LOCK-OUT TRIGGER FOR LOST OR STOLEN PLAYBACK DEVICE

• US 20060206492A1
• Filed: 05/25/2006
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RCS IP LLC
• Original Assignee: ZapMedia, Inc.
• Inventors: Petritis, John B., Morrison, Kelly P., Hirsch, Michael D., Lipscomb, Kenneth O., Whitehead, John Paul III, Muntz, Eric Neal, Robison, Richard D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,143,809 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/437 Administration of user profiles, e.g. generation, initialisation, adaptation, distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4387 by the use of playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/216 Rewritable discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23106 involving caching operations prefetching while addressing of a memory level in which the access to the desired data or data block requires associative addressing means within memory systems or architectures G06F12/0862; caching at an intermediate stage in a data network H04L67/568
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23109 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. EPG data repository details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• 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 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4332 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. local EPG data repository interfaces, Database management systems or updating for information retrieval G06F16/23; details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video database G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• 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

A system and method for distributing digital media assets to a plurality of users. A portal is provided comprising at least one server computer. The portal executes a media library database server application that manages access a master library of media 5 assets that can be accessed by users via one or more communication networks. A plurality of media player devices communicate with the portal to access media assets for use. Each media player device may comprise a processor that executes a database client application that manages media assets licensed for use by a user.

Claims

1-83. -83. (canceled)

84. A method of enhancing the security of a media playback device in an environment in which access to a plurality of media assets is managed, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a user with a user account;

storing references to a plurality of media assets which the user has a license to use;

locking the user account;

subsequent to the locking step, receiving a communication from a media player device associated with the user account; and

limiting operation of the media player device.

85. The method of claim 84, wherein the step of locking the user account is performed in response to receiving a request from the user for the user account to be locked.

86. The method of claim 84, further comprising the step of issuing a confirmation code to the user proximate to the step of locking the user account.

87. The method of claim 86, further comprising the step of unlocking the media player device upon detecting that a user had entered the confirmation code.

88. The method of claim 86, wherein the communication is a request to synchronize the assets stored on the media player device with the stored references associated with the user account and, further comprising the step of the media player device automatically sending a synchronization request when power is applied.

89. The method of claim 88, wherein operation of the media playback device is prohibited until the confirmation code is correctly entered.

90. A media asset management system comprising:

a portal comprising;

a user account corresponding to at least one user; and

a library storing at least the identity of a plurality of media assets which the user has a license to use; and

a lock-out utility that operates to limits operation of the media playback device; and

a media asset portability application residing on each of a plurality of media player devices, the media asset portability application enabling each of the plurality of media player devices to be associated with the user account, and the media portability application enabling access to the plurality of media assets at least identified in the library across the plurality of associated media player devices.

91. The media asset management system of claim 90, wherein the lock-out utility will enable operation of the media playback device in response to a user entering a confirmation code provided to the user by the lock-out utility.

92. The media asset management system of claim 90, wherein the lock-out utility generates a confirmation code upon operating to limit operation of the media playback device.

93. The media asset management system of claim 90, wherein the lock-out utility triggers a lock-out condition up receiving a request from a user and operates to lock the media player device when the media player devices attempts to access one of the plurality of media assets in the library.

94. The media asset management system of claim 90, wherein the lock-out utility is only invoked upon receiving a request from a user.

95. The media asset management system of claim 90, wherein upon receiving a user request to invoke the lock-out utility, the portal issues a confirmation code to the user and the media player devices associated with the user are disabled the next time they interface to the portal until the user enters the confirmation code.

96. A method of managing access to a plurality of media assets available to media player devices comprising the steps of:

providing a user with a user account;

allowing the user to license a plurality of media assets;

associating the licensed plurality of media assets with the user account; and

locking the user account from access by a media player device until a confirmation code is received from the media player device.

97. The method of claim 96, wherein the plurality of media assets may comprise one or more of video, audio or image formats.

98. The method of claim 96, wherein the plurality of media player devices may comprise one or more of a laptop computer, personal computer, portable media device, mobile communications device, personal digital assistant, cable set top box, satellite set top box, home audio component or an automobile audio device.

99. The method of claim 96, wherein the step of locking the user account is only performed in response to a user request.

100. The method of claim 100, wherein the user request is an email message from the user.

101. The method of claim 100, wherein the user request is a telephone call from the user.

102. The method of claim 101, wherein the step of locking the use account comprises limiting further operation of a media player device upon detecting a communication attempt from the media player device.

103. The method of claim 101, further comprising the step of unlocking the user account upon reception of the confirmation code.