Abstract:
A Media Registration and Validation Service (“MRVS”) facilitates protection against unauthorized media sharing. In the media registration function, the MRVS receives, registers and stores one or more samples of media content defining source content. In the media evaluation function, the MRVS receives samples of media content (“examination content”) submitted for examination relative to the source content. The MRVS searches the database to determine instances of source content corresponding to the examination content, yielding corresponding content; and produces a report including indicia of the corresponding content. Protection against media sharing is thereby accomplished in one aspect by providing notice of registered source content to one or more prospective disclosers of corresponding content (including, without limitation, the submitters of examination content); and in another aspect, the prospective disclosers can rely on the notice to decide whether or not to disseminate their corresponding content.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to communications systems and, more particularly, to communications systems and services that protect against unauthorized sharing of multimedia content. 
         [0003]    2. Statement of the Problem 
         [0004]    Communication systems are well known in which persons may provide and/or access multimedia content. For example, the Internet is a ubiquitous communication system in which multiple users dispersed across multiple geographic areas can contribute or access content including, without limitation, text, audio, video and image content, music descriptive language (e.g., sheet music, midi files) or software (source or object code) via website articles, blogs, message boards, chat rooms or the like; or via certain sites (e.g., YouTube™) that are dedicated to media sharing. Unfortunately, media content promulgated via the internet is largely uncontrolled, or at least inadequately controlled, in terms of protecting against the sharing of copyrighted, proprietary or other unauthorized content. Many websites employ site moderators to review content and remove unauthorized content, but typically site moderators do not have sufficient time and resources to adequately proof all content contributions, postings, and the like for copyrighted or other unauthorized media content. Adding to the difficulty is that media contributions are often received without a copyright notice or any indicia that the contributor has the legal right to disseminate the content. 
         [0005]    Consequently, it is not uncommon for copyrighted or unauthorized media content to be improperly posted on the internet, at least until such time that it is discovered and removed by the moderator or website provider. Such unauthorized posting, even for a limited time, can render harm to the copyright holder and/or content owner and may result in legal liability to the contributor and/or the website provider. 
       SUMMARY OF THE SOLUTION  
       [0006]    This invention solves the above and other problems by providing a Media Registration and Validation Service (“MRVS”) to protect against unauthorized media sharing. Content owners (who may comprise, for example and without limitation, copyright holders, or enterprises wishing to protect proprietary information from general posting or sharing) register and submit a copy of their media with the MRVS. The MRVS stores copies of the media desired to be protected, comprising without limitation, text, audio, video or image content, music descriptive language (e.g., sheet music, midi files) or software (source or object code) in a database (“Do Not Share” database). The MRVS performs a validation service for clients (e.g., website providers) in which prospective content is evaluated against the stored media to determine a likelihood that the content is authorized or unauthorized. The client may rely on the MRVS validation to decide whether or not to disseminate the prospective content via web page posting or other manner; and hence the client is protected against unauthorized media sharing. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a Media Registration and Validation Service (“MRVS”) according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart showing steps associated with a media registration function implementable by the MRVS according to an embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart showing steps associated with a media validation function implementable by the MRVS according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]      FIGS. 1-3  and the following description depict specific exemplary embodiments of the invention to teach those skilled in the art how to make and use the invention. For the purpose of teaching inventive principles, some conventional aspects of the invention have been simplified or omitted. Those skilled in the art will appreciate variations from these embodiments that fall within the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the features described below can be combined in various ways to form multiple variations of the invention. As a result, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described below, but only by the claims and their equivalents. 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates a Media Registration and Validation Service (“MRVS”)  100  operable according to principles of the present invention to protect against unauthorized media sharing. Generally, the MRVS  100  is operable to receive, register and store certain media content (“source content”) coincident to a media registration function and to receive and evaluate certain media content (“examination content”) relative to the source content coincident to a media validation function. The source and examination content may include, without limitation, text, audio, video or image content, music descriptive language (e.g., sheet music, midi files) or software (source or object code). 
         [0012]    The MRVS  100  receives source content from clients  102  (one shown) comprising, for example and without limitation, copyright holders, or enterprises wishing to protect proprietary information from general posting or sharing; and examination content from clients  104  (one shown) comprising, for example and without limitation, website providers, individuals or enterprises desiring an assessment of the content in advance of disseminating the content and hence provide a degree of protection from legal liability. The MRVS  100  may be implemented in software and/or hardware residing in one or more physical devices including, without limitation, application server(s) of a data network. However, as will be appreciated, the MRVS  100  may be implemented in virtually any network topology. The MRVS  100  receives source and examination content via a client interface  106  comprising any system or software adapted to communicate text, audio, video and/or image content, music descriptive language or software from clients  102  or  104  to MRVS  100  consistent with the network topology. 
         [0013]    As shown, the MRVS  100  contains functional elements including: a service management element  108 , a media registration element  110 , a media storage element  112 , a media evaluation element  114  and a billing element  116  adapted to perform respective functions of the MRVS  100  in relation to client services. As will be appreciated, any of several business models (including, for example, a subscription model or pay-per-transaction model) may be utilized for the client services; and the functions of the respective elements may vary depending on the business model. 
         [0014]    In one embodiment, the service management  108  element establishes client accounts, maintains records and generates reports associated with clients  102 ,  104  of the MRVS  100  (including, for example, client IDs, contact information, usage data, service features and/or restrictions) and maps the client IDs to submitted source content and/or examination content. The media registration element  110  operates to receive and register source content (including, without limitation, text, audio, video or images, music descriptive language or software) coincident to the media registration function. The media storage element  112  comprises a database (e.g., a “Do Not Share” database) operable to store registered source content. The media evaluation element  114  operates to receive and evaluate examination content in relation to the stored source content and report a result indicative of the comparison of the examination content to the source content (e.g., an ordered list of closest matches of the source content with the examination content). The billing element  116  performs billing services associated with the MRVS  100  including computation of charges associated with client services based on applicable rates/plans and usage data. 
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart of a media registration process  200  that can be implemented by the MRVS  100  in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The steps of  FIG. 2  are implemented by the media registration element  110  of the MRVS  100  in cooperation, where applicable, with the service management element  108 , media storage element  112  and billing element  116 . 
         [0016]    At step  202 , the media registration element  110  receives a registration request from a client  102  desiring to register source content so as to protect the source content from general posting or sharing. As will be appreciated, depending on implementation of the MRVS  100 , the media registration element  110  may receive the registration request from the client directly or indirectly via other elements of the MRVS  100 . For example, if the registration request is first received by the service management element  108 , it is contemplated that the registration request will be forwarded by the service management element to the media registration element. 
         [0017]    At step  204 , responsive to the registration request, the media registration element  110  receives identification information associated with the client of the nature needed to accommodate registration. For example, the identification information may include a name/ID of the client and contact/address information. In one embodiment, the media registration element  110  queries the service management element  108  to obtain relevant identification information, which may comprise a subset of the client information maintained by the service management element  108 . Alternatively or additionally, the media registration element  110  may receive certain client information directly from the client coincident to the registration request or may query the client for certain client information. 
         [0018]    At step  206 , the media registration element  110  receives the submitted source content from the client  102  (or alternatively, from another element of the MRVS  100 ). The submitted source content may comprise, without limitation, text, audio, video, images, music descriptive language (e.g., sheet music, midi files) or software (source or object code). The source content may be copyrighted material, proprietary material or generally any material that the client  102  desires to protect from unauthorized posting or sharing. Optionally, coincident to step  206 , the media registration element  110  may prompt the client to provide the source content in a preferred media format, language or the like; or the media registration element may itself convert the submitted format into a preferred media format, language or the like. 
         [0019]    At step  208 , the media registration element  110  registers the submitted source content, yielding registered content. In one embodiment, registration of source content comprises maintaining a register or record, indexed to client ID, of submitted source content, the type of content and the nature of the content (e.g., indicia of copyrighted material or proprietary material). The content is “registered” in the sense that it is listed in a register maintained by the media registration element  110  for purposes of protecting against unauthorized media sharing. In one embodiment, although the submitted source content may be subject to copyright protection, the media registration process does not include copyright registration; rather, it is contemplated that copyright registration is performed separately by the client in cooperation with the relevant government authority (e.g., the USPTO). Similarly, if the source content comprises a trademark, it is contemplated that trademark registration is obtained by the client in a separate process. As will be appreciated, however, the media registration process  200  may be implemented to facilitate copyright or trademark registration in addition to registration with the media registration element  110 . 
         [0020]    At step  210 , the media registration element  110  effects storage of the registered source content, for example, by forwarding the registered source content to the media storage element  112  (e.g., a “Do Not Share” database) operable to store registered source content. As will be described in greater detail in relation to  FIG. 3 , the database is searchable so that candidate matches can be produced coincident to a media validation function of the MRVS  100 . 
         [0021]    Optionally, at step  212 , the media registration element  110  may facilitate licensing of the source content as an agent for the content owner. A licensing opportunity may arise, for example, responsive to determining that the source content owned by client  102  is a good match with prospective content submitted for validation by a third party client  104  and hence posting or sharing of the prospective content would likely infringe upon the copyright of client  102 . In such case, the third party client  104  may wish to obtain a license from the copyright holder client  102  that will permit the client  104  to post or share the prospective content. 
         [0022]    At step  214 , the billing element  116  performs billing services associated with the media registration process  200 . The billing element  116  receives billing information from relevant elements of the MRVS  100  (for example and without limitation, from the service management element  108 , media registration element  110  or media storage element  112 ), computes relevant charges and generates billing statements depending on applicable plans/agreements. As an example, the billing element may charge a flat fee for the media registration process  200  and charge additional fees to facilitate licensing of the source content and/or to facilitate contact with a third party having prospective content that closely matches the source content. Nevertheless, as will be appreciated, the fees can be computed in any of several alternative ways depending on implementation of the MRVS  100  and on the business model. 
         [0023]    Now referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a flowchart of a media validation process  300  that can be implemented by the MRVS  100  in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The steps of  FIG. 3  are implemented by the media evaluation element  114  of the MRVS  100  in cooperation, where applicable, with the service management element  108 , media registration element  110 , media storage element  112  and billing element  116 . 
         [0024]    At step  302 , the media evaluation element  114  receives a media evaluation request from a client  104  desiring an assessment of certain media content (“examination content”) relative to the stored source content to determine, in advance of posting or sharing the examination content, whether such posting or sharing is likely to be authorized or not authorized. As will be appreciated, depending on implementation of the MRVS  100 , the media evaluation element  114  may receive the media evaluation request from the client directly or indirectly via other elements of the MRVS  100 . For example, if the evaluation request is first received by the service management element  108 , it is contemplated that the evaluation request will be forwarded by the service management element to the media evaluation element. 
         [0025]    At step  304 , responsive to the media evaluation request, the media evaluation element  114  receives identification information associated with the client of the nature needed to accommodate media evaluation. For example, the identification information may include a name/ID of the client and contact/address information. In one embodiment, the media evaluation element  114  queries the service management element  108  to obtain relevant identification information, which may comprise a subset of the client information maintained by the service management element  108 . Alternatively or additionally, the media evaluation element  114  may receive certain client information directly from the client coincident to the media evaluation request or may query the client for certain client information. 
         [0026]    At step  306 , the media evaluation element  114  receives the submitted examination content from the client  104  (or alternatively, from another element of the MRVS  100 ). The submitted examination content may comprise, without limitation, text, audio, video or images, music descriptive language (e.g., sheet music, midi files) or software (source or object code). Optionally, coincident to step  306 , the media evaluation element  114  may prompt the client  104  to provide the examination content in a preferred media format, language or the like; or the media evaluation element may itself convert the submitted format into a preferred media format, language or the like. 
         [0027]    At step  308 , the media evaluation element  114  searches the stored source content (e.g., the “Do Not Share” database) for candidate matches corresponding to the examination content. As will be appreciated, the manner of search is an implementation detail that will vary depending on the modality (e.g., text, audio, video, images, music descriptive language or software) of the examination and source content. Generally, the search for media content may be conducted using presently known search techniques or those devised in the future for the respective modalities; and may be conducted using data processing applications (e.g., search engines), human evaluation or some combination thereof. 
         [0028]    In one exemplary embodiment, a search for candidate matches is accomplished in at least one pass using a data processing application (e.g., search engine) using known search techniques including, without limitation: text-based matching for text media, sound matching for audio media (e.g., speech, tones, music), image matching for images and video matching for video. The search engine may use the registered media or transformations thereof (and similarly, the examination media or transformations thereof) in the interest of increasing search speed, accuracy or in the interest of managing processing resources. For example and without limitation, the search engine may compare fragments of media to find candidate matches. The search results may be refined in consecutive passes using the data processing application and/or human evaluation. 
         [0029]    At step  310 , the media evaluation element produces a report of the search results for the client  104 . As will be appreciated, the report may be communicated to the client in a variety of ways. The report may be communicated directly to the client or the report may be accessible to the client via webpage or the like. In one embodiment, the report comprises an ordered list of one or more candidate matches (i.e., listed in order of perceived nearest matches) viewable via webpage, application software or the like (defining a “list view”), and including url links, menu options or other suitable user interface that enable the client to review the candidate matches in greater detail. With assistance of such review, the client  104  can make an educated assessment of whether its examination content is authorized to be posted or disseminated. Optionally, to further assist the client  104  to assess the authorization status of the submitted content, the report may include a “score” or probability assessment associated with one or more candidate matches. Still further, the report may optionally include identification and/or contact information associated with the content owner(s) of the candidate matches, which information may be useful in case the client  104  may wish to pursue a license of any of the candidate matches. Optionally, at step  312 , the media evaluation element  114  may facilitate licensing of the candidate matches. 
         [0030]    As still another option, the media evaluation element may forward the examination content to the media registration element  110 ; and the media registration element can effect registration and storage of the submitted examination content such as described in relation to  FIG. 2 . In such manner, the examination content can become registered source content for later iterations of the media validation process  300  and can possibly become a candidate match for later-submitted examination content. 
         [0031]    At step  314 , the billing element  116  performs billing services associated with the media validation process  300 . The billing element  116  receives billing information from relevant elements of the MRVS  100  (for example and without limitation, from the service management element  108  or media evaluation element  114 ), computes relevant charges and generates billing statements depending on applicable plans/agreements. As an example, the billing element may charge a flat fee or transaction fee for performing the media validation process  300  and/or media registration process  200  responsive to submissions of examination content. As another example, the billing element may charge additional fees to owners of source content if their content is found to be a close match to submitted examination content or to facilitate licensing of the source content. Nevertheless, as will be appreciated, the fees can be computed in any of several alternative ways depending on implementation of the MRVS  100  and on the business model. 
         [0032]    The present disclosure has therefore identified a Media Registration and Validation Service (“MRVS”)  100  operable to protect against unauthorized media sharing by performing a media registration process  200  and media validation process  300 . It should be understood that the steps of the methods set forth herein are not necessarily required to be performed in the order described, additional steps may be included in such methods, and certain steps may be omitted or combined in methods consistent with various embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0033]    The present invention can be embodied in the form of methods and apparatuses for practicing those methods. The present invention can also be embodied in the form of program code embodied in tangible media, such as USB flash drives, CD-ROMs, hard drives or any other machine-readable storage medium, wherein, when the program code is loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer or processor, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. The present invention can also be embodied in the form of program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a machine or transmitted over some transmission medium or carrier, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the program is loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. 
         [0034]    While this invention has been described with reference to illustrative embodiments, the invention is not limited to the described embodiments but may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.