Messaging method and apparatus for use in digital distribution systems

• US 8,219,493 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2005
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aniruddha Gupte
• Original Assignee: Aniruddha Gupte
• Inventors: Gupte, Aniruddha
• Primary Examiner(s): Hewitt, II, Calvin L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ravetti, Dante
• Application Number:
  US11/150,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20060282390A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,587 Days
• Field of Search: 705/52
• US Class Current: 705/52
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3829 involving key management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• 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 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• 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 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/63345 by transmitting keys key distribution for secret or secure communication H04L9/08; network support of key management H04L63/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/913 for scrambling ; for copy protection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

A method of subsidizing the presentation of media content by including informative messages as part of the presentation. The presentation of the media content is paused while the informative message is presented. The cost of the media content is credited to the owner and the payment associated with the informative message is debited from the sponsor of the informative message. Some content is segmented into sections and the informative messages are presented before or after each section. Other content is not segmented, but informative messages are presented at intervals determined by an e-PVR.

Claims

1. A method for distributing media content, said method comprising:

operatively linking, by wired or wireless communications, at least one client device and at least one server device through a network;

using, by a service provider, said at least one server device;

providing, by said service provider, a media content distribution service that distributes media content and informative messages comprising any of audio and video recordings to said at least one client device operated by a user;

establishing, by said at least one client device, a user account with said service provider, said user account comprising identifying information of said at least one client device, said identifying information comprising any of a registration number of said at least one client device, a credit card number associated with said at least one client device, an account number of said at least one client device, a global positioning system location of said at least one client device, a Media Access Control address of said at least one client device, and a serial number coded within a microprocessor of said at least one client device;

subscribing, by said user account, a service that receives said media content through said media content distribution service;

providing, by said at least one server device, a catalog of available media content that is accessible to said user customer using said at least one client device;

selecting, by said at least one client device, specific portions of said available media content from said media content distribution service;

formatting, by any of said at least one client device and said at least one server device, said media content;

dividing, by any of said at least one client device and said at least one server device, said media content into a plurality of portions comprising;

a first portion comprising media content accessed by said at least one client device and decrypted using a program key;

a second portion comprising media content identification information comprising information about an owner of said media content, a name of said media content, a number of said media content, a length of said media content, and a cost to play said media content; and

a third portion comprising said program key that decrypts said first portion;

downloading, by said at least one client device, the selected specific portions of said available media content;

storing the downloaded media content on a storage disk operatively connected to said at least one client device;

encrypting, by a processor on any of said at least one client device and said at least one server device, said program key of said media content using an encryption technique identified by said at least one server device;

classifying, by said processor on any of said at least one client device and said at least one server device, said third portion as a service encrypted program key;

sending, by said at least one client device a decryption request message to said at least one server device, said decryption request message comprising;

said identifying information of said at least one client device;

said media content selected by said at least one client device;

an encryption status of said media content, said encryption status comprising the type of said encryption technique being used; and

a segment of the encrypted media content;

using, by said at least one server device, said decryption request message that locates said user account corresponding to said identifying information;

validating, by said at least one server device, that said user account is active;

selecting, by said at least one server device, a decryption technique that decrypts said media content;

sending, by said at least one server device, a decryption message to said at least one client device, wherein said decryption message comprises any of a decryption code and a pointer;

decrypting, by any of said decryption code and said pointer, said service encrypted program key;

revealing, by said at least one server device, said program key;

using, by said at least one client device, the revealed program key that decrypts said first portion;

increasing a security of said media content by said at least one client device re-encrypting said program key after a threshold has been exceeded using a second encryption process, said threshold comprising any of a specified amount of time, a specified number of views of said media content, a random number, a message sent from said at least one server device, a length of time that said user account has been active, a frequency of client devices added or removed from said network, and documented administrative issues associated with said user account comprising potential abuse of copyrighted media content;

sending, by said at least one client device, a second decryption request message to said at least one server device;

sending, by said at least one server device, a second decryption message to said at least one client device;

decrypting, by said at least one client device, the re-encrypted program key;

revealing, by said at least one client device, said re-encrypted program key;

using, by said at least one client device, the second revealed program key that decrypts said first portion;

establishing, by said processor on any of said at least one client device and said at least one server device, a discounted cost to view an informative message prior to, during, or after viewing said media content;

formatting, by said at least one server device, a plurality of informative messages separate from said media content;

obtaining, by said at least one client device, said plurality of informative messages separate from said media content;

notifying, by said at least one server device, said user of said cost to play said media content on said at least one client device;

notifying, by said at least one server device, said user of said discounted cost to view said informative message;

selecting, by said at least one client device, one of said cost and said discounted cost;

charging, by said processor on any of said at least one client device and said at least one server device, the selected cost to said user account;

crediting, by said processor on said at least one server device, said owner of said media content with said selected cost minus a service charge payable to said service provider; and

viewing any of said informative message and said media content on a multimedia display of said at least one client device.