Patent Application
20070086372
This invention relates generally to digital rights management, and more particularly to a method and system for granted licenses and access using mobile communication devices.
Users subscribe to service providers that provide content in a limited channel that may be limited to hardware owned by the subscriber or limited to a particular location where a subscriber owns such hardware. Some subscribers would like to have a way to access services or content that they have a right to listen to or view or play without necessarily being limited to a particular user's hardware, but such a solution does not currently exist. For example, a user having subscribed to a cable movie channel on a cable network from a carrier may like to watch a particular show on Sunday nights even though such user might not be near their traditional hardware gateway or their set top box at home. Even when this particular user on a Sunday night is visiting a friend who also has access on the cable network but does not necessarily have a subscription to the particular movie channel currently has no ability to play the content they are technically licensed for at his or her friend's house . Today, there is no way for the user to watch the upcoming episode of the particular show on Sunday nights at his or her friend's place even though he or she has the right to view this program. Obviously this problem exists because the right-to-view is tied together with the location, and more particularly with a set-top-box or SIM card rather than the person who subscribed to the service. Although there are schemes with Digital Rights Management (DRM) that enable many different devices to share the same content, such existing DRM schemes fail to grant right to access subscription to services in a seamless fashion.
Embodiments in accordance with the present invention can provide a method of using a license carried on a mobile communication device, a system and a wireless communication apparatus that can enable a user to transfer license and subscription information and to retrieve and play content on a device other than dedicated hardware such as a set to box at a user's home.
In a first embodiment of the present invention, a method of using a license carried on a mobile communication device can include the steps of obtaining license and subscription information over a first network for content available on a second network, transferring the license and subscription information via a short range communication link to a local access point device, and providing content on the second network if a network operator for the second network verifies the license. The step of obtaining the license and subscription information can be done by an over-the-air connection via a WiFi network, a Bluetooth connection, an RFID communication, an infrared link, a satellite link, or a cellular communication link or by a wired communication link. For example, license and subscription information can be obtained by securing and storing information transferred from a set top box into the mobile communication device. The step of transferring the license and subscription information via the short range communication link can be done by transferring the license and subscription information via a Bluetooth connection, an RFID communication, an infrared link, or a wired link. The local access point can be a set top box for example. The method can further include authenticating a user's license and subscription information. The method can further apply digital rights management to protect the content provided on the second network while promoting the sharing of content among users and can block additional content from being provided on the second network if such content is beyond the scope of the license.
In a second embodiment of the present invention, a wireless communication device can include a transceiver, and a processor coupled to the transceiver. The processor can be programmed to receive a license and subscription information over a first network for content available on a second network and transfer the license and subscription information via a short range communication link to a local access point device (such as a set-top box) to authorize receipt of content on the second network if a network operator for the second network verifies the license. The wireless communication device can be a cellular phone, a satellite phone, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, or a two-way messaging device among other devices. The processor can be programmed to obtain the license and subscription information by an over-the-air connection via a WiFi network, a Bluetooth connection, an RFID communication, an infrared link, a satellite link, a cellular communication link, or a wired communication link. The processor can also be programmed to transfer the license and subscription information via the short range communication link by transferring the license and subscription information via a Bluetooth connection, an RFID communication, an infrared link, or a wired link. The processor can further be programmed to authenticate a user's license and subscription information, apply digital rights management to protect the content provided on the second network while promoting the sharing of content among users, or block additional content from being provided on the second network if such content is beyond the scope of the license.
In a third embodiment of the present invention, a wireless communication system using a portable license can include a transceiver, a local access point operatively coupled to the transceiver, and a processor coupled to the transceiver. The processor can be programmed to receive a license and subscription information over a first network for content available on a second network, and transfer the license and subscription information via a short range communication link to the local access point device to authorize receipt of content on the second network if a network operator for the second network verifies the license. Note, the transceiver can be a part of a cellular phone, a satellite phone, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, or a two-way messaging device or other communication device and the local access point can be for example a set top box or a satellite radio receiver system.
The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The term “suppressing” can be defined as reducing or removing, either partially or completely.
The terms “program,” “software application,” and the like as used herein, are defined as a sequence of instructions designed for execution on a computer system. A program, computer program, or software application may include a subroutine, a function, a procedure, an object method, an object implementation, an executable application, an applet, a servlet, a source code, an object code, a shared library/dynamic load library and/or other sequence of instructions designed for execution on a computer system.
Other embodiments, when configured in accordance with the inventive arrangements disclosed herein, can include a system for performing and a machine readable storage for causing a machine to perform the various processes and methods disclosed herein.
While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of embodiments of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward.
Referring to
The wireless communication device 101 can further include a user interface 106 having a presentation system 114 (such as audio speakers and amplifiers) and a display 112. The wireless communication device 101 can further include a keypad 116, a longer range transceiver (102) such as a cellular transceiver, a shorter range transceiver (103) such a WiFi, Bluetooth, infrared or other suitable short range transceiver, a memory 105 for storing license or access data as well as subscription data, and a power supply 110. The device 101 can further include a digital rights management module 107 which can be part of the memory 105. The wireless communication device 101 can further optionally or alternatively include a data bus, link, or interface 108 for coupling the processor 104 with the gateway 150 in a wired or tethered fashion as opposed to the previously discussed wireless links. The wireless transceiver 102 can utilize existing technology for exchanging wireless messages with a base station 118 over link or network 128 to communicate with a gateway 120. The gateway 120 can be in communication with a carrier or content source 130 or a third party authenticator or licensor 140 that would be able to grant licenses to the owner of the wireless subscriber device 101 on behalf of the carrier 130. Of course, the carrier 130 can perform the authentication and license granting function themselves as well. The wireless technology used can be any wireless technology such as, for example, GSM (Global System for Mobile communication), TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access), or CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), just to mention a few.
The carrier 130 can provide content to the network gateway 150 (such as a set top box) via communication link or network 138. The network gateway 150 can include or be coupled to a short range transceiver 155 that can communicate with the wireless communication device 101 via transceiver 103 using link 158. The “wireless” communication device 101 can alternatively or optionally receive and transmit requests for licenses and subscriptions from the wireless communication device via the wired link 108 as well. Once the wireless communication device 101 requests, obtains, and transfers the appropriate license and subscription information to the network gateway 150, the desired content can be view at t a presentation device 170. Optionally, the desired content can be viewed on the display 112 of the wireless communication device 101 if the license permits such simultaneous (or dual location (whether simultaneous or not)) viewing. Note, the local access point or gateway 150 can also include media storage in the form of a hard drive, solid state memory, or other memory found for example in personal video recording devices (PVR) or digital video recording (DVR) devices to enable viewing of previously downloaded licensed content and not just viewing of licensed broadcasted content.
The processor 104 can use computing and/or processing such as a microprocessor and/or a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) technology. Additionally, the processor 104 can include media such as RAM (Random Access Memory), DRAM (Dynamic RAM), ROM (Read Only Memory), and/or Flash memory for data processing and storage. The presentation system 114 can use audio technology for intercepting and conveying audible signals to or from a user of the wireless communication device 101. The display 112 can also utilize technology such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) for conveying images to the user with an optional backlight. The keypad 116 can be an input device coupled to the processor 104 for intercepting tactile responses from the user and can also include its own backlight. These responses can be, for instance, tactile responses that represent telephone number dialing for accessing another end user or passwords or account numbers enabling the retrieval of licensed content. Generally speaking, the keypad 116 serves to control operations of the wireless communication device 101
The power supply 110 utilizes energy conversion technology for supply energy to the aforementioned components of the wireless communication device 101. The power supply 110 can be, for instance, a portable battery-operated supply for portable applications of the wireless communication device 101. The processor 104 can be programmed to retrieve and transmit license and subscription data in a number of ways in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention as will be further discussed below. Further note, the aforementioned embodiments of the wireless communication device 101 can represent a conventional cellular phone, a wireless PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a handheld gaming device, and derivatives thereof.
Referring to
In a more specific example as illustrated in
Thus, the license to roam or activate function can give a user the ability to carry license on a mobile device combined with the ability to activate a program, content, or service and allow users to access their content or service ubiquitously and seamlessly through a gateway (not the mobile device itself) using a mobile device. Although, the example illustrated involves cable operators, embodiments are not limited thereto and can include using licensing and subscription information on a mobile device to ubiquitously activate content or services on satellite radios, rental cars, passport terminals, telecommunication terminals, automated teller machines, satellite television terminals, PVRs, DVRs, iPODs, MP3 players, among a myriad of other information or entertainment devices that would require a subscription or licensing.
In light of the foregoing description, it should be recognized that embodiments in accordance with the present invention can be realized in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. A network or system according to the present invention can be realized in a centralized fashion in one computer system or processor, or in a distributed fashion where different elements are spread across several interconnected computer systems or processors (such as a microprocessor and a DSP). Any kind of computer system, or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the functions described herein, is suited. A typical combination of hardware and software could be a general purpose computer system with a computer program that, when being loaded and executed, controls the computer system such that it carries out the functions described herein.
In light of the foregoing description, it should also be recognized that embodiments in accordance with the present invention can be realized in numerous configurations contemplated to be within the scope and spirit of the claims. Additionally, the description above is intended by way of example only and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way, except as set forth in the following claims.
