Synchronizing multiple playback device timing utilizing DRM encoding

• US 7,805,373 B1
• Filed: 07/31/2007
• Issued: 09/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qurio Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Qurio Holdings Incorporated
• Inventors: Amidon, Christopher M., Evans, Gregory M., Issa, Alfredo C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Augustin; Evens J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cheung; Calvin K
• Application Number:
  US11/831,506
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 705/51, 705/14.4, 725/42
• US Class Current: 705/51
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/835 Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments

Abstract

A system and method are provided for synchronizing playback of media content on multiple playback devices utilizing Digital Rights Management (DRM) encoding. In general, multiple playback devices or users of those playback devices are associated to form a virtual group. A virtual group (VG) control function operates to synchronize advertisement (ad) slots within media content provided to the playback devices in the virtual group utilizing DRM encoding.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

coordinating a plurality of different media content items selected for playback at a plurality of playback devices to provide a plurality of coordinated media content items, each of the plurality of different media content items selected for playback at a corresponding one of the plurality of playback devices; and

utilizing Digital Rights Management (DRM) encoding to restrict playback of the plurality of coordinated media content items at the plurality of playback devices such that the plurality of coordinated media content items are coordinated during playback at the plurality of playback devices, wherein utilizing DRM encoding to restrict playback of the plurality of coordinated media content items comprises;

segmenting each of the plurality of coordinated media content items into a plurality of segments;

generating rights segments for the plurality of segments of each of the plurality of coordinated media content items to restrict playback of the plurality of segments of each of the plurality of coordinated media content items such that the plurality of coordinated media content items are coordinated during playback at the plurality of playback devices;

encoding the plurality of segments of each of the plurality of coordinated media content items to provide a plurality of encoded segments of each of the plurality of coordinated media content items; and

for each one of the plurality of playback devices, providing the plurality of encoded segments for a corresponding one of the plurality of coordinated media content items and the rights segments for the plurality of encoded segments for the corresponding one of the plurality of coordinated media content items to the one of the plurality of playback devices, wherein playback of the plurality of encoded segments is restricted such that advertisement slots within the plurality of coordinated media content items remain coordinated during playback at the plurality of playback devices.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the rights segments for the plurality of segments comprise a start time for each one of the plurality of segments defining a time at which playback of each one of the plurality of segments is to begin.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the rights segments for the plurality of segments further comprise an end time for each one of the plurality of segments defining a time at which rights to playback of each one of the plurality of segments end.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein a time between the start time and the end time for each one of the plurality of segments is equal to a play length of the one of the plurality of segments.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein a time between the start time and the end time for each one of the plurality of segments is equal to a play length of the one of the plurality of segments plus some additional amount of time.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein coordinating advertisement slots comprises at least one of a group consisting of:

inserting advertisement slots in the media content items, extending existing advertisement slots in the media content items, and condensing advertisement slots in the media content items.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein coordinating the advertisement slots comprises synchronizing the advertisement slots in the plurality of media content items.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting advertisements for the advertisement slots in the plurality of media content items.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of media content items are heterogeneous media content items.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of media content items are homogeneous media content items.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising obtaining at least one the plurality of media content items from local storage.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising obtaining at least one the plurality of media content items from a remote source.

13. A system comprising:

a) a communication interface communicatively coupling the system to a plurality of playback devices; and

b) a control system associated with the communication interface and adapted to;

i) coordinate a plurality of different media content items selected for playback at the plurality of playback devices to provide a plurality of coordinated media content items, each of the plurality of different media content items selected for playback at a corresponding one of the plurality of playback devices;

ii) utilize Digital Rights Management (DRM) encoding to restrict playback of the plurality of coordinated media content items at the plurality of playback devices such that the plurality of coordinated media content items are coordinated during playback at the plurality of playback devices;

iii) segment each of the plurality of coordinated media content items into a plurality of segments; and

iv) generate rights segments for the plurality of segments of each of the plurality of coordinated media content items to restrict playback of the plurality of segments of each of the plurality of coordinated media content items such that the plurality of coordinated media content items are coordinated during playback at the plurality of playback devices;

v) encode the plurality of segments of each of the plurality of coordinated media content items to provide a plurality of encoded segments of each of the plurality of coordinated media content items; and

vi) for each one of the plurality of playback devices, provide the plurality of encoded segments for a corresponding one of the plurality of coordinated media content items and the rights segments for the plurality of encoded segments for the corresponding one of the plurality of coordinated media content items to the one of the plurality of playback devices, wherein playback of the plurality of encoded segments is restricted such that advertisement slots within the plurality of coordinated media content items remain coordinated during playback at the plurality of playback devices.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the rights segments for the plurality of segments comprises a start time for each one of the plurality of segments defining a time at which playback of each one of the plurality of segments is to begin.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the rights segments for the plurality of segments further comprises an end time for each one of the plurality of segments defining a time at which rights to playback of each one of the plurality of segments end.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the control system is further adapted to select advertisements for the advertisement slots in the plurality of media content items.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the plurality of media content items are heterogeneous media content items.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein the plurality of media content items are homogeneous media content items.