Time-Based Digital Content Authorization

• US 20090210915A1
• Filed: 04/28/2009
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ajit V. Rajasekharan, Foy C. Sperring Jr, Guy A. Story, Jr., Jonathan T. Millman
• Original Assignee: Ajit V. Rajasekharan, Foy C. Sperring Jr, Guy A. Story, Jr., Jonathan T. Millman
• Inventors: Sperring, Foy C. JR., Story, Guy A. JR., Rajasekharan, Ajit V., Millman, Jonathan T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,979,914 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/92
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6334 for authorisation, e.g. by transmitting a key wireless communications network key management H04W12/04; wireless communications network access security H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8352 involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/913 for scrambling ; for copy protection

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for time-based access to digital content are provided. Access to a set of digital content is provided for a predetermined period of time. During the predetermined period of time, a user can access (e.g., download, play) any digital content in the set of digital content. At the end of the predetermined period of time, the user is denied access to the digital content regardless of where the content is stored (e.g., in a digital content library, on a computer system controlled by the user, on a playback device controlled by the user). Simplified access and control of digital content is thereby provided in the form of time-based access.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a digital content library to store audio visual (AV) content, the digital content library containing one or more digital content files, each digital content file storing a list of valid identifiers; and

a playback device substantially directly coupled to the digital content library through a network and having one or more identifiers stored therein, the playback device storing at least a portion of one or more programs from the digital content library for later playback, the playback device configured to substantially directly access and download from the digital content library through a playback device interface a digital content file stored by the digital content library if an identifier stored in the playback device matches one of the valid identifiers in the list, and to play the downloaded AV content, wherein the playback device is authorized to access and download a group of different AV content titles for a predetermined period of time, wherein access by the playback device to the group of different AV content titles is granted on a group basis, and further wherein the playback device is prevented at the expiration of the predetermined period of time from accessing and downloading the group of different AV content titles stored by the digital content library and prevented from playing the downloaded AV content and the stored programs, and wherein preventing the playing of the downloaded AV content and the stored programs comprises disabling the playback device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the predetermined period of time is dynamically extensible beyond the predetermined period of time.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the playback device comprises a mobile playback device coupled to a computer system.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the playback device comprises a mobile playback device.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the playback device comprises a set-top box.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the playback device comprises a set-top box coupled to a mobile playback device.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the digital content library comprises a computer system.

8. The system claim 1 wherein the digital content library comprises a storage medium.

9. A method comprising:

granting substantially direct access by a playback device to one or more digital content files from a digital library, through a playback device interface that connects the playback device to the digital library, for a predetermined period of time, wherein the playback device has stored thereon one or more identifiers and each of the digital content files includes a list of valid identifiers, wherein substantially direct access is granted if one identifier stored in the playback device matches one valid identifier in the list, and wherein access to the one or more digital content files is granted on a group basis;

allowing substantially direct access by the playback device to the one or more digital content files for the predetermined period of time, wherein substantially direct access comprises at least making authorized copies of some or all of the digital content files, and playing the copied digital content files; and

denying access by the playback device to the one or more digital content files the expiration of the predetermined period of time, wherein denying access by the playback device comprises preventing playback by the playback device of the digital content files copied and preventing copying of the digital content files accessed, wherein preventing playback comprises disabling the playback device.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the predetermined period of time is dynamically extensible beyond the predetermined period of time.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the playback device comprises a mobile playback device coupled to a computer system.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the playback device comprises a mobile playback device.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the playback device comprises a set-top box.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the playback device comprises a set-top box coupled to a mobile playback device.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the digital content files are contained on a computer system.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the digital content files are contained on a storage medium.

17. An article comprising a machine-accessible medium to provide content to cause one or more electronic devices to:

grant substantially direct access by a playback device to one or more digital content files from a digital library, through a playback device interface that substantially directly connects the playback device to the digital library, for a predetermined period of time, wherein the playback device has stored thereon one or more identifiers and each of the one or more digital content files includes a list of valid identifiers, wherein substantially direct access is granted if one identifier stored in the playback device matches one valid identifier in the list, and wherein substantially direct access to the one or more digital content files is granted on a group basis;

allow substantially direct access by the playback device to the one or more digital content files for the predetermined period of time, wherein substantially direct access comprises at least making authorized copies of some or all of the digital content files, and playing the copied digital content files; and

deny access by the playback device to the one or more digital content files at the expiration of the predetermined period of time, wherein denying access comprises preventing playback of digital content files copied and preventing copying by the playback device of the digital content files accessed, and wherein preventing playback by the playback device of the digital content files copied comprises disabling the playback device.

18. The article of claim 17 wherein the predetermined period of time is dynamically extensible beyond the predetermined period of time.

19. The article of claim 17 wherein the playback device comprises a mobile playback device coupled to a computer system.

20. The article of claim 17 wherein the playback device comprises a mobile playback device.

21. The article of claim 17 wherein the playback device comprises a set-top box.

22. The article of claim 17 wherein the playback device comprises a set-top box coupled to a mobile playback device.

23. The article of claim 17 wherein the digital content files are contained on a computer system.

24. The article of claim 17 wherein the digital content files are contained on a storage medium.