Patent Application
20080121701
This invention relates generally to digital multimedia signal generation, including apparatus, systems, and methods used in digital multimedia signal generation, and more particularly to a multimedia generation system employing encoded biometric data.
Digital multimedia (DMM), including audio, video, pictures, and combinations thereof, may be encoded into a medium for distribution to one or more persons. Common mediums include optically encoded medium (digital video discs (DVD), compact discs (CD), for example), and electronic transmission of DMM to a DMM converter via one or more communication devices. The DMM may be encrypted to prevent unauthorized usage.
The objects, advantages and features of the invention will be more clearly perceived from the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:
Biometric sampler 22 may transfer the electronic representation of the user's biometric data to BDS 14 or directly to MME 20. BS 22 may communicate the biometric data electronically via a wired or wireless protocol or via a medium, such as a DVD or CD. BDS 14 may be a device capable of storing electronic data by means of a read only memory (ROM), or an optical or magnetic storage medium or device, for example. A user's biometric data may be any relatively unique, electronically measurable biometric characteristic including fingerprint, retinal scan, footprint, voice, or DNA, among others. The biometric data will be generally referred to herein with the word “fingerprint.”
MME 20 may convert user's biometric data (BD) into encrypted biometric data (EBD) via one or more algorithms. Such converting algorithms are available and are not the subject of this invention. The user's biometric data or encrypted format may be appended to the DMM. When the DMM data is provided on a medium, the BD or EBD may be inserted onto the medium (such as adding a session to a DVD) to generate a biometric digital multimedium signal (BDMM). In an embodiment of the invention, the DMM may be algorithmically encoded with the BD or EBD to generate a BDMM. The BDMM may be recorded on a medium for use by the user or communicated via a wire or wireless channel to one or more user designated MMD 50.
According to an embodiment, the biometric data from two or more users may be encoded in the BDMM. In such an embodiment, substantially similar biometric data may be required from one, two, more users, or any permutation thereof, to permit decoding of the BDMM. MMD 50 may receive the BDMM via a wireless or wired channel or via a medium (such as a DVD or CD). Depending on the encoding format (where the MMD may support multiple formats), MMD 50 may require one or more users to provide biometric data via BS 52 The BDMM may include header information indicating the encoding format used in its generation MMD 50 may then use the appropriate algorithm to attempt to decode the BDMM. When the biometric data does not substantially match the BD or EBD of the BDMM, the MMD may generate one or more error message signals. The signals may be converted to a user perceptible format by MMSC 80. The MMSC may be able to generate a user perceptible signal that may be textual, visual, audible, or a combination thereof. MMSC 80 may include one or more speakers and photon generation devices, including a liquid crystal display (LCD), cathode tube (CT), plasma display, television, or projector, among others.
In an embodiment of the invention, method 100 may then communicate the BDMM (activity 108). The method may broadcast the BDMM to one or more locations designated by the user via a wireless or wired protocol. The method may also communicate the BDMM by generating a computer readable medium including the BDMM. In an embodiment, method 100 may include a header or other information within the BDMM that indicates the algorithms or techniques employed to generate the BDMM.
Method 110 may generate an error message (activity 124) indicating that improper BD was provided The method may then reject the BDMM or store some identifying data about the BDMM so that when subsequently presented the BDMM is automatically locked out. The method may enter such a locked state after two or more improper BD validation attempts are made.
DMM encoder 26 may receive DMM data from either transceiver 28, 34, or medium decoder/encoder (MDE) 27. The MDE may be able to read or write media (such as a DVD or CD). BD 46 or 38 may include BD for one or more authorized users associated with the DMM to be encoded. The algorithm instruction set(s) 48 or 42 may include instructions for encoding or encrypting the BD and DMM data in various formats. The encoded biometric embedded DMM (BDMM) may be communicated to an MMD (50 in
In an embodiment of the invention, first modem/transceiver 34 may couple, in a well-known manner, device 21 to an Internet connection or via a wired telephone system such as the Plain Old Telephone System (POTS). The second modem/transceiver 28 may couple device 21 to one or more wireless networks. Modem/transceiver 34 may be a wireless modem or other communication device that communicates with MMD 50 in the architecture 10 (
DMM decoder 56 may receive DMM data from either transceiver 58, 64 and medium decoder/encoder (MDE) 57. The MDE may be able to read or write media (such as a DVD or CD). BD 76 or 68 may include BD for one or more authorized users associated with the DMM to be decoded. Algorithm instruction set(s) 78 or 72 may include instructions for decoding or decrypting the BDMM in various formats. The decoded DMM may be communicated to MMSC 80 via transceiver 64 or 58.
In an embodiment of the invention, first modem/transceiver 64 may couple, in a well-known manner, device 51 to an Internet connection or via a wired telephone system such as the POTS. Second modem/transceiver 58 may couple device 51 to one or more wireless networks. Modem/transceiver 64 may be a wireless modem or other communication device that communicates with MME 20 in the architecture 10 (
Any of the components previously described can be implemented in a number of ways, including embodiments in software. Thus, MME 20, BDS 14, BS 22, MMD 50, BS 52, MMSC 80, CPU 24, encoder 26, biometric interface 22, RAM 44, ROM 32, storage 36, BD 46, 38, algorithm instruction set(s) 42, 48, CPU 54, decoder 56, biometric interface 52, RAM 74, ROM 62, storage 66, BD 76, 68, and algorithm instruction set(s) 72, 78, may all be characterized as “modules” herein.
In a particular embodiment of the invention, modem-transceiver 58 (
In a particular embodiment device 51 may be a DVD player where the DVD player includes a DVD reader functioning as medium decoder/encoder 57. The DVD player may have a modem-transceiver 58 that is able to communicate with a wireless device (such as a wireless remote, PDA, or cellular phone.) The DVD player may include storage 66 which may store the user's biometric data 68. Storage 66 may also use an algorithm 72 to decode BDMM data. A DVD player may be modified to support the BDMM by modifying its instruction set to include algorithm 72 and user's biometric data 68.
A specific example of a system according to various embodiments of the invention is shown in
CPU 142 employs the biometric data to decrypt the BDMM data and forward the decrypted DMM data to media decoder 154. The media decoder converts the DMM data to a format usable by TV 160. The format may include National Television System Committee (NTSC), Phase Alternation Line (PAL), S-VIDEO, Digital Visual Interface (DVI), High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), or component video, among others. In an embodiment, remote control 158 may control the function of the CPU via antenna 156. Remote control 158 may include a fingerprint scanner or other biometric reader where the remote control may forward the scanned biometric data to CPU 142, and can be a PDA, cellular phone, or equivalent.
The modules may include hardware circuitry, single or multiprocessor circuits, memory circuits, software program modules and objects, firmware, and combinations thereof as desired by the architect of architecture 10 and as appropriate for particular implementations of various embodiments They are not intended to serve as a complete description of all the elements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use of the structures described herein.
Applications that may include the novel apparatus and systems of various embodiments of the invention include electronic circuitry used in high-speed computers, communication and signal processing circuitry, modems, single or multi-processor modules, single or multiple embedded processors, data switches, and application-specific modules, including multilayer and multi-chip modules, among others. Such apparatus and systems may farther be included as sub-components within a variety of electronic systems, such as televisions, cellular telephones, personal computers (for example, laptop computers, desktop computers, handheld computers, tablet computers, among others), workstations, radios, video players, audio players (for example, MP3 players), vehicles, medical devices (for example, heart monitor, blood pressure monitor, and the like) and others. Some embodiments may include a number of methods.
It may be possible to execute the activities described herein in an order other than the order described. And, various activities described with respect to the methods identified herein can be executed in repetitive, serial, or parallel fashion.
A software program may be launched from a computer-readable medium in a computer-based system to execute functions defined in the software program. Various programming languages may be employed to create software programs designed to implement and perform the methods disclosed herein. The programs may be structured in an object-orientated format using an object-oriented language such as Java or C++. Alternatively, the programs may be structured in a procedure-orientated format using a procedural language, such as assembly or C. The software components may communicate using a number of mechanisms well known to those skilled in the art, such as application program interfaces or inter-process communication techniques, including remote procedure calls. The teachings of various embodiments are not limited to any particular programming language or environment.
The accompanying drawing figures that form a part hereof show, by way of illustration and not of limitation, specific embodiments in which the subject matter may be practiced. The embodiments illustrated are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the teachings disclosed herein. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of various embodiments is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full range of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred to herein individually or collectively by the term “invention” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any single invention or inventive concept, if more than one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description.
In the foregoing description, various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted to require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, inventive subject matter may be found in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment
