Method and system for selectively supplying media content to a user and media storage device for use therein

• US 8,504,652 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2006
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Portulim Foundation LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Rothschild, Leigh M.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALGIBHAH, HAMZA N
• Application Number:
  US11/400,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20070250573A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,675 Days
• Field of Search: 709/219
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation

Abstract

A method and system for selectively supplying media content to a user includes a first media storage device acquired by the user from a media content provider. The storage device includes first media content and information related to second media content, both of which are preferably accessible from the storage device immediately upon acquisition. After the user has reviewed the storage device'"'"'s contents, the content provider receives a request from the user (e.g., at a website server) to obtain the second media content. Responsive to the request, the content provider selectively provides the user electronic access to the second media content without providing the user a second media storage device. For example, the content provider may provide the user an access code that allows the user to unlock the second media content from the first media storage device, which content was preferably prestored thereon in encrypted or another locked form.

Claims

1. A method for supplying media content to a user, the method comprising:

storing first media content and information relating to second media content on a first media storage device, wherein the first media content and the information relating to the second media content are accessible from the first media storage device without use of a code;

receiving, at a first server, a request from the user to obtain the second media content;

encrypting at least part of the second media content to produce encrypted content, wherein the second media content comprises video content having a plurality of data files, wherein the plurality of data files includes content files and menu files, and wherein the encrypting at least part of the second media content comprises encrypting at least the menu files;

responsive to the request, providing electronic access to the second media content wherein providing electronic access includes transmitting the second media content to the first media storage device so that the second media content becomes freely accessible from the first media storage device without use of a code.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second media content is accessed by a processing device that comprises a standalone DVD player, a standalone CD player, or a standalone MP3 player.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a software application enables a processing device to store the second media content on a second media storage device so as to facilitate subsequent access to the second media content by at least one of the processing device and a second processing device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving consideration for the second media content; and

responsive to receiving the consideration, electronically transmitting the second media content to a processing device of a user.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the consideration comprises at least payment of a purchase price of the second media content.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the consideration comprises personal information of a user.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the personal information comprises at least one of demographic information and psychographic information.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein receiving consideration for the second media content comprises receiving the consideration electronically via the first server, wherein the first server is connected to a wide area network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein supplying the first media storage device comprises selling the first media storage device to a user directly or through a distribution channel.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first media storage device is distributed free of charge.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the request to obtain the second media content comprises receiving an electronic request for the second media content at the first server, wherein the first server is connected to a wide area network.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second media content is stored on a second server, and further comprising:

receiving consideration for the second media content at the first server; and

responsive to receiving the consideration, electronically transmitting the second media content from the second server to a processing device of a user.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the second media content is electronically transmitted to the processing device in a format that is storable on a portable media storage device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the portable media storage device comprises the first media storage device.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the second media content includes digital rights management software to mitigate unauthorized duplication of the second media content after electronic access thereto has been provided.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising

separating the second media content into the plurality of data files;

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the encrypting comprises encrypting the plurality of data files as a single group to produce the encrypted content.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the encrypting comprises encrypting the content files.

19. A method for storing media content on a portable storage device, the method comprising:

storing first media content and information related to second media content in a first portion of the portable storage device so that the first media content and information related to the second media content are freely accessible upon acquisition of the portable media storage device without use of a code;

encrypting at least a portion of the second media content to produce encrypted content, wherein the second media content comprises video content having a plurality of data files, wherein the plurality of data files includes content files and menu files, and wherein the encrypting at least the portion of the second media content comprises encrypting at least the menu files; and

storing the encrypted content in a second portion of the portable storage device, wherein the encrypted content remains inaccessible until the second media content is unlocked so that the second media content becomes freely accessible from the portable media storage device without use of a code.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the portable media storage device comprises an optical disk, wherein storing the first media content comprises storing the first media content on a first side of the optical disk, and wherein storing the encrypted content comprises storing the encrypted content on a second side of the optical disk.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising

separating the second media content into the plurality of data files.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein encrypting at least the portion of the plurality of data files comprises encrypting the plurality of data files as a single group to produce the encrypted content.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising encrypting the content files.

24. A system for supplying media content, the system comprising:

a first media storage device configured to include first media content and information relating to second media content, wherein the first media content and the information relating to the second media content are accessible from the first media storage device without use of a code; and

a server accessible over a wide area network that;

encrypts at least a portion of the second media content to produce encrypted content, wherein the second media content comprises video content having a plurality of data files, wherein the plurality of data files includes content files and menu files, and wherein encryption of at least the portion of the second media content comprises encryption of at least the menu files; and

provides electronic access to the second media content by transmitting the second media content to the first media storage device so that the second media content becomes accessible from the first media storage device without use of a code.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the first media storage device is configured to store second media content in locked form on the first media storage device.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the first media storage device is configured to store the first media content on a first side of the first media storage device and the second media content on a second side of the first media storage device.

27. A device, comprising:

a media storage device configured to store first media content and second media content,

wherein the first media content is freely accessible upon acquisition of the media storage device without use of a code; and

wherein the second media content that is stored on the media storage device in an encrypted form, wherein the second media content comprises video content having a plurality of data files, wherein the plurality of data files includes content files and menu files, and wherein at least the menu files are in the encrypted form, wherein information related to the second media content is accessible upon acquisition of the media storage device without use of a code, and wherein upon request the second media content is unlocked on the media storage device so that the second media content becomes accessible from the media storage device without use of a code.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the first media content is stored on a first side of the media storage device and the second media content is stored on a second side of the media storage device.

29. The device of claim 27, wherein the content files are also in the encrypted form.

30. A system comprising:

a memory configured to store media content data; and

a processor operatively coupled to the memory and configured to;

store first media content and information related to second media content in a first portion of a portable storage device so that the first media content and information related to second media content are freely accessible upon acquisition of the portable media storage device without use of a code;

encrypt at least a portion of the second media content to produce encrypted content, wherein the second media content comprises video content having a plurality of data files, wherein the plurality of data files includes content files and menu files, and wherein encryption of at least the portion of the second media content comprises encryption of at least the menu files; and

store the encrypted content in a second portion of the portable storage device, wherein the encrypted content remains inaccessible until the second media content is unlocked so that the second media content becomes freely accessible without use of a product code.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the processor is further configured to:

read the second media content from the portable storage device; and

restore the second media content on the first media storage device so as to facilitate subsequent access to the second media content by a plurality of processing devices.