Methods for playing protected content

• US 8,341,424 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2004
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: The Trustees of Dartmounth College (Dartmouth College)
• Inventors: Erickson, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chai, Longbit
• Application Number:
  US10/839,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20040210765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,157 Days
• Field of Search: 713/189
• US Class Current: 713/189
• 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 2211/007 Encryption, En-/decode, En-/decipher, En-/decypher, Scramble, (De-)compress
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/008 Public Key, Asymmetric Key, Asymmetric Encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/103 applying security measure for protecting copyright
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/123 received data contents, e.g. message integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/126 the source of the received data

Abstract

One aspect of the present invention is a method of playing multi-media content through a personal computer. The personal computer includes a processor and memory, with the memory having software instructions stored therein. The processor executes the instructions to carry-out the method. The method includes: receiving data representing multi-media content at the personal computer; receiving at the personal computer an initial set of data representing a base set of usage rights that is associated with the multi-media content, wherein the initial set of data defines a first set of rights that is permissible without upgrading or renewing the base set of usage rights; and upon receiving a request to perform an action involving the multi-media content, checking the initial set of data representing the base set of usage rights to determine whether the action is permissible, and providing an option to a user through the personal computer to contact a remote computer to negotiate for an upgraded set of usage rights. The transmission of the multi-media content is among those actions that are not permissible.

Claims

1. A method of playing multi-media content through a computer, said method comprising:

configuring a processor and memory, the memory having a software application or plug-in stored therein, in which the processor is configured for executing the application or plug-in to perform the following;

controlling playing of multi-media content according to pre-established rights associated with the multi-media content, wherein, at a minimum, the playing comprises a preview of the multi-media content, and, wherein, transferring the multi-media content is excluded from the pre-established rights;

facilitating communication with a remote computer to obtain supplemental usage rights after an initial receipt of the multi-media content, wherein the supplemental usage rights extend permissible interaction with the multi-media content beyond the pre-established rights; and

recording use of the multi-media content.

2. The method of claim 1, in which use is recorded in a bibliographic record associated with the multi-media content.

3. A non-transitory computer readable medium including the application or plug-in of claim 2 stored thereon.

4. A computing device comprising a processor programmed to perform the method of claim 2.

5. A non-transitory computer readable medium including the application or plug-in of claim 1 stored thereon.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing payment options to a user through the application or plug-in, the options reflecting requirements to obtain the supplemental usage rights.

7. A computing device comprising a processor programmed to perform the method of claim 6.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the use comprises transferring or saving.

9. A computing device comprising a processor programmed to perform the method of claim 8.

10. A computing device comprising a processor programmed to perform the method of claim 1.

11. A method of playing multi-media content through a computer, said method comprising:

configuring a processor and memory, the memory including software instruction stored therein, in which the processor is configured for executing the instructions to perform or control the following;

receiving data representing multi-media content at the computer;

receiving at the computer an initial set of data representing a base set of usage rights that is associated with the multi-media content, wherein the initial set of data defines a first set of rights that is permissible without upgrading or renewing the base set of usage rights; and

upon receiving a request to perform an action involving the multi-media content, checking the initial set of data representing the base set of usage rights to determine whether the action is permissible,

wherein transmission of the multi-media content is among those actions that are not permissible, and

providing an option to a user through the computer to contact a remote computer to negotiate for an upgraded set of usage rights to obtain i) at least a portion of said multi-media content and ii) supplemental usage rights after an initial receipt of content, wherein the supplemental usage right extend permissible playing of the multi-media content beyond the base set of usage rights.

12. A non-transitory computer readable medium having the software instructions of claim 11 stored thereon.

13. An apparatus for playing multi-media content comprising:

memory for storing a software application or plug-in;

a processor programmed for executing the application or plug-in for;

controlling playing of the multi-media content according to pre-established rights associated with the multi-media content, in which, at a minimum, the playing comprises a preview of the multi-media content, and, in which, transferring the multi-media content is excluded from the pre-established rights;

facilitating communication with a remote computer to obtain;

supplemental usage rights after an initial receipt of the multi-media content, in which the supplemental usage rights extend permissible interaction with the multi-media content beyond the pre-established rights; and

recording use of the multi-media content.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 in which use is recorded in a bibliographic record associated with the content.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 in which the processor is programmed for executing the application or plug-in for providing payment options to a user through the application or plug-in, the options reflecting requirements to obtain the supplemental usage rights.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 in which the use comprises transferring or saving.

17. An apparatus for playing multi-media content comprising:

memory for storing i) software instructions, ii) data representing multi-media content, and iii) an initial set of data representing a base set of usage rights that is associated with the multi-media content, in which the initial set of data defines a first set of rights that is permissible without upgrading or renewing the base set of usage rights, in which transmission of the multi-media content is among those actions that are not permissible;

a processor programmed according to the instructions for;

upon receipt of a request to perform an action involving the multi-media content, checking the initial set of data representing the base set of usage rights to determine whether the action is permissible; and

providing an option to a user through the apparatus to contact a remote computer to negotiate for an upgraded set of usage rights to obtain i) at least a portion of said multi-media content, and ii) supplemental usage rights after an initial receipt of content, in which the supplemental usage right extend permissible playing of the multi-media content beyond the base set of usage rights.