Preventing unauthorized distribution of media content within a global network

• US 8,122,248 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2009
• Issued: 02/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Music Public Broadcasting, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Music Public Broadcasting, Inc.
• Inventors: Risan, Hank, Fitzgerald, Edward Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): Gee, Jason
• Application Number:
  US12/479,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20090265549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 726/26, 726/29, 713/164
• US Class Current: 713/164
• 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: G06F 2221/2117 User registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 applying security measures for digital rights management data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for commerce, e.g. marketing, shopping, billing, auctions or e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0435 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply symmetric encryption, i.e. same key used for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for symmetric key encryption H04L9/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/062 for key distribution, e.g. centrally by trusted party cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving a central third party H04L9/0819
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

One embodiment of the invention is a method for providing media content while preventing its unauthorized distribution. The method includes transmitting from a client to an administrative node a request for delivery of an instance of media content (IMC); determining which content source (CS) of a plurality of CSs to provide delivery of the IMC, provided the client is authorized to receive the IMC; transmitting to the client an access key and a location of the IMC; transmitting from the client to the CS a second request and the access key; in response to receiving the second request and the access key, transferring the IMC from the CS to the client; transmitting from the client to the administrative node an indicator indicating a successful transfer of the IMC; and generating a transaction applicable to the client and associated with the transfer of the IMC to the client.

Claims

1. A method of controlling interaction of deliverable media content, wherein said method comprising:

transmitting from a client system to an administrative node a request for delivery of an instance of media content;

determining which content source of a plurality of content sources to provide delivery of said instance of media content, provided said client system is authorized to receive said instance of media content;

transmitting to said client system an access key and a location of said instance of media content of said content source;

transmitting from said client system to said content source a second request and said access key;

in response to receiving said second request and said access key, transferring said instance of media content from said content source to said client system;

activating a compliance mechanism in response to receiving the instance of media content by the client system, the compliance mechanism coupled to the client system, said compliance mechanism enabling compliance with a usage restriction applicable to said instance of media content;

detecting a media player application coupled to a client system, said media player application for enabling said client system to present said instance of media content;

utilizing said compliance mechanism to govern a function of said media player application that enables non-compliance with a usage restriction applicable to said instance of media content, the compliance mechanism diverting, with a shim driver, a commonly used data output path of the client system media player application to a controlled data output path monitored by said compliance mechanism for every instance of media content presented by said media player application; and

controlling an output of said instance of media content by said compliance mechanism coupled to said client system by preventing said instance of media content from being captured via said controlled data path while enabling presentation of instance of media content, said preventing performed by said compliance mechanism stopping or disrupting the delivery of said instance of media content via said controlled data output path.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said determining which content source of said plurality of content sources to provide delivery of said instance of media content further comprises:

determining which content source of said plurality of content sources is nearest to the physical location of said client system.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said determining which content source of said plurality of content sources to provide delivery of said instance of media content further comprises:

determining which content source of said plurality of content sources contains said instance of media content.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said access key is a time sensitive access key that becomes obsolete after a defined amount of time.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said location of said instance of media content comprises an address.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

changing said address after said transferring said instance of media content from said content source to said client system.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said instance of media content comprises a digital watermark or an embedded key.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said controlling output of said instance of media content comprises diverting a data pathway of said media player application to a controlled data pathway controlled by said compliance mechanism.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

attaching an indicator to said media file prior to delivery to said computer system, said indicator for indicating to said compliance mechanism that said instance of media content originated from said content server.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

encrypting said instance of media content and said indicator prior to delivery of said instance of media content to said client system.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

permitting said media player application to present said instance of media content, provided said media player application complies with said usage restriction.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

installing said compliance mechanism onto said client system from a content server of said plurality of content servers.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

altering said compliance mechanism using a content server of said plurality of content servers in response to changes in said usage restriction.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

installing a custom media player application on said client system and configured to be operable when said media player application does not comply with said usage restriction.

15. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

verifying the presence and the integrity of authorization data stored on said client system by said compliance mechanism prior to delivery of said instance of media content to said client system.

16. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring said instance of media content during its presentation by said compliance mechanism for compliance with said usage restriction.

17. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said instance of media content is delivered to said client system via a hypertext transfer protocol file delivery.

18. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said usage restriction is a copyright restriction or a licensing agreement applicable to said instance of media content.