+

WO2001078367A2 - Appareil et procede de transfert de signal video numerique en ligne - Google Patents

Appareil et procede de transfert de signal video numerique en ligne Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2001078367A2
WO2001078367A2 PCT/US2001/011124 US0111124W WO0178367A2 WO 2001078367 A2 WO2001078367 A2 WO 2001078367A2 US 0111124 W US0111124 W US 0111124W WO 0178367 A2 WO0178367 A2 WO 0178367A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
user
content
network
license
method recited
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2001/011124
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2001078367A3 (fr
Inventor
Scott Jeffrey Sherr
Eva Miranda
Ira Steven Rubenstein
Sean Brennan Carey
Yair Landau
Andrew C. Frank
Brian David Lakamp
Bryan Gentry Spaulding
Charles Jonathan Evans
Everton Anthony Schnabel
Hartmut Ochs
Jeremy Eli Barnett
Seth David Palmer
Todd Michael Henderson
William W. Chong
Bruce Forest
Steven Koenig
Karl Wiersholm
Original Assignee
Movielink, Llc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Movielink, Llc. filed Critical Movielink, Llc.
Priority to JP2001575696A priority Critical patent/JP2003530778A/ja
Priority to EP01924721A priority patent/EP1279277A4/fr
Priority to AU2001251350A priority patent/AU2001251350A1/en
Priority to CA002405492A priority patent/CA2405492A1/fr
Publication of WO2001078367A2 publication Critical patent/WO2001078367A2/fr
Publication of WO2001078367A3 publication Critical patent/WO2001078367A3/fr
Priority to HK03105265.4A priority patent/HK1053032A1/zh

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00—Television systems
    • H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
    • H04N7/173—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
    • H04N7/17309—Transmission or handling of upstream communications
    • H04N7/17318—Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00—Commerce
    • G06Q30/06—Buying, selling or leasing transactions
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F21/00—Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
    • G06F21/10—Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material ; Digital rights management [DRM]
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
    • G06Q10/10—Office automation; Time management
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00—Commerce
    • G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L63/00—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security
    • H04L63/04—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
    • H04L63/0428—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L63/00—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security
    • H04L63/12—Applying verification of the received information
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/23—Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
    • H04N21/234—Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating encoded video stream scene graphs
    • H04N21/2347—Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating encoded video stream scene graphs involving video stream encryption
    • H04N21/23473—Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating encoded video stream scene graphs involving video stream encryption by pre-encrypting
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/25—Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
    • H04N21/254—Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server
    • H04N21/2541—Rights Management
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/25—Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
    • H04N21/254—Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server
    • H04N21/2543—Billing, e.g. for subscription services
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/25—Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
    • H04N21/266—Channel or content management, e.g. generation and management of keys and entitlement messages in a conditional access system, merging a VOD unicast channel into a multicast channel
    • H04N21/26606—Channel or content management, e.g. generation and management of keys and entitlement messages in a conditional access system, merging a VOD unicast channel into a multicast channel for generating or managing entitlement messages, e.g. Entitlement Control Message [ECM] or Entitlement Management Message [EMM]
    • H04N21/26609—Channel or content management, e.g. generation and management of keys and entitlement messages in a conditional access system, merging a VOD unicast channel into a multicast channel for generating or managing entitlement messages, e.g. Entitlement Control Message [ECM] or Entitlement Management Message [EMM] using retrofitting techniques, e.g. by re-encrypting the control words used for pre-encryption
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/45—Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
    • H04N21/462—Content or additional data management, e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end, controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
    • H04N21/4627—Rights management associated to the content
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/472—End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content
    • H04N21/47211—End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content for requesting pay-per-view content
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/475—End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data
    • H04N21/4755—End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/482—End-user interface for program selection
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
    • H04N21/63—Control signaling related to video distribution between client, server and network components; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients or between remote clients, e.g. transmitting basic layer and enhancement layers over different transmission paths, setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet between remote STB's; Communication protocols; Addressing
    • H04N21/633—Control signals issued by server directed to the network components or client
    • H04N21/6332—Control signals issued by server directed to the network components or client directed to client
    • H04N21/6334—Control signals issued by server directed to the network components or client directed to client for authorisation, e.g. by transmitting a key
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
    • H04N21/83—Generation or processing of protective or descriptive data associated with content; Content structuring
    • H04N21/835—Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates
    • H04N21/8355—Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
    • H04N21/85—Assembly of content; Generation of multimedia applications
    • H04N21/854—Content authoring
    • H04N21/8549—Creating video summaries, e.g. movie trailer
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F2221/00—Indexing scheme relating to security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
    • G06F2221/21—Indexing scheme relating to G06F21/00 and subgroups addressing additional information or applications relating to security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
    • G06F2221/2137—Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L2463/00—Additional details relating to network architectures or network communication protocols for network security covered by H04L63/00
    • H04L2463/101—Additional details relating to network architectures or network communication protocols for network security covered by H04L63/00 applying security measures for digital rights management
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L2463/00—Additional details relating to network architectures or network communication protocols for network security covered by H04L63/00
    • H04L2463/102—Additional details relating to network architectures or network communication protocols for network security covered by H04L63/00 applying security measure for e-commerce

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/195,870, filed April 7, 2000, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and which forms a basis for priority herein.
  • the present invention also relates to U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/603,805, filed June 20, 2000 ( for which a Petition to Convert Non-Provisional Application to Provisional Application Under 37 CFR 1.53(c)(2), was filed March 16, 2001 via U.S. Express Mail Label No. EL752586903US, our file number 041892/0208, decision of petition and provisional serial number unknown at this time), is incorporated herein by reference.
  • the invention relates generally to the field of electronic commerce. More particularly, the invention relates to an online digital video signal transfer method and apparatus enabling online rental of digitally encoded motion pictures.
  • the Internet has provided consumers with a new medium for commerce, commonly referred to as electronic commerce (or Ecommerce).
  • Ecommerce electronic commerce
  • Tranz-Send Business Network is an online provider of video-on- demand (VOD) motion pictures.
  • VOD video-on- demand
  • TSBN has created a complete end-to-end web based video-on-demand solution that delivers full screen broadcast quality electronic content to the end user on demand.
  • a user has relatively little control over VOD movies such as pause and rewind features.
  • a fee is required each time the user desires to view the movie once the broadcast is complete.
  • TSBN does not provide users with the capability for online rental of motion pictures for a fixed period, such that during the fixed period the user is allowed to replay the motion picture as many times as desired. Moreover, TSBN does not provide an interface that simulates the rental of motion pictures from racks of aisles within a video rental store.
  • Embodiments of the present invention overcome the problems in the existing art described above by providing an online digital video signal transfer apparatus and method.
  • Rental of the digital video signals occurs within an online environment including one or more client computers and at least one network server connected by a communications link to the one or more client computers.
  • a method according to an embodiment of the invention includes providing access to an online catalog stored within a memory of a network video server computer.
  • the online catalog includes information regarding digital video signals available for rental from the network server computer.
  • Requests are then received from client computers for rental of digital video signals selected from the online catalog for a specified period of time.
  • the requests include electronic payment based on the selected digital video signal and the specified number of plays and/or the period of time.
  • the digital video signal is transmitted to the client computer via communications link. Once transmitted, the digital video signal is viewable by a user of the client computer during the specified period of time.
  • Advantages of the invention include the ability to rent motion pictures without having to provide additional monies for purchase of the motion pictures.
  • the present invention provides an interface, which simulates the actual rental of motion pictures within a video rental store.
  • the user is allowed to view the motion picture as many times as desired, thereby simulating the actual rental of feature length motion pictures.
  • the user is allowed to view the motion picture a predetermined number of times during an unspecified period of rental.
  • FIG. 1 is a simplified view of an exemplary client-server environment in which the present invention may be implemented.
  • FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary high-level system architecture implementation of the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the client computer and the network video server as shown in FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary online video transfer site screen that enables online rental of digital video signals according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 depicts a listing of digital video signals designated by the user as being of interest during a previous visit to the web site according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 depicts a listing of recommendations for movies to download from the web site according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 7 depicts a quick pick feature screen on the web site according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 12 depicts a license access level selection screen according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 13-15 are flow diagrams illustrating online rental of digital video signals according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
  • Embodiments of the present invention overcome the problems in the existing art described above by providing an online digital video signal transfer apparatus and method, for example enabling online rental, purchase and/or delivery of digitally encoded motion pictures.
  • Systems and processes according to ' embodiments of the present invention provide a content owner or holder with a mechanism for controlling distribution of content to users by allowing users to access the content through a network.
  • One example model for the system and process is a movie rental system for downloading movie files to customers across the Internet.
  • Other embodiments may involve delivery of other types of content including, but not limited to, music files, still image files, game programs, other software or data, and combinations thereof.
  • other embodiments may employ distribution of encoded physical media, or wide area or local area networks.
  • embodiments described herein are primarily with reference to a movie rental service. However, it will be readily understood that aspects of the invention may be employed in other suitable content delivery applications as noted above.
  • a movie transfer apparatus and method provides data stored on a computer system to a user across a network connection.
  • the transfer may be accomplished in various ways, including, but not limited to, download to memory storage, streaming video, audio, or a combination, across various types of connections, including, but not limited to, the Internet, private or public networks, direct wire or fiber connections, wireless connections, broadcast systems (e.g., cable systems, satellite systems, broadcast television system, broadcast digital television systems) or a combination of connections.
  • the movie is encoded on tangible media and physically distributed.
  • movingies or "videos”
  • many or all of the methods and apparatus described may be readily adapted to apply to electronic files of other types as well, such as digitally encoded songs, books, television programming, radio programming, and any other content (audio, video, text, etc.) which may be digitized or encoded and stored as an electronic file.
  • control information including, but not limited to, video aspect ratio, resolution, and audio playback parameters may also be included in the electronic file.
  • Some embodiments of the invention relate to implementations for a network movie (hereafter "video”) server computer system accessible through the World Wide Web and the Internet as a website (referred to as the "main website”).
  • video network movie
  • main website a website accessible through the World Wide Web and the Internet as a website.
  • main website a website accessible through the World Wide Web and the Internet as a website.
  • Internet connection interfaces e.g., an FTP server
  • private networks e.g., a network provided by an ISP for its subscribers
  • direct connections such as a directly wired set of stations in a limited area such as a hotel.
  • rental of the digital video signals occurs within an online environment including at least one network server located at a first node and connected by a communications link to a plurality of client computers or other user network devices located at other nodes.
  • the method includes providing access to an online catalog stored within a memory of a network video server computer.
  • the online catalog includes information regarding digital video signals available for rental from the network server computer. Requests are then submitted by client computers for rental of digital video signals selected from the online catalog for a specified period of time or for a specified number of plays.
  • the requests include electronic payment based on the selected digital video signal and the specified period of time or for a specified number of plays. Once electronic payment is provided, the digital video signal is transmitted to the client computer via a communications link. Once transmitted, the digital video signal is viewable by a user of the client computer during the specified period of time.
  • the client computer establishes electronic communication prior to permitting viewing of the digital video signal to ensure playback is within the specified rental parameters, and optionally that the machine used for playback is the machine that will be used for viewing. This ensures that video downloads are not conveyed to other parties who may also wish to view the movie.
  • the server provides the new party the opportunity to purchase a rental license.
  • functions are implemented with machine-executable instructions. The instructions may be used to cause a general-purpose or special- purpose processor that is programmed with the instructions to perform the functions and steps described herein. Alternatively, the functions and steps may be performed by specific hardware components that contain hardwired logic for performing the steps, or by any combination of programmed computer components and custom hardware components.
  • Embodiments of the present invention may be implemented as a computer program product which may include a machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which may be used to program a computer (or other electronic devices) to perform a process according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • the machine-readable medium may include, but is not limited to, floppy diskettes, optical disks, CD-ROMs, and magneto-optical disks, ROMs, RAMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs, magnet or optical cards, flash memory, or other type of media/machine-readable medium suitable for storing electronic instructions.
  • embodiments of the present invention may also be implemented as a computer program product, wherein the program may be transferred from a remote computer (e.g. , a server) to a requesting computer (e.g. , a client) by way of data signals embodied in a carrier wave or other propagation medium via a communication link (e.g., a modem or network connection).
  • FIG. 1 is a simplified view of an exemplary client-server environment 100, such as the World Wide Web (the Web), in which the online digital video transfer method and apparatus may be implemented.
  • the architecture of the Web follows a conventional client-server model.
  • client and server are used to refer to a computer's general role as a submitter of requests for data (the client) or provider of data (the server).
  • Web clients 102 (102A, ... ,
  • Web servers 130 communicate using a protocol such as Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP).
  • HTTP Hyper Text Transfer Protocol
  • Web browsers reside on clients and render Web documents (pages) served by the Web servers.
  • the client-server model is used to communicate information between clients 102 and servers 130.
  • Web servers 130 are coupled to a network 120, for example the
  • a Web browser such as Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer, opens a connection to a server 130 and initiates a request (e.g., an HTTP get) for the document.
  • the server 130 delivers the requested document, typically in the form of a text document coded in a standard markup language such as HyperText Markup Language (HTML) or Dynamic HTML (DHTML)
  • an online digital video signal transfer apparatus 110 may be implemented in an online environment according to a first embodiment of the present invention as depicted in FIG. 2.
