CONTROLLING ACCESS TO DIGITAL CONTENT

• US 20110061096A1
• Filed: 11/10/2010
• Published: 03/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SanDisk Corporation (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: JOGAND-COULOMB, FABRICE
• Granted Patent: US 8,745,479 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/7
• 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 21/78 to assure secure storage of data address-based protection against unauthorised use of memory G06F12/14; record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2135 Metering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources

Abstract

Method for utilizing digital content is provided. The method includes controlling a throughput rate for utilizing the digital content by an accessing system, where the throughput rate is associated with information related to the digital content and is stored as a file. The throughput rate is controlled by a storage system that is operationally coupled to the accessing system.

Claims

1. A method for utilizing digital content, comprising:

in a storage system with digital content and a file system structure, the digital content stored as a file associated with the file system structure, performing;

controlling a throughput rate associated with access to the digital content in the storage system, wherein while the storage system is operationally coupled to an accessing system the digital content is provided to the accessing system according to the throughput rate, and wherein the throughput rate is associated with information related to the file,

wherein the throughput rate is based on a content bit rate, and

wherein the content bit rate is determined by the storage system and is related to the file system structure.

2. A method for utilizing digital content, comprising:

in a storage system with digital content and a file system structure, the digital content stored as a file associated with the file system structure, performing;

controlling a throughput rate associated with access to the digital content in the storage system, wherein while the storage system is operationally coupled to an accessing system the digital content is provided to the accessing system according to the throughput rate, and, wherein the throughput rate is associated with information related to the file,

wherein the throughput rate is based on a content bit rate, and

wherein the content bit rate is received by the storage system from an external device.

3. A method for utilizing digital content, comprising:

in a storage system with digital content stored as a file, performing;

determining a delay to control a throughput rate associated with access to the digital content in the storage system; and

controlling the throughput rate, wherein while the storage system is operationally coupled to an accessing system the digital content is provided to the accessing system according to the throughput rate, wherein the throughput rate is associated with information related to the file, and wherein the storage system uses the delay to control the throughput rate.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the storage system receives information regarding the file and the throughput rate is associated with the information regarding the file.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the throughput rate is provided to the storage system using a command.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the storage system processes a security key before releasing the digital content to the accessing system and the throughput rate is associated with the security key.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the throughput rate is set when a request to use the security key is received.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the throughput rate is associated with an account that is used to access the digital content.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein the throughput rate is stored by the storage system.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein the throughput rate is received by the storage system.

11. The method of claim 3, wherein the throughput rate is determined by the storage system.

12. The method of claim 3, wherein a naming schema indicates an operation for utilizing the digital content and the throughput rate is associated with the operation.

13. The method of claim 3, wherein the delay is based on temporarily storing the digital content in an input/output buffer for a duration before releasing the digital content to the accessing system.

14. The method of claim 3, wherein the delay is variable.

15. The method of claim 3, wherein a reduced delay is applied when the digital content is initially accessed by the accessing system and the delay is increased as the digital content is utilized by the accessing system.

16. The method of claim 3, wherein no delay is applied when the digital content is initially accessed by the accessing system and the delay is increased as the digital content is utilized by the accessing system.

17. The method of claim 3, wherein the storage system controls sending a busy status to the accessing system and timing for sending the busy status depends on the throughput rate for the digital content.

18. The method of claim 3, wherein the storage system is a non-volatile memory device.

19. The method of claim 3, wherein the throughput rate controls display of digital advertisement content to a user before any non-advertisement content is utilized by the accessing system.

20. A storage system, comprising:

a memory controller configured to control a throughput rate of digital content to be sent to an accessing system, and

wherein the storage system is configured to process a security key before sending the digital content to the accessing system, wherein the storage system adjusts a data transmission rate of the digital content to approach or reach the throughput rate, and wherein the throughput rate is associated with the security key.

21. The storage system of claim 20, wherein the storage system limits transmission of the digital content to a first speed until receipt of the security key and thereafter allows transmission of the digital content at a second speed, wherein the second speed is greater than the first speed.

22. The storage system of claim 20, wherein the storage system obtains the throughput rate by a command that is used to load or create the security key.

23. The storage system of claim 20, wherein the digital content is stored as a file, and wherein the throughput rate is determined based on information associated with the file.

24. The storage system of claim 23, wherein the digital content includes first digital content within a first file that is transmitted at a first standard throughput rate until receipt of the security key and thereafter is transmitted at a first authorized throughput rate, wherein the digital content includes second digital content within a second file that is transmitted at a second standard throughput rate until receipt of the security key and thereafter is transmitted at a second authorized throughput rate, wherein the first authorized throughput rate is greater than the first standard throughput rate and the second authorized throughput rate is greater than the second standard throughput rate, wherein the first authorized throughput rate is different from the second authorized throughput rate.

25. The storage system of claim 23, wherein the information includes a file naming schema that allows the storage system to recognize a digital content access type and provide the throughput rate based on the digital content access type.

26. The storage system of claim 20, wherein the accessing system includes a computer, a personal digital assistant, a phone, a digital audio player, a digital video player, a gaming console, or a digital camera.

27. The storage system of claim 20, wherein the storage system authenticates the security key by verifying a user account that is used to access the digital content, wherein the user account is associated with login credentials, wherein the throughput rate is included as data in a digital certificate, as part of a credential name, or as part of a credential value, wherein the throughput rate is associated with the authenticated security key.

28. The storage system of claim 20, wherein a buffer temporarily stores the digital content for a delay duration before sending the stored digital content to the accessing system, wherein the delay duration is variable, wherein the delay duration is increased as the digital content is utilized by the accessing system.

29. The storage system of claim 20, wherein the throughput rate is stored by the storage system.

30. The storage system of claim 20, wherein the throughput rate is used to control display of advertisement content before any non-advertisement content is utilized by the accessing system.

31. A method comprising:

in a storage system with digital content, performing;

receiving a request for the digital content from an accessing system while the storage system is operatively coupled to the accessing system;

receiving a security key associated with the request;

processing the security key before sending the digital content to the accessing system;

determining a throughput rate associated with processing the security key; and

permitting the digital content to be transmitted to the accessing system at a data rate adjusted to reach a rate not to exceed the throughput rate.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising controlling transmission of the digital content at a first speed until receipt of the security key and after processing of the security key, allowing transmission of the digital content at a second speed, wherein the transmission of the digital content is adjusted over a time period from a first data rate above the throughput rate to a second data rate not to exceed the throughput rate.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

parsing the digital content;

determining bit rate information from the parsed digital content; and

using the bit rate information to set the throughput rate.

34. The method of claim 31, further comprising determining the throughput rate based on a content bit rate, wherein the content bit rate is determined by the storage system that has access to a file system structure used for storing the digital content.