Transaction system for transporting media files from content provider sources to home entertainment devices
First Claim
1. A system for executing user transaction requests for delivering digital media files via the Internet for driving a user site television set and/or audio equipment, said system comprising:
- a plurality of user sites, each user site including a player/receiver, a television set and/or audio equipment, and a connectivity device for connecting said player/receiver to the Internet;
one or more provider sites, each provider site including a media server comprising a media file storage device and a media file encryptor, and a connectivity device for connecting said provider site media server to the Internet;
a transaction server and a connectivity device for connecting said transaction server to the Internet;
each said player/receiver including a user interface for sending a media file request via the Internet to said transaction server requesting delivery of an identified media file;
said transaction server being responsive to a received media file request for sending an authorization to the provider site storing the requested media file authorizing delivery of the requested media file from said provider site to the requesting player/receiver directly via the Internet;
said authorized provider site being responsive to said transaction server authorization for uniquely encrypting the identified media file and for downloading the encrypted media file directly via the Internet to said requesting player/receiver;
each said player/receiver including a media file decryptor; and
wherein only said requesting player/receiver decryptor is capable of decrypting said encrypted media file downloaded thereto for playback on the television set and/or audio equipment at the same user site.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for enabling a user to request and download selected media files from distributed content provider sites via the Internet. The system includes a plurality of user sites each including a player/receiver housed in an enclosure having a simple user interface, a plurality of content provider sites, and a transaction server site. The player/receiver enables the user to connect to the transaction server via the Internet to access a program guide listing available media files. The user is then able to select a desired file and, via the player/receiver and Internet, request the transaction server to authorize download of the selected file. The file request along with file encryption and transfer instructions are sent from the transaction server via the Internet to the content provider site storing the requested file. Requested files are then dynamically encrypted by the content provider site and securely downloaded to the requesting player/receiver. The requesting player/receiver is uniquely capable of decrypting a downloaded file concurrent with playing back the file on a conventional home television set and/or audio system.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A system for executing user transaction requests for delivering digital media files via the Internet for driving a user site television set and/or audio equipment, said system comprising:
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a plurality of user sites, each user site including a player/receiver, a television set and/or audio equipment, and a connectivity device for connecting said player/receiver to the Internet;
one or more provider sites, each provider site including a media server comprising a media file storage device and a media file encryptor, and a connectivity device for connecting said provider site media server to the Internet;
a transaction server and a connectivity device for connecting said transaction server to the Internet;
each said player/receiver including a user interface for sending a media file request via the Internet to said transaction server requesting delivery of an identified media file;
said transaction server being responsive to a received media file request for sending an authorization to the provider site storing the requested media file authorizing delivery of the requested media file from said provider site to the requesting player/receiver directly via the Internet;
said authorized provider site being responsive to said transaction server authorization for uniquely encrypting the identified media file and for downloading the encrypted media file directly via the Internet to said requesting player/receiver;
each said player/receiver including a media file decryptor; and
whereinonly said requesting player/receiver decryptor is capable of decrypting said encrypted media file downloaded thereto for playback on the television set and/or audio equipment at the same user site. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for executing user transaction requests for delivering digital media files via the Internet for driving a user site television set and/or audio equipment comprising the steps of:
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enabling each of a plurality of users to generate a transaction request including user identification information and media file identification information;
communicating each transaction request via the Internet to a transaction server;
causing said transaction server to verify said user identification information and identify a media server storing the identified media file;
enabling said transaction server to instruct the identified media server to download the identified media file to the requesting user directly via the Internet;
causing said identified media server to uniquely encrypt the identified media file and download it directly via the Internet to the requesting user; and
enabling only the requesting user to decrypt said encrypted media file for playback on a television set and/or audio equipment at the requesting user'"'"'s site. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification