U.S. patent application number 12/963758 was filed with the patent office on 2011-03-31 for digital rights management for multiple devices and methods for use therewith.
This patent application is currently assigned to Morega Systems Inc.. Invention is credited to Philip Poulidis, Feng Chi Wang.
Application Number | 20110078721 12/963758 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40137896 |
Filed Date | 2011-03-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110078721 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wang; Feng Chi ; et
al. |
March 31, 2011 |
DIGITAL RIGHTS MANAGEMENT FOR MULTIPLE DEVICES AND METHODS FOR USE
THEREWITH
Abstract
Media content is received for a plurality of devices based on a
user selection. The media content includes digital rights for the
plurality of devices. The media content is transferred to at least
one of the plurality of devices in accordance with the digital
rights.
Inventors: |
Wang; Feng Chi; (Austin,
TX) ; Poulidis; Philip; (Oakville, CA) |
Assignee: |
Morega Systems Inc.
Mississauga
CA
|
Family ID: |
40137896 |
Appl. No.: |
12/963758 |
Filed: |
December 9, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11821557 |
Jun 22, 2007 |
7886318 |
|
|
12963758 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
725/25 ; 715/716;
725/32 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/835 20130101;
H04N 21/2541 20130101; H04N 21/43615 20130101; H04N 21/2543
20130101; H04N 21/8355 20130101; H04N 21/4126 20130101; H04N
21/4122 20130101; H04N 7/162 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
725/25 ; 725/32;
715/716 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/01 20060101
G06F003/01; H04N 7/10 20060101 H04N007/10; H04N 7/16 20110101
H04N007/16 |
Claims
1. A method for use in a first device that includes a user
interface, an external device interface and a network interface,
the method comprising: receiving user selection of media content
via the user interface; receiving user selection of at least one
external device via the user interface, wherein the at least one
external device is capable of storing and playing the media content
independently from the first device; sending a request for the
media content via the network interface to a media network for a
plurality of selected devices including the first device and the at
least one external device, the request identifying the plurality of
selected devices; receiving the media content via the network
interface for the plurality of devices, the media content including
digital rights for the plurality of devices; and transferring the
media content to at least one of the plurality of devices via the
external device interface.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving the media
content is implemented as an application running on an open cable
application platform.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of devices include
at least two of: a set-top box, a television, a desktop computer, a
portable computer, a personal digital assistant, a personal
audio/video player, and a wireless telephone.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the media content is formatted in
a first digital video format and the step of transferring the media
content includes transcoding the media content into a second
digital video format for use by the at least one of the plurality
of selected devices.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the transcoding includes
generating the second digital video file in accordance with the
digital rights for the at least one of the plurality of selected
devices.
6. The method of claim 4 wherein the transcoding includes inserting
an ad in the second digital video file.
7. The method of claim 4 wherein the transcoding is performed in a
network server.
8. The method of claim 4 wherein the transcoding is performed
automatically based on past behavior of a subscriber.
9. The method of claim 4 wherein the transcoding is performed in
response to a subscriber request for the media content.
10. The method of claim 1 further comprising: prompting a user with
a plurality of options to download media content for the plurality
of devices; and receiving a selection from the user that
corresponds to at least one of the plurality of options.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the plurality of options
includes a cost for downloading the media content that is based on
a total number of the plurality of devices.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein the plurality of options lists
particular devices that correspond to a user retrieved from a file
stored in a memory of the first device, the file containing
information regarding the particular devices.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein the user selection is retrieved
from a file containing information regarding the plurality of
devices.
14. The method of claim 1 wherein the request identifies the
plurality of selected devices by device type.
15. The method of claim 1 wherein the request includes a plurality
of device identifiers that identify the plurality of selected
devices.
16. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital rights includes a
corresponding plurality of device specific digital rights for each
of the plurality of devices, each of the corresponding plurality of
device specific digital rights allowing playback of the media
content by one of the plurality of selected devices corresponding
thereto and prohibiting playback of the media content by other
devices.
17. A method for use with a media service in communication with a
plurality of devices each capable of independently storing and
playing media content, the method comprising: receiving, from a
first device of the plurality of devices, a user request for media
content; receiving, from the first device of the plurality of
devices, a user selection that identifies the plurality of devices,
wherein the plurality of devices further includes a second device;
transmitting, in response to the user request for the media content
and the user selection that identifies the plurality of devices,
the media content in a first format to the first device, the media
content including digital rights for the first device; and
transmitting, in response to the user request for the media content
and the user selection that identifies the plurality of devices,
the media content in a second format to the second device, the
media content including digital rights for the second device.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein the user selection identifies
the plurality of selected devices by device type.
19. The method of claim 17 wherein the user selection includes a
plurality of device identifiers that identify the plurality of
selected devices.
20. A method for use in a first device that includes a user
interface, an external device interface and a network interface,
the method comprising: receiving a user selection of media content
via the user interface; receiving a user selection of a plurality
of devices including the first device and at least one external
device via the user interface, wherein the at least one external
device is capable of storing and playing the media content
independently from the first device; sending identification data to
the media network via the network interface, wherein the
identification data includes a plurality of device identifiers that
identify the plurality of selected devices; sending a request for
the media content via the network interface to a media network for
a plurality of selected devices including the first device and the
at least one external device; receiving the media content via the
network interface for the plurality of devices, the media content
including digital rights for the plurality of devices; and
transferring the media content to at least one of the plurality of
devices via the external device interface.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 120
as a continuation of the copending application entitled, "SET TOP
BOX WITH DIGITAL RIGHTS MANAGEMENT FOR MULTIPLE DEVICES AND METHODS
FOR USE THEREWITH", having Ser. No. 11/821,557, filed on Jun. 22,
2007 and having attorney docket no. MOR001; the contents of which
are incorporated herein by reference thereto.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to transfer of media content
and related methods used in devices such as set-top boxes and other
home media gateways.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
[0003] The number of households having multiple television sets is
increasing, and many users want the latest and greatest video
viewing services. As such, many households have multiple satellite
receivers, cable set-top boxes, modems, et cetera. For in-home
Internet access, each computer or Internet device can have its own
Internet connection. As such, each computer or Internet device
includes a modem.
[0004] As an alternative, an in-home wireless local area network
may be used to provide Internet access and to communicate
multimedia information to multiple devices within the home. In such
an in-home local area network, each computer or Internet device
includes a network card to access an IP gateway. The gateway
provides the coupling to the Internet. The in-home wireless local
area network can also be used to facilitate an in-home computer
network that couples a plurality of computers with one or more
printers, facsimile machines, as well as to multimedia content from
a digital video recorder, set-top box, broadband video system,
etc.
[0005] Certain media content, such as movies, songs, and music
albums can be protected by digital rights management techniques
that are meant to restrict unlicensed copying of copyrighted
materials. For instance, music compact disks (CDs), video cassettes
and digital video disks (DVDs) are recorded with copy protection
signals that are meant to prevent the media content contained on
these media from being copied.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 presents a block diagram representation of a media
distribution system that includes a home gateway device 55 in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0007] FIG. 2 presents a block diagram representation of a cable
system that includes a set-top box 10 in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 3 presents a block diagram representation of a further
media distribution system that includes a home gateway device 55 in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 4 presents a block diagram representation of a set-top
box 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0010] FIG. 5 presents a pictorial representation of a screen
display 230 in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0011] FIG. 6 presents a pictorial representation of a screen
display 240 in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0012] FIG. 7 presents a pictorial representation of a screen
display 250 in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0013] FIG. 8 presents a pictorial representation of a screen
display 260 in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0014] FIG. 9 presents a pictorial representation of a screen
display 270 in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 10 presents a flowchart representation of a method in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 11 presents a flowchart representation of a method in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 12 presents a flowchart representation of a method in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION INCLUDING THE PRESENTLY
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] FIG. 1 presents a block diagram representation of a media
distribution system that includes a home gateway device 55 in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In
particular, home gateway device 55, can be a multimedia server,
set-top box, personal computer, wireless local area network (WLAN)
access point, television receiver that may be integrated into a
television, cable television receiver, satellite broadcast
receiver, broadband modem, 3G transceiver or other media gateway or
transceiver that is capable of receiving a media content from media
content provider network 50. The media content 52 can be in the
form of one or more video signals, audio signals, software,
ringtones, text, games, multimedia signals or other media signals
that are either realtime signals in analog or digital format or
data files that contain media content 52 in a digital format. For
instance, media content 52 can be included in a broadcast video
signal, such as a television signal, high definition televisions
signal, enhanced high definition television signal or other
broadcast video signal that has been transmitted over a wireless
medium, either directly or through one or more satellites or other
relay stations or through a cable network, optical network, IP
television network, or other transmission network. Further, media
content 52 can be included in a digital audio or video file,
transferred from a storage medium such as a server memory, magnetic
tape, magnetic disk or optical disk, or can be included in a
streaming audio or video signal that is transmitted over a public
or private network such as a wireless or wired data network, local
area network, wide area network, metropolitan area network or the
Internet.
[0019] Home media gateway device 55 is coupled to optionally play
audio and video portions of the media content 52 on display device
62. Display device 62 can include a television, monitor, computer,
handheld device or other video display device that creates an
optical image stream either directly or indirectly, such as by
optical transmission or projection, and/or that produces an audio
output from media content 52. In addition, home gateway device 55
is coupleable to additional external devices such as portable
computer 54, wireless telephony device 56, personal digital
assistant 58 and personal audio/video player 60 to download or
stream media content 52 to these devices in accordance with the
present invention.
[0020] In an embodiment of the present invention, home gateway
device 55 includes a wired link for coupling to external device 54,
56, 58, 60, etc. to transfer one or more digital audio or video
files for playback of the media content 52. The coupling can
include a serial or parallel connection such as a, Ethernet
connection, Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection, an Institute of
Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394 (Firewire)
connection, small computer serial interface (SCSI) connection or
other wired connection that operates in accordance with either a
standard or custom interface protocol. In this fashion, external
devices such as desktop or portable computer 54, wireless telephony
device 56, personal digital assistant 58, personal audio/video
player 60 or other external devices can be coupled to the home
gateway device 55 to receive compressed digital audio and/or video
files from the home gateway device 55 through a synchronization or
"sync" operation, or by command from one or the other of the two
devices.
[0021] In another embodiment of the present invention, the home
gateway device 55 includes a wireless link for coupling to one or
more of the external devices 54, 56, 58, 60, etc. that operates in
accordance with a wireless network protocol such as 802.11a,b,g,n
(referred to generically as 802.11x), Bluetooth, Ultra Wideband
(UWB) or other wireless connection that operates in accordance with
either a standard or custom interface protocol in order to transfer
media content 52 to one or more of these external devices.
