Systems and methods for retrofitting electronic appliances to accept different content formats

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for using an arbitrary fixed channel to carry third-party information. In one embodiment, the present invention provides systems and methods for enabling existing content rendering devices to accept content encoded in a proprietary format, such as an encoding format used by a digital rights management system. The encoded content is rendered by the device in the normal manner, and decoded by a retrofitting appliance connected to the device's output. The retrofitting appliance may apply decoded rules and controls to the decoded content, thereby managing use of the content.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a system for practicing embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1A illustrates how a conventional system can be adapted to handle content encoded in a proprietary encoding format.

FIG. 2 illustrates the use of an embodiment of the present invention in connection with Red Book CD audio content.

FIG. 3 is a more detailed illustration of the operation of a RetroBox encoder in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows an implementation of a RetroBox appliance in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates the operation of a RetroBox decoder in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 provides a more detailed illustration of an implementation of a Retrobox appliance in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1-30. (canceled)

31. A method of packaging electronic content and control information for use by a system including a retrofitting appliance, the method comprising the steps of: encrypting the electronic content and the control information;transforming the encrypted electronic content and control information into a format that can be rendered by an electronic appliance;storing the transformed, encrypted electronic content and control information on a computer readable storage medium for provision to an electronic appliance operable to render the transformed, encrypted electronic content and control information and output the encrypted electronic content and control information to an input of a retrofitting appliance, the retrofitting appliance being operable to decrypt the encrypted electronic content and control information, to make a determination based on the control information as to whether to permit use of the electronic content, and to selectively transmit the electronic content to an output device based on the results of the determination.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of: compressing the electronic content and the control information.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of: applying error-correction coding to the encrypted electronic content and control information.

34. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform steps comprising: packaging electronic content and the control information;transforming the packaged electronic content and control information into a format that can be rendered by an electronic appliance; andstoring the transformed, packaged electronic content and control information on a computer readable storage medium for provision to an electronic appliance operable to render the transformed, packaged electronic content and control information and output the packaged electronic content and control information to an input of a retrofitting appliance, the retrofitting appliance being operable to unpackage the packaged electronic content and control information, to make a determination based on the control information as to whether to permit use of the electronic content, and to selectively transmit the electronic content to an output device based on the results of the determination.

35. The computer readable storage medium of claim 34, further comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform steps comprising: encrypting the packaged electronic content and control information.

36. The computer readable storage medium of claim 34, further comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the step of: compressing the packaged electronic content and control information.

37. The computer readable storage medium of claim 36, further comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the step of: applying error correction coding to the compressed, packaged electronic content and control information.

38. An apparatus comprising: a storage device including stored instructions; anda processor for executing the stored instructions, the stored instructions including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform steps comprising: packaging electronic content and the control information,transforming the packaged electronic content and control information into a format that can be rendered by an electronic appliance, andstoring the transformed, packaged electronic content and control information on a computer readable storage medium for provision to an electronic appliance operable to render the transformed, packaged electronic content and control information and output the packaged electronic content and control information to an input of a retrofitting appliance, the retrofitting appliance being operable to unpackage the packaged electronic content and control information, to make a determination based on the control information as to whether to permit use of the electronic content, and to selectively transmit the electronic content to an output device based on the results of the determination.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, in which the stored instructions further include instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform the steps of: encrypting the packaged electronic content and the control information.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, in which the stored instructions further include instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform the step of: compressing the encrypted, packaged electronic content and control information.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, in which the stored instructions further include instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform the step of: applying error correction coding to the compressed, encrypted, packaged electronic content and control information.

42. A method comprising: providing encoded electronic content and encoded control information to an electronic appliance operable to render the encoded electronic content and encoded control information and output the encoded electronic content and encoded control information to an input of a retrofitting appliance, the retrofitting appliance being operable to decode the encoded electronic content and encoded control information, to determine whether to permit the use of the decoded electronic content based on the decoded control information, and to transmit the decoded electronic content to an output device based on the determination.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising packaging the encoded electronic content and encoded control information into a data signal.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising: encrypting the electronic content and the control information;encoding the encrypted electronic content and control information in a rendering format supported by the electronic appliance.

45. The method of claim 43, further comprising compressing the electronic content and control information.

46. The method of claim 43, further comprising applying error correction coding to the data signal.