Patent Application
20130191926
The present invention relates generally to streaming multimedia content to a remote target device using a network. More specifically, the present invention is related to streaming rights-managed content to remote devices from a network accessible server.
The infringing act of unauthorized duplication and of copyrighted musical works is a widespread problem. Copying or pirating musical works in many jurisdictions including, for example, Singapore, is a criminal offence and offenders may be prosecuted. Other less flagrant copyright violations are possible however and much more difficult to enforce, such as public performances of copyrighted works and the like. The copyright landscape for musical works, including derivative rights such as public performance rights and the like, can be quite complex and difficult to understand for even seasoned professionals, let alone ordinary individuals such as consumers or small business operators.
Copyright violations can ordinarily be addressed through a priori authorization and corresponding agreement as to the assessment of royalty payments. Compulsory royalties can be assessed afterwards for acts of previous infringement. However, understanding precisely how to assess royalties it is as difficult as identifying the often overlapping primary and derivative rights. For example, basic copyrights can cover areas such as a song title, album artwork, musical content and the like, and can include publishing, duplication, recording and performance rights. Within the copyright landscape, individual artists may be bound under recording contracts that specify allocations among artists and/or recording, companies for collaborative works. Further complicating the copyright landscape is that within each of the different areas, additional reproduction rights, performance rights and the like may be present.
It is not surprising then that the general public may not be aware that it is a violation of copyright law to play music from an original music CD in public without obtaining performance or public performance rights from the copyright owner. Such public performance rights become especially significant when musical works are played for commercial purposes in a public setting such as restaurants, karaoke venues, or other entertainment or retail venues where music is played. Still further, simple retailers or shop keepers, for example, may unknowingly infringe music copyrights by playing musical works inside retail shops using CD players to enhance the shop ambience.
While some venues have become aware of the need to seek permission and/or pay royalties for public broadcast or performance of musical works, others have not. One problem is that retailers are uncertain of what is or is not permitted under the copyright laws pertaining to the playback of copyrighted content, and receiving legal notice from the copyright owners of the musical works can be a shocking and unwelcome surprise. The negative publicity associated with being labelled an infringer of copyrights can affect business and may result in loss of customers and revenue.
Some schemes have been developed in an attempt to manage the distribution of copyrighted content from a source to, for example, a destination device. For example, in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0005503 to Engstrom, et al. (Engstrom), a method is described for distributing digital media content. However, limitations are present in existing systems with regard to distribution to destination devices. For example, paragraph [0047] of Engstrom notes that a set-top media device is required, which must itself be proximally located within the wireless or wired communication range of the remote device. For users who desire flexibility in playback location, such constraints cause great inconvenience because, due to the need for proximity, a user cannot conveniently distribute digital media content to devices in remote locations that are not proximal to a set top box.
Further, if a retail outlet or outlets associated with a franchise, such as a popular coffee franchise, wishes to establish a musical content theme in various stores, that cater either to a franchise-wide content agenda or a store by store content agenda, or a combination of the above, individual store management of musical content is undesirable. In particular, the service staff of individual stores within a franchise are often preoccupied with daily activities and allocating the task of selecting and playing music can lead to problems, inefficiencies and inconsistencies of musical content from store to store and deviation from the musical content agenda. However, there are few solutions to allow management of the various issues associated with such content playback arrangements. It would be desirable for a system that could manage the copyrights associated with the musical or other copyrighted content while simplifying the delivery of the content through playback devices.
According to an embodiment, a method can be provided for streaming digital content over a network from a content server to a stream playing device. The method can include selecting a plurality of playback items located on the content server from an input terminal associated with an account. The input terminal can be coupled to the network and is different from the stream playing device such as being incorporated into a different device and provided at a different location or the like. The plurality of playback items can include digital content, such as music or audio, video content or the like, stored on the content server. Copyright permissions, such as permissions for public performance and the like, can be allocated to each of the plurality of playback items based on a parameter associated with the account. The selected plurality of playback items can be incorporated into a playback stream object based on an incorporation criteria. The playback stream object can be associated with the account.
It will be appreciated that a network can include a local area network, an Internet Protocol (IP) based network including wireless and wired networks, such as the Internet, WiFi, Global System for Mobile Communications, formerly known as Groupe Special Mobile, (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), and more advanced third generation (3G) and fourth generation (4G) systems, evolutions and the like including any systems, combinations of systems, infrastructures, access technologies, interfaces, air interfaces, or the like referred to in the aggregate as the “cloud”. An account can include a mechanism for associating a paying client or customer including a person or a corporation or the like that can establish a subscription to particular digital content. In some instances, the account can be facilitated by an additional service account with a service provider that allows the person to access a network or a network service or have transactions with the service provider.
In an embodiment, a method can further include connecting the stream playing device and the server over the network and verifying that a device identifier code of the stream playing device is associated with the account. If the device identifier code of the stream playing device is associated with the account, the playback stream object including the plurality of playback items can be transferred from the content server to the stream playing device.
In an embodiment, the incorporation criteria can include one of a random incorporation criteria, a sequential incorporation criteria, a manually generated incorporation criteria, and a counter generated incorporation criteria. The incorporation criteria can include a condition or a set of conditions that can used to control playback of the playback items.
In an embodiment, the parameter associated with the account is determined by an account holder. For example, the parameter can be a subscription level associated with the account, a permission level associated with the account, or an individual royalty purchase associated with one of the plurality of playback items. The subscription level includes different categories or tiers or levels of subscription that entitle the account holder to different copyright permissions.
In an embodiment, the allocating copyright permissions can include subscribing to a use of the digital content, and allocating the copyright permissions to the based on the subscribed use of the digital content. The copyright permissions can include one or more of permissions for performance, recording, and publishing rights of the digital content. The copyright permissions can further include all permissions for performance, recording, and publishing rights of the digital content. The subscribing to the use can include subscribing to one of a private use and a commercial use of the digital content. The selecting a plurality of playback items can include accessing the content server from the input terminal through the network. The plurality of playback items can be selected from selectable playback items displayed on a user interface associated with the website. Accessing includes network accessing processes such as for example, accessing through a website, a direct connection from the input terminal, or through an application running on the terminal, or via a message exchanging facility. The access terminal can include a remote terminal, a laptop computer, a cellular telephone, a portable digital assistant (PDA), a smartphone, a reader, and the like.
In an embodiment, the selected ones of the plurality of playback items can constitute a first list of playback items. It should be noted however that the playback stream object is handled as a singular object by the stream playing device. Transferring the playback stream object can include transferring the playback stream object, for example as the above described singular object, while including the playback items constituted in the first list. The playback stream object can be stored in the stream playing device.
In an embodiment, the selecting the plurality of playback items can include one of the following, selecting a new at least one of the plurality of playback items, or deleting an existing at least one of the plurality of playback items. The newly formed object including the selected or deleted ones of the plurality of playback items constitute a second list of playback items. The second list of playback items can include the one of the selected new at least one and the deleted existing at least one of the plurality of playback items. Transferring the playback stream object can include transferring the playback stream object including the playback items constituted in the second list to the stream playing device. The playback stream object can be stored in the stream playing device. The transferring the playback stream object may further include comparing the first list and the second list. If one of at least portions of the playback stream object represent a difference between the first list and the second list, the stream playing device can either store or delete one of at least portions of the playback stream object.
In an embodiment, a stream playing device can be provided in a system for streaming digital content over a network from a content server. In the system, the content server and the stream playing device are connected to the network. The stream playing device can include a network interface coupled to the network, and a controller coupled to the network interface. The controller can include a buffer and a device identifier code capable of being associated with an account on the content server. The controller can be configured to connect with the server over the network interface and transfer the device identifier code. If the device identifier code is associated with the account, the controller can be configured to receive a playback stream object including a plurality of playback items from the content server. Each of the plurality of playback items can be associated with copyright permissions allocated based on a parameter associated with the account. The controller can be further configured to decode the playback stream object and output the digital content to an output device based on the copyright permissions, to track a number of the plays of individual ones of the plurality of the playback items associated with the output of the digital content, and the like. The output device can include one of an audio device, a visual device, and an audio-visual device. It will be appreciated that the controller and the network interface can be incorporated into an integrated circuit (IC), can be incorporated into a circuit board, can be incorporated into a hybrid circuit that includes a circuit board and an IC, or can be incorporated into a set top box.
In an embodiment, a server can be provided for streaming digital content over a network to a stream playing device. The server and the stream playing device can be connected to the network. The server can include a network interface configured to receive and send data over the network, a storage device including a content database that stores digital content including playback items, and a processor coupled to the network interface and the storage device. The processor can be configured to incorporate a selected plurality of the playback items into a playback stream object based on an incorporation criteria. The playback stream object can be associated with an account. When the server is connected with the stream playing device over the network interface, the server can receive a device identifier code from the stream playing device. If the device identifier code is verified to be associated with the account, the server can transfer the playback stream object including the plurality of playback items to the stream playing device. Each of the plurality of playback items are associated with copyright permissions allocated based on a parameter associated with the account. The server can include a World Wide Web interface to which the input terminal associated with the account can make a connection over the network interface.
In an embodiment, the parameter associated with the account can include one of: a subscription level associated with the account; a permission level associated with the account; and an individual royalty purchase associated with one of the plurality of playback items. The copyright permissions can be allocated based on a subscription to a use of the digital content, wherein the copyright permissions including performance, recording, and publishing rights of the digital content. The use can include one of a private use and a commercial use of the digital content. The selected plurality of playback items can include ones of the playback items selected by accessing the content server from the input terminal through the network, and/or selecting the plurality of playback items from selectable playback items displayed on a user interface associated with the input terminal. The accessing can include mechanisms for accessing a network such as accessing through a website, or through a direct connection from the input terminal, or through an application running on the terminal, or through a message exchanging facility. The selected ones of the plurality of playback items can be constituted according to a first list of playback items. The playback stream object can be transferred and can include the playback items constituted in or according to the first list. Further, the selected items, for example when one of a new at least one of the plurality of playback items and a deleted existing at least one of the plurality of playback items are involved, can be constituted in accordance with a second list of playback items. The processor can be further configured to transfer the playback stream object including the playback items constituted according to the second list.
In order that embodiments of the invention may be fully and more clearly understood by way of non-limitative examples, the following description is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate similar or corresponding elements, regions and portions, and in which:
While exemplary embodiments pertaining to the invention have been described and illustrated, it will be understood by those skilled in the technology concerned that many variations or modifications involving particular design, implementation or construction are possible and may be made without deviating from the inventive concepts described herein.
An exemplary system 100 can be configured for streaming digital content over a network 101 from a server such as a content server 120 to a stream playing device 130 in accordance with an embodiment such as is illustrated in
The stream playing device 130 can be configured to receive the selected playback items from the content server 120 via the network 101 and output the selected playback items in an output format suitable for playback on an output device 102. The output format may be a digital audio format or digital video format that includes audio synchronization or, some other combination digital video/audio format. The digital audio format may include the commonly used and well known MP3 format, which itself was developed in connection with various MPEG video formats, WAV format, WMV format, OGG format, or the like. The output device 102 can be an audio device such as a speaker, an audio/visual device such as a television, a visual device such as a display that is specially adapted to process a playback stream object as will be described in greater detail hereinafter by, for example, inclusion of a specialized chip or circuit that is incorporated into the device itself or into a set top box or the like to which the device can be attached.
An embodiment of the server 120 is described as follows. As shown in
As illustrated in
As shown in
The processor 122 can manage aspects of the packaging and delivery of content, the communications of the content, and other aspects such as account verification, playback count tallying, digital rights management (DRM), which includes the payment of royalties based on the playback tally, and the like. The processor 122 can manage, for example, the digital content service, the connectivity to the Internet, the digital content retrieval and the delivery of the streaming playback object 141 according to a streaming protocol, the interface for content management and statistic reporting, and can also provide the website interface and interaction with a search engine for digital content selection as well as hosting the database itself. For example, the processor 122 can include an algorithm for generating statistics to track each playback item for the frequency of selection, playback, or streaming to the stream playing device.
The information related to the generated statistics report can be used to facilitate a payment fee structure for the digital content service associated with back-end payment of royalties that are transparent to the subscriber and form one of the advantages of the invention. For example, the frequency of selection of a playback item can be used to calculate the royalties associated with the copyright permissions allocated to the selected playback item 141. Application programming interfaces (APIs) may also be provided for existing and future application development. In an embodiment, the processor 122 may be provided in an application server separate from the storage device 123. It should be noted that the storage device 123 provides and standardizes the content data structure. The storage device 123 may include a customer database and provide data redundancy. In an embodiment, the storage device 123 may be provided in a database server separate from the processor 122.
An embodiment of the stream playing device 130 is illustrated in further detail in
The stream playing device 130 does not require a media player application to be invoked in order to stream the playback stream object to an output device because the controller 202 is configured to decode or process the received playback stream object into a data format for streaming. The stream playing device 130 may be powered through the power supply of the output device 102 through an adapter, such as a 5V adapter, or can be powered by batteries or other power source or the like. The components, i.e. the controller/processor 202, the memory 201, the network interface 204 and the content decoder 203 of the stream playing device 130 may be integrated into an IC chip, on a circuit board or in a module. Therefore, the stream playing device 130 can be compact and simple in design whether at a chip, circuit board or module level such as a set-top box or the like.
Alternatively, as shown in
In an embodiment, the controller 202, 305 and the network interface 204, 304 may be incorporated into a set top box. Alternatively, the controller 202, 305, the network interface 204, 304, the memory (201, 301) and the content decoder (203, 302) may be incorporated into a set top box. The set-top box can be configured to be installed in the retail shop connecting to the Internet and the speaker system to be provided by the retailer. For example, the set-top box may include a unshielded twisted pair (UTP) for a wired Internet connection, speakers output and power input. Alternatively, the set-top box may include an optional module for internet connection such as a WiFi connection should there be no wired Internet connection in the retail shop. The set-top box receives digital content from the server 120 via the Internet and plays the digital content through an output device such as speakers in a format such as a MP3 format. The set-up box may be powered by the speakers through a 5V adaptor. Two light emitting diodes (LEDs) for indicating POWER and LINK may be provided at the front of the set-top box. The set-top box does not require a screen because the set-top box does not require a media player application to be invoked in order to stream the playback stream object to an output device. The set-up box may have an additional output for audio/video playback.
In an embodiment, the controller 202, 305 and the network interface 204, 304 may be incorporated into a circuit board. Alternatively, the controller 202, 305, the network interface 204, 304, the memory (201, 301) and the content decoder (203, 302) may be incorporated into a circuit board. The circuit board is described as follows. The circuit board performs similar operations to the set-top box. The circuit board may be integrated into electrical appliances like speakers, television, and cable TV set-top box, etc. The electrical appliances are coupled to the internet through the network interface of the circuit board. The circuit board may tap power from the electric appliances and output from the appliance speaker systems.
In an embodiment, the controller 202, 305 and the network interface 204, 304 may be integrated into an integrated circuit chip (IC chip). Alternatively, the controller 202, 305, the network interface 204, 304, the memory (201, 301) and the content decoder (203, 302) may be incorporated into an IC chip. The features as described herein in connection with the stream playing device 130, whether embodied in connection with a set-top box or as a stand alone device, may be incorporated into a circuit board, integrated in an integrated circuit (IC) chip, or may be incorporated into a hybrid circuit consisting of a circuit board and an IC chip. In the case of an IC chip, the chip may then be integrated in various hardware applications or may be incorporated in an existing electric circuit design or new developments in electric circuit designs. In an embodiment, the controller 202, 305 and the network interface 204, 304 may be integrated into an output device such as speakers, television, a music platform, or the like. By integrating the controller and the network interface into speakers, the requirement for a media source such as a CD player, USB input, SD card input, iPod connection, or the like is eliminated. Exemplary speakers incorporating an IC chip in accordance with embodiments, for example, can be coupled to the network by a wired connection such as a simple UTP-based Internet connection, or a wireless connection. For the subscriber who uses the speakers at home, the advantage is efficient use of space because he need not have two separate devices to play digital content or music content. Neither does he require cables to connect from the playback device such as a CD player or a computer to an output device such as speakers. A display such as a LCD screen may be integrated or connected to the speakers to display the list of playback items, preview songs and to administer the list of playback items.
In an embodiment, the controller 202, 305 and the network interface 204, 304 may be integrated in the television so that the television is coupled to the internet or the network 101. The television may incorporate an output for audio/video playback of the playback items. The television may have a user interface that enables a subscriber to use the television to login to the website on the content server 120 to administer the list of playback items 142-146. Once the list of playback items 142-146 is defined by the subscriber, the television user interface may be turned off. In other embodiments, the controller and 202, 305 and the network interface 204, 304 may be integrated on a licensed music platform or a portal for the future Internet TV appliance or audio/visual internet devices.
The method 400 illustrated in
In exchange 506, after the type of use is determined, the relevant copyright permissions are allocated each of the plurality of playback items or digital content based on the subscribed use of the digital contents. The allocated copyright permissions may be provided to the subscriber in an assignment agreement with copyrights assignment of the digital content to the subscriber. By allocating the copyright permissions based on the subscribed use of the digital contents, an advantage may be realized in that the home customer or the retail customer need not approach different copyright owners to obtain the relevant copyright permissions to use the digital content. The legal process associated with playing digital content is greatly simplified by establishing service with a single source.
In exchange 507, if the subscriber accepts the assignment agreement, the acceptance of the assignment agreement is sent to the application server 503 where it is then determined what the amount of payment required for the assignment of the copyright permissions will be. In the exchange at 508 the application server 503 sends a request to for payment to the subscriber, whereupon the subscriber can confirm the pricing. In the exchange at 509, the subscriber can make payment whereupon the application server 502 generates account information such as, an user ID, a password and a device identifier code for accessing the digital content service on the servers for the subscriber. In the exchange at 510, the account information is associated with the subscriber and the account for the digital content service is activated. It should be noted that the device identifier code can be known in advance and can be associated with one or more stream playing devices that are provided to the subscriber before service activation. The stream playing device may be installed in a designated location associated with the subscriber, such as a retail shop for streaming digital content for playback in the retail shop.
As noted, multiple device identifier codes can be associated with an account because more than one stream playing device can be deployed for a given account. For example in a chain of stores, each store can be provided with a stream playing device and the collective devices can be managed by a single representative such as a manager associated with the account. In other applications, the digital content service may be provided to an individual with a single device. In particular, for retailers, the digital content service offers a one-stop solution to provide externally managed public performances of music in a retail space. The features of the digital content service may include an up-to date complete library of song titles which covers all music copyrights for the song titles. For example, by having an account with the digital content service, the retailer may play music at an agreed rate, for example a flat monthly rate. To start an account or to subscribe to the digital content service, a customer may do so at an input terminal 501, such as by subscribing online or at a point of sale, whereby the details required for the account creation is entered on behalf of the customer online after a sale. Depending on the copyright licensing terms by the owners of the copyrights such as the music labels and publishers, the service may include unlimited digital content playback to the subscriber based on a one time payment fee or on a monthly subscription payment fee.
The application server 503 verifies at 523 that the device identifier code is associated with the account, incorporates the selected plurality of playback items into a playback stream object based on an incorporation criteria and the playback stream object is associated with the account. It will be appreciated that the incorporation criteria determines how the items are incorporated into the playback stream object and can include a random incorporation criteria, a sequential incorporation criteria, a counter generated incorporation criteria, and a manually generated incorporation criteria, or the like criteria.
The application server 503 streams the playback stream object to the stream playing device 520 for playback in an output device at 524. A counter may be set on the application server 503 to determine how the playback items may be incorporated into the playback stream object. The counter may be time based or unit based. The counter can represent a criteria whereby the account holder can determine how many times a particular item is played within an object based on a time period or the like. For example, the account holder may limit the number of plays of a particularly expensive item. If the counter is set to zero, steps 523 and 524 are repeated. Alternatively, the counter can represent a criteria whereby the account holder can determine the frequency that the stream playing device 130 checks for or fetches a new list from the server 120. For example, the counter may be set to 15 minutes where the stream playing device sends a request for a new list from the server 120.
It should be noted, that the playback stream object is protected because only the stream playing device 520 can receive and play content from the application server 503 based on the connection that is established between the device and the server. Additional protection may be achieved through addressing, network security and other measures that may be employed using encryption or the like. An advantage is the stream playing device 520 may be remotely administered by any input terminal connected to the internet. Through the website supported by the application server 503, a subscriber can administer or manage the playback items to be streamed to the stream playing device 520. Other parameters can be administered since the network infrastructure may vary on a country-by-country basis, or a network-by-network basis, or the like and information on the speed and distribution of the network may affect settings for content delivery.
The interaction between the stream playing device 600 and the content server 601 includes the stream playing device 600 streaming one of the plurality of playback items in the playback stream object to an output device for playback in the output device at exchange 610 before the application server 602 has completed the transfer of the playback stream object. Specifically, the stream playing device requests for a next playback item in the playback stream object from the application server 602 at exchange 611. The application server 602 verifies that the device identifier code is associated with an account and sends the next playback item to the stream playing device 600 in exchange 612. The current or first playback item currently playing in the stream playing device 600 continues to play until the transfer of the next playback item to the stream playing device 600. As a result, the playback is continuous and the user listening or watching the playback item does not experience any interruptions or an incomplete playback. A counter may be set in the application server 602 such that if the counter is zero, exchanges 611 and 612 are repeated.
In exchange 709, the application server 702 verifies a device identifier code of the stream playing device 700 after receiving a request for a second list of playback items from the stream playing device 700, wherein the stream playing device 700 has a first list of playback items. In exchange 710, the application server 702 transfers the playback stream object including the second list to the stream playing device 700. The stream playing device 700 is configured to compare the first list and the second list at exchange 710 and the first list is replaced with the second list if one of the playback items in the second list is different from the playback items in the first list, i.e. a new playback item. Subsequently, the stream playing device 700 sends a request for the new playback item to the application server 702 which verifies that the device identifier code of the stream playing device 700 is associated with the account at exchange 711. In exchange 712, the application server 702 transfers the playback stream object including the new playback items constituted in the second list to the stream playing device 700. An advantage is that the streaming process is not repeated if the requested content is still in the buffer.
Referring now to
Upon successful login by the subscriber to the server, a second user interface 804 is displayed in the input terminal as shown in
Referring to
Further, the subscriber may also search for new playback items or new digital content stored on the server via a browser interface 822. In the browser interface 822, a search criteria menu 817 is provided where the subscriber may select to search for playback items or digital content stored in the server. After the search is completed, the searched playback items 818 are displayed on the browser interface 822. The subscriber may then click the preview button 819 to preview a playback item. To select a playback item, the subscriber may click on the add button 820 to add the playback item to the plurality of playback items in the list 811.
Whilst there has been described in the foregoing description preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the technology concerned that many variations or modifications in details of design or construction may be made without departing from the present invention.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/SG2010/000364 | 9/30/2011 | WO | 00 | 3/26/2013 |
