U.S. patent application number 11/197734 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-15 for digital transactions for the delivery of media files.
This patent application is currently assigned to Radioscape Limited. Invention is credited to Ferris, Gavin Robert.
Application Number | 20050278380 11/197734 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 9895200 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050278380 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ferris, Gavin Robert |
December 15, 2005 |
Digital transactions for the delivery of media files
Abstract
An incomplete/partly corrupted media file is delivered `in the
clear`; in addition, a delta file is delivered to users meeting
access control criteria which, when combined with the
incomplete/partly corrupted parts allows a complete and uncorrupted
version of the media file to be re-constructed. The method allows,
in one implementation, a secure music purchase system to operate
over digital radio: for example, the start of a song when played
over the radio is usually deliberately talked over and the end cut
short to prevent listeners being able to record a complete copy.
With the present system, this practice can continue, but listeners
can also purchase the missing or corrupted sections to enable them
to possess a complete and uncorrupted version for playback.
Inventors: |
Ferris, Gavin Robert;
(London, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SYNNESTVEDT LECHNER & WOODBRIDGE LLP
P O BOX 592
PRINCETON
NJ
08542-0592
US
|
Assignee: |
Radioscape Limited
London
GB
|
Family ID: |
9895200 |
Appl. No.: |
11/197734 |
Filed: |
August 3, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11197734 |
Aug 3, 2005 |
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10332345 |
Jan 6, 2003 |
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10332345 |
Jan 6, 2003 |
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PCT/GB01/03069 |
Jul 9, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 ;
707/999.107 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04H 20/20 20130101;
H04H 20/28 20130101; H04H 60/07 20130101; H04H 60/23 20130101; H04H
60/27 20130101; H04H 20/82 20130101; H04H 2201/37 20130101; H04H
60/91 20130101; H04H 20/71 20130101; H04H 60/82 20130101; H04H
60/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
707/104.1 |
International
Class: |
G06F 007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 8, 2000 |
GB |
0016695.9 |
Claims
1. A method of delivering a digital media file comprising the
following steps: (a) dividing a master version of a digital media
file into a first series of time frames and a second series of
different time frames; (b) delivering the first series of time
frames to one or more users without any form of access control, the
first series capable of being used to form a version of the media
file which is incomplete and/or corrupted; (c) delivering the
second series of time frames to one or more users, the second
series capable of being re-combined with the first series to form a
re-assembled version of the media file which is complete and
uncorrupted, in which access to the second series is only granted
to users satisfying defined access control criteria.
2. The method of claim 1 in which the second series is
encrypted.
3. The method of claim 1 in which any time frames missing and/or
corrupted in the first series of time frames are present in an
uncorrupted form in the second series.
4. The method of claim 1 in which the second series is transmitted
together with the first series.
5. The method of claim 1 in which the second series is transmitted
separately from the first series in response to a user request.
6. The method of claim 5 in which the user request specifies any
first frames which are corrupted.
7. The method of claim 1 in which the media file is a music file
broadcast over digital radio.
8. The method of claim 1 in which the media file is a media file
streamed over the Internet.
9. The method of claim 1 in which the version of the media file
which is complete and uncorrupted is structured to be reproducible
only at a specific user receiving device to prevent serial
copying.
10. The method of claim 9 in which the second series of time frames
is node locked to render the version of the media file which is
complete and uncorrupted to be reproducible only at a specific user
receiving device.
11. A method of receiving a digital media file at a receiving
device, the media file being held at a remote source as a master
version divided into a first series of time frames and a second
series of different time frames; the method comprising the
following steps: (a) receiving at the receiving device the first
series of time frames, the first series capable of being used by
the receiving device to form a version of the media file which is
incomplete and/or corrupted; (b) receiving at the receiving device
the second series of time frames, the second series capable of
being re-combined by the receiving device with the first series to
form a version of the media file which is complete and uncorrupted,
in which access to the second series is only possible if the
receiving device satisfies defined access control criteria.
12. The method of claim 11 in which the second series is
transmitted separately from the first series in response to a
request from the receiving device.
13. The method of claim 12 in which the receiving device specifies
any first frames which are corrupted.
14. The method of claim 11 in which the media file is a music file
broadcast over digital radio.
15. The method of claim 11 in which the media file is a media file
streamed over the Internet.
16. The method of claim 11 in which the version of the media file
which is complete and uncorrupted is structured to be reproducible
only at a specific user receiving device to prevent serial
copying.
17. The method of claim 16 in which the second series of time
frames is node locked to render the version of the media file which
is complete and uncorrupted to be reproducible only at a specific
user receiving device.
18. An apparatus for processing a digital media file, the apparatus
programmed to: (a) divide a master version of a digital media file
into a first series of time frames and a second series of different
time frames; (b) send the first series of time frames, the first
series capable of being used at a receiving device without any form
of access control to form a version of the media file which is
incomplete and/or corrupted; (c) send the second series of time
frames, the second series capable of being re-combined at the
receiving device with the first series to form a version of the
media file which is complete and uncorrupted, in which access to
the second series is only granted to users satisfying defined
access control criteria.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 in which the first and second series
of time frames are sent to another apparatus located at the same
site as the apparatus.
20. The apparatus of claim 18 in which the first and second series
of time frames are sent to another apparatus located remotely from
the site of the apparatus.
21. Apparatus for receiving a digital media file, the media file
being held at a remote source as a master version divided into a
first series of time frames and a second series of different time
frames; the apparatus programmed to: (a) receive the first series
of time frames, the first series capable of being used by the
receiving device to form a version of the media file which is
incomplete and/or corrupted; (b) receive the second series of time
frames, the second series capable of being re-combined by the
receiving device with the first series to form a version of the
media file which is complete and uncorrupted, in which access to
the second series is only possible if the receiving device
satisfies defined access control criteria.
22. The apparatus of claim 21 in which the second series is
transmitted separately from the first series in response to a
request from the apparatus.
23. The apparatus of claim 22 in which the apparatus specifies any
first frames which are corrupted.
24. The apparatus of claim 21 in which the version of the media
file which is complete and uncorrupted is structured to be
reproducible only at a specific user receiving device to prevent
serial copying.
25. The apparatus of claim 24 in which the second series of time
frames is node locked to render the version of the media file which
is complete and uncorrupted to be reproducible only at a specific
user receiving device.
26. A media file structured into a first series of time frames and
a second series of different time frames; the first series capable
of being used by a receiving device to form a version of the media
file which is incomplete and/or corrupted; the second series of
time frames capable of being re-combined by the receiving device
with the first series to form a version of the media file which is
complete and uncorrupted, in which access to the second series is
only possible if the receiving device satisfies defined access
control criteria.
27. The media file of claim 26 in which the version of the media
file which is complete and uncorrupted is structured to be
reproducible only at a specific user receiving device to prevent
serial copying.
28. The media file of claim 27 in which the second series of time
frames is node locked to render the version of the media file which
is complete and uncorrupted to be reproducible only at a specific
user receiving device.
29. A method of selling media files, in which the method comprises
a method of delivering in accordance with claim 1, the delivery of
the second series of time frames being paid for by a user.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to the field of digital transactions,
particularly to transactions in which copies of digital media files
are acquired. The media files are typically music files (but can be
any other type of media file) and the delivery mechanism may be,
but is not limited to, a digital radio transmission such as DAB
(Eureka-147) or the Internet.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0002] Conventional analogue radio systems (such as FM or AM) can
cause significant channel noise to be introduced into the
transmitted audio signal payload; the payload is in any event
generally rendered into the analogue domain before being allowed to
modulate the carrier. As a result, analogue systems are
inappropriate vehicles for selling music directly, since any
recording will be significantly compromised with respect to the (in
these days, usually digital) original which can be purchased
through conventional music stores (e.g., as a CD) or through the
Internet (e.g., as an MP3 file).
[0003] However, with the introduction of digital radio systems
(e.g., the Eureka-147 standard adopted throughout the UK, Europe
and elsewhere) the possibility of the direct sale of digital music
`over the air` appears, at first, to become a significant
possibility. This is because:
[0004] Digital sources are used. The source music is encoded using
a digital compression system (e.g., Musicam (a slight variant of
MPEG1-layer-2 and MPEG2-layer-2 audio) for Eureka-147 DAB).
Therefore, there is little, if any, perceptible difference between
the material put to air and that which can be purchased by the user
though the normal commercial channels, as described above.
[0005] The received signal will be, for most users, an exact copy
of that which was transmitted. Modern digital radio systems all
contain some form of forward error correction (FEC). This involves
the addition of structured redundancy to the transmitted signal so
that the receiver can accurately infer the intended payload
message, even in the face of significant corruption by the channel.
Coupled with checksum tests on the audio, and channel error
temporal and frequency decoherence mechanisms, this means that
digital radios tend to have so-called `cliff-effect`
reception--either the received audio is exactly that which,
bit-for-bit, left the studio, or no signal at all is received. This
must be contrasted with analogue radio, in which most channel
corruptions become directly perceptible within the delivered audio
signal.
[0006] Potential lack of source compression. Analogue radio systems
often artificially compress the source material spectrum in order
to make their signal appear `louder` (useful e.g., for in car
listening where the ambient noise level is high and quiet passages
can be lost). Digital radio systems can (although they need not)
avoid this problem, through the use of mechanisms such as the
Eureka-147 dynamic range control, in which compression is performed
at the receiver end.
[0007] These three points, taken together, mean that the digital
radio user receives, essentially, a digital `clone` of the original
message. This is (minus packaging) what the user would be able to
purchase through the normal channels discussed above, hence the
possibility of commercial sale of the material `downloaded` over
the air. The commercial sale of material `downloaded` over the
Internet already occurs of course.
[0008] However, using radio as the vehicle for the commercial sale
of music turns out not to be practicable using existing known
mechanisms, in the general case, for the following reasons:
[0009] Radio stations tend not to transmit all of a particular
music item--for example they will often `cut` the start and ends of
popular music tracks to make them fit a particular play slot. (This
is also a problem with `classic request` channels which may play
only one movement from a classical piece, or worse, a selection
from a single movement).
[0010] The radio station will often impose corruptions onto the
transmitted item--for example, `fades` at the start and end of a
track, the disk jockey talking over certain parts of a track,
special effects, adverts or jingles overlaid on the track, etc.
[0011] Even if the above two factors were not a concern, then
piracy would prove problematical for the music vendor. This is
because, in order for the radio to play the track, the music will
have to be transmitted, to all intents and purposes, `in the
clear`. However, for security, the track would need to be
encrypted, only to be unlocked by an authorised purchasing key.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0012] In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a method of delivering a digital media file
comprising the following steps:
[0013] (a) dividing a master version of a digital media file into a
first series of time frames and a second series of time frames;
[0014] (b) delivering the first series of time frames to one or
more users without any form of access control, the first series
capable of being used to form a version of the media file which is
incomplete and/or corrupted;
[0015] (c) delivering the second series of time frames to one or
more users, the second series capable of being used in conjunction
with the first series to form a version of the media file which is
complete and uncorrupted, in which access to the second series is
only granted to users satisfying defined access control
criteria.
[0016] Hence, the method envisages delivering an incomplete/partly
corrupted media file `in the clear`; in addition, a delta file is
delivered to users meeting access control criteria which, when
combined with the incomplete/partly corrupted parts allows a
complete and uncorrupted version of the media file to be
re-constructed. The method allows, in one implementation, a secure
music purchase system to operate over digital radio: for example,
the start of a song when played over the radio is usually
deliberately talked over and the end cut short to prevent listeners
being able to record a complete copy. With the present system, this
practice can continue, but listeners can also purchase the missing
or corrupted sections to enable them to possess a complete and
uncorrupted version for playback. Hence, spontaneous purchasing of
complete, played over the air tracks is possible, which is not only
very convenient for listeners but highly attractive for content
owners and radio stations.
[0017] In a second aspect, there is a method of receiving a digital
media file at a receiving device, the media file being held at a
remote source as a master version divided into a first series of
time frames and a second series of time frames; the method
comprising the following steps:
[0018] (a) receiving at the receiving device the first series of
time frames, the first series capable of being used by the
receiving device to form a version of the media file which is
incomplete and/or corrupted;
[0019] (b) receiving at the receiving device the second series of
time frames, the second series capable of being used by the
receiving device in conjunction with the first series to form a
version of the media file which is complete and uncorrupted, in
which access to the second series is only possible if the receiving
device satisfies defined access control criteria.
[0020] In a third aspect, there is an apparatus for processing a
digital media file, the apparatus programmed to:
[0021] (a) divide a master version of a digital media file into a
first series of time frames and a second series of time frames;
[0022] (b) send the first series of time frames, the first series
capable of being used at a receiving device without any form of
access control to form a version of the media file which is
incomplete and/or corrupted;
[0023] (c) send the second series of time frames, the second series
capable of being used at the receiving device in conjunction with
the first series to form a version of the media file which is
complete and uncorrupted, in which access to the second series is
only granted to users satisfying defined access control
criteria.
[0024] In a forth aspect, there is an apparatus for receiving a
digital media file, the media file being held at a remote source as
a master version divided into a first series of time frames and a
second series of time frames; the apparatus programmed to:
[0025] (a) receive the first series of time frames, the first
series capable of being used by the receiving device to form a
version of the media file which is incomplete and/or corrupted;
[0026] (b) receive the second series of time frames, the second
series capable of being used by the receiving device in conjunction
with the first series to form a version of the media file which is
complete and uncorrupted, in which access to the second series is
only possible if the receiving device satisfies defined access
control criteria.
[0027] In a fifth aspect, there is a media file structured into a
first series of time frames and a second series of time frames; the
first series capable of being used by a receiving device to form a
version of the media file which is incomplete and/or corrupted; the
second series of time frames capable of being used by the receiving
device in conjunction with the first series to form a version of
the media file which is complete and uncorrupted, in which access
to the second series is only possible if the receiving device
satisfies defined access control criteria.
[0028] In a sixth aspect, there is provided a method of selling
media files, in which the method comprises a method of delivering
in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, the delivery
of the second series of time frames being paid for by a user.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] The invention will be described with reference to the
accompanying drawing which is a schematic overview of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] The radio implementation operates by identifying the fact
that the majority of modern audio encoding systems break
information up into frames in the time domain, (which may or may
not be of the same length in time as each other but which, without
loss of generality, we shall assume in this discussion are of the
same length).
[0031] Therefore, given a piece of merchantable audio material A,
the digital audio playout system at the studio can generate a
frame-wise compressed version A.sub.0,A.sub.1,A.sub.2 . . .
A.sub.n-1. Of these n frames, only m<=n will be transmitted, and
of these m, only p<=m will be uncorrupted. Assume that the
studio audio playout system maintains a log of which frames are
transmitted uncorrupted to air, and which are either not sent at
all, or are sent with some corruption. Corruption can also arise
through reception errors, which will vary from user to user.
[0032] Then the possibility exists, to generate a second stream,
generally much smaller than the first, consisting of only those n-p
un-transmitted or uncorrupted frames (in their original, pristine
format), which may be encrypted and sent to air as an additional
service. (This is a straightforward task with a system such as
Eureka-147 DAB in which the multiplex can be rapidly reconfigured
to hold new data or audio services, in stream or packet mode,
provided that an overall payload limit is not exceeded, and can
even allow data services to be embedded within extra space
allocated within the audio frames themselves).
[0033] With such a system, the receiver would be able to play the
received music, which, in the normal case, would consist of the m
transmitted frames, m-p of which would be corrupt, and n-m of which
would be missing. The user could record this should they so desire,
but it would (in the general case where p<m<n) be much less
desirable than the genuine, uncut, unblemished original that could
be purchased though the conventional channels discussed
earlier.
[0034] However, in a receiver equipped with the appropriate decoder
module, the user could record the message transmitted `in the
clear`, together with the `delta` stream. This `delta` stream would
have been decoded from the appropriate second service discussed
above. If desired, the system could be configured only to be able
to decode the delta stream with the assistance of a purchase
authentication device, such as a `smart card`, decryption key or
Internet authorization.
[0035] The receiver would then be able automatically to reassemble
the original payload, by appending (from the delta stream) any
un-transmitted frames into the received `clear` message, and
overwriting any corrupted frames in the `clear` message with their
pristine versions (from the delta stream). FIG. 1 is a schematic
representation of this system. Generally, the corrupted frames
might be deliberately corrupted by the studio; then the audio
playout log maintains a record of these deliberately corrupted
frames so that they can be readily incorporated into the delta
stream. In addition, where corruption arises through reception
errors (and therefore differs from receiver to receiver), an
individual `personalised` delta file, specific to each receiver,
can be defined and requested by a receiver where a back channel is
available.
[0036] The resulting stream could be node-locked if desired to
prevent the purchased music from being portable (and indeed this
facility could be applied simply by ensuring that the delta frames
were node-locked), although generating a fully clear final message
would also be an option. Hence, serial copy inhibition can be
provided for by making the delta frames readable only by a specific
device, using a unique ID of that device.
[0037] The system could also be incorporated within a `circular
buffer recording` unit such that the last q seconds of audio
received (together with any appropriate delta files, still in
encrypted form) would be held in store, such that a user would be
able to initiate a recording of an item at some time after it had
commenced playing (perhaps even after it had finished).
[0038] This system would yield significant benefits for
broadcasters, end users and music vendors alike, allowing the
traditional benefits of radio (e.g., first play of new `hit` songs
which are of interest to users and help stimulate the market for
music vendors) to be turned into a subsequent sale, without either
the vendors running a significant risk of music piracy or the users
having to suffer a long secondary download of music that (for the
most part) they have already received. The system enables music
lovers for the first time to spontaneously purchase a music track,
album etc, on hearing that piece of music played on the radio.
[0039] Note that this system could also be deployed in a form where
the delta file was downloaded directly via a two-way communications
system (e.g., over a cellular channel, or via the Internet). This
system would require that the user made a (generally short)
connection to download the delta file, but would have the following
additional advantages:
[0040] The music vendor could identify and directly authenticate
the user in question, therefore being better able to combat fraud
and offer personalised marketing incentives such as special offers
for regular customers, etc.
[0041] The user could benefit because their receiver might also
request additional `personalised` delta frames which have been
corrupted due to channel effects (these frames can be detected
through checksum failures if this is supported in the digital radio
system in question).
[0042] The system would also be appropriate for use with Internet
streaming in place of digital radio. The system would be
appropriate for any media stream, including video, not limited to
audio, although its primary intended target would be digital
radio.
* * * * *