System and method for distributing broadcast media based on a number of viewers

• US 10,007,768 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2013
• Issued: 06/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Isaac Daniel Inventorship Group LLC
• Original Assignee: Isaac Daniel Inventorship Group LLC
• Inventors: Daniel, Isaac S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Jonathan V
• Application Number:
  US13/741,311
• Publication Number:
  US 20130132271A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,989 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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: G06Q 20/22 Payment schemes or models
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3433 the counter having monetary units
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/78 CATV [Community Antenna Television] systems
• 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 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/162 Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17354 in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Abstract

A system and method related thereto that includes a processor, and computer executable instructions readable by the processor and operative to provide media content for selection, provide a license for selection, wherein the license is associated with the media content, receive a selection of the media content or the license, use a sensor to determine a number of persons that are capable of perceiving the media content, and control the media content based on the number of persons that is determined to be capable of perceiving the media content, wherein controlling the media content includes any or all of the following: ceasing to play the media content, pausing the media content, playing the media content, or continuing to play the media content.

Claims

1. A system comprising of:

at least one processor; and

computer executable instructions readable by the at least one processor and operative to;

provide at least one piece of media content for selection;

provide at least one license for selection, wherein the at least one license is associated with the at least one piece of media content;

receive a selection of the at least one piece of media content or the at least one license;

use at least one sensor to determine a number of persons that are capable of perceiving the at least one piece of media content;

control the at least one piece of media content based on the number of persons that is determined to be capable of perceiving the at least one piece of media content, wherein controlling the at least one piece of media content comprises any or all of the following;

ceasing to play or pausing the broadcast of at least one piece of media content when the number of persons determined to be capable of viewing the content is greater than the number of persons authorized to view the at least one piece of media content, playing or continuing to play the broadcast of at least one piece of media content when the number of persons determined to be capable of viewing the content is equal to or less than the number of persons authorized to view the broadcast of the at least one piece of media content;

if the number of persons determined to be capable of viewing the content is greater than the number of persons authorized to view the at least one piece of media content, then engage a barrier to prevent entry to a physical space where said at least one piece of media content may be played.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one license comprises a number of persons or identity of persons authorized to perceive the at least one piece of media content.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein providing at least one license for selection comprises providing a number of persons or identity of persons authorized to perceive the at least one piece of media content for selection.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer executable instructions are operative to allow at least one user to modify the at least one license.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer executable instructions are further operative to control the at least one piece of media content if the number of persons determined to be capable of perceiving the at least one piece of media content exceeds or does not correspond to the at least one license.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the computer executable instructions are operative to allow at least one user to modify the at least one license if the number of persons determined to be capable of perceiving the at least one piece of media content exceeds or does not correspond to the at least one license.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein using at least one sensor to determine a number of persons that are capable of perceiving the at least one piece of media content comprises using at least one sensor to sense at least one body part of at least one person capable of perceiving the at least one piece of media content.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one body part comprises:

at least one head;

at least one eye;

at least one ear;

at least one nose;

at least one mouth;

at least one face;

at least one arm;

at least one chest;

at least one hand;

at least one torso;

at least one leg;

at least one article of clothing worn by the at least one body part;

at least one heat signature of the at least one body part;

at least one emission emitted by at least one body party;

or

at least one entire body to which the at least one body part is connected.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein using at least one sensor to determine a number of persons that are capable of perceiving the at least one piece of media content comprises using at least one sensor to determine a number of persons that are capable of perceiving the at least one piece of media content during at least one period of time or during a number of performances of the at least one piece of media content.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one license comprises a fee.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the barrier comprises a means for restricting access to the space.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein providing the at least one license for selection comprises automatically selecting at least one license associated with the at least one piece of content, or automatically selecting at least one license associated with the number of persons or identity of persons capable of perceiving the at least one piece of media content.

13. A computer implemented method comprising the steps of:

providing at least one piece of media content for selection;

providing at least one license for selection, wherein the at least one license is associated with the at least one piece of media content;

receiving a selection of the at least one piece of media content or the at least one license;

using at least one sensor to determine a number of persons that are capable of perceiving the at least one piece of media content;

controlling the at least one piece of media content based on the number of persons that is determined to be capable of perceiving the at least one piece of media content, wherein controlling the at least one piece of media content includes any or all of the following;

ceasing to play or pausing the broadcast of at least one piece of media content when the number of persons determined to be capable of viewing the content is greater than the number of persons authorized to view the at least one piece of media content, playing or continuing to play the broadcast of at least one piece of media content when the number of persons determined to be capable of viewing the content is equal to or less than the number of persons authorized to view the broadcast of the at least one piece of media content;

if the number of persons determined to be capable of viewing the content is greater than the number of persons authorized to view the at least one piece of media content, then engaging a barrier to prevent entry to a physical space where said at least one piece of media content may be played.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein providing at least one license for selection comprises providing a number of persons or identity of persons authorized to perceive the at least one piece of media content for selection.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising allowing at least one user to modify the at least one license.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising allowing at least one user to modify the at least one license if the number of persons determined to be capable of perceiving the at least one piece of media content exceeds or does not correspond to the at least one license.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein using at least one sensor to determine a number of persons that are capable of perceiving the at least one piece of media content comprises using at least one sensor to sense at least one body part of at least one person capable of perceiving the at least one piece of media content, or sense an emission of the at least one body part.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein using at least one sensor to determine a number of persons that are capable of perceiving the at least one piece of media content comprises using at least one sensor to determine a number of persons that are capable of perceiving the at least one piece of media content during at least one period of time or during a number of performances of the at least one piece of media content.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving a payment of a fee or an authorization for payment of a fee.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein providing the at least one license for selection comprises automatically selecting at least one license associated with the at least one piece of content, automatically selecting at least one license associated with the number of persons or identity of persons capable of perceiving the at least one piece of media content.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method comprising the steps of:

providing at least one piece of media content for selection;

providing at least one license for selection, wherein the at least one license is associated with the at least one piece of media content;

receiving a selection of the at least one piece of media content or the at least one license;

using at least one sensor to determine a number of persons that are capable of perceiving the at least one piece of media content;

controlling the at least one piece of media content based on the number of persons that is determined to be capable of perceiving the at least one piece of media content, wherein controlling the at least one piece of media content includes any or all of the following;

ceasing to play or pausing the broadcast of at least one piece of media content when the number of persons determined to be capable of viewing the content is greater than the number of persons authorized to view the at least one piece of media content, playing or continuing to play the broadcast of at least one piece of media content when the number of persons determined to be capable of viewing the content is equal to or less than the number of persons authorized to view the broadcast of the at least one piece of media content;

if the number of persons determined to be capable of viewing the content is greater than the number of persons authorized to view the at least one piece of media content, then engaging a barrier to prevent entry to a physical space where said at least one piece of media content may be played.