UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`
`United Stntes Pntent nnd Trndcmnrk Office
`
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`Certified by
`
`Under Secretary of Commerce
`for lntelJectual Property
`and Director of the United States
`Patent and Trademark Office
`
`0001
`
`EX1010
`Roku V. Media Chain
`U.S. Patent No. 10,489,560
`
`

`

`Document code: WFEE
`
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Sales Receipt for Accounting Date: 08/01/2017
`
`MTEKLEMI
`
`SALE #00000009 Mailroom Dt: 07/25/2017
`01
`FC: 2202
`40.00 DA
`
`233000 15659175
`
`0002
`
`

`

`Doc Code: PA..
`Document Description: Power of Attorney
`
`PTO/AIA/82A (07-13)
`Approved for use through 01/31/2018. 0MB 0651-0035
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid 0MB control number.
`
`TRANSMITTAL FOR POWER OF ATTORNEY TO ONE OR MORE
`REGISTERED PRACTITIONERS
`
`NOTE: This form is to be submitted with the Power of Attorney by Applicant form (PTO/AIA/82B) to identify the application to which the
`Power of Attorney is directed, in accordance with 37 CFR 1.5, unless the application number and filing date are identified in the Power of
`Attorney by Applicant form. If neither form PTO/AIA/82A nor form PTO/AIA82B identifies the application to which the Power of Attorney is
`directed, the Power of Attorney will not be recognized in the application.
`
`Application Number
`
`Not Yet Assigned
`
`Filing Date
`
`Concurrently Herewith
`
`First Named Inventor
`
`Christopher A. Estes
`
`Title
`
`DIGITAL MEDIA REPRODUCTION AND LICENSING
`
`Art Unit
`
`N/A
`
`Examiner Name
`
`Not Yet Assigned
`
`Attorney Docket Number
`
`BESTES 07USCON
`
`SIGNATURE of Applicant or Patent Practitioner
`
`/Patrick J. Palascak/
`
`Date (Optional)
`
`July 25, 2017
`
`Patrick Palascak
`
`Registration
`Number
`
`73,533
`
`Signature
`
`Name
`
`Title (if Applicant is a
`juristic entity)
`
`Applicant Name (if Applicant is a juristic entity)
`
`I
`
`NOTE: This form must be signed in accordance with 37 CFR 1.33. See 37 CFR 1.4(d) for signature requirements and certifications. If
`more than one applicant, use multiple forms.
`
`D *Total of
`
`1
`
`forms are submitted.
`
`0003
`
`

`

`t.1t-:oc O.x .. ie: PA.,
`Dt>'Cument Description: Power of Attorney
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`POWER OF ATTORNEY BY APPLICANT
`:i-hereby rt~voke aff {..\(~~~lk}US fX~\ .. \:-ers of ~{ttorne·y ~}~ven it) the ~:lpphc~t~~)n id:ar~Hfi:t'f.f ht filli~~">4:- t1~ ~%i~~i~i1 transrnitt~;~ tttter c~r
`the boxes beJow,
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`(Note: The bo..xes above may be left bt;,nk. lf infurrnation is i-,n:i,i:~ O::"'! furm ?T0,At~':$c2A}
`r:7 f hereby appoint t'.1e Pa~nt Pmciitio~rf!} associated with ~he fuHo,-.{~ ~~orner Ntin~b~ as m:;':°nur ;atton~y{~) ~ ase,<ri{s}_
`~ and to transact aM business in tne l.kntec Stales f½tem ano Tracterna~ Dffi,::-,e CCf\nec..~ ~~-e~w1th for tr:e .spot.\.--ato-.'>
`n~ft,,'BnC!:l~~ in the att~}C~~"',d tran~miitui letter {form PTO(~tAf%1.A) t'\f itienMi:td ~~oo-.-e
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`OR
`26875
`L--- all business in the United States Patent and Trad~11a!i< Offk:e c,:mnecttm tha!<l!'-'<'11l• fur the pates1t ~~~\::a!Ion. tefe~~ m ~
`attached transmittal ietter (f<;trrn PTOiAtAi&2.A) or identified abo~~ {Note: Cc:,<np~te furn1 ?TO<'AlAW:.:"C)
`Please recognize or change the correspondence address for the appHcafa:m ~nu'fied in the
`fetter or the boxes abo~ to:
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`! The ;:1ddress Mrnociatoo \",'tlh the nh<.,Vi:.!·~::nenl:lon~~d C.\JStNni:,t Nurn~r
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`OR D The address associated w'lth C~stomer Number: I l--------- _____ _,,
`
`OR
`r-7 Firm or
`LJ Individual' Name
`
`Actdtess
`
`Inventor or Joint hw1ll11tor (title not roquirod .oo!Q\V}
`Legat Rep!'e$entatlve of ~ ~oofised o.r tegaU:y
`Assignee qr P~n :W· WtiQn'l: tl1e
`
`0004
`
`

`

`DIGITAL MEDIA REPRODUCTION AND LICENSING
`
`Cross-Reference
`
`[0001]
`
`The present application is a continuation application of United States Patent
`
`Application No. 13/667,629, filed November 2, 2012, and claims the benefit of United
`
`States Provisional Patent Application No. 61/555,810, filed November 4, 2011, which is
`
`incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
`
`Technical Field
`
`[0002]
`
`Embodiments relate to licensing digital media for reproduction, and more
`
`specifically to a digital media licensing system for licensing and enabling reproduction of
`
`digital media on a reproduction device.
`
`Background
`
`[0003]
`
`Conventionally, the distribution of media content, such as music, movies, and
`
`books for example, is in large part controlled by owners who are the rights-holders of the
`
`media content. In conventional systems, the media content is incorporated into a physical
`
`media such as a compact disk (CD), a digital video disk (DVD), a printed publication,
`
`and/or any other physical media. In such conventional systems, the rights-holders of the
`
`media content are able to control licensing of the media content, the production of physical
`
`media copies of the media content, and/or the distribution of the media content to
`
`customers and/or third party retailers and thereby monetize the media content.
`
`[0004]
`
`There has been a dramatic shift in the marketplace away from media content
`
`distributed on physical media to digital media content that may be distributed via the
`
`internet. Conventionally, rights-holders of digital media content have significantly less
`
`1
`
`0005
`
`

`

`control over the distribution of such digital media content as compared to the distribution
`
`of physical media. For example, a party that does not hold rights of the digital media
`
`content may reproduce the digital media content and then distribute the digital media
`
`content via the internet without the permission of the actual rights-holder of the digital
`
`media content. As a result, the actual-rights holder of the digital media content cannot
`
`monetize the unauthorized distribution of the digital media content.
`
`[0005]
`
`The inability of rights-holders of digital media content to monetize the
`
`unauthorized distribution of the digital media content limits the financial gain that rights(cid:173)
`
`holders of the digital media content obtain in creating the original digital media content.
`
`Often times such unauthorized distribution of the digital media content prohibits the rights(cid:173)
`
`holders of the digital media from covering the costs of creating the original digital media
`
`content which discourages creation of digital media content.
`
`Brief Summary
`
`[0006]
`
`Embodiments relate to monetizing the reproduction of digital media content for
`
`the rights-holder of the digital media content. In an embodiment, a computer implemented
`
`method provides a multimedia hardware device a capability to generate an authorized
`
`reproduction of a media content item included in a digital media file. A digital media file
`
`that includes a media content item may be loaded for reproduction. The digital media file
`
`may be analyzed to identify digital media information associated with the media content
`
`item. A license database may be accessed to determine whether a user is licensed to
`
`reproduce the media content item based on the digital media information. The media
`
`content item may be reproduced when the user is licensed to reproduce the media content
`
`2
`
`0006
`
`

