Transcoding and data rights management in a mobile video network with STB as a hub

• US 8,955,020 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2006
• Issued: 02/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bennett, James D., Karaoguz, Jeyhan
• Primary Examiner(s): Goodarzi, Nasser
• Assistant Examiner(s): Peng, Fred
• Application Number:
  US11/328,673
• Publication Number:
  US 20060117379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,318 Days
• Field of Search: 725/78, 725/31
• US Class Current: 725/85
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1026 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/764 at the destination reformatting of additional data in video clients H04N21/4355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234363 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for clients with a lower screen resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2408 Monitoring of the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. client requests monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/254 Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server arrangements for maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00; network services using third party service providers H04L67/53
• 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 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25435 : involving characteristics of content or additional data, e.g. video resolution or the amount of advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25833 : involving client hardware characteristics, e.g. manufacturer, processing or storage capabilities allocation of resources considering hardware capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5044; allocation of resources considering software capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5055
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 : involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26266 : for determining content or additional data repetition rate, e.g. of a file in a DVB carousel according to its importance arrangements for broadcast or for distribution of identical information repeatedly in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 : Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2743 : Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 : having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41422 : located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 : Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 : Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 : for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 : Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 : Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 : involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 : Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 : involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 : Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 : Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• 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 21/4668 : for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 : for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 : for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 : for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 : communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 : using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 : using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 : for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 : involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6187 : involving transmission via a telephone network, e.g. POTS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/632 : using a connection between clients on a wide area network, e.g. setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet for retrieving video segments from the hard-disk of other client devices broadcast-related systems characterised by transmission among terminal devices H04H60/80; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 : Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6583 : Acknowledgement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/814 : comprising emergency warnings arrangements specially adapted for emergency or urgency in broadcast systems H04H20/59; arrangements for providing alarms, notifications, alerts to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8146 : involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 : between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 : Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A home entertainment system that employs DRM (Data Rights Management) data protected multimedia programs and rights management component (RMC), with corresponding hardware and software systems incorporated in to home entertainment systems, to protect rights of the media program providers and the users. The system employs STB (Set Top Box) as a hub. The rights management component is incorporated in to the set top box (STB Circuitry), as well as some of the media devices. Three operational scenarios are envisaged regarding the home entertainment system. The first operational scenario involves a remote media source and the media device interaction via STB Circuitry; where as the STB Circuitry performs the duty of a mediator. The second operational scenario involves remote media source and the media device interaction via STB Circuitry, where as the STB Circuitry having rights to reissue licenses to media players. The third operational scenario involves local media sources incorporating the RMC and interacting with the STB Circuitry to decrypt and transcode the multimedia programs. Further, the STB Circuitry interacts with a remote billing server via the communication network regarding presentation rights, to interact with a user regarding the presentation rights, and to arrange for payment for the presentation rights.

Claims

1. A set top box that interacts with at least one server to manage media consumption within a home entertainment network, the set top box comprising:

a first interface coupled to the Internet to communicate with the at least one server;

a second interface coupled to the home entertainment network to communicate with a plurality of media players; and

a processor for;

requesting and downloading a media program from the at least one server via the first interface;

performing digital rights related communications regarding the media program with the at least one server via the first interface;

obtaining decryption information from the at least one server;

decrypting the media program using the decryption information;

re-encrypting the media program to produce a re-encrypted media program;

transmitting the re-encrypted media program to a first media player of the plurality of media players via the second interface based on the digital rights related communications;

tracking presentation of the media program on the first media player and other media players of the plurality of media players; and

managing billing respective to the presentation of the media program based on the digital rights related communications.

2. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the processor further transcodes the media program based upon video characteristics of the first media player to produce a transcoded media program and re-encrypts the transcoded media program to produce the re-encrypted media program.

3. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the processor further stores the media program in an encrypted format in an external media storage device.

