Abstract:
A system for selecting and recording data, comprising: a local storage unit for storing a subset of media content items and other content; a content selection unit to display a catalog of the media content items and other content, to allow a customer to browse, search, and select a media content item and other content from the catalog of media content items and other content, to retrieve the selected media content item and other content from the local storage unit if the selected media content item and other content is found in the subset, and otherwise to retrieve the selected media content item from a remote storage unit, the content selection unit configured to cache the retrieved media content item and other content in the local storage unit for a period of time based on the popularity of the retrieved media content item; a financial transaction unit to determine the cost of the retrieved media content item and other content and display the cost for review and payment by the customer; and an authoring system configured to format, encode, encrypt, and write the media content item and other content onto an article of media when the customer makes the payment.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to selecting and recording media content data, and more specifically, to individualization and encryption of on-demand media content for retail distribution.  
         [0002]     Data terminals are employed in a variety of contexts to provide goods and services to consumers. Thus, distribution of these goods and services is managed by the data terminal communicating and exchanging information to and from a remote host computer or other communicating device.  
         [0003]     For example, in a banking service context, automated teller machines (“ATMs”) are employed to allow bank customers to make cash withdrawals, deposits, and transfers. Furthermore, since ATMs are often deployed in convenient and open locations, ATMs provide a cost-effective, convenient, and secure method by which banks can process transactions of the bank customers. Such data terminals are configured in one of a stand-alone mode, where access to the host computer is established over the public telephone network, and in a cooperative mode, where access to the host is established over a private dedicated communication network.  
         [0004]     Data terminals can also be employed in the media content distribution context to provide each individual customer with ready access to tens of thousands of movie titles, as well as educational programming, network programming, audio programming and the like.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     Implementations of the present invention provide methods and apparatus to select and record media content data for retail distribution using a data terminal.  
         [0006]     In one implementation, a system for selecting and recording data is disclosed. The system comprises: a local storage unit for storing a subset of media content items and other content; a content selection unit to display a catalog of the media content items and other content, to allow a customer to browse, search, and select a media content item and other content from the catalog of media content items and other content, to retrieve the selected media content item and other content from the local storage unit if the selected media content item and other content is found in the subset, and otherwise to retrieve the selected media content item from a remote storage unit, the content selection unit configured to cache the retrieved media content item and other content in the local storage unit for a period of time based on the popularity of the retrieved media content item; a financial transaction unit to determine the cost of the retrieved media content item and other content and display the cost for review and payment by the customer; and a video disk authoring system configured to format, encode, encrypt, and write the media content item and other content onto an article of media when the customer makes the payment.  
         [0007]     In another implementation, a method for selecting and recording data is disclosed. The method comprises: storing a subset of media content items and other content in a local storage unit; displaying a catalog of the media content items and other content; enabling a customer to browse, search, and select a media content item and other content from the catalog of media content items and other content; retrieving the selected media content item and other content from the local storage unit if the selected media content item and other content is found in the subset; retrieving the selected media content item from a remote storage unit if the selected media content item and other content is not included in the subset; caching the retrieved media content item and other content in the local storage unit for a period of time based on the popularity of the retrieved media content item; determining the cost of the retrieved media content item and other content; displaying the cost for review and payment by the customer; and formatting, encoding, encrypting, and writing the media content item and other content onto an article of media when the customer makes the payment.  
         [0008]     In another implementation, a computer program, stored in a tangible storage medium, for selecting and recording data is disclosed. The program comprises executable instructions that cause a computer to: store a subset of media content items and other content in a local storage unit; display a catalog of the media content items and other content; enable a customer to browse, search, and select a media content item and other content from the catalog of media content items and other content; retrieve the selected media content item and other content from the local storage unit if the selected media content item and other content is found in the subset; retrieve the selected media content item from a remote storage unit if the selected media content item and other content is not included in the subset; cache the retrieved media content item and other content in the local storage unit for a period of time based on the popularity of the retrieved media content item; determine the cost of the retrieved media content item and other content; display the cost for review and payment by the customer; and format, encode, encrypt, and write the media content item and other content onto an article of media when the customer makes the payment. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a media content selection and recording system including a retail distribution kiosk and a remote server in accordance with one implementation of the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the retail distribution kiosk including a computer system, a video disk authoring system, a network connection, and a storage area in accordance with one detailed implementation of the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a media content selection and recording system including the retail distribution kiosk and the remote server in accordance with another detailed implementation of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate a method for selecting and recording media content data according to one implementation of the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION  
       [0013]     Implementations of the present invention provide methods and apparatus to select and record media content data for retail distribution using a data terminal. In one implementation, a media content selection and recording system provides individualization and encryption of on-demand media content for retail distribution. In this implementation, the data terminal is configured as a retail kiosk, which provides an individual customer with ready access to a large number of movie titles in a convenient low-cost manner that fully satisfies the customer demand, while enhancing the economic incentives of content providers to create and distribute an expanding offering of movies and other video/audio content.  
         [0014]     In one example illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a media content selection and recording system  100  includes a retail distribution kiosk  102  and a remote server  104 . In the illustrated example, the retail distribution kiosk  102  is placed in a location having public access, such as a store or shopping center, by a content provider. A customer  106  uses the retail kiosk  102  to build and purchase a customized article of media (hereinafter referred to as a video disk  120 ) by selecting a movie and other items of content. The retail kiosk  102  is an automated kiosk with a computer user interface (e.g., display  110 , speakers  112 , keyboard  114 , touchpad, and the like).  
         [0015]     In one detailed implementation illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the retail kiosk  102  includes a computer system  200 , a video disk authoring system  210 , a network connection  220 , and a storage area  230 . The computer system  200  includes a processor  204 , a memory  206 , a video controller  208 , and other related elements  202 . The computer system  200  controls the operation of the kiosk  102  and its components. The video disk authoring system  210  enables the customer  212  to build and purchase a customized video disk. The network connection  220  allows the retail kiosk  102  to connect to the remote server  240  through the network  222 .  
         [0016]     In another detailed implementation illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a media content selection and recording system  300  includes a remote server  310  and a retail kiosk  320 . The retail kiosk  320  includes a financial transaction unit  322 , a content selection unit  324 , a video disk authoring system  330 , and a content database unit  326 . The retail kiosk  320  connects to the remote server  310  through a network connection. The remote server  310  includes a financial transaction processor  312 , a content delivery unit  314 , a customer database  316 , and a content database  318 .  
         [0017]     To use the kiosk  320  to build a video disk  342 , a customer  340  initiates a transaction, such as by walking up to the kiosk  320  and pressing a key on the keyboard. The content selection unit  324  of the kiosk  320  displays a catalog of movies, organized in various ways. For example, the movies can be organized according to the title, category, or any other related terms to identify the movies. The content selection unit  324  also displays other content that can be selected, such as additional related content. Other content can include audio, text, and still images.  
         [0018]     In one example, the additional related content includes bonus content such as director commentary, subtitles, video angles, or deleted scenes. In addition, the implementation could offer the user the ability to purchase on-line enabled services or content associated with the disk, but not necessarily included on the disk (e.g. a managed or authorized copy of disk content). The movies and other items are stored locally as data in the content database unit  326  or remotely in the content database unit  318  of the remote server  310 .  
         [0019]     The content selection unit  324  enables the customer  340  to browse or search the catalogs of items and to select a movie and other content using the user interface. The content selection unit  324  then builds a list of items to put on the video disk  342 . The content selection unit  320  further prompts the customer  340  for selection of options based on other user selections. Examples of options include, but are not limited to, movie format, resolution, languages, second session versions. Selection of the movie format option includes selecting widescreen or fullscreen. Selection of the languages option includes selecting audio format, subtitles, and other related language options. Selection of the second session versions includes selecting from constrained image versions. The content selection unit  324  also prompts the customer  340  to accept items selected by the content selection unit  340 , such as promotional or upsell items including games, soundtracks, and other related items.  
         [0020]     The content selection unit  324  determines which of the selected items are stored locally and which need to be retrieved from remote storage  318 . For remotely-stored items, the content selection unit  324  requests the items from the content database  318  through the content delivery unit  314 . The content selection unit  324  caches retrieved items for a period of time based on the popularity of the item. For some items, the content selection unit  324  keeps the data in the content database  326  for a period determined by an external service such the content provider who owns the kiosk  320 . Similarly, the content provider can cause the kiosk  320  to download and store items that are popular or to be promoted such as a new movie.  
         [0021]     In one implementation, the customer  340  also provides identification information identifying the customer  340  to the content selection unit  324 . The content selection unit  324  sends the identification information to the customer database  316  of the remote server  310  through the network connection and receives a profile for the customer  340  from the content delivery unit  314  of the remote server  310 . The profile reflects characteristics supplied by the customer  340  or derived based on customer activity such as past purchases. The content selection unit  324  can use the profile to suggest or select options and promotional items.  
         [0022]     As the customer  340  selects and confirms items to add to the video disk  342 , the financial transaction unit  322  determines the cumulative cost of the selected items. Each item has a cost, though some items may have a cost of zero or a negative cost as a promotional item. When the customer  340  is done adding and selecting items, the financial transaction unit  322  displays a payment interface showing the total cost and payment options (e.g., cash, credit or bank card, online account, etc.). The customer  340  selects a payment mode and provides the appropriate payment, for example, by inserting cash or a credit card. If the user selects a payment mode requiring external authorization (e.g., credit card), the financial transaction unit  322  uses the financial transaction processor  312  in the remote server  310  to contact the appropriate authorizing institution to confirm the purchase.  
         [0023]     Although the above discussion describes a financial model in which the video disk is purchased, other financial models for providing the video disk can be selected including subscriptions and rentals. Thus, in one implementation, a fixed number of disks can be purchased in a time interval, or require that the disks be returned within a defined time period.  
         [0024]     The video disk authoring system  330  includes a disk content authoring unit  332 , an encryption unit  334 , and a media writer  336 . These units  332 ,  334 ,  336  can be configured in hardware, software, or combination of hardware and software. Thus, in the illustrated implementation, the video disk authoring system  330  is configured to format, encode, encrypt, and write data to the video disk  342 .  
         [0025]     For example, the disk content authoring unit  332  and the encryption unit  334  format and encrypt the selected items, or a subset of the selected items, for storage on the video disk  342  according to the selected options. The disk content authoring unit  332  adds a forensic watermark to one or more of the items (e.g., the movie), or components of the item (e.g. video, audio, or subtitles) to identify the particular copy to be placed on the video disk  342 . The disk content authoring unit  332  may also use an “anti-ripping” technology to inhibit users from making copies from the video disk  342 . An example of the anti-ripping technology includes Macrovision RipGuard. Other examples include technologies which introduce errors in video disk formats to prevent ripping software from reading the disks, or install software on the video disk to prevent ripping software from operating.  
         [0026]     In one implementation, the encryption unit  334  of the video disk authoring system  330  uses Content Scrambling System (CSS) encryption, which uses multiple keys. These keys are basically a string of characters that are used to encode or decode the contents of the video disk read by the disk player. The implementation may also insert content certificates into the disk contents consistent with CSS disk authentication requirements. In another implementation, some or all items may already be encrypted when the items are downloaded to relieve the video disk authoring system  320  of encryption responsibility. In other implementations, the encryption unit  334  uses other encryption or digital rights management (DRM) technology, such as DivX. Depending on the specific technology used, the ordering of encryption, watermark inserted, compression, and labeling steps may be varied.  
         [0027]     The encryption unit  334  writes the encrypted and formatted data to a video disk  342  using a media writer  336 . The video disk  342  can be provided by the customer  340  or can be obtained from a collection of blank disks stored in the kiosk  320 . The video disk  342  can be DVD recordable media such as DVD-R DVD+R, DVD+RW, or other non-standard recordable DVD disks to record data. In some implementations, the DVD recordable media includes prerecorded copy protection information, serial numbers, and/or unique numbers for security purposes. In other implementations, the DVD recordable media includes disks with secure unique serial numbers associated with prepaid financial transactions similar to prepaid phone cards. The implementation could also include support for non DVD optical disks, including any optical disk technologies which are developed to replace DVDs. The implementation could also include non optical media recordable storage including flash memory cards, magnetic storage devices, other technologies.  
         [0028]     The video disk authoring system  330  also provides packaging for the video disk  342 , such as the disk label, a box or other container, and packaging inserts. The video disk authoring system  330  selects packaging items (e.g., a promotional coupon) and inquires the customer  340  for confirmation. The customer  340  can also select packaging options, such as artwork or other customization including inserting a name, a personalized message, an image, or other information. Other information includes barcodes, customer information, and unique identifiers. This information can be applied directly onto the disk, or onto a label which is attached to the disk. This information may be user selectable, or may be bound to the financial transaction which purchased the disk.  
         [0029]     In one example, a customer can design and purchase a customized video disk by selecting items to place on the video disk. The customer can control what content to purchase and what extra items to receive. In addition, the content provider can identify the particular copy being generated through watermarking to track user activity. The content provider can also access a customer profile to enhance the customer experience and to provide feedback to the content provider.  
         [0030]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate a method for selecting and recording media content data according to one implementation of the present invention. To use the kiosk  320  to build a video disk  342 , a customer  340  initiates a transaction, at  400 . For example, when the customer  340  walks up to the kiosk  320  and presses a key on the keyboard, the content selection unit  324  of the kiosk  320  displays a catalog of movies, organized in various ways. The content selection unit  324  also displays other content that can be selected, such as additional related content.  
         [0031]     The content selection unit  324  enables the customer  340  to browse or search the catalogs of items, at  402 , and to select a movie and other content using the user interface, at  404 . The content selection unit  320  further prompts the customer  340  for selection of options based on other user selections, at  406 .  
         [0032]     In one implementation, the customer  340  may be asked to provide identification information identifying the customer  340  to the content selection unit  324 . The content selection unit  324  sends the identification information to the customer database  316  of the remote server  310  through the network connection and receives a profile for the customer  340  from the content delivery unit  314  of the remote server  310 . The profile reflects characteristics supplied by the customer  340  or derived based on customer activity such as past purchases. Thus, a determination is made, at  408 , to determine if the user profile is available. If the user profile is available, the profile is used, at  410 , to tailor the options and/or promotions specifically for the target customer  340 .  
         [0033]     As the customer  340  selects and confirms items to add to the video disk  342 , the selected media content item and options are retrieved from storage, at  412 , and the payment for the selected media content item and options is processed, at  414 . When the customer  340  is done adding and selecting items, the financial transaction unit  322  displays a payment interface showing the total cost and payment options. The customer  340  selects a payment mode and provides the appropriate payment. A video disk including the selected media content item and options is built, at  416 , using the video disk authoring system  330 .  
         [0034]     Various implementations of the invention are realized in electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of these technologies. Some implementations include one or more computer programs executed by a programmable processor or computer. For example, a method for selecting and recording media content data as described above includes one or more programmable processors. Thus, the video disk authoring method can be implemented as a computer program stored on and executed by the disk authoring system. In general, each computer includes one or more processors, one or more data-storage components (e.g., volatile or non-volatile memory modules and persistent optical and magnetic storage devices, such as hard and floppy disk drives, CD-ROM drives, and magnetic tape drives), one or more input devices (e.g., mice and keyboards), and one or more output devices (e.g., display consoles and printers).  
         [0035]     The computer programs include executable code that is usually stored in a persistent storage medium and then copied into memory at run-time. The processor executes the code by retrieving program instructions from memory in a prescribed order. When executing the program code, the computer receives data from the input and/or storage devices, performs operations on the data, and then delivers the resulting data to the output and/or storage devices.  
         [0036]     Various illustrative implementations of the present invention have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will see that additional implementations are also possible and within the scope of the present invention. For example, while the above description focuses on implementations of movie distribution using the retail kiosk, other types of content can also be purchased in a similar way, such as television programs, music, books, or software. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to only those implementations described above.