METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ON DEMAND VIDEO AND OTHER CONTENT RENTAL

• US 20090182670A1
• Filed: 07/08/2008
• Published: 07/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Farrugia, Augustin J., Robbin, Jeffrey, Mitsuji, Hiro, Meldrum, Colin, Despotovic, Mihailo
• Granted Patent: US 8,706,638 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/51
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• 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 21/26613 for generating or managing keys in general key distribution for secret or secure communication involving central third party, e.g. key distribution center [KDC] or trusted third party [TTP] H04L9/083; network support of key management H04L63/06; key management for network security in communication control or processing H04W12/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/437 Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. for transmitting client requests to a VOD server flow control in data networks H04L47/10; streaming protocols, e.g. RTP or RTCP, H04L65/65; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests in data packet switching networks H04L67/60
• 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 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• 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 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 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A video on demand system in the context of the Internet, for video rentals. A user accesses an on-line store to rent a video program or movie. The rental is for a limited time (such as 30 days) and within that thirty days, the video program or movie can only be viewed for a 24 hour time window. The time limits are enforced by the on-line store which maintains a database of each rental transaction and allows supply of the needed keys for decrypting the (encrypted) video or movie only if within the time limits.

Claims

1. A computer enabled method of allowing playing of content on a client device, the content being encrypted, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving over a communications network an order for the content from the client device;

transmitting to the client device over the communications network the encrypted content;

receiving a request from the client to play the transmitted content via the communications network; and

transmitting key information for decrypting the content responsive to the play request, the key information being effective for the decryption only for a predetermined period of time after the receipt of the play request.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein method is carried out by a server, and the key information is effective for the decryption even if the client device is no longer connected to the server via the communications network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is carried out by a server, and the key information is effective for the decryption only if the client device is connected to the server via the communications network.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein during play and decryption of the content the play is interrupted,

receiving a further request over the communications network for the decryption information in order to resume play.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the content is a television program or a movie.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a security policy with the key information, the security policy defining a number of times the key information decrypts the content, and a number of client devices on which the key information may decrypt the content.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the security policy and key information are part of a digital rights management file.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the key information defines a plurality of decryption keys.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the decryption keys are for decrypting a symmetric or asymmetric cipher.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the client device is a media player equipped with a port connectable to the communications network, or is a host connectable to a media player and to the communications network.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the content is partitioned into portions, each requiring a different key for the decryption, and the key information defines the different keys.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the act of preventing the transmitting of the key information, a predetermined time after the encrypted content is transmitted.

14. A computer readable medium storing computer code for carrying out the method of claim 1.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising a database of transactions, the database storing the predetermined period of time and a duration of time after the encrypted content is transmitted for further limiting the effectiveness of the key information.

13. A computer enabled method for allowing playing of content on a client device, the content being encrypted, the method comprising the acts of:

transmitting an order over a communications network from the client to a source of the content;

receiving the encrypted content over the communications network from the source;

beginning to play the encrypted content on the client device;

wherein the client device transmits a play request for key information to the source;

receiving the key information at the client device as transmitted from the source, the received key information being effective for decryption of the content only for a predetermined period of time after its transmission.

15. A computer server system, comprising:

a receiving portion for receiving an order over a communications network in order for content to be played on a client device;

a transmission portion coupled to the receiving portion for transmitting over the communications network the content, in encrypted form;

a second receiving portion for receiving a request from the client to play the transmitted content over the communications network;

a memory storing key information associated with the content; and

a second transmission portion coupled to the memory and to the second receiving portion, for transmitting the key information responsive to the play request, the transmitted key information being effective only for a predetermined period of time after the receipt of the play request.