`

`item based on the digital media information. A licensing query may be provided to the
`
`user when the user is not licensed to reproduce the media content item to prompt the
`
`user to select to acquire a license to reproduce the media content item or to decline the
`
`license to reproduce the media content item.
`
`[0007]
`
`In another embodiment, a system provides a media content licensing and
`
`verification system to license media content for reproduction. A transceiver may receive
`
`a media licensing request from an external device associated with a user. The media
`
`licensing request may include digital media information associated with a media content
`
`item included in a digital media file. A processor may access a media catalog database
`
`that includes a plurality of media content records where a media content record from the
`
`plurality of media content records is associated with the media content item. The
`
`processor may also determine whether the media licensing request is to be granted based
`
`on the media content record stored in the media catalog database that is associated with
`
`the media content item. The processor may grant the media licensing request for the
`
`external device when the media content record associated with the media content item
`
`verifies the granting of the license for the media content item to the external device. The
`
`processor may also decline the media licensing request for the external device when the
`
`media content record associated with the media content item does not verify the granting
`
`of the license for the media content item to the external device.
`
`[0008]
`
`Further embodiments, features, and advantages, as well as the structure and
`
`operation of the various embodiments, are described in detail below with reference to the
`
`accompanying drawings.
`
`3
`
`0007
`
`

`

`Brief Description of the Drawings
`
`[0009]
`
`Embodiments are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In
`
`the drawings, like reference numbers may indicate identical or functionally similar
`
`elements.
`
`[0010]
`
`FIG. 1 illustrates a digital media file licensing and authorized reproduction
`
`system, according to an embodiment;
`
`[0011]
`
`FIG. 2 illustrates a second digital media file licensing and authorized
`
`reproduction system, according to an embodiment;
`
`[0012]
`
`FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart illustrating an exemplary aspect of operation for
`
`the media content licensing and verification system to analyze a received catalog of
`
`media content and manage the catalog of media content, according to an embodiment;
`
`[0013]
`
`FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart illustrating an exemplary aspect of operation for
`
`the external multimedia hardware device, according to an embodiment;
`
`[0014]
`
`FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart illustrating an exemplary aspect of operation for
`
`the media content licensing and verification system to receive a payment for a license to
`
`reproduce a digital media file, according to an embodiment;
`
`[0015]
`
`FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart illustrating an exemplary aspect of operation for
`
`the media content licensing and verification system to receive licensing information from
`
`a third party media retailer, according to an embodiment; and
`
`4
`
`0008
`
`

`

`[0016]
`
`FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart illustrating an exemplary aspect of operation for
`
`the media content licensing and verification system to receive a third-party request for
`
`licensing statistics.
`
`Detailed Description
`
`[0017]
`
`The digital media file licensing and authorized reproduction system provides a
`
`capability to ensure that a user possesses a license to reproduce a digital media file and
`
`if the user does not have a license, providing to the user the option to obtain such a
`
`license.
`
`In the Detailed Description herein, references to "one embodiment", "an
`
`embodiment", an "example embodiment", etc., indicate that the embodiment described
`
`may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, by every embodiment may
`
`not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover,
`
`such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a
`
`particular feature, structure, or characteristic may be described in connection with an
`
`embodiment, it may be submitted that it may be within the knowledge of one skilled in
`
`the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other
`
`embodiments whether or not explicitly described.
`
`Overview
`
`[0018]
`
`FIG. 1 illustrates a digital media file licensing and authorized reproduction
`
`system 30 in which embodiments or portions thereof, may be implemented. Digital
`
`media file licensing and authorized reproduction system 30 includes an external
`
`multimedia hardware device 10, a network 12, a media content licensing and
`
`5
`
`0009
`
`

