Controlling access to digital content

• US 9,876,797 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2014
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Jogand-Coulomb, Fabrice
• Primary Examiner(s): Mills, Frank D
• Application Number:
  US14/253,359
• Publication Number:
  US 20140230035A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,379 Days
• Field of Search: 715204
• 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 21/78 to assure secure storage of data address-based protection against unauthorised use of memory G06F12/14; record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2135 Metering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources

Abstract

Method for utilizing digital content is provided. The method includes controlling a throughput rate for utilizing the digital content by an accessing system, where the throughput rate is associated with information related to the digital content and is stored as a file. The throughput rate is controlled by a storage system that is operationally coupled to the accessing system.

Claims

1. A method for utilizing digital content, comprising:

in a storage system with digital content and a file system structure, the digital content stored as a file associated with the file system structure, performing;

receiving a request for digital content; and

controlling a throughput rate associated with access to the digital content in the storage system through use of a memory controller configured to adjust a data transmission rate of the digital content by using a delay, wherein while the storage system is operationally coupled to an accessing system the digital content is provided to the accessing system according to the throughput rate, wherein the throughput rate is associated with information related to the file and is based on a content bit rate, and wherein the content bit rate is determined by the storage system and is related to the file system structure and the delay is increased as the digital content is utilized.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the throughput rate is modified based on processing a security key.

3. A method for utilizing digital content, comprising:

in a storage system with digital content and a file system structure, the digital content stored as a file associated with the file system structure, performing;

receiving a content bit rate from an external device; and

controlling a throughput rate associated with access to the digital content in the storage system through use of a memory controller configured to adjust a data transmission rate of the digital content by using a delay, wherein while the storage system is operationally coupled to an accessing system, the digital content is provided to the accessing system according to the throughput rate, wherein the throughput is associated with information related to the file and is based on the content bit rate by the storage system from the external device and the delay is increased as the digital content is utilized.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the throughput rate is modified based on processing a security key.

5. A data storage device, comprising:

a memory; and

a memory controller coupled to the memory and configured to control a throughput rate associated with access to digital content to be sent to an accessing system, wherein the memory controller is configured to process a security key before the digital content is sent to the accessing system, wherein the memory controller adjusts a data transmission rate of the digital content to reach the throughput rate, and wherein the throughput rate is controlled based on results of processing the security key, wherein the memory controller is configured to adjust the data transmission rate of the digital content by using a delay and the memory controller increases the delay as the digital content is utilized.

6. The data storage device of claim 5, wherein the memory controller receives information regarding a file that stores the digital content.

7. The data storage device of claim 5, wherein the throughput rate is provided to the memory controller using a command.

8. The data storage device of claim 5, wherein the throughput rate depends on a bit rate of retrieval of the digital content by the accessing system.

9. The data storage device of claim 5, wherein the throughput rate is set when a request to use the security key is received.

10. The data storage device of claim 5, wherein the throughput rate is associated with an account that is used to access the digital content.

11. The data storage device of claim 5, wherein the throughput rate is stored by the memory.

12. The data storage device of claim 5, wherein the throughput rate is received by the memory.

13. The data storage device of claim 5, wherein the throughput rate is determined by the memory controller.

14. The data storage device of claim 5, wherein a naming schema indicates an operation for utilizing the digital content, and wherein the throughput rate is associated with the operation.

15. The data storage device of claim 5, wherein the delay is based on temporarily storing the digital content in an input/output buffer for a duration before releasing the digital content to the accessing system.

16. The data storage device of claim 5, wherein the throughput rate is used to control display of advertisement content before non-advertisement content is utilized by the accessing system.

17. A data storage device, comprising:

a memory; and

a memory controller coupled to the memory and configured to control a throughput rate associated with access to digital content to be sent to an accessing system, wherein the memory controller is configured to process a security key before the digital content is sent to the accessing system, wherein the memory controller adjusts a data transmission rate of the digital content to reach the throughput rate, and wherein the throughput rate is controlled based on results of processing the security key wherein the memory controller uses a delay to control the throughput rate wherein the delay is based on temporarily storing the digital content in an input/output buffer for a duration before releasing the digital content to the accessing system wherein the delay is based on temporarily storing the digital content in an input/output buffer for a duration before releasing the digital content to the accessing system wherein an initial delay is applied when the digital content is initially accessed by the accessing system and the delay is increased as the digital content is utilized by the accessing system.

18. A data storage device, comprising:

a memory; and

a memory controller coupled to the memory and configured to control a throughput rate associated with access to digital content to be sent to an accessing system, wherein the memory controller is configured to process a security key before the digital content is sent to the accessing system, wherein the memory controller adjusts a data transmission rate of the digital content to reach the throughput rate, and wherein the throughput rate is controlled based on results of processing the security key wherein the memory controller uses a delay to control the throughput rate wherein the delay is based on temporarily storing the digital content in an input/output buffer for a duration before releasing the digital content to the accessing system wherein the delay is based on temporarily storing the digital content in an input/output buffer for a duration before releasing the digital content to the accessing system wherein no delay is applied when the digital content is initially accessed by the accessing system, and wherein the delay is increased as the digital content is utilized by the accessing system.