4. The set top box of claim 3, wherein the processor further retrieves the media program from the external media program prior to decrypting the media program, re-encrypting the media program and transmitting the re-encrypted media program to the first media player.

5. The set top box of claim 3, wherein the processor stores the re-encrypted media program in the external media storage device.

6. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the processor further establishes communications with a remote billing server via the first interface, interacts with the remote billing server regarding the digital rights related communications via the first interface, interacts with a user regarding the digital rights related communications via the second interface, and arranges for payment related to the digital rights related communications via the first interface and the second interface.

7. The set top box of claim 6, wherein the processor further manages subsequent billing respective to the presentation of the media program.

8. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the digital rights related communications indicate a number of times that the media program may be presented by any of the plurality of media players.

9. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the processor stores a respective personal key for each of the media players and re-encrypts the media program to produce the re-encrypted media program using the personal key of the first media player.

10. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the processor further provides a web page interface via the second interface to a user through a select one of the plurality of media players, the web page interface enabling the user to interact with the at least one server.

11. The set top box of claim 10, wherein the processor further enables the user to select the media program from the at least one server for downloading via the web page interface.

12. A method for managing media consumption within a home entertainment network, the method comprising:

a set top box;

communicating with the at least one server via the Internet;

requesting and downloading a media program from the at least one server;

performing digital rights related communications regarding the media program with the at least one server;

obtaining decryption information from the at least one server;

decrypting the media program using the decryption information;

re-encrypting the media program to produce a re-encrypted media program;

transmitting the re-encrypted media program to a first media player of a plurality of media players within the home entertainment network based on the digital rights related communications;

tracking presentation of the media program on the first media player and other media players of the plurality of media players; and

managing billing respective to the presentation of the media program based on the digital rights related communications.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

transcoding the media program based upon video characteristics of the first media player to produce a transcoded media program; and

re-encrypting the transcoded media program to produce the re-encrypted media program.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

storing the media program in an encrypted format in an external media storage device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

retrieving the media program from the external media program prior to decrypting the media program, re-encrypting the media program and transmitting the re-encrypted media program to the first media player.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

storing the re-encrypted media program in the external media storage device.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprises:

establishing communications with a remote billing server via the Internet;

interacting with the remote billing server regarding the digital rights related communications;

interacting with a user regarding the digital rights related communications via the home entertainment network; and

arranging for payment related to the digital rights related communications via the Internet and the home entertainment network.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

managing subsequent billing respective to the presentation of the media program.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the digital rights related communications indicate a number of times that the media program may be presented by any of the plurality of media players.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

storing a respective personal key for each of the media players; and

re-encrypting the media program to produce the re-encrypted media program using the personal key of the first media player.

21. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

providing a web page interface via the home entertainment network to a user through a select one of the plurality of media players, the web page interface enabling the user to interact with the at least one server; and

enabling the user to select the media program from the at least one server for downloading via the web page interface.

22. A set top box that interacts with at least one server to manage media consumption within a home entertainment network, the set top box comprising:

a first interface coupled to the Internet to communicate with the at least one server;

a second interface coupled to the home entertainment network to communicate with a plurality of media players; and

a processor for;

requesting and downloading a media program from the at least one server via the first interface;

performing digital rights related communications regarding the media program with the at least one server via the first interface;

obtaining decryption information from the at least one server;

decrypting the media program using the decryption information;

re-encrypting the media program to produce a re-encrypted media program;

transmitting the re-encrypted media program to a first media player of the plurality of media players via the second interface based on the digital rights related communications;

tracking presentation of the media program on the first media player and other media players of the plurality of media players; and

managing billing respective to the presentation of the media program based on the digital rights related communications;

wherein the digital rights related communications includes usage restriction information and the processor further transmits the re-encrypted media program to the first media player only upon a positive evaluation of the usage restriction information.

23. The set top box of claim 22, further comprising:

a tamper proof clock set in accordance with the usage restriction information.