Patent Application
20060053066
Contained herein is material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction of the patent disclosure by any person as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all rights to the copyright whatsoever.
The invention relates generally to the field of electronic commerce. More particularly, the invention relates to an online digital video signal transfer method and apparatus enabling online rental of digitally encoded motion pictures.
The Internet has provided consumers with a new medium for commerce, commonly referred to as electronic commerce (or Ecommerce). Currently there exists several Internet services that provide consumers with access to motion pictures that can be ordered and downloaded online.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,966,400, assigned to Sight Sound Incorporated, describes a system and method for transmitting desired digital video signals or digital audio signals. The patent describes a method for transferring desired digital video or audio signals through telecommunication lines between a first memory of a first party and a second memory of a second party. Once the connection is formed between the first party and the second party, the first party electronically sells the digital video or digital audio signal to the second party. Once the sale is complete, the desired digital video or digital audio signal is transferred from the first memory of the first party to the second memory of the second party. Assuming a user has downloaded a motion picture in the form of a digital video signal, the user can now freely view the motion picture on his or her home computer as many times as desired. However, for individuals that do not wish to purchase a motion picture, video-on-demand provides another option.
Tranz-Send Business Network is a further online provider of video-on-demand (VOD) motion pictures. Tranz-Send Business Network (TSBN) has created a complete end-to-end web based video-on-demand solution that delivers a full screen broadcast quality electronic content to the end user on demand. However, a user has relatively little control over VOD movies such as pause and rewind features. In addition, a fee is required each time the user desires to view the movie once the broadcast is complete.
Consequently, neither Sight Sound Inc. nor TSBN provides users with the capability for online rental of motion pictures for a fixed period, such that during the fixed period the user is allowed to replay the motion picture as many times as desired. Moreover, neither Sight Sound nor TSBN provide an interface that simulates the rental of motion pictures from racks of aisles within a video rental store.
Therefore, there remains a need to overcome the limitations on the above described existing art which is satisfied by the inventive structure and method described hereinafter.
The present invention overcomes the problems in the existing art described above by providing an online digital video signal transfer apparatus and method. Rental of the digital video signals occurs within an online environment including one or more client computers and at least one network server connected by a communications link to the one or more client computers. The method includes providing access to an online catalog stored within a memory of a network video server computer. The online catalog includes information regarding digital video signals available for rental from the network server computer. Requests are then received from client computers for rental of digital video signals selected from the online catalog for a specified period of time. The requests include electronic payment based on the selected digital video signal and the specified period of time. Once electronic payment is provided, the digital video signal is transmitted to the client computer via communications link. Once transmitted, the digital video signal is viewable by a user of the client computer during the specified period of time.
Advantages of the invention include the ability to rent motion pictures without having to provide additional monies for purchase of the motion pictures. In addition, the present invention provides an interface, which simulates the actual rental of motion pictures within a video rental store. Moreover, during the specified period of rental, the user is allowed to view the motion picture as many times as desired, thereby simulating the actual rental of feature length motion pictures.
The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which:
The present invention overcomes the problems in the existing art described above by providing an online digital video signal transfer apparatus and method, thereby enabling online rental of digitally encoded motion pictures. In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without some of these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form.
A movie transfer apparatus and method for providing data stored on a computer system to a user across a network connection are described in the following disclosure. The transfer can be accomplished in various ways, including, but not limited to, download, streaming, or a combination, across various types of connections, including, but not limited to, the Internet, private or public networks, direct wire or fiber connections, wireless connections, broadcast systems (e.g., cable systems, satellite systems, broadcast television system, broadcast digital television systems) or a combination of connections.
The present disclosure also describes many aspects of handling electronic files. For clarity, the description focuses on implementations for digital video signals which include digitally encoded movies (referred to as “movies”), rather than repeatedly enumerating variations. However, many or all of the methods and apparatus described can be readily adapted to apply to electronic files of other types as well, such as digitally encoded songs, books, television programming, radio programming, and any other content (audio, video, text, etc.) which can be digitized or encoded and stored as an electronic file.
Similarly, the description focuses on implementations for a network video server computer system accessible through the World Wide Web and the Internet as a website (referred to as the “MovieFly website”). However, many or all of the methods and apparatus described can be readily adapted to other data connections as well, including, but not limited to, other Internet connection interfaces (e.g., an FTP server), private networks (e.g., a network provided by an ISP for its subscribers), and direct connections (such as a directly wired set of stations in a limited area such as a hotel).
In addition, the description focuses on implementations where the user accesses and downloads electronic files using a computer system. However, many or all of the methods and apparatus described can be readily adapted to other devices which the user can use to access and download data from the server as well, such as a television with a connected cable modem and hard disk, or some other device with a network connection which can access the server and a storage device for storing a downloaded file. Additional variations can also be implemented such as interfaces for wireless, set-top-boxes (STBs), PDAs, AVHDD devices (such as a SONY “Tivo” device).
Any necessary adaptations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The movie transfer system can be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of both.
In addition, as will be described in greater detail below, the present invention includes features that seek to simulate the traditional rental of motion pictures from a video rental store. According to one embodiment, rental of the digital video signals occurs within an online environment including a plurality of client computers and at least one network server connected by a communications link to the plurality of client computers. The method includes providing access to an online catalog stored within a memory of a network video server computer. The online catalog includes information regarding digital video signals available for rental from the network server computer. Requests are then received from client computers for rental of digital video signals selected from the online catalog for a specified period of time. The requests include electronic payment based on the selected digital video signal and the specified period of time. Once electronic payment is provided, the digital video signal is transmitted to the client computer via communications link. Once transmitted, the digital video signal is viewable by a user of the client computer during the specified period of time.
In the preferred embodiment, the steps of the present invention are embodied in machine-executable instructions. The instructions can be used to cause a general-purpose or special-purpose processor that is programmed with the instructions to perform the steps of the present invention. Alternatively, the steps of the present invention might be performed by specific hardware components that contain hardwired logic for performing the steps, or by any combination of programmed computer components and custom hardware components.
The present invention may be provided as a computer program product which may include a machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which may be used to program a computer (or other electronic devices) to perform a process according to the present invention. The machine-readable medium may include, but is not limited to, floppy diskettes, optical disks, CD-ROMs, and magneto-optical disks, ROMs, RAMS, EPROMs, EEPROMs, magnet or optical cards, flash memory, or other type of media/machine-readable medium suitable for storing electronic instructions. Moreover, the present invention may also be downloaded as a computer program product, wherein the program may be transferred from a remote computer (e.g., a server) to a requesting computer (e.g., a client) by way of data signals embodied in a carrier wave or other propagation medium via a communication link (e.g., a modem or network connection).
System Architecture
A client computer 102 can be any type of computing device such as but not limited to desktop computers, workstations, laptops and/or mainframe computers. One or more users not shown can be associated with each client computer 102.
The memory 136 of the network video server computer 130 may be implemented as RAM (random access memory) or a combination of RAM and non-volatile memory such as magnetic disk storage. Memory 118 can contain the following:
As indicated above, the MovieFly home page 200 is the first page presented to a user upon entry into the MovieFly website. The home page 200 presents the trailer 202 from a movie selected by the MovieFly website. The trailer 202 begins playing (i.e., the video sequence begins) when the home page is accessed. The home page 200 also presents several movies to the user, such as by displaying an image and title for each movie, or by displaying an image of the front of a video cassette box for the movie. The home page 200 can also provide categories of information to the user, such as special or featured movies or a top 10 list of movies. The content of the movie home page 200 or other pages can be customized to the user. The user can enter into a commercial transaction to purchase a license for rental of the movie, such as by clicking on a video box or selecting a command.
The user can also access additional information about a movie through the video box, such as by mouse-clicking on the box or by selecting a command from a menu. The MovieFly website provides a distinction between selecting a movie for a commercial transaction and for accessing additional information, such as by right-click versus left-click or distinct menu commands. Upon accessing additional information for a movie, the movie website begins playing the trailer for or a clip from the movie. Examples of additional information available include images and audio from the movie, images and text from the video cassette box, reviews of the movie (e.g., by staff of the movie website, by third parties, by users of the movie website), or other links to websites related to the movie (e.g., a page in a movie index website, the official website for the movie sponsored by the owner of the movie, or the official website for the soundtrack of the movie).
A user can register with the Movie Fly website through the movie home page 200. Registration provides the user with enhanced access to the services of the MovieFly website, such as purchases. Additional services include the open order ticket and the MyList features. The open order ticket provides a user with a listing including one or more digital video signals the user has purchased for rental but has not yet unlocked for view. While the MyList feature provides the user with a listing including one or more digital video signals designated by the user as being of interest during a previous visit to the web site. Registration also provides a basis for customization of services to the user. Registration can provide to the movie website demographic and marketing information, as well as a basis for tracking user activity.
A categories page as described in further detail below, can be accessed from the movie home page. The categories page provides access to all the movies available on the server. The movies can be organized in various manners, such as by title, genre, license cost, or download time. The movies can be displayed in various ways as well, such as in text lists, image lists, video box lists, grids, or stacks. One manner of displaying movies is in a horizontal row of video boxes, which can be caused to slide to the left or right, simulating the action of a carousel. A user can interact with the movies presented on the browse page in the same way as those movies presented on the home page.
A search page can also be accessed from the movie home page 200. A user can search within the available movies of the MovieFly website according to various criteria, such as title, actor, director, producer, date, genre, license cost, or download time. The results of the search can be presented in various formats as well, similar to the movies presented on the browse page. Again, a user can interact with the movies presented on the search page in the same way as those movies presented on the home page.
The MovieFly website can also provide movie pages. A movie page is a web page serving as an access point to information about a movie. A movie page can include various information and functions, such as commercial transaction requests, or the additional information described above. A movie page can be accessed by selecting a movie and requesting the movie home page for the movie. The movie page presentation can provide a more consolidated and discrete presentation of information, rather than large amounts of information for multiple movies on a single page.
As described herein, a trailer refers to a clip (video segment) or collection of clips from a movie played when a user enters the MovieFly website or selects a movie in the MovieFly website. As described herein, virtual video boxes refers to a collection of images from a video cassette box forming an online graphical representation of virtual box of a video box. The image can be a direct image of the art and text on the physical box used for home video release, or can be a special online version. The carousel interface provides multiple virtual boxes or images presented in one or more rows which can be moved by the user. The boxes slide sideways with a continuously animated action and variable speed to simulate a rack or carousel being rotated before the user, including a continued rotation (or momentum) prior to coming to a complete stop. Alternatively, rotation of the multiple rows of boxes provides a user with a simulation of walking along racks of VHS video boxes along aisles within a video rental store.
Once electronic payment is received, download screen 280 is presented as depicted in
Operation
Referring now to
At step 422 the digital video signal is enabled for viewing for the specified period of time using the unlock encryption key, such that the unlock key stores the time at which it was unlocked and initiates the specified period of time for rental. In one embodiment, the unlock encryption key can be activated at any time after being downloaded from the server 130. In this case, the time period does not begin until the key is activated. In addition, the unlock key stores a machine identifier such, for example a machine ID of the client computer 102. During the specified period of time, the unlock key verifies that the machine ID of the computer matches the stored machine ID in response to any user attempt to replay the digital video signal. Finally, at step 424, the unlock encryption key is disabled once the specified period of time has expired. The specified period of time is preferably a 24-hour period. Consequently, following the 24-hour period, the user is required to obtain an additional unlock encryption key in order to view the digital video signal for a further 24-hour period as described above with respect to the unlock encryption key.
A content database 158 provides storage including electronic video data files such as movies digitally encoded using a conventional encoding scheme such as MPEG 1, MPEG 2 or MPEG 4 in accordance with the content preparation procedures 148. Movies can be provided by one or more movie owners such as movie studios. The files are stored in a secure format such that the digitally encoded motion pictures are encrypted using conventional techniques such as a public-private key system.
Several aspects of one implementation of the movie transfer system for providing a movie to a user for viewing have been described. However, various implementations of the movie transfer system provide numerous features including, complementing, supplementing, and/or replacing the features described above. Features can be implemented as part of the server or as part of the user's computer system in different implementations.
It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of various embodiment of the invention, this disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in detail, especially matters of structure and management of parts within the principles of the present invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. For example, the particular element may vary depending on the particular application for the novel mixed storage format while maintaining substantially the same functionality without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.
In addition, although the preferred embodiment described herein is directed to a video transfer system for enabling online rental of digitally encoded movies, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the teaching of the present invention can be applied to other systems. In fact, systems for online rental of digitally encoded songs, books, television programming, radio programming, and any other content (audio, video, text, etc.) which can be digitized or encoded and stored as an electronic file are within the teachings of the present invention, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.
The present invention provides many advantages over known techniques. The present invention includes the ability to rent motion pictures without having to provide additional monies for purchase of the motion pictures. In addition, the present invention provides an interface which simulates the actual rental of video cassettes or DVDs of motion pictures within a video rental store. Moreover, during the specified period of rental, the user is allowed to view the motion picture as many times as desired, thereby simulating the actual rental of video cassettes or DVDs of feature length motion pictures.
Having disclosed exemplary embodiments and the best mode, modifications and variations may be made to the disclosed embodiments while remaining within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.
This application claims priority to Provisional Application No. 60/195,870, filed Apr. 7, 2000, which is hereby incorporated by reference. The present invention also relates to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/603,805, filed Jun. 20, 2000 (for which a Petition to Convert Non-Provisional Application to Provisional Application Under 37 CFR 1.53(c)(2) was filed Mar. 16, 2001 via U.S. Express Mail Label No. EL752586903US, our file number 041892-0208, decision of petition and provisional serial number unknown at this time), is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60195870 | Apr 2000 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 09826323 | Apr 2001 | US |
| Child | 11158038 | Jun 2005 | US |
