Method and system to use, share and manage digital content by assigning MAC and IP adress to each device and peripheral

• US 8,068,519 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2008
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brite Smart Corporation
• Original Assignee: Brite Smart Corporation
• Inventors: Zuili, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips; Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): CATTUNGAL, AJAY P
• Application Number:
  US12/036,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20090109980A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,373 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/546
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4405 involving video stream decryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4408 involving video stream encryption, e.g. re-encrypting a decrypted video stream for redistribution in a home network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• 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 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/1675 Providing digital key or authorisation information for generation or regeneration of the scrambling sequence pseudo-random number generators in general G06F7/58

Abstract

The invention shows a method for connecting and sharing content over a plurality of devices, and over a plurality of networks public and private while respecting the content'"'"'s Digital Rights by implementing a software layer (software alternately integrated into hardware component) that will assign a mac address and an ip address to each device and peripherals and where content can be assign to specific devices inside a network, and can be accessed directly, shared remotely, wireless, or physically connected. The software layer also integrates drivers, players, codec'"'"'s that can be updated dynamically in order to keep them updated. This software layer can also “virtualizes” peripherals, devices or group of peripherals and devices into single addressable group of components that will act like one.

Claims

1. An audio and video content distribution system with enhanced digital rights management configured for use with a source of programming, such system comprising:

a plurality of network devices having a memory, wherein the plurality of network devices are configured to store or pre-cache locally at least an assigned partial content of an original file adapted to be stored in the memory, and wherein a network device of the plurality of network devices includes at least one of a receiver, a sender or any combination thereof;

at least a missing content of the original file adapted to be reassembled with the assigned partial content during a playback of the original file; and

at least a software layer capable of assigning at least a Media Access Control (MAC) address and at least an Internet Protocol (IP) address to said network devices, peripherals, and internal components of the audio and video content distribution system,

wherein the assigned partial content is capable of being accessed directly, remotely or shared between said network devices keeping intact the digital rights policies of the content owner,

wherein during the playback of the original file at least one network device, digital rights management (DRM) are used to check the rights of the playback, and wherein each of the network devices reconstructs the original file using DRM with the assigned partial content and the missing content using the assigned MAC and IP address,

wherein the software layer is capable of virtualizing the peripherals, the network devices, and groups of the peripherals and the network devices into single addressable group of components.

2. The audio and video content distribution system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of network devices are capable of being grouped together for the purpose of sharing the assigned partial content.

3. The audio and video content distribution system of claim 1, wherein peripherals and internal components include an internal memory, a keyboard, a mouse, a monitor, a television (TV), a sound card, a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) read only memory (Rom), DVD random access memory (RAM), High Definition DVD including a Blue Ray player, a game station, a video projector and other such devices, or any combination of such devices thereof.

4. The audio and video content distribution system of claim 1, wherein the devices inside the network are dynamically assigned with the assigned partial content in order to virtualize shared and grouped devices.

5. The audio and video content distribution system of claim 1, wherein the software layer assigns the IP address and the MAC address to each network device including the digital rights usage policy for each network device while respecting the digital rights in the assigned partial content.

6. The audio and video content distribution system of claim 1, wherein the network includes at least one of a public network, a private network, a wireless network, a wired network, a multiplexed network using an electrical network system or any combination thereof.

7. The audio and video content distribution system of claim 1, wherein if a received signal is not already encrypted, supplemental local encryption is likewise automatically disabled on the assumption that the transmission is free.

8. The audio and video content distribution system of claim 1, wherein the network device is any device whether capable of being connected to a network or not.

9. The audio and video content distribution system of claim 1, wherein the assigned partial content is locally cached in order to facilitate streaming capabilities.

10. The audio and video content distribution system of claim 1, wherein the missing content is delivered upon payment validation by a third party when necessary.

11. The audio and video content distribution system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of codecs and players are dynamically updated at each network device location depending on the nature of the assigned partial content.

12. The audio and video content distribution system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of network devices include at least one of a source encryptor for transmitting the programming in encrypted form, a programming request device at a recipient location, a receiver at the recipient location, wherein the receiver further includes at least one of a decryptor, a decoder, a sensor, a processor or any combination thereof, wherein the processor is operative to perform several tasks on the missing content to output the programming to an audio and visual output device wherein the network devices at the recipient location are adapted to cache missing content of the original file.

13. The audio and video content distribution system of claim 12, wherein the source encryptor forms a part of a cable system, a satellite system, a radio system, a radio satellite system, a DVD system, a Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) system, the Internet, a digital network or such other system.

14. The audio and video content distribution system of claim 12, wherein the transmission of the policies, rights, rules originates with at least one of the source encryptor, virtualized shared devices, virtualized group devices, the third party responsible for authorization or any combination thereof.

15. The audio and video content distribution system of claim 1 is capable of functioning as a payment system and a time-synchronized system.

16. The audio and video content distribution system of claim 12, wherein the decoder receives the encrypted authentication signal from the appropriate device and validates the transaction, thereby allowing virtually any audio and video source signal to generate wireless information at an authentication device, wherein the authentication device includes one of a remote control, a Personal digital Assistant (PDA), a computer, a X10, the TV, an IP TV, a video tape, an amplifier or any combination thereof.

17. The audio and video content distribution system of claim 12, wherein the decoder is capable of receiving signal from any existing or yet-to-be developed source including the cable system, the satellite system, the radio system, the radio satellite system, the DVD system, the DVB system, the Internet, the digital network or such other system.

18. The audio and video content distribution system of claim 12, wherein a source signal is transmitted with at least any one of a missing content, an audio, a color, a synchronization, a reduced resolution or any combination thereof such that even if the source signal were hacked at the receiving end a desired signal not entirely recovered.

19. The audio and video content distribution system of claim 12, wherein decryption takes place at a specific time coordinated with the atomic clock or a satellite clock to prevent an attempted unauthorized decryption at a later stage.

20. The audio and video content distribution system of claim 1, wherein an embedded synchronization signal is added along with an optional interactive signal, wherein the embedded synchronization signal and the optional interactive signal are encoded into the envelope at the time of transmission and decoded at the location of a subscriber, wherein the interactive signal is used to provide various types of data related to payment, content delivery, and advertising.

21. The audio and video content distribution system of claim 1, wherein a smart card reader is adapted to facilitate decryption based on smartcard content, wherein the smart card act as a cache memory for particular Pay Per View (PPV) and digital content transactions, wherein the PPV purchases are totaled by the computer and added to the cable subscriber'"'"'s monthly bill.

22. The audio and video content distribution system of claim 1, wherein the missing content is always unique and different for each recipient even when the missing content is sent to a plurality of recipients.

23. The audio and video content distribution system of claim 1, wherein the assigned partial content is transmitted using a electrical network system such that every connection becomes virtual and directly assignable.

24. The audio and video content distribution system of claim 1 is capable of performing a plurality of operations including at least one of generating missing content locally dependant on composite data received and emit said received data to a sensor, using a randomly selected color, generating Infrared (IR) infrared signals to any device, sending back signals that acknowledge the validation of the transmission, wherein the missing contents are preferably encrypted either by public key infrastructure (PKI) or identity based encryption.

25. The audio and video content distribution system of claim 1 is capable of performing a plurality of operations including at least one of receiving advertising and product information, the payment processing, an authentication processing, a policy update, rights update, rules update or any combination thereof.

26. The audio and video content distribution system of claim 1, wherein at least a sensor is coupled to an infrared light-emitting diode (LED) to receive a wide color wave range and translate information related to the wide color wave range information into data and emit the infrared data at a destination of the network devices.

27. The audio and video content distribution system of claim 26, wherein the coupling of two sensors is adapted to eliminate alteration due to brightness or saturation, wherein the coupling sensors permits any video signal to emit data information at destination of any appropriately equipped sensor device independently.

28. The audio and video content distribution system of claim 12, wherein at least one of the decoding, encryption, and decryption capabilities or any combination thereof are preferably implemented in the same circuit to further prevent tampering and hacking.

29. The audio and video content distribution system of claim 1 is capable of receiving the missing content separately to allow a broadcast signal to communicate additional information by at least any one of a remote control, a PDA, a computer, a X10, a TV, an IP TV, a video tape, an amplifier or any combination thereof.

30. The audio and video content distribution system of claim 1, wherein the missing content is transmitted indicating the desired channel, program, or other qualifying information, wherein the demand is optionally include the key of the decoder.

31. The audio and video content distribution system of claim 1, wherein the missing content provides the missing decryption information needed to permit the programming to be viewed on the display, listened to in the case of music, interactivity in the case of games and software.