Transcoding and data rights management in a mobile video network with STB as a hub

• US 20060117379A1
• Filed: 01/10/2006
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bennett, James D., Karaoguz, Jeyhan
• Granted Patent: US 8,955,020 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/3
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1026 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/764 at the destination reformatting of additional data in video clients H04N21/4355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234363 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for clients with a lower screen resolution
• 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 21/254 Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server arrangements for maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00; network services using third party service providers H04L67/53
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• 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 21/25435 : involving characteristics of content or additional data, e.g. video resolution or the amount of advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25833 : involving client hardware characteristics, e.g. manufacturer, processing or storage capabilities allocation of resources considering hardware capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5044; allocation of resources considering software capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5055
• 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 21/26266 : for determining content or additional data repetition rate, e.g. of a file in a DVB carousel according to its importance arrangements for broadcast or for distribution of identical information repeatedly in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/16
• 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 21/2743 : Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 : having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41422 : located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 : Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 : Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 : for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 : Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 : Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 : involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 : Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 : involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 : Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 : Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 : Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4668 : for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 : for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 : for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 : for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 : communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 : using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• 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 21/4882 : for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 : involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6187 : involving transmission via a telephone network, e.g. POTS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/632 : using a connection between clients on a wide area network, e.g. setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet for retrieving video segments from the hard-disk of other client devices broadcast-related systems characterised by transmission among terminal devices H04H60/80; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 : Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6583 : Acknowledgement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/814 : comprising emergency warnings arrangements specially adapted for emergency or urgency in broadcast systems H04H20/59; arrangements for providing alarms, notifications, alerts to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8146 : involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 : between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 : Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A home entertainment system that employs DRM (Data Rights Management) data protected multimedia programs and rights management component (RMC), with corresponding hardware and software systems incorporated in to home entertainment systems, to protect rights of the media program providers and the users. The system employs STB (Set Top Box) as a hub. The rights management component is incorporated in to the set top box (STB Circuitry), as well as some of the media devices. Three operational scenarios are envisaged regarding the home entertainment system. The first operational scenario involves a remote media source and the media device interaction via STB Circuitry; where as the STB Circuitry performs the duty of a mediator. The second operational scenario involves remote media source and the media device interaction via STB Circuitry, where as the STB Circuitry having rights to reissue licenses to media players. The third operational scenario involves local media sources incorporating the RMC and interacting with the STB Circuitry to decrypt and transcode the multimedia programs. Further, the STB Circuitry interacts with a remote billing server via the communication network regarding presentation rights, to interact with a user regarding the presentation rights, and to arrange for payment for the presentation rights.

Claims

1. An entertainment system that manages presentation of a media program to viewers within a home, the entertainment system comprising:

a first communication pathway;

a remote digital rights management server communicatively coupled to the first communication pathway;

a second communication pathway;

set top box (STB) circuitry communicatively coupled to the first and second communication pathways;

a media player communicatively coupled via the second communication pathway to the set top box circuitry; and

the set top box circuitry interacts with the remote digital rights management server and, based on such interaction, manages the presentation of the media program on the media player.

2. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein:

the STB circuitry is operable to retrieve the media program from a remote video source via the first communication pathway, to encrypt the media program respective to the media player, and to deliver the encrypted media program to the media player; and

the media player is operable to receive the encrypted media program, to decrypt the encrypted media program, and to present the media program.

3. The entertainment system of claim 1 further comprising a media storage device communicatively coupled to the STB circuitry, operable to store the media program, the media storage device is operable to:

receive the media program in a format that has been encrypted respective to the media player;

store the media program in the format that has been encrypted respective to the media player; and

deliver the media program in the format that has been encrypted respective to the media player.

4. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein:

the STB circuitry is operable to transmit encryption information respective to the media player to the remote digital rights management server; and

the media player is operable to receive the media program in a respective encrypted format via the first communication pathway, to decrypt the media program, and to present the media program.

5. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the STB circuitry is operable to establish communications with a remote billing server via the first communication pathway, to interact with the remote billing server regarding presentation rights, to interact with a user regarding the presentation rights, and to arrange for payment for the presentation rights.

6. The entertainment system of claim 5, wherein the presentation rights determine a number of times that the media program may be presented by the media player.

7. The entertainment system of claim 5, wherein the presentation rights determine a number of times that the media program may be presented by any media player of the entertainment system.

8. The entertainment system of claim 5, wherein the STB circuitry includes a server component operable to provide a web page interface to the user via the media player.

9. The entertainment system of claim 8, further comprising a user input device operable to service user interaction with the STB circuitry.

10. The entertainment system of claim 1, where the STB circuitry is operable to store network addresses of each media player communicatively coupled to it by the second communication pathway.

11. The entertainment system of claim 10, where the STB circuitry is operable to:

store personal keys of each media player; and

store a home key shared by a plurality of media players.

12. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the remote digital rights management server comprises:

a media source component, operable to receive a request for a license for the media program from the STB circuitry and to process it;

a media program database, operable to store a plurality of media programs in a first format;

a user registration database, operable to maintain a registry of users;

an encryption engine, operable to encrypt the media program to produce an encrypted media program;

a licensing component, operable to imprint presentation rights on the encrypted media program to produce an output media program; and

a network interface, operable to deliver the output media program via the first communication pathway.

13. The entertainment system of claim 12, wherein the licensing component is further operable to:

receive billing information from a requesting media device;

deliver a license to the requesting media devices;

track presentation of the media program; and

manage billing respective to the presentation of the media program.

14. A set top box (STB), communicatively coupled to a media program provider'"'"'s server via a first communication pathway and to a media player via a second communication pathway comprising:

a network interface, operable to interface with the media program provider'"'"'s servers via the first communication pathway;

a processor, operable to produce output signals by performing digital processing operations of rights management, video decryption, video transcoding, and video encryption on the media program;

a memory unit communicatively coupled to the processor, operable to store the media program;

interface control circuitry communicatively coupled to the processor and operable to enable a user to control the operations of the processor;

output circuitry operable to communicatively output the output signals to the media player via the second communication pathway; and

by interacting with the remote digital rights management server, the processor limits consumption of the media program by the media player.

15. The set top box of claim 14, wherein:

the processor is operable to retrieve the media program from a remote media source via the first communication pathway, to encrypt the media program respective to the media player, and to deliver the encrypted media program to the media player; and

the media player is operable to receive the encrypted media program, to decrypt the encrypted media program, and to present the media program.

16. The set top box claim 14, wherein the memory unit is an external media storage device.

17. The set top box claim 16, wherein the memory unit is further operable to:

receive the media program in a format that has been encrypted respective to the media player;

store the media program in the format that has been encrypted respective to the media player; and

deliver the media program in the format that has been encrypted respective to the media player.

18. The set top box of claim 14, wherein:

the processor is operable to transmit encryption information respective to the media player to the media program provider'"'"'s server; and

the media player is operable to receive the media program in a respective encrypted format via the home entertainment system network, to decrypt the media program, and to present the media program.

19. The set top box of claim 14, wherein the STB is operable to establish communications with the media program provider'"'"'s server, to interact with the media program provider'"'"'s server regarding presentation rights, to interact with a user regarding the presentation rights, and to arrange for payment for the presentation rights.

20. The set top box of claim 14, wherein presentation rights determine a number of times that the media program may be presented by the media player.

21. The set top box of claim 14, where the STB is operable to store network addresses of each individual media player communicatively coupled to it via the home entertainment system network.

22. A method for obtaining and redistributing encrypted media programs thereby protecting rights of the media provider:

receiving a request for a media program from a user for presentation by a media player;

determining characteristics of the media player;

obtaining a license to download and present the media program;

downloading the media program in an encrypted format;

decrypting the media program;

transcoding the media program based upon the characteristics of the media player to produce a transcoded media program;

encrypting the transcoded media program to produce an encrypted transcoded media program; and

communicating the encrypted transcoded media program to the media player.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein obtaining the license to download and present comprises:

communicating the requesting media player'"'"'s reference address to the server component; and

making secured electronic payments.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein obtaining the license to download and present comprises of obtaining permission on a pay-per-view basis.

25. A method for obtaining and redistributing encrypted media programs, by a set-top-box rights management component, thereby protecting privileges of the video provider:

receiving a request for a media program from a user and/or a media player;

registering with remote billing server, if being done for the first time;

downloading a plurality of encrypted media programs;

storing the plurality of encrypted media programs in storage device together with license information; and

delivering the media program in a format encrypted for the media player, to the media player.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein registering with the remote billing server comprises:

providing user financial credentials;

making secured electronic payment; and

obtaining licenses to download encrypted media programs, store in a storage device and redistribute on a pay-per-view basis.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the license information comprises of information regarding permissions to redistribute media programs connected to the home entertainment system network.

28. A method performed by the media players incorporating rights management component, that use removable video source, for obtaining decryption information via a set-top-box rights management component, thereby protecting privileges of the video provider:

receiving a media program via a removable video source;

interacting with digital rights management server to obtain decryption information, via STB circuitry;

decrypting the media program according to the decryption information, in STB circuitry;

encrypting the media program according to the video player, in STB circuitry;

decrypting the media program; and

presenting the media program via a media player.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the receiving media program via removable video source comprises of receiving encrypted media program, the decryption information known only to the digital rights management server.