WO2001054022A1 - Systeme de distribution et de diffusion de support rechargeable - Google Patents

Systeme de distribution et de diffusion de support rechargeable Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2001054022A1
WO2001054022A1 PCT/US2001/001586 US0101586W WO0154022A1 WO 2001054022 A1 WO2001054022 A1 WO 2001054022A1 US 0101586 W US0101586 W US 0101586W WO 0154022 A1 WO0154022 A1 WO 0154022A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
files
customer
data files
authorization
user
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2001/001586
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Gregg S. Homer
Original Assignee
Homer Gregg S
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
Application filed by Homer Gregg S filed Critical Homer Gregg S
Priority to EP01942752A priority Critical patent/EP1250674A1/fr
Priority to CA002397717A priority patent/CA2397717A1/fr
Priority to AU2001229573A priority patent/AU2001229573A1/en
Publication of WO2001054022A1 publication Critical patent/WO2001054022A1/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
    • G06Q30/00—Commerce
    • G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F21/00—Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
    • G06F21/10—Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material ; Digital rights management [DRM]
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F2221/00—Indexing scheme relating to security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
    • G06F2221/21—Indexing scheme relating to G06F21/00 and subgroups addressing additional information or applications relating to security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
    • G06F2221/2135—Metering
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F2221/00—Indexing scheme relating to security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
    • G06F2221/21—Indexing scheme relating to G06F21/00 and subgroups addressing additional information or applications relating to security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
    • G06F2221/2137—Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to electronic media players, and more particularly to media that is downloadable over a communication network.
  • U.S. Patent No. 5,790,423 to Lau discloses a system for downloading and playing music wherein certain copyrighted material may only be used for a specific length of time.
  • the system of Lau includes a service center having a user accessible library of selectable programs, a base unit from which user generated program selections are transmitted to the service center, and a cassette for storing programs downloaded by the base unit from the service center.
  • the date and time of downloading and playing of particular program selections is stored m memory of the base unit and/or the cassette. Copyright information is programmed into a control program of the cassette to limit the usage of each selected program.
  • U.S. Patent No. 4,898,736 to Walker discloses downloadable information having access through a keyed device.
  • the system includes a service facility having an electronically accessible library of data files and an associated catalog, and an interface to a communications network.
  • the system can transmit the catalog to a requesting user, and set up customer accounts, process payments from customers for establishing file access authorizations, and transmit user-selected files by the network interface to customers.
  • the system also provides a player program to each customer for metering access to received data files as limited by the authorization.
  • the system is enabled for transmitting the selected files to the customer only while the authorization remains established.
  • the system can also be implemented for receiving the user request and feeding the catalog to the user via the network interface. Also, or alternatively, communications with the user for defining the user account can be through the network interface .
  • the system transmits the data files and the player program m encrypted form, with the player program decrypting the received data files only while authorization remains established.
  • the authorization is independent of both the selected files and the number of files selected. Thus customers can freely access all of the files and play any of selected files, to the extent of a blanket authorization, which can also be recharged based on further payments.
  • Authorization can be only for a period of time which is measured only during the accessing data of the received data files by the player program.
  • authorization can be for a collective number of accesses of data of the received data files, and the numbered accesses can be counted only after a threshold period of time of accessing the data files.
  • Another aspect of the invention provides a method for distributing electronic media, including providing the media
  • Figure 1 is a pictorial block diagram of an electronic media distribution system according to the present invention.
  • Figure 2 is a block diagram of a distribution process using the system of Fig. 1 ;
  • Figure 3 is a computer flow chart of a service facility distribution program for implementing the process of Fig. 2;
  • Figure 4 is a flow chart of a customer facility media player program for implementing the process of Fig. 2;
  • Figure 5 is a flow chart portion showing an alternative configuration of the player program of Fig. 4.
  • Figure 6 is a flow chart showing another alternative configuration of the player program of Fig. 4.
  • a distribution system 10 includes a service facility 11 that can be implemented as a server computer 12 being connected to an electronic communication network 14, there being a plurality of user facilities 15 that can also be connected to the network 14, one such being designated customer facility 15C and being implemented as a customer computer 16. Connections to the network 14 are by respective communication lines 18, which can be telephone utility lines.
  • the service computer 12 includes an operator interface 20 having a screen display 21, a keyboard 22, a mouse 23.
  • the computer 12 also includes memory 24 and a modem interface 26 for connecting to the network through an available communication line 18.
  • the mass data storage 32 is loaded with a library of data files (one such being designated 33) by an accession program 34, the accession program also generating a catalog 35 that is periodically updated and saved m the data storage 32.
