a2) United States Patent
`US 9,898,590 B2
`(0) Patent No.:
`*Feb. 20, 2018
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Estes
`
`US009898590B2
`
`DIGITAL MEDIA REPRODUCTION AND
`LICENSING
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(54)
`
`(71)
`
`(72)
`
`Applicant: Christopher A. Estes, Mountain View,
`CA (US)
`
`Inventor: Christopher A. Estes, Mountain View,
`CA (US)
`
`(*)
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis-
`claimer.
`
`(21)
`
`Appl. No.: 15/659,175
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Jul. 25, 2017
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2017/0323088 Al
`
`Nov. 9, 2017
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(63)
`
`Continuation of application No. 13/667,629, filed on
`Nov. 2, 2012, now Pat. No. 9,715,581.
`
`(60)
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`(58)
`
`Provisional application No. 61/555,810, filed on Nov.
`4, 2011.
`
`Int. Cl.
`
`GO6F 21/10
`G06Q 30/02
`U.S. Cl.
`
`(2013.01)
`(2012.01)
`
`CPC veeeeseeceee GO06F 21/10 (2013.01); G06Q 30/02
`(2013.01)
`
`Field of Classification Search
`None
`
`6,920,567 BL*
`
`8,151,194 BL*
`
`8,745,647 BIL*
`
`9,148,706 BL*
`2002/0032905 AL*
`
`7/2005 Doherty oo . GO6F 21/10
`707/999 104
`4/2012 Chan wo, GO6F 17/30817
`709/224
`6/2014 Shin wo HOAN 21/442
`725/10
`
`9/2015 Shin we. HOAN 21/812
`3/2002 Sherr we GO6F 21/10
`725/38
`2002/0154157 Al* 10/2002 Sherr wu. GI1B 27/034
`715/716
`8/2003 Hernandez.............. GO6F 21/10
`713/193
`2003/0220883 Al* 11/2003 Block we GO6F 21/10
`705/59
`2/2004 Aldis wwe GO6F 21/10
`T13/177
`
`2003/0149884 Al*
`
`2004/0039916 AL*
`
`(Continued)
`Primary Examiner — Michael R Vaughan
`Assistant Examiner — Richard A McCoy
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Wood Herron & Evans
`LLP
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`Systems and methods for monetizing the reproduction of
`digital media content for the rights-holders of the digital
`media content. Embodiments of the present disclosure relate
`to determining whether a user of a media content item has
`a license to reproduce the media content
`item.
`In one
`embodiment, the media content item may be reproduced
`whenthe user is licensed. The user is prompted to select to
`acquire a license to reproduce the media content item or to
`decline the license to reproduce the media content item
`when the user is not licensed. Further embodiments deter-
`mine whether a user may receive a license when the user
`wishes to acquire a license. In an embodiment, the user is
`declined a license when not approved for the license.
`
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`23 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
`
`EX1073
`Roku V. Media Chain
`U.S. Patent No. 10,489,560
`
`
`Receive and Confirm User of Device |-——~ 164
`Io
`v
`Receive Digital Media
`j—— 162
`Licensing Request
`
`Y
`
`Access Digital Media Catalog
`Database to identify Digital
`Media
`
`L164
`
`Licensing
`
`Transaction
`Confirmec?
`
`
`
`Transmit No License
`168 “| Required Data to Device
`
`
`Generate Statistics
`VT
`Record
`
`
`
`
`
`
`/————_____—_______+
`identified?
`
`
`
`
`
`
`172 — Process Licensing Transaction
`¥
`Including Requesting Payment
`Transmit No
`
`Information
`170—~ License Data
`
`
`174——| Transmit License to Device
`¥
`7F7— Generate
`Statistics
`Record
`Generate Statistiscs and
`:License Record
`
`176 —~
`478,
`Store Records in Databases
`
`EX1073
`Roku V. Media Chain
`U.S. Patent No. 10,489,560
`
`

`

`US 9,898,590 B2
`
`Page 2
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2005/0004873 AL*
`
`2005/0060701 A1*
`
`2005/0114265 Al*
`
`2005/0177844 A1*
`
`1/2005 Pou voces GO6F 21/10
`705/51
`3/2005 Murase ou... G06Q 30/06
`TTA78
`5/2005 Satkunanathan ....... GO6F 21/10
`705/59
`8/2005 Levi ween G06Q 30/02
`725/30
`2005/0223415 AL* 10/2005 Oho wee GO6F 21/606
`726/27
`2/2006 Raciborski........ GO6F 17/30041
`715/859
`3/2007 Denker .......... GO1S 5/0036
`701/532
`2007/0241176 A1l* 10/2007 Epstein we GO6F 21/10
`235/375
`1/2008 Maeda «ue GO6F 21/105
`705/1.1
`2008/0243694 Al* 10/2008 Johnson............. G06Q 30/0603
`705/52
`8/2009 Wold oc G06Q 10/10
`700/300
`2010/0324983 Al* 12/2010 Etchegoyen ............ GO6F 21/10
`705/14.23
`
`2006/0031785 A1*
`
`2007/0055439 Al*
`
`2008/0027742 Al*
`
`2009/0210245 Al*
`
`2011/0051914 Al*
`
`2011/0213721 Al*
`
`2012/0010931 AL*
`
`2012/0096339 Al*
`
`2012/0109834 Al*
`
`2012/0123831 Al*
`
`2012/0123916 Al*
`
`2012/0124638 AL*
`
`2012/0303490 AL*
`
`2013/0047271 AL*
`
`2013/0051772 Al*
`
`2014/0108029 AL*™®
`
`2015/0040002 A1*®
`
`3/2011 Neuman ou... HO4M 19/04
`379/93.17
`9/2011 Raley0. GO6F 21/10
`705/310
`1/2012 Mehra 0... G06Q 10/107
`705/14.16
`4/2012 Cohen ou. HO4L 67/06
`715/221
`5/2012 Bongiovanni......... G06Q 10/06
`705/317
`5/2012 King uo... G06Q 30/0274
`705/14.7
`5/2012 Shintani ............. G06Q 30/0251
`705/30
`5/2012 King ue G06Q 10/101
`726/1
`11/2012 Hill we G06Q 30/00
`705/27.2
`2/2013 Tang wee GO6F 21/10
`726/30
`2/2013 Ramaswamy ... HO4N 21/25875
`386/291
`4/2014 Kim ceccccccccccccecscseeee G06Q 50/22
`705/2
`2/2015 Kannan ......cccc0.... GO6F 3/0482
`715/246
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 20, 2018
`
`Sheet 1 of 7
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`US 9,898,590 B2
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 20, 2018
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`Sheet 2 of 7
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`US 9,898,590 B2
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 20, 2018
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`Sheet 3 of 7
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 20, 2018
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 20, 2018
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 20, 2018
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`US 9,898,590 B2
`
`2
`whether a user is licensed to reproduce the media content
`item based on the digital media information. The media
`content item may be reproduced whenthe useris licensed to
`reproduce the media content item based on the digital media
`information. A licensing query may be providedto the user
`whenthe useris notlicensed 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.
`In another embodiment, a system provides a media con-
`tent
`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
`
`20
`
`1
`DIGITAL MEDIA REPRODUCTION AND
`LICENSING
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE
`
`The present application is a continuation application of
`USS. patent application Ser. No. 13/667,629, filed Nov. 2,
`2012, and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent
`Application No. 61/555,810, filed Nov. 4, 2011, which is
`incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
`
`10
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`Embodiments relate to licensing digital media for repro-
`duction, and more specifically to a digital media licensing
`system for licensing and enabling reproduction of digital
`media on a reproduction device.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`Conventionally, the distribution of media content, such as
`music, movies, and books for example,
`is in large part
`controlled by owners whoare 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
`
`30
`
`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.
`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 accompany-
`ing drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`Embodiments are described with reference to the accom-
`
`party retailers and thereby monetize the media content.
`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 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
`panying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers
`content and then distribute the digital media content via the
`may indicate identical or functionally similar elements.
`internet without the permission of the actual rights-holder of
`FIG.1 illustrates a digital media file licensing and autho-
`the digital media content. Asaresult, the actual-rights holder
`rized reproduction system, according to an embodiment;
`of the digital media content cannot monetize the unauthor-
`FIG.2 illustrates a second digital mediafile licensing and
`ized distribution of the digital media content.
`authorized reproduction system, according to an embodi-
`The inability of rights-holders of digital media content to
`ment;
`monetize the unauthorized distribution of the digital media
`FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart illustrating an exemplary
`content limits the financial gain that rights-holders of the
`aspect of operation for the media content licensing and
`digital media content obtain in creating the original digital
`media content. Often times such unauthorized distribution of
`verification system to analyze a received catalog of media
`content and managethe catalog of media content, according
`to an embodiment;
`FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart illustrating an exemplary
`aspect of operation for the external multimedia hardware
`device, according to an embodiment;
`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
`reproducea digital mediafile, according to an embodiment;
`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 mediaretailer, according to an embodiment; and
`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.
`
`40
`
`45
`
`55
`
`the digital media content prohibits the rights-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
`
`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
`methodprovides a multimedia hardware device a capability
`to generate an authorized reproduction of a media content
`item includedin a digital media file. A digital mediafile that
`includes a media content item may be loaded for reproduc-
`tion. 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
`
`

`

`3
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`US 9,898,590 B2
`
`4
`to those skilled in the relevant art(s) without
`apparent
`departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
`However, the user may not havea license that authorizes
`The digital media file licensing and authorized reproduc-
`the user to reproduce the media content item. The digital
`tion system provides a capability to ensure that a user
`mediafile including the media content item may have been
`possesses a license to reproduce a digital media file and if
`procured from various sources that are not
`licensed to
`the user does not have a license, providing to the user the
`reproduce the media content item and do notcollect licens-
`option to obtain such a license. In the Detailed Description
`herein, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment’,
`ing fees for use of the media content item. As such, when the
`an “example embodiment”, etc., indicate that the embodi-
`user loads the digital mediafile for reproduction, device 10
`
`ment described mayincludeaparticular feature, structure, or may analyze the digital media file to determine the media
`content item included in the file and determine whether the
`characteristic, by every embodiment may not necessarily
`include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic.
`user of device 10 is authorized. For example, the device may
`Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the
`analyze a digital music file to identify the song andartist of
`same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, struc-
`the media content item that may be a track included in the
`ture, or characteristic may be described in connection with
`digital music file. The user may be authorized when the user
`an embodiment, it may be submitted that it may be within
`has a license to load and/or reproduce a media content item
`the knowledge of one skilledin the art to effect such feature,
`included in the digital mediafile.
`structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodi-
`In an embodiment, device 10 may analyze a plurality of
`ments whether or not explicitly described.
`identifying characteristics associated with the media content
`Overview
`item to identify the media content item and to determine
`FIG.1 illustrates a digital media file licensing and autho-
`whetherthe user of device 10 is authorized. The plurality of
`rized reproduction system 30 in which embodiments or
`identifying characteristics may be an identifying character-
`portions thereof, may be implemented. Digital media file
`istic associated with the media content
`item inherently
`licensing and authorized reproduction system 30 includes an
`present in the media content item such that the media content
`external multimedia hardware device 10, a network 12, a
`item is not remastered to include the identifying character-
`media content licensing and verification system 16, a media
`istic after the media content item is initially recorded. The
`content rights-holders system 18, a third party online media
`plurality of identifying characteristics can represent a fin-
`retailers system 20, and a hardware device manufacturers
`gerprint, digital watermarking, and/or any other suitable
`algorithm to identify copyright ownership of the media
`system 22.
`System 30 may monetize the reproduction of a media
`content item included in the digital media file that will be
`content item included within a digital media file. Reproduc-
`apparent
`to those skilled in the relevant art(s) without
`tion of a media content item may include reproducing sound
`departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. In an
`from a digital audio file, reproducing video from a digital
`embodiment, device 10 may analyze metadata included in
`video file, reproducing text from a digital text file, and/or
`the loaded digital media file to identify the media content
`any other reproduction of a digital media file that will be
`item included in the digital mediafile.
`apparent
`to those skilled in the relevant art(s) without
`System 30 may query a license database locally and/or
`departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
`remotely located to system 30 to determine whetherthe user
`Reproduction maybe definedas a first use by a user of the
`of device 10 has the appropriate license for the media
`media content item. For example, reproduction of the media
`content item. Device 10 mayrefuse to play the digital media
`content item may include whena userfirst accesses a media
`file and query the user to determine whether the user wishes
`content item where the user obtained the media content item
`to purchase the appropriate license when the user does not
`from an outside source, such as but not limited to a third
`have the appropriate license.
`party online media distributor. Reproduction may also be
`Device 10 may communicate with media content licens-
`defined as further distribution of the media content item by
`ing and verification system 16 over network 12 and transmit
`the user after the user has initially accessed the media
`the fingerprint of the media content item to media content
`content item. For example, reproduction of the media con-
`licensing and verification system 16 whentheuser selects to
`tent item may include when the user distributes the media
`purchase the appropriate license. Licensing system 16 may
`content item to other parties after the user has obtained the
`identify the media content
`item based on the received
`media content
`item from the third party online media
`fingerprint. Licensing system 16 may transmit back to
`distributor.
`device 10 the title and/or other information associated with
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`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 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
`
`the identified media content item and request the user to
`confirm purchaseof the license. The user may interface with
`device 10 to conductthe licensing transaction with licensing
`system 16, and after 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 maystore a record of the transactionforstatistical
`purposes, and/or store a copy of the license in a database
`under a user record associated with the user of device 10.
`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 who1s accessing the
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`US 9,898,590 B2
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`6
`nection that will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant
`art(s) without departing from the spirit and scope of the
`disclosure.
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`5
`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.
`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 contentitem.
`Payments for the license to use the media content item may
`be received from the user via device 10 and licensing system
`16. Payments mayalso be distributed to the copyright owner
`via rights-holders system 18.
`Device 10 and licensing system 16 mayalso provide data
`associated with the use of the media content item to third
`party online mediaretailers system 20. The data provided to
`retailers system 20 may be similar to the data provided to
`rights-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.
`
`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.
`Device 10 and licensing system 16 mayalso provide data
`associated with the use of the media content item to hard-
`
`ware device manufactures system 22. The data provided to
`manufactures system 22 may be similar to the data provided
`to rights-holders system 18 andretailer 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 whenthe user has a license to reproduce the
`media content
`item. Payments for use of the hardware
`provided by the hardware device manufacturers imple-
`mented in device 10 by the user of device 10 may also be
`distributed to the hardware device manufacturer via manu-
`
`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 communi-
`cation with network 12 via a communication connection
`similar to connection 14.
`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 mayretrieve licensing
`information for the user of device 10 who wishesto repro-
`duce the media content item via network 12. Licensing
`system 16 mayalso 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 configu-
`ration, the interaction between device 10, licensing system
`The data provided by device 10 and licensing system 16
`16, and rights-holders system 18 may not be limited to a
`to retailers system 20 for the media content item may be
`single external multimedia hardware device. A plurality of
`used by the third party online retailers to develop future
`external multimedia hardware devices may update licensing
`pricing for their online media content
`item distribution
`system 16 and rights-holders system 18 via network 12 with
`including which media content items to distribute in the
`user information of users wishing to reproduce the media
`future. The data providedto retailers system 20 may also be
`content item. Licensing system 16 may provide each of these
`used to help third party online media retailers target the
`marketing of the media content item to demographics that
`updates for the user information to any media content
`have shownatrend of interest in the media content item.
`rights-holders system that requests the user information.
`Digital Media File Licensing and Authorized Reproduction
`System
`FIG.2 illustrates a second digital mediafile 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 andverification system 16, and network 12. Exter-
`nal multimedia hardware device 10 includes a processor 40,
`a transceiver 44, an input/output interface 46, a memory 52,
`amass storage 60, a human machineinterface (HMI) 48 and
`a reproduction module 50. Processor 40 may be a hardware
`based processor that includes a general purpose microcon-
`troller, 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.
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`facturers system 20.
`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 examplesare 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 con-
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`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 basedcircuitry
`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 mediafile.
`Memory 52 includesa digital mediafile 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 moreinstructions, that when
`
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`US 9,898,590 B2
`
`7
`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.
`Mass storage 60 includes a license database 62 anddigital
`media file 58. License database 62 includesa license record
`
`64. Massstorage 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 purposes, mass storage
`60 includes digital media files 58, illustrating that one or
`more digital mediafiles 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 indi-
`cate a media content item that a user of the device may be
`licensed to reproduce.
`Media content
`licensing and verification system 16
`includes a transceiver 68, a processor 66, an input/output
`interface 70, a mass storage 74, a memory 76, and a HMI 72.
`Memory 76 includes an application 78, an OS 80, a regis-
`tered 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.
`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 con-
`tent item. In some embodiments, each media record may
`include data indicating various information of the corre-
`sponding media content item, including but not limited to
`the rights-holder of the media content item, the title of the
`media content item, the plurality of identifying characteris-
`tics, and/or any other information associated with the cor-
`responding 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.
`Eachuser record 88 maybe 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.
`Licensing statistics database 92 includesa 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
`purchaseda license for a particular media content item, how
`many users refused to license a part