Controlling interaction of deliverable electronic media

US 20040103297A1
Filed: 11/25/2002
Published: 05/27/2004
Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2002
Status: Active Grant

First Claim

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1. A method of controlling interaction of deliverable electronic media comprising:

detecting a media player application operable with a computer system, said media player application for enabling said computer system to present contents of a media file;

governing within said media player application a function that enables non-compliance with a usage restriction applicable to said media file; and

controlling the output of said media file, said controlling by a compliance mechanism coupled to said computer system, said compliance mechanism for enabling compliance with said usage restriction applicable to said media file.

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Abstract

A method of restricting client interaction of deliverable electronic media. In one embodiment, the method is comprised of detecting a media player application operable within a computer system. The media player application enables the computer system to present contents of a media file. The present method is further comprised of governing within said media player application a function that enables non-compliance with a usage restriction applicable to the media file. The present method is further comprised of controlling output of the media file. The controlling is performed by a compliance mechanism coupled to the computer system. The compliance mechanism is for enabling compliance with the usage restriction applicable to the media file.

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35 Claims

1. A method of controlling interaction of deliverable electronic media comprising:
- detecting a media player application operable with a computer system, said media player application for enabling said computer system to present contents of a media file;
  
  governing within said media player application a function that enables non-compliance with a usage restriction applicable to said media file; and
  
  controlling the output of said media file, said controlling by a compliance mechanism coupled to said computer system, said compliance mechanism for enabling compliance with said usage restriction applicable to said media file.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- - 2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said controlling output of said media file comprises diverting a data pathway of said media player application to a controlled data pathway, and wherein said compliance mechanism controls said controlled data pathway.
  - 3. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising delivering said media file to said computer system, said media file delivered from a server coupled with said computer system.
  - 4. The method as recited in claim 3 further comprising attaching a header to said media file prior to delivery to said computer system, said header comprising:
    - an indicator for indicating to said compliance mechanism that said media file originated from said server.
  - 5. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising permitting said computer system to utilize said media player application to present contents of said media file, provided said media player application complies with said usage restriction.
  - 6. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising installing said compliance mechanism onto said computer system, said compliance mechanism configured to perform said detecting and said disabling.
  - 7. The method as recited in claim 6 further comprising altering said compliance mechanism in response to changes in said usage restriction.
  - 8. The method as recited in claim 5 further comprising installing a custom media player application on said computer system and configured to be operable when said media player application does not comply with said usage restriction.
  - 9. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising verifying the presence and the integrity of authorization data stored on said computer system, said verifying performed by said compliance mechanism prior to delivery of said media file to said computer system.
  - 10. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising encrypting said media file and a header attached therewith prior to delivery of said media file to said computer system.
  - 11. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising monitoring said media file during presentation of said contents for compliance with said usage restrictions, said monitoring performed by said compliance mechanism.
  - 12. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said media file is delivered via a hypertext transfer protocol file delivery.
  - 13. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said usage restriction is a copyright restriction or a licensing agreement applicable to said media file.

14. A computer readable medium for storing computer implementable instructions, said instructions for causing a compliance mechanism to perform a method of controlling interaction of a media file, said method comprising:
- discovering a media player application operable within a client computer system, said media player application for presenting contents of a media file deliverable to said client computer system;
  
  regulating a function of said media player application that does not comply with usage restrictions applicable to said media file; and
  
  controlling output of said media file, wherein said compliance mechanism coupled to said client computer system performs said controlling and is for enabling compliance with said usage restriction.
- View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
- - 15. The computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein said controlling comprises redirecting a data pathway of said media player application to a controlled data pathway controlled by compliance mechanism.
  - 16. The computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein said instructions cause said compliance mechanism to perform said method further comprising:
    - initiating delivery of said media file to said client computer system from a server coupled with said client computer system.
  - 17. The computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein said instructions cause said compliance mechanism to perform said method further comprising:
    - detecting an indicator associated with said media file, said indicator for indicating said media file originated from said server.
  - 18. The computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein said instructions cause said compliance mechanism to perform said method further comprising:
    - permitting said client computer system to utilize said media player application to present said contents of said media file, provided said media player application complies with said usage restriction.
  - 19. The computer readable medium of claim 18 wherein said instructions cause said compliance mechanism to perform said method further comprising:
    - bypassing said media player application and invoking a custom media player application coupled with said client computer system when said media player application does not comply with usage restrictions applicable to said media file, said custom media player application for presenting contents of said media file in a manner compliant with said usage restriction.
  - 20. The computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein said instructions cause said compliance mechanism to perform said method further comprising:
    - verifying the presence and integrity of authorization data stored on said client computer system.
  - 21. The computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein said instructions cause said compliance mechanism to perform said method further comprising:
    - initiating an installation of a newer version of said copyright compliance mechanism.
  - 22. The computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein said instructions cause said compliance mechanism to perform said method further comprising:
    - monitoring said media file for compliance with said usage restrictions during presentation of said contents.
  - 23. The computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein said usage restriction is a copyright restriction or licensing agreement applicable to said media file.
  - 24. The computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein said media file is delivered via a hypertext transfer protocol file delivery.

25. A method for media file usage restriction compliance comprising:
- means for detecting a media player application operable on a client computer system and for presenting contents of a media file;
  
  means for governing a function of said media player application that does not comply with a usage restriction applicable to a media file; and
  
  means for controlling output of said media file, and wherein a compliance mechanism coupled to said client computer system performs said controlling and is for enabling compliance with said usage restriction applicable to said media file.
- View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
- - 26. The method as recited in claim 25 wherein said means for controlling comprises diverting a data pathway of said media player application to a controlled data pathway controlled by said compliance mechanism.
  - 27. The method as recited in claim 25 further comprising:
    - means for initiating delivery of said media file to said client computer system from a server coupled with said client computer system, said delivery via a hypertext transfer protocol file delivery.
  - 28. The method as recited in claim 25 further comprising:
    - means for permitting said client computer system to utilize said media player application when said media player application complies with said usage restriction.
  - 29. The method as recited in claim 25 further comprising:
    - means for deactivating said media player application when said media player application does not comply with said usage restriction.
  - 30. The method as recited in claim 25 further comprising:
    - means for activating a custom media player application coupled with said client computer system when said media player application is deactivated, said custom media player application for enabling said client computer system to comply with said usage restriction.
  - 31. The method as recited in claim 25 further comprising:
    - means for verifying the integrity of authorization data stored by said client computer system.
  - 32. The method as recited in claim 25 further comprising:
    - means for initiating installation of a newer version of said compliance mechanism.
  - 33. The method as recited in claim 25 further comprising:
    - means for detecting an indicator of a header associated with said media file, said indicator for indicating said media file originated from said server.
  - 34. The method as recited in claim 25 further comprising:
    - means for monitoring said media file for compliance with said usage restriction during presentation of said contents.
  - 35. The method as recited in claim 25 wherein said usage restriction is a copyright restriction or a license agreement pertaining to said media file.

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Current Assignee
Music Public Broadcasting, Inc.
Original Assignee
Music Public Broadcasting, Inc.
Inventors
Risan, Hank, Fitzgerald, Edward Vincent

Granted Patent

US 7,578,002 B2
Time in Patent Office

Days
Field of Search
US Class Current

713/200
CPC Class Codes

G06F 21/10   Protecting distributed prog...

G06F 2221/2115   Third party

G06F 2221/2117   User registration

G06F 2221/2137   Time limited access, e.g. t...

G11B 20/00086   Circuits for prevention of ...

G11B 20/00659   involving a control step wh...

G11B 20/00695   said measures preventing th...

G11B 20/00702   said measures preventing th...

Controlling interaction of deliverable electronic media

First Claim

1 Assignment

0 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

87 Citations

35 Claims

Specification

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Controlling interaction of deliverable electronic media

First Claim

1 Assignment

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Subscription Required

0 Petitions

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Accused Products

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Abstract

87 Citations

35 Claims

Specification

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Solutions

Use Cases

Quick Links