Approved web site file downloading
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A digital content encryption apparatus, comprising:
- a central server maintaining an Approved Web Site Database comprising a list of web sites determined to be authorized sources of files for digital storage devices manufactured to use a key to decrypt and play the files, said central server being connectable to an Internet, and wherein;
when prompted by a user via one of a computer and an Internet enabled digital storage device, said central server determines whether a submitted IP address supplied by the user is on said Approved Web Site Database;
when a determination is made that said submitted IP address is on the Approved Web Site Database, said central server generates an encryption key and encryption information that is unique to a selected file requested by the user to be downloaded and to any device to which it is being downloaded, and transmits the encryption key and the encryption information to a Software Program; and
said central server transmits unique encryption key/encoding information to the Software Program when the Software Program requests the unique encryption key/encoding information for the purpose of encoding digital content that is being copied from a media storage peripheral device onto a digital storage memory;
a personal computer comprising a memory storing the Software Program, said Software Program executing the steps of;
identifying an IP address from which a file is being downloaded;
sending a query to said central server to determine whether the identified IP address is on the Approved Web Site Database;
retrieving the encryption key from said central server when the identified IP address is on the Approved Web Site Database;
encrypting the downloaded file;
encrypting digital content being copied from a PC peripheral onto a memory of said personal computer; and
initializing a digital storage device to download and play/display encrypted files downloaded from said personal computer; and
a digital storage device having a PC interface, and connectable to said personal computer, for accommodating retrieval by said Software Program of information stored by said digital storage device, for storing download files received through a user interface of the Software Program, for retrieving encryption keys from said Software Program for downloaded files, for playing and displaying only files that are encrypted in conformity with said encryption key/encoding information, and for refusing to play and display files in an unencrypted format.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed are processes and apparatus that, when practiced according to the principles of the present invention, ensure that a digital storage device will only be able to download or play files that were obtained from sources deemed, either by the manufacturer of the device or by an overseeing organization, to be acceptable.
89 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A digital content encryption apparatus, comprising:
a central server maintaining an Approved Web Site Database comprising a list of web sites determined to be authorized sources of files for digital storage devices manufactured to use a key to decrypt and play the files, said central server being connectable to an Internet, and wherein;
when prompted by a user via one of a computer and an Internet enabled digital storage device, said central server determines whether a submitted IP address supplied by the user is on said Approved Web Site Database;
when a determination is made that said submitted IP address is on the Approved Web Site Database, said central server generates an encryption key and encryption information that is unique to a selected file requested by the user to be downloaded and to any device to which it is being downloaded, and transmits the encryption key and the encryption information to a Software Program; and
said central server transmits unique encryption key/encoding information to the Software Program when the Software Program requests the unique encryption key/encoding information for the purpose of encoding digital content that is being copied from a media storage peripheral device onto a digital storage memory;
a personal computer comprising a memory storing the Software Program, said Software Program executing the steps of;
identifying an IP address from which a file is being downloaded;
sending a query to said central server to determine whether the identified IP address is on the Approved Web Site Database;
retrieving the encryption key from said central server when the identified IP address is on the Approved Web Site Database;
encrypting the downloaded file;
encrypting digital content being copied from a PC peripheral onto a memory of said personal computer; and
initializing a digital storage device to download and play/display encrypted files downloaded from said personal computer; and
a digital storage device having a PC interface, and connectable to said personal computer, for accommodating retrieval by said Software Program of information stored by said digital storage device, for storing download files received through a user interface of the Software Program, for retrieving encryption keys from said Software Program for downloaded files, for playing and displaying only files that are encrypted in conformity with said encryption key/encoding information, and for refusing to play and display files in an unencrypted format. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of ensuring that downloading over an Internet of a file designated by a user is an authorized downloading, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a central server with an Approved Web Site Database comprising a list of servers authorized to be source of files for downloading over the Internet;
(b) receiving at said central server from the user an IP address of an additional server providing the file designated by the user as downloadable data;
(c) determining whether the IP address of the additional server is on the Approved Web Site Database;
(d) when it is determined that the IP address of the additional server is on the Approved Web Site Database, notifying the user that downloading from the additional server is authorized; and
(e) downloading the file designated by the user from the additional server;
wherein step (d) further comprises transmitting at least one of an encryption key and encryption information unique to the file designated by the user from said central server to a personal computer of the user. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of ensuring that downloading over an Internet of a file designated by a user is an authorized downloading, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a central server with an Approved Web Site Database comprising a list of servers authorized to be source of files for downloading over the Internet;
(b) receiving at said central server from the user an IP address of an additional server providing the file designated by the user as downloadable data;
(c) determining whether the IP address of the additional server is on the Approved Web Site Database;
(d) when it is determined that the IP address of the additional server is on the Approved Web Site Database, notifying the user that downloading from the additional server is authorized; and
(e) downloading the file designated by the user from the additional server;
said method further comprising the steps, after step (d), of;
receiving at said central server a request from a personal computer of the user for at least one of a unique encoding key and unique encoding information;
generating at said central server at least one of a unique encryption key and unique encryption information; and
transmitting said at least one of the unique encryption key and the unique encryption information from said central server to the personal computer of the user. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An apparatus for ensuring that downloading over an Internet of at least one file designated by a user is an authorized downloading, comprising
a central server containing an Approved Web Site Database comprising a list of servers authorized to be sources of files for downloading over the Internet; -
an additional server providing downloadable data; and
a personal computer of the user for communicating with said central server and with said additional server over the Internet;
wherein said central server receives from the user an IP address of the additional server, and determines whether the IP address of the additional server is on the Approved Web Site Database; and
wherein, when it is determined that the IP address of the additional server is on the Approved Web Site Database, said central server notifies the personal computer of the user that downloading from the additional server is authorized;
wherein said central server transmits to the personal computer of the user at least one of an encryption key and encryption information unique to said at least one file designated by the user. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A memory medium containing software provided for the purpose of ensuring that downloading over an Internet of a file designated by a user is an authorized downloading, said software carrying out the steps of:
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(a) transmitting, to a central server having an Approved Web Site Database, an IP address of an additional server providing the file designated by the user;
(b) when the IP address of the additional server is determined by the central server to be on the Approved Web Site Database, receiving from the central server notification that downloading from the additional server is authorized; and
(c) downloading the file designated by the user from the additional server;
wherein said central server transmits at least one of an encryption key and encryption information unique to the file designated by the user to the personal computer of the user. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A memory medium containing software provided for the purpose of ensuring that downloading over an Internet of a file designated by a user is an authorized downloading, said software carrying out the steps of:
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(a) transmitting, to a central server having an Approved Web Site Database, an IP address of an additional server providing the file designated by the user;
(b) when the IP address of the additional server is determined by the central server to be on the Approved Web Site Database, receiving from the central server notification that downloading from the additional server is authorized; and
(c) downloading the file designated by the user from the additional server;
wherein said software;
transmits to said central server a request for at least one of a unique encoding key and unique encoding information; and
receives from said central server at least one of a unique encryption key and unique encryption information. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification