(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2002/0077988 A1
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Jun. 20, 2002
`Sasaki et al.
`
`US 20020077988A1
`
`(54) DISTRIBUTING DIGITAL CONTENT
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`(76) Inventors: Gary D. Sasaki, Cupertino, CA (US);
`Mathieu C. Hans, Athens, GA (US)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY
`Intellectual Property Administration
`PO. Box 272400
`Fort Collins, CO 80527-2400 (US)
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`09/741,725
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Dec. 19, 2000
`
`Publication Classi?cation
`
`(51) Int. Cl.7 ............................ .. H04K 1/00; H04L 9/00;
`G06F 17/60; H04L 9/32; G06F 11/30;
`G06F 12/14
`(52) US. Cl. ............................. .. 705/59; 705/51; 713/201
`
`Systems and methods of distributing digital content are
`described. In one aspect, a portable media device includes a
`memory, a Wireless transceiver, an output, and a controller.
`The memory is con?gured to store digital content. The
`Wireless transceiver is con?gured to Wirelessly transmit and
`receive digital content. The output is con?gured to render
`digital content. The controller is coupled to the memory, the
`Wireless transceiver and the output, and is con?gured to
`control Wireless transmission of digital content based upon
`meta-data associated With the digital content. In another
`aspect, a digital content distribution system includes tWo or
`more portable media devices and a license manager. Each of
`the portable media devices comprises a memory for storing
`digital content and a transceiver for Wirelessly transmitting
`digital content to and Wirelessly receiving digital content
`from another portable media device. The license manager is
`con?gured to associate digital content With meta-data for
`controlling Wireless transmission and rendering of digital
`content from one portable media device to another. Acontent
`tracking and incentives system that encourages commercial
`distributors, broadcasters and users to distribute digital
`content to neW potential customers also is described.
`
`10 /
`
`Content /12
`Provider
`Level
`
`Content Owner
`
`‘V
`License Manager
`
`/22
`
`\
`
`14
`
`.
`
`.
`
`Distribution /
`Management
`Level
`
`v
`24\ Commercial
`Distributor
`
`>
`
`.
`censed User
`L‘
`
`, Unlicensed User
`
`/28
`
`/26
`
`/16
`
`Distributor
`Level
`
`18
`Target /
`Customer
`Level
`
`Petitioner Apple Inc. - Exhibit 1006, p. 1
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 20, 2002 Sheet 1 0f 7
`
`US 2002/0077988 A1
`
`/10
`
`12
`Content /
`Provider
`Level
`
`Content Owner
`
`/2o
`
`v
`
`License Manager
`‘
`
`/22
`
`2
`
`v
`'
`4\ c‘imrT‘erc'a'
`Distributor
`
`>
`
`.
`
`Licensed User /
`
`8
`
`‘V
`
`7 Unlicensed User
`
`/26
`
`14
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`Distribution /
`Management
`Level
`
`/16
`
`Distributor
`Level
`
`18
`Target /
`Customer
`Level
`
`Transfer File
`/148
`d
`E
`gel;
`no te
`
`131
`
`\ Content
`Key
`
`133
`/
`Header A
`
`Distributor
`ID A
`I
`/
`136/
`
`t d C t W k
`E
`ncryp e
`on en ac age
`Content Package
`
`Header B
`
`/147
`l
`
`/139
`
`/
`
`/130
`
`/149
`
`Content Distributor User
`ID
`ID B
`ID
`[I
`[I
`II
`II
`I,
`II
`132/
`135/
`137/
`
`License
`Restrictions
`II
`II
`138/
`
`Content
`
`/
`II
`141/
`
`Distributor's
`Public Key
`143/
`
`Distributor's
`Private Key
`144/
`
`Licensed User's
`Public Key
`145/
`
`Licensed User's
`Private Key
`146/
`
`FIG. 4
`
`Petitioner Apple Inc. - Exhibit 1006, p. 2
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Jun. 20, 2002 Sheet 2 0f 7
`
`US 2002/0077988 A1
`
`.
`.
`Processing Unlt
`
`A
`
`n4
`
`Server Computer
`
`0
`
`/
`
`System Memory
`
`,42
`RAM /
`A6
`
`3
`
`7
`
`ROM
`
`_40
`
`/44
`
`Hard Drive
`
`0
`
`t rf E )6
`/16
`I
`Floppy Drrve
`
`5
`
`
`
`a ‘ ' Fir/58
`/18
`
`A
`
`CD-ROM
`.
`
`4%
`
`——>| Video Adapter IF
`
`Serial ‘
`7 w<—
`Interface
`
`Network Adapter
`
`FIG. 2
`
`6
`
`2
`
`Keyboard
`
`74
`
`8
`
`7O
`/
`
`p
`
`8
`RemOte /6
`Computers
`
`Petitioner Apple Inc. - Exhibit 1006, p. 3
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Jun. 20, 2002 Sheet 3 0f 7
`
`US 2002/0077988 A1
`
`104
`
`0)
`RE :9 Q00
`9
`rI/BS
`
`FIG. 3A
`
`/9
`6
`
`/
`110
`
`User
`Input
`
`Battery
`Power
`Su l
`
`ipy
`Y
`
`Network
`Cable 1
`Port ‘ ' Adapter
`¢
`Memory 4
`122
`
`¢
`
`8
`/9
`Wireless
`Communication
`Port
`
`l
`
`, ‘ Transceiver
`
`if?“ 04
`i
`
`\1 12
`
`V
`V
`7 Controller
`
`‘
`
`\120
`
`Audio
`I Adapter
`\114
`
`Dismay
`Adapter
`\118
`
`I‘
`;--{'§/116
`\
`
`[82
`Dis [8
`p y
`
`'
`
`FIG. 3B
`
`Petitioner Apple Inc. - Exhibit 1006, p. 4
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jun. 20, 2002 Sheet 4 0f 7
`
`US 2002/0077988 A1
`
`150
`
`Add Encrypted
`Distributor ID to
`Header A
`
`Add Distributor lD B to /152
`Header B
`
`'
`
`156\ Encrypt Content Key
`with Distributor's Public 1
`Key
`
`\
`154
`Encrypt Content
`Package with Content /
`Key
`
`V
`
`Transmit Transfer File
`to Recipient Distributor
`
`FIG. 5A
`
`160
`
`7
`
`Decrypt Content
`Package and
`Embed User ID
`
`162
`
`Content
`
`Yes
`
`Purchéy
`
`No
`
`4
`‘
`
`V
`
`163\ Encrypt Content Package
`with Content Key
`
`V
`Encrypt Transfer File
`with User's Public Key
`
`V
`Transmit Transfer File
`to Recipient User
`
`164
`
`166
`
`FIG. 5B
`
`Petitioner Apple Inc. - Exhibit 1006, p. 5
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Jun. 20, 2002 Sheet 5 0f 7
`
`US 2002/0077988 A1
`
`Decrypt Content Key with /170
`User's Private Key
`
`i
`Decrypt Content Package /171
`with Content Key
`
`17
`
`Header
`User iD Matches
`Device User
`ID?
`
`174
`
`License Limit
`Exceeded?
`
`Increase Stored Play /178
`Count by One
`
`V
`
`Play Content
`
`182
`/
`
`FIG. 6
`
`175
`/
`Display
`Playback
`Restriction
`Notice
`
`V
`
`Play
`Sample
`\176
`
`Petitioner Apple Inc. - Exhibit 1006, p. 6
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Jun. 20, 2002 Sheet 6 0f 7
`
`US 2002/0077988 A1
`
`190
`
`Content
`Transmission
`Requested?
`
`No
`
`192\ Decrypt Content Key with
`User's Private Key
`t
`Decrypt Content Package
`193\
`with Content Key
`
`19
`
`Header
`User iD Matches
`Device User
`ID?
`
`Encrypt Content
`200 \
`Package and
`Content Key with
`User's Public Key
`
`202\
`
`Transmit
`Transfer File
`
`Content Transfer?
`
`198
`
`FIG. 7
`
`196 /
`Display Transfer
`Restriction Notice
`
`Encrypt Content
`Key and
`V204
`Associated
`Header with
`User's Public Key
`t
`Transmit
`Encrypted
`/206
`Content Key and
`Associated
`Header
`
`Petitioner Apple Inc. - Exhibit 1006, p. 7
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Jun. 20, 2002 Sheet 7 0f 7
`
`US 2002/0077988 A1
`
`210
`
`Content
`equested Based on
`Stored Content
`Key?
`Yes
`
`.
`Rggr?ggtigccrggtzd
`9
`
`\212
`
`Encrypt Content
`' Key with User's
`Public Key
`\214
`
`Transmit
`> Transfer File
`to User
`\216
`
`FIG. 8A
`
`Decrypt Content Key with /218
`User's Private Key
`
`Decrypt Content Package /22o
`with Content Key
`
`222
`
`Header
`Content ID Matches
`Stored Content
`ID’?
`
`Treat Content as
`Unlicensed Subject to
`License Restrictions
`
`/226
`
`224\ Form Complete Content
`Package
`
`FIG. 8B
`
`Petitioner Apple Inc. - Exhibit 1006, p. 8
`
`

`

`US 2002/0077988 A1
`
`Jun. 20, 2002
`
`DISTRIBUTING DIGITAL CONTENT
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`[0001] This invention relates to systems and methods for
`distributing digital content.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`[0002] Various kinds of information may be presented in
`a digital content format, including audio, video, text, images
`and multimedia information. Digital content may be ren
`dered by hardWare playback devices and by computer sys
`tems operating appropriately con?gured softWare playback
`programs. HardWare playback devices typically are small,
`lightWeight devices having a special purpose processor that
`renders the digital content stored in memory into audio
`output or visual output, or both. Software playback pro
`grams typically control the output functionality of a com
`puter system to render digital content.
`
`[0003] The convergence of technological advances in the
`compression, storage and transmission of digital data has
`resulted in a global communications netWork that alloWs
`digital content to be distributed rapidly to a large number of
`potential customers. At the same time, this technological
`convergence has enabled unprecedented quantities of digital
`content to be copied ?aWlessly and distributed to a large
`number of people. For example, users easily may exchange
`unprotected digital ?les by electronic mail or by direct ?le
`transfer over the Internet. Users also may access and doWn
`load digital content posted on a Web page using a conven
`tional Web broWser application program executing on a
`computer system.
`[0004] Digital content oWners understandably are con
`cerned about the potential theft and loss of control over the
`distribution of their Works by and betWeen unlicensed users.
`Cryptographic techniques have been developed to control
`the distribution of digital content. For example, digital
`content may be encrypted, and the encrypted content and a
`decryption key may be transmitted to licensed users.
`Licensed users may use the decryption key to access the
`encrypted digital content. External devices (e.g., tokens or
`dongles) also have been used to control the distribution of
`digital content. For example, a token or dongle may be
`required to be connected to a computer or other playback
`device before a licensed user may access the protected
`digital content. Still other systems and methods for control
`ling the distribution of digital content have been developed.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`[0005] The invention features a novel digital content dis
`tribution scheme that enables digital content oWners to reach
`neW potential customers by leveraging the desire of users to
`share and exchange digital content, While protecting the
`commercial interests of digital content oWners. The inven
`tion enables users to fully enjoy digital content and, at the
`same time, the invention prevents unchecked distribution of
`unlicensed digital content. The invention also features a
`novel content tracking and incentives system that encour
`ages commercial distributors, broadcasters and users to
`distribute digital content to neW potential customers.
`
`an output, and a controller. The memory is con?gured to
`store digital content. The Wireless transceiver is con?gured
`to Wirelessly transmit and receive digital content. The output
`is con?gured to render digital content. The controller is
`coupled to the memory, the Wireless transceiver and the
`output, and is con?gured to control Wireless transmission
`and rendering of digital content based upon meta-data
`associated With the digital content.
`
`[0007] As used herein, “digital content” refers broadly to
`any type of electronic content, including text, graphics, data,
`audio, and video content, and encompasses electronic infor
`mation that may or may not be subject to copyright or other
`legal protection.
`[0008] Embodiments in accordance With this aspect of the
`invention may include one or more of the folloWing features.
`
`[0009] The controller preferably is con?gured to control
`playback of digital content stored in the memory based upon
`a user license con?rmation. The controller preferably is
`con?gured to con?rm a user license for a digital content
`based upon meta-data associated With the digital content.
`The controller may be con?gured to con?rm a user license
`based upon a comparison of a user identi?er embedded in
`the meta-data With a user identi?er stored in the memory.
`The controller preferably is con?gured to limit playback of
`the digital content in response to a failed user license
`con?rmation. The controller may be con?gured to enable
`playback of only a sample of the digital content in response
`to a failed user license con?rmation. The controller prefer
`ably also is con?gured to enable Wireless transmission of
`digital content stored in the memory in response to a
`successful user license con?rmation.
`
`[0010] In some embodiments, the controller is con?gured
`to direct received digital content selectively to unrestricted
`memory storage or to restricted memory storage based upon
`a user license con?rmation. The controller may be con?g
`ured to direct licensed digital content to unrestricted
`memory storage and to direct unlicensed digital content to
`restricted memory storage. The controller may be con?gured
`to restrict storage of unlicensed digital Works to a predeter
`mined quantity. The controller may be con?gured to enable
`Wireless transmission of digital content stored in unrestricted
`memory and to prevent Wireless transmission of digital
`content stored in restricted memory.
`
`[0011] The controller may be con?gured to decrypt
`encrypted digital content With a cryptographic key stored in
`the memory.
`
`[0012] The output preferably is con?gured to render audio
`digital content.
`
`[0013] In another aspect, the invention features a digital
`content distribution system comprising tWo or more portable
`media devices and a license manager. Each of the portable
`media devices comprises a memory for storing digital con
`tent and a transceiver for Wirelessly transmitting digital
`content to and Wirelessly receiving digital content from
`another portable media device. The license manager is
`con?gured to associate digital content With meta-data for
`controlling Wireless transmission and rendering of digital
`content from one portable media device to another.
`
`[0006] In one aspect, the invention features a portable
`media device comprising a memory, a Wireless transceiver,
`
`[0014] Embodiments in accordance With this aspect of the
`invention may include one or more of the folloWing features.
`
`Petitioner Apple Inc. - Exhibit 1006, p. 9
`
`

`

`US 2002/0077988 A1
`
`Jun. 20, 2002
`
`[0015] The license manager preferably is con?gured to
`embed a user identi?er in meta-data associated With pur
`chased digital content. The license manager may be con?g
`ured to allocate incentives based upon meta-data associated
`With purchased digital content. The license manager may be
`con?gured to allocate an incentive to a digital content
`distributor in response to a purchase of the corresponding
`digital content by a user of a portable media device storing
`the meta-data With an appropriate embedded distributor
`identi?er. The license manager may be con?gured to allocate
`an incentive to a user of a portable media device containing
`restricted playback digital content in response to a purchase
`of the corresponding digital content by the user.
`
`[0016] The digital content distribution system may include
`a licensed digital content distributor that is con?gured to
`transmit to one or more portable media devices meta-data
`associated With a broadcasted digital content and containing
`an embedded distributor identi?er. The licensed distributor
`may be con?gured to allocate incentives based upon meta
`data associated With purchased digital content. The licensed
`distributor may be con?gured to allocate an incentive to a
`user of a portable media device containing restricted play
`back digital content in response to a purchase of the corre
`sponding digital content by the user.
`
`[0017] Other features and advantages of the invention Will
`become apparent from the folloWing description, including
`the draWings and the claims.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
`
`[0018] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic vieW of a system for
`distributing digital content.
`
`[0019] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a server computer.
`
`[0020] FIG. 3A is a diagrammatic front vieW of a portable
`media device.
`
`[0021] FIG. 3B is a block diagram of components of the
`portable media device of FIG. 3A.
`
`[0022] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a digital content
`transfer ?le and public and private key pairs assigned to a
`distributor and a licensed user.
`
`[0023] FIG. 5A is a How diagram of a method of pack
`aging digital content for transmission from a license man
`ager to a commercial distributor.
`
`[0024] FIG. 5B is a How diagram of a method of pack
`aging digital content for transmission from a commercial
`distributor to an end user.
`
`[0025] FIG. 6 is a How diagram of a method of rendering
`digital content With the portable media device of FIG. 3A.
`
`[0026] FIG. 7 is a How diagram of a method of transmit
`ting digital content With the portable media device of FIG.
`3A.
`
`[0027] FIG. 8A is a How diagram of a method by Which
`a commercial distributor may distribute digital content to an
`end user based upon a stored digital content header.
`
`[0028] FIG. 8B is a How diagram of a method by Which
`a user may access digital content With only a content key and
`an associated content header.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`[0029] In the folloWing description, like reference num
`bers are used to identify like elements. Furthermore, the
`draWings are intended to illustrate major features of eXem
`plary embodiments in a diagrammatic manner. The draWings
`are not intended to depict every feature of actual embodi
`ments nor relative dimensions of the depicted elements, and
`are not draWn to scale.
`
`[0030] Referring to FIG. 1, in one embodiment, a digital
`content distribution system 10 has several distribution lev
`els, including a content provider level 12, a distribution
`management level 14, a distributor level 16, and a target
`customer level 18. Content provider level 12 includes a
`content oWner 20 that oWns the distribution rights for one or
`more digital Works, each of Which is encoded in an appro
`priate digital format. In some embodiments, digital content
`may be compressed using a compression format that is
`selected based upon the digital content type (e.g., an MP3 or
`a WMA compression format for audio Works, and an MPEG
`or an AVI compression format for audio/video Works).
`Distribution management level 14 includes a license man
`ager 22 that is con?gured to manage digital content licenses
`for content oWner 20 and to track and control the distribution
`of digital content provided by content oWner 20. Distributor
`level 16 includes a commercial distributor 24 that is con
`?gured to sell digital content to an unlicensed user 26 at the
`target customer level 18. As explained in detail beloW,
`distributor level 16 also includes a licensed user 28 Who is
`authoriZed to distribute digital content to other users, includ
`ing unlicensed user 26. In this Way, digital content distribu
`tion system 10 leverages the desire of users to share and
`eXchange digital content to reach neW potential customers,
`While protecting the interests of digital content oWners by
`tracking and controlling the distribution of digital content.
`License manager 22 also administers an incentives scheme
`that encourages both commercial distributor 24 and licensed
`user 28 to distribute digital content and unlicensed user 26
`to buy digital content.
`
`[0031] In operation, digital content is supplied by content
`oWner 20 to license manager 22. License manager 22
`packages the digital content into a secure transfer ?le, Which
`is transmitted to commercial distributor 24. The transfer ?le
`may be transmitted over an open netWork (e.g., the Internet)
`or a closed netWork (e.g., a proprietary dial-up bulletin
`board). Alternatively, the transfer ?le may be stored on a
`mass storage medium (e.g., a CD ROM, a PCMCIA card, a
`DVD, a ?oppy disk, a removable hard drive, digital mag
`netic tape, an optical card, a ?ash memory or other optical,
`magnetic, electronic, or semiconductor memory device) that
`may be physically transferred to commercial distributor 24.
`
`[0032] Commercial distributor 24 may offer the digital
`content for sale to users in a variety of different Ways. For
`eXample, commercial distributor 24 may operate an Internet
`Web site that may be accessed by a conventional Web
`broWser application program executing on a user’s computer
`system. The Web site may present a collection of digital
`content that is indeXed and categoriZed according to tradi
`tional criteria (e.g., genre, author, title, top-selling, recom
`mended selections). The Web site also may provide addi
`tional information relating to the available digital content,
`including user ratings and revieWs. Users may playback the
`digital content on the ?y using a playback softWare appli
`
`Petitioner Apple Inc. - Exhibit 1006, p. 10
`
`

`

`US 2002/0077988 A1
`
`Jun. 20, 2002
`
`cation program. In addition, users may download digital
`content using a Web browser application program and play
`back the digital content later using the same playback
`softWare application program. Users also may transfer the
`doWnloaded digital content to an appropriately con?gured
`portable media device (described beloW) that is con?gured
`to playback stored digital content. In an alternative embodi
`ment, commercial distributor 24 may operate a traditional
`brick-and-mortar retail establishment (e.g., a bookstore or a
`music store) that contains one or more kiosks (or content
`previeW stations) that provide user access to digital content
`that may be rendered at the kiosk or transferred to a user’s
`portable media device for later playback. A kiosk may
`include a computer system With a graphical user interface
`that enables users to navigate through a collection of digital
`content that is stored locally at the retail establishment or
`that is stored remotely and is retrievable over a netWork
`communication channel. A kiosk also may include a cable
`port that a user may connect to a portable media device for
`doWnloading selected digital content.
`[0033] As mentioned above, users may playback digital
`content using a playback softWare program executing on a
`computer system or an appropriately con?gured portable
`media device. In particular, the playback softWare and the
`portable media device are responsive to meta-data associ
`ated With each digital Work. The associated meta-data
`includes information that indicates Whether a user has pur
`chased a digital Work and, therefore is a licensed user 28, or
`Whether the user has received the digital Work Without
`purchase and, therefore, is an unlicensed user 26. In one
`embodiment, licensed users 28 may playback the licensed
`digital content an unlimited number of times and are alloWed
`to transmit the digital content to other users (both licensed
`and unlicensed users). Unlicensed users 26, on the other
`hand, may only playback the digital content a limited
`number of times, after Which they may only play previeW
`sample clips of the unlicensed digital Work. In the present
`embodiment, unlicensed users 26 may not transmit digital
`content to other users. In other embodiments, unlicensed
`users 26 may transmit digital content to other users.
`[0034] Referring to FIG. 2, in one embodiment, content
`oWner 20, license manager 22, and commercial distributor
`24 may communicate and pass digital content over a con
`ventional distribution netWork infrastructure (e.g., the Inter
`net or a proprietary bulletin board service infrastructure).
`Accordingly, content oWner 20, license manager 22, and
`commercial distributor each may be implemented as one or
`more respective softWare modules operating on a respective
`server computer 30 that is connected to a conventional
`telephone or cable netWork. Server computer 30 includes a
`processing unit 34, a system memory 36, and a system bus
`38 that couples processing unit 34 to the various components
`of server computer 30. Processing unit 34 may include one
`or more processors, each of Which may be in the form of any
`one of various commercially available processors. System
`memory 36 includes a read only memory (ROM) 40 that
`stores a basic input/output system (BIOS) containing start
`up routines for server computer 30, and a random access
`memory (RAM) 42. System bus 38 may be a memory bus,
`a peripheral bus or a local bus, and may be compatible With
`any of a variety of bus protocols, including PCI, VESA,
`Microchannel, ISA, and EISA. Server computer 30 also
`includes a hard drive 44, a ?oppy drive 46, and CD ROM
`drive 48 that are connected to system bus 38 by respective
`
`interfaces 50, 52, 54. Hard drive 44, ?oppy drive 46, and CD
`ROM drive 48 contain respective computer-readable media
`disks 56, 58, 60 that provide non-volatile or persistent
`storage for data, data structures and computer-executable
`instructions. Other computer-readable storage devices (e.g.,
`magnetic tape drives, ?ash memory devices, and digital
`video disks) also may be used With server computer 30. A
`user may interact (e.g., enter commands or data) With server
`computer 30 using a keyboard 62 and a mouse 64. Other
`input devices (e.g., a microphone, joystick, or touch pad)
`also may be provided. Information may be displayed to the
`user on a monitor 66. Server computer 30 also may include
`peripheral output devices, such as speakers and a printer.
`One or more remote computers 68 may be connected to
`server computer 30 over a local area netWork (LAN) 72, and
`one or more remote computers 70 may be connected to
`server computer 30 over a Wide area netWork
`74
`(e.g., the Internet).
`[0035] Referring to FIG. 3A, users 26, 28 may access and
`distribute digital content using a portable media device 80,
`Which is con?gured to store, render and distribute digital
`content in accordance With instructions embedded in meta
`data associated With each digital Work stored in the device.
`Portable media device 80 includes a screen 82 that displays
`a graphical user interface to users 26, 28. The graphical user
`interface may display the title and other information relating
`to one or more digital Works stored in the device. The
`graphical user interface also may present one or more user
`options for controlling the operating of portable media
`device 80. Portable media device 80 also includes various
`user controls, including a play button 84, a stop button 86,
`a fast forWard/next selection button 88, a reWind/previous
`selection button 90, and a volume control dial 92. Portable
`media device 80 has an output port 94 for connecting to an
`input jack of an audio output device (e.g., headphones), and
`a cable port 96 for connecting to a computer or other
`hardWare system (e.g., a content previeW kiosk system).
`Portable media device further includes a Wireless commu
`nication port 98, for example, an IrDA (Infrared Data
`Association) port, through Which portable media device 80
`may Wirelessly exchange digital content With other similarly
`con?gured devices, including other portable media devices.
`A user may selectively receive and transmit digital content
`by depressing either a receive button 100 or a transmit
`button 102. Some embodiments may include an RF antenna
`104 instead of, or in addition to, Wireless communication
`port 98.
`[0036] As shoWn in FIG. 3B, portable media device 80
`has a communication subsystem that includes a netWork
`adapter 110 that is con?gured to communicate through cable
`port 96 and a transceiver 112 that is con?gured to commu
`nicate through Wireless communication port 98 (or antenna
`104). Portable media device also has a digital content
`rendering subsystem that includes an audio adapter 114 that
`is con?gured to transmit digital audio data signals to one or
`more speakers 116, and a display adapter 118 that is con
`?gured to transmit image data signals to display screen 82.
`A controller 120 is con?gured to choreograph the operation
`of portable media device 80. As explained in detail beloW,
`controller 120 is con?gured to control the rendering and
`transmission of digital content that is stored in an internal
`memory 122 based upon received user inputs and meta-data
`associated With the stored digital content. Memory 122 may
`include a random access memory (RAM) and a read only
`
`Petitioner Apple Inc. - Exhibit 1006, p. 11
`
`

`

`US 2002/0077988 A1
`
`Jun. 20, 2002
`
`memory (ROM). In some embodiments, one or more other
`storage technologies may be used, including an internal hard
`drive and a removable storage device (e.g., a removable hard
`drive, storage card or disk). A battery poWer supply 124
`supplies the electrical poWer needed to operate portable
`media device 80.
`
`[0037] In other embodiments, the portable media device
`may be implemented as a solid state MP3 player, a CD
`player, an MCD player, a camera, a game pad, a cellular
`telephone, or other electronic device.
`
`[0038] Referring to FIG. 4, meta-data may be associated
`With digital content to enable license manager 22 to track
`and control the distribution of digital content and to admin
`ister distribution-based incentives. In one embodiment, the
`meta-data is implemented as a content header 139 (Header
`B) that includes information relating to an associated digital
`Work 141. For eXample, content header 139 may include a
`digital content identi?er 132, a distributor identi?er 135
`(Distributor ID B), a user identi?er 137, and license restric
`tion codes 138. Digital content identi?er 132 is a unique
`number that identi?es the associated digital Work. Distribu
`tor identi?er 135 and user identi?er 137 respectively identify
`the commercial distributor 24 and the licensed user 28 in the
`distribution path betWeen license manager 22 and the current
`holder of the digital Work. More than one distributor and
`user identi?ers may be stored in content header 139. License
`restriction codes 138 contain instructions for controlling the
`playback of the associated digital content 141, including
`playback settings and restrictions on the number of times the
`digital content may be played by an unlicensed user 26.
`Other information relating to the associated digital content
`also may be contained in content header 139, including
`previeW sample clips of the associated digital content 141.
`
`[0039] Content header 139 is used by license manager 22
`to track and control the distribution of digital content 141
`and to administer an incentives system that encourages
`participating entities to distribute digital content 141 to
`potential neW customers. In particular, a license restriction
`code 138 in each content header 139 limits the number of
`times that an unlicensed user 26 may playback an associated
`digital Work 141. An unlicensed user 26 may play an
`unlicensed digital Work a number of times up to the playback
`limit; afterWards, the unlicensed user 26 may only play a
`previeW sample clip of the Work. If the unlicensed user
`Would like to play the complete digital Work again, the user
`must purchase the Work from a commercial distributor 24. In
`other Words, the distribution of digital content 141 is
`restricted to a limited number of free playbacks of the digital
`Work and an unlimited number of free playbacks of a
`previeW sample clip of the digital Work. As a result, potential
`neW customers are exposed to the digital content being
`offered for sale Without substantial risk of unrestricted
`distribution of the digital content. The one or more distribu
`tor and user identi?ers 135, 137, Which correspond to the
`one or more entities in the distribution path betWeen license
`manager 22 and the unlicensed user 26, may be used by
`license manager 22 to track the distribution of digital content
`to end users and to allocate incentives to the distributing
`entities.
`
`[0040] In the present embodiment, license manager 22
`transmits the transfer ?le to commercial distributor 24,
`Which in turn transmits the digital content to end users 26,
`
`28. In some embodiments, license manager 22 also may
`operate as a commercial distributor. End-users 26, 28 must
`register their portable media devices and playback softWare
`programs With license manager 22 in order to participate in
`the distribution system 10. During registration, a portable
`media device is associated With information relating to the
`oWner of the device. The oWnership information may be
`embedded in the portable media device and may be stored in
`a license database controlled by license manager 22. In
`addition, each digital Work transmission involves the pack
`aging of the digital Work and the associated content header
`into an encrypted transfer ?le that may be securely trans
`mitted from one participating entity to another. In particular,
`each digital Work and its associated meta-data are encrypted
`and decrypted With a respective content key. Before
`encrypted digital content and its associated meta-data and
`content key are transmitted from one participant to another,
`the content key is encrypted using the public keys assigned
`to each of the participants registered With license manager
`22. In some embodiments, each of the participating com
`mercial distributors and participating users (licensed and
`unlicensed) receives a public/private key pair upon regis
`tration With license manager 22. The keys may be trans
`ferred through a secure softWare transaction betWeen license
`manager server 30 and the user’s computer system. In some
`other embodiments, a public/private key pair may be embed
`ded (e.g., hardWired) in the portable media device. The
`cryptographic keys may be generated in accordance With a
`conventional encryption algorithm, in