Venue based digital rights using capture device with digital watermarking capability

• US 9,224,145 B1
• Filed: 08/30/2006
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qurio Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Qurio Holdings Incorporated
• Inventors: Evans, Gregory Morgan, Evans, James, Roberts, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Agwumezie, Charles C
• Application Number:
  US11/512,575
• Time in Patent Office: 3,408 Days
• Field of Search: 705/51, 705/57, 705/59
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23418 involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics television picture signal circuitry for scene change detection H04N5/147; filtering for image enhancement G06T5/00; methods or arrangements for recognising scenes G06V20/00; arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• 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 21/2743 Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence

Abstract

A system for tracking copyright compliance comprises a database, the database including unique identifiers for a plurality of content capture devices. The unique identifiers may be obtained from devices prior to the presentation of protectable content, for example, by pre-registration during the process of obtaining a ticket to a performance or at a security checkpoint at an event. The unique identifiers may be associated with a copyright policy pertaining to content at the event. Each device may embed its unique identifier in content captured by the device, such as via a watermark. Software may obtain data embedded in content and access the database to determine the copyright status of the content by sending a request including data identifying the capture device. If content is obtained from an unauthorized source, the content may be traced back to a specific device.

Claims

1. A method of controlling content captured at a venue comprising:

reading a device identification (ID) of a content capture device;

determining that the content capture device has a capability to watermark content captured by the content capture device;

reading a current date and time stored on the content capture device;

determining that a current date and time of the content capture device are within a threshold by comparing the current date and time with a standardized date and time;

allowing the content capture device access to the venue based on the determination that the content capture device is capable of watermarking content captured by the content capture device;

recording the device ID based on allowing the content capture device access to the venue;

denying the content capture device access to the venue based on the determination that the content capture device is not capable of watermarking content captured by the content capture device;

updating a database with the device ID; and

registering a time range at the database.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

verifying that a user of the content capture device agrees with a copyright policy presented to the user in a human-readable form and storing a record of such agreement.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a step of synchronizing the content capture device with a capture device server, wherein synchronizing includes verifying the accuracy of a clock of the device and configuration.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a step of verifying the integrity of the at least one capture device prior to the exit of the device from the venue, including verifying that the date and time of the device are accurate.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the operations of reading the device ID, determining the watermarking capabilities of the content capture device, reading a current date and time stored on the content capture device, and comparing the current date and time of the content capture device with the standardized date and time to determine if the current date and time are within a threshold are performed during a process of providing a ticket to an attendee.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the content capture device is configured to capture digital images.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

comparing the current date and time of the content capture device with the standardized date and time to determine if the current date and time are within the threshold after the content capture device has exited the venue; and

if the current date and time are within the threshold, updating the database to indicate how much content the content capture device captured at the venue.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program product for controlling content captured at a venue, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of:

reading a device identification (ID) of a content capture device;

determining whether the content capture device has a capability to watermark content captured by the content capture device;

reading a current date and time stored on the content capture device;

determining that the current date and time of the content capture device are within a threshold by comparing the current date and time with a standardized date and time;

allowing the content capture device access to the venue based on the determination that the content capture device is capable of watermarking content captured by the content capture device;

recording the device ID based on allowing the content capture device access to the venue;

denying the content capture device access to the venue based on the determination that the content capture device is not capable of watermarking content captured by the content capture device;

updating a database with the device ID; and

registering a time range at the database.