Multimedia Storage Systems and Methods

• US 20120011375A1
• Filed: 09/19/2011
• Published: 01/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert D. Widergren
• Original Assignee: Robert D. Widergren
• Inventors: Widergren, Robert D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,058,838 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/193
• 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 21/6236 between heterogeneous systems
• 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 2221/2107 File encryption
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2153 Using hardware token as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0604 Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. storage management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0659 Command handling arrangements, e.g. command buffers, queues, command scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0679 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device, e.g. flash memory, one time programmable memory [OTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00115 wherein the record carrier stores a unique medium identifier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0021 involving encryption or decryption of contents recorded on or reproduced from a record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/005 wherein only some specific parts of the content are encrypted, e.g. encryption limited to I-frames
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00659 involving a control step which is implemented as an executable file stored on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00746 wherein the usage restriction can be expressed as a specific number
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00884 involving a watermark, i.e. a barely perceptible transformation of the original data which can nevertheless be recognised by an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/1254 for mixed data, i.e. continuous and discontinuous data
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/61 wherein solid state memory is used for storing A/V content storing computer data in solid state memories G06F

Abstract

An article of manufacture includes a machine-readable medium that stores a multimedia content file in a first format and multiple program sets. Each program set is a version of software that, when executed by a respective electronic system, produces the multimedia content file in a second format for use in the respective electronic system. A first program set is compatible with a first operating system executed by a first electronic system and a second program set is compatible with a second operating system executed by a second electronic system. The second operating system is distinct from the first operating system.

Claims

1. An electronic system, comprising:

a first processor;

memory coupled to the first processor;

operating system software stored in the memory and executable by the first processor; and

a removable flash memory device, coupled to the processor by an interface, the removable memory device having stored thereon;

a first data set in a first encoded format, the first data set including a multimedia content file; and

a second data set, which when executed by a processor in an electronic system produces the first data set in a second decoded format for use in the electronic system,

wherein the second data set includes decoder software and decryption software for decoding and decrypting the first data set, and an autoload program that is executable by the processor and is compatible with an operating system utilized by the electronic system.

2. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the electronic system is a handheld electronic device.

3. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the electronic system is a handheld electronic device having a wireless interface and a display.

4. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the use in the electronic system includes displaying content in the multimedia content file on a display of the electronic system.

5. A method of operating an electronic system having a processor and memory storing operating system software that is executable by the processor, the method comprising:

receiving a removable flash memory device at an interface, the removable flash memory device having stored thereon;

a first data set in a first encoded format, the first data set including a multimedia content file; and

a second data set, which when executed by a processor in an electronic system produces the first data set in a second decoded format for use in the electronic system,

wherein the second data set includes decoder software and decryption software for decoding and decrypting the first data set, and an autoload program that is executable by the processor and is compatible with an operating system utilized by the electronic system;

executing the second data set, in conjunction with the operating system software, to produce the first data set in the second decoded format for use in the electronic system.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second data set includes an autoload program that is executable by the processor and is compatible with the operating system software.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

storing a first code associated with the removable memory device on the removable memory device, separate from the first data set and the second data set; and

storing a second code in the first data set or the second data set, wherein executing the second data set includes comparing the first code to the second code.

8. The method of claim 7, including preventing execution of at least one of the decoder software and decryption software if the first code does not match the second code.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the use in the electronic system includes displaying content in the multimedia content file on a display of the electronic system.

10. An electronic system, comprising:

a first processor;

memory coupled to the first processor;

operating system software stored in the memory and executable by the first processor; and

a removable flash memory device, coupled to the processor by an interface, the removable memory device having stored thereon;

a first data set in a first encoded format, the first data set including a multimedia content file; and

a second data set, which when executed by a processor in an electronic system produces the first data set in a second decoded format for use in the electronic system, wherein the second data set is compatible with an operating system utilized by the electronic system;

wherein the second data set includes player-decoder software and decryption software for decrypting, decoding and enabling presentation of the first data set and wherein the second data set includes instructions to verify that a value stored in a register of the removable flash memory device matches a value associated with the first data set and to prevent presentation of the first data set when the value stored in the register does not match the value associated with the first data set.

11. The electronic system of claim 10, wherein the second data set includes instructions to verify that a value stored in a register of the removable flash memory device matches a value associated with the first data set and to halt execution of the second data set when the value stored in the register does not match the value associated with the first data set.

12. The electronic system of claim 10, wherein the electronic system is a handheld electronic device.

13. The electronic system of claim 10, wherein the electronic system is a handheld electronic device having a wireless interface and a display.

14. The electronic system of claim 10, wherein the use in the electronic system includes displaying content in the multimedia content file on a display of the electronic system.

15. A method of operating an electronic system having a processor and memory storing operating system software that is executable by the processor, the method comprising:

receiving a removable flash memory device at an interface, the removable flash memory device having stored thereon;

a first data set in a first encoded format, the first data set including a multimedia content file;

a second data set, which when executed by a processor in an electronic system produces the first data set in a second decoded format for use in the electronic system, wherein the second data set is compatible with an operating system utilized by the electronic system; and

wherein the second data set includes player-decoder software and decryption software for decrypting, decoding and enabling presentation of the first data set and wherein the second data set includes instructions to verify that a value stored in a register of the removable flash memory device matches a value associated with the first data set and to prevent presentation of the first data set when the value stored in the register does not match the value associated with the first data set;

executing the second data set, in conjunction with the operating system software, to produce the first data set in the second decoded format for use in the electronic system.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the second data set includes instructions to verify that a value stored in a register of the removable flash memory device matches a value associated with the first data set and to halt execution of the second data set when the value stored in the register does not match the value associated with the first data set.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein executing the second data set includes:

accessing a first code associated with the removable memory device on the removable memory device, wherein the first code is stored separately from the first data set and the second data set; and

accessing a second code in the first data set or the second data set, wherein executing the second data set includes comparing the first code to the second code.

18. The method of claim 17, including preventing execution of at least one of the decoder software and decryption software if the first code does not match the second code.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the use in the electronic system includes displaying content in the multimedia content file on a display of the electronic system.