Disc unlock code distribution control via remote physical action and location

• US 8,818,169 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2011
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony DADC US (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony DADC US (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Stewart, Russell, Insepov, Timur
• Primary Examiner(s): Shibru, Helen
• Application Number:
  US13/077,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20120251077A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: 386/248, 386/253, 386/259, 709/227
• US Class Current: 386/248
• 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 9/8205 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method of controlling playback of media content can include: receiving a delivery indication that a disc having media content stored thereon has been physically received by a user at a delivery location; receiving an authorization code and a disc identifier via a web interface, where the authorization code is determined by a disc player in response to the disc being inserted into the disc player; determining whether the user is authorized to playback the media content on the disc player based on the disc identifier, the delivery indication, and the authorization code; and providing an unlock code via the web interface if the user is determined to be authorized to playback the media content on the disc player, where the unlock code is to be entered via the disc player to allow the playback of the media content.

Claims

1. A method of controlling playback of media content, the method comprising:

receiving a delivery indication that a disc having media content stored thereon has been physically received by a user at a delivery location;

receiving an authorization code and a disc identifier via a web interface, wherein the authorization code is determined by a disc player in response to the disc being inserted into the disc player;

determining whether the user is authorized to playback the media content on the disc player based on the disc identifier, the delivery indication, and the authorization code;

determining a current location of the user;

determining if the current location is less than a predetermined distance away from the delivery location; and

if the user is determined to be authorized to playback the media content on the disc player, and if the current location is determined to be less than the predetermined distance away from the delivery location, providing an unlock code via the web interface wherein the unlock code is to be entered via the disc player to allow the playback of the media content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the delivery indication comprises electronic signature confirmation of the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining whether the user is authorized to playback the media content comprises using associated metadata accessed from a database based on the disc identifier.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining whether the user is authorized to playback the media content comprises checking a number of playbacks allocated for the disc and determining if the number of playbacks has been exceeded.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining whether the user is authorized to playback the media content comprises comparing a date on which playbacks for the disc are allowed to occur against a current date.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the unlock code automatically expires after a predetermined amount of time such that the playback of the media content on the disc player stops until a new unlock code is provided.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the disc comprises a customized label for the user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a different authorization code is determined by the disc player each time the disc is inserted into the disc player.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing the unlock code comprises providing a plurality of files that are required by the disc player for playback of the media content, wherein the disc does not include the plurality of files that are required for playback of the media content when delivered to the user.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

one or more processors; and

logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution by the one or more processors, and when executed being operable to;

receive a delivery indication that a disc having media content stored thereon has been physically received by a user at a delivery location;

receive an authorization code and a disc identifier via a web interface, wherein the authorization code is determined by a disc player in response to the disc being inserted into the disc player;

determine whether the user is authorized to playback the media content on the disc player based on the disc identifier, the delivery indication, and the authorization code;

determine a current location of the user;

determine if the current location is less than a predetermined distance away from the delivery location; and

if the user is determined to be authorized to playback the media content on the disc player, and if the current location is determined to be less than the predetermined distance away from the delivery location, provide an unlock code via the web interface, wherein the unlock code is to be entered via the disc player to allow the playback of the media content.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the delivery indication comprises electronic signature confirmation of the user.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the logic when executed that is operable to determine whether the user is authorized to playback the media content comprises logic when executed that is operable to use associated metadata accessed from a database based on the disc identifier, wherein the metadata comprises a number of playbacks allocated for the disc, and a date on which playbacks for the disc are allowed to occur.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the logic when executed that is operable to provide the unlock code comprises logic when executed that is operable to provide a plurality of files that are required by the disc player for playback of the media content, wherein the disc does not include the plurality of files that are required for playback of the media content when delivered to the user.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having software encoded thereon for execution by one or more processors, and when executed being operable to:

receive a delivery indication that a disc having media content stored thereon has been physically received by a user at a delivery location;

receive an authorization code and a disc identifier via a web interface, wherein the authorization code is determined by a disc player in response to the disc being inserted into the disc player;

determine whether the user is authorized to playback the media content on the disc player based on the disc identifier, the delivery indication, and the authorization code;

determine a current location of the user;

determine if the current location is less than a predetermined distance away from the delivery location; and

if the user is determined to be authorized to playback the media content on the disc player, and if the current location is determined to be less than the predetermined distance away from the delivery location, provide an unlock code via the web interface, wherein the unlock code is to be entered via the disc player to allow the playback of the media content.

15. The storage medium of claim 14, wherein the delivery indication comprises electronic signature confirmation of the user.

16. The storage medium of claim 14, wherein the software when executed that is operable to determine whether the user is authorized to playback the media content comprises software when executed that is operable to use associated metadata accessed from a database based on the disc identifier, wherein the metadata comprises a number of playbacks allocated for the disc, and a date on which playbacks for the disc are allowed to occur.

17. The storage medium of claim 14, wherein the software when executed that is operable to provide the unlock code comprises software when executed that is operable to provide a plurality of files that are required by the disc player for playback of the media content, wherein the disc does not include the plurality of files that are required for playback of the media content when delivered to the user.