Digital media asset conversion system and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for distributing digital media assets across a network to customers comprising:
- a digital media asset management server coupled to the network for servicing transfers to customers, said digital media asset management server including;
(a) a first software routine configured to transfer a first digital media asset over the network for a first customer to a first client device based in part on an authorization generated for said first customer and to generate a transaction record associated with said transfer;
wherein said first digital media asset is configured by said first software routine to include identification data for such asset and said first customer on said first client device, including at least a customer identification and an asset identification embedded within the first digital media asset;
further wherein said first digital media asset is a first type of asset that is configured to be transferable by said first customer between said first client device and a second client device of said first customer without an additional authorization from said digital media asset management server;
(b) a second software routine configured to detect one or more second digital media assets stored on said first client device which do not have embedded identification data for said first customer;
wherein said second digital media assets are a second type of asset that is not configured to be transferable by said first customer between said first client device and a second client device of said first customer without an additional authorization from said digital media asset management server;
said second software routine being further configured to convert said one or more second digital media assets on said first client device into said first type of asset by adding an embedded customer identification and an asset identification information for the first customer to each of said one or more second digital media assets as stored on said first client device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a system and method for identifying and converting digital media assets within a system through the use of identification data. A client device is examined to detect media assets lacking such identification data; the identification data is then applied to each detected asset with data specific to the customer and digital media asset. To facilitate transfers and ease of use the digital media assets can be made DRM-free.
70 Citations
65 Claims
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1. A system for distributing digital media assets across a network to customers comprising:
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a digital media asset management server coupled to the network for servicing transfers to customers, said digital media asset management server including; (a) a first software routine configured to transfer a first digital media asset over the network for a first customer to a first client device based in part on an authorization generated for said first customer and to generate a transaction record associated with said transfer; wherein said first digital media asset is configured by said first software routine to include identification data for such asset and said first customer on said first client device, including at least a customer identification and an asset identification embedded within the first digital media asset; further wherein said first digital media asset is a first type of asset that is configured to be transferable by said first customer between said first client device and a second client device of said first customer without an additional authorization from said digital media asset management server; (b) a second software routine configured to detect one or more second digital media assets stored on said first client device which do not have embedded identification data for said first customer; wherein said second digital media assets are a second type of asset that is not configured to be transferable by said first customer between said first client device and a second client device of said first customer without an additional authorization from said digital media asset management server; said second software routine being further configured to convert said one or more second digital media assets on said first client device into said first type of asset by adding an embedded customer identification and an asset identification information for the first customer to each of said one or more second digital media assets as stored on said first client device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 32, 33, 34)
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27. A system for a content provider to distribute digital media assets across a network comprising:
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(a) a client device configured to store and play digital media assets; wherein said digital media assets are machine readable music files configured by the content provider ; (b) a digital media asset management server also configured by the content provider and coupled to the network, said digital media asset management server including; i) a first software routine configured to track a transfer of a first digital media asset over the network to said client device based at least in part on an authorization granted for a customer of the content provider and to generate a transaction record associated with said transfer; wherein said first digital media asset is configured by said first software routine to include identification data for such asset, including at least a customer identification and an asset identification embedded within the first digital media asset; further wherein said first digital media asset is a first type of asset that can be transferred between said client device and a separate client device without an additional authorization from the content provider; ii) a second software routine configured to identify one or more second digital media assets stored on said client device; wherein said one or more second digital media assets stored on said client device lack said embedded identification data for such assets; further wherein said second digital media assets are a second type of asset that cannot be transferred between said client device and said separate client device without an additional authorization from the content provider; said second software routine being further configured to convert said one or more second digital media assets on said client device into said first type of asset by adding a customer identification and an asset identification information embedded within each of said one or more second digital media assets. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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28. A system for a content provider to distribute digital media assets across a network comprising:
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(a) a client device configured to store and play digital media assets; wherein said digital media assets are machine readable music files configured by the content provider; (b) a digital media asset management server also configured by the content provider and coupled to the network, said digital media asset management server including; i) a first software routine configured to track a transfer of a first digital media asset over the network to said client device based at least in part on an authorization granted for a customer of the content provider and to generate a transaction record associated with said transfer; wherein said first digital media asset is configured by said first software routine to include identification data for such asset, including at least a customer identification and an asset identification; said first digital media asset being further configured as a first type of asset without watermarks or encryption to prevent playback on at least some other client devices; ii) a second software routine configured to identify one or more second digital media assets stored on said client device; wherein said one or more second digital media assets are a second type of asset stored on said client device which lack said embedded identification data for such assets and cannot be transferred to a separate client device of said customer; said second software routine being further configured to convert said one or more second digital media assets on said client device into said first type of asset by adding a customer identification and an asset identification information embedded within each of said one or more second digital media assets. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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29. A method of distributing digital media assets across a network to customers comprising:
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providing a digital media asset management server coupled to the network for servicing transfers to customers, said digital media asset management server including one or more software routines configured to; (a) transfer a first digital media asset over the network for a first customer to a first client device based at least in part on a response to an authorization generated for said first customer and to generate a transaction record associated with said transfer; wherein said first digital media asset is configured to include identification data for such asset and said first customer on said first client device, including at least a customer identification and an asset identification embedded within the first digital media asset; further wherein said first digital media asset is a first type of asset that can be transferred by said first customer between said first client device and a second client device of said first customer without an additional authorization from said digital media asset management server; (b) detect one or more second digital media assets stored on said first client device which do not have embedded identification data for said first customer; wherein said second digital media assets are a second type of asset that cannot be transferred by said first customer between said first client device and a second client device of said first customer without an additional authorization from said digital media asset management server; (c) convert said one or more second digital media assets on said first client device into said first type of asset by adding a customer identification and an asset identification information for the first customer embedded within each of said one or more second digital media assets as stored on said first client device . - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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30. A method of distributing digital media assets across a network comprising:
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(a) providing a client device configured to store and play digital media assets; wherein said digital media assets are machine readable music files configured by a content provider ; (b) a providing a digital media asset management server also configured by the content provider and coupled to the network for servicing transfers to customers, said digital media asset management server including one or more software routines configured to; i) track a transfer of a first digital media asset over the network to said client device based at least in part on an authorization granted for a customer of the content provider and to generate a transaction record associated with said transfer; wherein said first digital media asset is configured to include identification data for such asset, including at least a customer identification and an asset identification embedded within the first digital media asset; further wherein said first digital media asset is a first type of asset that can be transferred between said client device and a separate client device of said customer without an additional authorization from the content provider; ii) identify one or more second digital media assets stored on said client device; wherein said one or more second digital media assets stored on said client device lack said embedded identification data for such assets; further wherein said second digital media assets are a second type of asset that cannot be transferred between said client device and said separate client device without an additional authorization from the content provider; iii) convert said one or more second digital media assets on said client device into said first type of asset by adding a customer identification and an asset identification information embedded within each of said one or more second digital media assets. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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31. A method of distributing digital media assets across a network comprising:
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(a) providing a client device configured to store and play digital media assets; wherein said digital media assets are machine readable music files configured by the content provider; (b) providing a digital media asset management server also configured by the content provider and coupled to the network for servicing transfers to customers, said digital media asset management server including one or more software routines configured to; i) track a transfer of a first digital media asset over the network to said client device based at least in part on an authorization granted for a customer of the content provider and to generate a transaction record associated with said transfer; wherein said first digital media asset is configured to include identification data for such asset, including at least a customer identification and an asset identification embedded within the first digital media asset; said first digital media asset being further configured as a first type of asset without watermarks or encryption to prevent playback on at least some other client devices; ii) identify one or more second digital media assets stored on said client device; wherein said one or more second digital media assets are a second type of asset stored on said client device which lack said embedded identification data for such assets and cannot be transferred to a separate client device; iii) convert said one or more second digital media assets on said client device into said first type of asset by adding a customer identification and an asset identification information embedded within each of said one or more second digital media assets. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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Specification