Systems and methods for dynamic access to program features

• US 9,838,453 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2014
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Chasen, Jeffrey M., Elman, Joshua E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Desrosiers, Evans
• Application Number:
  US14/579,759
• Publication Number:
  US 20150113051A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: 713168-174, 713182-186, 713202, 709206, 709225, 709229, 709249, 709389, 726 2- 8
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5513 involving billing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/105 Arrangements for software license management or administration, e.g. for managing licenses at corporate level
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/121 Restricting unauthorised execution of programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols

Abstract

The multimedia client-server system provides a multimedia client program with a set of features and a server system that creates feature access information that determines which features are to be made available to a particular user. The server system may send the feature access information to the user such that the information is accessible to the multimedia client program. The multimedia client program may dynamically control the user'"'"'s access to the program'"'"'s feature set by using the feature access information to validate and verify the user. In addition, the feature access information may be accessible to the server system, such that the server system may periodically update the feature access information, such as, for example, when the user accesses the server system to download multimedia content.

Claims

1. A computer system capable of using cellular communication to communicate with at least one server system, the computer system comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one computer-readable memory storing instructions that when executed by the at least one processor result in the computer system presenting a user interface that, in operation of the computer system, is operable to;

permit requesting provision of at least one subscription-based service, the provision of the at least one subscription-based service resulting in availability for use of at least one feature associated, at least in part, with at least one media program that is executable, at least in part, by the computer system;

permit requesting, via the use of the at least one feature, if the at least one subscription-based service is provided, that at least certain audio data be provided to the computer system from the at least one server system via at least one of downloading and streaming to the computer system;

the computer system being capable of receiving, in the operation of the computer system, the at least certain audio data via the cellular communication;

the at least one subscription-based service to be provided based upon a subscription that is associated with a subscription fee, the subscription also being associated with at least one user account, the at least one user account being associable with information related to;

user identification; and

user payment account;

wherein;

when the computer system is in the operation, the computer system is capable of calculating a value to be used to detect data tampering associated, at least in part, with other data associated, at least in part, with the at least one feature, the value being based, at least in part, upon a machine ID and additional data stored in the at least one computer-readable memory;

when the computer system is in the operation, the computer system is capable of receiving an update of the other data from the at least one server system.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one media program is also capable of playing the at least certain audio data received from the at least one server system.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one user account is establishable, at least in part, using the user interface.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one media program is capable, at least in part, of playing streaming video content and downloaded video content provided by the at least one server system.

5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one media program is also capable, at least in part, of playing media content associated with at least one radio station.

6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein:

the subscription includes an unlimited amount of streamed content within a subscription period.

7. The computer system of claim 1, wherein:

the information also comprises user billing address; and

the user payment account comprises a credit card account.

8. At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program instructions that when executed by at least one machine result in a computer system performing operations comprising:

presenting a user interface that, in operation of the computer system, is operable to;

permit requesting provision of at least one subscription-based service, the provision of the at least one subscription-based service resulting in availability for use of at least one feature associated, at least in part, with at least one media program that is executable, at least in part, by the computer system;

permit requesting, via the use of the at least one feature, if the at least one subscription-based service is provided, that at least certain audio data be provided to the computer system from the at least one server system via at least one of downloading and streaming to the computer system;

the computer system being capable of receiving, in the operation of the computer system, the at least certain audio data via the cellular communication;

the at least one subscription-based service to be provided based upon a subscription that is associated with a subscription fee, the subscription also being associated with at least one user account, the at least one user account being associable with information related to;

user identification; and

user payment account;

wherein;

when the computer system is in the operation, the computer system is capable of calculating a value to be used to detect data tampering associated, at least in part, with other data associated, at least in part, with the at least one feature, the value being based, at least in part, upon a machine ID and additional data stored in the at least one computer-readable memory;

when the computer system is in the operation, the computer system is capable of receiving an update of the other data from the at least one server system.

9. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein:

the at least one media program is also capable of playing the at least certain audio data received from the at least one server system.

10. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein:

the at least one user account is establishable, at least in part, using the user interface.

11. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein:

the at least one media program is capable, at least in part, of playing streaming video content and downloaded video content provided by the at least one server system.

12. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein:

the at least one media program is also capable, at least in part, of playing media content associated with at least one radio station.

13. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein:

the subscription includes an unlimited amount of streamed content within a subscription period.

14. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein:

the information also comprises user billing address; and

the user payment account comprises a credit card account.