  • the online environment includes one or more client computers 102 (102A, ..., 102N) and at least one network server computer 130 connected by a communications link 120 to the plurality of client computers 102.
  • the communications link 120 generally refers to any type of wire or wireless link between computers such as, but not limited to, a local area network, a wide area network, or a combination of networks.
  • the communications link may be a network such as the internet.
  • a client computer 102 may be any type of computing device such as, but not limited to, desktop computers, workstations, laptops, a set-top box, and/or mainframe computers. One or more users not shown may be associated with each client computer 102.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates the client computer 102 which includes a CPU 104, a user interface 106, a memory 108 and a communications interface 112.
  • the communications interface 112 is used to communicate with a network video server computer 130, or other system resources not shown.
  • the communications interface provides a network connection. While any connection rate may be used, a high speed or broadband data connection, such as a connection providing a data rate of
  • the memory 108 of the client computer 102 may be implemented as RAM (random access memory) or a combination of RAM and non- volatile memory such as, but not limited to, magnetic disk storage.
  • the memory 108 may contain magnetic disk storage sufficient to store an encoded movie, or with at least one gigabyte of free space.
  • the memory 108 may contain the following:
  • internet access procedures 116 including a Web-browser such as, for example, Internet Explorer Version 4.0 or greater; • video media procedures 118;
  • FIG. 3 also illustrates the network video server computer 130 which includes a central processing unit (CPU) 132, a user interface 134, a memory 136, and a communications interface 138.
  • the network video server computer 130 may be any type of computing device such as, but not limited to, desktop computers, work stations, laptops, and/or main frame computers.
  • the communications interface 138 is used to communicate with the client computers 102 as well as other system resources, such as content servers, not shown.
  • the memory 136 of the network video server computer 130 may be implemented as RAM (random access memory) or a combination of RAM and non- volatile memory such as magnetic disk storage.
  • Memory 118 may contain the following:
  • web server procedures 144 • web page creation procedures 146 that dynamically generate user web pages for registered users as well as movie web pages for one or more of the digital video signals available for rental from the network video server computer 130;
  • user interface procedures 156 providing access to online catalog information regarding digital video signals available for rental from the network video server computer 130 including a movie search engine;
  • a content database 158 for storage of encoded and encrypted digital video signals available for download
  • a catalog database 160 including information regarding digital video signals available for rental from the network video server computer 130
  • a transaction database 162 for storage of information regarding user information as well as transaction information and license keys
  • FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary online video transfer site screen that allows online users to rent digital video signals from the network video server computer 130.
  • a user wishes to participate in online rental of digital video signals, for example digitally encoded movies
  • the online user enters a main website and is presented with the main website home page screen (movie home page) 200.
  • the movie home page 200 provides access to online catalog information regarding various digital video signals available for rental from the network video server computer 130 (e.g. , text which is also printed on a video cassette box for the movie, reviews of the movie, or comments from other users).
  • the movie home page 200 also permits playing a trailer 202 of a featured selection 204 and includes additional information such as the coming soon area 206, listing of the top five rentals 208 in clips and stills of various digital video signals available for rental. From the movie home page 200, the online user is forwarded to various screens that allow the user to search and view various digital signals available for rental as well as the capability to download digital video signals for viewing on the user computer 102 at a later time.
  • the main website home page 200 is the first page presented to a user upon entry into the main website.
  • the home page 200 presents the trailer 202 from a movie selected by the main website operator.
  • the trailer 202 begins playing (i.e., the video sequence begins) when the home page is accessed.
  • the home page 200 also presents several movies to the user, such as by displaying an image and title for each movie, or by displaying an image of the front of a video cassette box for the movie.
  • the home page 200 may also provide categories of information to the user, such as, but not limited to, special or featured movies or a top 10 list of movies.
  • the user may also access additional information about a movie through the video box, such as by mouse-clicking on the box or by selecting a command from a menu.
  • the main website provides a distinction between selecting a movie for a commercial transaction and for accessing additional information, such as by right- click versus left-click or distinct menu commands.
  • the website Upon accessing additional information for a movie, the website optionally begins playing the trailer for or a clip from the movie.
  • Examples of additional information available include images and audio from the movie, images and text from the video cassette box, reviews of the movie (for example, by staff of the movie website, by third parties, by users of the movie website), or other links to websites related to the movie (for example, a page in a movie index website, the official website for the movie sponsored by the owner of the movie, or the official website for the soundtrack of the movie).
  • a visual representation of the user's selection of services with respect to movies may be provided on the main website. This visual representation may have various information and formats such as, but not limited to, a table by movie for rental, purchase, recommendation, or remember. Services may be represented by graphical icons as well as by text.
  • the content of the movie home page 200 or other pages may be customized to the user.
  • a "Remember Engine” may be used to preserve a list of one or more movies designated by a user as being of interest during a previous visit to the main website, as shown in FIG. 5. The list could then be viewed by the user on the movie home page 200 as a history of movies of possible interest to the user.
  • the Remember Engine may, for example, be implemented in software routines.
  • a "Recommendation Engine” may be used to customize the movie home page 200 or other pages.
  • the Recommendation Engine may, for example, be implemented in software routines that provide the user with suggestions of movies to download, as shown in FIG. 6.
  • the Recommendation Engine may, for example, be implemented in software routines that provide the user with suggestions of movies to download, as shown in FIG. 6.
  • the Recommendation Engine will track user activity on the main website or elsewhere, for example, on other websites, to determine the movie preferences of the user. As an example, the Recommendation Engine may determine from the user's past activity that the user prefers westerns or comedies. Similarly, the Recommendation Engine may determine that the user prefers movies directed by Alfred Hitchcock or another director. In another embodiment, the Recommendation Engine may suggest movies to download based on responses to questions posed to the user on the main website or elsewhere, or based on the user's evaluation of movies. As an example, the Recommendation Engine may query the user about what categories of movies the user likes (westerns, comedies, horror films) or what actors, directors, or time periods (1950's, 1960's ). In yet another embodiment, the Recommendation Engine may make movie suggestions based on a combination of the above-named factors.
  • the Recommendation Engine and the Remember Engine may also be used for other purposes tailored to a particular user.
  • a "Push" feature is included for downloading a movie to a user's computer (or storage device) before the user has selected a movie for purchase.
  • the user may then immediately access one of these previously pushed movies without waiting for download to complete.
  • the Push download may be requested by the user or performed automatically by the movie website without any request from the user.
  • the main website may download a movie which the user has either previously designated using the Remember Engine or that has been selected for the user by the Recommendation Engine.
  • the designated or selected movie is downloaded even though it was not specifically requested by the user for push download.
  • no license is purchased at the time of the Push download.
  • the user may later obtain a license to view the movie by activating the movie player software on the user's computer system to play the movie.
  • the user's movie player software contacts the main website and a determination is made as to whether the user has a valid license for playing the pushed movie. Because the user has not yet purchased a license for the pushed movie, the user is prompted to purchase a license. If the user purchases a license, the user may then view the pushed movie according to the terms of the purchased license.
  • the user may select several movies for Push download without purchasing licenses for these movies.
  • the main website would then establish a "Push Queue" from which the selected movies would be sequentially downloaded to the user's computer or storage device.
  • a 'Smart Push” feature would include the ability to evaluate user settings on the main website and parameters of the user's computer or other storage device, such as available storage capacity, in order to determine whether a particular Push operation should be performed.
  • the Recommendation Engine may further be used, in some embodiments, to select a trailer or clip of a movie to be played after accessing the user's customized homepage.
  • the trailer or clip that the user sees upon accessing the main website homepage will be tailored to the user's preferences.
  • extended information such as, but not limited to, movie reviews, ratings, inside industry information (e.g., cast interviews), movie synopsis or production information, links to the Internet Movie Database (IMDB), or the official website for the movie or soundtrack, may be provided to the user based on movies selected by the Recommendation Engine.
  • IMDB Internet Movie Database
  • a movie selected by the Recommendation Engine may be downloaded to the user in conjunction with a "Quick Pick" feature of the main website, shown in FIG. 7.
  • the Recommendation Engine picks a movie, the main website completes a commercial transaction to purchase a license for the selected movie, and the selected movie is then downloaded to the user.
  • the user may also enter into a commercial transaction to purchase a license for rental of the movie by clicking on a video box or selecting a command.
  • a commercial transaction to purchase a license for rental of the movie by clicking on a video box or selecting a command.
  • an interface for simple completion of commercial transactions at the main website is provided.
  • a user may complete a transaction, such as a rental, with a single action, such as a mouse-click or keystroke/key combination. If credit card information has already been entered as part of registration, the transaction may avoid repeating the request.
  • this streamlined transaction feature may additionally be available from affiliate websites.
