US008185475B2
`
`a2) United States Patent
`Hug
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,185,475 B2
`May22, 2012
`
`(54) SYSTEM AND METHODFOR OBTAINING
`AND SHARING MEDIA CONTENT
`
`(76)
`
`Inventor:
`
`Joshua D. Hug, Seattle, WA (US)
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C, 154(b) by 1771 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 11/242,223
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Oct. 3, 2005
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2006/0085351 Al
`
`Apr. 20, 2006
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(63) Continuation-in-part of application No. 10/719,981,
`filed on Nov, 21, 2003, nowPat. No. 7,882,034.
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`GO6F 21400
`(US Ch assscnnnineannncn: 70559; 705/902
`(52):
`(58) Field of Classification Search .......0.0.......... 705/59,
`705/902
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,892,900 A *
`4/1999 Ginter et al. oc 726/26
`6,236,971 Bl
`5/2001 Stefik et al.
`6,434,621 Bl
`8/2002 Pezzillo et al.
`2001/0044851 Al
`11/2001 Rothman etal.
`
`10/2002 Sagar
`2002/0157034 Al
`12/2002) Lao 0.0... ceeee ess TO5/54
`2002/0198846 AL*
`8/2003 Fransdonk .........0... 713/153
`2003/0163684 Al*
`1/2005 Kushalnagar et al.
`2005/0010531 Al
`9/2005 Mulleretal.
`2005/0203959 Al
`4/2006 Hug
`2006/0085349 Al
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`David Belt, “Cable 3.0: DRM for Linear Content Delivery”,
`CableLabs, all pages, Dec. 2010. http://www.cablelabs.com/about/
`inventions/downloads/60280-supp-materials(Belt).pdf*
`International Preliminary Report on Patentability dated Apr. 17, 2008
`received in International Patent Application No. PCT/US2006/
`038596 (7 pages).
`Office Action mailed Sep. 16, 2008 in U.S. Appl. No. 11/242,339,
`filed Oct. 3, 2005.
`Office Action mailed Oct. 26, 2009 in U.S. Appl. No. 11/242,339,
`filed Oct. 3, 2005.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner — James A Reagan
`Assistant Examiner — Calvin Cheung
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Kory D. Christensen; Stoel
`Rives LLP
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A device initialization method includes generating a license
`request for a personal media device. A timeout indicator may
`be obtained for a subscription associated with the personal
`media device. The license request and the timeout indicator
`may be combined to form a device license for the personal
`media device. The device license may be digitally-signed to
`form a signed device license.
`
`19 Claims, 18 Drawing Sheets
`
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`EX1018
`Roku V. Media Chain
`U.S. Patent No. 9,898,590
`
`EX1018
`Roku V. Media Chain
`U.S. Patent No. 9,898,590
`
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`U.S. Patent
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`May22, 2012
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`U.S. Patent
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`May22, 2012
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`US 8,185,475 B2
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`US 8,185,475 B2
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`1
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OBTAINING
`AND SHARING MEDIA CONTENT
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is a continuation-in-part of the following
`application, whichis herein incorporated by reference: U.S.
`Ser. No. 10/719,981; filed 21 Nov. 2003, now U.S. Pat. No.
`7,882,034 entitled; DIGITAL RIGHTS MANAGEMENT
`FOR CONTENT RENDERING ON PLAYBACK
`DEVICES.
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`This inventionrelates to sharing media content and, more
`particularly, to sharing media content between multiple per-
`sonal media devices.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`the Rhapsody™ and
`Media distribution systems (e.g.,
`Rhapsody-to-Go™services offered by RealNetworks™ of
`Seattle, Wash.) distribute media contentto a client electronic
`device (e.g., an MP3 player) from a media server. A media
`distribution system maydistribute media content by allowing
`auser to download media data files and/or receive and process
`media data streams.
`
`When media data files are traditionally downloaded to a
`user’s client electronic device, each media data file down-
`loaded is licensed for exclusive use on the user’s client elec-
`
`tronic device, such that the usage rights (associated with the
`downloaded mediadata file) are passed to the client electronic
`device at the time that the media data file is downloaded.
`Often, a user of a first client electronic device may wish to
`share a media data file (e.g., a song) with a user of a second
`client electronic device. Unfortunately, as the media data files
`are licensed for exclusive use on a specific client electronic
`device, the media data file may not be directly transferred
`from the first client electronic device to the second client
`electronic device. Accordingly, the user of the second client
`electronic device would typically be required to obtain the
`media data file from the media distribution system.
`
`SUMMARY OFDISCLOSURE
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`In a first implementation, a device initialization method
`includes generating a license request for a personal media
`device. A timeout indicator may be obtained for a subscrip-
`tion associated with the personal media device. The license 5
`request and the timeout indicator may be combined to form a
`device license for the personal media device. The device
`license may be digitally-signed to form a signed device
`license.
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`55
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG, 1 is adiagrammatic view of a DRM process, a media
`distribution system, a client application, a proxy application,
`and a personal media device coupled to a distributed comput-
`ing network;
`FIG. 2 is an isometric view ofthe personal media device of
`FIG, 1;
`FIG. 3 isa diagrammatic viewofthe personal media device
`ofFIG. 1;
`FIG. 4 is a display screen rendered by the client application
`of FIG. 1:
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`FIG, 5 is a display screen rendered by the client application
`of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 6 is adisplay screen rendered by the client application
`of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 7 is adisplay screenrendered by the client application
`of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 8 is a display screen rendered by the client application
`of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 9 is adisplay screen rendered by the proxyapplication
`of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 10 is a display screen rendered by the proxy applica-
`tion of FIG. 1;
`FIG, 11 is a display screen rendered by the proxy applica-
`tion of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 12a is a diagrammatic view of the media distribution
`system, personal media device, and distributed computing
`network of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 124 is a flowchart of a process executed by the DRM
`process of FIG. 1;
`FIG, 13a is a diagrammatic view ofthe media distribution
`system, personal media device, and distributed computing
`network of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 134 1s a flowchart of a process executed by the DRM
`process of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 14a is a diagrammatic view of two personal media
`devices coupled to each other via a secure communication
`channel;
`FIG, 144 is a flowchart of a process executed by the DRM
`process ofFIG. 1; and
`FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic view of an asymmetric key
`block.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`System Overview
`Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a DRM (i.e., digital
`rights management) process 10 that may be resident on and
`executed by personal media device 12. As will be discussed
`below in greater detail,DRM process 10 allows a user(e.g.,
`user 14) of personal media device 12 to manage media con-
`tent 16 resident on personal media device 12. Examples of
`personal media device 12 include a laptop/notebook com-
`puter, a PDA (i.e., personal digital assistant), a cellulartele-
`phone, a portable media player(e.g., an MP3 player), a pager,
`a wireless email device (e.g., a Blackberry™ device), and/or
`a portable gaming device (e.g., a Playstation™Portable), for
`example. Personal media device 12 typically receives media
`content 16 from media distribution system 18.
`Aswill be discussed below in greater detail, examples of
`the format of the media content 16 received from media
`distribution system 18 may include: purchased downloads
`received from media distribution system 18 (i.e., media con-
`tent licensed to e.g., user 14 for use in perpetuity); subscrip-
`tion downloads received from media distribution system 18
`(i.e., media content licensed to e.g., user 14 for use while a
`valid subscription exists with media distribution system 18):
`and media content streamed from media distribution system
`18,
`for example. Typically, when media content 16 is
`streamed from e.g., computer 28(i.e., which mayinclude, but
`is not limited to, a server computer, a desktop computer, a
`laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, or a series of
`servers, for example) to personal media device 12, a copy of
`the media content 16 is not permanently retained on personal
`media device 12. In addition to media distribution system 18,
`media content 16 may be obtained from other sources,
`
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`US 8,185,475 B2
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`examples of which may include but are not limited to files
`ripped from music compactdises.
`Examples of the types of media content 16 distributed by
`media distribution system 18 include: audio files (examples
`of which mayinclude but are not limited to music files, audio
`news broadcasts, audio sports broadcasts, and audio record-
`ings of books, for example); videofiles (examples of which
`may include butare not limited to video footage that does not
`include sound, for example); audio/video files (examples of
`which mayinclude but are notlimitedto a/v news broadcasts,
`a/v sports broadcasts, feature-length movies and movieclips,
`music videos, and episodes of television shows, for example):
`and multimedia content (examples of which may include but
`are notlimited to interactive presentations and slideshows, for
`example).
`Media distribution system 18 typically provides media
`data streams and/or media data files to a plurality ofusers
`(e.g., users 14, 20, 22, 24, 26). Examples of such a media
`J
`distribution system 18 include the Rhapsody™service and 2
`Rhapsody-To-Go™service offered by RealNetworks™ of
`Seattle, Wash. Prior to transmission, media distribution sys-
`tem 18 may encode the mediadata streams and/or media data
`files into e.g., MP3 (i.e., Motion Picture Experts Group Audio
`Layer 3) format, AAC (1-e.,Advanced Audio Coding) format,
`RealAudio™ format, Quicktime™ format, and AVI (i.e.,
`Audio Video Interleave) format, for example. Uponreceipt,
`the streams/files may be decoded (using the appropriate
`decoder) and rendered.
