Methods for playing protected content

• US 20040210765A1
• Filed: 05/04/2004
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Erickson, John S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,341,424 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/200
• 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 2211/007 Encryption, En-/decode, En-/decipher, En-/decypher, Scramble, (De-)compress
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/008 Public Key, Asymmetric Key, Asymmetric Encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/103 applying security measure for protecting copy right protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment, e.g. protection the software providers copyright G06F21/10; data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; secrecy systems or subscription systems H04N7/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/123 received data contents, e.g. message integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/126 the source of the received data

Abstract

One aspect of the present invention is a method of playing multi-media content through a personal computer. The personal computer includes a processor and memory, with the memory having software instructions stored therein. The processor executes the instructions to carry-out the method. The method includes: receiving data representing multi-media content at the personal computer; receiving at the personal computer an initial set of data representing a base set of usage rights that is associated with the multi-media content, wherein the initial set of data defines a first set of rights that is permissible without upgrading or renewing the base set of usage rights; and upon receiving a request to perform an action involving the multi-media content, checking the initial set of data representing the base set of usage rights to determine whether the action is permissible, and providing an option to a user through the personal computer to contact a remote computer to negotiate for an upgraded set of usage rights. The transmission of the multi-media content is among those actions that are not permissible.

Claims

1. A method of playing multi-media content through a personal computer, wherein the personal computer comprises a processor and memory, the memory having a software application or plug-in stored therein, wherein the processor executes the application or plug-in to carry-out said method, said method comprising:

controlling playing of multi-media content according to pre-established rights associated with the multi-media content, wherein, at a minimum, the playing comprises a preview of the multi-media content, and, wherein, transferring the multi-media content is excluded from the pre-established rights;

facilitating communication with a remote computer to obtain at least one of;

i) multi-media content; and

ii) supplemental rights, wherein the supplemental rights extend permissible playing of the multi-media content beyond the pre-established rights; and

recording use of the multi-media content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein use is recorded in a bibliographic record associated with the content.

3. A computer readable medium including the application or plug-in of claim 1 stored thereon.

4. A computer readable medium including the application or plug-in of claim 2 stored thereon.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing payment options to a user through the application or plug-in, the options reflecting requirements to obtain the supplemental rights.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the use comprises at least one of transferring and saving.

7. A method of playing multi-media content through a personal computer, wherein the personal computer comprises a processor and memory, the memory having software instructions stored therein, wherein the processor executes the instructions to carry-out said method, said method comprising:

receiving data representing multi-media content at the personal computer;

receiving at the personal computer an initial set of data representing a base set of usage rights that is associated with the multi-media content, wherein the initial set of data defines a first set of rights that is permissible without upgrading or renewing the base set of usage rights; and

upon receiving a request to perform an action involving the multi-media content, checking the initial set of data representing the base set of usage rights to determine whether the action is permissible,

wherein transmission of the multi-media content is among those actions that are not permissible, and

providing an option to a user through the personal computer to contact a remote computer to negotiate for an upgraded set of usage rights.

8. A computer readable medium having the software instructions of claim 7 stored thereon.

9. A method of maintaining a bibliographic record of multi-media content on a personal computer, wherein the personal computer comprises a processor and memory, the memory having software instructions stored therein, wherein the processor executes the instructions to carry-out said method, said method comprising:

opening an object including multi-media content, the object including a representation of the multi-media content and data specifying base usage rights associated with the multi-media content;

upon receiving a request to perform an action on the multi-media content;

determining whether the action is permissible under the base usage rights, and

attaching data representing the request and data to reflect whether the action was carried out to a record, the record thereby providing a bibliographic history of the multi-media content, wherein the record is associated with the object.

10. A computer readable medium having the software instructions of claim 9 stored thereon.