System and method for encrypting and rewarding users for sharing streaming media between mobile devices over an ad-hoc network

• US 9,152,985 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2011
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Wakabayashi, Kazuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Jarrett, Scott L
• Application Number:
  US13/333,236
• Publication Number:
  US 20120197738A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,385 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0214 Referral reward systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0276 Advertisement creation

Abstract

A processor-implemented method includes: acknowledging, using a first affiliator identifier obtained from content assigned the first affiliator identifier, an application from a user other than an owner of the content for the same type of content as the accessed content, an affiliator identifier being used to identify an affiliator for the purpose of providing affiliate service, embedding, in the content provided to the other user, a second affiliator identifier identifying the other user; providing the content assigned the second affiliator identifier to the other user; and identifying an affiliator owning the content assigned the first affiliator identifier, based on the first affiliator identifier.

Claims

1. A method of providing identifier-assigned content, comprising:

receiving, at a content provider server and over a network, a request from a first user of a first terminal device to purchase a content item, the request including a first affiliator identifier of the first user;

digitally combining the content item and the first affiliator identifier together such that the content item and the first affiliator identifier are assigned to one another, and locking the content item with a key such that the first terminal device may unlock the content item for playback;

transmitting the combined content item and first affiliator identifier to the first terminal device over the network such that the first user may cause the first terminal device to unlock the content item and play back the content item on the first terminal device within a view and/or hearing range of a second user of a second terminal device;

receiving, at the content provider server and over a network, a request for a key to unlock the content item from the second terminal device operated by the second user, wherein the request includes identification of the content item, the first affiliator identifier, and a second affiliator identifier of the second user, and wherein the user requests the content item in response to;

(i) an automatic, direct, wireless ad hoc connection between the first terminal device and the second terminal device, without operation of other devices, and in response to the second terminal device coming within range of the first terminal device and the first user playing back the content item on the first terminal device; and

(ii) the first terminal device automatically streaming, and the second terminal device automatically receiving, the content item from the first terminal device, such that the second user is provided with a one-time, limited opportunity to view and/or listen to the content item during the ad-hoc connection without requiring that the second terminal device unlock the content item with the key;

embedding, at the content provider server, the second affiliator identifier into the key and sending the embedded key to the second terminal device over the network in response to the request so that the embedded key is available to the second user to unlock and execute the content item within the second terminal device; and

using at the content provider server, the first affiliator identifier provided in the request to identify the first user and to provide the first user with a reward for causing the second user to request the key to unlock the content.

2. A server system, comprising:

a database configured to map respective affiliator identifiers with respective affiliators, each affiliator identifier being used to identify a respective one of the affiliators for the purpose of providing affiliate services;

a receiver configured to acquire, over a network, a request from a first user of a first terminal device to purchase a content item, the request including a first affiliator identifier of the first user;

a content provider device configured to digitally combine the content item and the first affiliator identifier together such that the content item and the first affiliator identifier are assigned to one another, and to lock the content item with a key such that the first terminal device may unlock the content item for playback;

a transmitting unit configured to transmit the combined content item and first affiliator identifier to the first terminal device over the network such that the first user may cause the first terminal device to unlock the content item and play back the content item on the first terminal device within a view and/or hearing range of a second user of a second terminal device;

an affiliator management unit configured to employ a request for a key to unlock the content item received from the second terminal device operated by the second user, wherein the request is received by the receiver over the network, and wherein the request includes identification of the content item, the first affiliator identifier, and a second affiliator identifier of the second user, and wherein the user requests the content item in response to;

(i) an automatic, direct, wireless ad hoc connection between the first terminal device and the second terminal device, without operation of other devices, and in response to the second terminal device coming within range of the first terminal device and the first user playing back the content item on the first terminal device; and

(ii) the first terminal device automatically streaming, and the second terminal device automatically receiving, the content item from the first terminal device, such that the second user is provided with a one-time, limited opportunity to view and/or listen to the content item during the ad-hoc connection without requiring that the second terminal device unlock the content item with the key;

the affiliator management unit further configured to refer to the database and to use the first affiliator identifier provided in the request to identify the first user such that the first user may be provided with a reward for causing the second user to request the key to unlock the content; and

an ID assignment unit configured to embed the second affiliator identifier into the key, such that the embedded key may be sent to the second terminal device over the network, and such that the embedded key is available to the second user to unlock and execute the content item within the second terminal device.

3. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium encoded with a program operating to run on a first terminal device, the program comprising:

a module configured to play back content items on the first terminal device;

a module configured to transmit, over a network, a request to purchase a content item from a content provider system, the request including a first affiliator identifier of a first user of the first terminal device;

a module configured to receive, over the network, the content item from the content provider system, the content provider system having digitally combined the content item and the first affiliator identifier together such that the content item and the first affiliator identifier are assigned to one another, and the content provider system having locked the content item with a key such that the first terminal device may unlock the content item for playback within a view and/or hearing range of a second user of a second terminal device;

a module configured to;

(i) establish an automatic, direct, wireless ad hoc connection with the second terminal device, without operation of other devices, and in response to the second terminal device coming within range of the first terminal device and the first user playing back the content item on the first terminal device; and

(ii) automatically stream the content item from the first terminal device to the second terminal device, such that the second user is provided with a one-time limited opportunity to view and/or listen to the content item during the ad-hoc connection without requiring that the second terminal device unlock the content item with the key; and

a module configured to copy the content item to the second terminal device with which the ad hoc connection is established, wherein;

the second terminal device is not permitted to execute the content item that has been assigned the first affiliator identifier without obtaining the key to unlock the content,

a second affiliator of the second terminal device sends a request to the content provider system for the key to unlock the content item using the second terminal device, where the request includes identification of the content, the first affiliator identifier, and a second affiliator identifier of the second affiliator, and

the first affiliator identifier acquired from the request is used to identify the first affiliator and to provide the first affiliator with a reward for causing the second affiliator to request the key to unlock the content.