MP3 player with digital rights management
First Claim
1. A secure portable media player comprising:
- an input/output interface circuit for connecting to a host network connected to a license server and for receiving an encrypted media file downloaded from the license server to the secure portable media player;
wherein the input/output interface circuit also receives a transfer key from the license server, the transfer key including a content key and copy rules for the encrypted media file;
a flash memory for storing the encrypted media file downloaded from the license server;
a decryptor that receives the encrypted media file and uses the content key to generate a media stream of playable media;
a media decoder for playing the media stream from the decryptor and generating an audio signal for generating audio heard by a user or generating a video display signal for generating a display visible to the user of the secure portable media player; and
a processor for executing routines of instructions for activating the decryptor with the content key to unlock the media stream when copy rules for the encrypted media file have not been exceeded;
a unique media player identifier, stored on the secure portable media player, that has a different value for each secure portable media player;
wherein the input/output interface circuit transfers the unique media player identifier to the license server before receiving the encrypted media file downloaded from the license server to the secure portable media player,wherein the license server generates the content key as a function of polar coordinates of the unique media player identifier, a player manufacturer, and a song genrewherein the decryptor is disabled and prevented from generating the media stream when the copy rules have been exceeded,whereby copy rules are enforced by the secure portable media player.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A portable media player receives encrypted audio files and an encrypted content key from a central license server on the Internet. The media player supports digital rights management (DRM) by storing the encrypted audio file in its flash memory and disabling copying or playing of the audio file after a copy limit has been reached. The copy limit is a rule that is combined with the content key in a transfer key that can be encrypted together by the license server. The license server can detect cloning of the media player by reading a unique player ID from the player and detecting when too many accounts use the same unique player ID. The content key can be generated from polar coordinates of the unique player ID, player manufacturer, and song genre. A fingerprint sensor on the player can scan and compare the user'"'"'s fingerprints to further detect cloning.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A secure portable media player comprising:
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an input/output interface circuit for connecting to a host network connected to a license server and for receiving an encrypted media file downloaded from the license server to the secure portable media player; wherein the input/output interface circuit also receives a transfer key from the license server, the transfer key including a content key and copy rules for the encrypted media file; a flash memory for storing the encrypted media file downloaded from the license server; a decryptor that receives the encrypted media file and uses the content key to generate a media stream of playable media; a media decoder for playing the media stream from the decryptor and generating an audio signal for generating audio heard by a user or generating a video display signal for generating a display visible to the user of the secure portable media player; and a processor for executing routines of instructions for activating the decryptor with the content key to unlock the media stream when copy rules for the encrypted media file have not been exceeded; a unique media player identifier, stored on the secure portable media player, that has a different value for each secure portable media player; wherein the input/output interface circuit transfers the unique media player identifier to the license server before receiving the encrypted media file downloaded from the license server to the secure portable media player, wherein the license server generates the content key as a function of polar coordinates of the unique media player identifier, a player manufacturer, and a song genre wherein the decryptor is disabled and prevented from generating the media stream when the copy rules have been exceeded, whereby copy rules are enforced by the secure portable media player. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A digital rights management (DRM) system for a portable media player comprising:
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input/output interface circuit means for connecting to a host; processor means for executing instructions; memory means for storing an encrypted media file received by the input/output interface circuit means; decrypt means for decrypting the encrypted media file to generate playable media; decoder means for generating signals representing the playable media from the decrypt means; function key means for receiving inputs from a user to control operation of the processor means; display means for displaying control information to the user generated by the processor means; audio means, receiving the signals from the decoder means, for generating audible sounds to the user representing the playable media and encrypted in the encrypted media file; counter means for tracking a usage limit of the encrypted media file; disable means for disabling the decrypt means when the counter means indicates that the usage limit has been reached for the encrypted media file; host computer means, removably coupled to the input/output interface circuit means by a local bus, for connecting to a license server on a public network to download the encrypted media file from the license server; wherein the input/output interface circuit means transfers the unique media player identifier to the license server before receiving the encrypted media file downloaded from the license server to the portable media player; wherein the license server uses the unique media player identifier to generate the content key; wherein the license server generates the content key as a function of polar coordinates of the unique media player identifier, a player manufacturer, and a song genre whereby the unique media player identifier is sent to the license server to uniquely identify the portable media player before downloading and whereby usage of the encrypted media file is disabled when the usage limit is reached. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for managing digital rights on a portable media player comprising:
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sending a unique player identifier for the portable media player to a license server through a host computer; wherein the unique player identifier has a different value for each portable media player; receiving from the host computer an encrypted media file that was encrypted by the license server using a title key; receiving from the host computer an encrypted title key that is the title key encrypted by the license server using the unique player identifier; decrypting the encrypted title key on the portable media player using the unique player identifier of the portable media player to generate a recovered title key; decrypting the encrypted media file on the portable media player using the recovered title key to generate playable media; decoding the playable media to generate audio signals for generating audible sounds to a user of the portable media player; and detecting illegal cloning of the portable media player by; the license server generating the title key as a function of polar coordinates of the unique player identifier, a player manufacturer, and a song genre for a song in the encrypted media file; identifying a plurality of requests with a same polar coordinate, wherein the plurality of requests exceeds a threshold number of requests; disabling downloading of encrypted media files for the same polar coordinate when the plurality of requests exceeds the threshold number of requests; whereby cloning is detected by the same polar coordinate with requests exceeding the threshold number of requests. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification