Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02766060 2012-01-26
SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF AUTOMATIC MULTIMEDIA TRANSFER AND
PLAYBACK
FIELD OE THE INVENTION
This invention relates to multimedia content and more specifically to the
transfer and
playback of multimedia content with increased user portability.
13ACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the past 30 years the distribution of music, audio, photographs, video,
films has changed
faster through more standards than it had in the preceding 100 years. During
that time digital
media, namely CDs and DVDs, obsoleted analog media, such as vinyl discs and
magnetic
tape, before being obsoleted themselves with the rapid penetration of the
Internet and
downloading / streaming of digital data to a variety of portable and fixed
electronic devices.
Similarly analog radio and television are being replaced with digital formats
and user
expectations for quality being increased with the release of LED / LCD /
Plasma screens and
initially increased "lines" to 720 and then 1080 with high-definition (I-ID)
whilst displays
increased from typically 20"-36" to 36"-54" and above. At the same time
digital media
distribution saw rapid rise in piracy and copyright infringement as copying
digital content was
a rapid and simple process.
Accordingly, many organizations employ digital rights management (DRM) to
protect their
copyrighted materials although their use is still controversial. Corporations
claim that DRM is
necessary to light copyright infringement online and that it can help the
copyright holder
maintain artistic control or ensure continued revenue streams. Those opposed
to DRM argue
that there is no evidence that DRM helps prevent copyright infringement and
that DRM helps
big business stifle innovation and competition. Proponents argue that digital
locks should be
considered necessary to prevent intellectual property from being stolen, just
as physical locks
are needed to prevent personal property from being stolen. Some opponents,
such as the Free
Software Foundation (through its Defective By Design campaign), maintain that
the use of the
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CA 02766060 2012-01-26
word "rights" is misleading and suggest that people instead use the term
digital restrictions
management. Their position is essentially that copyright holders are
restricting the use of
material in ways that are beyond the scope of existing copyright laws, and
should not be
covered by future laws. In contrast the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and
other opponents,
also consider the use of DRM systems to be anti-competitive practice but
support that the
content originator and user need legal protection.
Accordingly, today music downloaded from legitimate retailers such as Apple's
i I'unesTM
store employs DRM to the degree that the content is restricted to a number of
electronic
devices so that a user may access the content from their smartphonc, MP3
player, and laptop
computer for example although the content is only downloaded once and must be
transferred
from one device to another by linking the devices electronically through an
application, in the
instance of Apple through their iTunes"m software. However, at present the
penetration of
portable electronic devices for video, film, and large multimedia content has
been limited in
part due to the issues of downloading and handling between devices individual
files of
hundreds to thousands of MI3 rather than a couple of MB per song.
At present multimedia content such as TV shows, films etc is provided through
service
providers in streamed formats but issues relating to service plans etc prevent
users
downloading such content to their portable electronic devices such as
smartphones, PDAs,
cellphones etc as a single Hollywood movie may absorb the users entire monthly
data plan.
It would therefore be beneficial to provide users with a means to download
large multimedia
content files and render these upon a variety of portable electronic devices.
It being further
beneficial to allow the downloading of multimedia content to be securely
stored within a
portable memory device allowing the user to render the content with their
electronic devices
or the electronic devices of others and that such rendering was constrained by
digital rights
associated with the multimedia content and memory device. It would also be
beneficial to
allow the user to select their rendering options in terms of duration of their
rights for number
of renderings or time frame for renderings as well as providing the ability to
associate
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CA 02766060 2012-01-26
additional content with the multimedia content at the time of rendering or
downloading such
as sub-titles or elements within the multimedia content.
Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to
those ordinarily
skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific
embodiments of the
invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures,
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to mitigating disadvantages of the
prior art in respect to
multimedia content and more specifically to the transfer and playback of
multimedia content
by users with high portability.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention there is provided a method
requesting a credential relating to a right to access multimedia content from
a computer
system comprising a memory device;
requesting data relating to the memory device from the computer system;
receiving a request relating to multimedia content from the computer system;
accessing the multimedia content on a first computer server storing the
multimedia content in
dependence upon a determination with respect to the supplied credential;
encrypting the multimedia content in dependence upon at least the data
relating to the
memory device; and
transferring the multimedia content to the memory device.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention there is provided a method
comprising:
requesting a credential relating to a right to access multimedia content from
a first computer
system comprising a memory device to a first computer server via a
communications
network;
transmitting data relating to the memory device from the computer system to
the first
computer server via the communications network;
transmitting a request relating to multimedia content from the computer system
to the first
computer server via the communications network;
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CA 02766060 2012-01-26
receiving the multimedia content from a second computer server via the
communications
network;
receiving rendering rights relating to the multimedia content generated in
dependence upon at
the least an aspect of the request.
storing the multimedia content and rendering rights within the memory device;
and
decrypting the multimedia content in dependence upon a decryption key
generated in
dependence upon at least the data relating to the memory device and the
rendering
rights in response to a request to render the multimedia content on at least
one of the
first computer system and another computer system.
I 0 In accordance with an embodiment of the invention there is provided a
method comprising:
storing within a memory device an application relating to stored multimedia
content;
receiving new multimedia content for storage within the memory device;
storing the new multimedia content within the memory device;
transferring a first mapping of the new multimedia content on the memory
device to a
computer system; and
modifying a second mapping stored within the memory device relating to the new
multimedia
content to render it incorrect for any access to the multimedia content other
than via
the application.
Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to
those ordinarily
skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific
embodiments of the
invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example
only, with
reference to the attached Figures, wherein:
Figure 1 depicts a different media distribution formats and their associated
equipment for
playback;
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CA 02766060 2012-01-26
Figure 2 depicts a network for accessing and downloading multimedia content
according to an
embodiment of the invention;
Figure 3 depicts the structure of a portable electronic device and wireless
access point for
accessing, downloading, and rendering multimedia content according to an
embodiment of the
invention;
Figure 4 depicts a memory device for storing multimedia content according to
an embodiment
of the invention;
Figure 5 depicts a memory device and memory device formats for storing
multimedia content
according to an embodiment of the invention;
Figure 6 depicts a downloading and rendering system for multimedia content
according to an
embodiment of the invention;
Figure 7 depicts a memory device and interfacing to a portable electronic
device in
conjunction with a memory mapping for multimedia content according to an
embodiment of
the invention;
Figure 8 depicts an exemplary process flow for the accessing and downloading
of multimedia
content according to an embodiment of the invention;
Figure 9 depicts an exemplary process flow for the rendering of multimedia
content according
to an embodiment of the invention;
Figure 10 depicts an exemplary process flow for the generation of the
multimedia content to
be downloaded and rendered according to an embodiment of the invention;
Figure 11 depicts an example of merging multimedia content with fixed and
variable data for
providing the combined multimedia content to a user according to an embodiment
of the
invention;
Figure 12 depicts examples of kiosks according to embodiments of the invention
for
providing users with multimedia content; and
Figure 13 depicts an embodiment of the invention for the secure distribution
of electronic
documents.
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CA 02766060 2012-01-26
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present invention is directed to multimedia content and more specifically
to the transfer
and playback of multimedia content with increased user portability.
The ensuing description provides exemplary embodiment(s) only, and is not
intended to limit
the scope, applicability or configuration of the disclosure. Rather, the
ensuing description of
the exemplary embodiment(s) will provide those skilled in the art with an
enabling description
for implementing an exemplary embodiment. It being understood that various
changes may be
made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the
spirit and scope
as set forth in the appended claims.
A "mobile communication device" or "portable electronic device" as used herein
and
throughout this disclosure, refers to a wireless device used for communication
that requires a
battery or other independent form of energy for power. This includes devices,
but is not
limited to, such as a cellular telephone, smartphone, personal digital
assistant (PDA), portable
computer, pager, portable multimedia player, portable gaming console, laptop
computer,
tablet computer, and an electronic reader. A "fixed electronic device" as used
herein and
throughout this disclosure, refers to a wired or wireless device used for
communication that
requires interconnection to a utility power supply. This includes devices, but
is not limited to,
such as desktop computers, televisions, cable set-top boxes, satellite set-top
boxes, residential
electrical appliances, and routers.
"Multimedia content" as used herein may refer to, but is not limited to, text,
email,
documents, photographs, images, video, movies, computer generated graphics,
sounds, music,
computer games, and digital content for presentation to a user. A "network
operator/service
provider" as used herein may refer to, but is not limited to, a telephone or
other company that
provides services for mobile phone subscribers including voice, text, and
Internet; telephone
or other company that provides services for subscribers including but not
limited to voice,
text, Voice-over-IP, and Internet; a telephone, cable or other company that
provides wireless
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CA 02766060 2012-01-26
access to local area, metropolitan area, and long-haul networks for data,
text, Internet, and
other traffic or communication sessions; etc.
Now referring to Figure 1 there is depicted a historical view 100 of physical
multimedia
according to the prior art for approximately the past 50 years. The historical
view 100 begins
S with gramophone record 100, commonly referred to as a vinyl record, and
turntable 110
which represented the means of distributing audio content from their initial
production in the
1890s but were limited to fixed locations. Subsequently in the early 1960s
compact audio
cassettes 125 were introduced which could be played in a variety of players
included fixed
player 140, automobile player 130 and portable player 135. It was not until
the mid-1970s
with the introduction of Betamax and VIJS tapes 120, each being a consumer-
level analog
videocassette magnetic tape solution for the presentation of audiovisual
content through a
fixed video player 115.
Subsequently, the audio compact disc 155A, commonly referred to as a CD, was
released in
1982 and rapidly established itself as the dominant audio media form. The
logical format of
an audio CD, officially Compact Disc Digital Audio or CD-DA, was digital for
the first time
using two-channel 16-bit PCM encoding at a 44.1 kHz sampling rate per channel.
The CD
155A rapidly replaced the compact audio cassette in fixed and portable
locations including,
for example, automobile CD player 160 and portable CD player 165. In 1998 the
digital
versatile disk 155A, commonly referred to as a DVD, was released generally
providing
increased storage capacity and read-write speeds through the use of a 650 nm
wavelength
laser diode light source as opposed to 780 nm for CD. This permits a smaller
pit to be etched
on the media surface compared to CDs (0.74 .tm for DVD versus 1.6 .tm for CD),
allowing in
part for DVD's increased storage capacity of 4.7GB for a single-sided, single-
layer format
versus approximately 700MB for a CD. Subsequent extensions through standards
such as
DVD+R (single layer read only), DVD+R DI., (dual layer read only), DVD+RW DL
(dual
layer read-write) as well as dual sided disks increased capacities further to
8.5-8.7 GB
(single-sided double-layer), 9.4 GB (double-sided, single-layer) and 17.08 GB
(double-sided,
double-layer).
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CA 02766060 2012-01-26
More recently, the Blu-ray Disc, essentially the successor to the DVD format,
uses a
wavelength of 405 nm, and one dual-layer disc has a 50 GB storage capacity
allowing the
Blu-ray Disc to contain not only the audiovisual content but additional
associated content
including for example games, interviews, out-takes, alternate endings,
multiple languages, and
support for all display formats including high definition 1080p for example.
DVD 155A and
131u-Ray disc being played on fixed players 150 and portable players 145. The
evolution of
audio and video with CD 155A and DVD 15513 led to the rapid obsolescence of
analog
consumer formats and their replacement with digital storage formats.
However, the inexorable evolution in digital memory, in terms of increased
capacity and
reduced cost for both semiconductor dynamic random access memory (DRAM)
devices and
physical hard disc drive (IHDD) formats, coupled with the widespread access to
high-speed
Internet led in the late 2000s to their corresponding rapid demise and
accordingly to the rapid
demise in the use of physical media distribution for audio content, e.g.
music, and video
content, e.g. video. As a result digital downloads 185 from a wide variety of
sources including
legitimate sources such as for example new entrants Apple iTunesTM together
with existing
retail outlets such as I-IMV and illegal sources such as Napster have become
ubiquitous. Such
downloads being initially to, and subsequently from, a variety of devices
including
smartphones 195, MP3 player 190A, gaming console 19013, automobile MP3 player
180,
laptop computer 170, and personal video recorders 175 (PVR),
At present, devices such as smart phones 195 and MP3 players 190A are
generally used to
download digital downloads 185 such as audio content such as MP3 files either
directly or to
other devices such as laptop computer 170 as well as short duration
audiovisual content.
Longer duration multimedia content is typically downloaded through digital
download 185 to
devices such as PVR 175 and laptop computer 170 wherein the user may access
higher speed
digital services through their cable service provider or residential telephone
service provider
rather than through their mobile service provider. Recently Netflix'TM began
providing on-
demand Internet streaming of multimedia content to redirect its business from
its original flat
rate DVD-by-mail service thereby placing it in competition with video-on-
demand services
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CA 02766060 2012-01-26
from telecommunications service providers such as AT&T, Rogers, Shaw, Cox
Communications, Time Warner, and Conicast.
However, as will be explained below such on-demand services for High
Definition (FID)
multimedia presentation, such as commonly known as 1080p which is the
shorthand
identification for a set of HDTV high-definition video modes that are
characterized by 1080
horizontal lines of vertical resolution and progressive scan, meaning the
image is not
interlaced as is the case with the 1080i display standard, consume significant
memory with
effective memory capacity requirements. For example the MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (AVC)
standard which supports a variety of standard, high definition, and
stereoscopic (3D) video
resolutions consumes approximately I MB per second uncompressed. MPE.G-4 also
supports
audio compression; Dolby AC-3 (Dolby Digital) and uncompressed linear PCM
audio, and
stereo and multichannel surround sound are both supported. Accordingly, an
hour of MPEG-4
uncompressed multimedia data requires approximately 3.6GI3 of data to be
stored, which
according to the Federal Communications Commission report "Broadband
Performance"
(0131 Technical Paper No. 4. 2009 that established a median download speed of
3Mb/s for
consumers in 2009), would take 160 minutes to download. Typical cable TV
compression for
a 90-120 minute movie results in the data requirement being reduced to
approximately
700MB corresponding to approximately 30 minutes at 3Mb/s.
Accordingly, at present "On-Demand" services from cable, telephone, and
satellite service
providers such as movie rentals and programmed television show access in
conjunction with
Netflix movie rentals are supported by current median download speeds where
the subscriber
has purchased high-speed residential Internet service plans which as can be
seen from Table I
below vary in cost, monthly usage and maximum speed (Rogers, Canada). However,
mobile
data plans are substantially different as evident from Table 2 below wherein
cost, monthly
usage and excess data fees are listed for different plans (Rogers, Canada)
associated with
user's portable telephones and smartphones. Table 3 lists the data plans for a
subscriber
(Rogers, Canada) for accessing the Internet using a 4G wireless modem for
their laptop etc
9
CA 02766060 2012-01-26
Plan Maximum Upload Speed Additional Monthly Monthly Fee
Download (Mb/s) Usage Fee Usage
Speed (Mb/s) ($/GB (GB)
Ul tra-T, i _te 0.5 0.256 5 2 $27.99
Lite 3 0.256 4 15 $35.99
Express 12 0.512 2 60 $46.99
Extreme 24 1 1.5 100 $59.99
Extreme Plus 32 1 1.25 150 $69.99
Ultimate 50 2 0.50 250 $99.99
Table 1: Cable Service Provider Internet Service Plans
Plan Minutes Monthly Pee Data Limit Excess Data Fee
WireA 150 $42.35
WireB 200 $47.35 1.00MB $5/100MB
WireC 200 $52.35 500MB $5/500MB
WireD 200 $57.35 1GB
WireE 200 $62.35 2GB $10/1 GB
WireD 300 $67.35 I G13
WireG 500 $72.35 1G13 $5/500MB
Table 2: Wireless Provider Service Plans with Data
Plan Monthly Additional Usage Monthly Fee
Usage (GB) Fee ($/GB
4GA 0.5 50 $31.93
4GB 1.0 50 $36.93
4GC 2.0 50 $51.93
4GD 5.0 50 $66.93
Table 3: 4G Internet Data Wireless Provider Service Plans
CA 02766060 2012-01-26
Accordingly it is evident that a user wishing to download a couple of movies
of 700MB per
month would essentially consume the monthly usage on most lower cost data
plans on their
mobile device thereby limiting them to viewing such content in combination
with their
residential Internet service plan or risk incurring significant financial
costs. Accordingly
whilst On-Demand and Netflix type services provide users with the ability to
view
audiovisual content at home these services limit the usage by users on mobile
devices. They
also require at present the user to take the higher monthly fee plans to try
and mitigate their
data usage, monitor their usage to avoid costly mistakes, and ensure they arc
aware of the size
of the file being downloaded.
Referring to Figure 2 there is depicted a representative telecommunication
architecture
wherein a central exchange 270 communicates with the remainder of a
telecommunication
service providers network via a network 200 which may include for example long-
haul OC-48
/ OC-l92 backbone elements, an OC-48 wide area network (WAN), a Passive
Optical
Network, and a Wireless Link. The central exchange 280 is connected via the
network 200 to
a local exchange 275 and therein through network 200 via a modem 205 to a
wireless access
point (AP) 210 which provides a Wi-Fi cell for house 200B. Within the Wi-Fi
cell associated
with first AP 210 occupants of house 220B may employ a variety of portable
electronic
devices including for example, laptop computer 255, portable gaming console
235, tablet
computer 240, cellphone 245, portable multimedia player 230, and smartphone
255 as well as
fixed electronic devices such as personal computer (PC) 215, television 220,
and gaming
console 225. Devices within house 200B may also access the Internet through
WiTi spot 260
if they are within range and the Wi-Fi spot 260 allows them access. In some
instances modem
20S may be one of several network interfaces to network 200 which may include
additional
wired or wireless modems within specific equipment as well as satellite and
cable set-top
boxes which have not been shown for clarity.
Also connected to the network 200 is satellite ground station 280 which
provides additional
content to the network 200 and therein through direct or indirect access this
content is
provided to the users interfaced to the network 200. Similarly connected to
network 200 are
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CA 02766060 2012-01-26
first and second cell towers 285 and 290 respectively. Second cell tower 290
provides cellular
service coverage over a predetermined area for devices supporting the
communications
standard of the cell tower 290 and in this instance the coverage covers house
20013. First cell
tower 285 provides cellular service coverage over a different predetermined
area for devices
supporting the communications standard of the cell tower 285, such as GSM
(Global System
for Mobile Communications) for example, including smartphone 250, tablet
computer 240,
cellphone 245, laptop computer255, portable gaming console 235, and portable
multimedia
player 230 allowing users to access a variety of services including for
example voice, SMS,
audiovisual, and Internet browsing according to the specific device. Also
connected to
network 200 is a kiosk 295 as will he discussed below in respect of
embodiments of the
invention but may access content being streamed from service providers or
stored by service
providers including but not limited audio, video, audiovisual and multimedia
data from cable
service providers, satellite service providers, telecommunications service
providers, websites,
and Internet service providers.
Some Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) and Fixed Electronic Devices (FE)s) it
would be
evident to one skilled in the art may support multiple wired and wireless
protocols
simultaneously, such that for example a user may employ GSM services such as
telephony
and SMS and Wi-Fi / WiMAX data transmission, VOIP and Internet access.
Accordingly
users of PEDs and FEDs are typically able to access the Internet and all
products, services, etc
which may be provided by one or more telecommunications standards including
but not
limited to IEEE: 802.11, IEEE 802.15, IEEE; 802.16, IEEE 802.20, UMTS, GSM
850, GSM
900, GSM 1800, GSM 1900, GPRS, ITU-R 5.138, ITU-R 5.150, ITU-R 5.280, and IMT-
2000.
Referring to Figure 3 there is depicted the protocol architecture of a
representative portable
electronic device as part of a simplified functional diagram of a system 300
that includes a
portable electronic device (PED) 304, such as a smartphone 250, an access
point (AP) 306,
such as Wi-Fi AP 210, and one or more network devices 307, such as
communication servers,
streaming media servers, and routers for example. Network devices 307 may be
coupled to
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CA 02766060 2012-01-26
AP 306 via any combination of networks, wired, wireless and/or optical
communication links
including but not limited to those supporting to IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.15,
IEEE 802.16,
IEEE 802.20, UMTS, GSM 850, GSM 900, GSM 1800, GSM 1900, GPRS, ITU-R 5.138,
ITU-R 5.150, ITU-R 5.280, and IMT-2000 communications standards as well as
proprietary
standards. The PED 304 includes one or more processors 310 and a memory 312
coupled to
processor(s) 310..AP 306 also includes one or more processors 311. and a
memory 313
coupled to processor(s) 311. A non-exhaustive list of examples for any of
processors 310 and
311 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor
(I)SP), a reduced
instruction set computer (RISC), a complex instruction set computer (CISC) and
the like.
Furthermore, any of processors 310 and 311 may be part of application specific
integrated
circuits (ASICs) or may be a part of application specific standard products
(ASSPs). A non-
exhaustive list of examples for memories 312 and 313 includes any combination
of the
following semiconductor devices such as registers, latches, ROM, EEPROM, flash
memory
devices, non-volatile random access memory devices (NVRAM), SDRAM, DRAM,
double
data rate (DDR) memory devices, SRAM, universal serial bus (USB) removable
memory, and
the like.
PEI) 304 may include an audio input element 314, for example a microphone, and
an audio
output element 316, for example, a speaker, coupled to any of processors 310.
PEI) 304 may
include a video input element 318, for example, a video camera, and a video
output element
320, for example an LCD display, coupled to any of processors 310. PEI) 304
includes one or
more software applications 322 that are typically stored in memory 312 and are
executable by
any combination of processors 3 10. PII) 304 includes a protocol stack 324 and
AP 306
includes a communication stack 325. Within system 300 protocol stack 324 is
shown as IEEE
802.11 protocol stack but alternatively may exploit other protocol stacks such
as an Internet
Engineering 'Task Force (IETF) multimedia protocol stack for example. Likewise
AP stack
325 exploits a protocol stack but is not expanded for clarity. Elements of
protocol stack 324
and AP stack 325 may be implemented in any combination of software, firmware
and/or
hardware. Protocol stack 324 includes an IEEE 802.11 -compatible PHY module
326 that is
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CA 02766060 2012-01-26
coupled to one or more Front-End Tx/Rx & Antenna 328, an IEEE 802.1 1-
compatible MAC
module 330 coupled to an IEEE 802.2-compatible LLC module 332. Protocol stack
324
includes a network layer IP module 334, a transport layer User Datagramn
Protocol (UDP)
module 336 and a transport layer Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) module
338.
Protocol stack 324 also includes a session layer Real Time Transport Protocol
(RTP) module
340, a Session Announcement Protocol (SAP) module 342, a Session Initiation
Protocol (SIP)
module 344 and a Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) module 346. Protocol
stack 324
includes a presentation layer media negotiation module 348, a call control
module 350, one or
more audio codecs 352 and one or more video coders 354. Software applications
322 may be
able to create maintain and/or terminate communication sessions with any of
devices 307 by
way of AP 306. Typically, software applications 322 may activate any of the
SAP, SIP,
R`I'SP, media negotiation and call control modules for that purpose.
Typically, information
may propagate from the SAP, SIP, RTSP, media negotiation and call control
modules to PHY
module 326 through TCP module 338, IP module 334, I.IC module 332 and MAC
module
330.
It would be apparent to one skilled in the art that elements of the PEI) 304
may also be
implemented within the AP 306 including but not limited to one or more
elements of the
protocol stack 324, including for example an IEEE 802.11-compatible PHY
module, an IEEE
802.11-compatible MAC module, and an IEEE 802.2-compatible LLC module 332. The
AP
306 may additionally include a network layer IP module, a transport layer User
Datagram
Protocol (UDP) module and a transport layer Transmission Control Protocol
(TCP) module as
well as a session layer Real Time Transport Protocol (RIP) module, a Session
Announcement
Protocol (SAP) module, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) module and a Real
'l'ime
Streaming Protocol (RTSP) module, media negotiation module, and a call control
module.
As depicted PED 304 also comprises a data output element 365 and a data input
element 360,
each of which is also connected to the processor 310 wherein the protocol
information for
these interfaces is stored within a data interface protocol element 370 stored
within the
protocol stack 324. Examples of data input and output elements include but are
not limited
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CA 02766060 2012-01-26
Universal Serial Bus (USB) interfaces of Type A, Type B, Mini-A, Mini-B, Micro-
A, and
Micro-B, Serial ATA, RS-232, RS-422,12C, and I;IA-485.
Referring to Figure 4 there is shown a PCB layout block diagram of a flash
memory storage
device 400 utilizing a USB interface according to an embodiment of the present
invention and
PCB layout block diagram of a slave board 4150 of the flash memory storage
device 400. The
main board of the flash memory storage device comprises a controller 440 and
at least one
flash memory chip 450. A USB connector 410 connects the flash memory storage
device 400
with a USB host (not shown). The flash memory on the main board comprises at
least one
flash memory chip 450 hut as described below, the memory capacity of the flash
memory
device 400 can be easily expanded according to the design of the main board so
that multiple
flash memory chips 450 can be integrated into the flash memory storage device
400. Typical
configurations available today include 8GB, 16013, 32GB, and 64GB.
In some embodiments the flash memory storage device 400 may further comprise
an
extension stack connector 420 that allows for extending the number of flash
memories with
slave flash memories 4120 on slave boards 4150. The extension stack connector
420 connects
the pins needed by the flash memory 4120 on the slave board 4150 with the
controller 440 on
the main board of the flash memory storage device 400. In this way, the memory
capacity of
the flash memory device 400 can be conveniently expanded as required to
provide multiple
capacity flash memories within one common housing configuration. Alternatively
the main
PCI3 board of the flash memory storage device 400 may be provided with
multiple landing
zones for flash memory chips 450 allowing them to be reflow soldered into
place directly
within requiring the use of slave board 4150. The exact methodology depending
upon cost -
yield tradeoffs according to the capacity of flash memory chip 450 etc.
The controller 440 is a major component of the device as it controls commands
and data
between the USB host and manages data in the flash memory array or module
comprising
flash memory chip(s) 450 and optionally slave board(s) 4150. It some
embodiments the
controller 440 is of a single chip design so that it does not need external
ROM or RAM. A
regulator 490 regulates the voltage for the memory storage device 400 which is
typically, for
CA 02766060 2012-01-26
flash memory, 3.3 volts or 5.0 volts. Some flash memory devices utilize means
of switching
between 3.3 volts and 5.0 volts as required by the flash memory for read /
write processes. A
clock generator 480, for example a crystal. generates a clock signal for the
controller 440 of
the flash memory device 440 and an indicator 470, for example an LED
indicator, indicates
the status of the flash memory storage device 400 such as whether it is busy
or in standby.
The main board of the flash memory storage device 400 can also have a stack
connector 420
for connecting a slave board 4150 to the main board for extending the memory
size with
additional flash memory 4120. The slave board 4150 comprises at least one
additional flash
memory array or module 4120 and connectors 4110. Multiple slave boards 4150
can be
connected in order to provide unlimited memory expansion according to some
embodiments
of the invention. A write protection switch 430 provides write protection from
the USB host
for the flash memory device 400. The switch 430 has at least two positions; a
position for
allowing the host to read and write normally, and another position for write
protection. When
the switch 430 is in the write protect position, the host can read data but
cannot write or erase
data.
Also shown within Figure 4 is presented a schematic of a controller 4200 of a
flash memory
storage device 400 to performs the numerous functions, including controlling
the USB
interface 421Ø The controller 4200 follows the USB specification for
physical and logical
protocol and further comprises a system buffer 4250 or FIFO controller buffer.
The controller
4200 receives command and parameter packets from the USI3 host, which are then
stored in
the system buffer 4250 defined by the controller 4200. The controller 4200 is
also responsible
for controlling the transfer of data to and from the USB host and provides
status data to the
USI3 host of the flash memory device of which the controller 4200 forms part..
When the host sends a write command, an interrupt is generated and sent to the
controller
microprocessor 4220 to inform the microprocessor 4220 of the command and the
command
location. The microprocessor 4220, for example an 8 or 16-bit microprocessor,
is a major
component of the controller 4200 which reads the USB commands and parameters
from the
system buffer 4250. The microprocessor 4220 also executes the commands with
the received
16
CA 02766060 2012-01-26
parameters. Microprocessor 4220 also manages and maps the USB FIFO address to
the
controller system buffer 4250 while receiving or transferring data to and from
the USB host.
The microprocessor 4220 manages commands such as erase, program, or read for
the flash
memory array. In addition, the microprocessor 4220 executes the addressing
method
according to the algorithm of the controller 4200. Microprocessor ROM 4230
stores the
program code of the controller 4200 and is in many instances built into the
controller 4200.
Microprocessor RAM 4240 is a system RAM used by the controller 4200 when
executing
IJS13 commands or the flash algorithm. The system buffer 4250 is used as a
cache which is
provided for buffering between the USB interface 4210 and the flash memory
array interface
4260. It is also the FIFO of the US1.3 protocol and the direction map to the
buffer. The
microprocessor 4220 manages the addresses of this buffer. As required, the
buffer can be
accessed by byte or word.
The flash memory storage device 400 further comprises a hardware state machine
for creating
the read and write timing to the system buffer 4250 between the US13 host and
the flash
memory. The flash interface 4260 and circuit, controls the read and write
commands to the
flash memory array. In an embodiment of the present invention this is a pure
hardware circuit.
An FCC circuit 4270 encodes the FCC code while data is writing to the flash
memory array
from the buffer cache and decodes the ECC code while data is read from the
flash memory
array to the buffer cache. If an FCC error occurs, the ECC circuit 4270 will
determine the
word or byte address in the buffer cache and correct the error.
Also shown in Figure 4 is a block diagram of the system architecture 4300 of a
flash memory
storage device 400. Certain operating systems of the USI3 host 300 such as
Windows ME and
Windows 2000 contain default US13 device drivers but other operating systems
may require
the need for a USB device driver to be installed on the host 4300A which may
be stored
within the flash memory storage device 400. The USB command implementation
4320
comprises the controller 4305 receiving commands and parameters from the USB
host 4300A
via the IJS13 connector 4310 and storing them in a register defined by the
controller. An
interrupt is generated and sent to inform the microprocessor that a command
has been
17
CA 02766060 2012-01-26
received. The controller 4305 receives and transfers data to and from the USI3
host 4300A
according to the USB logical and physical specification. The addressing method
4330
comprises managing the flash memory 4340 erase, read, and write commands and
manages
the physical to logical mapping.
Now referring to Figure 5 there is a plan view showing a configuration for an
IC card 500
which is a memory card or an 1/O card pursuant to the JEIDA (Japan Electronics
Industry
Development Association) standard and PCMCTA (Personal Computer Memory Card
International Association) standard, and is often referred to as a "SI) card",
The IC card
(hereinafter also referred to as the "SI) card") 500 includes signal
processing devices and/or
storage devices mounted on a card substrate 530 such as a printed circuit
board, and a card
connector portion 520 attached on one end of the card substrate 530. The
entire card substrate
530 is sealed with a packaging member 510A such as a resin for example. As a
signal
processing device the IC card 500 includes a card interface 5150 for
processing a plurality of
input signals and output signals is mounted on the card substrate 530 and a
plurality of flash
memories 540A through 5401:) respectively which are mounted on the card
substrate 530.
l ach of the flash memories 540A to 540D includes a status register 541 A
through 541 D
respectively in which values of'registers, for example SR.O to SR.7
corresponding to bits 0 to
7 respectively, vary depending on the operation state of the memory. The data
stored within
each of the status registers 541A through 5411) can be read to the outside of
the IC card 500
via a data bus for transmitting data signals DO to D15 on IC pins 531A through
531L
respectively, A signal input pad 5101 is provided on the card substrate 530 of
the IC card 500
which is employed for inputting a predetermined signal to the card interface
5150 in a writing
test or an erasing test for example. The position of the signal input pad 5101
can be anywhere
on the card substrate 530.
Also shown in Figure 5 are examples of USB memory devices including for
example micro-
IJS13 510 employing a micro-USB interface, a USB memory stick 520 and a USB-SD
interface 515 for interfacing an SD card, such as IC card 500, via a USB port
rather than an
SD card interface. Also depicted are standard SD card 530, mini SD card 540
and micro SD
18
CA 02766060 2012-01-26
card which like USB devices as described above range currently in capacity
from 4MB tip to
64MB.
Referring to Figure 6 there is depicted a schematic of a multimedia content
system 600
according to an embodiment of the invention. It would be evident to one
skilled in the art that
multimedia content system 600 exploits predetermined portions of the
representative
telecommunication architecture presented above in respect of Figure 2.
Accordingly a server
610 is shown which contains multimedia content for distribution to a consumer,
not shown for
clarity, provides multimedia content to a kiosk 690 or a set-top box 630 via
network 620
according to whether the user is downloading the multimedia content to their
memory device
680 at the kiosk 690 or set-top box 630. In the instance the user downloads
via a set-top box
630 then the user may be guided through associated log-in, selection, and
verification
processes via on-screen prompts on a screen 640 associated with the set-top
box 630 wherein
the screen for such user interfacing is provided as part of the kiosk 690.
Accordingly, the media management system through the set-top box 630 or kiosk
690
manages the download to the user's memory device 680 of the selected multi-
media content.
In doing so the media management system establishes within the memory device
680 in
conjunction with the multimedia content additional information relating to the
user rights to
the multimedia content. Such rights being established for example in response
to the user's
selections within the navigation provided to them through the media management
system. For
example the user may purchase limited rights in respect of a number of
viewings, a time for
viewing absent restrictions on number of plays, or an open license. Once
complete the user
may then transfer the memory device 680 to one or more PEDs or FI;Ds including
for
example tablet computer 650, smartphone 660, and laptop 670 wherein the
multimedia
content may be retrieved through a media management application installed upon
the memory
device 680. In some instances, such as smartphone 660, the memory device 680
may require
an interface 660A to connect the memory device 680 to the device upon which
the multimedia
content is being presented to the user.
19
CA 02766060 2012-01-26
Referring to Figure 7 there is shown an interconnection configuration
according to an
embodiment of the invention between a USB memory device 710, with a Type A
connector
720A, to a smartphone 730, with micro-B connector 72013 via interface cable
720 wherein the
smartphone 730 may retrieve multimedia content from the USB memory device 710.
Optionally, the user may insert SD card 750 into the smartphone 730 directly
or through an
interface such as USB-SD interface 515 depicted above in Figure 5. As depicted
in Figure 7
USB device 760 contains a flash memory 765 which has stored within a
multimedia
accessibility application 770C which has been downloaded to the USB device 760
when a
user accesses the multimedia content provider system and manages aspects of
the user's
access to downloaded multimedia content which is stored as encrypted
multimedia content
770A within the flash memory765 together with encrypted user accessibility
content 770B.
Partitioning of the SI) card 750 may also be structured in a similar manner to
contain
encrypted multimedia content 770A, encrypted user accessibility content 77013,
and
multimedia accessibility application 770C, It would be evident to one skilled
in the art that
optionally the encrypted multimedia content 770A may due to restrictions in
overall capacity
of USB device 760 be encrypted and stored on multiple portable memory devices
which may
be concurrently or sequentially interfaced to the PEI) or FED the user is
retrieving the
multimedia content upon.
Referring to Figure 8 there is depicted a process flow 800 for a user
accessing a service
providing multimedia content which is downloaded to a portable media storage
device.
Accordingly the process starts with step 805 and proceeds to step 810 wherein
the user
accesses the online service and then in step 815 establishes whether they are
registered with
the service wherein if not the flow proceeds to step 814 and the user
registers wherein the
flow proceeds to step 816 wherein the user selects the multimedia content they
wish to view.
If the user was registered with the service then in step 812 they would have
entered their user
name and password wherein they would have proceeded directly to step 816.
Having selected
the multimedia content the process proceeds to step 818 wherein the user
selects the
download means they wish to exploit.
CA 02766060 2012-01-26
If they are accessing the service from a kiosk then the process moves to step
825 wherein the
process exploits a dedicated high speed connection. The user then inserts
their memory card
into the kiosk in step 830 wherein the flow proceeds to step 835 wherein the
multimedia
content and the corresponding multimedia application are downloaded wherein
the process
proceeds to step 880 where the multimedia content is made available for
rendering and the
process proceeds to Part B in step 885. At step 818 if the user had selected
non-kiosk
downloading then the process moves to step 840 wherein the user is prompted to
insert their
memory card into the system from which they are accessing the service
provider. At step 850
the memory card is registered and the process proceeds to step 855 wherein the
multimedia
to content and multimedia application are downloaded before proceeding to step
860.
Early termination of the download also results in the process proceeding to
step 860 wherein a
determination is made as to whether the download was completed or not. If
complete the
process moves to step 880 wherein the multimedia content is made available for
rendering
and the process proceeds to Part B in step 885. If at step 860 the download
was incomplete the
process proceeds to step 865 wherein the settings of the download completed to
date are
securely stored within the memory card. Subsequently, the multimedia
application when
inserted into a computer system will execute in conjunction with the computer
system to
establish whether the online store is accessible in step 870. If not the
process temporarily halts
and loops hack to step 870 but if accessible the process returns to step 855
wherein the
download continues. Accordingly the multimedia content may be downloaded to
the memory
card in multiple stages allowing the user to achieve the downloading in
situations such as
those of low data rates, intermittent network access, and mobility.
It would be evident to one skilled in the art that within the process flow 800
the multimedia
service provider and multimedia application that they provide to the user's
portable memory
device may enact multiple techniques for multimedia content protection
including for
example encrypting the downloaded multimedia content with encryption
techniques including
for example private key encryption, public key encryption, rotating ciphers,
symmetric-key
cryptography, asymmetric-key cryptography, RSA, DSA, Optimal Asymmetric
Encryption
21
CA 02766060 2012-01-26
Padding (OAEP), elliptic curve cryptography, and other digital rights
management techniques
including for example Content Scrambling System (CSS), digital watermarking,
metadata,
fingerprinting, Protected Media Path, Advanced Access Content System (ARCS),
Marlin
DRM, CableCard, Content Protection and Copy Management (DVI3-CPCM.), Fairplay,
OpenMG DRM, Uplay, and SccuROM. Public-key encryption algorithms may include
for
example Benaloh, Blum--Goldwasser, Cayley-Purser, CEILIDI-I, Cramer--Shoup,
DamgArd-
Jurik, DH, EPOC, ECDII, ECDSA, EKE, ElGamal (encryption signature scheme),
GMR,
Gold wasser-Micali, I-IFI, IES, Lamport, McElieee, Merkle-I-Iellman, MQV,
Naccache-
Stern, NTRUEnctypt, NIRUSign, Paillier, Rabin, Okamoto-Uchiyama, Schnorr,
Schmidt-
Samoa, SPEKE, SRP, STS, three-pass protocol, and XTR. Other proprietary
techniques may
also be applied.
It would be evident that the multimedia application downloaded alongside the
multimedia
content may execute a variety of functions including for example controlling
access to the
multimedia content, managing encryption, communicate with the multimedia
service provider
systems. For example, rendering of the multimedia content may be prohibited
without
verification of the multimedia application stored on the memory card in
conjunction with data
registered concerning the memory card. Alternatively the multimedia
application may interact
with the memory mapping of the memory card, for example File Allocation Table
(FAT),
High Performance File System (HPFS), and New Technology File System (NTFS),
thereby
obfuscating the stored multimedia content.
According to one embodiment of the invention where the multimedia application
intercepts
communications with the FAT, or its equivalent, of the memory device the FAT
is replaced
with a null mapping and the FAT is transferred to a secure server such that
memory device
must be in communication with the secure server in order for the multimedia
content to be
retrieved and rendered. According to another embodiment of the invention the
mapping
transferred to a secure server is retrieved only to retrieve the next
predetermined amount of
data and the mapping data is never stored within non-volatile memory of the
memory device
or the computer system to which the memory device is connected.
22
CA 02766060 2012-01-26
It would be evident to one skilled in the art that the user when establishing
the download of
multimedia content may elect to establish rendering rights in dependence upon
a varying cost
based upon the rendering rights. For example, the rendering rights might be a
predetermined
period of time, a predetermined number of renderings, or a combination
thereof. Optionally,
wherein the user downloads multiple items of multimedia content, for example a
multi-part
film series, for example "Lord of the Rings" or "Star Wars"rM, or a television
series, for
example "The Good Wiffe" or "Top Chef - Just Desserts", different multimedia
content may
have different time limits that are established automatically, by the user, or
a combination
thereof.
Optionally, where the user purchases multiple items of multimedia content only
the first item
is downloaded and the downloading of the second, and subsequent items of
content, is
determined in dependence upon the rendering of the preceding item of content.
Optionally,
the same principle may be employed on a single item of multimedia content so
that only a
predetermined portion of the multimedia content is downloaded with the
remainder being
downloaded during the rendering process in determination of the progress of
the rendering
process or the entire multimedia content may he downloaded minus random or
predetermined
portions which may include for example content itself or a key, code, mapping
etc of the
multimedia content. Alternatively, the user may elect to purchase outright for
a different
financial value such that all rendering limitations are removed.
It would also be evident that the user may elect to delay downloading of the
multimedia
content to a later point in time, for example to the period lam - Gam or I Dam
- 3pm when
Internet usage in a residential neighbourhood for example may be anticipated
to be low such
that download speeds to the user's system are higher or the telecommunication
service
providers meters data differently at specific times such as occurs in many
areas with utilities
such as electricity. Alternatively, the downloading request from the user to
the multimedia
content service provider may be brokered with the telecommunication service
provider such
that the telecommunication service provider manages the actual downloading to
the memory
23
CA 02766060 2012-01-26
device which may for example be beneficial wherein the downloading is
bandwidth limited
through congestion or bandwidth limiting is implemented.
Referring to Figure 9 the second part of the process flow, Part B, is depicted
by process flow
900 which begins with step 905. The process proceeds to step 910 wherein the
memory
device is powered by a computing device to which it is coupled wherein the
multimedia
application is accessed by the computer device and executes in step 915. Once
executed the
multimedia application establishes in step 920 whether the playback time limit
for
downloaded multimedia content has been exceeded. If yes, then the process
proceeds
automatically to step 925 wherein the multimedia application securely deletes
the multimedia
content from the memory device and then proceeds to step 955 and terminates.
If the time limit has not been exceeded the process proceeds to step 930
wherein the
multimedia management application allows access to the multimedia content and
then is
rendered to the user in step 935 before the rendering process is stopped in
step 940. In step
945 the multimedia application determines whether the playback is complete
wherein if yes
the process proceeds to step 960 to determine whether a playback limit has
been exceeded,
such as for example number of renderings. If the playback is not complete then
the process
proceeds to step 950 wherein the multimedia playback information is stored and
the process
moves to step 960. If the determination in step 960 that the playback limit
has not been
exceeded then the process proceeds to step 955 and stops otherwise it proceeds
to step 925
wherein the multimedia content is deleted.
It would be evident to one skilled in the art that secure erasure of the
content on the memory
device may be made with one of the many software based over-writing algorithms
within the
prior art or based upon a variant of one or more of these. Optionally, wherein
the rendering
option selected by the user was a single rendering the secure erasure of the
multimedia
content may be performed during the actual rendering sequence to the user such
that for
example content a predetermined period of time prior to the current rendering
point may be
erased. Alternatively, prior to secure erasure of the multimedia content the
user may be
offered the chance to extend their rendering rights. Optionally, depending
upon the rendering
24
CA 02766060 2012-01-26
rights established elements of the multimedia content may be erased, for
example episode 1 of
a series leaving episodes 2 onwards for subsequent rendering.
According to another embodiment of the invention the downloading of the
multimedia
content may be selected by the user to be made in conjunction with additional
elements
including for example sub-titles, augmented content, language options,
advertising, etc. Such
additional elements may be automatically established by the multimedia content
provider in
dependence upon aspects including, but location of the memory device, user
credentials, user
demographics, user psychographics, and multimedia content as described below
with respect
to Figure 10.
Referring to Figure 10 there is depicted a process flow with respect to
generating content for
downloading such as may occur within an embodiment of the invention in steps
835 and 855
of process flow 800 in Figure 8 above. Accordingly the process begins at step
1005 wherein
the multimedia system at the remote servers of the multimedia service provider
retrieves a
look-up table of the multimedia content to be transmitted to the user's memory
device. This
look-up table may be generalized to the multimedia content, modified to the
location of the
downloading memory device, or specific to the user based upon their purchase
of the
multimedia content and / or user preferences for example. The process then
proceeds to step
1010 wherein the portion of multimedia content is retrieved wherein the
process then
determines in step 1015 whether a merge process is to be performed. If not the
process moves
to step 1020 wherein the retrieved portion of the multimedia content is
encrypted for
transmission with a memory device dependent key thereby locking the content to
the memory
device as the multimedia application in execution upon the memory device
generates the
decryption key locally upon execution. The encrypted multimedia content is
then transferred
in step 1025 to the memory device wherein in step 1030 the memory mapping for
the memory
device is updated with the information relating to the downloaded encrypted
multimedia
content. The process then proceeds to step 1065 where the process determines
whether the
multimedia content download is complete wherein it proceeds to the next step
of the overall
CA 02766060 2012-01-26
process in step 1070 if so otherwise the process returns to step 1010 with the
retrieval of the
next portion of the multimedia content.
If a merge is to be performed as determined in step 1015 then the process
proceeds to step
1035 wherein the fixed data for merging with the multimedia content is
retrieved and then
merged in step 1040 with the multimedia content. Next in step 1045 the process
determines
whether any variable data is to be merged with the multimedia content wherein
if not the
process proceeds to step 1020 to encrypt the merged fixed data and multimedia
content
otherwise it proceeds to step 1050, At step 1050 the process determines what
variable data is
to be retrieved for merging with the multimedia content, which is then
retrieved in step 1055
and merged in step 1060 with the previously combined fixed data and multimedia
content.
The resulting merged fixed data, variable data, and multimedia content is then
encrypted at
step 1020.
Accordingly it would be evident to one skilled in the art that fixed data may
be determined for
example in dependence upon a range of factors including but not limited to
licensing rights
within particular jurisdictions, advertising rights sold within particular
jurisdictions, cultural
factors relating to particular jurisdictions etc. The factors determining the
variable data may
include for the example the time of the multimedia content purchase, i.e. a
first advertiser may
have purchased September and another October, user preferences such as
language for
example, and multimedia content rights purchased. It would be evident to one
skilled in the
art that alternatively the selected multimedia content is downloaded to the
memory device
with the fixed data either merged or stored separately for dynamic merging on
rendering and
that the variable data is downloaded to the multimedia device based upon the
actual rendering
process being initiated by the user.
Optionally both the fixed and variable data may be downloaded when the
rendering process,
i.e. playback, is initiated. It would also be evident that in instances where
the user has selected
advertising in order to reduce the cost of the multimedia content that the
advertising may be
variable data content such that every time the multimedia content is rendered
new
advertisements are presented to the user. Such advertisements may for example
be other
26
CA 02766060 2012-01-26
multimedia content provided by the multimedia service provider such that these
advertisements stay current rather than stale-dating as with prior art
physical media
distributions such as VHS, I3etamax, and DVDs.
Now referring to Figure I 1 there is depicted a content merging process
relating to multimedia
content wherein fixed data 1160, variable data 1170, and multimedia content
1110 are shown
prior to merging and post-merging in combined multimedia content 1195.
Accordingly
multimedia image 1110 presents an image from multimedia content to be
presented to a user
through rendering wherein first to third regions 1130 through 1150 have been
established as
containing additional data. First and second regions 1130 and 1140 by elements
which always
require completion with additional data, to provide the rendered image,
whereas third region
1150 is a region optionally completed with additional content, e.g. sub-
titles. Accordingly,
shown adjacent multimedia image l 110 is first data 1160 comprising two
locations, "Pier 49
San Francisco" 1160A and "Brighton Pier England" 116013 which represent two
options for
data to be used to render first region 1130 and first and second logos 1160C
and 1160D
respectively which represent two options for data to be used in rendering
second region 1140.
Also shown is second data 1170 that contains options for third region 1150
which in this
instance are translations of sound effects related to the combined multimedia
content 1195,
i.e. a sound of a ship's siren. Accordingly, third region 1150 relates to
content for a user with
preferences for audio-assisted multimedia content as they are potentially hard
of hearing or
deaf or an expected viewer of the multimedia content is. As shown an English
sub-title
"Sound: Ship Siren" is translated into French, German, Italian and Portuguese
in first to
fourth sub-titles 1170A through 1170D respectively. In the instance that third
region contains
sub-titles relating to the translation of speech, singing etc within the
multimedia content then
it would be evident that the optional rendering of this content as a variable
element allows for
example a user to purchase the multimedia content within the United States and
send the
memory device to their mother in Mexico wherein when she plays the multimedia
content
Spanish sub-titles are retrieved as the location of the rendering system has
been established
through one of the techniques known within the prior art such as GPS,
triangulation and IP
27
CA 02766060 2012-01-26
address for example. Accordingly, fixed or variable data may be dynamically
downloaded
upon the request to render the downloaded multimedia content.
Referring to Figure 12 there are depicted first and second kiosks 1200A and
1200B. First
kiosk 1200A provides a plurality of display devices 1220A to 1220C to
different users as part
of the kiosk system 1210 allowing them to select multimedia content, provide
payment for the
digital rights they wish to have and then have the multimedia content
downloaded to their
memory devices, examples of which may include for example SD card 1230A, USB
memory
device 123013, and micro-SD card 1230C. Second kiosk 120013 provides a
plurality of
handheld devices 1260A through 1260C which interact with the central kiosk
1250 wirelessly
allowing each user of a handheld device 1260A through 1260C to select
multimedia content,
provide payment for the digital rights they wish to have and then have the
multimedia content
downloaded to their memory devices, examples of which may include for example
SD card
1270A, USB memory device 127013, and micro-SD card 1270C.
The plurality of handheld devices I260A through 12600 may in this instance
interface to the
central kiosk through a communications standard such as WiMedia Alliance's
Ultra-
WideBand (UWB) common radio platform, which is capable of sending 480 Mbit/s
at
distances up to 3 meters and 110 Mbit/s at up to 10 meters and designed to
operate in the 3.1
to 10.6 GI-1z frequency range in order to not to conflict with common wireless
standards
within a typical kiosk deployment scenario which would include for example GSM
and
multiple IEEE 802.11 systems. Accordingly where such kiosks are deployed they
may access
dedicated high speed communications links to a remote multimedia content
service so that
users may rapidly download large multimedia content files in very short
timefarnes.
Accordingly such kiosks may be deployed in a wide range of retail and non-
retail
environments.
Now referring to Figure 13 there is depicted an embodiment of the invention
relating to the
distribution of electronic documents as part of securing such electronic
documents from
unauthorized reproduction and distribution. Accordingly a user, not shown for
clarity, drafting
a document 1340 on their laptop 1330 may lock the document 1340 to the memory
of their
28
CA 02766060 2012-01-26
laptop 1330 during drafting prior to publication. The user may then publish or
release their
document 1340 for storage, for example to a known remote storage 131 OA or to
a distributed
storage such as so-called "cloud" storage 131013 wherein the multimedia
application
executing on their laptop 1330 would access the memory of each of the remote
storage 1310A
and cloud storage 131013 so that the data was stored with an encryption that
included the
memory identity such that copying of the data to another location would render
the content
useless.
Similarly, when the user wishes to release the document 1340 they issue
notifications to
intended recipients, for example by electronic mail, such that the
recipient(s) download the
document 1340 using a multimedia application so that it is then encrypted and
stored
according to embodiments of the invention such as described above in respect
of Figures 2
through 12 respectively. Accordingly as shown first to third recipients, not
shown for clarity,
download first to third copies 1380A through 1380C respectively to first to
third memories
1350, 1365, and 1375 respectively. First memory 1350 forming part of' the
system within
which it is installed, second memory 1365 being a demountable memory device,
such as a
USB memory stick for example, and third memory 1 375 is a demountable memory
card, such
as a micro-SD card. In this manner each of the first to third copies 1380A
through 1380C
respectively downloaded to the first to third memories 1350, 1365, and 1375
respectively are
encrypted according to identities of the memory devices.
Optionally, other aspects of embodiments of the invention discussed supra in
respect of
Figures 2 through 12 may be employed such that , for example, the user
distributing the
document maintains on their computer, e.g. laptop 1330, the memory maps of the
downloaded
copies of the document on the recipients memory devices so that the recipients
are unable to
access the remotely stored memory map. It would be evident to one skilled in
the art that such
accessing the remotely stored memory map on a recipients computer system may
be
controlled through the use of access credentials, user accounts etc so that
failure to provide a
correct credential renders the data unreadable. Further for enhanced security
the storing of the
29
CA 02766060 2012-01-26
data to the recipients memory device may be based upon the random or pseudo-
random
section of memory clusters rather than the sequential cluster based writing
usually employed.
As the multimedia content rendering rights are configured within embodiments
of the
invention to the memory device to which the multimedia content is stored such
rights may be
a single rendering where no time limit is established. It would also be
evident that whilst the
discussions above have been primarily discussed within the implicit of
multimedia content
being published to users for rendering such as movies, music, etc it would be
evident to one
skilled in the art that the approach also applies to the ability of
individuals to send multimedia
content such as photographs or videos to friends with rendering rights so that
they know the
content is protected from subsequent release generally. For example an
intimate image or
video being a couple may be rendered impossible to distribute as the content
is encrypted with
the memory device of the recipient's smartphone when the content is
downloaded. In such
instances it would be evident that the multimedia content application rather
than being a
discrete application downloaded in respect of multimedia content a user wishes
to purchase
that the application is part of the general operating environment of the PEI)
or FED it forms
part of so that all content downloaded of specific formats is encrypted
according to methods
described in respect of embodiments of the invention to render them secure.
Optionally, therefore for example where a user posts multimedia content to a
cloud service
and notifies another user that the content exists then the user may limit
downloads to 2 times
allowing the other user to access and download the multimedia content for
example to their
home computer and smartphone. Many other variations would be evident to one
skilled in the
art including for example that the FED to which the memory device is connected
is a wireless
router such that multiple PEI)s / FI Ds connected to the wireless router may
simultaneously
view the multimedia content or sequentially access the multimedia content.
It would be evident to one skilled in the art that in some embodiments of the
invention the
user may only access multimedia content for downloading and rendering based
upon their
providing at least a credential relating to them which may include, but not be
limited to, a user
identity, password, account identifier, personal information, electronic mail
address and
CA 02766060 2012-01-26
financial instrument data. In other embodiments of the invention the
multimedia content may
be downloaded only upon presentation and acceptance of a financial instrument
such as a
credit card or electronic fund transfer account. Alternatively, the provider
may not charge for
access to the multimedia content but may provide it free of charge to
registered users or users
who provide personal information such as a telephone number, address, name,
and electronic
mail account.
It would also be evident that the downloaded multimedia content may be
formatted according
to a predetermined standard which in some embodiments may be specific to some
electronic
devices, e.g. released by Apple, Blackberry, Nokia, Sony-Ericsson for use only
on their
electronic devices or multimedia distribution platforms such as iTunesTM for
example. In
other instances the multimedia content may be downloaded with one or more
format
translators allowing the multimedia content to he rendered on other electronic
devices. For
example the multimedia content may be provided in MPEG-4 format allowing its
rendering
on laptop computers, smartphones, cellphones, tablets etc and a translator for
converting the
MPEG-4 format to Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) standard-
definition or
high-definition formats for North America and Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB)
for Europe.
It would also he evident that in embodiments of the invention that the
downloading is secured
in dependence upon an identity of the memory device that a user may purchase
an item of
multimedia content and gift it to another user who then enters the access
credentials to the
multimedia service provider, by accessing them through an email for example,
such that the
download is then triggered to the device that the user enters the credentials
from thereby
allowing gifting of multimedia content. Where the system detects multiple
memory devices
the user may he given the option of which to download the multimedia content
to.
It would also be evident that according to an embodiment of the invention the
user may
establish a request that relates to the release of multimedia content at a
future point in time
such as the release of a new movie or show and that such requests may be
repetitive as for
example in respect of requesting each episode of a series so that the user
automatically
receives each episode downloaded to a memory device for example wherein the
transfer may
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CA 02766060 2012-01-26
be prior to the scheduled release through a time lock or subsequently such as
between tam
and Gam the following morning when cable usage is typically low fro example.
Specific details are given in the above description to provide a thorough
understanding of the
embodiments. However, it is understood that the embodiments may be practiced
without these
specific details. For example, circuits may be shown in block diagrams in
order not to obscure
the embodiments in unnecessary detail. In other instances, well-known
circuits, processes,
algorithms, structures, and techniques may be shown without unnecessary detail
in order to
avoid obscuring the embodiments.
Implementation of the techniques, blocks, steps and means described above may
be done in
various ways. For example, these techniques, blocks, steps and means may be
implemented in
hardware, software, or a combination thereof. For a hardware implementation,
the processing
units may be implemented within one or more application specific integrated
circuits (ASICs),
digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (I)SPDs),
programmable
logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), processors,
controllers,
micro-controllers, microprocessors, other electronic units designed to perform
the functions
described above and/or a combination thereof.
Also, it is noted that the embodiments may be described as a process which is
depicted as a
flowchart, a flow diagram, a data flow diagram, a structure diagram, or a
block diagram.
Although a flowchart may describe the operations as a sequential process, many
of the
operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the
order of the
operations may be rearranged. A process is terminated when its operations are
completed, but
could have additional steps not included in the figure. A process may
correspond to a method,
a function, a procedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc. When a process
corresponds to a
function, its termination corresponds to a return of the function to the
calling function or the
main function.
Furthermore, embodiments may be implemented by hardware, software, scripting
languages,
firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description languages and/or any
combination
thereof When implemented in software, firmware, middleware, scripting language
and/or
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CA 02766060 2012-01-26
microcode, the program code or code segments to perform the necessary tasks
may be stored
in a machine readable medium, such as a storage medium. A code segment or
machine-
executable instruction may represent a procedure, a function, a subprogram, a
program, a
routine, a subroutine, a module, a software package, a script, a class, or any
combination of
instructions, data structures and/or program statements. A code segment may be
coupled to
another code segment or a hardware circuit by passing and/or receiving
information, data,
arguments, parameters and/or memory contents. Information, arguments,
parameters, data,
etc. may be passed, forwarded, or transmitted via any suitable means including
memory
sharing, message passing, token passing, network transmission, etc.
For a firmware and/or software implementation, the methodologies may be
implemented with
modules (e.g., procedures, functions, and so on) that perform the functions
described herein.
Any machine-readable medium tangibly embodying instructions may be used in
implementing the methodologies described herein. For example, software codes
may be
stored in a memory. Memory may be implemented within the processor or external
to the
processor and may vary in implementation where the memory is employed in
storing software
codes for subsequent execution to that when the memory is employed in
executing the
software codes. As used herein the term "memory" refers to any type of long
term, short term,
volatile, nonvolatile, or other storage medium and is not to be limited to any
particular type of
memory or number of memories, or type of media upon which memory is stored.
Moreover, as disclosed herein, the term "storage medium" may represent one or
more devices
for storing data, including read only memory (ROM), random access memory
(RAM),
magnetic RAM, core memory, magnetic disk storage mediums, optical storage
mediums,
flash memory devices and/or other machine readable mediums for storing
information. The
term "machine-readable medium" includes, but is not limited to portable or
fixed storage
devices, optical storage devices, wireless channels and/or various other
mediums capable of
storing, containing or carrying instruction(s) and/or data.
The methodologies described herein are, in one or more embodiments,
performable by a
machine which includes one or more processors that accept code segments
containing
33
CA 02766060 2012-01-26
instructions. For any of the methods described herein, when the instructions
are executed by
the machine, the machine performs the method. Any machine capable of executing
a set of
instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by
that machine are
included. Thus, a typical machine may be exemplified by a typical processing
system that
includes one or more processors. Each processor may include one or more of a
CPU, a
graphics-processing unit, and a programmable DSP unit. The processing system
further may
include a memory subsystem including main RAM and/or a static RAM, and/or
ROM.. A bus
subsystem may be included for communicating between the components. If the
processing
system requires a display, such a display may be included, e.g., a liquid
crystal display (LCD),
If manual data entry is required, the processing system also includes an input
device such as
one or more of an alphanumeric input unit such as a keyboard, a pointing
control device such
as a mouse, and so forth.
The memory includes machine-readable code segments (e.g. software or software
code)
including instructions for performing, when executed by the processing system,
one of more
of the methods described herein. The software may reside entirely in the
memory, or may also
reside, completely or at least partially, within the RAM and/or within the
processor during
execution thereof by the computer system. Thus, the memory and the processor
also constitute
a system comprising machine-readable code.
In alternative embodiments, the machine operates as a standalone device or may
be
connected, e.g., networked to other machines, in a networked deployment, the
machine may
operate in the capacity of a server or a client machine in server-client
network environment,
or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer or distributed network environment. The
machine may
be, for example, a computer, a server, a cluster of servers, a cluster of
computers, a web
appliance, a distributed computing environment, a cloud computing environment,
or any
machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise)
that specify
actions to be taken by that machine. The term "machine" may also be taken to
include any
collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple
sets) of
instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.
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CA 02766060 2012-01-26
The foregoing disclosure of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention
has been
presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to
be exhaustive or to
limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many variations and
modifications of the
embodiments described herein will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the
art in light of the
above disclosure. The scope of the invention is to be defined only by the
claims appended
hereto, and by their equivalents.
Further, in describing representative embodiments of the present invention,
the specification
may have presented the method and/or process of the present invention as a
particular
sequence of steps. However, to the extent that the method or process does not
rely on the
particular order of steps set forth herein, the method or process should not
be limited to the
particular sequence of steps described. As one of' ordinary skill in the art
would appreciate,
other sequences of steps may be possible. Therefore, the particular order of
the steps set forth
in the specification should not be construed as limitations on the claims. In
addition, the
claims directed to the method and/or process of the present invention should
not be limited to
the performance of their steps in the order written, and one skilled in the
art can readily
appreciate that the sequences may be varied and still remain within the spirit
and scope of the
present invention.