  • the customer computer 16 includes a counterpart of the operator interface, designated 20', the memory 24, and the modem interface 26.
  • the operator interface 20' includes a pair of audio speakers 25, the computer 16 further including a media interface 36 for driving the speakers 25.
  • the memory 24 has a web browser 38 by which data made available by the service facility 11 is accessed and saved m a suitable device such as a conventional hard disk drive 40.
  • the memory 24 of the customer computer receives a media player program 40 for conditionally accessing received data as further described below.
  • accession program 34 maintains a library of recordings and a user of the customer computer 16 interacts with the library server program 30 of the server computer 12 over the network 14.
  • the library server program 30 and the accession program 34 can be respective modules of an integrated computer program.
  • the accession program 34 is programmed to include a receive data step 52 m which one or more works to be distributed are received m computer-readable form such as on a digitally recorded compact disk. The data is sub ected to a first level of encryption, being stored m the data file 33 m an encrypt and store step 53.
  • the catalog 35 is updated m a maintain catalog step 54 for including the new work(s) . It will be understood that catalog listings for new versions of previously accessioned works replace previous listings.
  • the process 50 includes a test catalog request step 58 for determining such user request, m which case the catalog is provided m a return catalog step 59.
  • the return catalog step 59 can be performed by simply transmitting a listing of the catalog 35 over the computer network 14 to the requesting user, the browser 38 automatically opening and displaying a file containing the listing m a conventional manner.
  • an option can be provided for the user to request a hard copy of the catalog 35 to be mailed, m which case the process 50 proceeds to obtain appropriate mailing information from the user.
  • Program control is passed from the return catalog step 59 to the test catalog request step 58 for handling further catalog requests by the user, if any, and as further described herein.
  • a user accessing the web page will also be presented with an election to place new order.
  • the process 50 includes a test order step 60 for determining such user request, which is processed as described below.
  • the user will further be presented with an election to open a new account.
  • the process 50 includes a test account step 62 for determining such user request. If the user has not requested any of the three, control is returned to the request catalog step 58, the process 50 thus looping and waiting for a user request.
  • control is passed to a get user data step 64 m which the user provides identification data and payment authorization m a conventional manner.
  • a customer flag for that user is set m a set cflag step 65 with control passing to the test catalog request step 58 for further processing of that user's transactions.
  • control is passed from the test new order step 60 to a test cflag step 66. If the customer flag for that user has not yet been set, control passes to a logon step 68 m which the user enters a customer identifier and password which are compared m a test logon step 69 with data previously received m the get user data step 64.
  • control is passed to the get user data step 64, it being assumed that the user had not previously established an account.
  • the process 50 can include an appropriate recovery procedure according to methods known m the art.
  • control is passed from the test logon step 69 to the set cflag step 65 m which the customer flag is set for that user
  • control is returned from the set cflag step 65 to the test catalog request step 58 as before m anticipation of the user requesting to place a new order, control being passed successively by the new order step 60 to the test cflag step 66 which, m the case of the customer flag having been set, control is passed to a get list step 70 wherein the user selects items from the catalog 35 to be downloaded over the computer network 14 to the mass storage device 40 of the customer computer 16.
  • the user is invited to approve of his selections m a test list step 71 from which control is returned to the get list step 70 incase the user is dissatisfied with his previous selection; otherwise,
  • test tick step 95 reaches an affirmative result, with control passing to the decrement meter step 96 in which the play authorization is decremented by one.
  • control passes from the decrement meter step 96 to a stop clock step 98 for stopping the clock so as to limit the decrementing of the meter to a single unit for each file played.
  • the play authorization is for a period of time as m the implementation of Fig. 4, but with play continuing to the end of a file being played when timeout occurs.
  • the test timeout step 97 is omitted from the implementation of Fig. 4, control returning directly from the decrement meter step 96 to the test end step 92.
  • the player program 82 can utilize a conventional clock of the customer computer 16C m the start clock step 91 and the test tick step 95, for example by storing a counterpart of the system time m the start clock step 91, and comparing that counterpart with current system time m the test tick step 95, finding a positive outcome when the time difference reaches a predetermined interval (one minute in the example described previously) .
  • a predetermined interval one minute in the example described previously
  • the stored counterpart of the system time can be incremented by one minute for subsequent comparisons m a next tick interval.
  • the stored counterpart can alternatively be initially set m the start clock step 91 to one minute ahead of the system time for facilitating the comparison by detecting a change m sign of the difference between the values m the test tick step 95.
  • the library server program can be implemented to provide an encoded counterpart of the system time (and date) of the server computer 12, as well as an expiration time, in the output files step 78 (whether for downloading data files or just for recharging) .
  • the player program 42 can then make comparisons between the system times, taking appropriate action in the event that there is a significant change in the difference. It will be understood that in implementations based on calendar time there is no need to monitor elapsed playing time as described above in connection with Figs. 4 and 5.
  • FIG. 6 another counterpart of the player program, designated 42", has a timer module 100 associated therewith, the timer module 100 being implemented to run when the customer computer 16C is operating, notwithstanding the player program 42" being inactive.
  • a determination is made of whether the program is being run for the first time by the customer computer 16C in a test first play step 102, in which case a launch timer module step 104 generates and stores appropriate files for implementing and running the timer module 100, using programming elements that are known to those having skill in the art.
  • the "irner module 100 is restarted whenever the computer 16C is subsequently booted-up or restarted, the module 100 monitoring a system date and time of the computer 16C as well as separately maintaining a timer calendar date and time.
  • the timer calendar date and time is automatically advanced by a difference between the system date and time and a corresponding date and time last saved in a previous period of running of the timer module 100.
  • test first play step 102 has a negative outcome (on a subsequent starting of the player program 42")
  • control passes to a test timer step 106, wherein the presence and operation of the timer module 100 is verified, and an appropriate match of the timer date and time with the system date and time is determined, in which case control is passed to the display list collection step 80, described above in connection with Fig. 4; otherwise, the player program 42" is terminated based on unauthorized tampering with calendar/time settings.
  • the player program 42" of Fig. 6 is implemented for operation with authorizations based on calendar time, with the set meter, start clock, test tick, and decrement meter steps 88, 91, 95, and 96 of Fig. 4 being omitted.
  • the calendar date and time of the timer module 100 is compared with termination date and time as currently authorized, with control returning to the test end step 92 or the stop play step 93 as described above in connection with Fig. 4.
  • the timeout test step 97' (as well as the test user stop step 94) can be omitted when it is desired that play continue to the end of a particular data file, control passing from a negative result of the test user stop step 94 to the test end step 92.
  • the player program 42" as shown in Fig. 6 provides additional protection against unauthorized tampering with calendar and time settings of the customer computer 16C. Further protection can be provided by including, m the obtain authorization step 85, a comparison of the calendar date and time of the timer module 100 and/or the system time of the customer computer 16C with the system time and date of the server computer 12, with termination in the event that tampering is detected.
  • the above comparison would be performed in the get list step 70, the set authorization step 72 and/or the do transaction step 74 of the distribution process 50, with the process being terminated as to customers that are determined to have attempted to misuse the process.
  • a standalone device can be provided for implementing all or appropriate functions of the customer computer 16C, in which case a battery powered system clock can be implemented in a secure manner for setting only m accordance with the system time of the server computer 12. (Such device m implementations according to Figs. 4 and 5 would not require the clock to be settable to date and time of day.)
  • kiosks can be provided for dispensing and/or recharging standalone devices that serve in place of at lease some of the customer computer 16C.
  • data files suitably encrypted, can be provided from the service facility 11 m the form of a CD or other form of removable drive medium, for play on the standalone devices and/or customer computers 16C. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not necessarily be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Software Systems (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Technology Law (AREA)
  • Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Strategic Management (AREA)
  • Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
  • Finance (AREA)
  • Development Economics (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Game Theory and Decision Science (AREA)
  • Entrepreneurship & Innovation (AREA)
  • General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Marketing (AREA)
  • Economics (AREA)
  • Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)
  • Storage Device Security (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un système (10) destiné à distribuer et diffuser des supports électroniques, comportant un élément de service (11) composé d'une bibliothèque (30, 32) et d'un catalogue (35) de fichiers de données (33) électroniquement accessibles. Le système peut ouvrir des comptes client, traiter des paiements provenant des clients afin d'établir des autorisations d'accès de fichier, et transmettre des fichiers sélectionnés par les utilisateurs aux clients. Ce système fournit également un programme de diffusion (42) à chaque client afin de commander l'accès aux fichiers de données reçus en fonction des limites d'autorisation, les fichiers sélectionnés étant accessibles pour un traitement ultérieur de commandes provenant du client pendant que l'autorisation reste établie. Le système peut coder les fichiers de données et le programme de diffusion, et peut uniquement décoder les fichiers de données reçus lorsque l'autorisation reste établie. L'autorisation peut être indépendante des fichiers sélectionnés et/ou diffusés pour une période uniquement mesurée durant la diffusion, ou pour un nombre de diffusions collectif pouvant uniquement être compté après une période seuil de diffusion de chaque fichier.
PCT/US2001/001586 2000-01-18 2001-01-18 Systeme de distribution et de diffusion de support rechargeable WO2001054022A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP01942752A EP1250674A1 (fr) 2000-01-18 2001-01-18 Systeme de distribution et de diffusion de support rechargeable
CA002397717A CA2397717A1 (fr) 2000-01-18 2001-01-18 Systeme de distribution et de diffusion de support rechargeable
AU2001229573A AU2001229573A1 (en) 2000-01-18 2001-01-18 Rechargeable media distribution and play system

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US48463200A 2000-01-18 2000-01-18
US09/484,632 2000-01-18

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2001054022A1 true WO2001054022A1 (fr) 2001-07-26

Family

ID=23924946

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2001/001586 WO2001054022A1 (fr) 2000-01-18 2001-01-18 Systeme de distribution et de diffusion de support rechargeable

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1250674A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU2001229573A1 (fr)
CA (1) CA2397717A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2001054022A1 (fr)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5600573A (en) * 1992-12-09 1997-02-04 Discovery Communications, Inc. Operations center with video storage for a television program packaging and delivery system
US5802283A (en) * 1991-09-27 1998-09-01 Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. Method and system for accessing multimedia data over public switched telephone network
WO1999049663A1 (fr) * 1998-03-24 1999-09-30 The Fantastic Corporation Procede et systeme de diffusion d'objets d'information

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5802283A (en) * 1991-09-27 1998-09-01 Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. Method and system for accessing multimedia data over public switched telephone network
US5600573A (en) * 1992-12-09 1997-02-04 Discovery Communications, Inc. Operations center with video storage for a television program packaging and delivery system
WO1999049663A1 (fr) * 1998-03-24 1999-09-30 The Fantastic Corporation Procede et systeme de diffusion d'objets d'information

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1250674A1 (fr) 2002-10-23
CA2397717A1 (fr) 2001-07-26
AU2001229573A1 (en) 2001-07-31

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