System and method for digital content media distribution

• US 20070055982A1
• Filed: 08/31/2006
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NETGEAR, Inc.
• Original Assignee: NETGEAR, Inc.
• Inventors: Spilo, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/514,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20070055982A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/31
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00144 involving a user identifier, e.g. a unique customer ID
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00224 wherein the key is obtained from a remote server
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00478 wherein contents are decrypted and re-encrypted with a different key when being copied from/to a record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0071 involving a purchase action
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91364 the video signal being scrambled
• 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 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4405 involving video stream decryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4408 involving video stream encryption, e.g. re-encrypting a decrypted video stream for redistribution in a home network
• 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 21/63775 for uploading keys, e.g. for a client to communicate its public key to the server key management H04L9/08; network support of key management H04L63/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/913 for scrambling ; for copy protection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/1675 Providing digital key or authorisation information for generation or regeneration of the scrambling sequence pseudo-random number generators in general G06F7/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Presented is a playback device capable of encrypted media content distribution that includes a processor, a decryption algorithm stored in memory, multiple units of encrypted media content preloaded on a storage device, a decoder that decrypts the media content using a decryption key, a receiver and remote control apparatus. A user obtains the decryption key from a remote system, which can be an authorization system that provides the decryption key after the user provides payment. A user account exists on the remote system, which automatically charges the user account and provides the decryption key upon receiving a media content selection and an account number or a personal identification number from the user.

Claims

1. A playback device for media distribution comprising:

a processor;

memory that contains operating instructions configured as a decryption algorithm;

a storage device pre-loaded with multiple units of media content, wherein each unit of media content is encrypted using an encryption algorithm;

a decoder configured to access the media content in the storage device under control of the processor, and decrypt the media content in accordance with the operating instructions;

a receiver in communication with the processor; and

a remote control apparatus, in data communication with the receiver, configured to interface with a user to provide control signals to the playback device;

wherein the decryption algorithm accesses the encrypted media content using a decryption key.

2. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the storage device is removable from the playback device.

3. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the storage device is separate from the playback device.

4. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the remote control apparatus is one of a handheld remote control, a keypad, a personal digital assistant, and a keyboard.

5. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the decryption key is provided to the playback device by a user-entry in the remote control apparatus.

6. The playback device of claim 1, further comprising a network connection, wherein the decryption key is provided to the playback device via the network connection.

7. The playback device of claim 5, wherein the user obtains the decryption key from a remote system.

8. The playback device of claim 7, wherein the remote system is an authorization system, and wherein the user obtains the decryption key after the user provides payment information to the remote system using the remote control apparatus.

9. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the user provides the playback device with media content selection and playback commands via the remote control apparatus.

10. The playback device of claim 5, wherein the user provides the playback device with media content selection and playback commands via the remote control apparatus, wherein the decryption key for only the selected media content is provided, and wherein a remote system charges for the selected media content.

11. The playback device of claim 5, wherein the decryption key expires after a predetermined time period or a predetermined number of viewings.

12. The playback device of claim 7, wherein the user obtains a fixed number of decryption keys, and wherein the fixed number is renewable upon payment of a fee.

13. The playback device of claim 7, wherein a user account exists on the remote system, and wherein the remote system is configured to automatically charge the user account and provide the decryption key upon receiving identification of a selected media content and at least one of an account number and a personal identification number.

14. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the storage device is one of a disk drive, a flash memory, and an optical disk.

15. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the media content is one of movies, television shows, and prerecorded audio.