Digital media distribution

• US 20060036549A1
• Filed: 08/12/2004
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xenogenic Development Limited Liability Company (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: EnReach Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Wu, Bo
• Granted Patent: US 8,055,585 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/56 Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/60 Digital content management, e.g. content distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/00 Cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2223 being a public access point, e.g. for downloading to or uploading from clients arrangements specially adapted to plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2347 involving video stream encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2407 Monitoring of transmitted content, e.g. distribution time, number of downloads arrangements for monitoring programmes for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/14
• 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 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• 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 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

One embodiment in accordance with the invention is a method. For example, the method includes storing movie content with a distribution station that can be subsequently purchased and/or rented. The movie content can be encrypted. A determination can be made as to whether a storage apparatus is coupled with the distribution station. Provided the storage apparatus has been coupled with the distribution station, a determination can be made as to whether the storage apparatus is authorized to receive the movie content. Provided the storage apparatus is authorized to receive the movie content, encrypted movie content can be downloaded to the storage apparatus from the distribution station. Note that the download of movie content to the authorized storage apparatus can be part of a purchase and/or rental transaction.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

storing media content with a distribution station;

encrypting said media content;

determining if a storage apparatus is coupled with said distribution station;

determining if said storage apparatus is authorized to receive said media content, provided said storage apparatus is coupled with said distribution station; and

downloading encrypted media content to said storage apparatus from said distribution station, provided said storage apparatus is authorized to receive said media content.

2. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising:

determining if said storage apparatus can become authorized to receive said media content, provided said storage apparatus is not authorized to receive said media content.

3. The method as described in claim 2, further comprising:

authorizing said storage apparatus to receive said media content, provided said storage apparatus can become authorized to receive said media content.

4. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising:

enabling selection of media of said media content to download to said storage apparatus.

5. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising:

collecting payment information associated with receipt of said media content.

6. The method as described in claim 1, wherein said determining if said storage apparatus is authorized comprises determining if said storage apparatus includes a security functionality.

7. The method as described in claim 6, wherein said security functionality restricts transfer of said media content to a device that does not include a copy of said security functionality.

8. The method as described in claim 6, wherein said security functionality enforces rental time period of said downloaded encrypted media content.

9. The method as described in claim 1, wherein said distribution station is a free standing kiosk that comprises a computing device coupled to the Internet.

10. A system comprising:

an electronic storage apparatus;

a central system; and

a distribution station coupled with said central system and capable of being coupled with said electronic storage apparatus, said distribution station comprising;

media content received from said central system; and

a security functionality that allows download of said media content to said electronic storage apparatus when said electronic storage apparatus includes a copy of said security functionality.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said security functionality disallows download of said media content to said electronic storage apparatus when said electronic storage apparatus does not include said copy of said security functionality.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said central system includes a user interface for selecting said media content to download from said distribution station.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a computing device coupled to central system to utilize said user interface.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

transmitting a list to said distribution station, provided said computing device utilizes said user interface to submit said list to said central system.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein said security functionality determines if said electronic storage apparatus is coupled with said distribution station.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said security functionality determines if said storage apparatus is authorized to receive said media content, provided said storage apparatus is coupled with said distribution station.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said security functionality allows downloading of encrypted media content to said storage apparatus from said distribution station, provided said storage apparatus is authorized to receive said media content.

18. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a financial institution coupled with said distribution station for authorizing a credit card transaction.

19. A computer-usable medium having computer-readable code embodied therein for causing a distribution station to perform a method comprising:

determining if a storage apparatus is coupled with said distribution station;

determining if said storage apparatus is authorized to receive media content, provided said storage apparatus is coupled with said distribution station; and

downloading encrypted media content to said storage apparatus from said distribution station, provided said storage apparatus is authorized to receive said media content.

20. The computer-usable medium of claim 19, wherein said method further comprising:

determining if said storage apparatus can become authorized to receive said media content, provided said storage apparatus is not authorized to receive said media content.

21. The computer-usable medium of claim 20, further comprising:

authorizing said storage apparatus to receive said media content by downloading a security functionality, provided said storage apparatus can become authorized to receive said media content.

22. The computer-usable medium of claim 21, wherein said security functionality restricts transfer of said media content to a device that does not include a copy of said security functionality.

23. The computer-usable medium of claim 19, further comprising:

collecting payment information associated with receipt of said media content.

24. The computer-usable medium of claim 19, wherein said distribution station is a free standing kiosk that comprises a computing device.