Digital media reproduction and licensing

• US 9,715,581 B1
• Filed: 11/02/2012
• Issued: 07/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Media Chain, LLC
• Original Assignee: Christopher Estes
• Inventors: Estes, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Zecher, Dede
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCCOY, RICHARD ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US13/667,629
• Time in Patent Office: 1,726 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/22 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/487 using geographical or spatial information, e.g. location
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1015 to users
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/105 Arrangements for software license management or administration, e.g. for managing licenses at corporate level
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0204 Market segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/184 Intellectual property management
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4402 involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display details of conversion of video standards at pixel level H04N7/01; video transcoding H04N19/40; adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal G09G5/005; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4667 Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections

Abstract

Systems and methods for monetizing the reproduction of digital media content for the rights-holders of the digital media content. Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to determining whether a user of a media content item has a license to reproduce the media content item. In one embodiment, the media content item may be reproduced when the user is licensed. The user is prompted to select to acquire a license to reproduce the media content item or to decline the license to reproduce the media content item when the user is not licensed. Further embodiments determine whether a user may receive a license when the user wishes to acquire a license. In an embodiment, the user is declined a license when not approved for the license.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for providing a multimedia hardware device to generate an authorized reproduction of a media content item included in a digital media file, comprising:

loading a digital media file for reproduction, wherein the digital media file includes the media content item;

analyzing the digital media file to identify digital media information associated with the media content item;

receiving a license request from a user requesting to engage in a license transaction to reproduce the media content item;

evaluating the license transaction to determine whether the user has acquired a license to reproduce the media content item;

accessing a license database to determine whether the user is licensed to reproduce the media content item based on the digital media information;

reproducing the media content item when the user is licensed to reproduce the media content item based on the digital media information;

providing a licensing query to the user when the user is not licensed to reproduce the media content item to prompt the user to select to acquire a license to reproduce the media content item or to decline the license to reproduce the media content item;

after the evaluation of the license transaction, extracting from the license transaction user data that is specific to the user that is attempting to reproduce the media content item when the user acquires the license and when the user declines the license, wherein the user data includes demographic data associated with the user that enables a copyright owner of the media content item to gauge a demographic that acquired the license for the media content item of the copyright owner and a demographic that declined the license for is the media content item of the copyright owner;

aggregating the user data into a statistics record for the license request when the user acquires the license and when the user declines the license, wherein the statistics record summarizes the user data associated with the license request;

storing in the license database the statistics record so that the user data is accessible to the copyright owner of the media content item; and

analyzing a plurality of statistics records aggregated from each license request for the media content item owned by the copyright owner to provide the copyright owner with the aggregated user data from each license request of the media content item when the license is acquired by the user and when the license is declined by the user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the user a licensing response to the licensing query, wherein the licensing response indicates whether the user has selected to acquire the license to reproduce the media content item or to decline the license to reproduce the media content item or to decline the license to reproduce the media content item.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

providing a licensing request to a licensing system when the user desires to acquire the license to reproduce the media content item based on the licensing response from the user; and

preventing reproduction of the media content item when the user declines the license to reproduce the media content item.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving a license to reproduce the media content from the licensing system when the licensing request is granted by the licensing system; and

preventing reproduction of the media content item when the licensing request is declined by the licensing system.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

reproducing the media content item based on a plurality of reproduction parameters in the license that is received from the licensing system.

21. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing in the license database the user data that is associated with the user that is attempting to reproduce the media content item that is accessible to a third party online media retailer that has been selected by the copyright owner to distribute the media content item.

22. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing in the license database the user data that is associated with the user that is attempting to reproduce the media content item that is accessible to a hardware device manufacturer that manufacturers hardware that is implemented by the multimedia hardware device.

29. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the user data includes a geographic location of the user who is accessing the media content item.

6. A computer implemented method for providing a media content licensing and verification system to license media content for reproduction, the method comprising:

receiving a media licensing request from an external device associated with a user, wherein the media licensing request includes digital media information associated with the media content item included in a digital media file;

accessing a media catalog database that includes a plurality of media content records, wherein a media content record from the plurality of media content records is associated with the media content item;

determining whether the media licensing request is to be granted based on the media content record stored in the media catalog database that is associated with the media content item;

granting the media licensing request for the external device when the media content record associated with the media content item verifies the granting of the license for the media content item to the external device;

declining the media licensing request for the external device when the media content record associated with the media content item does not verify the granting of the license for the media content to the external device;

after the determination of the media licensing request, extracting from the media licensing request user data that is specific to the user that is attempting to reproduce the media content item when the user is granted the license and when the user declines the license, wherein the user data includes demographic data associated with the user that enables a copyright owner to gauge a demographic that acquired the license for the media content item of the copyright owner and a demographic that declined the license for the media content item of the copyright owner;

aggregating the user data into a statistics record for the media licensing request when the user acquires the license and when the user declines the license, wherein the statistics record summarizes the user data associated with the media licensing request;

storing in a license database the statistics record so that the user data is accessible to the copyright owner of the media content item; and

analyzing a plurality of statistics records aggregated from each media licensing request for the media content item owned by the copyright owner to provide the copyright owner with the aggregated user data from each media licensing request of the media content item when the license is acquired by the user and when the license is declined by the user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the determining comprises:

requesting payment information from the external device when the media content record associated with the media content item requires payment of the license for the media content item.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the granting comprises:

granting the media licensing request for the external device when payment of the license for the media content item is completed.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

generating a license record that includes license granting information associated with the license granted to the external device; and

storing the license record in a registered user database that is associated with the user.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the digital media information includes a fingerprint associated with the media content item.

23. The computer implemented method of claim 6, further comprising:

storing in the license database the user data that is associated with the user that is attempting to reproduce the media content item that is accessible to a third party online media retailer that has been selected by the copyright owner to distribute the media content item.

24. The computer implemented method of claim 6, further comprising:

storing in the license database the user data that is associated with the user that is attempting to reproduce the media content item that is accessible to a hardware device manufacturer that manufacturers hardware that is implemented by the multimedia hardware device.

30. The computer implemented method of claim 6, wherein the user data includes additional media content items that the user has previously accessed.

11. A system for providing a multimedia hardware device to generate an authorized reproduction of a media content item included in a digital media file, comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive a license request from a user requesting to engage in a license transaction to reproduce the media content item;

load a digital media file for reproduction, wherein the digital media file includes the media content item requested by the user to reproduce,

analyze the digital media file to identify digital media information associated with the media content item,

evaluate the license transaction to determine whether the user has acquired a license to reproduce the media content item;

access a licensing database to determine whether the user is licensed to reproduce the media content item based on the digital media information,

after the evaluation of the license transaction, extract from the license transaction user data that is specific to the user that is attempting to reproduce the media content item when the user acquires the license and when the user declines the license, wherein the user data includes demographic data associated with the user that enables a copyright owner to gauge a demographic that acquired the license for the media content item of the copyright owner and a demographic that declined the license for the media content item of the copyright owner,

aggregating the user data into a statistics record for the license request when the user acquires the license and when the user declines the license, wherein the statistics record summarizes the user data associated with the license request,

store in the license database the statistics record so that the user data is accessible to the copyright owner of the media content item, and

analyze a plurality of statistics records aggregated from each license request for the media content item owned by the copyright owner to provide the copyright owner with the aggregated user data from each license request of the media content item when the license is acquired by the user and when the license is declined by the user,

a user interface configured to provide a licensing query to the user when the user is not licensed to reproduce the media content item to prompt the user to select to acquire a license to reproduce the media content item or to decline the license to reproduce the media content item.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the user interface is further configured to receive from the user a licensing response to the licensing query, wherein the licensing response indicates whether the user has selected to acquire the license to reproduce the media content item or to decline the license to reproduce the media content item.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to:

provide a licensing request to a licensing system after the user has completed the licensing response; and

prevent reproduction of the media content item when the user selects to decline the license to reproduce the media content item.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a license to reproduce the media content item from the licensing system when the licensing request is granted by the licensing system; and

prevent reproduction of the media content item when the licensing request is declined by the licensing system.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to reproduce the media content item based on a plurality of reproduction parameters included in the license that is received from the licensing system.

25. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to store in the license database the user data that is associated with the user that is attempting to reproduce the media content item that is accessible to a third party online media retailer that has been selected by the copyright owner to distribute the media content item.

26. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to store in the license database the user data that is associated with the user that is attempting to reproduce the media content item that is accessible to a hardware device manufacturer that manufacturers hardware that is implemented by the multimedia hardware device.

31. The system of claim 11, wherein the user data includes a quantity of times that the user has previously accessed the media content item and additional media content items.

16. A system for providing a media content licensing and verification system to license media content for reproduction, comprising:

a transceiver configured to receive a media licensing request from an external device associated with a user, wherein the media licensing request includes digital media information associated with the media content item included in a digital media file; and

a processor configured to;

access a media catalog database that includes a plurality of media content records, wherein a media content record from the plurality of media content records is associated with the media content item,

determine whether the media licensing request is to be granted based on the media content record stored in the media catalog database that is associated with the media content item,

grant the media licensing request for the external device when the media content record associated with the media content item verifies the granting of the license for the media content item to the external device,

decline the media licensing request for the external device when the media content record associated with the media content item does not verify the granting of the license for the media content item to the external device,

after the determination of the media licensing request, extracting from the media licensing request user data that is specific to the user that is attempting to reproduce the media content item when the user acquires the license and when the user declines the license, wherein the user data includes demographic data associated with the user that enables a copyright owner to gauge a demographic that acquired the license for the media content item of the copyright owner and a demographic that declined the license for the media content item of the copyright owner,

aggregate the user data into a statistics record for the media licensing request when the user acquires the license and when the user declines the license, wherein the statistics record summarizes the user data associated with the media licensing request, and

store in a license database the statistics record so that the user data is accessible to the copyright owner of the media content item, and

analyze a plurality of statistics records aggregated from each media licensing request for the media content item owned by the copyright owner to provide the copyright owner with the aggregated user data from each license request of the media content item when the license is acquired by the user and when the license is declined by the user.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to request payment information from the external device when the media content record associated with the media content item verifies payment of the license for the media content item.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to process the media licensing request for the external device when the payment of the license for the media item is received.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to:

generate a license record that includes license granting information associated with the license granted to the external device; and

store the license record in a registered user database that is associated with the user.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the digital media information includes a fingerprint associated with the media content item.

27. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to store in the license database the user data that is associated with the user that is attempting to reproduce the media content item that is accessible to a third party online media retailer that has been selected by the copyright owner to distribute the media content item.

28. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to store in the license database the user data that is associated with the user that is attempting to reproduce the media content item that is accessible to a hardware device manufacturer that manufacturers hardware that is implemented by the multimedia hardware device.

32. The system of claim 16, wherein the user data includes a geographic location of the user who is accessing the media content item that enables the copyright owner to gauge geographic locations where the media content item is being accessed.