`

`verification system 16, a media content rights-holders system 18, a third party online
`
`media retailers system 20, and a hardware device manufacturers system 22.
`
`[0019]
`
`System 30 may monetize the reproduction of a media content item included
`
`within a digital media file. Reproduction of a media content item may include
`
`reproducing sound from a digital audio file, reproducing video from a digital video file,
`
`reproducing text from a digital text file, and/or any other reproduction of ad igital media
`
`file that will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) without departing from
`
`the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
`
`[0020]
`
`Reproduction may be defined as a first use by a user of the media content
`
`item. For example, reproduction of the media content item may include when a user
`
`first accesses a media content item where the user obtained the media content item
`
`from an outside source, such as but not limited to a third party online media distributor.
`
`Reproduction may also be defined as further distribution of the media content item by
`
`the user after the user has initially accessed the media content item. For example,
`
`reproduction of the media content item may include when the user distributes the
`
`media content item to other parties after the user has obtained the media content item
`
`from the third party online media distributor.
`
`[0021]
`
`A digital media file may represent a MPEG Layer 3 (MP3) file, a RealAudio
`
`(RA) file, a raw sample (RAW) file, a Microsoft wave (WAV) file, a Windows Media
`
`Audio (WMA) file, and/or any other suitable digital media file that will be apparent to
`
`those skilled in the relevant art(s) without departing from the spirit and scope of the
`
`disclosure. The media content item may include any portion of data included in the
`
`6
`
`0010
`
`

`

`digital media file. A user of external multimedia hardware device 10 may reproduce
`
`the media content item with external multimedia hardware device 10. Device 10 may
`
`represent a smart phone, a smart tablet, a mobile telephone, a television, an audio
`
`system, a personal music player, a portable computing device, other computing
`
`devices such as a personal computer, a laptop, or a desktop computer, computer
`
`peripheral such as a printer, a portable audio/or a video player, and/or any other
`
`suitable electronic device that can reproduce a media content item that will be
`
`apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) without departing from the spirit and
`
`scope of the disclosure.
`
`[0022]
`
`However, the user may not have a license that authorizes the user to
`
`reproduce the media content item. The digital media file including the media content
`
`item may have been procured from various sources that are not licensed to reproduce
`
`the media content item and do not collect licensing fees for use of the media content
`
`item. As such, when the user loads the digital media file for reproduction, device 10
`
`may analyze the digital media file to determine the media content item included in the
`
`file and determine whether the user of device 10 is authorized. For example, the device
`
`may analyze a digital music file to identify the song and artist of the media content item
`
`that may be a track included in the digital music file. The user may be authorized when
`
`the user has a license to load and/or reproduce a media content item included in the
`
`digital media file.
`
`[0023]
`
`In an embodiment, device 10 may analyze a plurality of identifying
`
`characteristics associated with the media content item to identify the media content
`
`item and to determine whether the user of device 10 is authorized. The plurality of
`
`7
`
`0011
`
`

`

`identifying characteristics may be an identifying characteristic associated with the
`
`media content item inherently present in the media content item such that the media
`
`content item is not remastered to include the identifying characteristic after the media
`
`content item
`
`is
`
`initially recorded. The plurality of identifying characteristics can
`
`represent a fingerprint, digital watermarking, and/or any other suitable algorithm to
`
`identify copyright ownership of the media content item included in the digital media file
`
`that will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) without departing from the spirit
`
`and scope of the disclosure. In an embodiment, device 10 may analyze metadata
`
`included in the loaded digital media file to identify the media content item included in the
`
`digital media file.
`
`[0024]
`
`System 30 may query a license database locally and/or remotely located to
`
`system 30 to determine whether the user of device 10 has the appropriate license for the
`
`media content item. Device 10 may refuse to play the digital media file and query the user
`
`to determine whether the user wishes to purchase the appropriate license when the user
`
`does not have the appropriate license.
`
`[0025]
`
`Device 10 may communicate with media content licensing and verification
`
`system 16 over network 12 and transmit the fingerprint of the media content item to
`
`media content licensing and verification system 16 when the user selects to purchase
`
`the appropriate license. Licensing system 16 may identify the media content item
`
`based on the received fingerprint. Licensing system 16 may transmit back to device
`
`10 the title and/or other information associated with the identified media content item
`
`and request the user to confirm purchase of the license. The user may interface with
`
`device 10 to conduct the licensing transaction with licensing system 16, and after
`
`8
`
`0012
`
`