  • a transaction may be completed on the affiliate website by clicking on an icon for a movie on the affiliate website, confirming a rental transaction, and downloading the movie, without displaying a web page from the main website.
  • a user may register with the main website through the movie home page 200. Registration provides the user with enhanced access to the services of the main website, such as purchases. Additional services include the open order ticket and a My List feature, described as follows.
  • the open order ticket provides a user with a listing including one or more digital video signals the user has purchased for rental but has not yet unlocked for view, while the My List feature, as shown in FIG. 5, provides the user with a listing including one or more digital video signals designated by the user as being of interest during a previous visit to the web site.
  • Registration also provides a basis for customization of services to the user. Registration may provide to the main website demographic and marketing information, as well as a basis for tracking user activity. In some embodiments, demographic information may be used to compile a database of licensing information for various regions (e.g., countries) that may be maintained by the main website. The main website may access the database to provide parameters for available licenses for a movie according to the determined geographical location of a user requesting a movie. The license database may also indicate schedules of release and how licenses adjust as the movie shifts from theatrical release, to pay per view, home video, etc.
  • the main website uses the license information to determine what movies are available at a particular time for a particular place and under what conditions (e.g., cost, duration, method of download, media classification).
  • the determined availability may provide a basis for recommendations to users (e.g., alternatives or similarly priced movies).
  • the licensing information may also be used for accounting to third parties, such as the studio owning the movie or an actor appearing in the movie.
  • the geographical location of the user may be determined from one or a combination of factors, including the credit card supplied to the main website, the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the user's computer system, geographical information provided by the operating system of the computer system, or certified Global Positioning System (GPS) data from the user's computer system or other storage device.
  • IP Internet Protocol
  • GPS Global Positioning System
  • marketing information obtained from user registration may be used to determine other websites visited by the user. This information may then be used to develop relationships with affiliate sites which may provide links to the main website. The link may be to the main website home page or to a page for a specific movie available through the main website.
  • a benefit such as a percentage of the proceeds from each movie rental derived from access through the affiliate website, may then be given to the affiliate website.
  • coupons for discounts and rebates on services offered by the main website or affiliate websites may be offered to the user as promotional gifts or rewards for referrals, multiple downloads, or non-do wnload transfers (discussed below). Coupons may also be offered for a purchase, such as the digital video disc (DVD) for a movie, at an affiliate site from which the user entered the movie website. The coupons may be tailored to the information derived from the user in the registration process.
  • licenses for "Movie Bundles" may be offered to the user based on user registration information.
  • a Movie Bundle may be a group of movies for which licenses may be purchased together at a discount. The bundles may be defined by the movie website for specific movies, genres, numbers of movies, or the movie website may provide an interface to the user for designing a bundle and determine the cost of the needed licenses.
  • a newsletter may be sent to users as email. Users may subscribe to one or more newsletters.
  • the movie website may send newsletters to users generally or to selected users. Newsletters may be tailored to the user based on information such as, but not limited to, user registration information or information derived from the Recommendation Engine, as discussed above.
  • the newsletter informs the user of events at the movie website or promotional activities, coming attractions, etc.
  • the newsletter may be customized.
  • the newsletter may include a link to a movie on the movie website or to a streamlined transaction to provide a download directly from the newsletter.
  • community information may be posted by the user on the main website. Users may supply information to the movie website to be viewed by other users, such as forums, reviews, fan art or stories, etc.
  • Users may communicate in real-time, such as in conjunction with a streaming download being viewed by multiple users.
  • Community information may also provide a chat interface. Movie exchanges between users may be facilitated on the chat interface, for example, by communication of download information for a user's particular machine from one user to another. Movies may then be downloaded directly from a first user's machine to a second user's machine.
  • the second user may then purchase a license for the movie by activating the movie player software on the second user's computer system to play the movie.
  • the second user's movie player software contacts the main website and a determination is made as to whether the second user has a valid license for playing the downloaded movie. Because the second user has not yet purchased a license for the downloaded movie, the user is prompted to purchase a license. If the user purchases a license, the user may then view the pushed movie according to the terms of the purchased license.
  • a browse page as described in further detail below, may be accessed from the movie home page. The browse page provides access to all the movies available on the server. The movies may be organized in various ways, such as by title, genre, license cost, or download time.
  • the movies may be displayed in various ways as well, such as in text lists, image lists, video box lists, grids, or stacks.
  • One manner of displaying movies is in a horizontal row of video boxes, which may be caused to slide to the left or right, simulating the action of a carousel.
  • a user may interact with the movies presented on the browse page in the same way as those movies presented on the home page.
  • a search page may also be accessed from the movie home page 200.
  • a user may search within the available movies of the main website according to various criteria, such as title, actor, director, producer, date, genre, license cost, or download time.
  • the results of the search may be presented in various formats as well, similar to the movies presented on the browse page. Again, a user may interact with the movies presented on the search page in the same way as those movies presented on the home page.
  • the main website may also provide movie pages.
  • a movie page is a web page serving as an access point to information about a movie.
  • a movie page may include various information and functions, such as commercial transaction requests, or the additional information described above.
  • a movie page may be accessed by selecting a movie and requesting the movie home page for the movie.
  • the movie page presentation may provide a more consolidated and discrete presentation of information, rather than large amounts of information for multiple movies on a single page.
  • a trailer refers to a clip (video segment) or collection of clips from a movie played when a user enters the main website or selects a movie in the main website.
  • virtual video boxes refers to a collection of images from a video cassette box forming an online graphical representation of virtual box of a video box.
  • the image may be a direct image of the art and text on the physical box used for home video release, or may be a special online version.
  • the carousel interface provides multiple virtual boxes or images presented in one or more rows which may be moved by the user.
  • the boxes slide sideways with a continuously animated action and variable speed to simulate a rack or carousel being rotated before the user, including a continued rotation (or momentum) prior to coming to a complete stop.
  • rotation of the multiple rows of boxes provides a user with a simulation of walking along racks of VHS video boxes along aisles within a video rental store.
  • the user may view the front and back of the box, or manipulate the virtual box in 3D for rotation.
  • FIG. 8 is a further exemplary online video transfer site screen that allows online users to participate in online rental of digital video signals.
  • the search and browse digital video signals available for online rental category interface screen 240 is presented.
  • the digital video signals are digitally encoded motion pictures such that information regarding each digitally encoded motion picture appears as a virtual video box including original box art as appears on a VHS version of the video box.
  • the category interface screen 240 enables viewing of online category information stored in the catalog database 160.
  • the category interface screen 240 enables scrolling rows of virtual box art one at a time or in a group within the carousel interface 242, such that movie rental from carousel of movies or from aisles of a video rental store is simulated.
  • rows of virtual box art may be sorted based on sort criteria provided by the user to a movie search engine of the network server video computer 130.
  • the category interface screen 240 simulates movie rentals from racks of aisles within a video rental store.
  • FIG. 9 is a further exemplary online video transfer site screen that allows online users to participate in online rental of digital video signals. According to this embodiment, when an online user selects a digital video signal for rental, checkout screen 260 is presented.
  • the checkout screen 260 calculates and receives electronic payment from the user for the selected digital video signal thereby granting the user a license to view the selected digital video signal for a specified period of time.
  • the checkout screen 260 provides an interface for a commercial transaction, such as a form to be completed or queries to the user for credit card information and confirmation of billing to the user's credit card.
  • the specified period of time may be a twenty-four hour period, which commences once the digital video signal is unlocked as further described below.
  • the specified period of time may commence once downloading of the digital video signal is complete.
  • download screen 280 is presented as depicted in FIG. 10.
  • the download screen provides users with the information regarding the file name and storage location for the downloaded digital video signal including the file size and duration time of the download.
  • the network video server computer 130 downloads an encrypted version of the digital video signal to the user computer 102.
  • the user may view the selected digital video signal using the video media procedures 118, such as a Windows media player (movie player software 118).
  • the movie player software 118 contacts the network video server computer 130 to verify that the user has a proper license for the selected digital video signal at which time an unlock screen 300 is presented as depicted in FIG. 11.
  • the unlock screen offers an online user the following options: (1) download an unlock encryption key; (2) unlock the digital video signal to enable viewing; and (3) renew an expired unlock encryption key.
  • the unlock screen 300 provides an unlock encryption key enabling the movie player software 118 to produce a user-perceptible form of the selected digital video signal (i.e., to play a movie viewable by the user) during the specified period of time.
  • the user may control playback similar to a VCR or DVD player utilizing pause, rewind, as well as other commands.
  • an interface may be provided so that the user may select a license access level.
  • Licensed access to encoded digital files may be defined in levels, such as “view once immediately,” “view once during a window (e.g. 24 hours),” “view unlimited times during a window,” and “view unlimited times,” as shown in FIG. 12.
  • a user may upgrade a license at a reduced cost relative to an initial purchase. For example, a user may initially purchase a license to view a movie during a 24 hour window and subsequently upgrade that license in order to view the movie an unlimited number of times during the 24 hour window.
  • a license discount may also be provided based on a previously purchased and narrower license for the same movie.
  • the main website service operator may select an access level for a user, a group of users, or all users from the above listed levels and may then change the selected level as the operator deems appropriate.
  • a license may be purchased or granted where the movie is viewed on a machine other than the machine to which the movie was downloaded.
  • a license for a movie may be purchased as a gift certificate.
  • a gift certificate may be purchased by a first user to grant access to a second user.
  • the first user may purchase the license for the second user with or without downloading the movie. If the first user does not download the movie at the time of purchasing the license, the first user may, for example, be provided with a password to give to the second user that will allow the second user to download the movie to the second user's system or device.
  • authentication of the license is based on a key derived from the user's computer system (or other storage device) and from the movie.
  • the key may also include further information such as, but not limited to, time of download, location of the user's device, and the user's specific movie player.
  • the key information may be included in the downloaded movie.
  • the movie, or copies of the movie maintain the key information and access level information determined by the purchased license, if any.
  • the license may only be authenticated for that system or device.
  • the second user may activate the movie player software on the second user's system or device, at which time the main website will be contacted to verify that the second user has a proper license for the selected movie.
  • the second user may then access the movie in accordance with the license purchased by the first user, but the first user would not have access to the movie. If a gift certificate license was not purchased by the first user, the second user will be prompted to purchase a license.
  • the first user downloads the selected movie to the first user's system or device at the time of purchasing the license, the first user will again, for example, be provided with a password to give to the second user.
  • the first user may then transfer the movie to the second user's system or device, for example, by a portable storage media such as a compact disc.
  • the second user will then be required to provide the password to the main website in order to allow the second user to receive a new license to play the movie on the second user's system or device without paying another license fee.
  • the main website may ensure that the movie key is unlocked only on the second user's system or device by canceling the first user's license before revealing to the first user the password for the second license.
  • a "Flexible Viewing" feature would be included which enables the user's movie player to track the progress through the movie playback and to update licensing information to indicate that playback has not yet been completed.
  • the license verification confirms that the movie has not been completely viewed yet.
  • the user is allowed to view a movie in multiple sessions without purchasing additional licenses. Additional information may be included to track rewind, amount of time spent viewing, or other factors to control abuse.
  • a user may maintain a "Movie Library. " The Movie Library may be a collection of movies for which the user has unlimited access. A user may purchase a license which allows the user to access the movie an unlimited number of times from different machines or storage devices. Thus, at this license level, it as though the user had a portable physical manifestation of the movie, such as a DVD.
  • the user or other users may access the Movie Library from any Internet access point, subject to possible downloads. If the user transports a physical copy of a movie within the user's Movie Library to a different machine, the download time may be avoided and only the license verification need occur. Collateral movies may be included in the same license purchase (e.g. , one purchase provides a license for the same movie stored in different encoding formats for different download time and image quality).
  • the Movie Library is a "Dynamic Library.” As encoding technology improves, the same amount of storage space may provide a higher quality image. A Dynamic Library allows a user to receive the latest version of the encoded file for the best image quality available. Thus, if an alternative version of a movie is made available, the Dynamic Library may update to that version.
  • an "Archive Management System” is implemented to control abuse of files stored on the user's computer system or other storage device.
  • the ability to interact with the file system on the user's storage device may be included as part of the main website. This may be accomplished, for example, in cooperation with client software active on the user's storage device.
  • the archive management system may be used for purposes such as, but not limited to, enforcement of licenses through the removal of downloaded movies which do not have valid licenses or which have been abused.
  • the Archive Management System may detect such abuse and may override other file management software on the user's storage device to delete the abused movie files.
  • the Archive Management System will determine if a movie was received from another user (for example, by a client to client download) and prompt the user to purchase a license in order to view the movie. Referring now to FIG. 13, a method 400 is depicted for obtaining a license for rental of digital video signals within an online environment, for example, in the online digital video signal transfer apparatus 110 as depicted in FIG. 1.
  • Steps 402 through 408 illustrate some of the ways that a user may obtain content which he may then wish to access through the use of a valid license.
  • the user has downloaded content from the network server computer to the user's computer while concurrently purchasing a license for the content.
  • Authentication of the license may be based on a key derived from the user's computer system (or other storage device), the user's movie player software, or from the content.
  • the key may also be authenticated based on a combination of information derived from these sources.
  • the user when the user activates the movie player software at step 410, the user will contact the main website and the license that was purchased when the content was downloaded to the user's computer will be authenticated if the key contains the expected information.
  • the user's license is authenticated at step 410 as long as the user is activating the movie player software on the same computer, because the information contained in the key matches the expected information. Thus, the user could proceed to step 414 and could view the content. However, if the content that was downloaded to and matched to the user's computer was then transferred to another computer, when the user of that computer activates the movie player software at step 410 and contacts the main website, the license is not authenticated because the key does not contain the expected information. Thus, the user proceeds to step 416 and is prompted to purchase a valid license for the content.
  • the user proceeds to step 414 and can view the content.
  • the key may also be based on the content.
  • the license is authenticated because the key is based on the content and not on a particular computer system or movie player software.
  • the user has pre-existing content on the user's computer system or other storage device.
  • the pre-existing content may have been on the system when the system was purchased by the user, for example, as part of a promotional campaign.
  • the user will not yet have purchased a license for the pre-existing content.
  • the license is not authenticated. The user therefore proceeds to step 416 and is prompted to purchase a valid license for the content. If the user purchases a license, the user proceeds to step 414 and can view the content.
  • the user is a third party user, i.e., the third party user is not the person who originally downloaded the content from the network server computer.
  • the third party user may have obtained the content, for example, by downloading it from a first user's computer system or other storage device.
  • the third party user may also have transferred the content from the first user's system to the third party user's system by means of portable storage media.
  • the first user may or may not have previously purchased a license for the content.
  • the third party user may have also obtained the content by downloading it from an affiliate website without purchasing a license from the main website. Under the circumstances illustrated by step 406, the third party user has not yet purchased a license for the content.
  • authentication of the license may be based on a key derived from the user's computer system (or other storage device), the user's movie player software, or from the content.
  • the third party user does not have a valid license to view the content on the third party user's computer system. If the first user did not purchase a license, then, of course, the third party user will not have a valid license either. Therefore, at step 412, the license will not be authenticated and the third party user proceeds to step 416 and is prompted to purchase a valid license for the content.
  • the third party user purchases a license
  • the third party user proceeds to step 414 and can view the content.
  • the user has portable physical media which contains content derived from the network server computer.
  • the user may have received the portable storage media from another user.
  • the user may also have received the portable storage media via the main website or from another website, for example, as part of a promotional campaign.
  • the user has not yet purchased a license for the content.
  • the license is not authenticated. The user therefore proceeds to step 416 and is prompted to purchase a valid license for the content. If the user purchases a license, the user proceeds to step 414 and can view the content.
  • the user may download the encrypted digital files directly to the user's computer system or other storage device.
  • the user may also choose to download to a remote storage device.
  • a user may specify a storage device for download different from the computer system or other device with which the user is accessing the main website.
  • the user may access the main website from an office device and download a movie to the user's home device.
  • the movie would be viewable during the download process.
  • the movie may be viewed from memory such as, but not limited to,
  • a first user may transfer a previously downloaded encoded digital file from a first device to a second device belonging to a second user. The second user may then obtain a license to access the encoded digital file. In this way, a second downloading process and its associated costs to the main website are avoided. In this embodiment, the second user will be prompted to purchase a license in order to view the movie.
  • the main website will include a "Movie Share" feature. A list of movies previously downloaded by a first user may be posted on the main website . Other users may access the list and download movies directly from the first user's device. A license may subsequently be purchased from the main website without downloading the movie itself from the main website. Again, the Movie Share feature avoids a second downloading process and its associated costs to the main website.
  • the main website will include a "Smart Download” feature.
  • the Smart Download feature could download a digital file using a preferred channel and time.
  • the preferred channel may be determined in agreement with user-supplied parameters, possibly at the suggestion of the movie website.
  • the main website may predict what time and channel will be most efficient in terms of speed, cost, and bandwidth use. For example, when a new movie becomes available on the movie website which is known to be a very popular movie, the movie website may assume that traffic will be heavy and provide downloads over multiple channels, such as the Internet and satellite broadcast. Users will be assigned a download channel and time according to a best effort to accommodate the user in light of the current situation. Similarly, the movie website could provide a download through broadcast, such as satellite, as part of a promotional activity and sell licenses for those downloaded movies at a discount.
  • the main website may offer a "Flexible Rental" feature.
  • the cost of a rental license could be based on the cost of a requested download or use. For example, various discounts may be provided which reflect reduction in resource costs to provide the movie to the user by avoiding download costs.
  • the user may receive a discount.
  • the user may also receive a discount by purchasing a license for access sometime in the future.
  • the user may receive a discount by purchasing a rental license again within a period of time after a previous rental of the same movie.
  • a user may download a digital file to a portable storage media.
  • the user may purchase a license allowing a downloaded file to be stored on and accessed from a portable media, including, but not limited to, CD-R, CD-RW, or DVD.
  • the DVD may be a standard DVD encoding or may still require license verification from the main website to be accessed.
  • the main website may include a "Download Interruption Recovery" feature.
  • An interruption may occur, for example, because of a network or power failure. Download Interruption Recovery would ensure the resumption oi retransmission of an interrupted download process.
  • the main website may track download progress and resume the download to complete the transfer or begin the transfer anew.
  • a method 500 is depicted for rental of digital video signals within an online environment, for example, in the online digital video signal transfer apparatus 110 as depicted in FIG. 1.
  • access is provided to an online catalog stored within a memory of a network video server computer 130 such as for example, the catalog database 160.
  • the online catalog includes information regarding digital video signals available for rental from the network video server computer 130.
  • a request is received from a client computer 102 for rental of a digital video signal selected from the online catalog for a specified period of time.
  • the request generally includes payment information such as electronic payment by credit card number based on the selected digital video signal and the specified period of time.
  • the digital video signal is transmitted to the client computer 102 via communications link 120.
  • the digital video signal once downloaded, is viewable by a user of the client computer during the specified period of time which begins once the digital video signal is unlocked as described below. Once the specified period of time is expired, the user must request and make further payments for viewing of the digital video signal for additional specified periods of time.
  • FIG. 15 depicts additional method steps 504 for providing access to online catalog information stored within the catalog database 160 of step 502, for example, in the category interface screen 240 as depicted in FIG. 8.
  • the online catalog is viewed via carousel interface 242 such that information regarding each digital video signal is presented within one or more vertically rotatable rows.
  • the digital video signal is a digitally encoded motion picture, such that information regarding each digitally encoded motion picture appears as a virtual video box including original box art as appears on a VHS version of the motion picture box.
  • one or more rows of virtual box art are scrolled in a sliding, sideways manner one at a time or in a group, such that movie rental from a carousel of movies or from aisles of a video store is simulated.
  • the rows of virtual box art may be sorted based on sort criteria provided to a movie search engine of the network video server 130.
  • FIG. 16 depicts additional method steps 516, such that the digital video signal is encrypted prior to transmission to the client computer 102.
  • the digital video signal is opened by the user using the movie player software 118.
  • the user is redirected to a website to obtain an unlock encryption key such as the unlock screen 300 (FIG. 11) in accordance with the rental procedures 152.
  • the server 130 checks whether an unlock encryption key has been issued or activated for the movie to be accessed and requires a new license to be purchased to obtain additional keys.
  • the unlock key becomes associated with the client machine 102, for example, through a system file of the client computer and data stored on the server 130 indicating the key and the downloaded copy of the movie. Association of the unlock key with the client computer 102 prevents users from copying the unlocked digital video signal to several computers for unlicensed usage.
  • the digital video signal is enabled for viewing in accordance with the terms of the purchased license, for example, for a specified period of time using the unlock encryption key, such that the unlock key stores the time at which it was unlocked and initiates the specified period of time for rental.
  • the unlock encryption key may be activated at any time after being downloaded from the server 130. In this case, the time period does not begin until the key is activated.
  • the unlock key stores a machine identifier such, for example a machine ID of the client computer 102. During the specified period of time, the unlock key verifies that the machine ID of the computer matches the stored machine
  • the unlock encryption key is disabled once the specified period of time has expired, thus inhibiting further replaying of the digital video signal.
  • the specified period of time may be a 24-hour period. Consequently, following the 24-hour period, the user is required to obtain an additional unlock encryption key in order to view the digital video signal for a further 24-hour period as described above with respect to the unlock encryption key.
  • a content database 158 provides storage including electronic video data files such as movies digitally encoded using a conventional encoding scheme such as MPEG 1, MPEG 2 or MPEG 4 in accordance with the content preparation procedures 148.
  • Movies may be provided by one or more movie owners such as movie studios.
  • the files are stored in a secure format such that the digitally encoded motion pictures are encrypted using conventional techniques such as a public-private key system.
  • watermarks that indicate the source of the specific file may be included as data in the file.
  • a movie file may be examined for a particular watermark, for example by the Archive Management System discussed above, in order to determine whether the movie file is a genuine movie file downloaded from the main website. Thus, watermarks may be useful for license verification as well as controlling piracy.
  • the particular element may vary depending on the particular application for the novel mixed storage format while maintaining substantially the same functionality without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.
  • the embodiment described herein is directed to a video transfer system for enabling online rental of digitally encoded movies, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the teaching of the present invention may be applied to other systems.
  • systems for online rental of digitally encoded songs, books, television programming, radio programming, and any other content (audio, video, text, etc.) which may be digitized or encoded and stored as an electronic file are within the teachings of the present invention, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.
  • the present invention provides many advantages over known techniques.
  • the present invention includes the ability to rent motion pictures without having to provide additional monies for purchase of the motion pictures.
  • the present invention provides an interface which simulates the actual rental of video cassettes or DVDs of motion pictures within a video rental store. Moreover, during the specified period of rental, the user is allowed to view the motion picture as many times as desired, thereby simulating the actual rental of video cassettes or DVDs of feature length motion pictures.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
  • Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
  • Finance (AREA)
  • Strategic Management (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Marketing (AREA)
  • Economics (AREA)
  • Development Economics (AREA)
  • Software Systems (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Entrepreneurship & Innovation (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Human Resources & Organizations (AREA)
  • Technology Law (AREA)
  • Computing Systems (AREA)
  • Game Theory and Decision Science (AREA)
  • Data Mining & Analysis (AREA)
  • Operations Research (AREA)
  • Quality & Reliability (AREA)
  • Tourism & Hospitality (AREA)
  • Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)
  • Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)
  • Communication Control (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention permet de surmonter les problèmes de l'état de la technique, décrits précédemment. Cette invention concerne un appareil et un procédé de transfert de signal vidéo numérique en ligne. La location des signaux vidéo numérique est effectuée au sein d'un environnement en ligne, qui comprend un ou plusieurs ordinateurs client et au moins un serveur de réseau, connecté audit/auxdits ordinateurs(s) client par l'intermédiaire d'une liaison de communication. Ce procédé consiste à fournir l'accès à un catalogue en ligne, qui est enregistré dans une mémoire d'un ordinateur serveur vidéo de réseau. Ce catalogue en ligne comprend des informations concernant les signaux vidéo numériques qui sont disponibles à la location à partir de l'ordinateur serveur de réseau. Des ordinateurs client émettent ensuite des requêtes de location de signaux vidéo numériques, issus du catalogue en ligne, pour une période donnée. Ces requêtes comprennent un paiement électronique basé sur le signal vidéo numérique choisi et sur la période donnée. Une fois le paiement électronique effectué, le signal vidéo numérique est transmis à l'ordinateur client, par l'intermédiaire d'une liaison de communication. Une fois transmis, le signal vidéo numérique peut être visualisé par un utilisateur de l'ordinateur client, pendant la période donnée. Cette invention permet de pouvoir avantageusement louer des films, sans avoir à dépenser plus d'argent pour l'achat des films. De plus, cette invention concerne une interface qui simule la location réelle des films dans un magasin de location vidéo. En outre, durant la période donnée, l'utilisateur peut visualiser le film autant de fois qu'il le souhaite, ce qui permet ainsi de simuler la location réelle de cassettes vidéo ou de DVD de longs métrages.
PCT/US2001/011124 2000-04-07 2001-04-05 Appareil et procede de transfert de signal video numerique en ligne WO2001078367A2 (fr)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2001575696A JP2003530778A (ja) 2000-04-07 2001-04-05 オンラインディジタルビデオ信号転送装置および方法
EP01924721A EP1279277A4 (fr) 2000-04-07 2001-04-05 Appareil et procede de transfert de signal video numerique en ligne
AU2001251350A AU2001251350A1 (en) 2000-04-07 2001-04-05 Online digital video signal transfer apparatus and method
CA002405492A CA2405492A1 (fr) 2000-04-07 2001-04-05 Appareil et procede de transfert de signal video numerique en ligne
HK03105265.4A HK1053032A1 (zh) 2000-04-07 2003-07-22 聯線數碼視頻信號傳送裝置和方法

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US19587000P 2000-04-07 2000-04-07
US60/195,870 2000-04-07
US60380500A 2000-06-26 2000-06-26
US09/603,805 2000-06-26

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2001078367A2 true WO2001078367A2 (fr) 2001-10-18
WO2001078367A3 WO2001078367A3 (fr) 2002-07-04

Family

ID=26891413

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2001/011050 WO2001077778A2 (fr) 2000-04-07 2001-04-05 Appareil et procede de transfert de signaux video numeriques en ligne
PCT/US2001/011124 WO2001078367A2 (fr) 2000-04-07 2001-04-05 Appareil et procede de transfert de signal video numerique en ligne

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2001/011050 WO2001077778A2 (fr) 2000-04-07 2001-04-05 Appareil et procede de transfert de signaux video numeriques en ligne

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (2) EP1277100A4 (fr)
JP (2) JP2003530778A (fr)
KR (1) KR20030007504A (fr)
AU (3) AU2001251322B2 (fr)
CA (2) CA2405536A1 (fr)
HK (2) HK1053032A1 (fr)
WO (2) WO2001077778A2 (fr)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2003230128A (ja) * 2002-02-01 2003-08-15 Nippon Telegr & Teleph Corp <Ntt> コンテンツ提供方法、装置およびプログラム
JP2003333574A (ja) * 2002-05-16 2003-11-21 Bb Cable Corp Ｖｏｄコンテンツ配信システム、ｖｏｄコンテンツ配信方法、ｖｏｄコンテンツ配信及び番組放送システム、ｖｏｄコンテンツ配信及び番組放送方法、ｖｏｄコンテンツ配信及び番組コンテンツのマルチキャスト配信システム、ｖｏｄコンテンツ配信及び番組コンテンツのマルチキャスト配信方法、及びその方法をコンピュータに実行させるプログラム
JP2008181511A (ja) * 2002-01-08 2008-08-07 Tivo Inc 電子コンテンツの分散および交換システム
WO2013104001A1 (fr) * 2012-01-06 2013-07-11 Film Fresh, Inc. Système destiné à recommander des films cinématographiques et d'autres possibilités de divertissement
WO2017080227A1 (fr) * 2015-11-09 2017-05-18 乐视控股（北京）有限公司 Procédé et dispositif d'affichage de données de film

