FR2881302A1 - METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROTECTING COPIES OF TRANSIT-READED FILE DATA (STREAMING) - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and a system for protecting against the copy of data representative of at least one file (M), called media, transmitted by at least one terminal (1), said provider, to at least terminal (2) said receiver, via at least one communication network (10), according to a technology allowing the reading of a part of the file (M), by an application (200), called a data read-in-transit, executed on means ( 20) for processing the receiver terminal (2), before the end of the transmission (90) of the entire file (M), characterized in that it comprises at least one execution step (73), on the means (20) for processing the receiver terminal (2), an application (201) for checking the means (22) for storing the receiver terminal (2), implemented recurrently to detect whether a variation of the storage space between two detections exceeds a predetermined size and, if necessary, t, block the transmission (90) of the file (M).

Description

Method and system for protecting against the copying of data from

  The present invention relates to the field of electronics and more particularly to the broadcast of media files by download on demand on a client terminal connected to a server.

  The field of media file delivery is now very well developed and many media file providers now offer downloads of music or video on demand. This download may consist of an Internet transmission of the complete file to the user's terminal or a technique called streaming, in English (translatable by reading in transit in French) and consisting in that the terminal of the user who receives the file reads it during the download. During streaming, the received data is placed in a buffer that is read during the reception of the following data. A first problem in the field of media file broadcasting concerns the piracy of videos and music downloaded via the Internet. Non-copyright users copy the videos and music they download and broadcast to other users. The suppliers of media files, including paid media files, are therefore faced with the problem of wanting to broadcast media files without these being copied by the users who download it. It is known in the prior art solutions using encryption of data constituting the file but these solutions are easily avoided by users who use many tricks to circumvent the encryption. Streaming possibly prevents the entire file from being stored in the user's terminal and therefore the user does not copy the media file, but this solution can be circumvented by users who have applications (for example screenshot) to save the media file while it is playing on the terminal. A second problem concerns the streaming which must be adapted to the throughput capacity of the connection of the user downloading the file. Indeed, depending on the speed of the connection and its reliability, the buffer used during the streaming can be read entirely while the following data are not yet received, if the download speed is lower than the reading speed or if the download has been momentarily paused or slowed down. A very slow connection therefore requires the use of a large buffer for streaming or sending the complete file without reading during transit.

  In this context, it is advantageous to propose a method and / or a system for broadcasting media files making it possible to protect against copy (piracy) the data of the media files sent to the users and making it possible to adapt the streaming to the data rate of the user login downloading the media file. In order to prevent copying, such a method and / or system must therefore make it possible to prevent screen capture and access to the data of the file by applications executed on the terminal of a user. In order to adapt the streaming to the bit rate of the connection, such a method and / or system must make it possible to adapt the size (and hence the quality) of the file to be sent according to the connection speed of the user's terminal with the server of the media file provider.

  The purpose of the present invention is to overcome certain disadvantages of the prior art by proposing a method of broadcasting at least one media file by a server, via a communication network, making it possible to prevent the recording of the media file in means for storing a terminal of a user during the reading of the file by terminal processing means.

  This purpose is achieved by a method for protecting against the copy of data representative of at least one file, called media, transmitted by at least one terminal, said provider, to at least a terminal called receiver, via at least one communication network, according to a technology that makes it possible to read a part of the file, by an application, called a transit data reading application, executed on processing means of the receiving terminal, before the end of the transmission of the entire file, characterized in it comprises at least one step of execution, on the processing means of the receiving terminal, of a verification application of the storage means of the receiving terminal, implemented recurrently to detect whether a variation of the storage space between two detections exceeds a predetermined size and, if necessary, block the transmission of the file.

  According to another particularity, the method starts with a connection of the receiving terminal to the provider terminal by means of an application, called a browser, executed on the processing means of the receiving terminal, allowing a step of loading, in the receiving terminal, of data, called of installation, transmitted by the provider terminal and allowing at least the execution of the application for reading data in transit on the processing means of the receiving terminal, this application for reading data in transit consisting of at least one piece of software executed within the browser.

  According to another particularity, the execution of the recurring verification application of the receiver terminal storage means is activated by the execution of the application for reading data in transit, during the transmission of the data representative of the file and in it consists of a detection of the different storage means accessible to the receiving terminal and a control of the free storage space and / or used in these storage means, for detecting whether a difference in this storage space between two detections exceeds a predetermined size and, if necessary, block the transmission of the file.

  According to another feature, the method also comprises a step of executing a running application control application on the processing means of the receiving terminal, to verify that only the in-transit playback application is executed and if this is not the case, require the other end user to close the other applications.

  According to another particularity, the method also comprises a step of executing an application for controlling the presence of screen capture hacking applications on the storage means of the receiving terminal, by comparison of the data stored in the means storing the receiving terminal with data representative of a list of information enabling identification of known screen capture hacking applications, for detecting whether such applications have been installed on the receiving terminal and, if appropriate, require their uninstallation by the user of the receiving terminal.

  According to another particularity, the step of loading the installation data of the piece of software corresponding to the to-transit read application is accompanied by the loading of software pieces corresponding to all or part of the recurring verification application of the means. storage, the application control application running and the application control the presence of hacking applications.

  According to another feature, the transmission of the representative data of the media file comprises at least the following steps: sending, by means of communication of the provider terminal, at least part of the constituent data of the media file to the receiving terminal, via the communication network, - reception of the part of the constituent data of the media file by means of communication of the receiving terminal, reading, by the data reading application in transit of the receiving terminal, the part of the constituent data of the file received by the means of communication, then presentation to the user of the receiving terminal, through a visual and / or auditory interface of the receiving terminal information corresponding to the data received and read.

  According to another particularity, the start of the transmission of the file and in particular the first steps of reading the first received file data and presentation of the information corresponding to the first data received and read are accompanied by at least one step of changing the properties of the file. resolution and / or sampling of the colors displayed by the display means of the receiving terminal and of the receiving terminal in a so-called slave mode, by blocking any command of the receiving terminal with the exception of commands dedicated to the control of the application of reading in transit and blocking processing means of the receiving terminal to allow only the execution of the application of reading in transit and the verification application of the storage means.

  According to another particularity, the method comprises at least one step of configuring the communication via the communication network, by sending by the provider terminal to the data receiving terminal allowing an update of the communication protocol between these two terminals, this protocol allow steps of real-time adaptation of the size of the data sent by the provider terminal to the receiving terminal, as a function of the speed of the connection of the receiving terminal and as a function of possible fluctuations of this speed of the connection.

  According to another particularity, the method comprises at least one step of identifying the user of the receiving terminal by the provider terminal.

  According to another particularity, the step of receiving the portion of the constituent data of the media file is followed by a step of adding, in the received data, data representative of information relating to the user of the receiving terminal, for the incorporation of this information into the information contained in the file, so that this information is presented to the users during the reading of the file, to allow identification of the users having made a possible analog copy of the file.

  According to another feature, the step of receiving part of the constituent data of the media file by the communication means of the receiving terminal is followed by a step of temporarily storing these data in a buffer memory of the receiving terminal, the size of this buffer memory being determined, during the communication configuration step, as a function of the speed of the connection of the receiver terminal and allowing the recurring verification application of the storage means to define the maximum authorized size of variation of the free storage spaces and / or used in the storage means of the receiving terminal.

  According to another feature, the method is implemented by a receiving terminal consisting of a computer connected, via an Internet-type communication network, to a provider terminal consisting of a server.

  In another feature, the method is implemented by a receiving terminal consisting of a gaming console connected via an Internet-type communication network to a provider terminal consisting of a server.

  Another aim of the present invention is to propose a system for broadcasting at least one media file by a server, via an is communication network, making it possible to prevent the recording of the media file in storage means of a terminal of a user, during the reading of the file by terminal processing means.

  This purpose is achieved by a system for protecting against the copy of data representative of at least one file, called media, transmitted by at least one terminal, said provider, to at least terminal called receiver, via at least one communication network, according to a technology that makes it possible to read a part of the file, by an application, called a transit data reading application, executed on processing means of the receiving terminal, before the end of the transmission of the entire file, characterized in the processing means of the receiving terminal comprise means for checking storage means of the receiving terminal verification application of the storage means of the receiving terminal, implemented recurrently to detect whether a variation of the storage space between two detections exceed a predetermined size and, if necessary, block the transmission of the file.

  According to another particularity, the receiving terminal comprises communication means enabling an application, called a browser, executed on the processing means of the receiving terminal, to establish a connection with the communication means of the provider terminal, means for processing the provider terminal for managing communication with the receiving terminal and sending data, said installation, allowing at least the execution of the application for reading data in transit on the processing means of the receiving terminal, this streaming data reader application consisting of a piece of software executed within the browser.

  According to another particularity, the means for recurrent verification of the receiving terminal storage means are activated by the execution of the application for reading data in transit, during the transmission of the representative data of the file and in that comprise means for detecting the different storage means accessible to the receiving terminal and means for controlling the free storage space and / or used in these storage means, for detecting whether a difference in this storage space between two detections exceeds a predetermined size and, if necessary, block the transmission of the file.

  According to another particularity, the receiving terminal also comprises means for controlling the applications running on its processing means, to check that only the application for reading in transit is executed and, if not, to require the closing other applications by the user of the receiving terminal.

  According to another particularity, the receiving terminal also comprises means for controlling the presence of screen capture hacking applications on the storage means of the receiving terminal, by comparison of the data stored in the storage means of the receiving terminal with data representative of a list of information enabling the identification of known screen capture hacking applications, to detect if such applications have been installed on the receiving terminal and, if necessary, to require their removal by the user of the receiving terminal.

  According to another particularity, the processing means of the supplier terminal for sending the installation data of the piece of software corresponding to the read-in-transit application is accompanied by the sending of data supplying the receiving terminal with the means of verification. recurrent storage means, control means running applications and control means for the presence of hacking applications, these data being representative of software parts corresponding to all or part of the recurring verification means of the means storage, means for controlling running applications and means for checking the presence of hacking applications.

  According to another particularity, the processing means of the supplier terminal and the processing means of the receiving terminal allow, on the one hand, the configuration, respectively, of the communication means of the provider terminal and the communication means of the receiving terminal and, d on the other hand, the determination of the speed of the connection of the receiving terminal to the communication network and the processing means of the provider terminal comprise means of adapting the size of the data transmitted to the receiving terminal according to the speed of its connection and depending on possible fluctuations of this connection speed.

  According to another particularity, the receiving terminal also comprises a visual and / or auditory interface, consisting of at least display means, comprises input means, consisting of a mouse and a keyboard, and includes a buffer memory for storage temporary data received by its means of communication and reading the portion of the file stored in this buffer, by the application of reading in transit, the start of this reading resulting in at least one change of resolution properties and / or sampling the colors displayed by the display means and in a passage of the receiving terminal in a so-called slave mode, in which the keyboard is blocked and only the mouse allows certain commands dedicated to the control of the application of reading in transit.

  According to another particularity, the receiving terminal also comprises means for incorporating data representative of information relating to the user of the receiving terminal, for the incorporation of this information into the information contained in the file, so that that this information is presented to the users during the reading of the file, to allow an identification of the users who made a possible analog copy of the file.

  According to another particularity, the receiving terminal is a computer connected to the Internet.

  In another feature, the receiving terminal is a gaming console connected to the Internet.

  Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description, made with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIG. 1 represents a diagram of the system according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 represents a diagram of a series of preliminary steps of the method according to one embodiment of the invention; FIG. 3 represents a diagram of a series of preliminary steps of testing the method according to a method; embodiment of the invention, - Figure 4 shows a diagram of a series of steps of the transmission according to an embodiment of the method of the invention, as they are implemented in the system according to a mode. embodiment of the invention.

  The invention relates to a method and a system for protecting against the copy of data representative of at least one file (M), called media, transmitted by at least one terminal (1), said provider, to at least 30 terminal (2). ) said receiver, via at least one network (10) of communication, according to a technology allowing the reading of a part of the file (M), by an application (200), said data reading in transit, executed on i0 means (20) for processing the receiving terminal (2) before the end of the transmission (90) of the entire file (M). The method and the system according to the invention make it possible to prevent the file (M) from being copied by means of the execution (73), on the processing means (20) of the receiving terminal (2), of an application (201). ) verification means (22) for storing the terminal (2) receiver. This application (201) is implemented recurrently during the transmission of the file (M) to detect if a variation of the storage space between two detections exceeds a predetermined size and, where appropriate, block the transmission ( 90) of the file (M).

  Although the invention is particularly suitable for broadcasting video on demand, it should not be limited to streaming only video and / or audio files because it can protect against copying any type of data. which are intended to be read during their transmission from a provider terminal (1) to a receiving terminal (2).

  1s These data can of course be representative of a film or a music, but also, without limitation, a confidential text intended to be displayed only once on a terminal (2) receiver or lines of code intended to be executed only once by a program executing commands upon receipt of this code.

  By terminal (1) provider is meant any terminal having the means described below and for transmitting to the terminal (2) receiving the constituent data file (M) and the data for the execution of different applications (200, 201 , 202, 203) described hereinafter on the receiver terminal (2). In a nonlimiting manner, the provider terminal (1) consists, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, in a server broadcasting media files (M) according to the dynamic streaming technology. This technology makes it possible to send to a terminal (2) receiver, via a communication network (for example of the Internet type) a file that can be read by the receiving terminal (2) before the end of its transmission via the communication network. . Streaming (or reading in transit) is said to be dynamic when the file (M) is stored in several copies of sizes and therefore of different qualities on the server, 2881302 It which then adapts the sending of the different qualities of the same file ( M) as a function of the speed of the connection (101, 102) of the terminal (2) receiver and as a function of possible fluctuations of this connection speed. For example, the receiver terminal (2) may have a broadband type Internet connection (101) and thus receive the data at a higher speed than with a low bandwidth connection (102). However, the speed of the connections (101, 102), even broadband is not always stable depending on the servers through which the information flows, the server must be able to automatically adapt the quality of the file 5M) sent according to variations in the bandwidth of the connection of the terminal (2) receiver so as to avoid interruptions in the broadcast of the file (M), that is to say its reading on the terminal (2) receiver. The provider terminal (1) comprises means (11) for communication via at least one communication network (10) for the exchange of data with other terminals connected to this communication network (10). ) for storing data received from the other terminals or for storing data to be sent to the other terminals and processing means (13) for processing the data stored in the storage means (12) and the data exchanged by means the communication means (11). These processing means (13) allow the execution of data exchange management applications with the other terminals connected to the communication network (10), as explained in detail below. The means (12) for storing the provider terminal (1) comprises, for example, several databases relating to the various data such as those relating to the users, the various media files to be broadcast and the software pieces enabling communications with the various terminals. and the software pieces enabling the execution of the applications necessary for carrying out the method according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1 thus represents, in a nonlimiting manner, three databases stored in the means (12) for storing the provider terminal (1): a database (121) for storing media files (M), a database ( 122) of data

U

  storing information concerning the users of the system according to the invention and a database (123) of storage data of the software pieces necessary for the different terminals for the implementation of the invention.

  Receiver terminal (2) means any terminal having the means described below and for receiving and reading the constituent data file (M) received from the terminal (1) provider. In one embodiment of the invention, the receiving terminal (2) consists of a computer connected to the Internet. In another embodiment of the invention, the receiving terminal (2) consists of a gaming console connected to the Internet. The receiver terminal (2) comprises means (21) for communication via at least one communication network (10), for the exchange of data with other terminals connected to this communication network (10), means (22) ) for storing data received from the other terminals or for storing data to be sent to the other terminals and processing means (20) for processing the data stored in the storage means (22) and the data exchanged by means the communication means (21). These processing means (20) allow the execution of data exchange management applications with the other terminals connected to the communication network (10), and operations control applications performed by the receiver terminal (2). as explained in detail below. The receiver terminal (2) also comprises, on the one hand, a visual and / or auditory interface (23), such as at least display means (23), such as a screen (23), for example equipped with loudspeakers and, on the other hand, input means such as, for example, a keyboard (232) and a mouse (231). It is obvious that a joystick game console is also a means of capture and any visual and / or auditory interface, other than a screen equipped with speakers, correspond by equivalence to the means considered here. The means (22) for storing the receiving terminal (2) may consist, as shown in FIG. 1, of internal (220) and / or external (222) hard disks (whose free and used storage spaces are represented by conventional manner in sectors), but also in readers / burners (221) of compact discs and / or DVDs or any other means of removable storage or not.

  The implementation of the invention requires the loading of a streaming application (200) for streaming. Advantageously, this loading can be performed during a connection of the receiver terminal (2) with the provider terminal (1), thanks to their respective communication means (21, 11). In one embodiment of the invention, the means (20) for processing the receiving terminal (2) execute an application (2000), called a browser, allowing the user of the terminal (2) to connect to the terminal ( 1) supplier whose processing means (13) comprise the means necessary to provide the terminal (2) receiving functions necessary for streaming. It is obvious that in the absence of a browser (2000) on the terminal (2) receiver, the terminal (1) provider could send data allowing the execution of a browser (2000) on the terminal (2) receiver , thanks for example to an identifier such as an IP address (Internet Protocol, according to the English terminology) provided by the user of the terminal (2) receiver to the managers of the terminal (1) provider, for example.

  The implementation of the method according to the invention by the system represented in FIG. 1 will now be described with reference to FIG. 2. In one embodiment of the invention, the browser (2000), in a manner known per se , contains an environment called Flash (developed by MacromediaTM). This environment allows the development and execution of commands, called FScommands (Flash Studio commands according to English terminology), programmed in the programming languages called actionscript 2 and FSP script (for Flash Studio Pro command scripts) specific to the environment. Flash. These languages allow the creation of advanced applications compiled, for example through the MDM Studio Pro 2 software, into executable applications in the Flash environment of a terminal. The native Flash environment initially supports only 4 pre-configured commands. The process starts with a series (3) of steps of initialization of the terminal (2) receiver. The startup (31) of the browser (2000) and its connection to the provider terminal (1) allows the loading (32) of classes FSP (classes of the type flash studio pro, developed in particular by the company MDMTM) which provide hundreds of commands FScommands useful for accessing the operating system executed on the means (20) for processing the terminal (2) receiving the user. These FSP classes make it possible to define executable pieces of software within the Flash environment of the receiver terminal (2). These FScommands commands are particularly useful in particular for accessing the operating system register and performing control of the means (22) for storing the receiving terminal (2). It is obvious that although the invention is described as using a MacromediaTM Flash environment, its implementation could be supported by other environments in different programming languages, such as the JAVATM object-oriented environment, for example . The commands loaded on the receiver terminal (2) make it possible to load on the terminal (2) receiver a streaming application (200) which will allow the reading of the media files (M) during their transmission by the terminal (1) provider to the receiver terminal (2), via the communication network (10), according to the streaming technology. These commands also make it possible to define (33) particular objects making it possible to collect the information necessary for carrying out the method according to one embodiment of the invention. The data in these objects will be lost when the streaming application (200) is stopped by either the user or the operating system. Three particular objects will be considered here in an illustrative and nonlimiting manner. A first object, said user, thus defined includes the information relating to the user (username, password, unique identifier ...). A second object, said system, 3o includes information relating to the operating system specifications of the terminal (2) receiver (version of WINDOWS, for example, operating system administrator, language, screen specifications, application directory , program files, system folder, desktop folder ...). A third object, said reader, includes the information concerning the various films selected by the user. Once this configuration (33) of the three objects has been completed, the method requires a configuration of the communication between the receiving terminal (2) and the provider terminal (1). The browser (2000) executed on the processing means (20) of the receiver terminal (2) could, for example, be equipped with a streaming application (200) for reading files (M) transmitted to the terminal. (2) receiver according to the streaming technology.

  o The loading (32) of the classes in the receiver terminal (2) allows the execution of different applications (201, 202, 203) which may correspond to software pieces executed within the environment of the browser (2000) or executed by the application (200) of transit playback loaded in the terminal (2) receiver. Such specific applications 1s copy protection data files (M) will be detailed below.

  The provider terminal (1) may consist of a server or terminal of a content provider connected to a server for streaming. The server of the terminal (1) supplier and the terminal (2) receiver according to one embodiment of the invention advantageously use a particular protocol, the protocol RTMP (Routing Table Maintenance Protocol, according to the English terminology), different protocols classically used for streaming. This particular protocol makes it possible, a priori, to prevent the copying of the data transmitted by the current hacking software, which for the most part only manages the protocols conventionally used for streaming, such as, for example, HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer) protocols. Protocol, according to English terminology), RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol, etc.), etc. The streaming server thus communicates with the receiving terminal (2) and optionally with the content provider's provider terminal (1) according to the MacromediaTM remote protocol (macromedia remoting protocol, according to the English terminology) by means of the execution on the server, or the means (13) for processing the terminal (1) provider if it constitutes the server, a particular application, for example macromedia type Coldfusion 6 enterprise. The data transmitted according to the streaming technology is sent according to the RTMP protocol and server applications, for example applications of the Server Side Applets (SSA) type, record the events that occur during its data transmissions. .

  To enable communications between the provider terminal (1) and the receiver terminal (2) according to the particular protocol described above, an update of the data concerning the classes defining the protocol used, stored in the storage means (22) of the terminal (2) receiver, is necessary. For the use of the object-oriented programming language actionscript 2 standard, remoting classes are imported into the receiving terminal (2) by means of a step (34) of setting. the communication protocol. With this update (34), a step (35) for configuring the communication makes it possible to configure a remote service service (remoting service, in the English terminology) defining a specific service usable by the terminal (2). receiver. This service delivered by the server makes it possible to propose various functions defined by these update (34) and configuration (35) steps. A new object, called service, is then created in terminal (2) receiver to represent a reference to a specific remote usage service and proposed functions. This service object will then be used for subsequent communication with the server. The series (3) of steps of initialization of the terminal (2) receiver then ends with a step (36) of detection of the system, during which one of the commands FScommands loaded in step (32) makes it possible to detect the 3o operating system specifications of the terminal (2) receiver and update the system object by searching the different information detailed above when describing this object.

  The receiver terminal (2) then establishes, thanks to the remoting classes defined above, a first communication with the server so that the quality of the connection (101, 102) of the terminal (2) receiver can be tested. Thus, a series (4) of initialization step of the connection consists of a first step of sending (41) a connection request from the receiving terminal (2) to the provider terminal (1) (or the server ), followed by a step of displaying a message indicating the status of the connection. If the server does not send a response (42) within a given time to the receiving terminal (2), the connection lo is either cut off or too slow. The display step then consists in displaying (43) an error message making it possible to inform the user that his connection is cut off or else too slow to allow streaming and possibly to give the user the opportunity to option to return to the sending step (41) of a connection request. If the server response (42) has occurred within the allotted time, the displayed message indicates a success of the connection and the receiver terminal (2) displays a menu allows a series (5) of identification steps. terminal user (2). The user then performs an input step (51) on the means (231, 323) for entering the receiving terminal (2), his username and his password in order to load his possible personal settings and its films selected the previous times or to create a new user profile in the database (122) of the users stored in the means (12) of storage of the terminal (1) provider. When the user enters a validation choice of the name and password entered, the receiving terminal (2) sends (52) this information to the receiving provider terminal (1) (53) and activates a specific function allowing the authentication (54) of the received information. This authentication (54) consists, for example, in a conversion of the user name and the password in lowercase characters, then in encrypting the password according to the username. The username can, for example, be used as an encryption seed. Finally, the provider terminal (1) verifies the result of this encryption with the data contained in the database (122) of the users. If the result of the encryption is not found in the database (122), the provider terminal (1) returns an error message to the client to inform him that the password and the user name entered are wrong or invalid and suggest that he identify himself again. If the authentication (54) is successful, the provider terminal (1) sends (55) a unique identifier of the user to the receiving terminal (2). This identifier may be used to carry out any subsequent communications with the provider terminal (1). According to the content provider, the step of sending (55) the identifier may be accompanied by a step of sending (56) other useful information to the user, such as, for example, information concerning the selection and / or rental and / or purchase of media files (M) that the user can perform through the provider terminal (1).

  The provider terminal (1) then sends the receiving terminal (2) data enabling the implementation of a series (6) of media file selection steps (M). A selection menu (61) is displayed on the display means (23) of the receiver terminal (2). The way the main menu will be configured may of course depend on the content provider that provides the services provided by the invention. This selection menu (61) will comprise at least one list of (M) media files available in at least one storage database (121) accessible by the provider terminal (1). The user then makes a selection (62) of at least one available media file (M). The receiving terminal (2) can then record (63) the details of the selected file in the reader object configured in step (33) during the initialization of the receiving terminal (2). The provider terminal (1) may also record this information in at least one of the databases of the film storage database (121) or the user information storage database (122). Following this series (6) of selection steps, a series (7) of file protection test steps (M) is performed prior to the transmission of the file (M) by streaming.

  The loading step (32) of the classes FSP made it possible, as indicated previously, to load commands executable by the terminal (2) receiver. Advantageously, this step (32) has also made it possible to load in terminal (2) receiver software pieces executable on the means (20) for processing the terminal (2) receiver, as mentioned above. These pieces of software correspond to applications (201, 202 and 203) allowing the implementation of the series (7) of protection tests of the file (M) against copying. A first series (71) of steps makes it possible to test the presence of applications running on the means (20) for processing the receiving terminal (2) and, if necessary, to require the closure of these applications by the user before authorizing the start of the transmission of the file (M) by streaming. Thus, an application control application (202) running on the means (20) for processing the receiver terminal (2) makes it possible to check the presence of active applications that could be annoying for reading the file (M ) and / or for the data security of the file (M). This application (202) for controlling applications in progress thus performs a step (711) of checking active applications. If the running application control application (202) determines (712) that the streaming application (200) (in which it is running, for example) is not the only application running on the processing means (20) of the receiver terminal (2), it displays (713) an error message. The user of the terminal (2) receiver is then asked to close (714) all active applications and try again. If the running application control application (202) determines (712) that the streaming application (200) is the only one currently running, it activates the application (203) of monitoring the presence of screen capture hacking applications on the means (22) for storing the receiving terminal (2), for producing a series (72) of a step of testing for the presence of pirated software in the means (22) for storing the receiver terminal (2). The application (203) for controlling the presence of screen capture hacking applications enables a first step of loading (721) the latest available data for the definition of pirate software components to be searched on the receiver terminal (2) . This loading step allows a definition (722) of a list of pirated software components to be searched. The application (203) then searches (723) the components defined in this list to establish a list of pirated software components installed on the terminal (2) receiver. A comparison step (724) of the list of search components and installed components allows the application (203) to determine (725) whether there are such hacking applications on the terminal storage means (22). (2) receiver. If at least one such hacking application is installed on the terminal (2) receiver, an error message (726) is displayed to require the uninstall (727) of this application by the user of the terminal (2) receiver . Following this possible uninstall (727), the application (203) returns to step (722) for defining a list of pirated software components to be searched in the means (22) for storing the terminal (2) receiving . If no screen capture hacking application is detected, the application (203) activates the verification application (201) of the storage means (22) of the receiver terminal (2) for the implementation of a series (73) of steps for testing the memories of the receiver terminal (2). This application (201) for checking the means (22) for storing the receiving terminal (2) makes it possible to check the state of the different storage means (22) accessible by the receiving terminal (2) a first time before the start of the transmitting (90) the file (M). A first step (731) for detecting the memories accessible by the receiver terminal (2) makes it possible to determine the various storage means in which the receiver terminal (2) could copy the data from the file (M). These storage means may consist, as indicated previously and as shown in FIG. 1, in hard disks (220) internal to the receiver terminal (2), in external hard disks (222), in burners (221) in compact disks and / or DVDs or any other means of removable storage or not. A memory verification step (732) then makes it possible to determine the free storage space and / or used on these various storage means (22). An additional step (733) makes it possible to check whether the transmission (90) of the file (M) is in progress. If the transmission (90) of the file (M) is not in progress, the application (201) for checking the means (22) for storing the receiving terminal (2) does not check whether the storage space has been modified since the previous detection, but it activates the application (200) of reading in transit to require the transmission (90) of the file (M) by the terminal (1) provider and start reading on the terminal (2) receiver. The application (200) of reading in transit, from the start of the transmission (90) of the file (M) makes a change (81) of resolution and / or color sampling properties displayed by the means (23) displaying the terminal (2) receiver. This change allows any screen capture applications that have escaped previous tests can not record the information displayed by the terminal (2) receiver. The application (200) for reading also makes it possible to switch (82) the receiver terminal (2) in so-called slave mode in which any command from the receiver terminal (2) except for commands dedicated to the control of the application ( 200) in transit is blocked. The slave mode also makes it possible to block the means (20) for processing the receiver terminal (2) to allow only the execution of the application (200) for reading in transit and the application (201) for verifying the means ( 22). This so-called slave mode corresponds in known manner to directX mode used for example during video games. This slave mode will, for example, disable the keyboard (232) and allow the user to control the terminal (2) receiver using the mouse (231). This slave mode prevents the user from accessing other functions of his operating system by stopping the application (200) for streaming.

  Once the transmission of the file (M) in progress, the application (201) for checking the means (22) for storing the terminal (2) receiver is the only one to remain activated at the same time as the application (200) of in transit reading. The application (201) for checking the means (22) for storing the receiver terminal (2) makes it possible, while remaining enabled, to check any variations in the storage space in the terminal storage means (22) (2). ) receiver and if necessary, to block the transmission (90). This application (201) will therefore be implemented recurrently, at a predetermined frequency, so as to regularly check that the receiving terminal (2) does not have new storage means (22) and that the storage space available in the different memory means (22) has not changed since the last verification of more than a determined value of maximum variation to allowed. This maximum authorized variation value may be set in advance according to parameters determined, for example, by the suppliers or may be determined dynamically according to the speed of the connection (101, 102) that the terminal (2) has. receiver.

  The steps of the transmission (90) of the data of the file (M) according to the streaming technology will now be described as with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 represents the steps of the transmission (90) of the data (0101100 .. 101101 0110101) of the file (M) transmitted by the provider terminal (1) to the receiving terminal (2) via the communication network (10). The terminals (1 and 2) and their various means for implementing these steps are indicated in dotted lines. The transmission steps are therefore indicated in solid lines, as they have been implemented in the dashed system. When the series (7) of protection tests described above have been successfully carried out, the application (200) for reading in transit requires the sending of the data constituting the file (M) by the terminal (1) provider ( the server). The server transmits (91), by means (11) of communication, at least a portion of the constituent data of the media file (M) to the terminal (2) receiver via the network (10) communication. The reception (92) of the part of the constituent data of the media file (M) 3o by means (21) of communication of the terminal (2) receiver allows storage of the received data in a buffer (T) accessible by the application (200) for reading in transit from the receiving terminal (2). This buffer memory (T) will, in a manner known per se, a size adapted to the speed of the connection (101, 102) of the terminal (2) receiver. The size of this buffer memory (T) may, for example, allow the application (201) to verify the means (22) for storing the terminal (2) s receiver, to determine the value of the maximum authorized variation of the storage space available in the storage means (22). In a manner also known per se, the streaming technology used here may correspond to dynamic streaming technology, in that the size of the parts of the file (M) sent to the terminal (2) the receiver will be adapted in real time based the speed of the connection (101, 102) of the terminal (2) receiver and as a function of any fluctuation of this connection speed. The temporary storage of the parts of the file (M) received in the buffer memory (T) enables the reading (93), by the application (200) of reading data in transit of the terminal (2) receiver, of the data portion constitutive of the file (M) received by the means (21) of communications. This application (200) then allows the presentation (94) to the user of the terminal (2) receiver, through the interface (23) visual and / or auditory terminal (2) receiving information corresponding to the data received and read . These steps of reading (93) and presentation (94) of the received data takes place, in a manner known per se, during the reception of the following data of the file (M) by the means (21) of communication of the terminal (2) receiver , but also, in a new and inventive way, during the recurrent verification of the storage space present in the storage means (22) of the receiver terminal (2).

  It should be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention allows embodiments in many other specific forms without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. Therefore, the present embodiments should be considered by way of illustration, but may be modified within the scope defined by the scope of the appended claims, and the invention should not be limited to the details given above.

Claims (25)

  1. Method for protecting against the copy of data representative of at least one file (M), called media, transmitted by at least one terminal (1), said provider, to at least terminal (2) said receiver, via at least a communication network (10), according to a technology making it possible to read a portion of the file (M), by an application (200), called a data read-in-transit, executed on means (20) for processing the terminal (2) receiver, before the end of the transmission (90) of the entire file (M), characterized in that it comprises at least one execution step (73), to the means (20) of processing of the receiver terminal (2), an application (201) for checking the means (22) for storing the receiving terminal (2), implemented recurrently to detect whether a variation of the storage space between two detections exceeds a predetermined size and, if necessary, block the transmission (90) of the file ( M).   2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it starts with a connection (31) of the terminal (2) receiving the terminal (1) supplier through an application (2000), called browser, executed on the means (20). ) of processing of the terminal (2) receiver, allowing a step (32) loading, in the terminal (2) receiver, data, called installation, transmitted by the terminal (1) provider and allowing at least the execution of the application (200) for reading data in transit on the processing means (20) of the receiving terminal (2), this application (200) for reading data in transit consisting of at least one piece of software executed within the browser (2000).   3. Method according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the execution (73) of the application (201) for recurring verification of the terminal storage means (2) receiver is activated by the execution of the application (200) for reading data in transit, during the transmission (90) of the data representative of the file (M) and in that it consists of a detection (731) of the various means (22) of storage accessible to the terminal (2) receiver and a control (732) of the free storage space and / or used in these storage means (22), for detecting if a difference of this storage space between two detections exceeds a predetermined size and, if necessary, block the transmission (90) of the file (M).   4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it also comprises a step (71) of executing an application (202) for controlling applications running on the means (20) of processing of the receiver terminal (2), to verify that only the application (200) o read in transit is executed and, otherwise, require the closure of other applications by the user of the terminal (2) receiver.   5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it also comprises a step (72) of executing an application (203) for controlling the presence of hacking applications by screen capture on the means (22) for storing the receiver terminal (2) by comparison of the data stored in the storage means (22) of the receiving terminal (2) with data representative of a list of information enabling the identification of the applications known screen capture hackers, to detect if such applications have been installed on the terminal (2) receiver and, if necessary, require their removal by the user of the terminal (2) receiver.   6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the step of loading (32) installation data of the software part corresponding to the application (200) of reading in transit is accompanied by the loading of parts software corresponding to all or part of the recurring verification application (201) for the storage means (22), the application (202) for controlling running applications and the control application (203) the presence of hacking applications.   7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the transmission (90) representative data of the media file (M) comprises at least the following steps: - sending (91), by means (11) of communication of the terminal (1) supplier, at least part of the data constituting the media file (M) to the terminal (2) receiver, via the network (10) communication, - reception (92) of the constituent data part of the media file (M) by means (21) of communication of the terminal (2) 10 receiver, - reading (93), by the application (200) for reading data in transit of the terminal (2) receiver, the part of the data constituting the file (M) received by the means (21) of communications, then presentation (94) to the user of the terminal (2) receiver, through a interface (23) visual and / or auditory terminal ( 2) receiving information corresponding to the data received and read.   8. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the start of the transmission (90) of the file (M) and in particular the first reading steps (93) of the first file data (M) received and presentation (94) information corresponding to the first data received and read is accompanied by at least one step of changing the resolution and / or color sampling properties displayed by the display means (23) of the receiving terminal (2) and passing the receiver terminal (2) in a so-called slave mode by blocking any command from the receiver terminal (2) with the exception of commands dedicated to controlling the application (200) for reading in transit and blocking the means (20) for processing the receiving terminal (2) to exclusively allow the execution of the application (200) for reading in transit and the application (201) for checking the means (22) for storing.   9. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises at least one step (35) of configuration of the communication via the network (10) of communication, through the sending by the terminal (1) provider to the terminal (2) data receiver for an update (34) of the communication protocol between these two terminals, this protocol allow steps of real-time adaptation of the size of the data sent by the terminal (1) provider to the receiver terminal (2), depending on the speed of the connection (101, 102) of the receiver terminal (2) and as a function of possible fluctuations of this connection speed (101, 102).   10. Method according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises at least one identification step (5) of the user of the terminal (2) receiver by the terminal (1) supplier.   11. Method according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the step of receiving (92) the part of the constituent data of the media file (M) is followed by a step of adding, in the received data, data representative of information relating to the user of the terminal (2) receiver, for the incorporation of this information within the information contained in the file (M), so that this information is presented to users during the reading of the file (M), to allow identification of the users having made a possible analog copy of the file (M).   