`

`purchasing the license, licensing system 16 may transmit a license to device 10.
`
`After receiving the license from licensing system 16, device 10 may commence
`
`reproduction of the media content item. Moreover, licensing system 16 may store a
`
`record of the transaction for statistical purposes, and/or store a copy of the license
`
`in a database under a user record associated with the user of device 10.
`
`[0026]
`
`Device 10 and licensing system 16 may provide data associated with the
`
`use of the media content item to media content rights-holders system 18 over network
`
`12. Rights-holders system 18 may be accessed by an owner of a copyright for the
`
`media content item. For example, device 10 and licensing system 16 may provide data
`
`to rights-holders system 18 that includes the user who is accessing the media content
`
`item, the geographic location of the user who is accessing the media content item,
`
`other media content items that the user may be accessing, the quantity of times the
`
`media content item is accessed, and/or any other data associated with the use of the
`
`media content item that will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) without
`
`departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
`
`[0027]
`
`The data provided by device 10 and licensing system 16 to rights-holders
`
`system 18 for the media content item may be used by the copyright owner to develop
`
`future licensing agreements that may be provided to the user of device 10 by licensing
`
`system 16 for future use of the media content item. Payments for the license to use
`
`the media content item may be received from the user via device 10 and licensing
`
`system 16. Payments may also be distributed to the copyright owner via rights-holders
`
`system 18.
`
`9
`
`0013
`
`

`

`[0028]
`
`Device 10 and licensing system 16 may also provide data associated with
`
`the use of the media content item to third party online media retailers system 20. The
`
`data provided to retailers system 20 may be similar to the data provided to rights(cid:173)
`
`holders system 18. However, retailers system 20 may be accessed by third party
`
`online media retailers who have been selected by the copyright owner of the media
`
`content item to distribute the media content item via the Internet.
`
`[0029]
`
`The data provided by device 10 and licensing system 16 to retailers system
`
`20 for the media content item may be used by the third party on line retailers to develop
`
`future pricing for their online media content item distribution including which media
`
`content items to distribute in the future. The data provided to retailers system 20 may
`
`also be used to help third party on line media retailers target the marketing of the media
`
`content item to demographics that have shown a trend of interest in the media content
`
`item. Payments for the distribution of the media content item by the third party on line
`
`media retailer may be received from the user via device 10 and licensing system 16.
`
`Payments may also be distributed to the third party online media retailer via retailers
`
`system 20.
`
`[0030]
`
`Device 10 and licensing system 16 may also provide data associated with
`
`the use of the media content item to hardware device manufactures system 22. The
`
`data provided to manufactures system 22 may be similar to the data provided to rights(cid:173)
`
`holders system 18 and retailer system 20. However, manufactures system 22 may be
`
`accessed by hardware device manufacturers who manufacture the hardware that may
`
`be implemented in device 10 that provides device 10 with the capabilities to limit
`
`reproduction of the media content item to when the user has a license to reproduce
`
`10
`
`0014
`
`

`

`the media content item. Payments for use of the hardware provided by the hardware
`
`device manufacturers implemented in device 10 by the user of device 10 may also be
`
`distributed to the hardware device manufacturer via manufacturers system 20.
`
`[0031]
`
`Device 10 may be configured to connect to network 12. Network 12 may
`
`include one or more networks, such as the Internet. In some examples, network 12
`
`may include one or more network technologies such as Ethernet, Fast Ethernet,
`
`Gigabit Ethernet, a variant of the IEEE 802.11 standard such as WiFi, and the like.
`
`Communication over network 12
`
`takes place using one or more network
`
`communication protocols including reliable streaming protocols such as transmission
`
`control protocol (TCP). These examples are illustrative and not intended to limit the
`
`present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1, device 10 may engage in communication with
`
`network 12 via connection 14, where connection 14 may be a wireless, wired, a
`
`secured communication connection, any combination thereof, and/or any other
`
`communication connection that will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s)
`
`without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
`
`[0032]
`
`Licensing system 16 may be configured to engage in communication with
`
`network 12. As such, device 10 may communicate with licensing system 16 via network
`
`12. Additionally, rights-holders system 18, retailers system 20, and/or manufacturers
`
`system 22 may also communicate with licensing system 16 and device 10 via network
`
`12. Licensing system 16, rights-holders system 18, retailers system 20, and/or
`
`manufacturers system 22 may engage in communication with network 12 via a
`
`communication connection similar to connection 14.
`
`11
`
`0015
`
`

`

`[0033]
`
`Device 10, licensing system 16, rights-holders system 18, retailers system
`
`20, and/or manufacturers system 22 may have a cloud computing configuration.
`
`Device 10, licensing system 16, rights-holders system 18, retailers system 20, and/or
`
`manufacturers system 22 may share resources via network 12. For example, device
`
`10 may retrieve licensing information for the user of device 10 who wishes to
`
`reproduce the media content item via network 12. Licensing system 16 may also
`
`update rights-holders system 18 with the user information for the user who wishes to
`
`reproduce the media content item. Based on the cloud computing configuration, the
`
`interaction between device 10, licensing system 16, and rights-holders system 18 may
`
`not be limited to a single external multimedia hardware device. A plurality of external
`
`multimedia hardware devices may update licensing system 16 and rights-holders
`
`system 18 via network 12 with user information of users wishing to reproduce the media
`
`content item. Licensing system 16 may provide each of these updates for the user
`
`information to any media content rights-holders system that requests the user information.
`
`Digital Media File Licensing and Authorized Reproduction System
`
`[0034]
`
`FIG. 2 illustrates a second digital media file licensing and authorized
`
`reproduction system 95
`
`in which embodiments or portions
`
`thereof, may be
`
`implemented. Digital media file licensing and authorized reproduction system 95
`
`includes external multimedia hardware device 10, media content licensing and
`
`verification system 16, and network 12. External multimedia hardware device 10
`
`includes a processor 40, a transceiver 44, an input/output interface 46, a memory 52,
`
`a mass storage 60, a human machine interface (HMI) 48 and a reproduction module
`
`50. Processor 40 may be a hardware based processor that includes a general purpose
`
`12
`
`0016
`
`

`

`microcontroller, a special purpose microcontroller and/or any other controller that will
`
`be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) without departing from the spirit and
`
`scope of the disclosure.
`
`[0035]
`
`Processor 40 includes a media recognition module 42. Media recognition
`
`module 42 may be configured to analyze a loaded digital media file to identify the media
`
`content item
`
`included in the digital media file and/or determine an
`
`identifying
`
`characteristic, such as a fingerprint for example, of the media content item. In an
`
`embodiment, the media recognition module 40 may include hardware based circuitry
`
`configured to analyze a loaded digital media file. In an embodiment, the media
`
`recognition module 42 may include program code executing on the processor 40
`
`configured to cause the processor 40 to analyze a loaded digital media file.
`
`[0036] Memory 52 includes a digital media file 58, an application 54, and an
`
`operating system (OS) 56. Memory 52 may be accessed by processor 40, such that
`
`processor 40 may read data from memory 52 and write data to memory 52. In some
`
`embodiments, application 54 and/or OS 56 may include program code including one
`
`or more instructions, that when executed by processor 40 cause device 10 to perform
`
`the steps necessary to execute steps or elements embodying the various aspects of
`
`the disclosure. Furthermore, digital media file 58 may be loaded for reproduction.
`
`[0037] Mass storage 60 includes a license database 62 and digital media file 58.
`
`License database 62 includes a license record 64. Mass storage 60 may be utilized in
`
`addition to memory 52, or may not be included at all, in which case the data elements
`
`illustrated as stored on mass storage 60 would be stored in memory 52. For exemplary
`
`13
`
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`

`

`purposes, mass storage 60 includes digital media files 58, illustrating that one or more
`
`digital media files 58 may be stored in mass storage 60 of device 10. Moreover, mass
`
`storage 60 includes a license database 62, where license database 62 includes one
`
`or more license records 64. In an embodiment, license database 62 includes license
`
`records 64, where license records 64 indicate a media content item that a user of the
`
`device may be licensed to reproduce.
`
`[0038] Media content licensing and verification system 16 includes a transceiver
`
`68, a processor 66, an input/output interface 70, a mass storage 7 4, a memory 76,
`
`and a HMI 72. Memory 76 includes an application 78, an OS 80, a registered user
`
`database 86, a digital media catalog database 82, and a licensing statistics database
`
`92. Application 78 and/or the OS 80 may include program code including one or more
`
`instructions configured to be executed by processor 66 to cause licensing system 16
`
`to perform steps necessary to perform embodiments of the disclosure.
`
`[0039]
`
`Registered user database 86 includes a user record 88. User record 88
`
`includes a license record 90. Digital media catalog database 82 includes a media
`
`record 84. Each media record 84 includes data associated with a unique media
`
`content item loaded into the licensing system 16. As such, a rights-holder or content
`
`creator may load a catalog of media content items that may include but not limited to
`
`a song, a movie, a television show, a novel, and/or any other media content item into
`
`licensing system 16. Licensing system 16 may analyze each media content item in
`
`the catalog, and generate a media record corresponding to each media content item.
`
`In some embodiments, each media record may include data indicating various
`
`information of the corresponding media content item, including but not limited to the
`
`14
`
`0018
`
`

`

`rights-holder of the media content item, the title of the media content item, the plurality
`
`of identifying characteristics, and/or any other information associated with the
`
`corresponding media content item that will be apparent to the those skilled in the
`
`relevant art(s) without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
`
`[0040]
`
`Each user record 88 may be associated with a unique user and indicates all
`
`media content items the user has purchased a license for. Each user record 88 may
`
`include one or more license records 90, where each license record may include data
`
`indicating a media content item that the user is licensed to reproduce.
`
`[0041]
`
`Licensing statistics database 92 includes a statistics record 94. Each
`
`statistics record 94 may include data indicating a license purchased by a user
`
`connecting to licensing system 16. The data may include, for example, whether a user
`
`that purchased a license for a particular media content item, how many users refused
`
`to license a particular media content item, the rights-holder of the media content item
`
`for which the license was purchased, the title of the media content item, demographic
`
`information for the user that may include but is not limited to age, gender, location,
`
`and/or any other data that may be associated with the user and/or license obtained by
`
`the user that will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) without departing
`
`from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
`
`[0042]
`
`Embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented on any type
`
`of processing (or computing) device having one or more processors. For example,
`
`embodiments can be implemented on a workstation, mobile device, computer,
`
`cluster of computers, set-top box, or other devices having at least one processor. In
`
`15
`
`0019
`
`

`

`an embodiment, multiple modules may be implemented on the same processing
`
`device. Software can include one or more applications and an operating system.
`
`Hardware can include, but may not be limited to, a processor, memory, and/or
`
`graphical user interface display.
`
`Method 100
`
`[0043]
`
`FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of an exemplary method 100 of processing a digital
`
`media catalog for use in a media content licensing and verification system. At step 102,
`
`the media content licensing and verification system receives digital media catalog. At step
`
`104, each media content item of the received catalog may be analyzed.
`
`[0044]
`
`At step 106, a plurality of identifying characteristics associated with the media
`
`content item may be determined. For example, the fingerprint of the media content item
`
`may be determined. Determining a media content fingerprint may include one or more
`
`steps for analyzing the digital file including the media content item to determine one or
`
`more characteristics that uniquely identify the media content item stored therein. For
`
`example, if the media content item were a book stored in a digital text file, the natural
`
`m