METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLED MEDIA SHARING IN A NETWORK

• US 20080250239A1
• Filed: 06/16/2008
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edward Vincent Fitzgerald, Hank Risan
• Original Assignee: Edward Vincent Fitzgerald, Hank Risan
• Inventors: Risan, Hank, Fitzgerald, Edward Vincent
• Granted Patent: US 8,578,502 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/153
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1077 Recurrent authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2117 User registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0464 using hop-by-hop encryption, i.e. wherein an intermediate entity decrypts the information and re-encrypts it before forwarding it
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/142 Managing session states for stateless protocols; Signalling session states; State transitions; Keeping-state mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones

Abstract

A method for controlling media sharing among a plurality of nodes in a network. The present method is comprised of availing to the network an instance of media content for sharing among the plurality of nodes by a source node communicatively coupled to the network. The present method further includes decrypting the instance of media content from an encryption local to the source node. The present method further includes encrypting the instance of media content into an intermediate encryption. The present method further includes transferring the instance of media content to a node while the instance of media content is in the intermediate encryption. The node is associated with the network. The decrypting and the encrypting and the transferring are in response to receiving a request for the instance of media content from the node.

Claims

1. A method of controlled media sharing among a plurality of nodes in a network, said method comprising:

transferring an instance of media content from a source node to a node, said source node, said node, and an administrative node communicatively coupled to said network;

transmitting from said node to said administrative node an indicator for indicating a successful transfer of said instance of media content from said source node to said node; and

generating a transaction applicable to said node and associated with said instance of media content for transfer of said instance of media content to said node and performed by said administrative node, wherein said requesting node and said source node are currently associated with said network.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting the location of said instance of media content to said node, said instance of media content stored within an custom file system on a memory unit coupled to said source node.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

decrypting said instance of media content on said source node from an encryption local to said source node to an intermediate encryption via an intermediate encryption key received from said administrative node.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 further comprising:

initiating transfer of said instance of media content in said intermediate encryption from said source node to said requesting node.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 further comprising:

decrypting said instance of media content in said intermediate encryption at said node subsequent to said node receiving said instance of media content in said intermediate encryption via an intermediate decryption key received from said administrative node.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 further comprising:

encrypting said instance of media content to an encryption local to said node.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

preventing a secure application coupled to said node from availing to said plurality of nodes said instance of media content when said node is no longer associated with said network, said secure player application enabled to avail said instance of media content to said plurality of nodes when said node is associated with said network.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

disabling a secure player application coupled to said node to prevent presentation of said instance of media content on said node to said node when said node is no longer associated with said network.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

enabling a secure player application coupled to said node to present said instance of media content on said node to said node while said node is not in said plurality of nodes and while said node is associated with said network.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

preventing a secure player application coupled to said source node from availing said instance of media content to said plurality of nodes when said source node is no longer associated with said network, said secure player application enabled to avail to said plurality of nodes said instance of media content when said source node is associated with said network.

11. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

disabling a secure player application coupled to said source node to prevent presentation of said instance of media content on said source node to said source node when said source node is no longer associated with said network.

12. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

enabling a secure player application coupled to said source node to present said instance of media content on said source node to said source node while said source node is not in said plurality of node and while said source node is associated with said network.

13. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

authorizing said node and said source node to be associated with said network.

14. The method as recited in claim 13 wherein said authorizing comprises verifying a secure player application and a client application are coupled to said node and verifying a secure player application and a client application are coupled to said source node in said plurality nodes.

15. The method as recited in claim 13 wherein said client application coupled to said source node performs said decryption and said encryption related to said source node.

16. The method as recited in claim 13 wherein said sending application coupled to said node performs said decryption and said encryption related to said node.

17. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

storing said instance of media content in a custom file system on a memory unit coupled to said node and storing said instance of media content in a custom file system on a memory unit coupled to said source node.

18. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

complying with a usage restriction applicable to said instance of media content on said node and applicable to said instance of media content on said source node via a usage compliance mechanism coupled to said node and coupled to said source node.

19. A system for controlled media sharing among a plurality of nodes in a network comprising:

a source node for availing to said network an instance of media content;

a node enabled to request said instance of media content;

an administrative node for transmitting a location of said source node having said instance of media content to said network, wherein said source node, said administrative node and said node are communicatively coupled to said network;

wherein said source node transfers said instance of media content to said node, and wherein said instance of media content is decrypted from an encryption local to said source node and encrypted into an intermediate encryption for transfer to said node; and

wherein said administrative node receives an acknowledgement indicator from said node indicating successful receipt of said instance of media content, said indicator generating a transaction applicable to said node and associated with said instance of media content.

20. The system as recited in claim 19 wherein said source node is configured to receive an intermediate encryption key from said administrative node to enable said source node to encrypt said instance of media content in said intermediate encryption for transfer to said node, wherein a client application coupled to said source node performs decryption and encryption of said instance of media content on said source node.

21. The system as recited in claim 19 wherein said node is configured to receive an intermediate decryption key from said administrative node enabling said node to decrypt said instance of media content in said intermediate encryption, wherein a client application coupled to said node performs decryption of said intermediate encryption.

22. The system as recited in claim 21 wherein said client application on said node encrypts said instance of media content into an encryption local to said node.

23. The system as recited in claim 19 further comprising:

a secure player application coupled to said source node for availing said instance of media content on said source node to said plurality of nodes and for presenting said instance of media content on said source node to said source node.

24. The system as recited in claim 23 wherein said secure player application is prevented from availing said instance of media content to said plurality of nodes when said source node is no longer associated with said network.

25. The system as recited in claim 23 wherein said secure player application is disabled to prevent presentation of said instance of media content on said source node to said source node when said source node is no longer associated with said network.

26. The system as recited in claim 23 wherein said secure player application is enabled to present said instance of media content on said source node to said source node while said source node is not in said plurality of nodes and while said source node is associated with said network.

27. The system as recited in claim 23 further comprising:

a custom file system on a memory unit coupled to said source node for storing said instance of media content, said custom file system from which said secure player application avails to said plurality of nodes said instance of media content.

28. The system as recited in claim 19 further comprising:

a secure player application coupled to said node for availing said instance of media content on said node to said plurality of nodes and for presenting said instance of media content on said node to said node.

29. The system as recited in claim 28 wherein said secure player application is prevented from availing said instance of media content to said plurality of nodes when said node is no longer associated with said network.

30. The system as recited in claim 28 wherein said secure player application is disabled from presenting said instance of media content on said node to said node when said node is no longer associated with said network.

31. The system as recited in claim 28 wherein said secure player application is enabled to present said instance of media content on said node to said node while said node is not in said plurality of nodes and while said node is associated with said network.

32. The system as recited in claim 28 further comprising:

a custom file system on a memory unit coupled to said node for storing said instance of media content, said custom file system from which said secure player application avails to said plurality of nodes said instance of media content.

33. The system as recited in claim 19 further comprising:

a usage compliance mechanism coupled to said node for enabling compliance with a usage restriction applicable to said instance of media content on said node

34. The system as recited in claim 19 further comprising:

a usage compliance mechanism coupled to said source node for enabling compliance with a usage restriction applicable to said instance of content on said source node.

35. The system as recited in claim 19 wherein said administrative node is enabled to authorize said node and said source node to be associated with said network.

36. The system as recited in claim 19 wherein said administrative node includes said source node.

37. A computer readable medium for storing computer implemented instructions, said instruction for causing a computer system to perform a method of controlled media sharing among a plurality of nodes in a network, said method comprising:

transferring an instance of media content from a source node to a node, wherein said source node, said node, and an administrative node are communicatively coupled to said network, said instance of media content decrypted from an encryption local to said source node and encrypted into an intermediate encryption for transfer;

sending from said node to said administrative node an indicator indicating a successful transfer of said instance of media content from said source node to said node; and

generating a transaction applicable to said node and associated with said instance of media content reflecting said transfer of said instance of media content from said source node to said node, wherein said node and said source node are associated with said network.

38. The computer readable medium of claim 37 wherein said method further comprises communicating a location of a source node having said instance of media content to said node in response to said network receiving a request from said node for said instance of media content.

39. The computer readable medium of claim 37 wherein said method further comprises sending an intermediate encryption key to said source node enabling said source node to encrypt said instance of media content into said intermediate encryption for transfer.

40. The computer readable medium of claim 37 wherein said method further comprises decrypting said instance of media content in said intermediate encryption and encrypting said instance of media content into an encryption local to said node, said decrypting and encrypting performed on said node via a client application coupled to said node.

41. The computer readable medium of claim 37 wherein said method further comprises enabling a secure player application coupled to said source node to avail said instance of media content to said plurality of nodes when said source node is associated with said network.

42. The computer readable medium of claim 41 wherein said method further comprises enabling said secure player to present said instance of media content on said source node to said source node while said source node is not in said plurality of nodes and while said source node is associated with said network.

43. The computer readable medium of claim 41 wherein said method further comprising preventing said secure player application from availing said instance of media content to said plurality of nodes when said source node is not associated with said network.

44. The computer readable medium of claim 41 wherein said method further comprises disabling said secure player application to prevent presentation of said instance of media content on said source node to said source node when said source node is no longer associated with said network.

45. The computer readable medium of claim 37 wherein said method further comprises enabling a secure player application coupled to said node to avail said instance of media content to said plurality of nodes when said node is associated with said network.

46. The computer readable medium of claim 45 wherein said method further comprises enabling said secure player to present said instance of media content on said node to said node while said node is not in said plurality of nodes and while said node is associated with said network.

47. The computer readable medium of claim 45 wherein said method further comprising preventing said secure player application from availing said instance of media content to said plurality of nodes when said node is not associated with said network.

48. The computer readable medium of claim 45 wherein said method further comprises disabling said secure player application to prevent presentation of said instance of media content on said node to said node when said node is no longer associated with said network.

49. The computer readable medium of claim 37 wherein said method further comprises complying with a usage restriction applicable to said instance of media content on said source node via a usage compliance mechanism coupled thereto.

50. The computer readable medium of claim 37 wherein said method further comprises complying with a usage restriction applicable to said instance of media content on said node via a usage compliance mechanism coupled thereto.

51. The computer readable medium of claim 37 wherein said method further comprises storing said instance of media content in a custom file system on a memory unit coupled to said node and in a custom file system on a memory unit coupled to said node.