WO2005078615A1

WO2005078615A1 - Method and system for distributing content files

Info

Publication number: WO2005078615A1
Application number: PCT/IB2005/050379
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robertus F. C. Kuppens
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Priority date: 2004-02-12
Filing date: 2005-01-28
Publication date: 2005-08-25

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for distributing content files over a data network. A customer selects the content that he/she wants to buy and gives it to a sales person in a store (1) Fig. 1. The salesperson preferably uses a computer or a cash register connected to a computer network in order to send preferably a unique ID (2). After that the salesperson preferably issues a token with certain content rights related to the selected content by the customer (3). When the customer arrives at home he/she can place the token close to an electronic device with token reading capability (4). The electronic device reads the token and preferably contacts the designated content / license server. Thereafter the content is selected, license is checked and the content is preferably securely streamed from the content server to the electronic device where it is rendered (6).

Description

Method and system for distributing content files

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to methods and systems for distributing content files, for example as in data warehousing and transaction technology.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The content industry is having serious problems with selling audio/video content to the public. New content can easily be copied and distributed. Thus Music shops are selling less and less CD's and DVD's. One of the main causes to this problem is that the amount of people having access to the Internet has rapidly increased. Distributing illegal content through the Internet has become a threat to artists, actors and their representative companies. Currently, legal measures are taken by content providers in order to prevent the illegal distribution of music, movies and other copyright protected content. However this problem can not only be solved by legal measures, other solutions also have to be considered. One reason behind the behavior of consumers today is that a consumer would like to pay less and have more control of the content that they pay for. Combining a consumer's favorite music of various artists in an efficient way on a CD is not yet a reality. Ordinary CD's and DVD's are still the most sold data carriers. However some steps have been taken towards the consumer demands and existing solutions are the burn-on-demand services. However these machines that can burn the favorite music tracks on a CD are too slow to make it really efficient. The customers have to wait while the CD is written, furthermore blank CD's would also have to be present in the machine or warehouse. Thus, existing solutions are time consuming, occupy storage space and demand a logistic system for transportation of CD's/DVD's in order to provide a constant supply of CD's/DVD's mat would have to be kept in stock. Furthermore the amount of data that has to be stored on a disc is increasing, no one really knows for how much longer CD/DVD's etc will be used. At the same time the transaction technology is rapidly developing in speed and usage. Thus much of the content in the future will probably not be bought on portable data carriers. Content will more likely be stored centrally in data warehouses and accessed online from remote locations. CD/DVD's of today have a limited life length because the layer on which the content is written is sensitive to environmental influence such as light and temperature changes etc. Moreover the protective layer on e.g. a CD is sensitive to mechanical stress which can result in that a CD or DVD is useless after only a few weeks of usage, depending on how it is treated by a consumer. At home consumers tend to treat their CD/DVD's quite roughly because of the limited space of storing them. This results in that e.g. CD's that are frequently used are put on the stereo without any protective case, whereas the other may be stored in a rack, which may be exposed to sunlight and other environmental influences. The CD's which are not used may be stored in a closet but probably not in a favorable way. Thus the CDs are spread around on at least three different places. Hence exposed to wear and tear, occupying space and making it cumbersome for a consumer to keep track of and to find the content he/she want's.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention will be described together with a scenario wherein this invention may be used with great advantage. In this application some specific terms are used, below follows a description of these. An electronic device (Edev.) is preferably an entertainment device, which may be connected to a network (Ntwrk) in order to access data. Examples of electronic devices may be computers but preferably these are Internet radios such as Philips Streamium devices e.g. the MC-i200. However any multimedia device that is able to play or execute on-line content such as movies, games, music etc. could be used. The content (Cont.) may be any data, which can be stored and downloaded from a computer network such as the Internet. The content may comprise music, movies, games, books, news, pictures, sound, TV programs etc. This is a non-exhaustive list, other data not mentioned here may also be used in relation to the invention. A token (Tok.) is preferably a smart card comprising a chip. The size of the token is preferably of normal credit card size or of a size that makes it convenient for a person to handle and carry the token. Furthermore mobile hand held terminals such as mobile phones, hand held PC etc., may also be used as a token in connection with the invention. In another embodiment of the invention an email could be used as a token which is sent to the customer. Thus it is an object of the present invention to provide a technical solution for content providers and retailers so that they can obtain more control over content products that are being sold. It is an advantage achieved by the present invention to save storage space and to avoid logistic infrastructure for both content providers and retailers. It is further an advantage achieved by the present invention to prolong the life lengths of content products usually bought on portable storage devices such as CD's and DVD's. It is further an advantage achieved by the present invention to conform content products to the Internet society. It is further an advantage achieved by the present invention to provide a solution for consumers (Cons.) to more easily