Method and system for downloading content to a content downloader

• US 8,424,041 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2006
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Candelore, Brant L., Pedlow, Leo M. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Pankaj
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAIG, SAHAR A
• Application Number:
  US11/452,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20070288967A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,499 Days
• Field of Search: 725/50, 725/132, 725/140, 725/152, 725/133
• US Class Current: 725/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; 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 21/25816 involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25833 involving client hardware characteristics, e.g. manufacturer, processing or storage capabilities allocation of resources considering hardware capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5044; allocation of resources considering software capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5055
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/40 Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4184 providing storage capabilities, e.g. memory stick
• 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 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4405 involving video stream decryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4623 Processing of entitlement messages, e.g. ECM [Entitlement Control Message] or EMM [Entitlement Management Message] arrangements for conditional access to broadcast information or to broadcast-related services H04H60/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/835 Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/913 for scrambling ; for copy protection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A content downloader system including a display for displaying a user interface enabling a user to select content to be downloaded and initiate downloading; a set-top-box coupled to the display for providing the user interface and for receiving an indication of the content to be downloaded; and a content downloader coupled to and separate from the set-top-box, the content downloader for receiving the content. The content downloader has at least one memory component for storing content, at least one input/output connection for communicating to electronic devices, optionally including a removable memory card and optionally including an encryption/decryption unit. The content downloader may have an identification whereby its identity is authenticated by the content provider. The content downloader downloads the content selected by the user after successful authentication whereby the selection is made using the display and the set-top-box, and the content downloaded to the content downloader separate than the set-top-box.

Claims

1. A content downloader system comprising:

a set-top-box comprising a user interface, wherein said user interface enables content selection and download responsive to user initiation using the user interface of the set-top-box;

a display operable to display said user interface; and

a content downloader coupled to, and separate from, said set-top-box and separate from the display, wherein said content downloader is operable to receive a user selected content, the user selected content being selected by the user initiation using the user interface of the set-top-box, the user selected content being received by the content downloader from a content provider prior to said set-top-box receiving said user selected content, and wherein said content downloader is operable to download and play a movie based on said user selected content.

2. The content downloader system as described in claim 1 wherein said content downloader is further coupled to said content provider and wherein said content provider in response to said user initiation, uploads said user selected content to said content downloader.

3. The content downloader system as described in claim 1 wherein said user interface is a graphical user interface.

4. The content downloader system as described in claim 1 wherein said content downloader comprises:

a status indicator;

at least one memory component; and

an input/output connection operable to communicate with said content provider and coupled to said set-top-box.

5. The content downloader system as described in claim 4 wherein said status indicator indicates whether a download is in progress, whether said content downloader has sufficient memory, whether said download is complete and whether said content downloader is connected.

6. The content downloader system as described in claim 4 wherein said memory component comprises at least one removable memory card.

7. The content downloader system as described in claim 4 wherein said content downloader further comprises:

a wireless device for sending and receiving content.

8. The content downloader system as described in claim 4 wherein said content downloader further comprises:

additional connections capable of communicatively coupling said content downloader to electronic devices separate from said set-top-box, and wherein said electronic devices bypass said set-top-box.

9. The content downloader system as described in claim 4 wherein said content downloader further comprises:

an encryption/decryption unit to decrypt encrypted content downloaded and to encrypt downloaded content before transferring said downloaded content to other electronic devices.

10. The content downloader system as described in claim 1 wherein said content downloader has an identification that is registered with a content provider and wherein an identity of said content downloader is authenticated by said content provider before said content provider begins uploading said user selected content to said content downloader.

11. The content downloader system as described in claim 1 further comprising a cable modem and wherein said content downloader is integrated within said cable modem.

12. The content downloader system as described in claim 1 further comprising a wireless router wherein said content downloader is integrated within said wireless router.

13. The content downloader system as described in claim 1 further comprising a cable modem and wherein said content downloader is further coupled to said cable modem.

30. The content downloader system as described in claim 1, wherein an amount of memory required by said content downloader to store said user selected content is rendered by said display.

14. A method for downloading content in an electronic system, said method comprising:

generating a user interface using a set-top-box device, wherein said user interface is operable to allow a user to select a first content from a plurality of selectable content items, wherein said plurality of selectable content items is operable to comprise a movie;

displaying a portion of said user interface wherein said user interface comprises said plurality of selectable content items;

in response to a user selection of said first content using the set-top-box device, initiating a download operation wherein said selected content is delivered from a content provider to a device prior to delivery of said first content to said set-top-box; and

storing said first content into said device for playing of the first content by the device, wherein said device is separate from said set-top-box.

15. The method as described in claim 14 wherein said user interface is a graphical user interface.

16. The method as described in claim 14 wherein said initiating said download further comprises:

sending an identification of said device; and

said device receiving said first content from said content provider if said device is successfully authenticated.

17. The method as described in claim 16 wherein said authentication is performed by comparing said identification of said device to previously registered devices stored in said content provider.

18. The method as described in claim 14 wherein said initiating said download further comprises:

determining whether said device comprises sufficient memory to store said first content; and

indicating a status of said device by outputting a signal.

19. The method as described in claim 18 wherein said output signal is selected from a group consisting of lighting a light emitting device (LED), displaying a message to a user, and outputting an audio output.

20. The method as described in claim 14 wherein said initiating said download further comprises:

creating at least one folder in said device for storing said first content to a memory.

21. The method as described in claim 14 wherein said first content is encrypted before uploading from said content provider and decrypted after downloading said first content to said device.

22. The method as described in claim 14 wherein said first content is encrypted after said first content is downloaded by said device and before said content is sent to another electronic device.

23. A device for downloading a selectable content, said device comprising:

an input/output connection, wherein said input/output connection is communicatively coupled to a content provider and a set-top-box that is separate from the device, wherein said device in response to a user command, initiated by input into a user interface of said set-top-box, receives said selectable content from said content provider, wherein said device is operable to download a movie based on said selectable content for play thereof by the device; and

at least one memory component in which said selectable content is content is stored.

24. The device as described in claim 23 further comprising:

a status indicator wherein said status indicator indicates whether a download is in progress, whether said device has sufficient memory, whether said download is complete and whether said device is connected.

25. The device as described in claim 23 wherein said memory component comprises at least one removable memory card.

26. The device as described in claim 23 further comprising:

a wireless device for sending and receiving said selectable content.

27. The device as described in claim 23 further comprising:

additional connections capable of communicatively coupling said device to other electronic devices.

28. The device as described in claim 23 further comprising:

an encryption/decryption unit to decrypt encrypted content downloaded and to encrypt said content before transferring said content to other electronic devices.

29. The device as described in claim 23 further comprising an identification wherein said identification is registered with said content provider such that the identity of said content downloader is authenticated by said content provider before said content provider begins uploading said content to said device.