WO2007098726A1

WO2007098726A1 - Device and method for distributing audiovisual data to cinemas

Info

Publication number: WO2007098726A1
Application number: PCT/DE2006/002308
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wolfgang Ruppel; Jörg Brüggen; Hans-Heiner Gaus; Oliver Lentz; Stephan Rolly; Heiko Abecker
Original assignee: Deutsche Telekom Ag
Priority date: 2006-03-04
Filing date: 2006-12-22
Publication date: 2007-09-07
Also published as: DE102006010021A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for the distribution of audiovisual data to cinemas. According to the invention, the audiovisual data to be distributed is received by a distribution centre and written into an input memory; the data written into the input memory is checked, formatted and, if specified, is encoded and read into another memory; further metadata is produced, said metadata being associated with the audiovisual data and likewise stored in the memory; corresponding inputs activate the transmission of messages to the cinemas which are to receive the audiovisual data; and a wideband transmission of the audiovisual data is performed following acknowledgement by the cinemas.

Description

description

Establishment and method of distribution of audiovisual data to cinemas

The invention relates to a device and a method for distributing audiovisual data to cinemas.

The distribution of cinema programs today takes place from the production studios by the dispatch of film material wound on rolls over the respective regional rental to the individual cinemas. The rolls are distributed with run tickets via so-called film warehouses by post or courier services to the cinemas, there personally in

Received and placed on the players. After playback, the return transport and the destruction of the film material takes place.

The films or film rolls are usually deprived of the direct control of the lender and there is a great risk that pirate copies can be made. In addition, the procedure described causes complex disposition and control arrangements.

To avoid these disadvantages are proposals for the digital distribution of films in the form of audiovisual Data become known, for example, by N. Bolewski "CyberCinema - Cinema electronic" in television and cinema technology, Volume 52, No. 12/1998, pages 757-759, DE 199 57 466 Al and US 2005/0168693 Al. These known methods enable electronic distribution of films presented as audiovisual data and have a number of advantages, such as the savings for producing many film copies and the faster delivery of individual cinemas.

However, these known methods are in terms of sufficient security, an IT-based takeover of business processes, assignment of performance licenses, control and logging of business processes and FiIm distribution successes, storage media in the cinema and the

Connection of any language versions and an adaptation to any transmission networks is not sufficiently developed.

The inventive device with the features of

Main claim enables a secure distribution of audiovisual data including their storage after they have been transferred from film producers to the device according to the invention.

In particular, it can be provided in the device according to the invention that the first

Data processing means comprises means for generating metadata for the audiovisual data stored in memory associated with the audiovisual data. This creates further prerequisites for control and logging of business processes associated with the distribution of films. Furthermore, the device according to the invention can be further developed in that the first

Data processing device includes means for encrypting non-encrypted audiovisual data. Secure encryption methods are available, in particular symmetric encryption according to the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES).

Depending on the requirements in detail, it may be 'appropriate to transfer films or film programs in individual parts, as is done for example in the form of roles in conventional cinema. In order to ensure a complete presentation of the films in the correct order, it is provided in another development that the second data processing device contains means for producing presentation lists concerning the audiovisual data.

The demo lists (playlists) can be over from to the

Transmission of audiovisual data provided media (satellite links, broadband networks) dependent transmission media, such as ISDN, are transmitted. Such additional channels can also be used to transmit additional information. Thus, for example, in an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the second data processing device further comprises means for enabling the readout and transmission of the audiovisual data when information about the readiness for reception of the cinemas is received. This ensures that the conditions for the transmission of audiovisual data are met. Furthermore, it can be provided that the second Data Processing Device Means for sending a recording command to the cinemas.

Another development of the invention is that a data processing device for the management of

Licenses for reproducing the audiovisual data is provided, which is in correlation with the second data processing device and sends to each authorized cinemas information for decrypting the respectively distributed audiovisual data. These

Depending on the business model to be implemented, the data processing device for managing licenses can be relatively independent of the first and second data processing device, for example belonging to a different service provider, for example a trust center.

In order to securely send particularly critical information relating to encryption to the cinemas, it can be provided in the invention that the information required for decrypting the audiovisual data is at least partially distributed with the aid of data carriers.

In the method according to the invention, it is provided

that the audiovisual data to be distributed are received by a distribution center and written into an input memory,

that the data written to the input memory is checked, formatted and, if specified, encrypted and read into another memory, - that further meta-data are generated, which are associated with the audiovisual data and are also stored in the memory,

- that triggered by appropriate input messages are transmitted to the cinemas, which audiovisual

To receive data and

- that, following feedback from cinemas, broadband transmission of audiovisual data takes place.

With these measures, a secure and recordable distribution of the films is also possible.

Since even with very broadband transmission channels because of the large amount of data of the films, the transmission is not possible in any short time, is a simultaneous

Broadcast to as many cinemas as possible, for example through broadcast channels. For this purpose, according to a development of the method according to the invention, provision is made for the transmission to take place only when acknowledgments have arrived from a predetermined number of cinemas.

In order to be able to transmit the highly sensitive information required for decrypting the audiovisual data only if they can also be evaluated, it is provided in an advantageous embodiment that after receiving further responses which include a successful transmission of the audiovisual data, to those cinemas which have sent further feedback, a license message containing at least information for decrypting the audiovisual data is sent. For a further evaluation, in particular for billing purposes, the method according to the invention can be designed in such a way that license feedback messages are received, which are sent by the cinemas after a respective reproduction of the audiovisual data.

If there is a need for further performances in the cinemas for films already broadcast and performed, the inventive method can also be designed in such a way that further license messages are sent on request for films stored in the cinemas. If, however, no further need arises, it is preferably provided for security reasons that in the cinemas transmitted license messages time information about the deletion of the audiovisual data are included in the cinemas stores.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawing with reference to several figures and explained in more detail in the following description. It shows:

1 is a schematic representation of the distribution of audiovisual data to cinemas,

2 is a schematic representation of the functions of the device according to the invention,

3 shows the process of storing audiovisual data in the device according to the invention,

Fig. 4 shows the process of sending the audiovisual data and Fig. 5 is a block diagram of a device according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of the distribution of audiovisual data - hereinafter also called film data. The film data produced in film production facilities or post-processing studios 1 are fed to a distribution center 2, where they are brought into a form suitable for distribution and stored. Through suitable transmission media, such as satellites or ATM networks, the movie data is distributed to the cinemas, of which only three cinemas 3, 4, 5 are shown schematically. The cinemas can have many cinemas, each with suitable demonstration facilities.

Fig. 2 shows a structural representation of the distribution center 2 (Fig. 1). At 6, movie data to be distributed to cinemas is received. The function film data storage 7 prepares the movie data by

Storage, which will be described later in more detail. For storage of the film data is an operating archive 8 for temporary storage and for long-term storage a paging archive 9. The two archives 8, 9 have a shared memory management 12. The transmission of the film data is taken over by a function 10, from whose output 11 the film data reach the cinemas via suitable transmission media, the film data.

The limited storage capacity of input memory 28 (FIG. 3) and operating memory ((possibly both on the same disk array) require in particular because of considerable size of the movie data careful planning of the use of storage media. The following tasks must therefore be performed by the memory manager 12: • Keep storage space in the input memory

(if required, lockout).

• Memory management for the memory: o Outsourcing of short-term unneeded

Movie data in the swap archive (if available). o Deletion of distribution copies that are no longer needed (including updating the database). o If necessary, recording of film data from the swap archive in the operating memory with planned playout.

The management, the film data storage 7 as well as the film data distribution 10 takes place in a film data management 13. Film data to be transmitted to the cinemas are stored in the distribution center 2 as files in a format suitable for the transmission in the data rate reduced format in the operating archive 8. Materials management includes the functionalities involved in storing and shipping this movie data:

Storage of material for the acceptance of delivered film data in the form of data carriers (DVDs or tape cassettes), data streams (via ATM or satellite) or file transfers (ISDN / ADSL, WAN / LAN) to the 'short-term' operating archive.

One of the purposes of license management 14 is to determine which cinemas are licensing which films Licenses may contain different provisions, such as when, how often and in which room the film should or may be performed. The licenses are transmitted to the cinemas in the form of information for decrypting the encrypted film data.

In the embodiment, a symmetric encryption according to the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is used to secure the movie data. The same key (session key) is used for encryption and decryption. The key generated and used for the encryption of a film must therefore also be available for decryption at the moment of the performance in the cinema. The key is for this purpose with a

Period of validity provided, in the form of so-called licenses sent to the cinemas, if a certain film is to be listed there.

License Management implements the following functionalities to handle the required subtasks:

• Key database for assigning the session keys to the movie data (files). When encrypting a new film to be stored (s.

Material management / material storage), the key generated for this purpose is stored together with the film identifier in the key database and is therefore available for generating licenses.

• License database for storing and transmitting the licenses of each cinemas acquired for the performance. There licenses sent to the cinema there only in volatile memory of serving as a license proxy server, they must be retransmitted after shutdown (eg power failure) and restart of this computer. License management services these 'recovery requests' from the license database.

• License Sending for transmission of Session Keys in the case of a performance booking of an encrypted film in a certain cinema hall and for the restoration of 'lost' licenses when the license proxy of a cinema is restarted. The license dispatch is controlled by incoming license delivery orders (from the BSP) or license recovery requests (from the license proxy). • License usage monitoring to record the actual usage of licenses sent. After each playback (decryption) of a movie file for which a key has been transmitted to the playout server by the license proxy in the cinema, this key usage is reported to the distribution center via an entitlement usage statement. These messages are collected in the central database (at BSP).

The functionality of the license administration is largely implemented by the License Service Provider (LSP), a separate computer system in the distribution center's network. Only the license usage monitoring does not require any functions of the LSP, since all the required information is taken from the BSP database. The distribution center 2 (Figure 1) further includes a smart card management 15 which are sent to the cinemas and enable cryptographic methods of mutual authentication between cinema and license management for decrypting the encrypted movie data.

The following tasks are to be performed by the smart card management:

• Chip card initialization (PIN / TAN setting and key generation)

• PIN / TAN management

• User and chip card registration in the central database

• Handover of the chip cards to the user • Replacement of lost or defective chip cards.

To identify and authenticate users and system components, the D-Cinema platform uses smart cards (Telesec NetKey Cards) that, in addition to their identification number, also contain a public and associated private key of the holder for the signature and encrypted transmission of documents.

Card holders are: • All system users who use the management system to manage distribution center functions (rights holders, lenders, cinema owners, operators)

License Service Provider (LSP)

• Screening Server (Projector Host) in Cinema • Vault Host in Distribution Center. The document dispatch for orders and

Implementation confirmations are based on information on users stored in a central database (BSP), their rights and the addressing of system components authorized to receive them. The subscriber administration 16 accordingly has the following tasks:

• Input of data for new users or newly connected system components (new cinemas with their screening servers) • Maintenance of database data for users and locations.

Referring to Fig. 3, the movie data embedding will be described in more detail. The film data to be stored can be supplied to the distributor in various ways. For this purpose, in each case interfaces are provided, for example an interface 21 for networks, an interface 22 for media drives, for example tape drives or disk-shaped information carriers, for example DVDs, or a stream interface 23 for recording digital movie data, which are supplied for example via broadband cable or satellite , Using other components, such as an IP stack 24, a

File copy application 25 and a recorder function 26 with recording control 27 enter the film data into an input memory 28.

In addition to the movie data, the studios still provide the product with characteristics of the particular product which are processed at 32 into product registration with a file designation which is fed to the input memory 28. The film data stored in the input memory 28 are fed via a formatter 29 to the operating archive 8 (FIG. 2). The formatter 29 is used for formatting and, where appropriate, for encoding the received film data (also referred to as input copy on the basis of conventional shipping) and thus for producing a film copy that can be sent (distribution copy). In this step of the storage process, a new file is generated from the input copy, which is located as a file in the input memory, which has possibly been adapted in an encrypted manner to the requirements of the transmission channel (formatting of the TS packets, division into separate sections and others). In this process 31, the distribution copy receives the so-called UMID (= unique material identifier) as identification of this instance of the transferred film data. The session keys used for encryption as well as the UMID can be generated directly by an encryption routine and entered manually into the key database of the license management 14 (FIG. 2).

After formatting / encryption, the distribution copy is stored in memory with a file name referring to the automatically generated UMID. UMID and, if necessary, additional format-related additional data of the distribution copy are entered in the registration process for the generated copy in the central database.

FIG. 4 shows the material shipment for the transmission of the formatted and possibly encrypted film data to the cinemas. Via a dispatch order 36 in the management system, the compilation of so-called programs, which consist of one or more films, takes place. This also causes the commissioning of the shipment of the associated files to the desired cinemas. Recording orders are sent to the appropriate cinema and Program Delivery Order to the distribution center. The operator in the distribution center or, if appropriate, the automatic shipping process of a delivery manager 33, after the transmission planning (taking account of transmission capacity and time), initiate the playback of the film data via a broadband network using the FTP client 34 or via satellite using the streaming service. Interface 35.

If necessary, the data required for this purpose must first be transferred from the swap archive to the operations archive via the processes of storage management. The despatch of the licenses required for decryption takes place after commissioning via the license administration 37.

The block diagram shown in Fig. 5 shows the input memory 41, the memory 42 and a

Transmitter 43. The operations relating to the storage of the movie data via the input memory 41 into the memory 42 are controlled by a first data processing device (computer) 44.

A second data processing device (computer) 45, as described above in detail, manages the transmission of the film data from the memory 42. Via a bidirectional connection and via the ISDN 47 information is exchanged with the cinemas, such as recording order or record confirmation. Another data processing device 46 serves as license management and is connected to the computers 44, 45 and to the ISDN 47.

Claims

claims

1. Device for distribution of audiovisual data to cinemas

- with a memory (42, 8, 9) for the audiovisual data to be distributed, - with an input memory (41, 28), in which incoming, later to be distributed audiovisual data are stored,

- With a first data processing device (44) for checking, formatting and transmitting the audiovisual data from the input memory (41, 28) in a memory (42, 8, 9) and

- With a second data processing device (45) for controlling the readout of the audiovisual data to be distributed and their supply to transmitting devices (43).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first data processing device (44) comprises means (31) for generating metadata for the audiovisual

Includes data stored in the memory (42, 8, 9) associated with the audiovisual data.

3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the first data processing device (44) includes means (29) for encrypting non-encrypted supplied audiovisual data.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second data processing device (45) includes means (36) for the production of audiovisual data concerning performance lists.

A device according to claim 4, characterized in that the second data processing means (45) further comprises means (36) for enabling the reading out and transmission of the audiovisual data when information about the readiness of the cinemas to receive is received.

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second data processing device (45) comprises means (36) for sending a recording command to the cinemas.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a data processing device (46, 37) for the management of

Licenses for reproducing the audiovisual data is provided, which is in correlation with the second data processing device (45) and sends to each authorized cinemas information for decrypting the respectively distributed audiovisual data.

8. A device according to claim 7, characterized in that the information required for decrypting the audiovisual data is at least partially distributed by means of data carriers.

9. A method of distributing audiovisual data to cinemas, characterized that the audiovisual data to be distributed are received by a distribution center and written into an input memory,

that the data written to the input memory is checked, formatted and, if specified, encrypted and read into another memory,

- that further meta-data are generated, which are associated with the audiovisual data and are also stored in the memory,

- that triggered by appropriate inputs messages are transmitted to the cinemas, which should receive the audiovisual data and

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the transmission takes place only when feedback from a predetermined number of cinemas have arrived.

11. The method according to any one of claims 9 or 10, characterized in that after receiving further feedback, which includes a successful transmission of the audiovisual data, to those cinemas that have sent a further feedback, a license message is sent, which at least information for Decryption of audiovisual data.

12. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that license feedback is received, which are sent by the cinemas after each playback of the audiovisual data.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that further license messages are sent on request for movies stored in cinemas.

14. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that in the cinemas transmitted license messages time information about the deletion of the audiovisual data in the memories of the cinemas are included.