Use of media storage structure with multiple pieces of content in a content-distribution system

• US 20070083473A1
• Filed: 10/11/2005
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Dowdy, Thomas, Fasoli, Gianpaolo, Farrugia, Augustin
• Granted Patent: US 8,306,918 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/57
• 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 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2220/12 Usage or charge determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/00 Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD] real-time bi-directional transmission of motion video data H04N7/14 ; broadcast or conference over packet switching networks H04L12/18

Abstract

Some embodiments of the invention provide a method for distributing content over a network. The method distributes a single media storage structure to a device (e.g., a computer, portable player, etc.) that connects to the network. The media storage structure includes first and second pieces of encrypted content. Based on whether the device is allowed to access the first piece of content, the second piece of content, or both, the method provides the device with a set of keys for decrypting the pieces of the content that the device is able to access. The provided set of keys might include one or more keys for decrypting only one of the two encrypted pieces of content. Alternatively, it might include one or more keys for decrypting both encrypted pieces of content. For instance, the selected set of keys might include a first key for decrypting the first encrypted piece and a second key for decrypting the second encrypted piece. Based on the provided set of keys, the device can then decrypt and access either one of the two pieces of content in the media storage structure or both pieces of encrypted content in the media storage structure.

Claims

1. A method for distributing content, the method comprising:

a) providing a single media storage structure for a device, wherein the media storage structure includes a set of at least two encrypted content pieces;

b) based on the pieces of content that the device has right to access, selecting a first set of keys from among a second set of keys, the first set of keys for allowing the device to access only the encrypted content pieces that the device has a right to access; and

c) providing the first set of keys for the device to control which piece of content the device can access.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a first set of computers provides the single media storage structure and a second set of computers provides the first set of keys.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of keys includes a cryptographic key for decrypting each piece of content in the media storage structure that the device has a right to access.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

before providing the media storage structure, completing a financial transaction in which a right to access certain pieces of content in the media storage structure is acquired.

28. The method of claim 2, wherein the first and second set of computers are the same.

29. The method of claim 2, wherein the first and second set of computers do not have any computer in common.

30. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one of the set of computers includes more than one computer.

31. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one of the set of computers includes only one computer.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of keys includes fewer keys than the second set of keys.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein the media storage structure includes a slot for each key, each particular slot for storing a particular key for a particular piece of content of the media storage structure.

34. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a request to acquire a right for the device to the set of content pieces;

performing a financial transaction to establish the requested right.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the selection of the first set of keys from among the second set of keys is based on the right that is acquired through the financial transaction.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein a first set of computers is used to perform the financial transaction, a second set of computers is used to provide the media storage structure, and a third set of computers is used to select the first set of keys.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the first and third set of computers have at least one computer in common.

5. A content-distribution system comprising:

a) a device for receiving content;

b) a set of computers for distributing to the device a media storage structure and a set of keys, the media storage structure comprising a set of encrypted content pieces,

wherein each particular key in the set of keys is for decrypting a particular piece of content in the set of encrypted content pieces,

wherein the set of keys does not include a key for each piece of content and only includes a key for each piece of content that the device has a right to access.

6. The content-distribution system of claim 5, wherein the set of computers includes a first computer for distributing the encrypted content pieces and a second computer for distributing the keys.

7. The content-distribution system of claim 5, wherein the device is a computer.

8. The content-distribution system of claim 7 further comprising a portable player for synchronizing with the computers.

9. The content-distribution system of claim 5, wherein the device is a portable player.

26. The content-distribution system of claim 6, wherein the second computer distributes a set of keys for a particular set of content pieces after a right to at least a portion of the content pieces has been acquired for a particular device, wherein the distributed set of keys for the particular set of content pieces allows the particular device to access the portion of the content pieces for which the right has been acquired.

27. The content-distribution system of claim 5, wherein the media storage structure includes a slot for each key, each particular slot for storing a particular key for a particular piece of content of the media storage structure.

10. A data structure stored on a computer readable medium, the data structure comprising:

a) header information;

b) a plurality of encrypted media portions; and

c) a set of keys, each key for decrypting one of the encrypted media portions, wherein the set of keys does not include a key for each encrypted media portion.

11. The data structure of claim 10, wherein one of the encrypted media portions is audio content and another of the encrypted media portions is video content related to the audio content.

12. The data structure of claim 11, wherein the audio content is a song and the video content is a music video associated with the song.

13. The data structure of claim 10, wherein one of the encrypted media portions is audio content and another of the encrypted media portions is text content related to the audio content.

14. The data structure of claim 13, wherein the audio content is a song and the text content is the song'"'"'s lyrics.

15. The data structure of claim 10, wherein one of the encrypted media portions is video content and another of the encrypted media portions is text content related to the video content.

16. The data structure of claim 15, wherein the text content is dialogue associated with the video content.

17. A method of accessing media content on a device, the method comprising:

a) receiving a unitary media storage structure with a plurality of protected media portions,

b) receiving a key for each protected media portion that the device has permission to access, wherein said unitary media storage structure is received separately than at least one key for at least one protected media portion, and

c) using a received key to access a media portion that the device has permission to access.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising storing each received key in said unitary media storage structure.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein said unitary media storage structure is received separately from each key for each protected media portion.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein the unitary media storage structure is received from a first set of content-distributing computers, while each key for each protected media portion in said storage structure is received from a second set of license-authority computers that is different than the first set of content-distributing computers.

19. A method of granting permission to access media content comprising:

a) providing for a device a unitary media storage structure with a plurality of protected media portions; and

b) providing for the device a key for each protected media portion that the device has permission to access, wherein each key is for accessing a media portion that the device has permission to access, wherein said unitary media storage structure is provided separately than at least one key for at least one protected media portion that the device has permission to access.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the unitary media storage structure includes slots for inserting keys for accessing the protected media portions of the unitary media storage structure.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the device is a computer.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein said unitary media storage structure is provided separately than each key for each protected media portion.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the unitary media storage structure is provided by a first set of computers, while each key for each protected media portion in said storage structure is provided by a second set of computers different than the first set of computers.

38. A method of accessing content on a device, the method comprising:

a) receiving a unitary media storage structure with a plurality of protected media portions,

b) receiving a key for each protected media portion that the device has permission to access, wherein the received set of keys does not includes a key for at least one protected media portion, and

c) using a received key to access a media portion that the device has permission to access.

39. The method of claim 38 further comprising storing each received key in said unitary media storage structure.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the media storage structure includes a slot for each key, each particular slot for storing a particular key for a particular protected media portion of the media storage structure.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the device stores the media storage structure, wherein to access the plurality of protected media portions, the device retrieves the media storage structure and uses the set of keys stored in the storage structure to unprotect and thereby access the protected media portions of the storage structure.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein said unitary media storage structure is received separately than each key for each protected media portion.

43. A computer readable medium of a device, said computer readable medium storing a computer program for accessing media content on a device, the computer program comprising sets of instructions for:

a) receiving a unitary media storage structure with a plurality of protected media portions,

b) receiving a key for each protected media portion that the device has permission to access, wherein the received set of keys does not includes a key for each protected media portion, and

c) using a received key to access a media portion that the device has permission to access.

44. The computer readable medium of claim 43, wherein the computer program further comprises a set of instructions for storing each received key in said unitary media storage structure.

45. The computer readable medium of claim 44, wherein the media storage structure includes a slot for inserting each key for each media portion of the media storage structure.

46. The computer readable medium of claim 44, wherein the device stores the media storage structure, wherein the set of instructions for using a received key comprises a set of instructions for retrieving the media storage structure and using the set of keys stored in the storage structure to unprotect and thereby access the protected media portions of the storage structure.

47. The computer readable medium of claim 43, wherein said unitary media storage structure is received separately than each key for each protected media portion.

48. A computer readable medium of a device, said computer readable medium storing a computer program for accessing media content on a device, the computer program comprising sets of instructions for:

a) receiving a unitary media storage structure with a plurality of protected media portions,

b) receiving a key for each protected media portion that the device has permission to access, wherein said unitary media storage structure is received separately than at least one key for at least one protected media portion, and

c) using a received key to access a media portion that the device has permission to access.

49. The computer readable medium of claim 48, wherein the computer program further comprises a set of instructions for merging the unitary media storage structure with each received key to create a single media storage structure.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein said unitary media storage structure is received separately than each key for each protected media portion.

51. The method of claim 48, wherein the unitary media storage structure is received from a first set of content-distributing computers, while each key for each protected media portion in said unitary media storage structure is received from a particular computer in a second set of license-authority computers.

52. A content-distribution system comprising:

a device for receiving content;

a first set of computers for distributing a set of encrypted content pieces to said device,

a second set of computers for distributing a set of keys to said device, wherein each particular key in the set of keys is for decrypting a particular piece of content in a the set of encrypted content pieces,

wherein the first and second set of computers are different.

53. The content-distribution system of claim 52, wherein the device stores the set of encrypted content pieces and the set of keys in a media storage structure.

54. The content-distribution system of claim 53, wherein the device receives the set of encrypted content pieces in the media storage structure without the set of keys, and merges the set of keys into the media storage structure.

55. The content-distribution system of claim 53, wherein the device stores the media storage structure, wherein to access the set of encrypted content pieces, the device retrieves the media storage structure and uses the set of keys to decrypt and thereby access the encrypted content pieces.

56. The content-distribution system of claim 52, wherein the device is a computer.

57. The content-distribution system of claim 56 further comprising a plurality of portable players for synchronizing with the computers to receive media storage structures.

58. The content-distribution system of claim 52, wherein the device is a portable player.

59. A data structure stored on a computer readable medium, the data structure comprising:

a) header information;

b) a plurality of encrypted media portions;

c) a plurality of slots for inserting keys, each key for decrypting one of the encrypted media portions;

wherein said data structure is distributed without said keys by a first set of computers, wherein said keys are distributed by a second set of computers different than the first set of computers.

60. The data structure of claim 59 further comprising a set of keys inserted in a set of slots.

61. The data structure of claim 59, wherein one of the encrypted media portions is audio content and another of the encrypted media portions is video content related to the audio content.

62. The data structure of claim 59, wherein the audio content is a song and the video content is a music video associated with the song.

63. The data structure of claim 59, wherein one of the encrypted media portions is audio content and another of the encrypted media portions is text content related to the audio content.

64. The data structure of claim 63, wherein the audio content is a song and the text content is the song'"'"'s lyrics.

65. The data structure of claim 59, wherein one of the encrypted media portions is video content and another of the encrypted media portions is text content related to the video content.

66. A player for synchronizing with a media file stored on a computer, said player comprising internal data storage storing a portion of the media file that is less than the entirety of the media file stored on said computer, wherein the media file on the computer comprises first and second pieces of encrypted content, a first key for decrypting the first piece of content, and a second key for decrypting the second piece of content.

67. The player of claim 66, wherein the player is a portable player.

68. The player of claim 66, wherein the stored portion of the media file includes the first piece of content, but not the second piece of content.

69. The player of claim 66, wherein the second piece of content is removed from the media file before the portion of the media file is stored on the internal data storage.

70. The player of claim 66, wherein the stored portion of the media file includes the first key, but not the second key.

71. The player of claim 66, wherein the second key is removed from the media file before the portion of the media file is stored on the internal data storage.

72. A method of synchronizing encrypted content with a device, the method comprising:

a) identifying a media storage structure that contains a set of encrypted content pieces that need to be transferred to the device,

b) identifying at least one particular encrypted content piece in the set that should not be transferred to the device,

c) transferring to the device the media storage structure without the identified particular encrypted content piece.

73. The method of claim 72, wherein the media storage structure includes a set of keys, wherein each particular key in the set is for decrypting a particular encrypted content piece.

74. The method of claim 73 further comprising transferring to the device the media storage structure without the key corresponding to the identified particular encrypted content piece.

75. The method of claim 73, wherein the transferred media storage structure includes a key for each encrypted content piece that is transferred to the device in the media storage structure.

76. The method of claim 72, wherein the set of encrypted content pieces include encrypted audio and video pieces, wherein the identified particular encrypted content piece is the video piece.

77. A computer readable medium of a device, said computer readable medium storing a computer program for synchronizing encrypted content with a device, the computer program comprising sets of instructions for:

a) identifying a media storage structure that contains a set of encrypted content pieces that need to be transferred to the device,

b) identifying at least one particular encrypted content piece in the set that should not be transferred to the device,

c) without the identified particular encrypted content piece, transferring the media storage structure to the device.

78. The computer readable medium of claim 77, wherein the media storage structure includes a set of keys, wherein each particular key in the set is for decrypting a particular encrypted content piece.

79. The computer readable medium of claim 78, wherein the computer program further comprises a set of instructions for transferring the media storage structure to the device without the key corresponding to the identified particular encrypted content piece.

80. The computer readable medium of claim 78, wherein the transferred media storage structure includes a key for each encrypted content piece that is transferred to the device in the media storage structure.

81. The computer readable medium of claim 77, wherein the set of encrypted content pieces include encrypted audio and video pieces, wherein the identified particular encrypted content piece is the video piece.

82. For a first device, a method of synchronizing with a second device to receive encrypted content, the method comprising:

connecting to the second device to initiate a synchronization operation,

receiving a media storage structure that is stored on the second device and that contains a set of related encrypted content pieces,

wherein when stored on the second device, the media storage structure includes at least one particular encrypted content piece that is not part of the received media storage structure.

83. The method of claim 82, wherein the media storage structure stored on the second device includes a set of keys, wherein each key in the set is for decrypting a encrypted content piece.

84. The method of claim 83 wherein the media storage structure received by the first device does not include a key corresponding to the particular encrypted content piece that is not in the media storage structure received by the first device.

85. The method of claim 83, wherein the received media storage structure includes a key for each encrypted content piece that is received in the received media storage structure.

86. The method of claim 82, wherein the set of encrypted content pieces include encrypted audio and video pieces, wherein the particular encrypted content piece is the video piece.

87. A computer readable medium of a first device, said computer readable medium storing a computer program for synchronizing with a second device to receive encrypted content, the computer program comprising sets of instructions for:

connecting to the second device to initiate a synchronization operation,

receiving a media storage structure that is stored on the second device and that contains a set of related encrypted content pieces,

wherein when stored on the second device, the media storage structure includes at least one particular encrypted content piece that is not part of the received media storage structure.

88. The computer readable medium of claim 87, wherein the media storage structure stored on the second device includes a set of keys, wherein each key in the set is for decrypting a encrypted content piece.

89. The computer readable medium of claim 88 wherein the media storage structure received by the first device does not include a key corresponding to the particular encrypted content piece that is not in the media storage structure received by the first device.

90. The computer readable medium of claim 88, wherein the received media storage structure includes a key for each encrypted content piece that is received in the received media storage structure.

91. The computer readable medium of claim 87, wherein the set of encrypted content pieces include encrypted audio and video pieces, wherein the particular encrypted content piece is the video piece.

92. A system for distributing content, the system comprising:

a) a first device for accessing content;

b) a second device for accessing content, said second device

(i) storing a media storage structure that contains a set of encrypted content pieces,

(ii) identifying at least one particular encrypted content piece in the set that should not be transferred to the first device,

(iii) without the identified particular encrypted content piece, transferring the media storage structure to the device.

93. The system of claim 92, wherein the media storage structure includes a set of keys, wherein each particular key in the set is for decrypting a particular encrypted content piece.

94. The system of claim 93, wherein when the transferred media storage structure does not includes the key corresponding to the identified particular encrypted content piece.

95. The system of claim 93, wherein the transferred media storage structure includes a key for each encrypted content piece that is transferred to the device in the media storage structure.

96. The system of claim 92 further comprising a set of computers for transferring the encrypted content pieces and the set of keys to the second device.

97. The system of claim 96, wherein the set of computers is further for transferring the encrypted content pieces to the second device in the media storage structure without any key from the set of keys.

98. The system of claim 97, wherein the set of computers is further for transferring the set of keys separately from the media storage structure, wherein the second device is further for storing the set of keys in the media storage structure received from the set of computers.