METHOD AND SYSTEM TO USE, SHARE AND MANAGE DIGITAL CONTENT BY ASSIGNING MAC AND IP ADRESS TO EACH DEVICE AND PERIPHERAL

• US 20090109980A1
• Filed: 02/25/2008
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brite Smart Corporation
• Original Assignee: Brite Smart Corporation
• Inventors: Zuili, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 8,068,519 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/400
• 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 21/42684 Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• 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 21/47211 for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/835 Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• 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

Abstract

The invention shows a method for connecting and sharing content over a plurality of devices, and over a plurality of networks public and private while respecting the content'"'"'s Digital Rights by implementing a software layer (software alternately integrated into hardware component) that will assign a mac address and an ip address to each device and peripherals and where content can be assign to specific devices inside a network, and can be accessed directly, shared remotely, wireless, or physically connected. The software layer also integrates drivers, players, codec'"'"'s that can be updated dynamically in order to keep them updated. This software layer can also “virtualizes” peripherals, devices or group of peripherals and devices into single addressable group of components that will act like one.

Claims

1. An audio/video distribution system with enhanced digital rights management configured for use with a source of programming, such system comprising:

plurality of network devices connected and capable of having content for sharing within the network; and

each of the network devices being assigned mac address and ip address by a software layer,

wherein the network is multiplexed network using the electrical network;

wherein the network is a wireless network;

wherein the network is a wired network;

whereby the assigned content over the distribution system can be accessed directly, remotely or shared between the devices keeping intact the digital rights policies of the content owner.

2. An audio/video distribution system of claim 1, wherein plurality of network devices are capable of being grouped together for the purpose of sharing the digital contents.

3. An audio/video distribution system of claim 1, wherein the assignment of mac address and ip addresses is for all peripherals and internal components.

4. As audio/video distribution system of claim 3, wherein peripherals and internal components include internal memory, keyboard, mouse, monitor, tv, sound card, DVD Rom, DVD RAM, High Definition DVD including Blue Ray player, game station, video projector and other such devices.

5. An audio/video distribution system of claim 1, wherein the devices inside the network are dynamically assigned in order to virtualize shared and grouped devices.

6. An audio/video distribution system of claim 3, wherein a software layer assigns the ip and mac address to each device including the usage policy for each device while respecting the digital rights in the content.

7. An audio/video distribution system of claim 1, wherein the network is public and/or private network.

8. The audio/video distribution system of claim 1, wherein network is a wireless network.

9. An audio/video distribution system of claim 1, wherein network device is any device, whether capable of being connected to a network or not.

10. An audio/video distribution system of claim 1, wherein the content is locally cached in order to facilitate streaming capabilities.

11. An audio/video distribution system of claim 1, wherein the missing content is delivered upon validation.

12. An audio/video distribution system of claim 1, wherein the codecs and players are dynamically updated at each device location depending on the nature of the content.

13. An audio/video distribution system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of network devices comprise of:

a source encryptor for transmitting the programming in encrypted form;

a programming request device at the recipient location;

a receiver at the recipient location that further includes a decryptor and a sensor

a processor operative to perform several tasks on the signal to output the programming to the audio/visual output device,

whereby the devices at the recipient location are capable of cache part of the content.

14. The audio/video distribution system of claim 9, wherein the source encryptor forms a part of a cable system, satellite system, radio system, radio satellite system, DVD/DVB systems, internet, digital network or such other system.

15. The audio/video distribution system of claim 13, wherein the transmission of the policies, rights or rules originates with the source encryptor or the third party.

16. The audio/video distribution system of claim 13, further functioning as a payment system.

17. The audio/video distribution system of claim 13, further functioning as a time-synchronized system.