:
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receiving from a content owner a block of data for the content item;
receiving from a subscriber a request for the block of data for the content item, the request automatically generated without a user interaction as a function of a prior request to a content owner for the content item;
adding an additional data item to the block of data for the content item as a function of the received request; and
sending the block of data to the subscriber as a function of the received request.
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43. A computer readable medium including instructions adapted to execute a method for secure distribution of a content item over a communications network, the method comprising:
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receiving from a content owner the content item;
dividing the content item into a plurality of blocks of data in order to facilitate the distribution of the content item over the communications network;
receiving from a subscriber a request for a block of data for the content item, the request automatically generated without a user interaction as a function of a prior request to the content owner for the content item;
adding an additional data item to the block of data for the content item as a function of the received request; and
sending the block of data to the subscriber as a function of the received request.
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44. A computer readable medium including instructions adapted to execute a method for secure distribution of a content item over a communications network, the method comprising:
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selecting the content item, the content item made available over the communications network by a content owner;
receiving from the content owner a list identifying a content source for the content item, the content source making available at least one block of data for the content item, the block of data representing a portion of the content item broken down to facilitate distribution of the content item over the communications network;
requesting at least one block of data from the content source automatically without a user interaction as a function of the selecting step; and
receiving the at least one block of data from the content source.
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45. A computer readable medium including instructions adapted to execute a method for secure distribution of a content item over a communications network, the method comprising:
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selecting the content item, the content item made available over the communications network by a content owner;
activating a viewer process as a function of selecting the content item;
receiving from the content owner a list identifying at least one content source for the content item, the content source making available at least one block of data for the content item, the block of data representing a portion of the content item broken down to facilitate distribution of the content item over the communications network;
searching by the viewer process for a peer-to-peer source for the content item, the peer-to-peer source making available at least one block of data for the content item;
requesting from a determined location the block of data for the content item, the determined location including at least one of the content source and the peer-to-peer source and the viewer process selecting the determined location automatically without a user interaction as a function of the selecting step and as a function of an availability for the block of data;
receiving by the viewer process the block of data from the determined location; and
assembling by the viewer process the block of data into the content item.
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Specification