Apparatus and methods for enforcing content protection rules during data transfer between devices

• US 9,015,270 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2010
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cholas, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Chea, Philip
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCADAMS, BRAD
• Application Number:
  US12/901,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20120089699A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,656 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1088 by using transactions with atomicity, consistency, or isolation and durability [ACID] properties
• 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: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2812 describing content present in a home automation network, e.g. audio video content retrieval from the Internet G06F16/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/603 Digital right managament [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for transferring data and content between devices while maintaining protection of the content. In one embodiment, one or more content protection rules are associated with the content. These rules include for example subscriber-specific, device-specific and/or content-specific rules on use, copying, or distribution. Content may be provided from a first device to second devices compliant with the rules. In one variant, a mobile version of the content is generated and provides to the requesting device. The original version of content is rendered unusable when the mobile version of the content is provided to the second device, and may only be useable again when the content is removed or otherwise disabled on the second device.

Claims

1. A method of providing content from a first subscriber device to a second subscriber device, said content having one or more content protection rules associated therewith, said method comprising:

collecting information regarding whether individual ones of a plurality of copyright protected content may be transferred to said second client device;

utilizing said collected information to generate a user selectable available content list; and

providing said list to said second client device;

receiving at said first subscriber device a request for said content from said second subscriber device;

determining whether said content is available;

when said content is unavailable, not providing access to said content to said second subscriber device; and

when said content is available;

determining whether said request may be filled, said determination based at least in part on said one or more content protection rules associated with said content;

generating a copy of said content based at least in part on capabilities information received from said second subscriber device;

marking said content as temporarily unavailable for subsequent requests; and

providing said copy of said content to said second subscriber device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of determining whether said content is available comprises consulting a table comprising a plurality of content and a status identifier for each of said plurality of content.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said act of marking said content unavailable for subsequent requests comprises changing a status of said content in said table.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of determining whether said content is available comprises determining whether said content is present at said second subscriber device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises, when said content is present at said second subscriber device, not providing access to said content to said first subscriber device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said copy of said content comprises a copy specifically formatted to be compatible with capabilities of said second subscriber device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of marking said content unavailable comprises marking said content unavailable for transfer from said first subscriber device and for playback at said first subscriber device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a signal from said second subscriber device;

causing said second subscriber device to delete said copy of said content stored thereon; and

marking said content available at said first device.

9. A consumer premises device (CPE) configured to provide copyright protected content to a plurality of client devices in communication therewith, said CPE comprising:

a first interface configured to receive said copyright protected content from a network and at least one rule for the transfer or use thereof;

a storage device;

a processor, said processor configured to run at least one computer application thereon, said computer application comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed;

collect information regarding whether individual ones of a plurality of copyright protected content may be transferred to said first client device;

utilize said collected information to generate a user selectable available content list;

provide said list to said first client device

receive a request for said copyright protected content from a first client device;

determine whether said copyright protected content may be transferred to said first client device;

generate a copy of said copyright protected content; and

cause said content to be marked as unable to be used by said CPE and unable to be transferred to second ones of said plurality of client devices;

and

a second interface configured to transmit said copy to said first client device;

wherein said second interface is further configured to receive said user selection of said copyright protected content from a user of said first client device; and

wherein said copy of said copyright protected content is generated based at least in part on capabilities information received from said first client device.

10. The CPE of claim 9, wherein said determination of whether said copyright protected content may be transferred to said first client device comprises a determination of whether transfer is compliant with said at least one rule for transferor use thereof.

11. The CPE of claim 9, wherein said determination of whether said copyright protected content may be transferred to said first client device comprises a determination of whether said content is being used, or has been transferred to, one of said second ones of said plurality of client devices.

12. The CPE of claim 9, wherein:

said second interface is further configured to receive, from said first client device a reinstatement signal; and

said at least one computer application is further configured to, in response to said reinstatement signal, cause said first client device to delete said copy, and cause said content to be marked as able to be used by said CPE, and able to be transferred to at least one second one of said plurality of client devices.

13. The CPE of claim 9, wherein said copy of said copyright protected content is generated based at least in part on capabilities information received from said first client device.

14. A method of providing protected content to a premises network comprising a plurality of client devices, said method comprising:

collecting information regarding whether individual ones of a plurality of copyright protected content may be transferred to a second client device;

utilizing said collected information to generate a user selectable available content list; and

providing said list to said second client device;

receiving at a first client device a request for delivery of said protected content to said second client device, said first and second client devices being associated with a single subscriber account;

when said content is available and said delivery thereof is compliant with one or more protection rules associated with said content, generating a copy of said content based at least in part on capabilities information received from said second client device and providing said copy to said second client device; and

preventing said first device from making use of said content while said second client device has access to said content.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said act of providing comprises maintaining an original of said content stored at said first device and providing a copy thereof to said second device, and said act of preventing comprising rendering said original unavailable for copying and playback at said first device.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein when said content is unavailable or said delivery is not compliant with said one or more copy protection rules associated with said content, not providing said content to said second client device.

17. A method of providing content from a first device to a second device, comprising:

collecting information regarding whether individual ones of a plurality of copyright protected content may be transferred to said second device;

utilizing said collected information to generate a user selectable available content list;

providing said list to said second device;

receiving at said first device a request for said content from said second device;

determining whether said content is available, said determination being based at least in part on the presence of an indicator identifying said content as available for use by said first device; and

when said content is available;

determining whether said request may be serviced, said determination based at least in part on one or more content protection rules associated with said content and at least one of (i) an identity of a user associated with said second device, and/or (ii) an identity of said second device;

moving said content from said first device to said second device via generation of a copy of said content based at least in part on capabilities information received from said second device; and

updating said indicator to indicate a current status of said content as unavailable for subsequent use by said first device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said content comprises a copy specifically formatted to be compatible with capabilities of said second device.

19. A method of providing content from a first device to a second device, comprising:

collecting information regarding whether individual ones of a plurality of copy right protected content may be transferred to said second device;

utilizing said collected information to generate a user selectable available content list;

providing said list to said second device;

receiving at said first device a request for said content from said second device;

determining, via at least an indicator associated with said content, that a current status of content comprises an available status, and said delivery thereof is compliant with one or more protection rules associated with said content;

generating a transferable version of said content;

transferring said transferrable version of said content to said second device;

updating said indicator associated with said content to a temporarily unavailable status;

receiving, at said first device, a notification from said second device that said transferrable version of said content has been deleted from said second device; and

updating said indicator associated with said content to reflect an available status.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said act of generating a transferable version of said content comprises generating a version specifically formatted to be compatible with capabilities of said second device.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said temporarily unavailable status comprises a status wherein said content is not able to be used or transferred by said first device.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said act of updating said current status to said temporarily unavailable status further comprises allowing said content to remain stored on said first device despite an inability of said first device to use or transfer said content.