arrange and keep track of bought content. According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a computer system comprising a database for storage of content files, an output device for writing a custom code on a token, a data connection for transferring a selection of content files being stored in the database via a network and for receiving a custom code from an electronic device via a network, the computer system being programmed to generate based on an input to said computer system a selection of content files being stored in said database, and to generate a custom code identifying the selection being generated, and to identify and transmit a selection of content files based on a custom code received via the data connection. In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an electronic device comprising means for connecting the device to a network, the device further comprising means for communicating with a token to retrieve a custom code stored thereon, storage for storing an address within the network where a selection of content files being identified by the custom code is stored, wherein the device is adapted to retrieve the selection of content files being identified by the custom code when being presented to a token. In a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for generating and transmitting a selection of content files using a computer system comprising a database for storage of content files, an output device for writing a custom code on a token, a data connection for transferring a selection of content files being stored in the database via a network and for receiving a custom code from an electronic device via a network, the method comprising the steps of: generating a selection of content files based on an input, storing the selection of content files on the database, generating a custom code identifying the generated selection of content files, coding a token with the custom code. In a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a data carrier (such as a token) for transporting a custom code identifying a selection of data stored on a database, the carrier comprises means for cordless communication with an electronic device. In a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for distributing a selection of audio files based on an input, the method comprises the steps of: receiving an input comprising a customer choice of content files, generating a selection of content files based on an input, - storing the selection of content files in a database, generating a custom code identifying the generated selection of content files, coding a token with the custom code, issue a token comprising the custom code identifying the selection of content files, in connection with the payment from the customer. The database in the computer system may further comprise an address of the electronic device in order to be able to send the content files to the electronic device on the network. Furthermore the computer system may comprise a database comprising license (Lie.) rules related to the content files. By having a database comprising license rules, a content provider will be able to control that the license for a specific content have been paid before it is sent to an electronic device on the network. Either the database can be the same database on where the content is stored or it could be a second database separated from the content database. However content preferably has a relation to at least one license rule in order for the content providers to manage the content. The computer system may further comprise an electronic basket token for storing the selection of content files and to supply data for the input to said computer system. Thus a consumer will be able to store the content he/she wants to buy electronically. In this way the consumer does not have to use a pen and paper to write down the content he/she wants to buy. Furthermore it will save time at the counter because it will be possible to electronically transfer the content the customer wants to buy in to the computer system. The electronic device may further comprise Near Field Communication means for cordless communication with the token. Thus the electronic device is preferably able to communicate with the token only by having the token in near proximity of the electronic device. By using cordless technology it is avoided to use a physical interface such as a docking station. The electronic device may furthermore use secure (Sec.) communication in order to prevent hacker attacks. By using secure communication manufacturer does not have to spend development time and money on developing secure solutions. The electronic device may furthermore comprise a user interface for management of the retrieved content files. The user interface may comprise a screen on which information is displayed. Thus the user will e.g. be able to see what content he/she has bought and the status of the license rules etc. Moreover the electronic device may furthermore comprise writing means such as a CD/DVD writer in order to be able to write the retrieved content files on to a recordable medium. The method for generating and transmitting a selection of content files using a computer system may further comprise the steps of: identifying a selection of content files based on a custom code received via the data connection, and transmitting the identified selection of content files via the data connection. Thus automatically identify and sending the selection of bought content files to an electronic device connected to the computer network Furthermore the method may also comprise the step of: the electronic device automatically accessing the database via the data connection, when presenting the token to the electronic device. Thus the method will save time and work for the consumer, hence make the system and electronic device user-friendlier. Moreover the method may further comprise the step of: verify a license on the database side of the network, and if the license is accepted, transmitting the identified selection of content files via the data connection. By having this step it provides a more efficient way for the content provider to manage the license rights related to the content. And since the license rights preferably are stored centrally on a database it is possible to have a higher degree of security regarding hackers trying to break in and change the license rights. These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES Fig. 1 illustrates an example of a token sale coupling system. Fig. 2 illustrates another embodiment of the token sale coupling system. Fig. 3 illustrates a flowchart of the communication between a token, an electronic device and online servers (Serv.).

