Method and system for limiting content diffusion to local receivers

• US 20050160450A1
• Filed: 11/01/2004
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Warner Bros Entertainment Incorporated (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Warner Bros Entertainment Incorporated (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stephens, Spencer, Bell, Alan
• Granted Patent: US 7,158,800 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/35
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/61 for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/23 using cryptography, e.g. encryption, authentication, key distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/51 of receiving stations

Abstract

Content is distributed from a source to a sink only if the sink is within a predetemined distance from a source. In one embodiment, a control signal is sent over a limited range channel to the sink and the content is then sent only if the control signal is received properly by the sink. In another embodiment, the content is encrypted and the encryption key is sent over the limited range channel. The content is also sent to the sink, but the sink cannot decode the content unless it has a proper copy of the decoding key. The control signal can be sent over a wireless channel, an IR channel, or an AC line. The content is sent over the Internet, either using a standard wired channel or over a wireless channel.

Claims

1. A system for transmitting content within a predetermined geographic region comprising:

a content source generating control signals and selectively transmitting said control signals and content, at least said control signals being transmitted over a limited range channel; and

a sink receiving said content, said sink being able to utilize said content only if it also receives said control signals over said limited range channel.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said content is encoded, wherein said control signal includes a key, and wherein said sink uses said key to decode said content.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said source and said content are adapted to exchange signals over a limited range channel and a general channel and wherein said content is transmitted over said general channel.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said source and sink exchange handshake messages before sending content.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said source transmits said content over said limited range channel.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said limited range channel is one of a wireless channel, an IR channel, and an AC line channel.

7. A system for transmitting content comprising:

a source transmitting a control signal over a limited range channel and selectively transmitting content when an acceptable response is received to said control signal; and

a source receiving said control signal, generating a response corresponding to said control signal, and subsequently receiving said content.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said control signal includes a PING signal and a nonce and said return includes said nonce.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein said content is transmitted over said limited range channel.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein said content is sent over a general channel.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein said control signal is sent over a wireless channel.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein said control signal is sent over one of a wireless channel, an IR channel and an AC line.

13. The system of claim 7 wherein said control signal is sent over a wireless channel and said content is sent over a wired channel.

14. The system of claim 7 wherein said control signal is sent over one of an IR channel, a wireless channel and an AC line, and content is sent over one of an IR channel a wireless channel and an AC line.

15. A method of distributing content from a source comprising the steps of:

transmitting a control signal from the source over a limited range channel;

receiving said control signal by a sink;

returning a response signal responsive to said control signal by said sink; and

in response transmitting said content to said sink.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said content is sent over a general channel.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said content is sent over a wired channel.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said content is sent over a wireless channel.

19. A method of distributing content comprising the steps of:

transmitting a decoding key over a limited range channel;

receiving said decoding key by a sink;

transmitting said content in response to said acknowledgement; and

decoding said content using said decoding key.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising sending an acknowledgement by said sink responsive to said decoding key, wherein said content is transmitted responsive to said acknowledgement.