US007483958B1
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Elabbady et a].
`
`(10) Patent N0.2
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,483,958 B1
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`(54) METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR
`SHARING MEDIA CONTENT, LIBRARIES
`AND PLAYLISTS
`
`(75) Inventors: Tarek Z- Elabbady’ Redmond’ WA
`
`(Us); Shannon J‘ Chan’ Bellevue’ WA
`(US); James M. Alkove, Woodinville,
`WA (US); Sandeep S. Sahasrabudhe,
`Redmond’ WA (Us)
`(73) Assignee: Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA
`(Us)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`Patent 15 exltjeltded ordadlusted under 35
`USC‘ 154( ) y 702 ays'
`
`(21) Appl' NO" 10/108’174
`(22) Filed,
`Man 26, 2002
`
`Related US Application Data
`_
`_
`_
`_
`(60) PrOVlslOnal aPPhCaUOn NO~ 60/278304: ?led on Mar-
`26> 2001-
`
`(5 1) Int‘ Cl‘
`(200601)
`G06F 15/16
`(52) US. Cl. ..................... .. 709/217; 709/218; 709/219;
`709/231
`
`0f Classi?cation Search ............... ..
`709/200, 203, 217E219, 229, 230, 238; 705/ 50,
`705/51, 59
`See application ?le for Complete Search history
`.
`References Cited
`
`(56)
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`>I<
`13133332351 """""""" "
`*
`705/59
`V2006 Padole et al'
`6’993’664 B2 ,,.
`707m)
`6/2006 McCartney et a1‘ _
`7,065,527 B2 *
`705/56
`7/2006 Hillegass et a1.
`7,076,468 B2 *
`705/51
`7,110,982 B2* 9/2006 Feldman et a1.
`7,136,866 B2 * 11/2006 Springer et a1. ........... .. 707/102
`
`5/2002 Levy ........................ .. 707/200
`2002/0052885 A1 *
`8/2002 Lennon et a1.
`709/231
`2002/0107973 A1 *
`2002/0147771 A1* 10/2002 Traversat et a1. ..
`709/203
`2003/0005135 A1* 1/2003 Inoue et a1.
`709/229
`2003/0172131 A1* 9/2003 A0 .......... ..
`709/219
`
`2004/0249815 A1* 12/2004 Lee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
`
`. . . . .. 707/9
`
`2006/0031551 A1 *
`
`2/2006 Agresta et a1. ............ .. 709/231
`
`* cited by examiner
`Primary ExamineriSaleh Najjar
`Asslsmm Exammer
`HamZa
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or FzrmiLee & Hayes, PLLC
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`Methods and systems suitable for sharing media content are
`provided. One system includes at least one media holder, at
`least one media catalo er, at least one user control oint, at
`least one media playerjéand at least one network opeliratively
`connecting them. The media holder is con?gured to selec
`tively output shared media metadata, media content and at
`least one corresponding media playing license over the net
`work. The media cataloger is con?gured to receive the meta
`data identifying the shared media content that is available
`from the media holder(s). The media cataloger is con?gured
`to output at least one media catalog over the network. The
`media catalog identi?es the shared media content that is avail
`able from the media holder(s). The user control point is con
`?gured to receive the media Catalogs) and request the shared
`media content as selected from the media catalog, for
`example,
`a user' The user Control point Con?gures the
`media player to receive the media playing license and the
`media content over the network. The media player cannot
`play protected media content without having a proper license.
`The license may be withheld if certain authentication criteria
`are not met by the playing device. In certain implementations,
`the network includes a Universal Plug-and-Play network that
`allows the various devices to quickly integrate with one
`another without user intervention. The network also provides
`a robust environment, such that, e.g., media content sharing
`can easily be accomplished even ifthe media cataloger is not
`avallable
`
`22 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`/ ______ N“ MEDIA CATALOG I
`
`/®//-—* MEDIACATALOG
`
`SERVICE
`1%
`
`DEVICE m
`- MEEIQRIIIIERSRY
`m
`o
`
`DEVICE 2Q
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`INTERFACE
`CDNTROL
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`
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`DRM
`DEIQZZIQRI
`SERVER
`\
`CLIENT
`PLAYER
`§ZQ \\®\ HTTP CLIENT
`m
`6%
`m 9?’ +
`_
`LICENSE
`@
`NETWORK
`12 GENERATOR \ \®\ LICENSE
`STORE
`105 @IV 3'12 \\@\ \\ CLIENT
`9
`529
`
`CLIENT
`m
`
`/
`
`m DEVICE MANAGER
`39;
`
`DEVICE
`
`m
`
`Page 1 of 14
`
`Unified Patents Exhibit 1006
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 1 of5
`
`US 7,483,958 B1
`
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`Page 2 of 14
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`Page 2 of 14
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`

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`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 2 of5
`
`US 7,483,958 B1
`
`Device 206d
`
`S C
`E M
`m m_ D 2
`
`8 b4 C 6 6 6 0 0 0 2 2 2 m .m 000 m w w. w D D D
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`Page 3 of 14
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`

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`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
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`Sheet 3 of5
`
`US 7,483,958 B1
`
`Device 206e
`
`MEDIA CS
`2%:
`MEDIA LS
`201
`
`Device m
`
`Device 206g
`MEDIA LS
`207
`
`DEvlcE 202'
`IA
`_0_
`
`INTERNET
`208
`
`Page 4 of 14
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`

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`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 4 of5
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`US 7,483,958 B1
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`Page 5 of 14
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`

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`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 5 of5
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`US 7,483,958 B1
`
`400 N
`
`A MEDIA CATALOG SERVICE (CS) IS CREATED ON AT LEAST
`ONE DEvICE THAT Is COUPLED TO A NETWORK \ 402
`
`I
`THE MEDIA CS SENDS A REQUEST FOR AVAILABLE MEDIA
`INFORMATION OvER THE NETWORK
`
`\ 404
`
`I
`AT LEAST ONE MEDIA LIBRARY sERvICE (LS) OPERATING ON A
`DEvICE COUPLED TO THE NETWORK RECEIVES THE REQUEST
`AND IN RESPONSE SENDS MEDIA LIBRARY INFORMATION TO
`THE MEDIA CS
`I
`THE MEDIA CS RECEIVES THE MEDIA LIBRARY INFORMATION
`\ 408
`FROM AT LEAST ONE MEDIA LS AND FORMS A MEDIA CATALOG
`
`\ 406
`
`I
`THE MEDIA CS SENDS OUT A NOTIFICATION THAT THE MEDIA
`CATALOG IS AVAILABLE
`
`I
`
`THE MEDIA CS SENDS AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE MEDIA
`CATALOG OVER THE NETWORK TO AT LEAST ONE NETWORKED \ 412
`DEvICE
`
`I
`THE NETWORKED DEVICE PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT
`SELECTED MEDIA CONTENT IDENTIFIED IN THE MEDIA CATALOG \- 414
`TO A USER FOR POSSIBLE SELECTION
`
`I
`
`THE NETWORKED DEVICE ACCEPTS USER INPUT SELECTING
`MEDIA CONTENT IDENTIFIED IN THE MEDIA CATALOG
`
`THE NETWORKED DEVICE REQUESTS THE SELECTED MEDIA
`CONTENT OVER THE NETWORK FROM AN APPLICABLE MEDIA \ 418
`CONTENT HOLDER
`
`I
`
`I
`
`THE APPLICABLE MEDIA CONTENT HOLDER PROvIDEs THE
`SELECTED MEDIA CONTENT TO THE NETWORKED DEvICE \— 420
`
`Page 6 of 14
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`

`
`US 7,483,958 B1
`
`1
`METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR
`SHARING MEDIA CONTENT, LIBRARIES
`AND PLAYLISTS
`
`RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
`
`This US. Non-provisional application for Letters Patent
`claims the bene?t of priority from, and hereby incorporates
`by reference the entire disclosure of, co-pending U.S. Provi
`sional application for Letters Patent Ser. No. 60/278,804 ?led
`Mar. 26, 2001.
`
`10
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`This invention relates generally to networked computer
`and media reproduction devices, and more particularly to
`methods and systems for sharing media content between vari
`ous devices.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`Personal computers (PCs) are popular tools forplaying and
`sharing digital music ?les and more recently digital video
`?les. Downloading these and other types of media content
`?les over the Internet is becoming more and more common, as
`a result of improved communication capabilities and
`advances in computer processing and data storage. Consum
`ers also have more things to do with the media content once it
`has been downloaded. For example, consumers may choose
`to burn CDs or DVDs that can be replayed over stereos or
`televisions, respectively. Consumers are also able to port
`certain media ?les to digital audio players/receivers, such as,
`e.g., MP-3 devices that can easily be transported. Other popu
`lar digital media content tools include digital cameras (both
`still and video) and digital scanning devices, which can be
`used to produce media content that can be shared with others
`over the Internet.
`A variety of digital audio content ?le sharing services are
`available over the Internet. Some of these early music swap
`ping pioneers, such as, e. g., Napster, have successfully shown
`that consumers are excited about the prospects provided by
`online media content delivery. Some of services have also
`highlighted the continuing need to ensure that copyrighted
`media content is carefully protected.
`There is also a movement underway to provide more
`enhanced home networking capabilities, for example, that
`allow consumers to interconnect various devices and/or
`appliances together and possibly with other devices over the
`Internet. One exciting possibility is providing consumers
`with the ability to manage and deliver media content to
`devices not only in their homes but in their automobiles and at
`work. With the rapid changes in wireless technology, what
`was once only a dream is quickly becoming a reality.
`Consequently, there is a need for media content sharing
`methods and systems that take advantage of these and other
`technological improvements while also providing a respon
`sible and user-friendly networking environment.
`
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`The media holder is con?gured to selectively output shared
`media metadata, media content and at least one correspond
`ing media playing license over the network. The media cata
`loger is con?gured to receive the metadata identifying the
`shared media content that is available from the media holder
`(s). The media cataloger is con?gured to output at least one
`media catalog over the network. The media catalog contains
`metadata identifying the shared media content that is avail
`able from the media holder(s). The user control point is con
`?gured to receive the media catalog(s) and request the shared
`media content as selected from the media catalog, for
`example, by a user. The user control point con?gures the
`media player to receive the media playing license and the
`media content over the network.
`The media player cannot play protected media content
`without having a proper media content playing license. The
`license may be withheld if certain authentication criteria are
`not met by the playing device and/ or user.
`In certain implementations, the network includes a Univer
`sal Plug-and-Play network that allows the various devices,
`both wired and wireless devices, to quickly integrate with one
`another without user intervention. The network also provides
`a robust environment, such that, e.g., media content sharing
`can easily be accomplished even if the media cataloger is not
`available.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`A more complete understanding of the various methods
`and systems of the present invention may be had by reference
`to the following detailed description when taken in conjunc
`tion with the accompanying drawings wherein:
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram generally illustrating an exem
`plary computer system suitable for use with certain imple
`mentations of the present invention.
`FIG. 2A is a block diagram depicting a media content
`sharing environment having a plurality of networked devices
`including one device con?gured to provide a media catalog
`ing service (CS) and other devices con?gured to provide
`media library services (LSs), in accordance with certain
`exemplary implementations of the present invention.
`FIG. 2B is a block diagram depicting a media content
`sharing environment having a plurality of networked devices
`including at least two devices con?gured to provide media
`cataloging services (CSs) and other devices con?gured to
`provide media library services (LSs), in accordance with
`certain other exemplary implementations of the present
`invention.
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating certain features and/
`or functions associated with certain devices, e.g., as in FIGS.
`1, and/ or 2A-B, that are con?gured to share media content, in
`accordance with certain exemplary implementations of the
`present invention.
`FIG. 4 is a ?ow diagram depicting a media sharing process,
`in accordance with certain exemplary implementations of the
`present invention.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`The above stated needs and others are satis?ed, for
`example, by a system suitable for sharing media content
`between a plurality of different types of devices. In accor
`dance with certain exemplary implementations of the present
`invention, the system includes at least one media holder, at
`least one media cataloger, at least one user control point, at
`least one media player, and at least one network operatively
`connecting them.
`
`65
`
`Turning to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals
`refer to like elements, the invention is illustrated as being
`implemented in a suitable computing environment. Although
`not required, the invention will be described in the general
`context of computer-executable instructions, such as program
`modules, being executed by a personal computer. Generally,
`program modules include routines, programs, objects, com
`ponents, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or
`
`Page 7 of 14
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`US 7,483,958 B1
`
`3
`implement particular abstract data types. Moreover, those
`skilled in the art Will appreciate that the invention may be
`practiced With other computer system con?gurations, includ
`ing hand-held devices, multi-processor systems, micropro
`cessor based or programmable consumer electronics, net
`Work PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the
`like. The invention may also be practiced in distributed com
`puting environments Where tasks are performed by remote
`processing devices that are linked through a communications
`netWork. In a distributed computing environment, program
`modules may be located in both local and remote memory
`storage devices.
`FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a suitable computing envi
`ronment 120 on Which the subsequently described methods
`and systems may be implemented. Exemplary computing
`environment 120 is only one example of a suitable computing
`environment and is not intended to suggest any limitation as
`to the scope of use or functionality of the improved methods
`and systems described herein. Neither should computing
`environment 120 be interpreted as having any dependency or
`requirement relating to any one or combination of compo
`nents illustrated in computing environment 120.
`The improved methods and systems herein are operational
`With numerous other general purpose or special purpose com
`puting system environments or con?gurations. Examples of
`Well knoWn computing systems, environments, and/or con
`?gurations that may be suitable include, but are not limited to,
`personal computers, server computers, thin clients, thick cli
`ents, hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessor systems,
`microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmable
`consumer electronics, netWork PCs, minicomputers, main
`frame computers, distributed computing environments that
`include any of the above systems or devices, and the like. The
`methods and systems may also be implemented, for example,
`using various media processing devices such as desktop com
`puting devices, notebook computing devices, tablet comput
`ing devices, hand-held computing devices, personal digital
`assistant (PDA) devices, electronic paper devices, electronic
`book devices, Wearable computing devices, digital audio
`receiver (DAR) devices, digital audio player devices, digital
`audio recording devices, automobile-based media player
`devices, digital television devices, digital video player
`devices, digital versatile disc (DVD) player devices; set top
`box devices, digital video receiver devices, digital video
`recording devices, Wireless communication devices, and the
`like.
`As shoWn in FIG. 1, computing environment 120 includes
`a general-purpose computing device in the form of a com
`puter 130. The components of computer 130 may include one
`or more processors or processing units 132, a system memory
`134, and a bus 136 that couples various system components
`including system memory 134 to processor 132.
`Bus 136 represents one or more of any of several types of
`bus structures, including a memory bus or memory controller,
`a peripheral bus, an accelerated graphics port, and a processor
`or local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. By Way
`of example, and not limitation, such architectures include
`Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, Micro Channel
`Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, Video
`Electronics Standards Association (V ESA) local bus, and
`Peripheral Component Interconnects (PCI) bus also knoWn as
`MeZZanine bus.
`Computer 130 typically includes a variety of computer
`readable media. Such media may be any available media that
`is accessible by computer 130, and it includes both volatile
`and non-volatile media, removable and non-removable
`media.
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`In FIG. 1, system memory 134 includes computer readable
`media in the form of volatile memory, such as random access
`memory (RAM) 140, and/or non-volatile memory, such as
`read only memory (ROM) 138. A basic input/output system
`(BIOS) 142, containing the basic routines that help to transfer
`information betWeen elements Within computer 130, such as
`during start-up, is stored in ROM 138. RAM 140 typically
`contains data and/or program modules that are immediately
`accessible to and/ or presently being operated on by processor
`132.
`Computer 130 may further include other removable/non
`removable, volatile/non-volatile computer storage media. For
`example, FIG. 1 illustrates a hard disk drive 144 for reading
`from and Writing to a non-removable, non-volatile magnetic
`media (not shoWn and typically called a “hard drive”), a
`magnetic disk drive 146 for reading from and Writing to a
`removable, non-volatile magnetic disk 148 (e.g., a “?oppy
`disk”), and an optical disk drive 150 for reading from or
`Writing to a removable, non-volatile optical disk 152 such as
`a CD-ROM/R/RW, DVD-ROM/R/RW/+R/RAM or other
`optical media. Hard disk drive 144, magnetic disk drive 146
`and optical disk drive 150 are each connected to bus 136 by
`one or more interfaces 154.
`The drives and associated computer-readable media pro
`vide nonvolatile storage of computer readable instructions,
`data structures, program modules, and other data for com
`puter 130. Although the exemplary environment described
`herein employs a hard disk, a removable magnetic disk 148
`and a removable optical disk 152, it should be appreciated by
`those skilled in the art that other types of computer readable
`media Which can store data that is accessible by a computer,
`such as magnetic cassettes, ?ash memory cards, digital video
`disks, random access memories (RAMs), read only memories
`(ROM), and the like, may also be used in the exemplary
`operating environment.
`A number of program modules may be stored on the hard
`disk, magnetic disk 148, optical disk 152, ROM 138, or RAM
`140, including, e.g., an operating system 158, one or more
`application programs 160, other program modules 162, and
`program data 164.
`The improved methods and systems described herein may
`be implemented Within operating system 158, one or more
`application programs 160, other program modules 162, and/
`or program data 164.
`A user may provide commands and information into com
`puter 130 through input devices such as keyboard 166 and
`pointing device 168 (such as a “mouse”). Other input devices
`(not shoWn) may include a microphone, joystick, game pad,
`satellite dish, serial port, scanner, camera, etc. These and
`other input devices are connected to the processing unit 132
`through a user input interface 170 that is coupled to bus 136,
`but may be connected by other interface and bus structures,
`such as a parallel port, game port, or a universal serial bus
`(U SB).
`A monitor 172 or other type of display device is also
`connected to bus 136 via an interface, such as a video adapter
`174. In addition to monitor 172, personal computers typically
`include other peripheral output devices (not shoWn), such as
`speakers and printers, Which may be connected through out
`put peripheral interface 175.
`Computer 130 may operate in a netWorked environment
`using logical connections to one or more remote computers,
`such as a remote computer 182. Remote computer 182 may
`include many or all of the elements and features described
`herein relative to computer 130.
`Logical connections shoWn in FIG. 1 are a local area net
`Work (LAN) 177 and a general Wide area netWork (WAN)
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`Page 8 of 14
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`US 7,483,958 B1
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`5
`179. Such networking environments are commonplace in
`o?ices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets, and
`the Internet.
`When used in a LAN networking environment, computer
`130 is connected to LAN 177 via network interface or adapter
`186. When used in a WAN networking environment, the
`computer typically includes a modem 178 or other means for
`establishing communications over WAN 179. Modern 178,
`which may be internal or external, may be connected to sys
`tem bus 136 via the user input interface 170 or other appro
`priate mechanism.
`Depicted in FIG. 1, is a speci?c implementation of a WAN
`via the Internet. Here, computer 130 employs modem 178 to
`establish communications with at least one remote computer
`182 via the Internet 180.
`In a networked environment, program modules depicted
`relative to computer 130, or portions thereof, may be stored in
`a remote memory storage device. Thus, e.g., as depicted in
`FIG. 1, remote application programs 189 may reside on a
`memory device of remote computer 182. It will be appreci
`ated that the network connections shown and described are
`exemplary and other means of establishing a communications
`link between the computers may be used.
`Attention is now drawn FIG. 2A, which is a block diagram
`depicting a media content sharing environment 200 having a
`plurality of networked devices including a ?rst device 202
`that is con?gured to provide a media cataloging service (CS)
`over a network 204 with/for other devices 206a-d that are
`con?gured to act as media players and/or provide media
`library services (LSs), in accordance with certain exemplary
`implementations of the present invention.
`In this example ?rst device 202 is further operatively
`coupled to the Internet 208, which provides connectivity to at
`least one server 210. Here, server 210 is coupled to media
`content sharing mechanism that is represented by a database
`212. Server 210 may, for example, be con?gured to provide
`an Intemet-based service, such as, a media controller service,
`a media provider service, a radio program service, a television
`service, or the like. Device 2060 is illustrated as also having
`the ability to operatively connect to the Internet 208 through
`communication link 207. Other devices, such as devices
`206a, 2061) and/or 206d may also have similar connectivity to
`the Internet 208. For example, network 204 may be connected
`to the Internet 208 through one or more other devices (not
`shown).
`Network 204 is representative of any communication sys
`tem/equipment that can provide the necessary data commu
`nication path between the various devices connected through
`it. Thus, network 204 may include wired and/or wireless
`connections. In certain implementations network 204
`includes an Internet Protocol (IP) based network. To better
`control the sharing of media content, in certain implementa
`tions network 204 includes a local area network (LAN).
`One such implementation, in accordance with certain pre
`ferred implementations, includes the use of a Universal Plug
`and-Play (UPnP) protocol that provides a peer-to-peer net
`work capability that can support various devices through
`wired and/or wireless connections. UPnP provides a distrib
`uted, open networking architecture that leverages Transmis
`sion Control Protocol (TCP/IP) and World Wide Web
`(WWW) features to enable seamless proximity networking in
`addition to control and data transfer among networked
`devices in a home, of?ce, or other like environment(s). UPnP
`advantageously boasts device-driver independence and Zero
`con?guration networking.
`Devices 202, 206a-d (and later devices 202', 206e-h, and
`300) are representative of a variety of different devices that
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`can be used to provide features/capabilities associated with
`sharing media content in accordance with the methods and
`systems provided herein. An exemplary list of some of the
`types of devices that may be used was provided earlier. Those
`skilled in the art will recogniZe other devices that can also be
`used, including special purpose devices.
`As depicted in FIG. 2A, device 202 is operatively con?g
`ured to provide a media catalog service 203. Media catalog
`service (CS) 203 is con?gured to gather and/or distribute
`information about media content that is available for sharing
`between at least some of the connected devices. Thus, for
`example, in certain implementations media CS 203 may
`actively/dynamically query the various devices to gather
`information about shared media content and/or passively
`receive such information from the various devices.
`In a UPnP environment, media CS 203 can employ the
`capabilities provided by the UPnP protocol to dynamically
`discover and gather (e.g., aggregate) shared media content
`information. Media CS 203 can then publish at least a portion
`of the resulting aggregated information, e.g., as a correspond
`ing media catalog, over at least network 204. The media
`catalog may be provided in a format for displaying in a user
`interface or like mechanism.
`The shared media content information that is gathered by
`media CS 203 may include any type of data that may be
`helpful in the sharing process for the user of the media playing
`device and/ or the various services/functions provided within
`the various devices and/or network 204. With this in mind, in
`certain implementations the shared media content informa
`tion includes metadata associated with the media content. The
`metadata may include, for example, media content location
`information, media content format information and media
`content descriptive information. The media content location
`information can include at least one location identi?er, such
`as, e.g., a uniform naming convention (U NC) identi?er and/or
`a uni?ed resource locator (URL) identi?er.
`Media CS 203, in this example, is con?gured to convert at
`least a portion of the received metadata to produce the media
`catalog in the form of a markup language ?le. There exist a
`variety of markup languages that may be employed to provide
`the media catalog; some of the markup languages may be
`better suited for certain environments/devices. Some exem
`plary markup languages would include HyperText Markup
`Language (HTML), Standard Generalized Markup Language
`(SGML), Extensible HyperText Markup Language
`@(HTML), Extensible Markup Language (XML), Wireless
`Markup Language (WML), Handheld Device Markup Lan
`guage (HDML), ColdFusion Markup Language (CFML),
`and Compact HyperText Markup Language (CHTML). The
`preferred markup language in the examples provided herein is
`XML. Media CS 203 may also employ the use of a scripting
`language, such as, e.g., J Script, VBScript, Perl, and the like.
`In accordance with certain implementations of the present
`invention, device 202 includes a personal computer (PC) or
`like device and media CS 203 is con?gured to provide a
`centraliZed media cataloging capability. By essentially host
`ing such services, the PC offers a content management capa
`bility that can enhance its more common role as that of a
`media content storage device and/or media gateway device.
`Many PCs are already con?gured to provide/play various
`types of media. For example, many PCs are con?gured to run
`media player and/ or Jukebox applications that allow the user
`to create a digital music library, play/store/locate digital
`media content and burn CDs/DVDs. Some of this digital
`media content may be downloaded over the Internet.
`As used herein, the terms “media content” and/or just
`“media” are meant to refer to any form of information that
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`US 7,483,958 B1
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`7
`may be shared, processed, and/ or played or otherwise repro
`duced in some manner by one or more devices/ services for the
`user to see, hear and/or interact With. Thus, by Way of
`example, media content may include audio data, video data,
`image data, multimedia data, graphic data, textual data,
`graphical user interface (GUI) data, interactive programming
`data, computer game data, virtual reality data, and/or other
`similar types of data. In certain instances, the media content
`may also include metadata, some of Which may be presented
`to the user.
`Attention is noW draWn to device 20611, which includes a
`media library service (LS) 207. A similar media LS 207 is
`also provided in device 206d, Which as illustrated is con
`nected to netWork 204 over a Wireless connection.
`Media LS 207 is con?gured in this example to operate in
`conjunction With media CS 203 to promote the sharing of
`media content betWeen the various devices. Here, media LS
`207 is con?gured to provide metadata to media CS 203 about
`media content that at least its host device has available for
`sharing. In this manner, media LS 207 generates at least one
`media library that can be provided to media CS 203 over
`netWork 204 and subsequently aggregated into, or otherWise
`used to create, the resulting media catalog.
`In accordance With certain implementations, for example,
`device 206a and media LS 207 may further be con?gured to
`enhance an access control capability, a netWork ?reWall capa
`bility, and/ or a content protection capability. Assume, for
`example, that netWork 204 is con?gured as a home netWork
`that employs UPnP protocols. Here, the “UPnP” devices on
`the home netWork Would typically not be required to logon to
`a domain controller or the like. The access control lists
`(ACLS) could therefore be set to alloW access by anonymous
`users. This means that any UPnP control device (control
`point) on the home netWork could access media LS 207. This
`also means that the home netWork may need to be protected
`against unauthoriZed access. In the case of Internet connec
`tivity, therefore an Internet ?reWall or like capability should
`be provided for the home netWork. As such, in this example,
`it is preferred that the UPnP devices not be connected directly
`to the Internet, but rather through another device that provides
`for Internet connection sharing (ICS). The ICS con?guration
`Will act as a ?reWall, preventing unauthoriZed users from
`accessing the IP addresses of the various UPnP devices on the
`home netWork. With regard to FIG. 2A, it is assumed that
`device 202 provides an ICS or other like capability. Hence,
`the optional connection betWeen the Internet 208 and device
`2060 is a dashed line because it may not be desirable in some
`situations.
`It is preferred that media content sharing environment 200
`be con?gured to provide appropriate protection for copy
`righted media content that may be shared betWeen the various
`netWorked devices. Thus, in accordance With certain imple
`mentations of the present invention, media LS 207 employs a
`media content license scheme that essentially requires that a
`proper license exists to process/play the media content. The
`media content license may be associated With an individual
`media content ?le or With multiple media content ?les. The
`media content license may also or alternatively be associated
`With a speci?c media holding/playing device or With multiple
`media holding/playing devices. The media content license
`may also or alternatively be associated With a speci?c entity
`or With multiple entities (e.g., groups). The term “entity” is
`meant to represent any identi?able account, user, group, orga
`niZation, company, etc., that may in some Way seek to use a
`device to hold and/or play or otherWise process media con
`tent.
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`An exemplary media content license scheme is described
`in subsequent sections With regard to FIGS. 3 and 4.
`DRM is basically a set of technologies that media content
`oWners can use to protect their copyrights. In most instances,
`DRM is a system that encrypts digital media content and
`limits access to only those people Who have acquired a proper
`license to play the media content. By Way of example,
`Microsoft® WindoWs MediaTM Rights Manager provides an
`end-to-end DRM system that offers content providers and
`retailers a ?exible platform for the secure distribution of
`digital media ?les. Currently, WindoWs MediaTM Rights
`Manager includes both server and client softWare that enables
`applications to protect and play back digital media content
`?les.
`In certain exemplary implementations, the medi