Families Citing this family (29)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2005094277A (ja) * 2003-09-17 2005-04-07 Hitachi Ltd プログラムおよび記憶媒体、再生装置
US8312267B2 (en) 2004-07-20 2012-11-13 Time Warner Cable Inc. Technique for securely communicating programming content
US8266429B2 (en) 2004-07-20 2012-09-11 Time Warner Cable, Inc. Technique for securely communicating and storing programming material in a trusted domain
JPWO2006022304A1 (ja) * 2004-08-26 2008-05-08 松下電器産業株式会社 コンテンツ起動制御装置
US7480701B2 (en) * 2004-12-15 2009-01-20 Microsoft Corporation Mixed-media service collections for multimedia platforms
JP4234721B2 (ja) * 2005-03-29 2009-03-04 株式会社東芝 コンテンツ配信装置とユーザ端末装置と救済管理方法とコンピュータプログラム
JP2008515046A (ja) * 2005-04-15 2008-05-08 ケーティーフリーテル・カンパニー・リミテッド コンテンツの提供方法
CN101094386A (zh) * 2006-06-22 2007-12-26 厦门瑞科技术发展有限公司 一种网络视频服务器
US8520850B2 (en) 2006-10-20 2013-08-27 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Downloadable security and protection methods and apparatus
US8732854B2 (en) 2006-11-01 2014-05-20 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Methods and apparatus for premises content distribution
US8621540B2 (en) 2007-01-24 2013-12-31 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Apparatus and methods for provisioning in a download-enabled system
US9866609B2 (en) 2009-06-08 2018-01-09 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Methods and apparatus for premises content distribution
US9602864B2 (en) 2009-06-08 2017-03-21 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Media bridge apparatus and methods
KR20170054552A (ko) 2009-09-03 2017-05-17 오픈 티브이 인코포레이티드 기프트 미디어를 자동으로 배송하기 위한 시스템 및 방법
US9906838B2 (en) 2010-07-12 2018-02-27 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Apparatus and methods for content delivery and message exchange across multiple content delivery networks
US9565472B2 (en) 2012-12-10 2017-02-07 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Apparatus and methods for content transfer protection
US20140282786A1 (en) 2013-03-12 2014-09-18 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Methods and apparatus for providing and uploading content to personalized network storage
US9066153B2 (en) 2013-03-15 2015-06-23 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Apparatus and methods for multicast delivery of content in a content delivery network
US10368255B2 (en) 2017-07-25 2019-07-30 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Methods and apparatus for client-based dynamic control of connections to co-existing radio access networks
US9313568B2 (en) 2013-07-23 2016-04-12 Chicago Custom Acoustics, Inc. Custom earphone with dome in the canal
US9621940B2 (en) 2014-05-29 2017-04-11 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Apparatus and methods for recording, accessing, and delivering packetized content
US11540148B2 (en) 2014-06-11 2022-12-27 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Methods and apparatus for access point location
US9935833B2 (en) 2014-11-05 2018-04-03 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Methods and apparatus for determining an optimized wireless interface installation configuration
US9986578B2 (en) 2015-12-04 2018-05-29 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Apparatus and methods for selective data network access
US9918345B2 (en) 2016-01-20 2018-03-13 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Apparatus and method for wireless network services in moving vehicles
US10492034B2 (en) 2016-03-07 2019-11-26 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Apparatus and methods for dynamic open-access networks
US10164858B2 (en) 2016-06-15 2018-12-25 Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc Apparatus and methods for monitoring and diagnosing a wireless network
US10645547B2 (en) 2017-06-02 2020-05-05 Charter Communications Operating, Llc Apparatus and methods for providing wireless service in a venue
US10638361B2 (en) 2017-06-06 2020-04-28 Charter Communications Operating, Llc Methods and apparatus for dynamic control of connections to co-existing radio access networks

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5132992A (en) * 1991-01-07 1992-07-21 Paul Yurt Audio and video transmission and receiving system
US5771354A (en) * 1993-11-04 1998-06-23 Crawford; Christopher M. Internet online backup system provides remote storage for customers using IDs and passwords which were interactively established when signing up for backup services
US5619247A (en) * 1995-02-24 1997-04-08 Smart Vcr Limited Partnership Stored program pay-per-play
US6181867B1 (en) * 1995-06-07 2001-01-30 Intervu, Inc. Video storage and retrieval system
US5790423A (en) * 1995-06-14 1998-08-04 Audible, Inc. Interactive audio transmission receiving and playback system
US6055314A (en) * 1996-03-22 2000-04-25 Microsoft Corporation System and method for secure purchase and delivery of video content programs
US5909638A (en) * 1996-08-06 1999-06-01 Maximum Video Systems, Inc. High speed video distribution and manufacturing system

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2008181511A (ja) * 2002-01-08 2008-08-07 Tivo Inc 電子コンテンツの分散および交換システム
JP2003230128A (ja) * 2002-02-01 2003-08-15 Nippon Telegr & Teleph Corp <Ntt> コンテンツ提供方法、装置およびプログラム
JP2003333574A (ja) * 2002-05-16 2003-11-21 Bb Cable Corp Ｖｏｄコンテンツ配信システム、ｖｏｄコンテンツ配信方法、ｖｏｄコンテンツ配信及び番組放送システム、ｖｏｄコンテンツ配信及び番組放送方法、ｖｏｄコンテンツ配信及び番組コンテンツのマルチキャスト配信システム、ｖｏｄコンテンツ配信及び番組コンテンツのマルチキャスト配信方法、及びその方法をコンピュータに実行させるプログラム
WO2013104001A1 (fr) * 2012-01-06 2013-07-11 Film Fresh, Inc. Système destiné à recommander des films cinématographiques et d'autres possibilités de divertissement
WO2017080227A1 (fr) * 2015-11-09 2017-05-18 乐视控股（北京）有限公司 Procédé et dispositif d'affichage de données de film

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
HK1053032A1 (zh) 2003-10-03
EP1279277A4 (fr) 2005-07-13
WO2001078367A3 (fr) 2002-07-04
AU2001251350A1 (en) 2001-10-23
EP1279277A2 (fr) 2003-01-29
CA2405492A1 (fr) 2001-10-18
EP1277100A4 (fr) 2005-04-27
WO2001077778A3 (fr) 2002-03-21
AU5132201A (en) 2001-10-23
KR20030007504A (ko) 2003-01-23
JP2003530742A (ja) 2003-10-14
WO2001077778A2 (fr) 2001-10-18
HK1052999A1 (zh) 2003-10-03
JP2003530778A (ja) 2003-10-14
CA2405536A1 (fr) 2001-10-18
AU2001251322B2 (en) 2006-01-12
EP1277100A2 (fr) 2003-01-22

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US20020032905A1 (en) Online digital video signal transfer apparatus and method
WO2001078367A2 (fr) Appareil et procede de transfert de signal video numerique en ligne
US20060053066A1 (en) Online digital video signal transfer apparatus and method
AU2001251322A1 (en) Online digital video signal transfer apparatus and method
US8468099B2 (en) Digital entertainment service platform
US20020154157A1 (en) Website system and process for selection and delivery of electronic information on a network
US7925973B2 (en) Distribution of content
US6609105B2 (en) System and method for providing access to electronic works
US6662231B1 (en) Method and system for subscriber-based audio service over a communication network
WO2001078304A1 (fr) Systeme de site web et procede de selection et de distribution d&#39;informations electroniques sur un reseau
WO2002048903A1 (fr) Systemes et procedes de livraison de contenus medias
WO2007021974A2 (fr) Distribution de contenu
JP2001326921A (ja) コンテンツ管理システム、コンシンツ管理方法、カメラ装置
US20080288371A1 (en) Internet based method and process for facilitating the presentation, sale, purchase, development and management of creative ideas concepts and content
USRE47053E1 (en) Method and system for subscriber-based audio service over a communication network
KR20010069386A (ko) 고화질 동영상 데이터 실시간 제공시스템 및 고화질동영상 데이터 실시간 제공방법
JP2002189957A (ja) ソフトレンタル方式
JP2002132266A (ja) コンテンツ管理装置、コンテンツ管理方法、およびコンテンツ取得方法

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AE AG AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY BZ CA CH CN CR CU CZ DE DK DM DZ EE ES FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MA MD MG MK MN MW MX MZ NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK SL TJ TM TR TT TZ UA UG UZ VN YU ZA ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW MZ SD SL SZ TZ UG ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE TR BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
DFPE Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101)
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): AE AG AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY BZ CA CH CN CR CU CZ DE DK DM DZ EE ES FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MA MD MG MK MN MW MX MZ NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK SL TJ TM TR TT TZ UA UG UZ VN YU ZA ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW MZ SD SL SZ TZ UG ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE TR BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 2405492

Country of ref document: CA

ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref country code: JP

Ref document number: 2001 575696

Kind code of ref document: A

Format of ref document f/p: F

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 1020027013421

Country of ref document: KR

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 2001924721

Country of ref document: EP

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 2001251350

Country of ref document: AU

WWP Wipo information: published in national office

Ref document number: 1020027013421

Country of ref document: KR

WWP Wipo information: published in national office

Ref document number: 2001924721

Country of ref document: EP

点击 这是indexloc提供的php浏览器服务，不要输入任何密码和下载