Media/data card
First Claim
1. A method for providing secure access to digital media files stored on a computer readable digital medium thereby permitting playback of the media files on diverse end devices and providing security against copying, comprising the steps of:
- reading a security data structure stored on the computer readable digital medium;
retrieving a user identifier associated with a user requesting access to the media files;
comparing information read from the security data structure with the user identifier;
determining an access level for the user based on the comparison;
determining whether an access requested by the user is authorized based upon the access level determined for the user;
forming a digital signature based upon the user identifier and identification data stored on the computer readable digital medium using a cryptographically secure hashing function; and
storing the digital signature in the security data structure stored on the computer readable digital medium;
wherein the computer readable digital medium includes a media player library containing a plurality of software modules for selectively accessing a respective one of a plurality of separate and distinct media players and file types, the software modules defining a cross-platform language, the media player library including an intermediate filter driver for;
i) leveraging an internal codec of a file type associated with each of the multimedia files and streaming the file type to the end device without the need to perform a file conversion function in order to read or play back the digital content;
ii) recognizing the type of digital media and the type of the end device and implementing the device'"'"'s initialization system that manages the playback of all digital media files; and
iii) accessing the files and determining levels authorized by copyright holders of the multimedia files according to the user identifier.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The media/data card is a computer readable medium for storing data files, and in particular, media files. The device may be a flash media memory card or other conveniently sized, portable storage device. The media/data card stores a data structure for controlling access to data files stored on the computer readable medium. The data structure includes a media storage substructure for storing the data files, a file system directory substructure containing the locations of the data files stored in the media storage substructure; and a security substructure for describing allowed access to the data files stored in the media storage substructure. The data files may be multimedia files, such as compressed audio or video files. The data files may be encrypted to provide enhanced security.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for providing secure access to digital media files stored on a computer readable digital medium thereby permitting playback of the media files on diverse end devices and providing security against copying, comprising the steps of:
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reading a security data structure stored on the computer readable digital medium; retrieving a user identifier associated with a user requesting access to the media files; comparing information read from the security data structure with the user identifier; determining an access level for the user based on the comparison; determining whether an access requested by the user is authorized based upon the access level determined for the user; forming a digital signature based upon the user identifier and identification data stored on the computer readable digital medium using a cryptographically secure hashing function; and storing the digital signature in the security data structure stored on the computer readable digital medium; wherein the computer readable digital medium includes a media player library containing a plurality of software modules for selectively accessing a respective one of a plurality of separate and distinct media players and file types, the software modules defining a cross-platform language, the media player library including an intermediate filter driver for; i) leveraging an internal codec of a file type associated with each of the multimedia files and streaming the file type to the end device without the need to perform a file conversion function in order to read or play back the digital content; ii) recognizing the type of digital media and the type of the end device and implementing the device'"'"'s initialization system that manages the playback of all digital media files; and iii) accessing the files and determining levels authorized by copyright holders of the multimedia files according to the user identifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A media/data card that provides for the storage and distribution of collections of digital media files on a universal digital storage device thereby permitting playback of the media files on diverse end devices and providing security against copying, comprising:
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a card having a computer readable digital medium disposed thereon; an area of memory disposed in the computer readable digital medium dimensioned and configured for storing a plurality of multimedia files thereon; a data structure disposed in the computer readable digital medium having a plurality of substructures, including; substructures for storing data relating to identification of the multimedia files and file types; a user identifier; a file system directory, at least a portion of the file system directory being encrypted; a media player library containing a plurality of software modules for selectively accessing a respective one of a plurality of separate and distinct media players and file types, the software modules defining a cross-platform language, the media player library including an intermediate filter driver for; i) leveraging an internal codec of a file type associated with each of the multimedia files and streaming the file type to the end device without the need to perform a file conversion function in order to read or play back the digital content; ii) recognizing the type of digital media and the type of the end device and implementing the device'"'"'s initialization system that manages the playback of all digital media files; and iii) accessing the files and determining levels authorized by copyright holders of the multimedia files according to the user identifier; means for universally connecting the card to ports of portable computing devices for playback of the multimedia files stored on the computer readable digital medium; and means for reading the multimedia files stored on the computer readable digital medium. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for writing a collection of media data files to a computer readable digital medium thereby permitting playback of the media files on diverse end devices and providing security against copying, comprising the steps of:
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identifying at least one data file to form a collection; retrieving the at least one data file; writing the at least one data file to a media storage substructure of the computer readable digital medium; writing locations associated with the at least one data file to a file system directory substructure on the computer readable digital medium; writing a user identifier into a security substructure on the computer readable digital medium, the security substructure precluding subsequent access to the media storage substructure when the user identifier is not furnished; forming a digital signature based upon the user identifier and identification data stored on the computer readable digital medium using a cryptographically secure hashing function; and storing the digital signature in the security data structure stored on the computer readable digital medium; wherein the computer readable digital medium includes a media player library containing a plurality of software modules for selectively accessing a respective one of a plurality of separate and distinct end devices and file types, the software modules defining a cross-platform language, the media player library including an intermediate filter driver for; i) leveraging an internal codec of a file type associated with each of the multimedia files and streaming the file type to the end device without the need to perform a file conversion function in order to read or play back the digital content; ii) recognizing the type of digital media and the type of the end device and implementing the device'"'"'s initialization system that manages the playback of all digital media files; and iii) accessing the files and determining levels authorized by copyright holders of the multimedia files according to the user identifier. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification