Digital content distribution systems and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for enabling a user having a first device to acquire an item, comprising:
- (a) connecting the first device to a second device, wherein the first device is a portable device;
(b) while the portable device is connected to the second device, using the second device to submit a request to acquire the item;
(c) after submitting the request and while the portable device is connected to the second device, receiving at the portable device an encrypted copy of the requested item and a license, and storing the encrypted copy of the requested item and the license on a first storage unit contained within or connected to the portable device, wherein the encrypted copy of the item has a header portion containing a pointer to a license server and a key-id, and the license enables a content player running on the portable device to play the encrypted item from the first storage unit;
(d) after step (c), disconnecting the portable device from the second device;
(e) after step (d), connecting the portable device to a third device;
(f) after step (e), storing a copy of the encrypted item stored on the first storage unit in a content library stored in a second storage unit that is contained within or connected to the third device, wherein the second storage unit also contains a license store;
(g) after step (f) and in response to a request to play the copy of the encrypted item stored in the second storage unit using a content player running on the third device, silently obtaining from the license server a license that enables the content player running on the third device to play the encrypted item from the second storage unit; and
(h) storing the obtained license in the license store.
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Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention enable a user to acquire an item (e.g., a digital song, digital video, etc.) using one device (e.g., a portable device) and to easily move a copy of the acquired item from the one device to another device so that a user of the other device can play the item.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method for enabling a user having a first device to acquire an item, comprising:
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(a) connecting the first device to a second device, wherein the first device is a portable device;
(b) while the portable device is connected to the second device, using the second device to submit a request to acquire the item;
(c) after submitting the request and while the portable device is connected to the second device, receiving at the portable device an encrypted copy of the requested item and a license, and storing the encrypted copy of the requested item and the license on a first storage unit contained within or connected to the portable device, wherein the encrypted copy of the item has a header portion containing a pointer to a license server and a key-id, and the license enables a content player running on the portable device to play the encrypted item from the first storage unit;
(d) after step (c), disconnecting the portable device from the second device;
(e) after step (d), connecting the portable device to a third device;
(f) after step (e), storing a copy of the encrypted item stored on the first storage unit in a content library stored in a second storage unit that is contained within or connected to the third device, wherein the second storage unit also contains a license store;
(g) after step (f) and in response to a request to play the copy of the encrypted item stored in the second storage unit using a content player running on the third device, silently obtaining from the license server a license that enables the content player running on the third device to play the encrypted item from the second storage unit; and
(h) storing the obtained license in the license store. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for enabling a user having a first device to acquire an item, comprising:
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(a) connecting the first device to a second device, wherein the first device is a portable device;
(b) while the portable device is connected to the second device, using the second device to submit a request to acquire the item;
(c) after submitting the request and while the portable device is connected to the second device, receiving at the portable device an encrypted copy of the requested item and a license, and storing the encrypted copy of the requested item and the license on a first storage unit contained within or connected to the portable device, wherein the encrypted copy of the item has a header portion containing a pointer to a license server and a key-id, and the license enables a content player running on the portable device to play the encrypted item from the first storage unit;
(d) storing a helper application on the first storage unit after step (a) and prior the portable device being disconnected from the second device;
(e) after step (c), disconnecting the portable device from the second device. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification