Apparatus for and a method of downloading media content

• US 20070174639A1
• Filed: 01/26/2006
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Solutions Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Macrovision Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Reckless, Jonny
• Granted Patent: US 8,155,315 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/193
• 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 20/00847 wherein the usage restriction is defined by a licence file
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00869 wherein the remote server can deliver the content to a receiving device
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42646 for reading from or writing on a non-volatile solid state storage medium, e.g. DVD, CD-ROM
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• 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 21/4627 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 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/85406 involving a specific file format, e.g. MP4 format

Abstract

A data file reproduction system has a data file supplying apparatus that extracts video data and audio data from a received data file, compresses the extracted video and audio data and produces a compressed data file containing the compressed audio and video data together with meta data or navigation data determined from the received data file for enabling navigation of the original data file. The compressed data file is then copy-protected. Upon request, the copy-protected compressed data file is communicated to a reproduction apparatus. The reproduction apparatus decompresses the compressed audio and video data of the received copy-protected compressed data file, encodes the decompressed audio and video data and produces a copy-protected reconstituted data file containing the encoded audio and video data together with the meta or navigation data determined from the copy-protected compressed data file, so enabling navigation of the copy-protected reconstituted data file in the same manner as the original data file.

Claims

1. A data file reproduction system comprising a compressed data file supplying apparatus and at least one reproduction apparatus, wherein

the data file supplying apparatus comprises a receiver operable to receive a data file comprising audio and video data and meta data for enabling navigation of the data file and a data file compressor comprising:

a video data extractor operable to extract video data from a received data file;

an audio data extractor operable to extract audio data from a received data file;

a video data compressor operable to compress extracted video data;

an audio data compressor operable to compress extracted audio data;

a meta data determiner operable to determine meta data from a received data file;

a compressed data assembler operable to produce a compressed data file containing the compressed audio and video data together with the meta data for enabling navigation of the original data file;

a copy protector operable to copy protect the compressed data file; and

a communicator operable to communicate a copy-protected compressed data file to a reproduction apparatus upon request,

and wherein

the at least one reproduction apparatus comprises a communicator operable to request a copy-protected compressed data file from the supplying apparatus and a data file assembler comprising;

a video data decompressor operable to decompress compressed video data of a requested copy-protected compressed data file supplied by the supplying apparatus;

an audio data decompressor operable to decompress compressed audio data of a requested copy-protected compressed data file supplied by the supplying apparatus;

a video data encoder operable to encode the decompressed video data;

an audio data encoder operable to encode the decompressed audio data;

a meta data determiner operable to determine meta data from a requested copy-protected compressed data file supplied by the supplying apparatus; and

a data assembler operable to produce a copy-protected reconstituted data file containing the encoded audio and video data together with the determined meta data for enabling navigation of the copy-protected reconstituted data file in the same manner as the original data file.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the supplying apparatus also comprises a data encrypter operable to encrypt a compressed data file before communication to a reproduction apparatus, wherein the supplying apparatus communicator is operable to communicate a decryption key to the reproduction apparatus and the reproduction apparatus comprises a data decrypter operable to decrypt a requested encrypted file using a decryption key communicated by the supplying apparatus communicator.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reproduction apparatus has a compressed data file play enabler operable to enable a data file player of the reproduction apparatus to play a compressed data file.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one reproduction apparatus has a data file recorder operable to record the copy-protected data file on a recording medium.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the supplying apparatus comprises an authoriser operable to determine whether or not a reproduction apparatus is authorised to produce a copy-protected reconstituted data file and the data file assembler of the at least one reproduction apparatus is operable to produce a copy-protected reconstituted data file only in the event that the authoriser indicates that the reproduction apparatus is authorised to produce a copy-protected reconstituted data file.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reproduction apparatus has an authenticator operable to authenticate the data file assembler of the reproduction apparatus and to permit production of a copy-protected reconstituted data file only in the event that the authenticator authenticates the data file assembler.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the video and audio data extractors are operable to extract audio and video data, respectively, from corresponding data packs of a DVD format data file, the audio and video data compressors are operable to compress the extracted audio and video data respectively into compressed data packs each comprising data from more than one DVD data pack, the audio and video data decompressors are operable to decompress the compressed data packs and the audio and video data encoders are operable to encode the decompressed data packs in DVD format.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the supplying apparatus also comprises a licence manager operable to determine whether a user of a reproduction apparatus has a licence or permission to produce a copy-protected data file and to provide the reproduction apparatus with permission to produce a copy-protected data file only in the event that the user has a licence or permission to produce a copy-protected data file.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein the copy protector is operable to add subversive data.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein the video data extractor is operable to decode MPEG 2 video data and the audio data extractor is operable to decode DVD format audio data.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein the video data compressor is operable to compress the vide data to MPEG 4 format and the audio data compressor is operable to compress the audio data to WMA format or similar.

12. A data file supplying apparatus comprising a receiver operable to receive a data file comprising audio and video data and navigation data for enabling navigation of the data file and a data file compressor comprising:

a video data extractor operable to extract video data from a received data file;

an audio data extractor operable to extract audio data from a received data file;

a video data compressor operable to compress extracted video data;

an audio data compressor operable to compress extracted audio data;

a navigation data determiner operable to determine navigation data from a received data file;

a compressed data assembler operable to produce a compressed data file containing the compressed audio and video data together with the navigation data;

a copy protector operable to copy protect the compressed data file; and

a communicator operable to communicate a copy-protected compressed data file to a reproduction apparatus upon request.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising an authoriser operable to determine whether or not a reproduction apparatus is authorised to receive a compressed data file and to allow the communicator to communicate the compressed data file only in the event that the reproduction apparatus is so authorised.

14. An apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising an licence determiner operable to determine whether or not a reproduction apparatus is authorised to produce a copy-protected reconstituted data file and to authorise production by a reproduction apparatus of a copy-protected reconstituted data file only in the event that the reproduction apparatus is so authorised.

15. An apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a data encrypter operable to encrypt a compressed data file before communication to a reproduction apparatus, the communicator being operable to communicate a decryption key to a reproduction apparatus separately from the encrypted compressed data file.

16. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the video and audio data extractors are operable to extract audio and video data, respectively, from corresponding data packs of a DVD format data file, and the audio and video data compressors are operable to compress the extracted audio and video data respectively into compressed data packs each comprising data from more than one DVD data pack.

17. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the copy protector is operable to add subversive data.

18. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the video data extractor is operable to decode MPEG 2 video data and the audio data extractor is operable to decode DVD format audio data.

19. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the video data compressor is operable to compress the vide data to MPEG 4 format and the audio data compressor is operable to compress the audio data to WMA or similar.

20. A reproduction apparatus comprising a communicator operable to request from a supplying apparatus a copy-protected compressed data file comprising compressed audio and video data and navigation data, and a data file assembler comprising:

a video data decompressor operable to decompress compressed video data of a requested copy-protected compressed data file supplied by the supplying apparatus;

an audio data decompressor operable to decompress compressed audio data of a requested copy-protected compressed data file supplied by the supplying apparatus;

a video data encoder operable to encode the decompressed video data;

an audio data encoder operable to encode the decompressed audio data;

a navigation data determiner operable to determine navigation data from a requested copy-protected compressed data file supplied by the supplying apparatus; and

a data assembler operable to produce a copy-protected reconstituted data file containing the encoded audio and video data together with the determined navigation data for enabling navigation of the copy-protected reconstituted data file.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising a data decrypter operable to decrypt a requested encrypted file using a decryption key communicated by the supplying apparatus communicator.

22. An apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising a compressed data file play enabler operable to enable a data file player to play a compressed data file.

23. An apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising a data file recorder operable to record the copy-protected data file on a recording medium.

24. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein data file assembler is operable to produce a copy-protected reconstituted data file only in the event that the supplying apparatus indicates that the reproduction apparatus is authorised to produce a copy-protected reconstituted data file.

25. An apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising an authenticator operable to authenticate the data file assembler and to permit production of a copy-protected reconstituted data file only in the event that the authenticator authenticates the data file assembler.

26. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the audio and video data decompressors are operable to decompress compressed data packs and the audio and video data encoders are operable to encode the decompressed data packs in DVD format.

27. A method of supplying a data file, the method comprising:

receiving a data file comprising audio and video data and meta data for enabling navigation of the data file;

extracting video data from a received data file;

extracting audio data from a received data file;

compressing extracted video data;

compressing extracted audio data;

determining meta data from a received data file;

producing a compressed data file containing the compressed audio and video data together with the meta data for enabling navigation of the original data file;

copy protecting the compressed data file; and

supplying the copy-protected compressed data file to a reproduction apparatus with reproduction conditions that determine whether or not the reproduction apparatus can reconstitute a copy-protected version of the original data file.

31. A method according to claim 27, further comprising encrypting the compressed data file before supply.

32. A method according to claim 27, wherein the copy protection adds subversive data.

33. A method according to claim 27, wherein the video data extracting decodes MPEG 2 video data, the audio data extracting decodes DVD format audio data, the video data compressing compresses the vide data to MPEG 4 format and the audio data compressing compresses the audio data to WMA or similar.

34. A computer readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions for causing a processor to carry out a method in accordance with claim 27.

28. A method of reproducing a data file, the method comprising:

receiving a compressed data file comprising compressed audio and video data and meta data for enabling navigation of the data file from which the compressed data file was produced;

determining from licence information associated with the compressed data file whether decompression of the compressed data file is allowed and in the event that decompression is allowed;

decompressing the compressed video data of the copy-protected compressed data file,

decompressing the compressed audio data of the copy-protected compressed data file,

encoding the decompressed video data,

encoding the decompressed audio data,

obtaining the meta data from the copy-protected compressed data file, and

producing a copy-protected reconstituted data file containing the encoded audio and video data together with the obtained meta data for enabling navigation of the copy-protected reconstituted data file in the same manner as the original data file.

29. A method according to claim 28, wherein the compressed data file contains copy protection control data for ensuring that the produced reconstituted data file is copy-protected.

30. A method according to claim 28, further comprising recording the copy-protected data file on an optical recording medium to produce a copy-protected recorded optical recording medium.

35. A computer readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions for causing a processor to carry out a method in accordance with claim 28.

36. A data file supplying apparatus comprising receiving means for receiving a data file comprising audio and video data and navigation data for enabling navigation of the data file and a data file compressing means comprising:

video data extracting means for extracting video data from a received data file;

audio data extracting means for extracting audio data from a received data file;

video data compressing means for compressing extracted video data;

audio data compressing means for compressing extracted audio data;

navigation data determining means for determining navigation data from a received data file;

compressed data assembling means for producing a compressed data file containing the compressed audio and video data together with the navigation data;

copy protecting means for copy protecting the compressed data file; and

communicating means for communicating a copy-protected compressed data file to a reproduction apparatus upon request.

37. A reproduction apparatus comprising communicating means for requesting from a supplying apparatus a copy-protected compressed data file comprising compressed audio and video data and navigation data, and data file assembling means comprising:

video data decompressing means for decompressing compressed video data of a requested copy-protected compressed data file supplied by the supplying apparatus;

audio data decompressing means for decompressing compressed audio data of a requested copy-protected compressed data file supplied by the supplying apparatus;

video data encoding means for encoding the decompressed video data;

audio data encoding means for encoding the decompressed audio data;

navigation data determining means for determining navigation data from a requested copy-protected compressed data file supplied by the supplying apparatus; and

data assembling means for producing a copy-protected reconstituted data file containing the encoded audio and video data together with the determined navigation data for enabling navigation of the copy-protected reconstituted data file.