[0022] In a further embodiment, the home gateway device 55 includes
a removable memory, such as a removable drive, disk or memory card.
In this fashion, the removable memory can be written with a
compressed digital audio or video file that contains the media
content 52 when inserted in the home gateway device 55 and read
when inserted in one or more external devices for playback of the
associated content.
[0023] In addition, one or more of the external devices 54, 56, 58,
60, etc, can be coupled to the home gateway device through a local
area network connection or through one or more other networks
including wired or wireless data networks, and/or the Internet. For
example, portable computer 54 can obtain media content 52 from home
gateway device 55 when traveling by connecting to the Internet,
accessing the home gateway device 55 via the Internet and/or media
content provider network 50 and either copying the media content 52
to the hard drive of portable computer 54 or by receiving a media
content 52 as a streaming signal from the home gateway device 55.
In a further example, wireless telephony device 56 can receive can
obtain media content 52 from home gateway device 55 via the
Internet, by accessing the home gateway device 55 remotely and
either downloading the media content 52 to the memory of device or
by receiving a media content 52 as a streaming signal from the home
gateway device 55.
[0024] In operation, the home gateway device 55 receives media
content 52 (optionally for itself for playing via display device
62) and one or more of the external devices 52, 54, 56, 58 and/or
60 selected by a user including digital rights corresponding to the
associated playback devices that were selected. In this fashion, a
user that receives a pay per view movie, downloads a music CD or
song or that downloads a video can obtain sufficient digital rights
from the media content provider network 50 to allow the media
content 52 to be played by the display device 62 and by each of the
external devices that have been selected. The home gateway device
55 can then transfer the media content 52 to each of the selected
devices in accordance with the digital rights that have been
obtained.
[0025] It should be noted that the digital rights for the home
gateway device 55 and/or the associated external devices of the
subscriber can be obtained as a group or requested individually, as
addition external devices request transfer of the media content 52.
These requests can come from or through the home gateway 55, or
directly from an external device associated with the home gateway
55, provided that via registration, password or other
authentication, media content provider network can validate a
particular external device's association with home gateway device
55 and/or the subscriber for purposes of billing. To the extent
that additional fees are charged for obtaining digital rights for
these additional external devices, media content provider network
50 can keep track of the which digital rights have already been
obtained for a particular instance of media content 52 and only
charge incremental fees for obtaining the additional rights
requested. For instance, if the home gateway device 55 has obtained
the rights to store and playback a copy of the movie "Casablanca"
for $7.99. If the same movie is requested by portable computer 54,
either directly from the portable computer 54 to the media content
provider network 50 through an internet connection or by or through
the home media gateway 55, the cost of these incremental rights can
be reduced and reflect a package discount for all the rights
obtained for the home media gateway 55 and the external devices
associated therewith.
[0026] It should also be noted that digital rights can be obtained
provisionally for one or more of the external devices, with the
subscriber being billed to obtain these rights only when they are
used. For instance, the home gateway device 55 can obtain the
rights to store and playback a copy of the movie "Casablanca" for
$7.99 and the rights to transfer this movie each of the external
devices associated with the home gateway 55. Provided however, each
transfer of the movie to an external device incurs an additional
billing, such as $0.99 to the account of the subscriber.
[0027] While the above description discusses additional billing for
obtaining digital rights for additional devices, in alternative
embodiments, these additional rights can be obtained at no
additional cost, for instance, with the cost bundled into the cost
of obtaining rights for one subscriber device or as part of a
promotion. In addition, ad insertion can be used, for instance, as
a basis for the media content provider to offset the potential
costs of addition rights. For example, the media content provider
may elect to not bill the user for transferring content to
additional devices, but instead, based on a combination of the
subscribers profile, multimedia context and target device
information (such as geographical location, device model, etc.),
may insert an ad into the media content or otherwise cause an ad to
be inserted in the media content.
[0028] Further details regarding the present invention including
alternative embodiments, optional implementations, functions and
features are presented in conjunction with FIGS. 2-12 that
follow.
[0029] FIG. 2 presents a block diagram representation of a cable
system that includes a set-top box 10 in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, set-top
box 10 receives media content 52 from the cable network 51 for
playback by the display device 62 and one or more of the external
device 54, 56, 58 and/or 60, as selected by a user. The media
content 52 is obtained along with digital rights for the set-top
box and the at least one external device, wherein the digital
rights allow playback by the set top box and the at least one
external device and prohibits playback by other devices.
[0030] The set top box 10 includes one or more of the functions and
features associated with home gateway 55 including the various
optional couplings to the external devices 54, 56, 58 and/or 60.
Via one of these couplings, the set-top box 10 can then transfer
the media content 52 to at least one external device in accordance
with the digital rights.
[0031] Set-top box 10 can receive user commands and other user
initiated signaling via remote control device 216 that communicates
with the set top box via infrared or other wireless signaling. In
an embodiment of the present invention, set-top box includes a
graphical user interface that operates in conjunction with display
device 62 and remote control device 216 to provide set-up, select
media content 52, to receive other user commands and selections in
conjunction with the standard set top box functionality and to
provide the selections, commands and other data inputs that are
specific to the one or more features of the present invention.
Examples of such features are presented in conjunction with FIGS.
5-9 that follow.
[0032] In general, a video signal transferred from the cable
network 51 to the set-top box 10 can include an analog video signal
that is formatted in any of a number of video formats including
National Television Systems Committee (NTSC), Phase Alternating
Line (PAL) or Sequentiel Couleur Avec Memoire (SECAM). Further,
such signals can be in a digital format such as a Motion Picture
Experts Group (MPEG) format (such as MPEG1, MPEG2 or MPEG4),
Quicktime format, Real Media format, Windows Media Video (WMV) or
Audio Video Interleave (AVI), or another digital video format,
either standard or proprietary. In an embodiment of the present
invention, the connection between cable network 51 and set-top box
10 includes a Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification
(DOCSIS) link that allows data, including media content 52 to be
received by set-top box 10.
[0033] In an embodiment of the present application, a user of
set-top box 10 can select particular media content 52 and the
particular devices that the user wishes to view the media content
so that digital rights can be obtained commensurate with the
intended viewing. For example, if a user wishes to watch a
pay-per-view special, the user may choose to obtain digital rights
to play the special live on the display device 62, but also to
obtain digital rights to transfer and/or store the special to
another device such as personal audio/video player 60, to be
watched at a different time. Further, a user that wishes to watch a
video-on-demand showing of a feature film may wish to obtain
sufficient digital rights to store the feature film on a removable
memory such as a memory card or a digital video disc DVD for use
with one or more external devices, and to otherwise store and
transfer the feature film to one or more addition devices, such as
external devices 54, 56, 58 and 60. In addition, a user that wishes
to download a movie or song, may select, in a single transaction,
to obtain digital rights to that movie or song for multiple devices
of the user.
[0034] In a mode of operation, the media content 52 is received by
set-top box 10 with associated digital rights. Such digital rights
can include a copy protection signal in accordance with a
Macrovision, copy generation management system analogue (CGMS-A)
copy protection signal, RipGuard, SafeCast, Cactus Data Shield or
other copy protection methodology, digital watermark or other
digital rights management signal or scheme that restricts the
copying and or rebroadcast of the media content 52. In an
alternative embodiment of the present invention, the digital rights
can provide an indication to set-top box of the particular digital
rights associated with the media content 52 and set-top box 52 adds
the appropriate copy protection signal or other digital rights
methodology in association with the transfer of the media content
to display device 62 and/or to each external device 54, 56, 58 and
60, in accordance with the method of transfer, the type of media
content, the format of the media content 52 during transfer, the
type of external device and/or the specific rights obtained for
that particular device. In addition, the digital rights can include
digital watermarks, meta-tags, or other digital identifiers that
that encode information such as the source of the media content 52,
the fact the media content 52 is protected, identifiers for the
subscriber and/or the devices associated with the subscriber that
have rights to the media content, etc.
[0035] For example, if digital rights are obtained that allow
set-top box 10 to play a particular video and to create a separate
DVD, the transfer of the video content to display device 62 as an
NTSC video signal can include Macrovision protection, and the DVD
can be created by a DVD burner of set-top box 10 with Content
Scrambling System (CSS) protection. In this fashion, a user may
obtain digital rights to use the media content 52 for those devices
that the user wishes to use to play the media content, and copy
protection or other digital rights management can be implemented by
the set-top box 10, and/or the external devices to allowing copying
in accordance with the rights obtained, while restricting or
otherwise prohibiting rebroadcast, copying and or further
transmission of the media content in a manner that conflicts with
the digital rights obtained.
[0036] In an embodiment of the present invention, the user can
obtain digital rights via set-top box 10 or any of the external
devices 54, 56, 58 60, etc., granted by the cable network on behalf
of itself or on behalf of the copyright holders of the media
content 52, that can include provisional rights or actual device
specific rights for the external devices that the user has selected
allowing playback of the media content by these particular external
devices and prohibiting playback of the media content by other
devices. For example, if the user elects to obtain digital rights
to transfer the media content to a DVD and to an iPod, set-top box
10 could transfer the media content only to these particular
devices and to apply the copy protection or other copy restriction
mechanisms that are appropriate for the playback of the media
content 52 using the DVD and the iPod.
[0037] As an alternative, the user can obtain digital rights,
granted by the cable network on behalf of itself or on behalf of
the copyright holders of the media content 52, that include
provisional or actual device general rights for the transfer of the
media content to N external devices, where N=1, 2, 3 based on a
user selection. In this mode of operation, the set-top box, for
each instance of media content 52 stored therein, maintains a
register or other data structure that stores the number of
remaining transfers allowed. For example, if the user elects to
obtain digital rights to transfer the media content 52 to two
external devices, the set-top box could allow, in response to a
user request via a graphical user interface or other user
interface, a transfer of the media content to a laptop computer
with appropriate copy protection and to inform the user that only
one additional transfer remained. At a later time, the set-top box
could allow, in response to a user request, a transfer of the media
content 52 to a cellular telephone with appropriate copy protection
and inform the user that the allowable number of transfers has been
exhausted.
[0038] It should be noted, that as in home gateway device 55, the
media content 52 can be transferred to an external device from the
network, from the subscriber's set-top-box 10 or from another
subscriber's set-top box or device on a peer-to-peer basis, either
directly or through a local area network and/or one or more other
networks. As discussed earlier, the requests for rights can come as
a group, can include provisional rights that are billed as used, or
can come incrementally with billing for these rights commensurate
with the rights obtained.
[0039] FIG. 3 presents a block diagram representation of a further
media distribution system that includes a home gateway device 55 in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In
particular, a home gateway device 55 is shown that operates in
accordance with the system described in FIG. 1 and optionally
incorporates one or more of the functions and features ascribed to
set-top box 10 described in conjunction with FIG. 2. In addition,
home gateway device 55, through use of a graphical user interface
or other user interface, can obtain digital rights for media
content 52 that allow this media content to be directly downloaded
to one or more external devices, for example. portable computer 54
and wireless telephone 56 as shown.
[0040] In particular, the home gateway device 55 receives a user
request for media content 52 in addition to a user selection of one
or more external devices to receive the media content 52. The media
content 52 can be transferred to each of the selected devices in a
format that corresponds to the particular devices selected. For
example, a user can select to download the movie "Casablanca" as a
compressed digital video file to portable computer 54 in a high
resolution format and to wireless telephone 56 in a lower
resolution format corresponding, for instance, to the smaller
screen and/or lower screen resolution of this device.
[0041] It should be noted that, in this embodiment of the present
invention, portable computer 54 and wireless telephone 56 each
communicate directly with media content provider network 50 though
a wired data network connection or wireless data network connection
via the Internet or other public or private network. Once the
digital rights necessary for downloading the media content 52 has
been obtained for these devices via the home gateway device 55, and
authentication of these devices by media content provider 50 via
device identifiers and/or user passwords, etc. has occurred,
download of the media content 52 can be initiated. As previously
discussed, the media content provider may elect to insert an ad
into the media content 52. In an embodiment of the present
invention, one or more ads can be inserted by the media content
provider in the media content provider network 50 for media content
52 obtained directly from the media content provider network. This
ad may be a general ad, or an ad that is targeted based on the
particular media content, targeted based on the location of
particular device, the type of device or based on other information
of the subscriber.
[0042] In addition, these ads can be inserted at the home gateway
device 55 as directed by the media content provider network 50. For
instance, the home gateway device 55 can include a database of
meta-tags that would contain information associated with particular
content and user profiles. These meta-tags can be inserted into the
data files containing the multimedia content and used for inserting
ads such as during a transcoding of the media content for the
external device or other encoding, transcoding, transrating or
transcaling of the media content 52 that occurs prior to transfer
to the external device. The ads can be stored locally or obtained
from an ad server managed by a third party, such as an ad service
provider or other service provider. Obtaining ads from an ad
service provider allows the ad service provider to select the
particular ads and optionally to auction ad space and/or to make ad
selections on a near-real time or real-time basis.
[0043] As discussed in conjunction with FIGS. 1 and 2, the media
content 52 transferred to external devices 54 and 56 can include
the appropriate copy protection in accordance with the digital
rights obtained and in accordance with the format of the media
content 52 as transferred to these devices.
[0044] FIG. 4 presents a block diagram representation of a set-top
box 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
In particular, set-top box 10 includes a device interface 212 for
coupling to at least one external device 220, such as external
devices 54, 56, 58, 60 or other external devices, a network
interface 206 for coupling to cable network 51 to receive broadcast
audio and video signals, to exchange control signaling and to
optionally provide Internet access, a television interface module
204 for coupling to a television including a television monitor, a
remote control interface 208 that receives user initiated signaling
from a remote control device 216, a processor 200 that operates in
accordance with a Open Cable Application Platform, Digital Video
Broadcast-Multimedia Home Platform or other operating system layer
or middleware, that runs an application that allows a user to
obtain digital rights for one or more external devices in
accordance with the present invention. In addition, set-top box 10
includes a data bus 220, memory module 202, electronic program
guide (EPG)/digital video recorder (DVR) module 210, and
transcoding module 214.
[0045] In a mode of operation, the user, via prompts generated by
the application and displayed on display device 62 via video
signals 112, and selections received via remote control device 216
and remote control interface 208, can select media content 52 and
can obtain digital rights for the media content to be played on one
or more external devices. Set-top box 10 receives a video signal
110 and produces a processed video signal 112 for display on video
display device 62 as either the playback of a compressed digital
video file or a buffered live (realtime or near realtime) video
signal that is produced in a format that corresponds to the format
of video display device 62.
[0046] Video signal 110 can include an analog video signal that is
formatted in any of a number of video formats including National
Television Systems Committee (NTSC), Phase Alternating Line (PAL)
or Sequentiel Couleur Avec Memoire (SECAM). Further, video signal
110 can be in a digital format such as a Motion Picture Experts
Group (MPEG) format (such as MPEG1, MPEG2 or MPEG4), QuickTime
format, Real Media format, Windows Media Video (WMV) or Audio Video
Interleave (AVI), or another digital video format, either standard
or proprietary. Set-top box 10 can either receive the video signal
110 with copy protection that is preserved in the production of
processed video signal 112 or can otherwise produce copy protection
signaling or other copy protection in the production of processed
video signal 112.
[0047] Processing module 200 can be implemented using a single
processing device or a plurality of processing devices. Such a
processing device may be a microprocessor, micro-controller,
digital signal processor, microcomputer, central processing unit,
field programmable gate array, programmable logic device, state
machine, logic circuitry, analog circuitry, digital circuitry,
and/or any device that manipulates signals (analog and/or digital)
based on operational instructions that are stored in a memory, such
as memory module 202. Memory module 202 may be a single memory
device or a plurality of memory devices. Such a memory device can
include a hard disk drive or other disk drive, read-only memory,
random access memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static
memory, dynamic memory, flash memory, cache memory, and/or any
device that stores digital information. Note that when the
processing module implements one or more of its functions via a
state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic
circuitry, the memory storing the corresponding operational
instructions may be embedded within, or external to, the circuitry
comprising the state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry,
and/or logic circuitry.
[0048] The other modules of set-top box 10 can be implemented in
software, firmware or hardware, depending on the particular
implementation of processing module 200. It should also be noted
that the software implementations of the present invention can be
stored on a tangible storage medium such as a magnetic or optical
disk, read-only memory or random access memory and also be produced
as an article of manufacture.
[0049] Memory module 202 can store the application, user
selections, preferences and other data, the operating system, other
software and firmware, and additionally, can store a plurality of
compressed video files corresponding to instances of media content
52. As discussed above, memory module can include a plurality of
different memory devices. In an embodiment of the present
invention, the plurality of compressed video files are stored in a
large capacity storage medium such as a hard disk drive or flash
memory, however other memory devices may likewise be used, and in
particular, a removable memory device can be used to store the
compressed video files in instances where the media content 52 is
transferred to one or more external devices via such a removable
memory.
[0050] In operation, transcoding module 214 can encode the media
content 52 received from video signal 110 or other input signal
from cable network 51 into a digital file format or digital stream
format for storage in memory module 202 and/or the particular
digital video format use by one or more of the external devices 54,
56, 58, and 60 that have been selected by the user and in
accordance with the digital rights have been obtained from the
cable network 51 for these particular external devices. This
encoding can include encrypting, transcoding, transcrypting,
transrating, transcaling and other conversion from a one media
format to one or more additional media formats. As previously
discussed, these additional media formats can include respective
copy protection or other digital rights mechanisms to allow the
media content 52 to be transferred to or used only as allowed by
the digital rights that have been obtained and not in other ways.
Depending on the type of copy protection and the particular media
formats, the copy protection can be removed for encoding or
transcoding and reapplied in the newly encoded or transcoded
format. Further, while one mode of copy protection can be present
in a particular media format as received from cable network 51,
another mode of copy protection can be applied to match the media
format of the encoded or transcoded signal, stream or file. In
addition, transcoding module 214 optionally includes an ad
insertion module 215 that operates to insert ads, that are either
stored locally in memory module 202 or retrieved from an ad service
provider via cable network 51 or from the media content provider or
other source as described in conjunction with FIGS. 1-3.
[0051] While the transcoding is described above as being included
in transcoding module 214 that is part of set-top box 10,
alternatively, these features can be included in a network server
included as part of cable network 51. In particular, when a
subscriber records video content onto set-top box 10, the
information of that event could be sent to a network server which
would reside within the head-end network of cable network 51. The
network server would, in turn, transcode and transcrypt the content
for the subscriber's other devices, either automatically or only
when requested by the subscriber.
[0052] In the case of automatic transcoding and transcription of
content, the network server would include a learning algorithm
where it would transcode and transcrypt content based only on
information derived from the subscriber's past behavior.
[0053] For example, if a subscriber typically recorded weekly
television episodes of Sitcom A and Drama B but historically only
requested that Drama B be made available to his portable media
player, then the Network Server, based on this subscriber's viewing
habits, would automatically transcode, transcrypt and store on the
network server, episodes of Drama B as they were recorded on his
DVR. Conversely, if the user were to request Sitcom A for transfer
onto his portable media player, the network server would then
transcode and transcrypt the content in real-time since this
request would seem to be a unique occurrence. Based on certain
criteria (either set by the user or the service provider), the
network server would continue to monitor the user's content
consumption behavior and adapt accordingly. For example, if the
subscriber would then begin to request Sitcom A for transfer to his
portable media player on a weekly basis, upon the second occurrence
the Network Server could begin to transcode and transcrypt the
content automatically. It would then revert back to on-demand
transcoding/transcryption if the user stopped requesting Sitcom A
for transfer to his portable media player for two consecutive
weeks, for example. This adaptive learning algorithm for content
transcoding and transcryption would save valuable CPU resources and
storage capacity at the network server.
[0054] EPG/DVR module 210 includes an electronic program guide that
allows a user, through operation of user interface module 212 and
one or more user interface devices 214 to obtain information
regarding current or upcoming programs that can be viewed,
downloaded or recorded. In an embodiment of the present invention,
EPG/DVR module 210 includes digital video recorder functionality
that operates in conjunction with memory module 202 to record,
store, select, and playback media content 52. In operation of EPG
210, a user can establish playback and record settings and
preferences, interactively choose programs to record, select stored
programs for playback, to pause, fast forward and rewind playback
of compressed video files and buffered live video streams used to
generate the processed video signal 112.
[0055] In an embodiment of the present invention, display device 62
includes a display, such as a separate liquid crystal, plasma or
other display device capable of displaying text and/or graphics.
The application, the electronic program guide and the digital video
recorder can generate overlay text, and graphics such as one or
more menus to implement a menu driven graphical user interface that
is presented on processed video signal 112 for display on display
device 62. Through operation of the remote control device 216 or
other pointing, indication or other user interface device, the user
can select different choices or preferences, browse and select from
a plurality of menus and/or otherwise interact with the application
and the electronic program guide and digital video recorder in
order to control the operation of the set-top box 10.
[0056] While TV interface module 204 has been described in terms of
being coupled to a single display device 62, TV interface module
204 can likewise include multiple interfaces for coupling to two or
more video display devices, with potentially different formats and
through potentially different interfaces such as component video,
S-video HDMI, RF video jack or other video interface connection.
Device interface 212 can include a removable memory device such as
a memory card, writeable disk drive, and/or a wireless or wired
communication link such as a wireless local area network interface,
a wireless personal area network interface, an Ethernet port, a
parallel port, a serial port, a small computer systems interface
port, a IEEE 1394 compliant interface, and a universal serial bus
interface or other connection.
[0057] While a particular architecture is described above, other
architectures including alternative bus architectures, and
architectures where the functionality of bus 220 is replaced by one
or more direct connections or links, can likewise be
implemented.
[0058] FIG. 5 presents a pictorial representation of a screen
display 230 in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention. In particular a screen display is presented as part of a
user interface generated by set-top box 10 for display on display
device 62 or other display device. This interactive screen can be
navigated and selections can be made by the user through the use of
the remote control device 216. In particular a device set-up menu
is presented that allows a user to identify the particular devices
or devices that could be coupled to the set-top box 10 for play,
playback or downloading of media content, such as media content 52,
either via set-top box 10 or directly from media content provider
network 50, such a cable network 51.
[0059] In this case, the user has selected a color monitor and iPod
as two devices associated with set-top box 10. The user is in the
process of selecting his or her third device from the list, in this
case, a Sony PlayStation Portable. As shown, the user is allowed to
choose the particular devices associated with the set-top box 10
from a list of possible devices. In addition, in other screens, the
user can identify additional parameters of these devices including
analog video format, digital video format parameters such as screen
resolutions, compression depth and other format (such as a Motion
Picture Experts Group (MPEG) format (such as MPEG1, MPEG2 or
MPEG4), QuickTime format, Real Media format, Windows Media Video
(WMV) or Audio Video Interleave (AVI), h.264 or another digital
video format, either standard or proprietary), a particular port or
link that will be used to couple each device to the set-top box 10,
and/or other settings for each corresponding device.
[0060] The information discussed above pertaining to the associated
devices can be stored in a device file in memory 202 as well as
being sent to media content network 50, such as cable network 51,
to register the particular devices associated with the set-top-box
10 and/or with the particular subscriber. In addition, the user can
be given the option of pre-authorizing rights for each of these
devices. As shown in this example, the user has elected to
pre-authorize rights for the color monitor but not the iPod and the
PSP, and this information can further be stored in the device file
in memory. In this fashion, when media content 52 is selected by
the user, rights can be automatically be obtained for each of the
pre-authorized devices and additional costs that may be associated
with obtaining rights for these devices can further be
pre-authorized to be billed to the user. In this fashion, the user
need not be queried for each selection of media content for a
selection of the pre-authorized devices.
[0061] FIG. 6 presents a pictorial representation of a screen
display 240 in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention. In particular a screen display is presented as part of a
user interface generated by set-top box 10 for display on display
device 62 or other display device. This interactive screen can be
navigated and selections can be made by the user through the use of
the remote control device 216. In this screen, the user can select
from a list of media content 52, including video programming such
as movies, instructional video, songs and music compilations, etc.
In the example shown the user has opted to selected to receive the
movie "Citizen Kane". In an embodiment of the present invention,
additional screens can optionally be presented to select whether
the movie will be transmitted as a video signal or downloaded as a
video file.
[0062] FIG. 7 presents a pictorial representation of a screen
display 250 in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention. In particular a screen display is presented as part of a
user interface generated by set-top box 10 for display on display
device 62 or other display device. This interactive screen can be
navigated and selections can be made by the user through the use of
the remote control device 216. In this screen the user is given the
option to obtain rights to transfer the selected movie to
additional devices. In the example shown, the user is selecting
"Yes".
[0063] FIG. 8 presents a pictorial representation of a screen
display 260 in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention. In particular a screen display is presented as part of a
user interface generated by set-top box 10 for display on display
device 62 or other display device. This interactive screen can be
navigated and selections can be made by the user through the use of
the remote control device 216. In this screen, the user is given
the option of selecting a total number of devices for the movie
Citizen Kane to be transferred. As shown, the user is charged an
additional cost that is based on the number of additional devices
selected. As previously discussed, this mode of operation allows
the user to select the number of devices generally without
specifying the specific devices.
[0064] FIG. 9 presents a pictorial representation of a screen
display 270 in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention. In particular a screen display is presented as part of a
user interface generated by set-top box 10 for display on display
device 62 or other display device. This interactive screen can be
navigated and selections can be made by the user through the use of
the remote control device 216. In this screen, in an alternative
mode from the mode described in FIG. 8, the user is allowed to
select from a list of additional devices associated with set-top
box 10 (retrieved from the device file stored in memory 202) and
given the additional costs associated with obtaining digital rights
for each of these devices. In this case the user has opted, for a
fee of $1.19 in addition to the base fee of $4.99, to be able to
download Citizen Kane to his or her iPod in addition to playing the
movie on display device 62. As shown in this example, the fee
varies based on the particular device or devices selected.
[0065] It should be noted that the screen displays shown in FIGS.
5-9 illustrate some of the many optional features of the present
invention. Further options include obtaining digital rights and
alternative fees for storing the media content 52 in the set-top
box for playback multiple times, digital rights for the set-top box
or external devices to restrict the playback of the media content
52X total times or Y times per each device, and further options,
etc.
[0066] FIG. 10 presents a flowchart representation of a method in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In
particular, a method is presented for use in conjunction with one
or more of the features and functions described in association with
FIGS. 1-9. In step 400, media content is received for a plurality
of devices based on a user selection, the media content including
digital rights for the plurality of devices. In step 402, the media
content is transferred to at least one of the plurality of
devices.
[0067] In an embodiment of the present invention, the step 400
includes receiving the media content at a set-top box and is
implemented as an application running on an open cable application
platform. The plurality of devices can include a set-top box, a
television, a desktop computer, a portable computer, a personal
digital assistant, a personal audio/video player, and a wireless
telephone. The media content can be formatted in a first digital
video format and step 402 can include transcoding the media content
into a second digital video format for use by the at least one of
the plurality of selected devices. This transcoding can include
generating the second digital video file in accordance with the
digital rights for the at least one of the plurality of selected
devices.
[0068] In an embodiment of the present invention, user selection
can be retrieved from a file containing information regarding the
plurality of devices, and particularly, obtaining digital rights
for at least one of the devices can incur an increased fee, and
wherein the file can be created based a pre-authorization from the
user to create the file and to incur the increased fee. The digital
rights can include a corresponding plurality of device specific
digital rights for each of the plurality of selected devices, each
of the corresponding plurality of device specific digital rights
allowing playback of the media content by one of the plurality of
selected devices corresponding thereto and prohibiting playback of
the media content by other devices.
[0069] FIG. 11 presents a flowchart representation of a method in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In
particular, a method is presented for use in conjunction with one
or more of the features and functions described in association with
FIGS. 1-9 and a potential alternative to the method of FIG. 10. In
step 410, a user request is received for media content. In step
412, the media content is received in a first format at a first
device of a plurality of devices based on a user selection, the
media content including digital rights for the first device. In
step 414, the media content is received in a second format at a
second device of the plurality of devices based on the user
selection, the media content including digital rights for the
second device.
[0070] In an embodiment of the present invention, step 412 includes
receiving the media content at a set-top box, as implemented as an
application running on an open cable application platform. The
plurality of devices can include a set-top box, a television, a
desktop computer, a portable computer, a personal digital
assistant, a personal audio/video player, and a wireless telephone.
The user selection can be retrieved from a file containing
information regarding the plurality of devices. Obtaining digital
rights for the second device can incur an increased fee, and the
file can be created based on a pre-authorization from the user to
create the file and to incur the increased fee.
[0071] In addition, step 410 can come from the first device and an
additional user request can be received for the media content from
the second device. Step 412 can include receiving the media content
from a media content provider network and step 414 can include
receiving the media content from the first device, with or without
prior transcoding or receiving the media content from the media
content provider network.
[0072] FIG. 12 presents a flowchart representation of a method in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In
particular, a method is presented for use in conjunction with one
or more of the features and functions described in association with
FIGS. 10 and 11. In step 420, a user is prompted with a plurality
of options to download media content for the plurality of devices.
In step 422, a selection is received from the user that corresponds
to at least one of the plurality of options.
[0073] In an embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of
options can include obtaining digital rights for the at least one
external device at an increased fee, a cost for downloading the
media content that is based on a total number of the plurality of
devices, a cost for downloading the media content that is based on
the plurality of devices, and can list particular devices that
correspond to a user retrieved from a file containing information
regarding the particular devices.
[0074] In preferred embodiments, the various circuit components are
implemented using 0.35 micron or smaller CMOS technology. Provided
however that other circuit technologies, both integrated or
non-integrated, may be used within the broad scope of the present
invention.
[0075] As one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, the
term "substantially" or "approximately", as may be used herein,
provides an industry-accepted tolerance to its corresponding term
and/or relativity between items. Such an industry-accepted
tolerance ranges from less than one percent to twenty percent and
corresponds to, but is not limited to, component values, integrated
circuit process variations, temperature variations, rise and fall
times, and/or thermal noise. Such relativity between items ranges
from a difference of a few percent to magnitude differences. As one
of ordinary skill in the art will further appreciate, the term
"coupled", as may be used herein, includes direct coupling and
indirect coupling via another component, element, circuit, or
module where, for indirect coupling, the intervening component,
element, circuit, or module does not modify the information of a
signal but may adjust its current level, voltage level, and/or
power level. As one of ordinary skill in the art will also
appreciate, inferred coupling (i.e., where one element is coupled
to another element by inference) includes direct and indirect
coupling between two elements in the same manner as "coupled". As
one of ordinary skill in the art will further appreciate, the term
"compares favorably", as may be used herein, indicates that a
comparison between two or more elements, items, signals, etc.,
provides a desired relationship. For example, when the desired
relationship is that signal 1 has a greater magnitude than signal
2, a favorable comparison may be achieved when the magnitude of
signal 1 is greater than that of signal 2 or when the magnitude of
signal 2 is less than that of signal 1.
[0076] As the term module is used in the description of the various
embodiments of the present invention, a module includes a
functional block that is implemented in hardware, software, and/or
firmware that performs one or module functions such as the
processing of an input signal to produce an output signal. As used
herein, a module may contain submodules that themselves are
modules.
[0077] Thus, there has been described herein an apparatus and
method, as well as several embodiments including a preferred
embodiment, for implementing a home gateway device, set-top box
and/or other device for obtaining digital rights to receive, store,
transcode, transmit and/or transfer media content. Various
embodiments of the present invention herein-described have features
that distinguish the present invention from the prior art.
[0078] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the
disclosed invention may be modified in numerous ways and may assume
many embodiments other than the preferred forms specifically set
out and described above. Accordingly, it is intended by the
appended claims to cover all modifications of the invention which
fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *