Using object identifiers with content distribution
First Claim
Patent Images
1. In a public file sharing system involving a plurality of networked devices, a method comprising:
- determining an identifier from information associated with one content object of a plurality of audio or video content objects;
by reference to the identifier, determining status information relating to the one content object, wherein the status information identifies information in the one content object; and
restricting uploading or downloading of the one content object to or from a public file sharing system, based on the determined status information.
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Abstract
Object identifiers are used in a variety of content distribution arrangements, including—but not limited to—peer to peer networks. The object identifiers may be of different forms, including digital watermarks, fingerprint identifiers, etc. Through use of such identifiers, sometimes in conjunction with related databases, a number of functions and services can be readily implemented. These include governing content uploading/downloading in order to inhibit piracy, and to enable subscription models. A variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
265 Citations
30 Claims
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1. In a public file sharing system involving a plurality of networked devices, a method comprising:
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determining an identifier from information associated with one content object of a plurality of audio or video content objects; by reference to the identifier, determining status information relating to the one content object, wherein the status information identifies information in the one content object; and restricting uploading or downloading of the one content object to or from a public file sharing system, based on the determined status information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. In a system involving a plurality of networked devices, a method comprising:
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determining an identifier from information associated with one content object of a plurality of audio or video content objects; by reference to the identifier, determining status information relating to one the content object; and governing uploading or downloading of the one content object, based on the determined status information; wherein the status information identifies information in the one content object, and the governing comprises allowing transfer of the content object if the identified information in the one content object is information that a device or user seeks to download.
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14. A method comprising:
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ascertaining a subscription status of a first device; if the device has a first subscription status, allowing the device to download all content objects in a set; if the device has a second subscription status, allowing the device to download content objects in a first subset of the set, while preventing the device from downloading content objects in a second subset of the set; determining an identifier from information, wherein the information comprises data representing audio or visual information associated with a content object, and, by reference to the identifier, determining whether that content object is in the first or second subset. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method comprising:
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determining an identifier from information, wherein the information comprises data representing audio or visual information associated with a content object that is stored at a first device and designated for sharing; and controlling the first device in accordance with the determined identifier; wherein the first device employs the identifier to restrict distribution of the content object to a second device in a networked system. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of restricting distribution of content objects between devices in a networked system, the method comprising:
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receiving a search request including information about a content object, to find the content object based on corresponding information in the searchable database; locating the content object in response to the search request; receiving a transfer request for the located content object; and transferring the located content object to a device that made the transfer request; wherein the located content object has an identifier associated therewith, the identifier corresponding to a database entry that includes information about the located content object to enable searching for the located content object, and wherein the method includes determining the identifier from information comprising data representing audio or visual information associated with the content object. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A content distribution system comprising:
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a client operable to locate a file on one or more remote devices; a file identifier module operable to determine an identifier from information— comprising data representing audio or visual information associated with a file; and a processor operable to instruct the client to act in accordance with the determined identifier; wherein the identifier serves as an index to an entry in a database that includes information about the file to enable searching for the file based on the information in the entry, the database indicating files available for distribution through the content distribution system. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. A method of distributing content objects, the content objects representing audio or visual information, the method comprising:
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determining an identifier from information comprising data representing audio or visual information associated with a content object, wherein the identifier serves as an index into an entry that provides information regarding availability of the content object for distribution; and instructing a user'"'"'s computer to act in accordance with the identifier; wherein the user'"'"'s computer interacts with the identifier to control distribution of the content object. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. In a method of distributing content objects between networked devices, a method comprising:
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determining identifiers from information comprising data representing audio or visual information associated with content objects; storing the determined identifiers in association with related information, in a searchable database structure that is distributed among the networked devices, wherein the identifiers serve as indexes into entries in a database that provides information regarding availability of the content objects for distribution; and consulting the database structure in connection with a request to distribute one of the content objects to a device.
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Specification