`Mediadistribution system18 is typically a server applica-
`tion that resides on and is executed by computer 28 (e.g., a
`server computer) that is connected to network 30 (e.g., the
`Internet). Computer 28 may be a web server (or series of
`many connected servers) running a network operating sys-
`tem, examples of which may include but are not limited to
`Microsoft Windows 2000 Server™, Novell Netware™, or
`Redhat Linux™.
`Typically, computer 28 also executes a web server appli-
`cation, examples of which may include but are notlimited to
`Microsoft
`IIS™, Novell Webserver™, or Apache Web-
`server™, that allows for HTTP(i.e., HyperText Transfer Pro-
`tocol) access to computer 28 via network 30. Network 30 may
`be connected to one or more secondary networks(e.g., net-
`work 32), such as: a local area network; a wide area network:
`or anintranet, for example.
`‘The instruction sets and subroutines of media distribution
`system 18, whichare typically stored on a storage device 34
`coupled to computer 28, are executed by one or more proces-
`sors (not shown) and one or more memory architectures (not
`shown) incorporated into computer 28. Storage device 34
`may include but are not limited to a hard disk drive, a tape
`drive, an optical drive, a RAID array, a random access
`memory (RAM), or a read-only memory (ROM).
`Users 14, 20, 22, 24, 26 may access media distribution
`system 18 directly through network 30 or through secondary
`network 32. Further, computer 28 (i.e., the computer that
`executes media distribution system 18) may be connected to
`network 30 through secondary network 32, as illustrated with
`phantomlink line 36.
`Users 14, 20, 22, 24, 26 may access media distribution
`system 18 through various client electronic devices,
`examples of which may includebut are not limited to personal
`media devices 12, 38, 40, 42, client computer 44, laptop
`computers (not shown), personal digital assistants (not
`shown), cellular telephones (not shown),
`televisions (not
`shown), cable boxes (not shown), internet radios (not shown),
`or dedicated network devices (not shown), for example.
`
`4
`The various client electronic devices may be directly or
`indirectly coupled to network 30 (or network 32). For
`example, client computer 44 is shown directly coupled to
`network 30 via a hardwired network connection. Further,
`client computer 44 may execute a client application 46 (ex-
`amples ofwhich mayinclude but are not limited to Microsoft
`Internet Explorer™, Netscape Navigator™, RealRhap-
`sody™client, RealPlayer™ client, or a specialized interface)
`that allowse.g., user 22 to access and configure media distri-
`bution system 18 via network 30 (or network 32). Client
`computer 44 may runan operating system, examples ofwhich
`may include but are not limited to Microsoft Windows™, or
`Redhat Linux™.,
`Theinstruction sets and subroutines of client application
`46, whichare typically stored on a storage device 48 coupled
`to client computer 44, are executed by one or more processors
`(not shown) and one or more memory architectures (not
`shown) incorporated into client computer 44. Storage device
`48 mayinclude butare not limitedtoa hard disk drive, a tape
`drive, an optical drive, a RAID array, a random access
`memory (RAM), ora read-only memory (ROM).
`As discussed above, the various client electronic devices
`maybe indirectly coupled to network 30 (or network 32). For
`example, personal media device 38 is shownwireless coupled
`to network 30 via a wireless communication channel 50
`established between personal media device 38 and wireless
`access point (i.e., WAP) 52, which is showndirectly coupled
`to network 30. WAP 52 may be, for example, an IEEE
`802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, Wi-Fi, and/or Bluetooth device
`that is capable of establishing secure communication channel
`50 between personal media device 38 and WAP 52.
`Asis knownin theart, all of the IEEE 802.11x specifica-
`tions use Ethernet protocol and carrier sense multiple access
`with collision avoidance (i.e., CSMA/CA) for path sharing.
`The various 802.11x specifications may use phase-shift key-
`ing (i.e., PSK) modulation or complementary code keying
`(i.e., CCK) modulation, for example. As is knownin the art,
`Bluetooth is a telecommunications industry specificationthat
`allows e.g., mobile phones, computers, and personal digital
`assistants to be interconnected using a short-range wireless
`connection.
`In addition to being wirelessly coupled to network 30 (or
`network 32), personal media devices may be coupledto net-
`work 30 (or network 32) via a proxy computer(e.g., proxy
`computer 54 for personal media device 12, proxy computer
`56 for personal media device 40, and proxy computer 58 for
`personal media device 42, for example).
`Personal Media Device:
`For example and referring also to FIG. 2, personal media
`device 12 may be connected to proxy computer 54 via a
`docking cradle 60. Typically, personal media device 12
`includes a bus interface (to be discussed below in greater
`detail) that couples personal media device 12 to docking
`cradle 60. Docking cradle 60 may be coupled (with cable 62)
`to e.g., a universal serial bus (i.e., USB) port, a serial port, or
`an IEEE 1394 (i.e., FireWire) port included within proxy
`computer 54.
`The bus interface included within personal media device
`12 may be a USBinterface, and docking cradle 60 may
`function as a USB hub (i.e., a plug-and-play interface that
`allows for “hot” coupling and uncoupling of personal media
`device 12 and docking cradle 60).
`Proxy computer 54 may function as an Internet gateway for
`personal media device 12. Accordingly, personal media
`device 12 mayuse proxy computer 54 to access media distri-
`bution system 18 via network 30 (and network 32) and obtain
`media content 16. Specifically, upon receiving a request for
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`US 8,185,475 B2
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`media distribution system 18 from personal media device 12,
`proxy computer 54 (acting as an Internet client on behalf of
`personal media device 12), may request the appropriate web
`page/service from computer 28 (i.e.,
`the computer that
`executes media distribution system 18). When the requested
`web page/service is returned to proxy computer 54, proxy
`computer 54 relates the returned web page/service to the
`original request (placed by personal media device 12) and
`forwards the web page/service to personal media device 12.
`Accordingly, proxy computer 54 may function as a conduit
`for coupling personal media device 12 to computer 28 and,
`therefore, media distribution system18.
`Further, personal media device 12 may execute a device
`application 64 (examples of which may include but are not
`limited to RealRhapsody™client, RealPlayer™ client, or a
`specialized interface). Personal media device 12 may run an
`operating system, examples of which may include but are not
`limited to Microsoft Windows CE™, Redhat Linux™, Palm
`OS™, or a device-specific (i.e., custom) operating system.
`DRMprocess 10is typically a componentof device appli-
`cation 64 (examples of which may include but are not limited
`to an embeddedfeature of device application 64, a software
`plug-in for device application64, ora stand-alone application
`called from within and controlled by device application 64).
`Theinstructionsets and subroutines of device application 64
`and DRM process 10, whichare typically stored on a storage
`device 66 coupled to personal media device 12, are executed
`by one or more processors (not shown) and one or more
`memory architectures (not shown) incorporated into personal
`media device 12. Storage device 66 may be, for example, a
`hard disk drive, an optical drive, a random access memory
`(RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a CF (1.e., compact
`flash) card, an SD(i.e., secure digital) card, a SmartMedia
`card, a Memory Stick, and a MultiMedia card.
`An administrator 68 typically accesses and administers
`media distribution system 18 through a desktop application
`70 (examples of which may include but are not limited to
`Microsoft Internet Explorer™, Netscape Navigator™, or a
`specialized interface) running on an administrative computer
`72 that is also connected to network 30 (or network 32).
`‘Theinstructionsets and subroutines of desktop application
`70, whichare typically stored on a storage device (not shown)
`coupled to administrative computer 72, are executed by one
`or more processors (not shown) and one or more memory
`architectures (not shown) incorporated into administrative
`computer 72. The storage device (not shown) coupled to
`administrative computer 72 may includebut are not limited to
`a hard disk drive,a tape drive, an optical drive, a RAIDarray,
`a random access memory (RAM), or a read-only memory
`(ROM).
`Referring also to FIG, 3, a diagrammatic viewof personal
`media device 12 is shown. Personal media device 12 typically
`includes microprocessor 150 (e.g., an ARM™microproces-
`sor produced by Intel™ of Santa Clara, Calif.), non-volatile
`memory (e.g., read-only memory 152), and volatile memory 5
`(e.g., random access memory 154); each of which maybe
`interconnected via one or more data/system buses 156, 158.
`Accordingly, media distribution system 18 may be config-
`Personal media device 12 may also include an audio sub-
`ured to only allow users to download media data files. For
`system 160 for providing e.g., an analog audio signal to an
`example, user 14 may be allowed to download, from media
`audio jack 162 for removable engaging e.g., headphone
`distribution system 18, media data files (i.e., examples of
`assembly 164, remote speaker assembly 166, or ear bud
`which may include but are not limited to MP3files or AAC
`assembly 168, for example. Alternatively, personal media
`files), such that copies of the media data file are transferred
`device 12 may be configured to include one or more internal
`audio speakers (not shown).
`from computer 28 to personal media device 12 (being stored
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`Personal media device 12 may also includeauserinterface onstorage device 66).
`170 and a display subsystem 172. User interface 170 may
`Alternatively, media distribution system 18 may be config-
`receive data signals from various input devices included
`ured to only allow users to receive and process media data
`
`6
`within personal media device 12, examples of which may
`include (but are not limited to): rating switches 74, 76; back-
`ward skip switch 78; forward skip switch 80; play/pause
`switch 82; menu switch 84; radio switch 86; and slider assem-
`bly 88, for example. Display subsystem 172 may provide
`display signals to display panel 90 included within personal
`media device 12. Display panel 90 may be an active matrix
`liquid crystal display panel, a passive matrix liquid crystal
`display panel, or a light emitting diode display panel, for
`example.
`Audio subsystem 160, user interface 170, and display sub-
`system 172 may each be coupled with microprocessor 150 via
`one or more data/system buses 174, 176, 178 (respectively).
`During use of personal media device 12, display panel 90
`may be configured to display e.g., the title and artist of various
`pieces of media content 92, 94, 96 stored within personal
`media device 12. Slider assembly 88 may be used to scroll
`upward or downward throughthelist of media content stored
`within personal media device 12. When the desired piece of
`media content is highlighted (e.g., “Phantom Blues” by “Taj
`Mahal”), user 14 may select the media content for rendering
`using play/pause switch 82. User 14 may skip forward to the
`next-piece of media content (e.g., “Happy To Be Just...” by
`“Robert Johnson”) using forward skip switch 80; or skip
`backward to the previous piece of media content (e.g., “Big
`New Orleans .
`. .” by “Leroy Brownstone”) using backward
`skip switch 78. Additionally, user 14 may rate the media
`content as theylisten to it by using rating switches 74, 76.
`Asdiscussed above, personal media device 12 may include
`a bus interface 180 for interlacing with e.g., proxy computer
`54 via docking cradle 60. Additionally and as discussed
`above, personal media device 12 may be wireless coupled to
`network 30 (and/or other personal media devices) via e.g., a
`wireless communication channel 50 established betweenper-
`sonal media device 12 and e.g., WAP 52. Accordingly, per-
`sonal media device 12 may include a wireless interface 182
`for wirelessly-coupling personal media device 12 to network
`30 (or network 32) and/or other personal media devices.
`Wireless interface 182 may be coupled to an antenna assem-
`bly 184 for RF communicationto e.g., WAP 52, and/or an IR
`(i.e.,
`infrared) communication assembly 186 for infrared
`communication with e.g., a second personal media device
`(such as personal media device 40).
`Asdiscussed above, personal media device 12 may include
`a storage device 66 for storing the instruction sets and sub-
`routines of device application 64 and DRM process 10. Addi-
`tionally, storage device 66 may be used to store media data
`files downloaded from media distribution system 18 and to
`temporarily store media data streams (or portions thereof)
`streamed from media distribution system 18.
`Storage device 66, bus interface 180, and wireless interface
`182 may each be coupled with microprocessor 150 via one or
`more data/system buses 188, 190, 192 (respectively).
`As discussed above, mediadistribution system18 distrib-
`utes media content to users 14, 20, 22, 24, 26, such that the
`media content distributed maybe in the form of media data
`streams and/or media datafiles.
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`streams of media data files. For example, user 22 may be
`allowedto receive and process (on client computer 44) media
`data streams received from media distribution system 18. As
`discussed above, when media content is streamed frome.g.,
`computer 28 to client computer 44, a copy ofthe media data
`file is not permanently retained on client computer 44.
`Further, media distribution system 18 may be configured to
`allow users to receive and process media data streams and
`download media data files.Examples of such a media distri-
`bution system include the Rhapsody™ and Rhapsody-to-
`Go™services offered by RealNetworks™ of Seattle, Wash.
`Accordingly, user 14 may be allowed to download media data
`files and receive and process media data streams from media
`distribution system 18, Therefore, copies of media data files
`may be transferred from computer 28 to personal media
`device 12 (i.e., the received media data files being stored on
`storage device 66); and streams of media data files may be
`received from computer 28 by personal media device 12 (1.¢.,
`with portions ofthe received stream temporarily being stored
`J
`on storage device 66). Additionally, user 22 may be allowedto 2
`download media data files and receive and process media data
`streams from media distribution system 18. Therefore, copies
`of media data files may be transferred from computer 28 to
`client computer 44 (1.e., the received media data files being
`stored on storage device 48); and streams of media data files
`may be received from computer 28 by client computer 44
`(i.e., with portions of the received str