System, method and apparatus for controlling the dissemination of digital works

• US 7,925,897 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2005
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark Nair
• Original Assignee: Mark Nair
• Inventors: Nair, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Parthasarathy, Pramila
• Application Number:
  US11/240,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20060080741A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,017 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 713/194
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/30 for musical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/305 for record players
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0021 involving encryption or decryption of contents recorded on or reproduced from a record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00231 wherein the key is obtained from a local external medium, e.g. a card
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00536 wherein encrypted content data is subjected to a further, iterated encryption, e.g. interwoven encryption
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0071 involving a purchase action
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00855 involving a step of exchanging information with a remote server
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/16 Storage of analogue signals in digital stores using an arrangement comprising analogue/digital [A/D] converters, digital memories and digital/analogue [D/A] converters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91364 the video signal being scrambled
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/9261 involving data reduction

Abstract

A system, business methodology and apparatus for facilitating controlled dissemination of digital works is disclosed. An audio and video organizer, entertainment, and communication unit that plays back audio and video media content received from a central storage server. The unit relies on a smartcard, which has a personalized key that unlocks encrypted content. Using the unit, a user can purchase music or other types of media using a appropriate ordering method. The central storage server then transmits a double-encrypted, compressed audio file to the unit, where it is decrypted based on the smartcard key, and available for listening.

Claims

1. A method for providing digital media files, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving from a user two encryption keys;

double encrypting digital media files based on said two encryption keys; and

transmitting to said user the encrypted digital media files,

wherein a first of said encryption keys is associated with said user and the second of said encryption keys is associated with a user device to which said encrypted digital media files are transmitted.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said receiving step further comprises the step of:

receiving identification of said digital media files.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, prior to said transmitting step, the step of:

storing said encrypted digital media files in a staging server, said digital media files awaiting a connection by said user to be transmitted.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, prior to said step of transmitting, the steps of:

encoding said digital media files; and

compressing said digital media files.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of encrypting comprises:

performing a first encryption operation on said digital media files based upon a first of said encryption keys; and

performing a second encryption operation on said digital media files based upon a second of said encryption keys.