SPECULATIVE PRE-AUTHORIZATION OF ENCRYPTED DATA STREAMS

• US 20140052873A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 02/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Netflix, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Netflix, Inc.
• Inventors: WATSON, Mark, PARK, Anthony Neal, WEI, Wei
• Granted Patent: US 11,349,699 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• 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: H04L 2209/603 Digital right managament [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for improving user experience of multimedia streaming over computer networks. For example, a method for presenting multimedia content may generally include receiving a request to stream a media title. In response to the request, unencrypted content for the media title is streamed to a client. While streaming the unencrypted content, a digital rights management (DRM) license to access encrypted content for the media title is requested. After receiving the DRM license, the client switches from streaming the unencrypted content for the media title to streaming encrypted content for the media title. The switching from streaming the unencrypted content to streaming the encrypted content does not interrupt playback of the media title.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for presenting content, comprising:

receiving a request to stream a media title;

in response to the request, streaming unencrypted content for the media title;

while streaming the unencrypted content, requesting a digital rights management (DRM) license to access encrypted content for the media title; and

switching from streaming the unencrypted content for the media title to streaming encrypted content for the media title, wherein switching from streaming the unencrypted content to streaming the encrypted content does not interrupt playback of the media title.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a request for the unencrypted content to a streaming media server;

and transmitting a request for the encrypted content to the streaming media server.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein a first file stored on the streaming media server includes the unencrypted content and a second file stored on the streaming media server includes the encrypted content, wherein transmitting the request for the unencrypted content comprises transmitting a request for the first file, and wherein transmitting the request for the encrypted content further comprises transmitting a request for the second file.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

requesting, from a control server, first metadata for the first file including the unencrypted content, prior to transmitting the request for the unencrypted content; and

requesting, from the control server, second metadata for the second file including the encrypted content after receiving the DRM license and prior to transmitting the request for the encrypted content.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a request for a consolidated file to a streaming media server, wherein the consolidated file stores the unencrypted content and the encrypted content.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising requesting, from a control server, metadata for the consolidated file prior to transmitting the request for the unencrypted content.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the consolidated file further includes an initial portion of unencrypted data and interleaved portions of encrypted data and unencrypted data.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining that a location within the media title corresponds to a portion of unencrypted data in the consolidated file;

requesting, from the streaming media server, unencrypted data from the portion of unencrypted data; and

playing the unencrypted data prior to receiving the DRM license.

9. A computer-readable medium including a program which, when executed, performs an operation for an endpoint device to present content, the operation comprising:

receiving a request to stream a media title;

in response to the request, streaming unencrypted content for the media title;

while streaming the unencrypted content, requesting a digital rights management (DRM) license to access encrypted content for the media title; and

switching from streaming the unencrypted content of the media title to streaming encrypted content for the media title,

wherein switching from streaming the unencrypted content to streaming the encrypted content does not interrupt playback of the media title.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the operation further comprises transmitting a request for the unencrypted content to a streaming media server;

and transmitting a request for the encrypted content to the streaming media server.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein a first file stored on the streaming media server includes the unencrypted content and a second file stored on the streaming media server includes the encrypted content, wherein transmitting the request for the unencrypted content comprises transmitting a request for the first file, and wherein transmitting the request for the encrypted content further comprises transmitting a request for the second file.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the operation further comprises requesting, from a control server, first metadata for the first file including the unencrypted content, prior to transmitting the request for the unencrypted content;

and requesting, from the control server, second metadata for the second file including the encrypted content after receiving the DRM license and prior to transmitting the request for the encrypted content.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the operation further comprises transmitting a request for a consolidated file to a streaming media server, wherein the consolidated file stores the unencrypted content and the encrypted content.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the operation further comprises requesting, from a control server, metadata for the consolidated file prior to transmitting the request for the unencrypted content.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the consolidated file further includes an initial portion of unencrypted data and interleaved portions of encrypted data and unencrypted data.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the operation further comprises:

determining that a location within the media title corresponds to a portion of unencrypted data in the consolidated file;

requesting, from the streaming media server, unencrypted data from the portion of unencrypted data; and

playing the unencrypted data prior to receiving the DRM license.

17. A computing system, comprising:

an endpoint device configured to;

receive a request to stream a media title;

in response to the request, stream unencrypted content for the media title;

while streaming the unencrypted content, request a digital rights management (DRM) license to access encrypted content for the media title; and

switch from streaming the unencrypted content of the media title to streaming encrypted content for the media title,

wherein switching from streaming the unencrypted content to streaming the encrypted content does not interrupt playback of the media title.

18. The computing system of claim 17, wherein a first file stored on the streaming media server includes the unencrypted content and a second file stored on the streaming media server includes the encrypted content, wherein transmitting the request for the unencrypted content comprises transmitting a request for the first file, and wherein transmitting the request for the encrypted content further comprises transmitting a request for the second file.

19. The computer system of claim 18, wherein the endpoint device is further configured to:

request, from a control server, first metadata for the first file including the unencrypted content, prior to transmitting the request for the unencrypted content; and

request, from the control server, second metadata for the second file including the encrypted content after receiving the DRM license and prior to transmitting the request for the encrypted content.

20. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the endpoint device is further configured to request, from a control server, first metadata for the first file including the unencrypted content, prior to transmitting the request for the unencrypted content, and request, from the control server, second metadata for the second file including the encrypted content after receiving the DRM license and prior to transmitting the request for the encrypted content