Method and system for preventing unauthorized recording of media content on a macintosh operating system

• US 8,438,656 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2010
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Music Public Broadcasting, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Music Public Broadcasting, Inc.
• Inventors: Risan, Hank, Fitzgerald, Edward Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, TAE K
• Application Number:
  US12/833,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20100281544A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 726 26- 33, 713/164
• US Class Current: 726/28
• 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 21/60 Protecting data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2220/16 Copy protection or prevention
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0185 Product, service or business identity fraud

Abstract

A method for preventing unauthorized recording of media content on a Macintosh operating system. The present method registers a compliance mechanism on a client system having the Macintosh operating system operating thereon. The compliance mechanism comprises a framework for validating the compliance mechanism on the client system, and a multimedia component opened by the framework. The present method uses the multimedia component for decrypting the media content on the client system. The present method also prevents decryption of the media content on the client system having the Macintosh operating system operating thereon if a portion of the compliance mechanism is invalidated.

Claims

1. A method for preventing unauthorized recording of media content on an operating system comprising:

registering a compliance mechanism on a client system having said operating system operating thereon, said compliance mechanism diverting a commonly used data pathway of a multimedia component to a controlled data pathway monitored by said compliance mechanism, said compliance mechanism utilized to stop or disrupt the playing of said media content at said controlled data pathway when said playing of said media content is outside of a usage restriction applicable to said media file, said compliance mechanism comprising;

a framework for validating said compliance mechanism on said client system; and

said multimedia component opened by said framework, said multimedia component for decrypting said media content on said client system; and

preventing decryption of said media content on said client system having said operating system operating thereon if a portion of said compliance mechanism is invalidated.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a kernel level extension providing kernel level driver information to said framework, wherein when an invalid kernel level extension is recognized said framework directs said kernel level extension to selectively restrict output of said media content.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein said kernel level extension matches no physical device on the client system.

4. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein said kernel level extension comprises:

recognizing a kernel level recorder capturing an audio stream; and

informing said framework of said kernel level recorder.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said framework will disable audio playback from the multimedia component until said components of the compliance mechanism are validated.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said framework accesses a network to ensure that said components of the compliance mechanism are up to date.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said framework establishes a monitoring thread which maintains a constant search for output devices.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said compliance mechanism further comprises a bad boy list.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said multimedia component is a media rendering or processing application.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said media content is received from a source coupled with said client system, said source is from the group consisting of:

a network, a personal communication device, a satellite radio feed, a cable television radio input, a set-top box, an media device, a media storage device, a media storage device inserted in a media device player, a media player application, and a media recorder application.

11. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising altering said compliance mechanism in response to a change in a usage restriction, said usage restriction comprising a copyright restriction or licensing agreement applicable to said media content.

12. A non-transitory computer readable medium for storing computer implementable instructions, said instructions for causing a client system to perform a method for preventing unauthorized recording of media content on an operating system comprising:

registering a compliance mechanism on a client system having said operating system operating thereon, said compliance mechanism diverting a commonly used data pathway of a multimedia component to a controlled data pathway monitored by said compliance mechanism, said compliance mechanism utilized to stop or disrupt the playing of said media content at said controlled data pathway when said playing of said media content is outside of a usage restriction applicable to said media file, said compliance mechanism comprising;

a framework for validating components of said compliance mechanism on said client system;

said multimedia component opened by said framework, said multimedia component for preventing decryption of media content on said client system if said framework detects an invalid environment; and

a kernel level extension providing kernel level driver information to said framework; and

disabling output of said media content on said client system having said operating system operating thereon if a portion of said compliance mechanism is invalidated.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12 wherein said instructions cause said client system to perform said method further comprising:

authorizing said client system to receive said media content.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12 wherein said kernel level extension matches no physical device.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12 wherein said kernel level extension comprises:

recognizing a kernel level recorder capturing an audio stream; and

informing said framework of said kernel level recorder.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12 wherein said framework will disable audio playback from the multimedia component until said components of the compliance mechanism are validated.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12 wherein said framework accesses a network to ensure that said components of the compliance mechanism are up to date.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12 wherein said framework establishes a monitoring thread which maintains a constant search for output devices.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12 wherein said multimedia component is a media rendering or processing application.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12 wherein said client system performs said method further comprising:

accessing an indicator corresponding to said media content for indicating to said compliance mechanism a usage restriction applicable to said media content.

21. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12 wherein said client system performs said method further comprising:

altering said compliance mechanism is response to changes in said usage restriction, said usage restriction a copyright restriction or licensing agreement applicable to said media content.

22. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12 wherein said media content is from a source coupled with said client system, wherein said source is from the group consisting of:

a network, a personal communication device, a satellite radio feed, a cable television radio input, a set-top box, an media device, a media storage device, a media storage device inserted in a media device player, a media player application, and a media recorder application.