Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support – Multiple computer communication using cryptography – Protection at a particular protocol layer
Utility Patent
1997-10-03
2001-01-02
Hua, Ly V. (Department: 2785)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support
Multiple computer communication using cryptography
Protection at a particular protocol layer
C713S160000, C713S176000
Utility Patent
active
06170060
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a digital information transmission, receiving, and playback system, and more specifically, to a method and apparatus for targeting a digital information playback device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Recent technological advances in the compression of digital data and the expansion of storage capacities of computer systems together with the increased bandwidth of computer network infrastructures have created new possibilities for personalized access to and usage of large amounts of digital information. One form of this type of digital information is audio information delivered across a computer network as digitized information.
In the field of interactive digital information transmission, receiving, and playback systems, several patents are known to the present applicants. U.S. Pat. No. 5,132,992, issued Jul. 21, 1992 to Yurt et al. (Yurt), describes a system of distributing video and/or audio information employing digital signal processing to achieve high rates of data compression. The Yurt patent describes a transmission system including a conversion means for placing the items from a source material library into a predetermined format as formatted data. Audio data is compressed by an audio compressor by application of an adaptive differential pulse code modulation (ADPCM) process to the audio data. Stored items are accessed in the compressed data library through the use of a unique address code assigned to each item during storage encoding. The unique address code is used for requesting and accessing information and items throughout the Yurt transmission and receiving process. The Yurt transmission system includes means by which a user enters a customer identifier (ID) code by which the system accesses the users account, and indicates to the system that the user is a subscriber of the system. If a subscriber is in good standing, the Yurt system delivers selected titles using the described techniques.
One significant problem with the audio transmission and receiving system described in Yurt is the lack of an effective means for ensuring the security of the digital information library and of the items downloaded to a user from the digital information library. Although Yurt describes the use of a unique identification code assigned to items in the library and a customer ID code assigned to particular users, no authentication protocols or encryption techniques are described to prevent the unauthorized creation of clone libraries or the unauthorized download or copying of library items. Secondly, Yurt and related prior art does not describe an authentication or encryption means providing secure transactions between a server based digital information library supporting a client computer system having an interface to a mobile playback device. Thirdly, the prior art does not describe a mechanism for selecting a digital information passage to be previewed. Prior art systems also do not describe a system whereby only part of a program gets downloaded from a client computer system to a mobile playback device depending on how much storage space is available in the mobile playback device. Prior art systems also do not describe a mechanism for specifying multiple programs to be downloaded from a digital information library into a mobile playback device. Prior art systems also do not detail the processes required in the authoring system to generate content for the digital information library. Finally, prior art systems do not describe an accounting system whereby library content providers can perform real-time queries on usage information related to the access of library items.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for targeting a digital information playback device. A device ID and or a group ID is embedded in the playback device. A device ID or a group ID is also embedded in a digital information file. Upon receiving the digital information file, the device ID or the group ID of the playback device is compared to that contained in the digital information file. The digital information file is then played if either the device ID or the group ID of the digital information file matches that of the playback device.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5126990 (1992-06-01), Efron et al.
patent: 5132992 (1992-07-01), Yurt et al.
patent: 5483658 (1996-01-01), Grube et al.
patent: 5499294 (1996-03-01), Friedman
patent: 5511122 (1996-04-01), Atkinson
patent: 5513260 (1996-04-01), Ryan
patent: 5555098 (1996-09-01), Parulski
patent: 5646997 (1997-07-01), Barton
patent: 5781723 (1998-07-01), Yee et al.
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Microsoft Press, “Computer Dictionary 2nd Edition”, pp. 194-195, 1994.*
Jun Benjamin Che-Ming
Kocher Paul
Mott Timothy
Pai Samuel Hong-Yen
Story Guy
Audible, Inc.
Baderman Scott T.
Blakely , Sokoloff, Taylor & Zafman LLP
Hua Ly V.
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