Patent Application
20070168287
The current invention relates to entertainment devices and, more specifically, to systems and methods for playing back media content on a pay-per-play basis.
Advances in technology have led to numerous changes in the availability of entertainment content (e.g., audio and video content) to consumers. Such advances include the proliferation of cable television, digital satellite service television, high-definition television and satellite radio, among numerous other delivery mechanisms for audio and video content, such as music, movies, and the like. Another recent advance in this area is the delivery of media content over high-bandwidth connections to the Internet. Such high-bandwidth connections comprise data-over-cable (cable modems), digital subscriber lines and satellite systems. Further, private entertainment systems may also provide access to audio and video content, such as to guests in a hotel, for example.
These technological advances now offer content owners such as movie producers, television program producers, music producers and other originators of audio/video content with a variety of options for distributing their work. Movie producers and television programming producers, for example, may now work with service providers to package their content and distribute it via cable, satellite, or the Internet. Movie producers may enjoy their first-runs in theaters, for example, and be able to count on continued revenues from royalties earned by having their movies run on cable.
Service providers, such as television broadcasters, cable providers, digital satellite providers, along with content owners that access consumers through established broadcast systems (such as, for example Home Box Office), may generate revenue by providing content on a pay-per-view or pay-per-play basis (collectively pay-per-view or PPV). When providing content on a PPV basis, a consumer pays the content owner and/or broadcast service provider (e.g., cable television company) for the right to view or play certain content on a per view/play basis. As one example, a hotel guest may purchase the right to view a first run movie in his/her hotel room through an in-room entertainment system. The guest is then billed on his/her hotel bill for the purchased viewing of the movie. Similar scenarios exist for numerous cable television and digital satellite service subscribers. These subscribers have the option to viewing rights for movies, live sporting events, among other content, on a pay-per-view basis and are billed accordingly.
Despite the wide variety of distribution outlets available to content owners, only a very limited amount of their work is actually accessible by consumers at any specific time. A vast amount of their work remains on the shelf, despite the fact that there may indeed be an audience for it. The inaccessibility of the media results in large part from the fact that content owners must share limited time-slots on limited channels in the service providers' programming schedules. Content owners have no more flexibility on PPV systems. While some flexibility in the start time of such PPV content may be possible, consumers are limited to viewing current offerings that are available on a limited channel set (in the case of cable television systems.)
Such arrangements are disadvantageous to consumers. One problem is that the selection of media content available to consumers is limited. Consumers simply do not choose the content to be programmed. The providers do. It is similarly disadvantageous to content owners because revenue is only generated on content currently being offered for viewing/playing by the service provider.
Current pay-per view systems also fail to provide viewers with much viewing flexibility for a specific programming selection. In this respect, PPV-delivered media content is similar to broadcast content in that a consumer must consume the content from beginning to end when purchased without the ability to pause and resume viewing, as they desire.
Based on the foregoing, an approach for providing PPV content that better utilizes available content and provides consumers with more selection and increased viewing flexibility is desirable.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a system for rendering media content comprising a first platform and a second platform. The first platform may store media content, wherein the media content comprises an unrenderable state when received by the first platform. The second platform, communicatively coupled with the first platform, renders the stored media content. The first and second platforms cooperatively provide an interface for purchasing a right to render the stored media content at least one time. At least one of the first platform and the second platform may convert the stored media content to a renderable state upon the purchase of the right to render.
In one respect, the first platform may be a media server comprising a dedicated media storage and serving device for retaining a plurality of units of media content. The media server may comprise a client platform manager that contains one or more parameters corresponding with functional attributes of at least one client platform. A media communication interface communicatively couples the media server to at least one media content source and to the client platform. The media server also comprises a media content manager that provides for the purchase of the right to render the media content.
In another respect, the second platform may be a media client comprising a media rendering device interface operable to couple renderable media to a media rendering device. A local discovery service communicates with a media server to determine the availability of media content that may be purchased by a user and made renderable upon completion of a purchase transaction. A media communication interface communicates with the media server and a decoder converts the media content from an encoded format to a format that corresponds with the media rendering device.
In another respect, a method is provided for rendering media content on a pay-per-play basis. The method may provide for receiving media content with a first device, wherein the media content comprises at least one level of content unrenderability and for storing the media content locally. The method may provide for displaying a content guide comprising a listing describing the unrenderable media content. The user may make a request to purchase a rendering right for the protected media content, the request being generated using the content guide. The method may also provide for removing a first level of content unrenderability. The media content may then be rendered at least one time, wherein at least a part of the media content is rendered on a second device.
These as well as other aspects and advantages will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reading the following detailed description, with reference where appropriate to the accompanying drawings. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that this summary is intended to provide a brief overview of some of the embodiments of the present system, and it is not intended to be an exhaustive or exclusive. The scope of the invention is to be determined by the attached claims and their equivalents.
The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with features and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying drawings in which:
In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be understood that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components and circuits have not been described in detail, so as not to obscure the present invention.
Furthermore, additional implementation details for features described below may be found in the following pending patent applications and issued patents, all of which are incorporated herein by reference:
The second platform 20 is communicatively coupled with the first platform 10 to facilitate rendering of the stored media content. The unrenderable media content becomes renderable, upon purchase by the user. Preferably, the process of making media content renderable upon purchase by the user involves decryption, or any other suitable scheme. For example, the media content may be password protected, or made unrenderable by another scheme performed by the media content provider. A preferred scheme for making media content renderable would involve collaboration with the content providers to ensure that the media content may be made viewable by the user that purchases the rights to it, but remains protected from unauthorized copying at all times.
In an exemplary embodiment, the system of
The system in
In exemplary embodiments, the distribution server 6 may communicate with either the first, second or both platforms 10, 20 in the system to authenticate and track the usage, payment, and commerce of the content. The distribution server 6 also may interface with a service provider's accounting system to obtain and use information about the users of the system.
The system in
In addition, the following description makes reference to a system that provides pay-per-view (PPV) of audio/visual content such as movies. Embodiments of the system below, however, also provide pay-per-play options for users who wish to purchase music from networked content providers and pay to listen to audio content for a limited time. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the terms “pay-per-play” or “PPPlay” shall be understood to encompass systems that permit the purchase of both audio-visual content and audio content, or any other content that users may desire to obtain with such a system. Such content would include without limitation movies, television programs, live or not-live telecasts of events such as sporting events, music performances, music recordings, or other multi-media or single media content such as games.
In addition, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the term “pay-per-play” or “PPPlay” is not limited to any particular type of transaction. For example, PPPlay encompasses a transaction in which a user may download media content and pay for its viewing, whether once or another fixed number of viewings. PPPlay also encompasses transactions based on a subscription service. For example, a user may subscribe to a service that provides media to the user for viewing during a period of time. The media may be downloaded to the first platform 10 in an unrenderable state. The user's subscription may provide the mechanism in the system to purchase the media and thereby make the media renderable. The media may be maintained in its renderable state for a limited period of time after which it becomes unrenderable. Other examples of subscription services may also be implemented.
2. An Exemplary Embodiment of a System for Rendering Media Content
Whether media content is in a renderable or unrenderable state is dependent upon the extent to which the content provider requires digital rights management for the content. The media server 102 may receive content that is broadcast by a broadcast network or by a content distributor (e.g. CATV distributors such as HBO®) and intended for instant viewing upon receipt. Such content may be free as being broadcast over the air by public broadcasters, or it may be part of content that comes with purchased access. For example, a user may subscribe to HBO® as part of a cable package and media content received via an HBO® channel would be received by the media server 102 in a renderable state.
The media server 102 may also receive content in an unrenderable state that would require the user to purchase in order to become renderable. Such content may be purchased as pay-per-view (or pay-per-play), or as part of a subscription service. In a pay-per-view/pay-per-play scenario, the user may receive media content through a discovery process initiated by a discovery service in the first or second platforms or by a service distributor (e.g. the content for pay service provider 101 described below) accessible via a data network 116a. The discovery process may be completely automated using a set of user preferences set or configured by specific users of the service, or it may be performed using manual content searches. The discovery process searches and receives media content in an unrenderable state to be made renderable upon purchase by the user. The process for converting the media content to an unrenderable state and then to a renderable state would preferably require a collaboration between the content for pay service provider and the content provider.
In a subscription service, a user may order media content for a period of time and the media content may be available for rendering only in that period of time. In a subscription scenario, media content may be stored on the media server 102 in either a renderable or an unrenderable state. Preferably, the media server 102 would receive the content in an unrenderable state, but provide the user with the option with purchasing it to make it renderable and continue to store the media content in a renderable state for the allotted time period. Upon expiration of the time period, the media content would then become unrenderable.
The media content may be stored in the system of
Examples of suitable compression technologies that may be implemented for video include without limitation:
The system of
The media server 102 shown in
As illustrated in
In an alternative embodiment, the storage device 104 may comprise an optical storage device, such as a digital versatile disk (DVD) drive. Such a DVD drive may be included in a personal computer, or as a peripheral device in a digital video recorder, as some examples. The DVD drive may be a read only drive or may be a DVD read-write (R/W) drive. For read only drives, the protected media content may be included on a DVD that is placed into the DVD drive by a user. Such a disk may be delivered to the user as part of a subscription service through conventional mail service or via a package courier, for example. For R/W drives, the protected media content may be delivered to the system using, for example, the techniques described below, and written to a DVD using the R/W DVD drive. As shown in
The content providers 1a through na are coupled with a second content distribution network 116b. The second content distribution network 116b may comprise a broadcast network, such as a cable television (CATV) system, a digital satellite system (DSS), or an over-the-air (OTA) system, such as a traditional broadcast television system (NTSC), a high-definition broadcast television system (ATSC), or radio (terrestrial analog, terrestrial digital, and satellite digital). In this regard, it is to be understood that media content herein refers to any audio, audio-visual, or visual media. Such content may come in the form of music, vocal works such as speeches, or any audio work, as well as movies, television programs, videos, video games, or moving pictures of any kind, or as photographs, photo albums, slideshows, or any other pictures as single images or collections of single images.
Users have their access to the content providers managed by a content for pay service provider 101 that is accessible preferably over the data network 116a. The content for pay service provider 101 may be a distribution server as described above with reference to
Additionally, as was indicated above, PPPlay media content for the system of
The media content may reside on the content storage device 104 in an unrenderable state. The unrenderable state may be implemented using a variety of techniques that exist for protecting such media content from unauthorized use. For example, various file-locking techniques may be used, such as password protection, or other such techniques. Further, encryption and/or the use of digital signatures may be used to protect such content. In an exemplary embodiment, the protected state implementation may evolve by agreement between a service provider and the content provider. The system of
In the system of
In exemplary embodiments, the unrenderable state may involve implementing an encryption algorithm based on encryption technologies such as AES, DES, 3DES, as well as any suitable private or public key cryptosystem.
The media server 102 may comprise a dedicated media storage and serving device, such as a specially designed platform for receiving, storing and managing media content. Alternatively, the media server 102 may comprise a first device that stores media content (such as the content storage device 104) and a second device that manages the media content (such as a personal computer coupled with the first device). In such alternative configurations, the first device may comprise a digital video recorder, for example.
The system also comprises one or more rendering/display devices. For example the system 100 comprises plural video display devices and audio speakers 24a-f. The video display devices 22a-d, depending on the particular embodiment, may comprise a video processing unit, a standard television display, a high-definition television display, a flat panel display, among numerous other possibilities. The speakers 24a-f may comprise passive or active speakers (which may depend on the particular type of media client). As another example of a media-rendering device, the media client 108 comprises a digital audio receiver 138. The media client 108 is also coupled with an audio amplifier 140, which may be used to render digital audio (media content) using the speakers 24a-f coupled with the audio amplifier 140 after the digital audio content is decoded by the digital audio receiver 138. Other media rendering systems may include headphones, portable LCD video and audio players.
3. First Platform
The media server 102 has been described above with reference to
The media server 202 includes a media communication interface 226 to provide communications capabilities with content source providers and with the media clients 106, 108, 110, 112. With respect to communications with content source providers, the media communication interface 226 implements an IP-based interface using cable, DSL, or other suitable connection to communicate with data network connected providers. The media communication interface 226 may also implement suitable hardware and software to communicate with CATV, DSS and/or broadcast television providers.
To communicate with the media clients 106, 108, 110, 112, the media communication interface 226 may comprise a router or hub to connect to a local network (such as a home IP-network) that is used, in part, to communicate media content from the media content storage device 104 (or the media server 102) to at least one of the media clients/players. The media communication interface 226 may also be employed as an in-home data network for communicating between various electronic devices in the house, such as for providing access to the Internet, for example. The media communication interface 226 may be wired or wireless and may communicate on a broadcast, peer-to-peer, or access point scheme. In an exemplary embodiment, the media communication interface 226 comprises a wireless Ethernet access point using for example, a standard IEEE 802.11 wireless network. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the specific chosen media communication interface 226 is not critical and that any suitable media communication interface 226 may be used.
The media server 202 in
The media content manager 222 also includes a digital rights management and asset management function 302 to manage monitoring and purchasing rights to render the stored media content as well as enforcement of digital rights associated with the media content. Such digital rights may include copyright protections, number of playback cycles that a user may perform, among any number of other digital rights associated with the purchased right to render the media content. These digital rights may be included in a data file along with the media content, such as in an attributes portion of the data file. In this respect, meta-data (or meta-tags) may be employed to provide the digital rights associated with the media content along with the media content itself.
The digital rights management and asset management function 302 additionally includes logic for controlling the rendering of media content in correspondence with the terms of the purchase of the right to render the media content (including the digital rights). Such terms may include the number of times a specific item (e.g. movie, music selection, etc.) may be rendered, what type of device may be used to render the content (e.g., no portable players, only high-definition displays, etc.) and whether rendering is limited to a single device or if multiple devices may be used, as some examples. It will be appreciated that any number of techniques for controlling the rendering of media content and enforcing digital rights associated with that content are possible. The specific techniques employed depend, at least in part, on the particular embodiment. The invention is, of course, not limited to the use of any particular techniques for implementing such software, hardware and/or firmware.
The media content manager 222 also includes a content directory function 306 operable to generate a user interface on either the media server 202 or on one of the clients 106, 108, 110 and 112. The content directory function 306 preferably communicates with the discovery service 304 and the asset management function 302 to determine and report the status of each piece of media content available for purchase or for viewing. The content directory function 306 may also communicate with content directory functions on the media clients 106, 108, 110, 112 to display narrower directory content focusing on the interests of specific individuals that share the use of the system 100 in the customer premises.
The media server 202 also includes a transcoder/transrater (transcoder) 224. The transcoder 224 is employed to translate media content from a first format to a second format. In this regard, media may be received in a first format, such as MPEG-2 format. The media server 202 may then transcode the media content to a different format, such as MPEG-4, for example. This transcoding may be performed due to the functional capabilities of a media client, as defined by one of the client registry 220 attributes of the client/player to which the media server 202 communicates the media content. For example, the media client 106 may comprise a low-bit rate media-rendering device that is not capable of rendering an audio/video stream in MPEG-2 format. Therefore, in this particular situation, the media server 202 may transcode the media content (using the transcoder 224) to MPEG-4 format to provide a lower bit rate media stream to the media client 106. As an alternative, a transrater may be employed to modify the bit-rate of the media content without modifying the encoding technique implemented.
Transcoding/transrating may also be used to reduce the amount of bandwidth used on a media communication interface 226 included in the media server 202 when communicating with the media clients/players over a network. Transrating may reduce the bit rate of media content communicated over the network 126 and may thereby improve the efficiency of the network.
The media server 202 may also optionally comprise a decryptor 328. The decryptor 328 may comprise hardware, software and/or firmware to decrypt multiple levels of encryption used to protect the media content. In this regard, the decryptor 328 may decrypt a first level of encryption applied to the media content to protect the media content from unauthorized reception and/ or storage when such content is received from a content distributor, such as via the network 116a or the network 116b (See
Further, the decryptor 328 may decrypt a second level of encryption applied to the media content. This second decryption operation may be related to the prevention of unauthorized viewing/playback of the media content. Thus, the second decryption is typically performed in response to the purchase of a right to render the media content, as has been previously described. This is a desirable approach as the media content remains in an encrypted state until the right to render that content has been purchased. Once the second level of encryption is removed, the media content may be said to be in a renderable format (or is renderable content). The renderable content may then be rendered using the media server 202 by employing a rendering device (not shown) coupled with the media server 202. Alternatively, the media content may be communicated to one of the media clients (106-110) or one of the media players (112 and 114) coupled with the media server 202. As was mentioned above, the media content may be transcoded or transrated prior to being communicated from the media server 202 to one of the media clients/players.
In addition to being transcoded or transrated, the renderable media content may also be encrypted again (using an encryptor 130 included in the media server 202) prior to communication of the renderable content to one of the media clients/players. The encryptor 230 may apply, for example, public/private key encryption to a media stream signal. In this respect, the encryptor 230 may apply encryption to the media stream signal using a public key corresponding with the media client 108. The encrypted media stream signal may then be communicated to the media client 108 and decrypted using a decryptor 232 with a private key of the media client 108. Such a configuration protects the media content from transmission to an “untrusted” client/player device, which, in turn, prevents unauthorized use of the media content. When the media stream is decrypted, it is then be decoded by employing the decoder 330 and rendered using a rendering device, as described in more detail below.
In exemplary embodiments, the media server 202 may optionally provide direct rendering capabilities and may further include an audio/visual interface 340. The audio/visual processor 320 may further include a decoder/decompressor 330, and a trickmode support function 332. The decoder/decompressor 330 may be implemented to convert the content format to a format suitable for display. The trickmode support function 332 may be used to allow the user to reverse, pause, fast forward, stop, etc. the content being displayed according to the user's convenience. In this way, the trickmode support function 332 may interface with a remote control device or with a front panel interface.
One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that
4. Second Platform
Referring back to
In the system shown in
The client manager 402 comprises a local discovery support service 440, a directory content function 460, and a trickmode support function 470. The local discovery service 440 may comprise software, hardware and/or firmware. The media discovery service 440 communicates with the media server 102 via a network interface 426 and the local network to “discover” the composition of the media content stored on the media server 102 (or on the content storage device 104). In this respect, the media client 400 (e.g., using the discovery service) communicates with the media service to determine what portions of the media content are available for rendering using the media client 400 (e.g., what portions of the media content the media client 400 is capable of rendering). The discovery service 440 may then operate in conjunction with a directory content function 460 to provide a listing of the portions of the media content stored on the media server 102 (or the content storage device 104) that are available for viewing immediately, or for purchase on a PPPlay basis to become renderable by the media client 400. Such a list may be displayed, for example on the video display device 24 coupled with the media client 400.
The media client 402 may also comprise a trickmode support function 470, which may be included as part of the client manager 402. The trickmode support function 470 provides the user with total viewing control by providing a Pause, Stop, Rewind, Fast Forward, and other viewing control functions.
The media client 400 additionally comprises a decrypter 404 that, in certain embodiments, may decrypt content that has been encrypted by either the content providers or by the media server 102. The decrypter 404 may decrypt the content on a first level pursuant to a purchase by the user, or on further levels for the purpose of protecting the signal from being intercepted and used by unauthorized parties.
The media client 400 additionally comprises a decoder 406 that, in certain embodiments, converts the media content stream communicated from the media server from an encoded format to a format that corresponds with the media rendering device (e.g., video display device 134). Decoding of such a media content stream signal typically occurs after the decryptor 132 has decrypted encryption of the media stream.
The media client 400 also comprises a media rendering device 410 to ensure that content is converted to a format that is suitable for display on the display unit 24.
As was previously indicated, media clients 106-110 may take any number of forms. For example, the media clients may comprise a digital video recorder, a digital audio receiver, a video processing unit that performs high performance decryption, decoding and video/audio processing, among any number of other possible media clients.
5. Exemplary Methods for Rendering Media Content
Referring now to
The method 500 comprises, at block 505, receiving unrenderable media content. Such media content may comprise various types and/or levels of protection, which protect that content from unauthorized reception and use, as has been previously described. The media content may be audio content and/or audio/video content, for example. Alternatively, the media content may be photographs, or the like. At block 510, a transmission protocol encryption level is removed from the media content. Such a transmission protection level may be implemented by a content distribution service, such as CATV or DSS providers, to prevent unauthorized reception of the media content, as was indicated above. It is noted that the media content for this particular embodiment includes another level of protection to prevent unauthorized rendering of the media content and will be discussed in further detail below.
At block 515, the media content is locally stored. As previously described, the media content may stored using a hard disk drive or may be stored on, for example, a DVD. It will be appreciated that various techniques for storing the media content (which still comprises an unrenderable state) exist. In this regard, while a number of techniques for storing such media content are described herein, the invention, of course, is not limited to any particular technique or approach.
At block 520, a content guide may be displayed on either a first or second device of a media rendering system in which the method 500 is being implemented. Using this content guide, a user may indicate the desire to purchase a rendering right to view/playback the protected media content (or at least a portion of it), which, in turn, generates a request that may be communicated to and/or received by the first device at block 525. The purchase request may also be communicated to a content provider for billing purposes or, alternatively, to a central accounting server that is maintained by the content distribution service (not shown).
After a rendering right has been purchased, at block 530, the media content is decrypted (such as by using a private key) or is unlocked (such as through password protection, or the like), such that the media content is available to be rendered. The media content may then be decoded, decompressed and rendered by the first device (a process not shown in
At block 540, the media content is placed in an encrypted media stream for transmission from the first device (e.g., a media server) to the second device (e.g., a media client). Various encryption techniques are possible and the invention is not limited to any particular approach. However, as one example, a secure-socket-link type encryption may be used. At block 545, the encrypted media stream is communicated to the second device (e.g., over a network, as have been previously described) and decrypted at block 550. The media content is decoded and decompressed at block 555 and rendered at block 560. The approaches for decoding, decompressing and rendering depend, at least, on the type of media content and the particular system in which the method 500 is being implemented. It will, of course, be appreciated that numerous such approaches are possible.
6. Exemplary Embodiment with Internet-based Media Source
Referring now to
The network interface device 204 is coupled with a media server 206 and a media client 208 via a network 210, which may be similar in configuration to the components described with respect to
For the system 200, the network interface device 204 receives information about the media content from the Internet. The media content may be received by the system 200 via the Internet, or by another means, such as CATV or DSS, for example. The information about the media content received from the Internet using the system 200 comprises electronic program guide (EPG) information. The EPG information is communicated to at least the media server 206, and may also be communicated (via the network 210) to the media client 208. The EPG information is employed by the media server 206 (and the media client 208) to determine the composition of the media content that is stored on the media server 206 (or the content storage device 212) so that content available for rendering on a PPV basis may be included in a media content guide (not shown). The media content guide may be rendered on a display device 214 coupled with the media server or using the display device 214 coupled with the media client 208.
It will be appreciated that numerous methods of implementing an operative connection between the network interface device 204, the media server 206 and the media client exist. For example, the operative connection may comprise a wireless connection in accordance with the IEEE 802.11 standard. Alternatively, the connection may comprise a Firewire connection in accordance with the IEEE 1394 standard. The media server 206 and media clients 208 may also be connected by daisy-chaining and accessed using a pass-through device.
Of course, numerous other techniques for implementing such a connection exist and the invention is not limited to any particular approach.
While certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes and equivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.
