Limiting access to shared media content

• US 20090275403A1
• Filed: 04/30/2008
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Instrument Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Proctor, Lee
• Granted Patent: US 8,352,371 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/34 using peer-to-peer connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/408 Peer to peer connection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5586 for enforcing rights or rules, e.g. to prevent foul play

Abstract

A method and system for limiting access to shared content media items stored in a device. The method establishes a connection with another device and initiates a session with the other device. The method synchronizes the device and the other device by receiving a copy of content media items stored on the other device, and storing the received copy of the content media items as shared content media items on the device. The synchronizing of the device and the other device may include transmitting a copy of content media items stored on the device to the other device. The method allows a user operating the device to access the content media items, but restricts access to the shared content media items based on the status of the session with the other device.

Claims

1. A method for limiting access to shared content media items stored on a device, comprising:

initiating a session with another device;

receiving a copy of content media items stored on the other device;

storing the received copy of the content media items as shared content media items on the device; and

restricting access to the shared content media items by a user operating the device,

wherein a status of the session determines a level of access to the shared content media items.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the initiating of the session further comprises:

establishing a peer-to-peer connection with the other device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request from the other device to reveal an item in the shared content media items; and

displaying the item in the shared content media items.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a copy of content media items stored on the device to the other device;

selecting one of the content media items on the device;

displaying the selected one of the content media items on the device; and

sending a request to the other device to display the item in the copy of the content media items transmitted to the other device that corresponds to the selected one of the content media items,

wherein a certificate is associated with each content media item, the certificate identifying the user operating the device, and allowing access to the item by the user operating the device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

breaking the session with the other device; and

deleting the shared content media items.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a certificate is associated with each shared content media item, the certificate identifying another user, and restricting access to the item by the user operating the device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the session comprises at least one of a card game, a trading card game, a board game, a role playing game, and an interactive media session.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the content media items comprise at least one of a playing card description, a trading card description, a card image, a game modification, a character image, a character description, a video, and an avatar.

9. A system for limiting access to shared content media items stored in a device, comprising:

a memory device resident in the device; and

a processor disposed in communication with the memory device, the processor configured to;

initiate a session with another device;

receive a copy of content media items stored on the other device;

store the received copy of the content media items as shared content media items on the device; and

restrict access to the shared content media items by a user operating the device,

wherein a status of the session determines a level of access to the shared content media items.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein to initiate the session, the processor is further configured to:

establish a peer-to-peer connection with the other device.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a request from the other device to reveal an item in the shared content media items; and

display the item in the shared content media items.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

transmit a copy of content media items stored on the device to the other device;

select one of the content media items on the device;

display the selected one of the content media items on the device; and

send a request to the other device to display the item in the copy of the content media items transmitted to the other device that corresponds to the selected one of the content media items,

wherein a certificate is associated with each content media item, the certificate identifying the user operating the device, and allowing access to the item by the user operating the device.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

break a connection to the other device; and

delete the shared content media items.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein a certificate is associated with each shared content media item, the certificate identifying another user, and restricting access to the item by the user operating the device.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the session comprises at least one of a card game, a trading card game, a board game, a role playing game, and an interactive media session.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the content media items comprise at least one of a playing card description, a trading card description, a card image, a game modification, a character image, a character description, a video, and an avatar.

17. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for limiting access to shared content media items stored in a device, by a method comprising:

initiating a game with another device;

receiving a copy of content media items stored on the other device;

storing the received copy of the content media items as shared content media items on the device; and

restricting access to the shared content media items by a user operating the device,

wherein a status of the session determines a level of access to the shared content media items.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the initiating of the session further comprises:

establishing a peer-to-peer connection with the other device.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, the method further comprising:

receiving a request from the other device to reveal an item in the shared content media items; and

displaying the item in the shared content media items.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, the method further comprising:

transmitting a copy of content media items stored on the device to the other device;

selecting one of the content media items on the device;

displaying the selected one of the content media items on the device; and

sending a request to the other device to display the item in the copy of the content media items transmitted to the other device that corresponds to the selected one of the content media items,

wherein a certificate is associated with each content media item, the certificate identifying the user operating the device, and allowing access to the item by the user operating the device.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, the method further comprising:

breaking a connection to the other device; and

deleting the shared content media items.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein a certificate is associated with each shared content media item, the certificate identifying another user, and restricting access to the item by the user operating the device.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the session comprises at least one of a card game, a trading card game, a board game, a role playing game, and an interactive media session.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the content media items comprise at least one of a playing card description, a trading card description, a card image, a game modification, a character image, a character description, a video, and an avatar.