Progressive download or streaming of digital media securely through a localized container and communication protocol proxy

• US 9,038,147 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2014
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Chen, Hao-Nong, Rutman, Michael, MacLean, Charles Duncan, Hiar, Edward Charles, Morten, Glenn A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zand, Kambiz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sanders, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US14/267,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20140245400A1
• Time in Patent Office: 383 Days
• Field of Search: 726/4
• US Class Current: 726/4
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/65 Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/238 Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. adapting the transmission rate of a video stream to network bandwidth; Processing of multiplex streams hybrid fiber coaxial [HFC] networks for downstream channel allocation for video distribution H04L12/2801; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44055 by partially decrypting, e.g. decrypting a video stream that has been partially encrypted
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/1675 Providing digital key or authorisation information for generation or regeneration of the scrambling sequence pseudo-random number generators in general G06F7/58

Abstract

Various embodiments are directed towards employing a container and communication protocol proxy component within a client device to receive securely real-time streamed, progressively downloaded, or adaptively streamed container over a network using one container and communication protocol, and to securely decrypt the container and provide it to a media player using a different container and communications protocol. In one embodiment, the container is in Flash Video (FLV) file format. A browser or the media player on the client device may be used to request the container. The requested container is sent over one communication protocol and intercepted by the container and communication protocol proxy component. The container may be received as selectively encrypted container. The container and communication protocol proxy component then may enable decryption of the container and providing of it to the media player using another container and communication protocol combination.

Claims

1. A device for managing content over a network, comprising:

a processor for executing computer program instructions; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer program instructions executable to perform steps comprising;

intercepting a first request for content from a first component, the request made using a first communication protocol;

extracting information about the content from the first request;

sending a second request for the content based on the extracted information using a second communication protocol;

receiving an encrypted portion of the content using the second communication protocol;

decrypting the encrypted portion of the content to produce decrypted content; and

providing the decrypted content to the first component using the first communication protocol, wherein the first component is operative to play the decrypted content while another portion of the content is currently unavailable to the first component.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the encrypted portion of the content is received in a container that is in at least one of a Flash Video (FLV) file format, Windows Media Video Format (WMV), Windows Media Audio Format (WMA) Advanced Systems Format (ASF), or a Real Audio (RA/RAM) file format.

3. The device of claim 1, the steps further comprising:

performing digital copy protection of the received content, wherein if an unauthorized attempt to copy the content is detected, the digital copy protection inhibits access to the content.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein receiving the encrypted portion of the content further comprises:

employing at least one of progressive downloading, real-time streaming, and adaptive streaming of the requested content.

5. The device of claim 1, the steps further comprising:

securely storing the received encrypted portion of the content.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the first communication protocol is a Real Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP), and the second communication protocol is a HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP).

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first component is associated with at least one of a media player application or a browser application adapted for execution on the device.

8. A method for managing content over a network, comprising:

intercepting, using a processor, a first request for content from a first component, the request made using a first communication protocol;

extracting information about the content from the first request;

sending a second request for the content based on the extracted information using a second communication protocol;

receiving an encrypted portion of the content using the second communication protocol;

decrypting the encrypted portion of the content to produce decrypted content; and

providing the decrypted content to the first component using the first communication protocol, wherein the first component is operative to play the decrypted content while another portion of the content is currently unavailable to the first component.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the encrypted portion of the content is received in a container that is in at least one of a Flash Video (FLV) file format, Windows Media Video Format (WMV), Windows Media Audio Format (WMA) Advanced Systems Format (ASF), or a Real Audio (RA/RAM) file format.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

performing digital copy protection of the received content, wherein if an unauthorized attempt to copy the content is detected, the digital copy protection inhibits access to the content.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving the encrypted portion of the content further comprises:

employing at least one of progressive downloading, real-time streaming, and adaptive streaming of the requested content.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

securely storing the received encrypted portion of the content.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the first component is associated with at least one of a media player application or a browser application.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing computer program instructions for managing content over a network, the instructions executable to perform steps comprising:

intercepting a first request for content from a first component, the request made using a first communication protocol;

extracting information about the content from the first request;

sending a second request for the content based on the extracted information using a second communication protocol;

receiving an encrypted portion of the content using the second communication protocol;

decrypting the encrypted portion of the content to produce decrypted content; and

providing the decrypted content to the first component using the first communication protocol, wherein the first component is operative to play the decrypted content while another portion of the content is currently unavailable to the first component.

15. The medium of claim 14, wherein the encrypted portion of the content is received in a container that is in at least one of a Flash Video (FLV) file format, Windows Media Video Format (WMV), Windows Media Audio Format (WMA) Advanced Systems Format (ASP), or a Real Audio (RA/RAM) file format.

16. The medium of claim 14, further comprising instructions executable to:

perform digital copy protection of the received content, wherein if an unauthorized attempt to copy the content is detected, the digital copy protection inhibits access to the content.

17. The medium of claim 14, wherein receiving the encrypted portion of the content further comprises:

employing at least one of progressive downloading, real-time streaming, and adaptive streaming of the requested content.

18. The medium of claim 14, further comprising instructions executable to:

securely store the received encrypted portion of the content.

19. The medium of claim 14, wherein the first component is associated with at least one of a media player application or a browser application.

20. The medium of claim 14, wherein the requested content comprises digital video content.