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A scenario wherein the present invention preferably is used is potentially as follows: A consumer looks in a store (Str.) for music numbers he/she would like and goes to a counter of the store and shows a content list comprising songs, artists, movies etc. that can be fed into the computer along with a identity tag. The identity tag could e.g. be an email address of the customer or a unique number on a token such as a smart card etc. The content is preferably stored on a server and a unique number is related to the content. After that the store issues a token comprising the unique number and gives it to the consumer. The token has the following purpose. A user has at home a network of electronic devices that can play content located on the Internet or located at some storage container at home. The token comprises the necessary information in order for the electronic device to access the content online. Thus the consumer preferably has an account on the Internet that is linked to the token and accessible by the electronic devices that can play the content. Thus, the consumer gives the token to the cashier and pays the bill with e.g. cash or credit card. The cashier assigns the content to the unique number using an online system. If it is a first time customer or if the customer has lost the token, the cashier may issue a new token. After the purchase the user can directly access the content using any electronic device that has an online connection and can read the unique number from the token. The token could have theft protection such as a pin-code related to it, alternatively, it is possible to disable or revoke the token, preferably invoking the unique number on the token after theft has been reported. Therefore one more advantage is that stealing the token has no serious financial implications for the consumer because it is not a credit card. Thus, it is not used as apre-pay kind of card because preferably it does not hold any transaction/money information that can be used to purchase something. After the customer has presented the content he/she wants to buy to the cashier or sales person, the customer may further be presented with various options and prices of possible rights that may be attached to the content. Preferably the songs will not be burned on a CD/DVD in the store because that would take too much time and also be expensive. Furthermore the store has to keep CD's/DVD's on stock which is expensive. Instead the content is preferably stored in a database on a server connected to the Internet For this reason the customer preferably receives a token which could be a card of credit card size with e.g. an integrated chip, as described earlier. When the customer returns home he/she preferably places the token in close proximity or in other way connects it to an electronic device and thereby instantly gains access to the bought content. The electronic device (e.g. Internet radio, stereo etc) may use a built-in token card reader to read the information from the token and use it to gain access to the content on the Internet. The access allows the content to be played by any electronic device which is able to understand the data and which has means for executing the data. The consumer may preferably access e.g. his/her play-list through a web interface and play the content on the electronic device. In another embodiment of the electronic device the consumer may download, store and also burn the music onto a CD. The consumer can now virtually put all the bought music on a CD in any given order and also play it on any electronic device that understands the token. Thus, The consumer buys content and the content is linked to the unique number on the token. The link between the unique number on the token and the content is preferably stored by an entity (e.g. content retailer or producer) on the Internet. This method is anonymous because preferably no real consumer information has to be stored by the content retailer, only the link between the number and the bought online content. The consumer may put the token on the electronic device that can read or communicate with the token. The electronic device reads at least the number stored on the token and preferably automatically connects to an online content server that knows about the link between the unique number on the token and the bought content in the database. The electronic device is then preferably able to play the content through the Internet connection. Licensing rights are preferably enforced by e.g. the online content provider that knows about the license that belongs to the bought content and therefore can enforce it preferably before the content is actually streamed across the Internet. This would mean that hacking an electronic device in order to change any license information located inside the electronic device has no use, because the license is enforced at the provider side from where the content is sent. Furthermore, the electronic device preferably does not have to have storage capacity. The consumer will have full control on how much and for which songs he/she will pay and also have a greater degree of freedom on playing it. The consumer can still go into music shops and easily find new music but at a lower cost. This is due to the token, which is used in the invention. Furthermore if the token appears akin to a credit card the outside of the token may be printed with commercial messages, images such as a picture of an artist or an actor from a movie. Thus the token may itself become a collector's item for youths or a carrier of advertisement. Thus stores or content provider can also sell advertisement spaces on the card and thus further increase their profit. A new business model enabled by the invention preferably includes the following entities: Consumers, Retailers, Content industry, Internet Content Access points, Home appliance manufacturers, and Token manufacturers. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention a customer selects the content that he/she want to buy and gives it to a sales person in the store in order to buy it, step 1 in Fig. 1. Thereafter the salesperson preferably uses a computer or a cash register connected to a computer network in order to send preferably a unique ID. However it may also send a tokenID and/or a content ID and/or a LicenselD to the server storing the content files, step 2 Fig. 1. After that or at the same time the salesperson preferably uses the cash register and issues a new token or loads an old token with certain content rights related to the selected content by the customer, step 3 Fig. 1. When the customer arrives at home or at another location he/she can place the token in close vicinity of an electronic device with token reading capability, step 4. The electronic device reads from the token and preferably contacts the designated content / license server. In this way the customer is able to gain access to the bought content, step 5. Thereafter the content is selected, license is checked and the content is preferably securely streamed from the content server to the electronic device where it is rendered, step 6. Preferably the server contains information on the content that the consumer has bought. When the consumer buys content in e.g. a store the content is preferably linked to a unique number. This can be accomplished preferably by storing the relationships in a database and letting the database generate the unique number. The unique number together with server information is preferably later on securely stored on the token. The messages between the store and the server preferably contain XML and preferably use a secure connection such as HTTPS with SSL. The information is preferably sent directly to the server using SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) calls. A Secure Authenticated Channel (SAC) may be set-up between the store and the server in order to have a secure connection. A SAC enables encrypted communication using e.g. a PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) mechanism. Once a SAC has been set-up the information that the consumer has bought can be sent to the server, which will then generate a unique number and send that back to the store. Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) is a way for a program running in one kind of operating system (such as Windows 2000) to communicate with a program in the same or another kind of an operating system (such as Linux) by using the HTTP and XML as the preferred mechanisms for information exchange. The customer may use an electronic shopping cart such as a card comprising a chip, mobile phone or any other similar device adapted for storing information, in order to store the shopping list of the content the customer has bought. The customer may then at the counter use the electronic shopping cart for inputting the information about the content the customer want to buy into the system. By using an electronic ordering the time at the counter will be shorter since the sales person does not have to input the content manually that the customer want to buy. At the store the consumer receives a token preferably containing a Near Field Communication (NFC) chip or a similar device for wireless communication of data. NFC is a wireless connectivity technology that enables convenient short-range communication between electronic devices. It is an open interface platform that allows fast and automatic set-up of wireless networks, providing a virtual connector for existing cellular, Bluetooth and wireless devices. In order to make two devices communicate, users bring them close together or even make them touch. The devices' NFC interfaces will automatically connect and configure themselves to form a peer-to-peer network. NFC can also bootstrap other protocols like Bluetooth or Wireless Ethernet (WiFi) by exchanging the configuration and session data. The token is put into or close to a token writer at the counter and the unique number preferably together with information on where the server can be found is sent to the chip located on the token. If the token is a mobile phone the store may have infrared or bluetooth connections or a wire for connecting to different mobile phones in order to download the unique number with server information to it. The unique number stored on the token may preferably act as an access username and password. Hence preferably the user does not have to enter any username or password in order to access to the content that is linked to the token. An electronic device such as an Internet radio or stereo could use a built-in token card reader to read the information from the token and use it to gain access to the content on the Internet. When a consumer has bought an electronic device such as a Streamium e.g. a MC-i200, the electronic device is preferably registered at a website. The registration sequence is preferably initiated when the electronic device is used for the first time. This means that the host of the website preferably knows which electronic device have been bought and approximately where it is located in the world and is therefore able to send information to it. The electronic device preferably comprises a cordless reader so that a consumer can place the token in the proximity of it, step 10, Fig 3. The electronic device can thus detect the token and preferably use a secure communication technology for transmitting data between the token and the reader device such as the Philips MIFARE secure technology, step 11, Fig 3. The electronic device may thus contact and read information from the token. Furthermore it preferably also use the same type of SAC that has been used between the store and the server, when it contacts, step 12, Fig 3, and retrieve the content that the user has bought which is stored on the server. By using a SAC between the server and the electronic device no one can break in on the connection and use the information being sent between them. After the SAC has been established, SOAP calls are used by the electronic device to get the content information associated with the unique number stored on the token. Thus the content/license server preferably must recognize the unique number, step 13 Fig 3. The electronic device can find the server on the Internet because an URL to the server is preferably also stored on the token. Content server sends back a list of content associated with the ID on the token, step 14, Fig 3. The content, retrieved from the server, may be presented to the user on a display on the electronic device, step 5 Fig 3. This will enable the user to play, download or burn the items comprised in the retrieved content listed. If the user has bought content with certain rights (DRM Rights), a content may for example only be accessed for the period according to the right. The right may let the customer access the content during a period of a year, 6 months, 3 months or any other suitable time period. Furthermore the right may also be related to a number of times, such as a maximum number of times to view or play a content. The right related to the content or a specific item of a content may preferably be displayed on a display on the electronic device so that the consumer is aware of how much time or number of time is left until the right expires. The DRM rights are preferably enforced at the serverside, when the user tries to start playing the content, step 16, Fig 3. Preferably the license server decreases the license if needed, step 17, Fig 3. If the DRM (Digital Rights Management) rights have expired, the customer will not have access to the content anymore. Step 16, Fig 3, thus checks that there are enough rights to play the content, preferably the license server checks this. Preferably no balance account have to be associated with the token in the invention, since the payment has already been done in the store. In the above description the term "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps and "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. Furthermore the teπns "include" and "contain" does not exclude other elements or steps.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A computer system comprising a database for storage of content files, an output device for writing a custom code on a token, a data connection for transferring a selection of content files being stored in the database via a network and for receiving a custom code from an electronic device via the network, said computer system being programmed to generate based on an input to said computer system a selection of content files being stored in said database, to generate a custom code identifying the selection being generated and to identify and transmit a selection of content files based on a custom code received via the data connection.

2. A computer system according to claim 1, wherein the database further comprises an address of the electronic device in order to be able to send the content files to the electronic device on the network.

3. A computer system according to claim 1, further comprising a database comprising license rules related to the content files.

4. A computer system according to claim 1, further comprising an electronic basket token for storing the selection of content files and to supply data for the input to said computer system

5. An electronic device comprising means for connecting the device to a network, the device further comprising means for communicating with a token to retrieve a custom code stored thereon, storage for storing an address within the network where a selection of content files being identified by the custom code is stored, wherein the device is adapted to retrieve the selection of content files being identified by the custom code when being presented to a token.

6. An electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the means for communication with the token are cordless communication means.

7. An electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the communication is secure communication.

8. An electronic device according to claim 5, further comprising a user interface for management of the retrieved content files.

9. An electronic device according to claim 5, further comprising writing means for writing the retrieved content files on to a recordable medium.

10. A method for generating and transmitting a selection of content files using a. computer system comprising a database for storage of content files, an output device for writing a custom code on a token, a data connection for transferring a selection of content files being stored in the database via a network and for receiving a custom code from an electronic device via the network, said method comprises the steps of: generating a selection of content files based on an input, storing the selection of content files on the database, generating a custom code identifying the generated selection of content files, coding a token with the custom code.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the method further comprising the steps of: identifying a selection of content files based on a custom code received via the data connection, and - transmitting the identified selection of content files via the data connection.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein the method further comprising the step of: the electronic device automatically accessing the database via the data connection, when presenting the token to the electronic device.

13. A method according to claim 10, wherein the method further comprising the step of: verify a license on the database side of the network, and if the license is accepted, transmitting the identified selection of content files via the data connection.

14. A data carrier for transporting a custom code identifying a selection of data stored on a database, the carrier comprises means for cordless communication with an electronic device.

15. A method for distributing a selection of audio files based on an input, the method comprises the steps of: receiving an input comprising a customer choice of content files, generating a selection of content files based on an input, storing the selection of content files in a database, generating a custom code identifying the generated selection of content files, - coding a token with the custom code, issue a token comprising the custom code identifying the selection of content files, in connection with the payment from the customer.