12. Method according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the step of receiving (92) a part of the constituent data of the media file (M) by the means (21) of communication terminal (2) receiver is followed by a step of temporary storage of these data in a buffer (T) of the receiver terminal (2), the size of this buffer memory (T) being determined, during the step (35) of configuration of the communication, as a function of the speed of the connection (101, 102) of the terminal (2) receiver and allowing the application (201) recurring verification of the means (22) of storage to define the maximum authorized size of variation of the storage spaces that are free and / or used in the means (22) for storing the receiving terminal (2).   13. Method according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it is implemented by a terminal (2) receiver consisting of a computer connected via an Internet-type communication network (10) to a terminal ( 1) provider consisting of a server.   14. Method according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it is implemented by a terminal (2) receiver consisting of a game console connected via an Internet-type communication network (10) to a terminal (1) provider consisting of a server.   15. System for protecting against the copy of representative data to at least one file (M), said media, transmitted by at least one terminal (1), said provider, to at least terminal (2) said receiver, via to least one communication network (10), according to a technology making it possible to read a part of the file (M), by an application (200), called a data read-in-transit, executed on means (20) for processing the data terminal (2) receiver, before the end of the transmission (90) of the entire file (M), characterized in that the means (20) for processing the terminal (2) receiver comprise means (201) verification means (22) for storing the terminal (2) receiving application (201) for checking the means (22) for storing the receiving terminal (2), implemented recurrently to detect whether a variation of the storage space between two detections exceeds a predetermined size and, where appropriate, blocking the transmission (90) of the file (M).   16. System according to claim 15, characterized in that the terminal (2) receiver comprises means (21) for communication allowing an application (2000), called browser, executed on the means (20) for processing the terminal (2). ), to establish a connection with means (11) of communication of the terminal (1) supplier, means (13) for processing the terminal (1) provider for managing the communication with the terminal (2) receiver and sending data, said installation, allowing at least the execution of the application (200) for reading data in transit on the means (20) for processing the terminal (2) receiver, this application (200) in-transit data reading consisting of a piece of software executed within the browser (2000).   17. System according to one of claims 15 and 16, characterized in that the means (201) for recurrent verification of the means (22) of s terminal storage (2) receiver are activated by the execution of the application (200) of reading of data in transit, during the transmission (90) of the representative data of the file (M) and in that they comprise means (731) for detecting the different means (22) of storage accessible to the terminal (2) receiver and means (732) to control the free storage space and / or used in these storage means (22), for detecting whether a difference of this storage space between two detections exceeds a predetermined size and, if necessary, block the transmission (90) of the file (M).   18. System according to one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the receiving terminal (2) also comprises means (202) for controlling applications running on its means (20) for processing, to verify that only the application (200) for reading in transit is executed and, otherwise, require the closure of other applications by the user of the terminal (2) receiver.   19. System according to one of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that the terminal (2) receiver also comprises means (203) for controlling the presence of screen capture hacking applications on the means (22) of storing the receiver terminal (2) by comparing the data stored in the storage means (22) of the receiving terminal (2) with data representative of a list of information enabling identification of the capture piracy applications known screen, to detect if such applications have been installed on the terminal (2) receiver and, where appropriate, require their uninstallation by the user of the terminal (2) receiver.   20. System according to one of claims 15 to 19, characterized in that the means (13) for processing the terminal (1) provider for sending the installation data of the piece of software corresponding to the application (200) of in-transit reading is accompanied by the sending of data supplying the receiving terminal (2) with the means (201) for recurrent checking of the storage means (22), the means (202) for checking applications running and the means (203) for checking the presence of hacking applications, these data being representative of software pieces corresponding to all or part of the means (201) for recurrent verification of the storage means (22), control means (202) running applications and means (203) for checking the presence of hacking applications.   21. System according to one of claims 15 to 20, characterized in that the means (13) for processing the terminal (1) provider and the means (20) for processing the terminal (2) receiver allow, on the one hand, the configuration, respectively, of the communication means (11) of the provider terminal (1) and the communication means (20) of the receiver terminal (2) and, secondly, the determination of the speed of the connection (101, 102 ) of the terminal (2) receiving the communication network (10) and the means (13) for processing the terminal (1) provider comprise means for adapting the size of the data transmitted to the terminal (2) receiver depending on the speed its connection (101, 102) and depending on possible fluctuations of this connection speed.   22. System according to one of claims 15 to 21, characterized in that the receiving terminal (2) also comprises a visual and / or auditory interface (23), consisting of at least display means (23), comprises means (231, 232), consisting of a mouse (231) and a keyboard (232), and includes a buffer memory (T) for temporary storage of the data received by its communication means (21) and the reading of the part of the file (M) stored in this buffer (T), by the application (200) of reading in transit, the start of this reading resulting in at least one change of resolution properties and / or color sampling displayed by the display means (23) and in a passage of the receiver terminal (2) in a so-called slave mode, in which the keyboard (232) is blocked and only the mouse (231) allows certain commands dedicated to the control of the application (200) for reading in transit.   23. System according to one of claims 15 to 22, characterized in that the terminal (2) receiver also comprises means for incorporating data representative of information relating to the user of the terminal (2) receiver, for incorporation lo information within the information contained in the file (M), so that this information is presented to users when reading the file (M), to allow identification of users who have made a possible analog copy of the file (M).   24. System according to one of claims 15 to 23, characterized in that the receiving terminal (2) is a computer connected to the Internet.   25. System according to one of claims 15 to 23, characterized in that the terminal (2) receiver is a gaming console connected to the Internet.