System and method for processing media gifts

• US 8,131,645 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lin, Gloria, Mikhak, Amir Mahmood, Nakajima, Taido Lantz, Mayo, Sean Anthony, Rosenblatt, Michael, Hodge, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Reagan, James A
• Application Number:
  US12/286,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20100082489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,253 Days
• Field of Search: 705/51
• US Class Current: 705/51
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00

Abstract

Various techniques are provided for the gifting between multiple electronic devices of media content provided by an online digital media provider. An offer and acceptance of a selected gift file is accomplished between a gifter device and a receiving giftee device using a near-field communication (NFC) connection. If a connection to the online provider is available, the gifter device may transmit a gift request by which the gifter'"'"'s account is charged for the gift file. Thereafter, a gift file created using DRM keys associated with the giftee'"'"'s account may be downloaded to the giftee device. If a network connection is unavailable, the giftee device may transfer a locked gift file and a corresponding gift license to the giftee device using a peer-to-peer connection. The giftee device may authenticate the license and unlock the gift file once a connection to the online provider is available.

Claims

1. A method for approving the gifting of a digital media file from a first device to a second device using a server associated with an online digital media provider, the method comprising:

receiving on the server a request from the second device to unlock a locked gift file, wherein the locked gift file was previously transmitted to the second device from the first device;

receiving a gift license from the second device, the gift license being associated with the locked gift file, wherein the gift license comprises at least an account belonging to a user of the first device;

authorizing the unlocking of the locked gift file; and

providing the authorization to unlock the locked gift file to the second device, wherein the unlocked gift file may be played back on the second device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the unlock request and the gift license are received using a communication interface on the server configured to establish a communication path with a communication interface on the second device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the communication interfaces comprise at least one of a LAN interface, a wireless LAN interface, or a WAN interface, or any combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein authorizing the unlocking of the locked gift file comprises determining if the account belonging to the user of the first device may be charged for the gift file.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the authorization to unlock the locked gift file is provided from the server to the second device if the account belonging to the user of the first device is charged.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the authorization to unlock the locked gift file comprises permitting the second device to unlock the locked gift file using a digital rights management (DRM) key associated with an account belonging to a user of the second device.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein authorizing the unlocking of the locked gift file further comprises:

if the account belonging to the user of the first device cannot be charged, providing an option from the server to the second device, wherein the option may allow a user of the second device to authorize a charge for the gift file to an account belonging to the user of the second device; and

authorizing the unlocking of the locked gift file if it is determined by the server that the account belonging to the user of the second device may be charged for the gift file.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first device or the second device is a portable electronic device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first device or the second device is a handheld device comprising at least one of a media player, a cellular phone or a personal data organizer.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first device or the second device is a handheld device having a height less than approximately 5.0 inches, a width less than approximately 2.5 inches, and a depth less than approximately 0.5 inches.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first device or the second device is a handheld device weighing less than approximately 5.0 ounces.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital media file comprises an audio music file, a video file, an electronic book (e-book) file, an audio book file, a podcast file, an image file, a software application file, a video game, or some combination thereof.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the digital media file comprises at least one of an MP3, AIFF, WAV, MPEG-4, or AAC file format.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the locked gift file comprises a digital copy of the digital media file that is restricted from being played back using the second device prior to the server authorizing the unlocking of the locked gift file.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the locked gift file comprises a digital copy of the digital media file that is not permitted to be played back using the second device until a digital rights management (DRM) key associated with an account belonging to a user of the second device is applied to unlock the locked gift file.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the DRM key associated with the account belonging to the user of the second device is applied to the locked gift file by the second device if the server determines that the gift license is valid.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the gift license is determined by the server to be valid if the account belonging to the user of the first device is successfully charged by the server for the unlocking of the gift file.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the gift license is processed by the server to determine whether a charge may be applied to the account belonging to the user of the first device for authorizing the unlocking of the locked gift file.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein determining whether a charge may be applied to the account belonging to the first user comprises determining whether a credit card account associated with the account belong to the user of the first device is valid.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein, if the charge is applied to the account belonging to the user of the first device, the gift license indicates approval of the charge.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the authorization to unlock the gift file is provided if the gift license indicates approval of the charge.

22. A method for using a server associated with a digital media content provider to authorize gifting of a digital media file from a first device to a second device comprising:

using the server associated with the digital media content provider to;

receive a request from the second device to unlock a locked digital media file previously transmitted to the second device from the first device, wherein the locked digital media file comprises a digital copy of the digital media file that is not permitted to be played back using the second device until a digital rights management (DRM) key associated with an account associated with the digital media content provider and belonging to a user of the second device is applied;

receive a gift license associated with the locked digital media file from the second device, wherein the gift license comprises information to identify an account associated with the digital media content provider and belonging to a user of the first device;

validate the gift license by applying a charge to the account belonging to the user of the first device, the charge corresponding to a payment for the gifting of the digital media file; and

provide to the second device an authorization to unlock the locked digital media file if the charge is applied to the account belonging to the user of the first device, wherein the authorization to unlock the locked gift file comprises instructions permitting the second device to apply to the locked digital media file the DRM key associated with the account belonging to the user of the second device, wherein after applying the DRM key, the locked digital media file becomes unlocked and the unlocked digital media file may be played back using the second device.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the digital media file comprises at least an audio music file, a video file, an electronic book (e-book) file, an audio book file, a podcast file, an image file, a software application file, a video game, or some combination thereof.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the unlocked digital media file cannot be played back on the first device.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the user of the first device does not have digital rights to play back the unlocked digital media file gifted to the user of the second device, even though the payment for the gifted digital media file is charged to the account belonging to the user of the first device.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein at least one of the first device or the second device comprises a portable handheld electronic device.