Method and system for providing a dynamic media distribution infrastructure
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- performing a registration process with a directory device, said registration process comprises a first client device specifying media content to download;
said directory device supplying to said first client device a list of active media suppliers for providing said media content after said specifying;
said directory device coupling said first client device to a media supplier chosen from said list of active media suppliers;
software operating on said media supplier encrypting and transmitting said media content to said first client device after said coupling said first client device to said media supplier, said software regulates distribution of said media content;
said software transmitting to said first client device an encryption key capable of decrypting said media content;
said software transmitting a copy of said software to said first client device;
said copy of said software operating on said first client device encrypting and transmitting said media content to a second client device; and
said copy of said software transmitting to said second client device said encryption key;
wherein during downloading of said media content to said second client device, said copy of said software causes the first client device to transmit a copy of said software to said second client device.
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Abstract
The general idea of one embodiment in accordance with the present invention is to provide a dynamic media distribution infrastructure. For example, once a client computer downloads encrypted media content (e.g., audio, video, graphics, information, software, data, etc.) from an existing media supplier, it becomes a part of the media distribution infrastructure. Specifically, the client computer is now able to provide that specific downloaded media content to other requesting client computers in an encrypted format. It should be appreciated that within the present embodiment, a directory server computer regulates the distribution of media content over the dynamic media distribution infrastructure.
47 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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performing a registration process with a directory device, said registration process comprises a first client device specifying media content to download; said directory device supplying to said first client device a list of active media suppliers for providing said media content after said specifying; said directory device coupling said first client device to a media supplier chosen from said list of active media suppliers; software operating on said media supplier encrypting and transmitting said media content to said first client device after said coupling said first client device to said media supplier, said software regulates distribution of said media content; said software transmitting to said first client device an encryption key capable of decrypting said media content; said software transmitting a copy of said software to said first client device; said copy of said software operating on said first client device encrypting and transmitting said media content to a second client device; and said copy of said software transmitting to said second client device said encryption key; wherein during downloading of said media content to said second client device, said copy of said software causes the first client device to transmit a copy of said software to said second client device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method comprising:
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coupling said first client device to a directory device and specifying media content to download; said directory device supplying to said first client device a list of media suppliers for providing said media content after said specifying; software operating on a media supplier chosen from said list encrypting and transmitting said media content to said first client device, said software controls distribution of said media content; said software transmitting a copy of said software to said first client device; downloading to said first client device an encryption key capable of decrypting said media content; said copy of said software operating on said first client device encrypting and transmitting said media content to a second client device; and downloading to said second client device said encryption key; wherein during downloading of said media content to said second client device, said copy of said software causes the first client device to transmit a copy of said software to said second client device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A system comprising:
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a media supplier upon which software operates for encrypting and transmitting media content and for transmitting a copy of said software, said software regulates distribution of said media content; a first client device coupled to said media supplier and for receiving said media content from said media supplier and for receiving said copy of said software, said first client device for receiving a first encryption key for decrypting said media content; a directory device for coupling said first client device to said media supplier, and for supplying to said first client device a list of active media suppliers that comprises said media supplier after said first client device specifies said media content to download; and a second client device coupled to said first client device and for receiving said media content from said first client device, said second client device for receiving a second encryption key for decrypting said media content, wherein during downloading of said media content to said second client device, said copy of said software causes the first client device to transmit a copy of said software to said second client device. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification