WO2000062265A1 - Systeme de distribution en direct et sur de musique - Google Patents

Systeme de distribution en direct et sur de musique Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2000062265A1
WO2000062265A1 PCT/US2000/009273 US0009273W WO0062265A1 WO 2000062265 A1 WO2000062265 A1 WO 2000062265A1 US 0009273 W US0009273 W US 0009273W WO 0062265 A1 WO0062265 A1 WO 0062265A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
computer system
data
media
content manager
digital product
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2000/009273
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Philip R. Wiser
Andrew R. Cherenson
Steven T. Ansell
Susan A. Cannon
Original Assignee
Liquid Audio, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US09/289,513 external-priority patent/US7263497B1/en
Application filed by Liquid Audio, Inc. filed Critical Liquid Audio, Inc.
Priority to AU42108/00A priority Critical patent/AU4210800A/en
Priority to JP2000611258A priority patent/JP4463998B2/ja
Priority to EP00921844A priority patent/EP1183658A1/fr
Publication of WO2000062265A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000062265A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/38—Payment protocols; Details thereof
    • G06Q20/382—Payment protocols; Details thereof insuring higher security of transaction
    • G06Q20/3821—Electronic credentials
    • G06Q20/38215—Use of certificates or encrypted proofs of transaction rights
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/04—Payment circuits
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/08—Payment architectures
    • G06Q20/12—Payment architectures specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
    • G06Q20/123—Shopping for digital content
    • G06Q20/1235—Shopping for digital content with control of digital rights management [DRM]
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/22—Payment schemes or models
    • G06Q20/24—Credit schemes, i.e. "pay after"
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00—Commerce
    • G06Q30/06—Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to the field of commerce through a wide area computer network, and more particularly, to distribution of digital media data over publicly accessible wide area computer networks.
  • Wide area computer networks such as the Internet have grown tremendously in recent years, both in terms of data traffic and popularity. As a result, such wide area networks have grown in popularity as distribution media for digital products. From a commercial perspective, “distribution” includes the two distinct phases of purchase and delivery. Many vendors currently using wide area computer networks for commercial distribution only support the purchase phase online. As used herein, “online” means through a computer network. Typically, current online vendors provide a catalog which is available online and which lists and/or describes products. Customers review the products by browsing the catalog, using a World Wide Web browser for example, and make the purchase by providing payment information, e.g., credit card information.
  • payment information e.g., credit card information.
  • the purchased merchandise is then delivered to the customer off-line, i.e., through distribution channels other than the computer network such as through the mail.
  • distribution channels other than the computer network
  • the majority of products purchased in this manner are traditional non-digital products, such as books, clothing, and food products.
  • digital products such as computer software, digitized video, and digitized audio is purchased in this manner, with product selection and purchase being made online but the delivery being made conventionally by mailing the digital products to the purchaser on a conventional medium such as floppy diskette, CD-ROM, video cassette, audio tape or audio CD.
  • a complete system for the online distribution of digital products, such as digital audio would provide online support for both the purchase and delivery phases.
  • Such an online distribution system presents a number of special challenges not associated with non-digital products. For example, unauthorized duplication of digital products is of particular concern. With conventional distribution of music on CD and cassette tapes, losses from copyright infringement from illegal copying of music are estimated at about $1 billion worldwide, annually. The susceptibility of digital audio to unauthorized copying, and the ability to create perfect duplicates, raises the specter of even more significant losses to the music industry, and has been the single greatest factor in the music industry's reluctance to make music available for purchase over the Internet. Thus, an online music purchase and distribution system must be demonstratively secure from a large variety of attacks and misuses in order to preserve the music owner's intellectual property rights.
  • the product itself should be secure from unauthorized duplication by the user or by others.
  • the need for security in such an online distribution system are in conflict with many of the features consumers want in terms of flexibility and ease of use.
  • audio data such as songs and related media (e. g., lyrics, graphics, liner notes which can typically accompany conventional retail forms of audio media)
  • consumers want to be able to sample audio products prior to purchasing. It is desirable for such an online music distribution system to provide some mechanism by which users can play limited portions of songs and view related media without having to purchase the song.
  • a consumer should be able to pass on preview music to other potential new customers.
  • a desirable online music distribution system should allow a consumer to playback purchased audio not merely on a single computer, but on any platform equipped with an appropriately licensed playback device and the licensee's personal identification.
  • audio purchased over the Internet from an online music distribution system must have at least the same level of fidelity, or otherwise consumers will not purchase such products.
  • any encryption or compression methods used must not induce significant signal loss, or impair playback performance.
  • an online distribution system should not require a single form of payment, or use a proprietary payment processing system. Rather, a desirable online distribution system should be adaptable to integrate with all forms of payment processors.
  • merchants are now providing their own online commerce servers from which they offer and distribute products as the retail vendor of such products.
  • a desirable online distribution system should integrate with any variety of merchant systems.
  • An online music distribution system should also allow for the recovery of secured digital products by consumers who have lost the identification or other security information (such as an encryption key) required to use their purchases.
  • independent agencies which police copyright infringements should also be able to recover infringing copies, and identify the creator of such infringements.
  • a secure online music distribution system provides consumers with flexibility and ease of use in the selection, previewing, downloading, and transporting of audio and other digital products over a wide area computer network such as the Internet.
  • the secure online music distribution system further provides for security of the digital products in all phases of a purchase and delivery transaction throughout the distribution system.
  • An online music distribution system in accordance with the present invention includes a variety of cooperative components that communicate over a public wide area computer network such as the Internet. These components include a content manager, one or more delivery servers, a media data file system, and a media information database. Internet communications by the system are facilitated by HTTP servers. Any number of individual purchasers use client computer systems with World Wide Web browsers and media players. World Wide Web browsers are known and are sometimes referred to herein simply as "Web browsers.”
  • a payment portion of the purchase transaction is handled by a merchant computer system which receives and processes purchase requests while storage of an inventory of digital products and delivery of such digital products is performed by a remote distribution center computer system.
  • a remote distribution center computer system Separation of the merchant computer system from the remote distribution center computer system allows sales of digital products to be offered by Web-based merchants offering other non-digital products which are delivered conventionally, e.g., through conventional shipping of physical products.
  • greater flexibility is provided in physical or topological placement of such merchant computer systems and such distribution center computer systems.
  • a central merchant computer system can process purchase requests and payment while the requested digital products are delivered online from a physically or topologically closest one of a number of distribution center computer systems.
  • various merchant computer systems operated independently can offer the same digital products from the same distribution center computer system, perhaps even at different, competing prices.
  • Secure distribution of digital products is provided by three aspects of the online distribution system in accordance with the present invention.
  • the online distribution system supports both phases of distribution online: the commercial phase of a purchase transaction, such as authentication of the purchaser and payment, and the delivery of the purchased media itself.
  • This aspect of the online music distribution system is provided by having the content manager control the storage of the digital products in the media data file system, and manage the commercial aspects of a purchase or preview transaction with the purchaser.
  • the actual delivery of the digital products is managed by one of the delivery servers.
  • the online distribution system provides secure protocols for consummating the purchase transaction, and for delivering the audio and other media.
  • the media player of the user and the user's identity is authenticated by the content manager.
  • the specific media being purchased is encrypted with information uniquely identifying the purchaser (and distinct from mere encryption keys), and known only to the media player of the purchaser. In this manner, only the purchaser's media player can decrypt and playback the purchased audio.
  • the specific purchase transaction is itself represented by a secure and trusted object which is passed between the content manager, media player, and delivery server.
  • the digital product can only be accessed in the presence of various decryption keys and confidential personal information of the purchaser.
  • encrypted and un-encrypted versions of a portion of a digital product are combined into a single media data file along with descriptive text, artwork, and other information.
  • the encrypted version of the song is a high fidelity audio image that is to be purchased.
  • the un-encrypted versions of a song are either selected portions, or the entire song, but recorded with lesser quality, such as increased compression and/or lower sample rate. These un-encrypted, lower quality 'clips' are available free for previewing by the consumer in order to decide whether to purchase the high fidelity version.
  • descriptive information such as cover art, lyrics, and credits, is also available for previewing.
  • a complete security protocol protects the purchase-quality audio images through various stages of development and playback, from creation by an artist all the way through purchase and playback by the user.
  • the purchase-quality audio data is encrypted when created by the artist with a media key, a cryptographically strong random number generated by an audio authoring tool. This media key is then encrypted with a public key of the content manager.
  • a cryptographically strong random number is a random number of sufficient length, or, equivalently, chosen from a sufficiently large number of possible values, that determination of the random number by guessing or deduction is very difficult.
  • the encrypted high-quality version of the song is combined with the lower-quality un-encrypted versions, descriptive information and the media key into the media data file.
  • the media data file is uploaded to the content manager for storage in the media data file system and is made available for purchase by consumers. While in storage in the online music distribution system, the audio images remain encrypted and tied to the specific content manager.
  • a consumer To purchase a media data file, a consumer first registers with the media licensing center to obtain a digital passport.
  • the passport is a combination of data that includes personal information uniquely identifying a user, information confidential to that user, and encryption key information used to encrypt media data for that person's use.
  • the identifying information is typically the user's name, address, and so forth.
  • the confidential information is preferably some information that the user would prefer to hold confidential, such as a credit card number of the user's.
  • This information is combined in the Passport with a public-private key pair generated by the media licensing center, into a digital certificate authenticating their identity.
  • the private key information is then separately encrypted with symmetric keys, including a user-selected passphrase, and a cryptographically strong random key.
  • the passport supports security during various phases of the purchase of media data files.
  • the certificate is used to authenticate the purchaser to the content manager and delivery server.
  • the purchaser's public key from the passport is used by the content manager to encrypt the media key for the media data file being purchased. In this manner, only the purchaser's media player can decrypt the media key for the purchased audio and playback the music.
  • the media player uses the private key stored in the passport to decrypt the media key included in the media data file. The media key is then used to decrypt the audio image for playback at the user's machine.
  • the passport's inclusion of confidential information is further designed to deter the purchaser from simply giving copies of their passport and purchased audio to another person.
  • the media player displays the confidential information of the user on the computer display.
  • the display of the confidential information provides a powerful incentive for the purchaser to protect the confidentiality of their passport, and hence indirectly protect the purchased media itself.
  • the integrity of the purchase and delivery phases of a transaction are secured by a protocol between the content manager, delivery server, the user's Web browser, and media player that uses the purchaser's passport, and a separate trusted data object called a media voucher.
  • the media voucher uniquely identifies the media being purchased, the specific purchase transaction, and the specific delivery server to deliver the purchased media to the media player.
  • the specific purchase transaction is represented by a voucher ID generated by the content manager.
  • the media voucher is provided by the content manager to the user's Web browser once the user's credit card has been checked and payment authorized.
  • the content manager also provides a receipt token, a cryptographically strong random number the media player will use to complete the transaction with the specified delivery server. This completes the purchase phase of the transaction.
  • the delivery phase of the transaction then takes place between the media player and the delivery server, with validation of the transaction provided by the content manager.
  • the media player creates a message authentication code of the receipt and voucher ID from the media voucher and the consumer's certificate from the passport. This step binds the specific transaction to the purchase. These data are transmitted to the delivery server.
  • the delivery server validates the message authentication data, using the voucher ID and a certificate chain from the packet and the receipt obtained from the content manager. This step validates the identity of the media player to the delivery server.
  • the content manager encrypts the media key of purchased audio images with the purchaser's public key.
  • the delivery server can then deliver the audio to the purchaser's media player. In this way only the purchaser can decrypt the purchased audio.
  • Fig. 1 is an illustration of a secure online music distribution system in accordance with the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 is an illustration of a media data file.
  • Fig. 3 is an illustration of a media voucher.
  • Fig. 4 is an illustration of a passport.
  • Fig. 5 is an event trace of the publishing process.
  • Fig. 6 is an event trace of the registration process.
  • Fig. 7 is an event trace of the preview process.
  • Fig. 8 is an illustration of a Web page for selecting a preview during the preview process.
  • Figs. 9A-D are an event trace of the purchase process.
  • Fig. 10 is an illustration of the content manager.
  • Fig 11 is an illustration of the delivery server.
  • Fig 12 is an illustration of the media licensing center.
  • Fig 13 is an illustration of the media player.
  • Fig, 14 is an illustration of one embodiment of the user interface of the media player.
  • a secure music distribution system 100 securely distributes music and related media over a public telecommunications network, such as the Internet, employing a client-server architecture. It is appreciated that, while a music distribution system is described, much of the system described herein is equally applicable to distribution of any electronically or digitally stored products including, for example, motion video and computer software.
  • Secure music distribution system 100 includes a music distribution center 124 which operates with any number of client systems 126 and with any number of merchant systems 136. Figure 1 shows only one of each of client systems 126 and merchant systems 136 for convenience.
  • Music distribution center 124 includes a content manager 112 and at least one delivery server 118.
  • Content manager 112 maintains a media information database 106, a master media file system 120, and a transaction database 130.
  • the music distribution center 124 interfaces with a media licensing center 110, which in turn communicates with one or more distributed rights agent servers 108 and merchant servers 132.
  • Merchant server 132 executes in a merchant system 136, which also includes an HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) server 122.
  • Merchant servers 132 interface with various payment processing systems 134.
  • Client systems 126 include a media player 116 and a Web browser 128.
  • there are additional delivery servers and media licensing centers which operate independently and externally to music distribution center 124 and which interface with music distribution center 124 in the manner described herein with respect to delivery server 118 and media licensing center 110, respectively.
  • Client systems 126 have two basic components: a media player 116 and a Web browser 128.
  • Web browser 128 can be conventional, with the addition of an interface to media player 116 for passing information to media player 116.
  • Music distribution center 124 operates on server-class computer systems, such as Sun Microsystems SPARCstationsTM executing UNIXTM based operating system, or Intel PentiumTM based computers executing Microsoft Corporation's Windows NTTM operating system.
  • Media player 116 is a software product capable of executing on a variety of computer platforms, also including Apple Computer, Inc.'s MacintoshTM systems executing Apple's MacOSTM operating system, and Intel Pentium based computers executing Microsoft Corporation's Windows95/98 or Windows NT operating systems.
  • Music distribution system 124 communicates with the various other components such as client systems 126, media licensing centers 110, merchant servers 132, authoring tools 102, and rights agents 108 over a public communication network, preferably the Internet, using conventional TCP/IP communication protocols for insecure channels, and a secure protocol over TCP, such as Netscape Communication Inc.'s Secure Sockets Layer v. 3 (SSL), for secure communications.
  • Web browser 128 of client system 126 interfaces with music distribution center 124 via the World Wide Web portion of the Internet using conventional HTTP and HTTP over SSL, and HTTP server 122 of merchant system 136.
  • Secure music distribution system 100 separates the management and administration of the purchase of the digital products from the delivery of those products to purchasers. This separation is supported in two ways. First, the administration and management of all purchases and other transactions is handled primarily by content manager 112, and the delivery of the purchased media content is provided by delivery servers 118. Second, three distinct data objects are used to encapsulate the information used in various stages of the various transactions.
  • the first data object is the media data file in which media content is stored and which is encrypted when purchased using encryption keys of the purchasers.
  • the second data object is a media voucher object which encapsulates information specific to an individual transaction, including the media data being purchased and the one of delivery servers 118 which delivers the media data.
  • the third data object is a passport object which provides a link between the first two data object and which encapsulates the user's personal confidential information and encryption keys.
  • Media data files such as media data file 200 are stored in master media file system 120 ( Figure 1).
  • Media data file 200 is illustrative and includes the following data fields, each of which stores data representing a component of media data file 200:
  • Header 202 generally defines the information needed to decode media data file 200. This information includes a file format version, the location of the table of contents 222 within media data file 200 expressed as an offset, and security information, such as authentication information including a digital signature of data extracted from media data file 200.
  • Media descriptive data 204 includes text and image data associated with the audio content of media data file 200. These data include descriptive text, such as title, artist, lyrics, and liner notes, promotional art image data, and cover art image data. These data are preferably digitally signed to prevent them from being changed. The author of the file can encrypt individual components of media descriptive data 204 while leaving other components un-encrypted. Such allows the liner notes and credits data, for example, to be freely viewed by potential purchasers, and thereby allows such potential purchasers to determine whether the audio content of media data file 200 is appealing, while ensuring other data that have commercial value, such as lyrics, are viewable only by purchasers.
  • Media data file 200 contains at least one media data chunk 206.
  • Each media data chunk 206 includes an audio image 208 which is optionally watermarked, compressed, and/or encrypted.
  • Various audio images 208 or respective media data chunks 206 is processed to provide various quality levels on playback, using various sampling rates and compression levels.
  • Each audio image 208 encodes either an entire song or a portion thereof.
  • Use of a number of different audio images 208 of differing audio qualities allows the artist to a provide a single media data file 200 representing various versions of the same song such that the song can be previewed by users of different platforms and different audio playback capabilities.
  • Data chunk 206 also includes optional restrictions on such actions as playback and record to external devices or files.
  • Watermarking Audio image 208 is performed by inserting additional data directly into the audio data stream prior to compression.
  • a suitable watermark is implemented, for example, with Solana Technology of San Diego, California.
  • watermarking is accomplished in the manner described in copending U.S. Patent Application S/N 09/172,583 by Earl Levine entitled “Robust Watermark Method and Apparatus for Digital Signals” filed October 14, 1998 and that description is incorporated herein by reference.
  • Compression of the audio images 208 is preferably provided through the use of a high-quality compression algorithm. Each algorithm has a unique identifier to allow the system to operate with multiple compression formats. Compression can be provided, for example, using Dolby Laboratories, Inc.'s AC-3 compression algorithm.
  • Audio image 208 is encrypted with a symmetric media key, which is generated by authoring tool 102 ( Figure 1), and is preferably a cryptographically strong random number.
  • encryption algorithms by which audio image 208 ( Figure 2) is encrypted include DES and RC4. Encryption with a symmetric media key enables audio image 208 to be decrypted in real time as the substantive content of audio image 208 is played back by the media player 116 ( Figure 1). Real time decryption reduces the amount of the audio image 208 ( Figure 2) that is available in a memory buffer in un-encrypted form at any given moment, and thereby reduces the probability of unauthorized access to the audio image.
  • the media key is separately encrypted with the public key of content manager 112 ( Figure 1) while media data file 200 ( Figure 2) is stored in master media file system 120.
  • the private key of content manager 112 is used to encrypt the media key, and the media key is then re-encrypted with the public key of the user's media player 116. This locks the media key, and hence audio image 208 to the purchaser's media player 116.
  • media data chunk 206 For each audio image 208, media data chunk 206 includes encryption parameters 210, such as DES initialization vectors.
  • Media data chunk 206 also includes an index table 212 for the audio image 208 that defines timing information for the image, to allow a media player 116 ( Figure 1) or delivery server 118 to randomly access any portion of the audio image during play back or streaming.
  • the index table 212 ( Figure 2) can be implemented as an array of timing data and location information.
  • Clip and song information 214 defines the duration, starting time of a clip in song, and the duration of the song itself, along with fade-out and fade-in parameters, which are preferably the duration of each fade; the actual fade is then implemented by the media player 116.
  • the clip audio data is not encrypted. This enables a prospective purchaser to preview a portion of the song.
  • a "For-Sale" flag 216 defines whether the media chunk 206 is for sale, or can only be previewed.
  • a timestamp 218, such as an SMPTE timestamp, is provided for editing media data file 200 with professional audio editing tools.
  • a transaction ID 220 is added to each copy of media data file 200 that is delivered to a purchaser.
  • Transaction ID 220 is used to uniquely identify each copy of a media data file 200 that is purchased, and is added to media data file 200 by media player 116 upon receipt.
  • Transaction ID 220 preferably includes a media voucher ID, a timestamp of the time of delivery to the media player 116, a certificate serial number of content manager 112 as the content manager authorizing the delivery of media data file 200, and the certificate of media player 116 as the media player receiving media data file 200.
  • media data file 200 includes a table of contents 222 for the entirety of media data file 200.
  • Table of contents 222 includes the location of each item of data in media data file 200, and its type and subtype.
  • Types include text, audio and graphics.
  • Text subtypes include artist, title, lyrics, liner notes, and other text information.
  • Graphic subtypes include cover art, advertisement art, and promotional art.
  • the media voucher is an object that is used to control the purchase and preview of media data files such as media data file 200.
  • a new media voucher is created by content manager 112 ( Figure 1) and is provided to media player 116.
  • the media voucher is used by media player 116 to identify both the specific media data file to be acquired, e.g., media data file 200 ( Figure 2), and the delivery server to provide the media data file, e.g., delivery server 118.
  • a media voucher 300 includes a unique voucher ID 302 which is generated by the content manager 112 ( Figure 1), and a media ID 304 ( Figure 3) that uniquely identifies the media data file to be delivered, e.g., media data file 200 ( Figure 2).
  • Voucher ID 302 ( Figure 3) limits the use of media voucher 300 to a single purchase or preview transaction.
  • a receipt 306 is a cryptographically strong random number generated by content manager 112 ( Figure 1) which is used to create a message authentication code (MAC) of the voucher ID and consumer certificate to bind the delivery of the media data to the purchase transaction.
  • the MAC is a keyed message authentication code as defined in Internet RFC 2104.
  • a delivery server address 308 specifies the IP address and TCP port of a delivery server, e.g., delivery server 118, that will provide media data file 200 to the user's media player 116.
  • Media voucher 300 can include more than one of each of items 302-308 to represent multiple purchases. Such multiple purchases can be, for example, all songs of a particular album.
  • the passport is a data object that provides the security information particular to each user of the system.
  • Each user is issued a passport by media licensing center 110 ( Figure 1) during the registration process.
  • the passport is stored on the user's computer and used during playback to decrypt the media key for each media data file 200 purchased by the user.
  • the user's passport in turn enables the user to decrypt the file and play it back on her media player 116.
  • the passport includes confidential personal information of the user, and this deters the user from freely copying and distributing her passport to others.
  • a passport 400 in accordance with the present invention includes a consumer certificate 402, a consumer public key 404, a consumer private key 412, encrypted personal information 414, and a registration key 420.
  • Consumer certificate 402 is used to authenticate the purchaser of a media data file 200, and consumer public key 404 is used to encrypt portions of a purchased media data file 200.
  • Consumer certificate 402 is preferably in the known and conventional ITU-T X.509 format, and issued by a trusted certificate authority, which in the preferred embodiment is media licensing center 110.
  • Each consumer certificate 402 in the ITU-T X.509 format includes a consumer public key 404, set of validity dates 406 defining the period during which the certificate is valid, a serial number 408, and a digital signature 410 of certificate authority, e.g., media licensing center 110.
  • Consumer private key 412, along with public key 404 are generated by media licensing center 110 ( Figure 1).
  • Generation of the key pair by media licensing center 110 is desirable to simplify recovery of the private key if the consumer loses it, to eliminate the need for key generation by media player 116, thereby simplifying media play 116, and to simplify the registration protocol.
  • Simplification of media player 116 is important since media player 116 must generally be downloaded and installed by the user's client computer system, which typically has less processing capability than server computer systems within media licensing center 110.
  • Passport 400 ( Figure 4) further includes personal and confidential information 414.
  • This information preferably identifies the user and can include, for example, the user's name 416 and other similar information (e.g., address).
  • personal and confidential information 414 includes information which the user would typically prefer to keep confidential, such as a credit card number 418 or similar information.
  • This personal and confidential information is displayed by the media player 116 during playback of the substantive audio content of the media data file 200. Such technique discourages the user from giving copies of passport 400 to other people for unauthorized sharing of media data file 200 since such would display personal and confidential information 414 to those people.
  • Consumer private key 412 and personal information 414 are encrypted with a user's registration key 420.
  • This key is also generated by media licensing center 110 ( Figure 1).
  • Registration key 420 ( Figure 4) is stored in passport 400 encrypted using a passphrase entered by the user during the registration process.
  • consumer certificate 402 ( Figure 4), which includes public key 404, is provided to content manager 112 ( Figure 1).
  • Content manager 112 uses public key 404 ( Figure 4) to encrypt the media key of media data file 200 ( Figure 2) for delivery to media player 116 ( Figure 1).
  • media player 116 receives media data file 200 ( Figure 2) and the encrypted media key
  • media player 116 ( Figure 1) uses registration key 420 ( Figure 4) to decrypt private key 412 to decrypt the media key, which is then used to decrypt the audio image itself.
  • Media player 116 ( Figure 1) further uses registration key 420 ( Figure 4) to decrypt personal information 414 which is then displayed to the user. The user is required to enter the previously entered passphrase upon playback in order to decrypt registration key 420.
  • Content manager 112 ( Figure 1) is all or part of one or more computer processes and is the central transaction processor of the music distribution center 124, and is responsible for the overall management and administration of the substantive content of media data files. Such management and administration includes (i) the receipt and storing of published media data files 120 such as media data file 200 ( Figure 2) from various authors, (ii) the management of preview and purchase transactions by individual users of media data files including the encryption of media data files 200 in a manner that allows only a particular user to access the media for playback, and (iii) the reporting to rights agents of purchases and other uses of media data for proper compensation of authors of fees and royalties from such uses.
  • Content manager 112 ( Figure 1) stores details of each transaction in the transactions database 130.
  • Merchant server 136 is all or part or one or more computer processes and permits preview and purchase transactions to be conducted remotely of content manager 112 while content manager 112 maintains full control of access to digital products such as media data files 200 in master media files 120. Such allows content manager 112 to act as a clearinghouse for digital products of master media files 120 while enabling various merchant systems, such as merchant system 136, to act as a virtual store front — offering product information and conducting sales. Such merchant systems can also offer products other than those managed by content manager 112 and stored in master media files 120.
  • merchant system 136 To conduct purchase and preview transactions, merchant system 136 requires general information about those of the digital products stored in master media file 120 which are available through merchant system 136. Accordingly, as part of an initialization process, content manager 112 provides to merchant system 136 inventory data which identifies selected digital products of master media file 120, e.g., media data file 200 ( Figure 2), which content manager 112 ( Figure 1) is willing to deliver to client computer systems on behalf of merchant system 136. Such inventory data also specifies additional information of the selected digital products including, for example, costs charged by content manager 112 for each of the selected digital products and additional details of the digital products. As a result, merchant system 136 can provide sufficient specificity to a prospective purchaser to enable purchasing decisions. Merchant system 136 can mark up prices above the costs specified in the inventory data to make a profit. In an alternative embodiment, the inventory data includes suggested retail prices which merchant system 136 is obligated to charge, e.g., by contractual agreement.
  • Delivery server 118 is all or part of one or more computer processes which delivers media data files such as media data file 200 ( Figure 2) to users via media players 116 ( Figure 1) in client system 126. More particularly, delivery server 118 receives requests from media player 116 to preview or purchase media data file 200 which contains audio data, routes such requests to content manager 112 for authentication and encryption, and delivers the requested media data file or the requested portion thereof. Delivery server 118 delivers the requested media data file or portion thereof as a preview by real time streaming of the substantive content of the audio data for immediate playback at media player 116 or as a purchase by securely transferring the media data file to client system 126 for subsequent playback by media player 116 or for recording to CD for playback on conventional CD players.
  • Media player 116 is all or part of one or more computer processes which, in response to user-generated commands according to conventional user-interface techniques, plays back purchased or previewed substantive content of audio data, and which, also in response to user-generated commands, digitally records purchased media data files to an external memory, such as a CD-Recordable, CD-RW, Mini-Disc, or flash memory devices.
  • Media player 116 provides user interface controls for viewing lists of purchased and stored media data files such as media data file 200, viewing cover and promotional art and graphics, reading lyrics and other liner information, organizing play lists and tracklists, and other music database management features.
  • Figure 14 illustrates an embodiment of the user interface of the media player 116.
  • Media player 116 ( Figure 1) also stores and manages a user's passport 400 ( Figure 4), and accesses the passport data of passport 400 to decrypt audio images in real time during playback of a requested, streaming audio image.
  • Media licensing center 110 is all or part of one or more computer processes which collectively form a licensing and certificate authority. New users of secure music distribution system 100 who wish to purchase data from music distribution center 124 must first register with media licensing center 110 to obtain a consumer certificate 402 ( Figure 4), including the public-private key pair. Media licensing center 110 ( Figure 1) is responsible for generating these public-private key pairs on behalf of media player 116 for encrypting media data files 200 ( Figure 2) and other information to be received by media players 116 ( Figure 1) so that only a particular user's media player 116 can decrypt and playback audio image data 208 ( Figure 2) included in a media data file 200 purchased by that user. Media licensing center 110 ( Figure 1) also authenticates new users as they register, and generates certificates that are attached to various media data files by various other components of music distribution center 124 as they are moved through the system to authenticate these components.
  • Media licensing center 110 also generates the user passports, e.g., passport 400 ( Figure 4).
  • certificates issued by media licensing center 110 are certificates to content manager 112. These certificates are designed to have relatively short validity periods, preferably on the order of 1 to 2 weeks. This short validity period is used to ensure that "pirate" sites, perhaps using a certificate of content manager 112 which is copied without authorization, can be shut down in a timely manner. Accordingly, media licensing center 110 updates the certificate of content manager 112 if the certificate expires.
  • media licensing center 110 generates rights reports of the usage of media data files, and communicates such rights reports to rights agents 108.
  • the foregoing elements are the basic components for secure distribution of music data given a collection of music and other media.
  • authoring tools 102 are used by individual artists to create the audio data and associated media data in media data files 200 to be delivered over the network to content manager 112 for storage in master media data file system 120.
  • Information descriptive of the master media data files is extracted by content manager 112 from each of the master media data files and stored in media information database 106.
  • a distribution hub can be a computer system managed by a recording agency or record label, or other agency, which manages or otherwise participates with the artist in the creation and promotion of the artist's works.
  • Distribution hub 104 can be used to add agent codes which identify the rights agent responsible for receiving purchase and usage information from content manager 112, along with agency identification codes which identify the artist and the media data created by the artist to the agency. For example, agency codes may by the product code or SKU code used by the agency to track each artist's works.
  • a merchant server 132 is an external system that acts as authorized electronic retailer of music and media over the network.
  • Payment processing systems 134 are conventional payment authorization systems, such as credit card authorization systems or debit card payment authorization systems.
  • Secure music distribution system 100 and music distribution center 124 provide a number of processes and workflows to support the secure distribution of music and related media. These workflows include:
  • each entity in the system registers with media licensing center 110 to obtain a certificate that is used for authentication of identity by the various entities of transferred data.
  • a user registers to obtain a consumer certificate that is used by content manager 112 to authenticate the identity of a purchaser of a media data file.
  • Authors also register to obtain an author's certificate that is used by content manager 112 to authenticate the author when the author uploads a master media data file for inclusion in master media file system 120.
  • Content manager 112 registers with media licensing center 110 to obtain a certificate that enables content manager 112 to distribute media data files themselves.
  • Preview this process is supported by delivery servers 118 and media player 116 to provide a real time streaming of audio data and display of related media data at media player 116.
  • the preview enables the user to decide whether to purchase the entirety of the song for permanent storage on a hard disk of client system 126 and subsequent recording to a CD-R or other portable medium.
  • Purchase this process is the transaction of purchasing a media data file from content manager 112 and delivery of the purchased media data file by delivery server 118 to media player 116.
  • the rights reporting process provides a tamper-proof mechanism to securely track electronic music distribution.
  • This process securely uploads usage (purchases, previews and so forth) of media from content manager 112 to various rights agents 108.
  • This uploaded information describes the number of times various media data files have been used and purchased to allow for accurate reporting of such usage for the purpose of royalty payments and other fees to the artists, owners, record labels and so forth.
  • Publishing is the process of distributing media data files 200 from their respective authors to the content manager 112 for inclusion in the music distribution center 124.
  • Figure 5 shows an event trace of the publishing process.
  • the artist constructs the media data file 200 (Figure 2) in the authoring tool 102 ( Figure 1).
  • individual authors record various musical works into a digital format, and obtain or design cover and promotional art to be incorporated with the music into media data file 200 ( Figure 2).
  • the artist uses authoring tool 102 ( Figure 1) to perform any desired digital signal processing and editing on the digitally recorded audio data.
  • Authoring tools 102 also provide for compression of the audio images, watermarking, and encryption.
  • Authoring tool 102 is also used by the artist to enter the media descriptive data 204 ( Figure 2), such as the artist's name, song title, and lyrics, as previously described.
  • An artist can include in media data file 200 a number of different audio images 208, each having different quality levels, in terms of bandwidth, as determined by compression level and sampling rate.
  • authoring tool 102 ( Figure 1) establishes a connection with the content manager 112, and transmits the user account name and password of authoring tool 102 as a request for identification of content manager 112 in step 504 ( Figure 5).
  • content manager 112 ( Figure 1) responds with the version and certificate of content manager 112.
  • the certificate of content manager 112 includes the public key of content manager 112.
  • Authoring tool 102 and content manager 112 cross-authenticate each other.
  • Content manager 112 authenticates authoring tool 102 according to the previously transmitted user account name and password.
  • authoring tool 102 authenticates content manager 112 as follows.
  • Authoring tool 102 receives a timestamp, the username and password for authoring tool 102 digitally signed by content manager 112.
  • Authoring tool 102 validates the signature to authenticate content manager 112 to authoring tool 102.
  • authoring tool 102 ( Figure 1) further validates that the certificate of content manager 112 is signed by the issuing certificate authority, which in this case is media licensing center 110.
  • step 510 content manager 112 ( Figure 1) authenticates authoring tool 102 in a similar manner: requesting identification of authoring tool 102 (step 510), receiving the version and certificate of authoring tool 102, including the public key of authoring tool 102, and encryption information of authoring tool 102 (step 512), and verifying the certificate and encryption information (in step 514).
  • Other authentication protocols can also be used between authoring tool 102 and content manager 112, such as MIT's Kerberos system.
  • authoring tool 102 ( Figure 1) sends to content manager 112 a filename and length of media data file 200 in step 516 ( Figure 5).
  • authoring tool 102 generates, in step 518, one or more media keys for media data file 200.
  • a single media key corresponds to the entirety of media data file 200.
  • a single, distinct media key corresponds to each of media data chunks 206 ( Figure 2).
  • the media keys generated by authoring tool 102 ( Figure 1) are preferably cryptographically strong random numbers. The media keys are used to encrypt audio images 208 ( Figure 2).
  • Authoring tool 102 ( Figure 1) encrypts the media key with the public key of content manager 112 using the specified encryption algorithm in step 520 ( Figure 5). At this point, only content manager 112 ( Figure 1) can decrypt the media key, and hence decrypt audio images 208 ( Figure 2).
  • step 522 Figure 5
  • authoring tool 102 ( Figure 1) encrypts the audio images of media data file 200 using the media in its original, unencrypted state.
  • authoring tool 102 ( Figure 1) transmits the encrypted media key, and in step 526 the complete media data file 200 ( Figure 2) with audio images encrypted, to content manager 112 ( Figure 1).
  • step 528 content manager 112 ( Figure 1) receives media data file 200 ( Figure 2) and extracts therefrom the media descriptive data.
  • content manager 112 ( Figure 1) updates media information database 106 with a new entry for media data file 200.
  • Content manager 112 stores media data file 200 in master media data file system 120 in step 532. If 'For sale' flag 216 ( Figure 2) of the new media data file 200 is set, media data file 200 is ready for purchase by a consumer.
  • the security of media data file 200 in the master media data file system 120 is provided by the persistent encryption of the individual media keys for each media data file 200 with the public key of content manager 112. Additional security for the private key of the content manager 112 can be provided by tamper-proof hardware, for example, GTE Internet working/BBN's SafeKeyper Signer product.
  • Registration establishes an identity for the purchaser that is trusted by music distribution center 124, for engaging in later transactions.
  • Figure 6 shows an event trace 600 of the process of registration by a user.
  • media player 116 Upon start up, media player 116 checks for the existence of the user's passport 400 ( Figure 4) containing the user's private key in step 602 ( Figure 6). If passport 400 ( Figure 4) does not exist, media player 116 ( Figure 1) will launch Web browser 128, providing a URL to a registration page of media licensing center 110's HTTP server in step 604 ( Figure 6). In step 606, Web browser 128 ( Figure 1) requests the registration page. In response, media licensing center 110 returns the HTML registration page in step 608 and the registration page is displayed by Web browser 128.
  • the registration page is a form that collects the personal information necessary to register the user.
  • HTML forms are well-known and prompt the user to enter data using conventional user-interface techniques.
  • the personal information includes full name, billing address, telephone number, email address, credit card number and expiration date. Other personal information that can be collected includes, for example, a driver's license number.
  • the user enters this data using Web browser 128, and presses, for example, a Register button, which sends the registration data to media licensing center 110 in step 610.
  • This information is preferably transmitted over a secure communication link, such as Netscape Communications, Inc.'s Secure Sockets Layer v. 3.
  • Media licensing center 110 extracts and verifies the credit card information by requesting a credit card authorization from a payment processor 134 in step 612. Data representing a credit authorization is returned to media licensing center 110 in step 614 if approved by payment processing system 134. If the credit card is not approved, media licensing center 110 returns a page to Web browser 128 with an error message, and requests corrected information.
  • media licensing center 110 generates a new passport, e.g., passport 400 ( Figure 4), for the user's media player 116 (Figure 1) in step 616 ( Figure 6).
  • Media licensing center 110 ( Figure 1) generates a public/ private key pair to be the consumer's public key 404 and private key 412.
  • Media licensing center 110 formats the passport 400 as a file, including:
  • the certificate chain begins with the certificate of media licensing center 110 player certificate authority and terminates with consumer certificate 402.
  • the consumer's private key 412 and personal information 414 is also digitally signed by the private key of media licensing center 110 to prevent tampering.
  • passport 400 ( Figure 4) is returned to Web browser 128 ( Figure 1) over the secure connection, with a predefined MIME type that identifies passport 400 to Web browser 128 as being data for media player 116.
  • Web browser 128 passes passport 400 to media player 116.
  • media player 116 validates passport 400 for authentication and tamper detection by authenticating the certificate chain.
  • the certificate chain is authenticated by starting with a root certificate of media licensing center 110 that is stored in media player 116, using the public key of the root certificate to decrypt a hash of the certificate and compare that decrypted hash with a newly generated hash. If the hashes are identical, the next certificate is authenticated in a same manner.
  • media player 116 prompts the user to enter a passphrase for the registration key in step 624.
  • Media player 116 encrypts registration key 420 with the user-supplied passphrase in step 626.
  • registration encryption is implemented with R.S.A. Data Security, Inc.'s BSAFE PBE (MD5+DES) algorithm.
  • passport 400 is stored in the local file system of client computer 126.
  • Passport 400 can be stored in a default location, or a user-specified one.
  • the file format of passport 400 is operating system independent to provide for portability of passport 400 between Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating systems and Apple Computer Inc.'s MacOS.
  • the passphrase while stored in memory of client system 126, and the decrypted private key should be secure from unauthorized copying by malicious programs and/or applets such as ActiveX and JavaScript applets. Such unauthorized copying could enable transmission of such confidential information to an unauthorized entity in the wide area network of secure music distribution system 100 and could therefore represent a significant breach of security.
  • the media key while media player 116 is active, the media key should remain encrypted as much as possible, e.g., should be decrypted only immediately prior to use of the media and should be re-encrypted immediately after such use.
  • registration key 420 can be sent again from media licensing center 110 to media player 116 via the SSL connection of Web browser 128 to a Web server on media licensing center 110.
  • Media licensing center 110 maintains a persistent database of all consumer certificates issued, including personal information 414 associated with each certificate.
  • Figure 7 shows an event trace 700 of previewing a media data file 200 prior to purchase.
  • Previewing begins with the user viewing a Web page in Web browser 128 that has a link to a preview of a desired media data file 200.
  • Figure 8 illustrates an exemplary Web page for selecting a preview.
  • the link is to HTTP server 122, and when clicked, Web browser 128 requests from HTTP server 122 a preview of a media data file 200 in step 702 ( Figure 7).
  • the URL for the link encodes the media ID and type of request, whether for a clip or the entire song.
  • HTTP server 122 receives the preview request, and invokes in step 704 content manager 112 via a TCP connection, which can be insecure, passing the media ID and request type, here a preview type request.
  • Content manager 112 receives the preview request, and in step 706 validates that media data file 200 specified by the media ID exists. In an illustrative embodiment, this is done by accessing first a cache of media IDs of frequently accessed songs. If the requested media ID is not present in the cache, content manager 112 then checks master media file system 120 for requested media data file 200. If the media data file 200 is not present here, content manager 112 returns an error.
  • content manager 112 determines in step 708 whether a delivery server 118 is available to handle request to preview the file.
  • each delivery server 118 is licensed and configured by the system provider to have a limited number of active streams of data being delivered at any one time.
  • Content manager 112 maintains a list of the delivery servers 118 with which content manager 112 operate, and the number of active streams and total streams for each delivery server 118.
  • Each delivery server 118 registers with content manager 112, providing the network address of delivery server 118.
  • Content manager 112 configures each registered delivery server 118 with the number of stream allocated to delivery server 118, the base UDP port to be used for the streams, and a port number for accepting streaming requests.
  • delivery server 118 When delivery server 118 allocates a stream, delivery server 118 updates content manager 112 with this information. Accordingly, to determine availability of a delivery server 118, the content manager checks this list for the first available delivery server 118 which does not have all streams allocated. If no streams are available, content manager 112 returns a message to Web browser 128 indicating that the preview cannot be delivered at the present time.
  • content manager 112 Assuming content manager 112 identifies an available delivery server 118, content manager 112 generates and returns to HTTP server 122 a media voucher 300 in step 710. This includes the network address 308 of delivery server 118 and port number, voucher ID 302, and media ID 304.
  • HTTP server 122 In step 712, HTTP server 122 generates and returns to Web browser 128 an HTTP response embedding the media voucher data.
  • a MIME type is defined that causes Web browser 128 to invoke media player 116 with the response data.
  • Web browser 128 receives the HTTP response and stores the data of media voucher 300 in a local file. Web browser 128 passes the file name of this file to media player 116 in step 716.
  • media player 116 receives the file name of media voucher 300, reads the file, extracts for each track in media voucher 300 the following information: delivery server address 308 and port, voucher ID 302 and media ID 304.
  • Media player 116 in step 720, sets up communication channel with the specified delivery server 118 and passes in the voucher ID 302 and the media ID and bandwidth requirement, which is an estimate of the Internet connection bandwidth of media player 116.
  • Media player 116 provides port information identifying which ports media player 116 is to receive the streamed audio data from delivery server 118.
  • delivery server 118 receives the voucher ID and media ID and contacts content manager 112 to obtain the media information from the media information database 106.
  • Delivery server 118 specifies to the content manager 112 the media ID for the media data file 200, and the number of, and specific types of information to be retrieved from the media descriptive data 204. This step is to obtain the most current information about media data file 200, in case there have been any updates, for example to the price information or other data.
  • Content manager 112 responds with media information of each requested type in step 724.
  • delivery server 118 transmits the media information to media player 116.
  • This information informs media player 116 of the duration of the clip or song, data size of the encoded audio to be delivered, starting and ending times of the clip, fade-in and fade-out durations, and bandwidth.
  • delivery server 118 streams media data file 200 to media player 116.
  • delivery server 118 notifies content manager 112 that delivery server 118 is allocating one of its streams for a particular request by providing to content manager 112 voucher ID 302 of media voucher 300, the network address of media player 116 which is to receive the stream, the transport protocol — e.g., TCP or UDP, the bandwidth requested by media player 116, and the media ID of requested media data file 200.
  • the transport protocol e.g., TCP or UDP
  • media player 116 receives the streamed media data file 200 and plays the substantive content of the audio image according to the provided media information parameters. At any time, the user can instruct media player 116 to stop the stream and download any free data over the same connection.
  • delivery server 118 notifies content manager 112 to release the stream, indicating the voucher ID 302, the status of the stream, the duration of the song that was played by the consumer, and which audio image 208, if any, was downloaded to media player 116.
  • the user interface of media player 116 supports controls to control the streaming of the audio, including fast forward, rewind, pause, and stop controls.
  • media player 116 and delivery server 118 use a time-based transport protocol.
  • Media player 116 sends transport instructions to delivery server 118 that specify a time offset within an audio image at which to begin playing. Delivery server 118 then either advances or rewinds to the specified time.
  • Fast forward user controls cause fixed increments of time advance, and rewind controls cause fixed decrements of time.
  • Negative time values are used to indicate stopping and resuming play.
  • Media voucher 300 can include a play list of more than one track. Accordingly, media player 116 repeats steps 720-730 for each track of media voucher 300.
  • Figures 9A-D show an event trace 900 of purchasing a media data file 200 for persistent storage and playback by a user's media player 116.
  • Web browser 128 some form of menu, catalogue, index or other listing of music and media available for purchase which can be similar in form to the preview listing of Figure 8.
  • a purchase request for a specific song is sent to HTTP server 122, for example by the user clicking on a "Buy It" button, in step 902 ( Figure 9A).
  • the button generates a URL including the media ID of the song to be purchased.
  • an invocation of the HTTP server 122 can look like:
  • web-server-addr is the hostname or IP address and TCP port of the HTTP/SSL server and MID is the media ID.
  • HTTP server 122 ( Figure 1) forwards the purchase request data to a merchant server 132 to initiate authorization for payment for the requested media data file, e.g., which is media data file 200 ( Figure 2) in this illustrative example.
  • a preferred implementation uses a secure connection to transfer this data.
  • Payment information is preferably collected at this time.
  • merchant server 132 Figure 1
  • step 906 Figure 9A
  • step 908 Figure 9A
  • step 908 Figure 9A
  • step 910 the user completes the form by entering data which authorizes payment for the requested media data file.
  • payment authorization data includes the user's name, credit card account number, and credit card expiration date.
  • an invocation of HTTP server 122 can look like:
  • step 912 ( Figure 9A)
  • Web browser 122 ( Figure 1) securely transmits this payment authorization data back to HTTP server 122, which passes the data to merchant server 132 in step 914 ( Figure 9A). If payment information is not collected at this stage then payment information is collected after a reservation has been generated as described more completely below.
  • HTTP server 122 and merchant server 132 execute in merchant system 136 and collectively serve requests for purchases and preview of audio content stored in master media files 120.
  • master media files 120 are located remotely, e.g., in music distribution center 124.
  • interaction between HTTP server 122 and merchant server 132 of merchant system 136 and content manager 112 of music distribution center 124 is through a publicly accessible wide area network, e.g., the Internet.
  • step 916 merchant server 132 ( Figure 1) establishes a secure connection to content manager 112, preferably with X.509 certificates for authentication and key exchange and cryptographically strong random numbers as session encryption keys.
  • merchant server 132 encrypts a reservation request for content manager 112 using the session key.
  • the reservation request specifies the requested media data file 200 and includes the media ID of the requested media data file 200 and a requested quality level that in turn includes information such as a bit rate and number of channels in the audio image.
  • step 918 Figure 9 A
  • merchant server 132 ( Figure 1) sends the encrypted reservation request to content manager 112.
  • step 920 Figure 9 A
  • content manager 112 ( Figure 1) decrypts the reservation request and, in response thereto, verifies that the requested song at the specified quality level actually exists in master media files 120 and is available for purchase.
  • Content manager 112 looks up the received media ID in media information database 106 to confirm that the requested song exists and is available for purchase. If the media data file 200 identified by the media ID exists in the database, content manager 112 forms and encrypts for merchant server 132 a voucher packet in step 922 ( Figure 9A). Otherwise, content manager 112 ( Figure 1) returns a message indicating the media ID does not correspond to a known media data file 200 or that the corresponding file is not available for sale; this information is communicated back to Web browser 128 via HTTP server 122. In step 924 ( Figure 9A), content manager 112 ( Figure 1) sends the encrypted voucher packet which is decrypted by merchant server 132 in step 926 ( Figure 9B).
  • the encryption and decryption of the reservation request and returned voucher packet is performed as an integral part of a secure communication link, such as Netscape Communications, Inc.'s Secure Sockets Layer v. 3, between merchant server 132 ( Figure 1) and content manager 112.
  • a secure communication link such as Netscape Communications, Inc.'s Secure Sockets Layer v. 3, between merchant server 132 ( Figure 1) and content manager 112.
  • the voucher packet includes a voucher ID generated by content manager 112 to track the reservation, a timestamp marking the start of the reservation, an expiration lifetime specifying a time at which the reservation becomes invalid, a delivery authorization token that marks reservation as authorized, or as unauthorized in order to remove the reservation.
  • the voucher packet includes a receipt token, which is returned in the media voucher to media player 116 for initiating download of the requested media data file 200 from delivery server 118.
  • the delivery authorization token is a secret token between content manager 112 and merchant server 132 and is not revealed to the user. This token and the receipt token are preferably cryptographically strong random numbers.
  • Content manager 112 updates transaction database 130 to include a new entry with the data from the voucher packet. This data is used subsequently to authenticate a download request from media player 116 against a validated purchase. More particularly, content manager 112 maintains three sets of data regarding reserved and available for retrieval media files:
  • an electronic wallet such as Wallet by CyberCash of Reston, Virginia is used to provide the payment data.
  • merchant server 132 generates a Web page with a "Wallet” button and a "Retrieve It” button.
  • wallet button When the user clicks the wallet button, merchant server 132 returns an invoice with a "wallet” MIME type, indicating the amount of the purchase.
  • Web browser 128 launches a wallet application that is specific to the wallet MIME type.
  • This wallet application recognizes the invoice information, and displays to the user a set of selections of different payment forms available to the user, such as electronic cash, check or specific credit card. The user selects one of these payment forms using conventional graphical user interface techniques.
  • the wallet application connects to merchant server 132, e.g., using a network protocol defined by a manufacturer of the wallet application, and delivers the required payment information.
  • merchant server 132 connects to payment processing system 134 to request payment in step 928 ( Figure 9B).
  • payment processing system 134 ( Figure 1) verifies the availability of funds and sends payment authorization to merchant server 132 in step 930 ( Figure 9).
  • merchant server 132 ( Figure 1) has received payment authorization, merchant server 132 notifies content manager 112 that the user has purchased the media associated with the voucher ID. This is done by encrypting in step 932 ( Figure 9B) an authorization notification which includes the voucher ID and authorization token previously sent to merchant server 132 ( Figure 1) and a flag indicating the new state of the reservation as authorized for delivery and sending the encrypted authorization notification to content manager 112 in step 934 ( Figure 9B).
  • step 936 content manager 112 ( Figure 1) decrypts the authorization notification and, in step 938 ( Figure 9B), updates transaction database 130 ( Figure 1) to reflect that the voucher packet for this voucher ID has been authorized for purchase and download. This notification authorizes content manager 112 to enable the requested media data file 200 for delivery.
  • step 940 content manager 112 ( Figure 1) encrypts a packet which includes the voucher ID and an updated authorization token, which identifies the recorded authorization and can be used to modify the recorded authorization, and, in step 942 ( Figure 9B), sends the packet.
  • Merchant server 132 Figure 1 decrypts the packet in step 944 ( Figure 9B) to recover the voucher ID and updated authorization token.
  • merchant server 132 After merchant server 132 ( Figure 1) has authorized a purchase, merchant server 132 logs this information to an internal purchase database.
  • Purchase logging has two purposes. First, such logging enables the merchant to keep track sales of specific content. Second, such logging allows the merchant to accurately report to a rights agent 108 for copyright notification and billing purposes.
  • two logs are used: a merchant log and an audit log.
  • the merchant log is plaintext, and the audit log is stored in an encrypted form.
  • the audit log is uploaded periodically to media licensing center 110. The protocol for creating and validating the audit log is described under RIGHTS REPORTING below.
  • merchant server 132 returns a payment receipt to the wallet application.
  • merchant server 132 creates and sends, in step 946 ( Figure 9C), a Web page — via the secure HTTP connection established originally — to Web browser 128 with a 'Retrieve It' link.
  • Web browser 128 displays the Web page in step 948 ( Figure 9C).
  • 'Retrieve It' link includes the URL of delivery server 118 ( Figure 1) as the delivery server to provide the requested media data file 200.
  • An example of this data is:
  • VW is the voucher ID and RRR is the receipt token.
  • HTTP server 112 ( Figure 1) forwards media voucher 300 to Web browser 128 via the secure HTTP connection.
  • media voucher request and transmission of steps 954 ( Figure 9C) and 956, respectively, are also performed through a secure HTTP connection or are otherwise passed between HTTP server 122 and content manager 112 in an encrypted format since such information passes through a publicly accessible network.
  • Media voucher 300 ( Figure 3) is returned with a MIME type that identifies media voucher 300 as data for media player 116 ( Figure 1). Accordingly, Web browser 128 passes media voucher 300 to media player 116 in step 960 ( Figure 9C).
  • media player 116 ( Figure 1) prompts the user to enter the passphrase associated with the private key registered to media player 116. Depending on a user-settable preference, the prompt will appear once per session or every time. Security is provided at this step by the passphrase protection of the user's private key 412 ( Figure 4) in their passport 400.
  • media player 116 uses the receipt token (the shared secret with the content manager 112) to authenticate voucher ID 302 ( Figure 3) and consumer certificate 402 ( Figure 4).
  • Media player 116 ( Figure 1) establishes a TCP connection, which can be insecure, to delivery server 118 using the address and port specified in media voucher 300 ( Figure 3).
  • Media player 116 ( Figure 1) creates a message containing a keyed MAC of voucher ID 302 ( Figure 3) using the receipt token as the key. This message is signed and sent in step 966 ( Figure 9C) to delivery server 118 ( Figure 1) to start the download procedure.
  • delivery server 118 Figure 1) sends the encrypted data and the cleartext voucher ID 302 ( Figure 3) to content manager 112 ( Figure 1) for verification.
  • Content manager 112 maps voucher ID 302 ( Figure 3) to the receipt token in transaction database 130 ( Figure 1) and, in step 970 ( Figure 9C), uses the receipt token to verify the MAC encoded voucher ID and other data.
  • content manager 112 ( Figure 1) encrypts the song's media key with the public key of media player 116 in step 972 ( Figure 9D). In this manner, the media becomes specifically and individually licensed to the consumer; media data file 200 ( Figure 2) is now referred to as the licensed media.
  • Security in this step of the transaction is provided by the fact that media player 116 ( Figure 1) must prove that it has both the public/private key pair issued by media licensing center 110 and the receipt sent as part of the purchase transaction. The certificate chain is validated upon receipt from the player.
  • step 974 content manager 112 ( Figure 1) returns the encrypted media key, along with audio quality information (such as bit rate and number of channels), the public key algorithm used with the media key itself and encryption parameters, the delivery authorization token, media ID, the voucher ID, and the content manager's certificate serial number, and the media player's certificate number to delivery server 118.
  • audio quality information such as bit rate and number of channels
  • delivery server 118 retrieves meta data associated with the licensed media from content manager 112.
  • the media ID identifies the licensed media and the customer certificate received by delivery server 118 in step 966 ( Figure 9C) identifies the user of media player 116 ( Figure 1).
  • content manager 112 selects meta data for the licensed media and for the user.
  • Meta data associated with the licensed media which is a musical audio signal in this illustrative example, can include for example lyrics, graphical images of album artwork, motion video, performer biographies, liner notes, credits, and critical commentary.
  • Meta data associated with the user can include for example advertising artwork selected by content manager 112 according to the passport 400 certificate or information regarding the user stored by content manager 112.
  • Such information can be as simple as residence information such that advertising artwork can be of regional interest.
  • such information can be more specific and include such things as age, marital status, income, interests, etc.
  • advertising artwork can be selected by content manager 112 according to such demographic information of the user.
  • delivery server 118 retrieves the licensed media from master media data file system 120 according to the media ID included in media voucher 300 ( Figure 3).
  • delivery server 118 ( Figure 1) sends the retrieved information — including the licensed media and the meta data — to media player 116 using a secure protocol, such as SSL, to ensure that no one else can determine which licensed media and meta data is being downloaded by media player 116.
  • the downloaded media data is hashed by media player 116 and the hash is sent back to delivery server 118 to verify that the data received by media player 116 is complete and accurate.
  • delivery service 118 limits the rate of the data transfer to media player 116 to conserve network resources.
  • delivery server 118 notifies content manager 112 in step 982 ( Figure 9D) of the competed delivery, indicating the voucher ID, media ID, receipt token, time duration of the download, and the authorization token.
  • Content manager 112 ( Figure 1) updates transaction database 130 to reflect that the media data file has been delivered and records information describing the delivery in a log file.
  • media player 116 ( Figure 1) can prompt the user to indicate that the received licensed media is ready for playback or automatically start playback of the licensed media.
  • the consumer's personal information 414 ( Figure 4) from passport 400, including their confidential information 418, is preferably displayed in the user interface of media player 116 ( Figure 1).
  • the display of this information is a strong deterrent to the user to transfer an illegitimate copy of media data file 200 ( Figure 2) to another user since such requires display of confidential information 418 ( Figure 4) of the user.
  • media player 116 ( Figure 1) provided consumer certificate 402 ( Figure 4) as part of the delivery protocol, the certificate serial number is embedded in the media data file along with voucher ID 302 ( Figure 3). This enables either the merchant owning merchant server 132 ( Figure 1) which sold the music, or media licensing center 110 to lookup the consumer's personal information and identify this person as the source of an illegitimate copy of media data file 200 ( Figure 2).
  • content manager 112 ( Figure 1) communicates with media licensing center 110 to initiate a secure tamper-resistant log to be used for rights reporting information.
  • Content manager 112 and media licensing center 110 negotiate a shared secret, a cryptographically strong random number that will be used to encrypt and validate the log.
  • the secret is stored only within media licensing center 110 so the log created by content manager 112 can only be verified once the log is delivered to media licensing center 110.
  • a secure log entry is created for every media data file that is sold. Secure logging is known and is described, for example, in B. Schneier and J. Kelsey, "Cryptographic Support for Secure Logs on Untrusted Machines," The Seventh USENIX Security Symposium Proceedings. USENIX Press, pp. 53-62 (January 1998).
  • the secret is used as a key for encryption and for creating a keyed MAC and is then hashed with a text string to create the key used for the next log entry.
  • the keyed MAC covers the encrypted log entry along with a "running hash" that is updated by hashing the current encrypted data into the old hash value.
  • the encryption key and MAC key are different for each log entry and are created via a one-way hashing function, the only way to validate the log or decrypt an entry is to start with the shared secret which is stored only within media licensing center 110. This makes the log significantly secure against tampering once the log is created. Also, since the hash on each entry covers all previous entries, removal of entries in the middle of the log without detection when the log is validated at media licensing center 110 is highly unlikely.
  • This logging protocol is used for making entries each time a media data file is completely downloaded by media player 116.
  • the log entry includes a timestamp, the track title, the artist name, the track authors, the song length, the sale price, the certificate ID from media player 116, the voucher ID, the media data file name and a descriptor identifying which audio image was downloaded.
  • the logs are uploaded to media licensing center 110 on a periodic basis and validated off-line by a batch process. Once validated, the purchase information can be processed (e.g., totaled by artist, track, and the like) to determine proper royalty or other payments based on sales and previews.
  • Figure 10 shows software modules of a preferred embodiment of content manager 112.
  • Content manager 112 includes a database access module 1002, a security module 1004, an administration module 1006, a rights reporting module 1008, a publishing module 1010, a commerce module 1012, a logging module 1014, and a certificate update module 1016.
  • Database access module 1002 This module manages all requests for data from master media file 120 and media information database 106. The various other modules interface with this module to retrieve, update, create, or delete media data file 200, media descriptive data 204. Database module 1002 receives data requests typically as name and value pair, and translates these requests to SQL requests on the underlying databases.
  • This module provides the interface for both external uploading from authoring tool 102 of media data files 200, and importing media data files 200 from the local file system of the computer hosting content manager 112.
  • publishing module 1010 exports the following functions:
  • This message is sent by authoring tool 102 to initiate the uploading of a media data file, e.g., media data file 200.
  • the message includes the length of the media data file to be uploaded, flags indicating whether the file is to be created, overwriting any existing file, and whether the file is to be securely uploaded.
  • the message also includes a file name of the file. If the file is to be securely uploaded, publishing module 1010 obtains from security module 1004 the public key of content manager 112 to encrypt the media key for the audio image, the certificate of content manager 112, and the algorithm used to encrypt the public key itself. This information is passed back (in step 508 of Figure 5) to authoring tool 102 during the publishing process to authenticate content manager 112.
  • Upload Data This message is sent by authoring tool 102 to content manager 112 and contains the data being uploaded (in step 522 of Figure 5), as described in the previous message.
  • Upload Space This message requests the amount of free space available within content manager 112 for new uploads.
  • Publishing module 1010 responds with a total number of kilobytes allotted for uploading, and a number of free kilobytes remaining.
  • Import file This message instructs publishing module 1010 to import a file from the local file system.
  • This message obtains a list of the file or subprojects in a local directory; the message data specifies the pathname of the directory.
  • Publishing module 1010 responds with the number of entries for project, the filename of each entry and a flag for each entry indicating whether the entry represents a file or a subproject.
  • File Info This message requests detailed information for a file, specified by pathname. Publishing module 1010 responds with the length of the file, flags indicating file type, and a URL to request streaming of the file.
  • Create Project This message requests creation of a project, specified by pathname.
  • Rename File This message renames a file from a specified source pathname to a specified destination pathname.
  • Delete File This message deletes a file specified by pathname.
  • Security Module 1004 This module manages the various encryption processes provided by content manager 112. These include encryption of media keys, and digital signing of certificates and other data. Key generation is preferably provided by RSA BSAFE key generation routine. Digital signature is performed according to the known PKCS #1 MD5+RSA algorithm.
  • Commerce Module 1012 This module manages the transactions for previewing and purchasing media data files 200. This module interfaces with security module 1004 to obtain encryption services, and with database access module 1002 to obtain media information. Commerce module 1012 also determines which media data files 200 are available for sale.
  • Commerce module 1012 interfaces with merchant server 132 to receive requests for purchases and to provide reservations. Commerce module 1012 interfaces with merchant server 132 to provide and secure reservations for media data files.
  • Commerce module 1012 also delivers media vouchers 300 to media players 116, including the generation and validation of receipt tokens and authorization tokens.
  • Commerce module 1012 also maintains a list of reserved and available for retrieval media files, including tracking of pending purchases, purchased and not delivered files, and purchased and delivered files. Commerce module 1012 exports the following functions:
  • This message includes a media ID 304.
  • commerce module 1012 sends a media voucher 300 which includes the address and port of delivery server 118 where the media may be streamed for preview and voucher ID 302 used for tracking the transaction.
  • This message includes media ID 304, a quality indicator identifying the audio image 208 within the media data file to reserve, and the number of audio channels (e.g. "mono" or "stereo").
  • commerce module 1012 sends back a voucher ID 302 for tracking the transaction, a timestamp for the start of the transaction, a timeout value representing the number of seconds for which the reservation is valid, an authorization string for modifying the reservation and a receipt string for the play to use in downloading the file.
  • This message includes a voucher ID 302, an authorization string and a state value indicating that the reservation should be made available for download.
  • commerce module 1012 sends back a new authorization string for making further modifications to the reservation.
  • This message includes a voucher ID 302, and authorization string and a state value indicating that the reservation should be removed from the system.
  • This message includes a voucher ID 302 and a receipt 306.
  • commerce module 1012 sends back a media voucher 300 which includes the address and port of a delivery server 118 where the media may be downloaded, a voucher ID 302 used for tracking the transaction and a receipt 306 used to validate media player 116 at time of delivery.
  • Administration Module 1006 This module defines the operation parameters of the system, including the number of delivery servers and the number of active streams allocated to each server, which ports are used by content manager 112 for network sending and receiving requests, and the number of songs available for purchase. This module also manages and tracks performance statistics, such as overall volume and throughput. Administration module 1006 exports the following functions:
  • administration module 1006 sends the current configuration data in the form of a configuration file.
  • This message includes a configuration file for content manager 112 and, in response to a set configuration message, administration module 1006 sets the configuration in accordance with the included configuration file.
  • CM Shutdown This message shuts down content manager 112.
  • DS Shutdown This message shuts down a delivery server specified by a network address included in the message.
  • Delete DS Configuration This message shuts down a delivery server specified by a network address included in the message, e.g., delivery server 118, and removes the delivery server from the configuration of content manager 112.
  • CM Statistics This message requests system statistics.
  • Administration module 1006 responds with:
  • #Vouchers the number of media vouchers 300 issued by content manager 112.
  • CacheSize a maximum number of media data files 200 that can be cached.
  • #Items the current number of media data files 200 in the cache.
  • #Access the total number of accesses to media data files 200.
  • #Misses the number of accesses to media data files 200 that were not in the cache. #Items, #Access, and #Misses allow the system provider to determine whether an increase in the cache size is appropriate.
  • #In-cache the number of access to media data files 200 currently in the cache.
  • #DS the number of delivery servers connected to content manager 112.
  • DS Address n the network address of the nth delivery server 118.
  • ⁇ Streams n the number of streams allocated to the nth delivery server 118.
  • #Used n the number of streams used by the nth delivery server 118.
  • Logging Module 1014 This module provides for error logging of errors during communications between content manager 112 and other system components; purchase logging to log each purchase of a media data file 200; and preview logging to log each preview of a media data file. These logs are used by right reporting module 1008 to generate and report sales, usages, and chargebacks of media data files 200.
  • Rights Reporting Module 1008 This module communicates with rights agents 108 to report usage rates and totals for the various media data files 200 within the system. Rights reporting includes the identity of each media data file purchased or downloaded, the type of use, and any agency information or codes specifically designated for the media data file 200.
  • Certificate Update Module 1016 This module interfaces with media licensing center 110 to receive updates of the certificate of content manager 112.
  • the certificate of content manager 112 is issued with short validity periods, preferably about 1 to 2 weeks. This requires content manager 112 to be re-certified on a regular basis, ensuring that content manager 112 remains authenticated over time.
  • Figure 11 shows the software architecture of one embodiment of delivery server 118.
  • Delivery server 118 includes a request processor 1102, a preview module 1104, purchase module 1106, and a content manager communications module 1108.
  • Request Processor 1102 This module handles requests from media player 116 to preview or purchase media data files. A request is sent to either preview module 1104 or purchase module 1106, depending on the type of request, as encoded in the URL passed to HTTP server 122. This module provides a DS Register function, registers the network address of delivery server 118 with content manager 112.
  • Content Manager Communications Module 1108 This module establishes a TCP connection to content manager 112 to obtain configuration information, validate voucher IDs, obtain current media information, obtain purchase validation information and digital signing information.
  • Preview Module 1104 This module responds to requests for streaming media data for real time playback of audio by media player 116. This module provides the following functions:
  • Allocate Stream this message is sent by preview module 1104 to content manager 112 to indicate that a stream has been allocated for a particular preview request.
  • the message specifies the voucher ID for the request, the network address of media player 116 as the media player to receive the stream, the bandwidth requested by media player 116, and the media ID for the file to be streamed.
  • Release Stream this message is sent by preview module 1104 to content manager 112 to release a stream following completion of a request.
  • the message includes the voucher ID, error status, duration of the stream, and identity of the audio image that was streamed.
  • Preview module 1104 also implements a streaming protocol to stream the media data, based on RFC- 1889, and RFC- 1890, Real Time Transfer Protocol.
  • the streaming protocol includes:
  • this message is sent by media player 116 to initiate a connection to delivery server 118; the message includes the network address of delivery server 118 (from media voucher 300), the port of the media player to receive the stream, bandwidth, voucher ID, and media ID.
  • Stream Ready this message is sent by delivery server 118 to media player 116 to provide clip and song parameters for previewing a file, including lead-in and lead-out, fade-in and fadeout, bandwidth, and duration.
  • preview module 1104 supports a Query Time function, which requests a desired starting time.
  • Preview module 1104 responds to a Query Time function with a Nearest Time message indicating the time nearest to the desired starting time, and a number of bytes to be sent from the specified time to the end of a clip.
  • a Transport function taking a specified time (the nearest time response), instructs preview module 1104 to begin streaming at the specified time.
  • Purchase Module 1106 This module manages a secure channel of communication based on a shared "secret" which is the receipt token that security module 1004 generates as part of media voucher 300. This module exports the following functions:
  • This message is sent by media player 116 to initialize a connection for the downloading a media data file 200.
  • This message is sent by purchase module 1106 to media player 116 if the purchase request is approved by validation of the encrypted validation information.
  • Redeem Start This message is sent by media player 116 to initiate the download itself.
  • Get Info This message is sent by purchase module 1106 to content manager 112 to request the media descriptive data.
  • Redeem Data Transfer Done This message is sent by purchase module 1106 when all the data has been transferred.
  • Media licensing center 110 is responsible for the generation of certificates to the other system components, and the generation of key pairs for media player 116.
  • Figure 12 illustrates one embodiment of the software architecture of media licensing center 110 which includes the following modules:
  • Key Generation Module 1202 This module provides public/private key pairs for media player 116 and possibly for content managers as well.
  • Request Handler Module 1204 This module deals with all external communication to media licensing center 110. This can be accomplished through a Web page form for a user requesting a passport or a certificate of content manager 112 to be routed to authentication module 1206 or for requesting recovery for a lost passport or a forgotten passphrase.
  • Authentication Module 1206 This module authenticates a user identity with some external system to verify address, and to separately validate credit card through a payment processing system 134 for requesting a passport. For content manager certificates, authentication module 1206 verifies that there is an account setup for the particular music distribution center 124 making the request.
  • Certificate Generation Module 1208 This module provides the certificates for all other system components; in this fashion media licensing center 110 acts as a certificate authority.
  • the certificates are preferably ITU-T X.509 compliant, and include the public key of the requesting entity (whether generated by that entity or by key generation module 1202), information identifying the requesting entity, validity information, and a digital signature of media licensing center 110.
  • the digital signature is preferably generated according to RSA Laboratories' PKCS #1 specification.
  • this module produces consumer certificate 402 during registration in accordance with event trace 600.
  • Passport Generation Module 1210 This module receives a consumer certificate 402 from certificate generation module 1208, the consumer's private key from key generation module 1202, and user personal information from the registration form through Web browser 128, generates registration key 420, and packages all of this data as a registration file to be delivered to media player 116.
  • Certificate Database Module 1212 This module is a data repository for persistently storing pertinent consumer identifying information and the registration key to enable recovery of passports 400. It also stores account information for music distribution centers.
  • Administration Module 1214 This module generates reports various information regarding passports and certificates, including the number of passports 400 and certificates issued, currently valid certificates, and expired certificates.
  • Certificate Update Module 1216 The certificate issued by certificate generation module 1208 will have varying validity periods. The validity period for consumer certificates is 1 year. The validity period for certificates of content manager 112 and delivery server 118 is about 2 to 4 weeks. Certificate update module 1216 periodically reviews passport database 1212 to determine which certificates have expired. Certificate update module 1216 authenticates the entities holding expired certificates and issues new certificates.
  • Figure 13 illustrates the software architecture of media player 116.
  • Media player 116 provides for decryption and playback of media data files, and for recording an audio data file from a media data file onto a recordable Compact Disc (CD) for later playback on conventional CD players and for recording on solid-state memory devices.
  • Media player 116 interfaces with delivery server 118 to receive media data files and includes the following modules:
  • This module provides a user interface for controlling the playback of audio data including controls for playing, fast forwarding, reversing, pausing playback, and along with displays and controls for viewing time, time remaining, artist and track information, cover and promotional illustration art, and lyrics.
  • These controls operate with respect to both streaming of audio data from a delivery server 118 during a preview transaction, and playback of locally stored audio data, including audio recorded by the user onto compact disk.
  • the various controls respond to signals generated by the user through physical manipulation of user input devices of client system 126 in a conventional manner and invoke functions which generate the transport protocol and download protocol messages to delivery server 118.
  • Network Communication Module 1300 This module manages the interface of media player 116 with the network, including establishing TCP connections over either secure or insecure channels with a delivery server 118 or its proxy.
  • Network communication module 1300 provides functions establishing the connection, requesting media to preview or purchase, playback controls such as stop, start at time offset, and the like, and connection shutdown.
  • Passport Management Module 1302 This module is responsible for managing the user's passport. This module operates during registration of media player 116, and during playback of audio data.
  • Web browser 128 receives a registration file via an SSL connection from passport generation module 1210 of media licensing center 110.
  • the registration file contains the data to be used in a user's passport, and is stored locally in the client computer 124.
  • the registration file is not encrypted in this illustrative embodiment.
  • Web browser 128 invokes media player 116 providing the file name and path of this registration file.
  • Passport management module 1302 retrieves from this registration file the passport data and encrypts the passport data with a user-specified passphrase in accordance with the RSA PKCS #5 algorithm, for example.
  • passport management module 1302 is used to first decrypt the passport using the passphrase, and to decrypt the media key stored therein using the user's private key. The media key is then used by playback module 1316 to decrypt the encrypted audio data in a purchased media data file.
  • passport management module 1302 decrypts personal information 414 from passport 400, including the user's name and confidential information, such as the credit card number, providing the name and confidential information to user interface module 1314 for display during playback.
  • Purchase Module 1304 This module manages the purchase of media data files. This module interfaces with Web browser 128 to receive therefrom a media voucher 300 identifying the media to be purchased and the delivery server, e.g., delivery server 118, to fulfill delivery. This module then communicates with delivery server 118 to securely download the media data file, including generation of download messages according to delivery server 118 download protocols. Purchase module 1304 also interfaces with passport management module 1302 to obtain consumer certificate 402 from passport 400. The consumer certificate is provided to delivery server 118, which passes the consumer certificate to content manager 112 to encrypt the media key with the consumer's public key contained therein.
  • Preview Module 1306 This module manages the request and acquisition and real time streaming of media from delivery server 118. Preview module 1306 interfaces with delivery server 118 via the transport controls to stream media for previewing and free download.
  • File Management Module 1308 This module reads media data files 200 from, and writes media data files 200 to, the local hard disk of client computer system 124.
  • CD Device Management Module 1310 This module formats a media data file 200 for writing on CD-Recordable, or other writeable device. Formatting includes decompression and formatting to CD Red Book standards. Preferably, the decompressed data is maintained in an encrypted format until immediately prior to writing the data to the device.
  • Track List Module 1312 This module organizes the user's media data files into various lists of media tracks, and provides a user interface to access and manage this information. This enables the user to create lists of media to be recorded to a CD or similar portable storage medium.
  • Playback Module 1316 This module performs playback of a media data file 200, including decryption of audio image 208 using the media key. Playback module 1316 implements controls to start, stop, pause, reverse, and fast forward playback.

Landscapes

  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Strategic Management (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Finance (AREA)
  • Development Economics (AREA)
  • Economics (AREA)
  • Marketing (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Reverberation, Karaoke And Other Acoustics (AREA)
  • Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)

Abstract

Ce système de distribution sûr de musique distribue des produits numériques tels que de la musique, de la vidéo et/ou des logiciels informatiques, avec des médias associés, sur un réseau public de télécommunications, tel que l'Internet, au moyen d'une architecture client/serveur. Les produits numériques sont stockés et gérés par un système informatique de gestion de contenus et sont vendus par des systèmes informatiques marchands séparés. Ce système de distribution sûr de musiques comprend un centre de distribution de musiques qui fonctionne avec n'importe quel nombre de systèmes clients et avec n'importe quel nombre de systèmes marchands. Le centre de distribution de musiques comporte un gestionnaire de contenus et au moins un serveur de distribution. Le gestionnaire de contenus conserve une base de données d'informations sur les média, un système de fichier maître relatif aux média et une base de données de transactions. En outre, ce centre s'interface avec un centre d'octroi de licences aux médias, le centre d'octroi communiquant à son tour avec au moins un serveur de mandataires des droits distribués et avec les serveurs marchands. Le serveur marchands fonctionne dans un système informatique marchands, lequel comprend également un serveur HTTP (protocole de transfert de documents hypertextuels). Les serveurs marchands s'interfacent avec divers systèmes de traitement de paiements. Les systèmes clients comprennent un lecteur multimédia ainsi qu'un navigateur Web. Des serveurs supplémentaires de distribution et d'octroi de licences aux médias fonctionnent de manière indépendante et extérieure, par rapport au centre de distribution de musiques, et s'interfacent avec ce dernier.
PCT/US2000/009273 1999-04-09 2000-04-07 Systeme de distribution en direct et sur de musique WO2000062265A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU42108/00A AU4210800A (en) 1999-04-09 2000-04-07 Secure online music distribution system
JP2000611258A JP4463998B2 (ja) 1999-04-09 2000-04-07 保護されたオンライン音楽配布システム
EP00921844A EP1183658A1 (fr) 1999-04-09 2000-04-07 Systeme de distribution en direct et sur de musique

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/289,513 1999-04-09
US09/289,513 US7263497B1 (en) 1998-02-06 1999-04-09 Secure online music distribution system

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2000062265A1 true WO2000062265A1 (fr) 2000-10-19

Family

ID=23111868

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2000/009273 WO2000062265A1 (fr) 1999-04-09 2000-04-07 Systeme de distribution en direct et sur de musique

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1183658A1 (fr)
JP (1) JP4463998B2 (fr)
AU (1) AU4210800A (fr)
WO (1) WO2000062265A1 (fr)

Cited By (57)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2002046979A2 (fr) * 2000-12-04 2002-06-13 David Beran Procede d'utilisation d'un systeme pour le commerce electronique et acces aux sources
WO2002048938A1 (fr) * 2000-12-13 2002-06-20 Unitedbox Pte Ltd Procede et appareil de fourniture de contenu en ligne
EP1220173A1 (fr) * 2000-12-29 2002-07-03 THOMSON multimedia Système et méthode de distribution sécurisée de contenus digitaux dans un réseau partagé
GB2371387A (en) * 2000-10-27 2002-07-24 British Telecomm Asset delivery system
GB2372354A (en) * 2000-06-05 2002-08-21 Sealedmedia Ltd Digital rights management
WO2002067158A1 (fr) * 2001-02-17 2002-08-29 Hewlett-Packard Company Procede et systeme de gestion de fourniture en ligne de produits numeriques ou d'acces a des services en ligne
GB2373609A (en) * 2001-03-19 2002-09-25 Stom C & C Inc Sharing of digital literary works over a network with protection against illegal copying.
NL1017716C2 (nl) * 2001-03-28 2002-10-01 Koninkl Kpn Nv Methode en systeem voor het doen betalen voor het afspelen van een multimediabestand.
EP1274246A2 (fr) * 2001-07-04 2003-01-08 Yamaha Corporation Serveur de portail et méthode pour fournir des informations pour la fourniture de contenu musical
WO2003003172A1 (fr) * 2001-06-29 2003-01-09 Divace Oy Procedes de commande de l'acces utilisateur au contenu de supports numeriques
WO2003058991A2 (fr) * 2001-12-31 2003-07-17 Ericsson, Inc. Procédé, dispositif et système pour le traitement de messages multimédia
WO2003075584A2 (fr) * 2002-03-01 2003-09-12 Nokia Corporation Procede et terminal de communication pour le traitement du paiement d'un contenu telechargeable
EP1379986A2 (fr) * 2001-03-01 2004-01-14 Andy Vilcauskas Systeme de propriete audio
GB2394572A (en) * 2002-10-23 2004-04-28 Paul John Fallon Electronic media production system and method
WO2004097759A1 (fr) * 2003-04-25 2004-11-11 Apple Computer, Inc. Procede et systeme d'achat et de distribution en reseau de supports
WO2004111903A1 (fr) * 2003-06-10 2004-12-23 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Procede de distribution de licences
EP1597687A1 (fr) * 2003-02-27 2005-11-23 Imagineer Software, Inc. Procede et systeme a plusieurs parties de distribution de contenus ayant des caracteristiques de gestion des droits
WO2006040587A1 (fr) * 2004-10-15 2006-04-20 Stephen Paul Davies Systeme et procede de livraison de contenu
EP1764734A1 (fr) * 2001-02-22 2007-03-21 Sony Corporation Système de fourniture et d'acquisition de contenus
US7242771B2 (en) 2002-06-26 2007-07-10 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Contents management system
JP2007188534A (ja) * 2001-04-30 2007-07-26 Nokia Corp コンテンツデリバリーに関する改良
US7373391B2 (en) 2000-10-24 2008-05-13 Seiko Epson Corporation System and method for digital content distribution
WO2008086292A2 (fr) * 2007-01-07 2008-07-17 Apple Inc. Création et achat de sonneries de téléphone
AU2002244872B2 (en) * 2001-03-22 2008-09-11 Wraptech Limited Distribution system and method of operation thereof
US7428549B2 (en) 2001-12-18 2008-09-23 International Business Machines Corporation Method and apparatus for editing a production data store by shadowing content
JP2009116894A (ja) * 2001-08-09 2009-05-28 Paybyclick Corp 電子商取引システム及び方法
US7653602B2 (en) 2003-11-06 2010-01-26 Visa U.S.A. Inc. Centralized electronic commerce card transactions
JP2010044759A (ja) * 2001-10-30 2010-02-25 Keicy K Chung ネットワークを越えてファイルを配布するためのローカル化された読み込み専用記憶装置
CN101699505A (zh) * 2003-04-25 2010-04-28 苹果公司 浏览、搜索和呈现媒体项的图形用户界面
US7725369B2 (en) 2003-05-02 2010-05-25 Visa U.S.A. Inc. Method and server for management of electronic receipts
US7774708B2 (en) 2006-01-04 2010-08-10 Apple Inc. Graphical user interface with improved media presentation
US7857216B2 (en) 2003-09-12 2010-12-28 Visa U.S.A. Inc. Method and system for providing interactive cardholder rewards image replacement
US7895661B2 (en) 2003-04-25 2011-02-22 Apple Inc. Method and system for secure network-based distribution of content
US8005763B2 (en) 2003-09-30 2011-08-23 Visa U.S.A. Inc. Method and system for providing a distributed adaptive rules based dynamic pricing system
US8010405B1 (en) 2002-07-26 2011-08-30 Visa Usa Inc. Multi-application smart card device software solution for smart cardholder reward selection and redemption
US8015060B2 (en) 2002-09-13 2011-09-06 Visa Usa, Inc. Method and system for managing limited use coupon and coupon prioritization
EP2378733A3 (fr) * 2000-11-10 2011-12-28 AOL MusicNow LLC Distribution de contenu numérique et système d'abonnement
US8119282B2 (en) 2005-06-16 2012-02-21 Exide Technologies Gmbh Pole bridge for a battery
EP2034725A3 (fr) * 2007-09-06 2012-04-11 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Appareil de traitement de signaux et son procédé de commande
US8407083B2 (en) 2003-09-30 2013-03-26 Visa U.S.A., Inc. Method and system for managing reward reversal after posting
US8429048B2 (en) 2009-12-28 2013-04-23 Visa International Service Association System and method for processing payment transaction receipts
GB2500452A (en) * 2011-12-14 2013-09-25 Apple Inc Assigning of a slot to stream DRM content to a client device
US8554610B1 (en) 2003-08-29 2013-10-08 Visa U.S.A. Inc. Method and system for providing reward status
US8626577B2 (en) 2002-09-13 2014-01-07 Visa U.S.A Network centric loyalty system
US8689254B2 (en) 2006-09-11 2014-04-01 Apple Inc. Techniques and graphical user interfaces for preview of media items
WO2014108912A1 (fr) * 2013-01-14 2014-07-17 Brihans Ecommerce Pvt. Ltd. Plate-forme de musique en ligne mise en oeuvre sur ordinateur
US8875886B2 (en) 2008-08-25 2014-11-04 Apple Inc. Carrier card arrangement with removable envelope
US9002909B2 (en) 2005-04-27 2015-04-07 Clearswift Limited Tracking marked documents
US9016469B2 (en) 2006-11-17 2015-04-28 Apple Inc. Gift card carriers
CN104636088A (zh) * 2015-02-17 2015-05-20 华为技术有限公司 一种将数据写入数据服务器的方法及存储系统
FR3024259A1 (fr) * 2014-07-28 2016-01-29 Christophe Lassus Systeme et procede de paiement sur facture de telephone mobile
US9406068B2 (en) 2003-04-25 2016-08-02 Apple Inc. Method and system for submitting media for network-based purchase and distribution
US9832304B2 (en) 2001-06-27 2017-11-28 Skky, Llc Media delivery platform
US9852437B2 (en) 2002-09-13 2017-12-26 Visa U.S.A. Inc. Opt-in/opt-out in loyalty system
US9875495B2 (en) 2007-09-04 2018-01-23 Apple Inc. Method and apparatus for purchasing digital playlists
EP3512180A1 (fr) * 2006-11-25 2019-07-17 QUALCOMM Incorporated Système et procédé pour un téléchargement multimédia adaptable conduisant à une utilisation efficace de la liaison aérienne
US11132691B2 (en) 2009-12-16 2021-09-28 Visa International Service Association Merchant alerts incorporating receipt data

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2006221617A (ja) * 2005-01-17 2006-08-24 Toshiba Corp 監査ログ管理機能を有する医用機器
CA2637558A1 (fr) * 2006-02-09 2007-08-23 Unz.Org, Llc Organisation de contenu numerise sur l'internet par etudes de contenu numerise
JP5137046B1 (ja) * 2012-05-31 2013-02-06 株式会社イースティル 系列データ保護方法および系列データ保護プログラム
EP2683127A1 (fr) * 2012-07-05 2014-01-08 Alcatel-Lucent Autorisation de bon pour serveur en nuage
EP3291504B1 (fr) * 2016-08-30 2020-03-11 Wacom Co., Ltd. Authentification et transmission sécurisée des données entre dispositifs de signature et ordinateurs host à l'aide de la sécurité des couches de transport
CN108768664B (zh) 2018-06-06 2020-11-03 腾讯科技（深圳）有限公司 密钥管理方法、装置、系统、存储介质和计算机设备

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2733068A1 (fr) * 1995-04-14 1996-10-18 G C Tech Procede de paiement electronique permettant d'effectuer des transactions liees a l'achat de biens sur un reseau informatique
US5715314A (en) * 1994-10-24 1998-02-03 Open Market, Inc. Network sales system
US5724424A (en) * 1993-12-16 1998-03-03 Open Market, Inc. Digital active advertising
EP0843449A2 (fr) * 1996-11-08 1998-05-20 Sunhawk Corporation, Inc. Système de chiffrement avec clé de décryptage pour transaction chiffrée
US5809144A (en) * 1995-08-24 1998-09-15 Carnegie Mellon University Method and apparatus for purchasing and delivering digital goods over a network

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU1810597A (en) * 1996-02-21 1997-09-10 Card Call Service Co., Ltd. Electronic commerce system

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5724424A (en) * 1993-12-16 1998-03-03 Open Market, Inc. Digital active advertising
US5715314A (en) * 1994-10-24 1998-02-03 Open Market, Inc. Network sales system
FR2733068A1 (fr) * 1995-04-14 1996-10-18 G C Tech Procede de paiement electronique permettant d'effectuer des transactions liees a l'achat de biens sur un reseau informatique
US5809144A (en) * 1995-08-24 1998-09-15 Carnegie Mellon University Method and apparatus for purchasing and delivering digital goods over a network
EP0843449A2 (fr) * 1996-11-08 1998-05-20 Sunhawk Corporation, Inc. Système de chiffrement avec clé de décryptage pour transaction chiffrée

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of EP1183658A1 *

Cited By (103)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7996486B2 (en) 2000-06-05 2011-08-09 Sealedmedia Limited Digital rights management
GB2372354B (en) * 2000-06-05 2004-07-07 Sealedmedia Ltd Digital rights management
US8380849B2 (en) 2000-06-05 2013-02-19 Sealedmedia Limited Digital rights management
GB2372354A (en) * 2000-06-05 2002-08-21 Sealedmedia Ltd Digital rights management
US7509421B2 (en) 2000-06-05 2009-03-24 Sealedmedia Limited Digital rights management
US7373391B2 (en) 2000-10-24 2008-05-13 Seiko Epson Corporation System and method for digital content distribution
GB2371387A (en) * 2000-10-27 2002-07-24 British Telecomm Asset delivery system
US9397991B2 (en) 2000-11-10 2016-07-19 Aol Inc. Digital content distribution and subscription system
US9886566B2 (en) 2000-11-10 2018-02-06 Oath Inc. Digital content distribution and subscription system
EP2378733A3 (fr) * 2000-11-10 2011-12-28 AOL MusicNow LLC Distribution de contenu numérique et système d'abonnement
US8606684B2 (en) 2000-11-10 2013-12-10 Aol Inc. Digital content distribution and subscription system
WO2002046979A3 (fr) * 2000-12-04 2003-08-14 David Beran Procede d'utilisation d'un systeme pour le commerce electronique et acces aux sources
WO2002046979A2 (fr) * 2000-12-04 2002-06-13 David Beran Procede d'utilisation d'un systeme pour le commerce electronique et acces aux sources
WO2002048938A1 (fr) * 2000-12-13 2002-06-20 Unitedbox Pte Ltd Procede et appareil de fourniture de contenu en ligne
WO2002054196A3 (fr) * 2000-12-29 2002-09-19 Thomson Licensing Sa Systeme et procede de distribution securisee d'un contenu numerique dans un reseau partage
WO2002054196A2 (fr) * 2000-12-29 2002-07-11 Thomson Licensing S.A. Systeme et procede de distribution securisee d'un contenu numerique dans un reseau partage
EP1220173A1 (fr) * 2000-12-29 2002-07-03 THOMSON multimedia Système et méthode de distribution sécurisée de contenus digitaux dans un réseau partagé
WO2002067158A1 (fr) * 2001-02-17 2002-08-29 Hewlett-Packard Company Procede et systeme de gestion de fourniture en ligne de produits numeriques ou d'acces a des services en ligne
EP1764734A1 (fr) * 2001-02-22 2007-03-21 Sony Corporation Système de fourniture et d'acquisition de contenus
EP1379986A4 (fr) * 2001-03-01 2007-08-01 Andy Vilcauskas Systeme de propriete audio
EP1379986A2 (fr) * 2001-03-01 2004-01-14 Andy Vilcauskas Systeme de propriete audio
GB2373609A (en) * 2001-03-19 2002-09-25 Stom C & C Inc Sharing of digital literary works over a network with protection against illegal copying.
US7480636B2 (en) 2001-03-22 2009-01-20 Wraptech Limited Distribution system and method of operation thereof
AU2002244872B2 (en) * 2001-03-22 2008-09-11 Wraptech Limited Distribution system and method of operation thereof
NL1017716C2 (nl) * 2001-03-28 2002-10-01 Koninkl Kpn Nv Methode en systeem voor het doen betalen voor het afspelen van een multimediabestand.
WO2002080053A1 (fr) * 2001-03-28 2002-10-10 Koninklijke Kpn N.V. Procede et systeme de chargement pour la lecture d'un fichier multimedia
US7356510B2 (en) 2001-04-30 2008-04-08 Nokia Corporation Content delivery
JP2007188534A (ja) * 2001-04-30 2007-07-26 Nokia Corp コンテンツデリバリーに関する改良
US9832304B2 (en) 2001-06-27 2017-11-28 Skky, Llc Media delivery platform
WO2003003172A1 (fr) * 2001-06-29 2003-01-09 Divace Oy Procedes de commande de l'acces utilisateur au contenu de supports numeriques
CN1328681C (zh) * 2001-07-04 2007-07-25 雅马哈株式会社 供应音乐内容的入口服务器和信息供应方法
US7272629B2 (en) 2001-07-04 2007-09-18 Yamaha Corporation Portal server and information supply method for supplying music content of multiple versions
EP1274246A3 (fr) * 2001-07-04 2003-12-10 Yamaha Corporation Serveur de portail et méthode pour fournir des informations pour la fourniture de contenu musical
EP1274246A2 (fr) * 2001-07-04 2003-01-08 Yamaha Corporation Serveur de portail et méthode pour fournir des informations pour la fourniture de contenu musical
JP2009116894A (ja) * 2001-08-09 2009-05-28 Paybyclick Corp 電子商取引システム及び方法
JP2010044759A (ja) * 2001-10-30 2010-02-25 Keicy K Chung ネットワークを越えてファイルを配布するためのローカル化された読み込み専用記憶装置
US8572032B2 (en) 2001-12-18 2013-10-29 International Business Machines Corporation Method and apparatus for editing a production data store by shadowing content
US7428549B2 (en) 2001-12-18 2008-09-23 International Business Machines Corporation Method and apparatus for editing a production data store by shadowing content
WO2003058991A3 (fr) * 2001-12-31 2004-03-11 Ericsson Inc Procédé, dispositif et système pour le traitement de messages multimédia
WO2003058991A2 (fr) * 2001-12-31 2003-07-17 Ericsson, Inc. Procédé, dispositif et système pour le traitement de messages multimédia
WO2003075584A2 (fr) * 2002-03-01 2003-09-12 Nokia Corporation Procede et terminal de communication pour le traitement du paiement d'un contenu telechargeable
WO2003075584A3 (fr) * 2002-03-01 2004-03-11 Nokia Corp Procede et terminal de communication pour le traitement du paiement d'un contenu telechargeable
US7242771B2 (en) 2002-06-26 2007-07-10 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Contents management system
US8010405B1 (en) 2002-07-26 2011-08-30 Visa Usa Inc. Multi-application smart card device software solution for smart cardholder reward selection and redemption
US9852437B2 (en) 2002-09-13 2017-12-26 Visa U.S.A. Inc. Opt-in/opt-out in loyalty system
US8626577B2 (en) 2002-09-13 2014-01-07 Visa U.S.A Network centric loyalty system
US10460338B2 (en) 2002-09-13 2019-10-29 Visa U.S.A. Inc. Network centric loyalty system
US8239261B2 (en) 2002-09-13 2012-08-07 Liane Redford Method and system for managing limited use coupon and coupon prioritization
US8015060B2 (en) 2002-09-13 2011-09-06 Visa Usa, Inc. Method and system for managing limited use coupon and coupon prioritization
GB2394572A (en) * 2002-10-23 2004-04-28 Paul John Fallon Electronic media production system and method
EP1597687A1 (fr) * 2003-02-27 2005-11-23 Imagineer Software, Inc. Procede et systeme a plusieurs parties de distribution de contenus ayant des caracteristiques de gestion des droits
EP1597687A4 (fr) * 2003-02-27 2008-01-09 Imagineer Software Inc Procede et systeme a plusieurs parties de distribution de contenus ayant des caracteristiques de gestion des droits
US7797242B2 (en) 2003-04-25 2010-09-14 Apple Inc. Method and system for network-based purchase and distribution of media
US8291320B2 (en) 2003-04-25 2012-10-16 Apple Inc. Graphical user interface for browsing, searching and presenting media items
US10628557B2 (en) 2003-04-25 2020-04-21 Apple Inc. Method and system for secure network-based distribution of content
WO2004097759A1 (fr) * 2003-04-25 2004-11-11 Apple Computer, Inc. Procede et systeme d'achat et de distribution en reseau de supports
US9406068B2 (en) 2003-04-25 2016-08-02 Apple Inc. Method and system for submitting media for network-based purchase and distribution
EP2270730A1 (fr) * 2003-04-25 2011-01-05 Apple Inc. Procédé et système pour l'achat et la distribution de médias de type réseau
US9582507B2 (en) 2003-04-25 2017-02-28 Apple Inc. Network based purchase and distribution of media
CN101699505A (zh) * 2003-04-25 2010-04-28 苹果公司 浏览、搜索和呈现媒体项的图形用户界面
US7853893B2 (en) 2003-04-25 2010-12-14 Apple Inc. Graphical user interface for browsing, searching and presenting classical works
US8788423B2 (en) 2003-04-25 2014-07-22 Apple Inc. Method and system for secure network-based distribution of content
US8161411B2 (en) 2003-04-25 2012-04-17 Apple Inc. Graphical user interface for browsing, searching and presenting media items
US7895661B2 (en) 2003-04-25 2011-02-22 Apple Inc. Method and system for secure network-based distribution of content
US9087061B2 (en) 2003-04-25 2015-07-21 Apple Inc. Graphical user interface for browsing, searching and presenting media items
US7827077B2 (en) 2003-05-02 2010-11-02 Visa U.S.A. Inc. Method and apparatus for management of electronic receipts on portable devices
US7725369B2 (en) 2003-05-02 2010-05-25 Visa U.S.A. Inc. Method and server for management of electronic receipts
US8386343B2 (en) 2003-05-02 2013-02-26 Visa U.S.A. Inc. Method and user device for management of electronic receipts
US9087426B2 (en) 2003-05-02 2015-07-21 Visa U.S.A. Inc. Method and administration system for management of electronic receipts
US7987120B2 (en) 2003-05-02 2011-07-26 Visa U.S.A. Inc. Method and portable device for management of electronic receipts
WO2004111903A1 (fr) * 2003-06-10 2004-12-23 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Procede de distribution de licences
US8793156B2 (en) 2003-08-29 2014-07-29 Visa U.S.A. Inc. Method and system for providing reward status
US8554610B1 (en) 2003-08-29 2013-10-08 Visa U.S.A. Inc. Method and system for providing reward status
US7857216B2 (en) 2003-09-12 2010-12-28 Visa U.S.A. Inc. Method and system for providing interactive cardholder rewards image replacement
US7857215B2 (en) 2003-09-12 2010-12-28 Visa U.S.A. Inc. Method and system including phone with rewards image
US8244648B2 (en) 2003-09-30 2012-08-14 Visa U.S.A. Inc. Method and system for providing a distributed adaptive rules based dynamic pricing system
US8005763B2 (en) 2003-09-30 2011-08-23 Visa U.S.A. Inc. Method and system for providing a distributed adaptive rules based dynamic pricing system
US8407083B2 (en) 2003-09-30 2013-03-26 Visa U.S.A., Inc. Method and system for managing reward reversal after posting
US9141967B2 (en) 2003-09-30 2015-09-22 Visa U.S.A. Inc. Method and system for managing reward reversal after posting
US7653602B2 (en) 2003-11-06 2010-01-26 Visa U.S.A. Inc. Centralized electronic commerce card transactions
US9710811B2 (en) 2003-11-06 2017-07-18 Visa U.S.A. Inc. Centralized electronic commerce card transactions
WO2006040587A1 (fr) * 2004-10-15 2006-04-20 Stephen Paul Davies Systeme et procede de livraison de contenu
US9002909B2 (en) 2005-04-27 2015-04-07 Clearswift Limited Tracking marked documents
US8119282B2 (en) 2005-06-16 2012-02-21 Exide Technologies Gmbh Pole bridge for a battery
US7774708B2 (en) 2006-01-04 2010-08-10 Apple Inc. Graphical user interface with improved media presentation
US8782521B2 (en) 2006-01-04 2014-07-15 Apple Inc. Graphical user interface with improved media presentation
US8689254B2 (en) 2006-09-11 2014-04-01 Apple Inc. Techniques and graphical user interfaces for preview of media items
US9016469B2 (en) 2006-11-17 2015-04-28 Apple Inc. Gift card carriers
EP3512180A1 (fr) * 2006-11-25 2019-07-17 QUALCOMM Incorporated Système et procédé pour un téléchargement multimédia adaptable conduisant à une utilisation efficace de la liaison aérienne
WO2008086292A3 (fr) * 2007-01-07 2008-09-12 Apple Inc Création et achat de sonneries de téléphone
WO2008086292A2 (fr) * 2007-01-07 2008-07-17 Apple Inc. Création et achat de sonneries de téléphone
US9875495B2 (en) 2007-09-04 2018-01-23 Apple Inc. Method and apparatus for purchasing digital playlists
EP2034725A3 (fr) * 2007-09-06 2012-04-11 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Appareil de traitement de signaux et son procédé de commande
US8875886B2 (en) 2008-08-25 2014-11-04 Apple Inc. Carrier card arrangement with removable envelope
US11132691B2 (en) 2009-12-16 2021-09-28 Visa International Service Association Merchant alerts incorporating receipt data
US8650124B2 (en) 2009-12-28 2014-02-11 Visa International Service Association System and method for processing payment transaction receipts
US8429048B2 (en) 2009-12-28 2013-04-23 Visa International Service Association System and method for processing payment transaction receipts
GB2500452A (en) * 2011-12-14 2013-09-25 Apple Inc Assigning of a slot to stream DRM content to a client device
GB2500452B (en) * 2011-12-14 2016-02-17 Apple Inc System and method for preventing the unauthorized playback of content
US8959605B2 (en) 2011-12-14 2015-02-17 Apple Inc. System and method for asset lease management
WO2014108912A1 (fr) * 2013-01-14 2014-07-17 Brihans Ecommerce Pvt. Ltd. Plate-forme de musique en ligne mise en oeuvre sur ordinateur
FR3024259A1 (fr) * 2014-07-28 2016-01-29 Christophe Lassus Systeme et procede de paiement sur facture de telephone mobile
CN104636088A (zh) * 2015-02-17 2015-05-20 华为技术有限公司 一种将数据写入数据服务器的方法及存储系统

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP4463998B2 (ja) 2010-05-19
JP2002541528A (ja) 2002-12-03
AU4210800A (en) 2000-11-14
EP1183658A1 (fr) 2002-03-06

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7263497B1 (en) Secure online music distribution system
US6385596B1 (en) Secure online music distribution system
JP4463998B2 (ja) 保護されたオンライン音楽配布システム
US7228437B2 (en) Method and system for securing local database file of local content stored on end-user system
US6834110B1 (en) Multi-tier digital TV programming for content distribution
JP4549673B2 (ja) マルチメディア・コンテンツの許可されない再記録を防ぐ方法およびシステム
US7213005B2 (en) Digital content distribution using web broadcasting services
US6859791B1 (en) Method for determining internet users geographic region
US7383228B2 (en) Method and system for preventing unauthorized rerecording of multimedia content
US7110984B1 (en) Updating usage conditions in lieu of download digital rights management protected content
US7962413B2 (en) End-user system of preventing unauthorized rerecording of multimedia content
US7188085B2 (en) Method and system for delivering encrypted content with associated geographical-based advertisements
US6983371B1 (en) Super-distribution of protected digital content
US6226618B1 (en) Electronic content delivery system
US6611812B2 (en) Secure electronic content distribution on CDS and DVDs
US20050251491A1 (en) Key management system
JP2001274788A (ja) ウェブ同報通信サービスを使用したディジタル・コンテンツの配布
US20030233563A1 (en) Method and system for securely transmitting and distributing information and for producing a physical instantiation of the transmitted information in an intermediate, information-storage medium

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AE AG AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY CA CH CN CR CU CZ DE DK DM DZ EE ES FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MA MD MG MK MN MW MX NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK SL TJ TM TR TT TZ UA UG UZ VN YU ZA ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW SD SL SZ TZ UG ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
DFPE Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101)
ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref country code: JP

Ref document number: 2000 611258

Kind code of ref document: A

Format of ref document f/p: F

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 2000921844

Country of ref document: EP

REG Reference to national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8642

WWP Wipo information: published in national office

Ref document number: 2000921844

Country of ref document: EP