Method and apparatus for distributing media in a pay per play architecture with remote playback within an enterprise
First Claim
1. A system for rendering media content in an enterprise comprising:
- a first platform for accessing, storing and distributing media content from one or more content sources, wherein the media content comprises an unrenderable state when received by the first platform;
a second platform communicatively coupled with the first platform for storing and rendering the media content stored on the first and second platform;
the first and second platforms cooperatively providing an interface to access media content from content providers and to purchase a right to render stored or accessible media content at least one time; and
at least one of the first platform and the second platform being operable to convert the stored or accessible media content to a renderable state upon the purchase of the right to render, wherein the first and second platforms are communicatively coupled to the Internet.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for rendering media content are provided. Systems of the invention can comprise a first platform for accessing, storing and distributing media content, wherein the media content comprises an unrenderable state when received by the first platform; a second platform communicatively coupled with the first platform for rendering the stored media content; the first and second platforms cooperatively providing an interface for purchasing a right to render stored or accessible media content at least one time; and at least one of the first platform and the second platform being operable to convert the stored or accessible media content to a renderable state upon the purchase of the right to render, wherein the first and second platforms are communicatively coupled to the Internet. Systems are preferably operably connected to the Internet and can provide access to content sources local to and remote from the system of the invention.
-
Citations
78 Claims
-
1. A system for rendering media content in an enterprise comprising:
-
a first platform for accessing, storing and distributing media content from one or more content sources, wherein the media content comprises an unrenderable state when received by the first platform;
a second platform communicatively coupled with the first platform for storing and rendering the media content stored on the first and second platform;
the first and second platforms cooperatively providing an interface to access media content from content providers and to purchase a right to render stored or accessible media content at least one time; and
at least one of the first platform and the second platform being operable to convert the stored or accessible media content to a renderable state upon the purchase of the right to render, wherein the first and second platforms are communicatively coupled to the Internet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
-
-
53. A system for rendering media content comprising:
-
a media server operatively connected to the Internet comprising;
a device for receiving unrenderable media content from one or more content sources selected from the group consisting of a content provider operatively connected to the Internet, one or more alternate media servers operatively connected to said media server, an alternate media server operatively connected to the Internet, a media client operatively connected to the media server and a media client operatively connected to the Internet;
a storage device for retaining the media content;
a content management sub-system that provides for purchase of the right to render the media content at least one time by converting the content to a renderable format, management of the rendering of the media content including enforcing digital rights associated with the media content, and controlling rendering of the media content in correspondence with terms of the purchase; and
a media client that is operatively coupled with, and discoverable by, the media server, wherein the client device comprises;
a rendering device;
a decoder for translating the media content from a first format to a second format, wherein the media content is communicated to the rendering device in the second format for playback;
a discovery sub-system that determines a subset of content playable by the rendering device within the unrenderable content contained on the media server; and
a content guide display that lists the subset of content;
a user profile server that is operatively coupled with, and discoverable by, the media server and media client, wherein the media server and the media client are operatively connected to the user profile server and can request user profile-compatible media content from one or more content sources to be stored on the media server or media client for use or purchase by the user whose user profile was utilized for the user profile-compatible media content request.
-
-
54. A method for rendering media content on a pay-per-play basis comprising:
-
reading a user profile from a user profile server of a guest who may utilize unrenderable PPPlay media content;
querying one or more content sources selected from the group consisting of a content provider operatively connected to the Internet, a local media servers, a media server operatively connected to the Internet, a local media client and a media client operatively connected to the Internet for unrenderable PPPlay media content the is compatible with the user profile;
displaying a content guide comprising a listing describing the available unrenderable PPPlay media content;
receiving a request to purchase a rendering right for the unrenderable PPPlay media content, the request being generated from the content guide;
removing a first level of content unrenderability;
rendering the media content at least one time, wherein at least a part of the media content is rendered on a second device. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58)
-
-
59. A method for recording renderable media content for time-shifting on a system of the invention comprising:
-
allowing a user to specify criteria for recording renderable media content on a second platform and media client;
recording the selected shows, and updating a content registry on the first platform and second platform to reflect the recorded media content. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
-
-
68. A method for recording renderable media content for time-shifting on a system of the invention comprising:
-
reading a guest'"'"'s user profile from a user profile server to specify criteria for recording renderable media content on a media device;
recording one or more user profile-compatible shows, and updating a content registry on the first platform and second platform to reflect the recorded media content. - View Dependent Claims (69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76)
-
-
77. A method for providing media content to a media device using a computer network, comprising:
-
receiving a request on a media device from a user or user profile to obtain media content;
contacting one or more content sources selected from the group consisting of a content provider operatively connected to the Internet, a local media servers, a media server operatively connected to the Internet, a local media client and a media client operatively connected to the Internet with the request for media content;
providing a unique identifier to the content source;
receiving media content. - View Dependent Claims (78)
-
Specification