Content distribution method and apparatus

• US 7,191,153 B1
• Filed: 09/10/1999
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GATX Ventures, Inc. (GATX Corp.), Chemtron Research LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC), Silicon Valley Bank (SVB Financial Group)
• Original Assignee: DPHI Acquisitions, Inc.
• Inventors: Braitberg, Michael F., Volk, Steven B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Millin, Vincent A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHARLES, DEBRA F
• Application Number:
  US09/393,899
• Time in Patent Office: 2,741 Days
• Field of Search: 705/57, 705/52, 705/1, 705/14, 705/59, 713/200, 709/203, 709/218, 709/202, 709/229, 380/11, 725/121, 710/7, 364/900, 717/1, 428/141, 707/508.1, 707/104.1, 707/513, 235/375, 235/462.01, 235/472.01, 370/352
• US Class Current: 705/51
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/24 Credit schemes, i.e. "pay after"

Abstract

Media which stores protected content is distributed to users without the need for payment at the time of media distribution. Payment can be performed at a later time in response to which content may be enabled, and/or users may selectively pay for, and receive enablement of, content such that only portions of content on given media may be accessible at a given time. Following the first enablement of content, access rights may be expanded or otherwise changed, e.g., in response to a second payment.

Claims

1. A method for distribution of content, comprising:

distributing encrypted content-mastered optical disks to a plurality of users, wherein each optical disk includes the encrypted mastered content, a writeable area, and a unique identifier and wherein a first portion of the encrypted mastered content on each optical disk is readable by an optical disk reader in response to the following steps;

distributing a first permission code to the optical disk reader in exchange for a first payment;

generating a first access code by using the first permission code and the unique identifier;

writing the first access code onto the writeable area using the optical disk reader; and

decrypting the first portion of the encrypted mastered content stored on the optical disk by using the first access code.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein distributing the first permission code comprises distributing the first permission code via an Internet communications link.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the encrypted mastered content includes content selected from among text content, music content, software and motion picture content.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a second portion of the encrypted mastered content on each optical disk is readable by an optical disk reader in response to the following steps:

distributing a second permission code to the optical disk reader in exchange for a second payment,

generating a second access code by using the second permission code and the unique identifier; and

writing the second access code onto the optical disk, whereby the optical disk reader may decrypt the second portion of the encrypted mastered content stored on the optical disk by using the second access code.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of distributing encrypted content-mastered optical disks comprises unsolicited distributing of the encrypted content-mastered optical disks.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said first payment is a payment performed by authorizing a charge to a credit or debit account over a communications link.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first access code is generated by a computer which is remotely connected to the optical disk reader over a communications link.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said communications link is an Internet link.