Patent Publication Number: US-2013232086-A1

Title: System and method for managing content distribution and brokering royalties

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM  
     This patent application is a continuation-in-part patent application and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/374,893, titled “Portable Media System and Method,” filed Aug. 18, 2010; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/444,162, titled “Portable Media System and Method,” filed Feb. 18, 2011; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/454,855, titled “System and Method for Authenticating a User&#39;s Authorization to Receive Streamed Content Using a Wireless HDMI Dongle,” filed Mar. 21, 2011; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/467,243, titled “System and Method for Managing and Monitoring Content Distribution and Access,” filed Mar. 24, 2011; all of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully stated herein. 
    
    
     FIELD  
     The present disclosure relates generally to electronic systems, apparatuses, and methods, and more particularly, to systems, methods, and various other disclosures related to digital content distribution and access. 
     BACKGROUND  
     The prevalence of film industry piracy has grown exponentially over the past several years, and many of the current Digital Rights Management Systems have proven ineffective. Furthermore, as copying of digital content has grown and the distribution of digital content has become more convoluted, tracking of content&#39;s distribution has been more difficult to accomplish, and therefore royalty collection or revenue management between content owners and distributors has been more difficult to carry out. In the same light, often times distributors continue to distribute content long after their distribution contracts with content owners have terminated, and there is no way for the content owner to tell if the former distributor is distributing content without permission and without providing renumeration. 
     Traditionally, there has been various DRM systems devised to help solve these issues, such as Verimatrix&#39;s VCAS, and Civolution&#39;s Broadcast Monitoring and Automatic Content Recognition systems, however no system exists today that allows content to be tracked from its creation at a post-production house to its consumption at a consumer location, with pinpoint accuracy and real-time reporting that allows for royalty and fee management to be performed between content distributors and content owners. 
     Furthermore, many media service providers, such as cable and television companies, provide their customers with content. One such means for delivering content includes cable television systems, which include cable set top boxes, and internet TV (IPTV), which is delivered view an IPTV set top box. 
     Up until now, access to content has been restricted on a geographic basis. Thus, if a customer would like to watch the same programming at home while traveling, they are unable to do so. 
     SUMMARY  
     The various embodiments of systems described herein result from the realization that digital content distribution and monitoring can be made more effective and cost-efficient by providing a system that attached data packets to content at the point of distribution and monitors and analyzes content at the point of consumption via a module or dongle at the point of consumption, collects relevant information at the point of consumption via the module or dongle, and authorizes the content&#39;s playback at the point of consumption by using the data packets to analyzing the content&#39;s legitimacy. The system and methods described herein further allow for royalties to be apportioned accurately and effectively between distributors and content owners alike. 
     Accordingly, the various embodiments and disclosures described herein solve the limitations of the prior art in a new and novel manner. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         FIG. 1  shows a system in accordance with one embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  shows a module in accordance with another embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  shows a block diagram depicting a method in accordance with one embodiment; and 
         FIG. 4  shows a system in accordance with one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a system  100  is shown, wherein system  100  comprises at least one module  102  including a means to interconnect  108  a content receiving device  104  and a content playing device  106 , at least one server  110 , and computer executable instructions (not shown) operative to use the module  102  to analyze at least one piece of content  112  being transmitted from the content receiving device  104  to the content playing device  106 , identify and at least one distribution right  114  associated with the at least one piece of content  112 , determine at least one condition (not shown) of the module  102 , content receiving device  104 , and/or content playing device  106  associated with the at least one distribution right  114 , transmit the at least one distribution right  114  and/or at least one condition to server  110 ; and broker or apportion royalty fees  120  between at least one first distributor  122  of the at least one piece of content  112 , and at least one second distributor  124  of the at least one piece of content  112 , based on the at least one distribution right  114  and/or the at least one condition. 
     In some embodiments, module  102  may comprise a software aspect, such as a computer program, a hardware aspect, such as an integrated hardware module or discrete hardware module, or a combination of hardware and software aspects. In some embodiments, module  102  may be a dongle, including, but not limited to a USB dongle or an HDMI dongle, and may be powered via a USB, HDMI, or external power supply. In some embodiments, dongle  102  comprises at least one processor, at least one storage means, at least one Digital Rights Management (“DRM”) client, and at least one means for communicating with a server, such as, but not limited to, a GSM modem, a Wi-Fi module, a network card, and the like. 
     In one embodiment, the means for interconnecting  108  a content receiving device  104  and a content playing device  106  may be any means including a wired means, such as HDMI cabling, USB cabling, network cabling and the like, or a wireless means, such as a Bluetooth module, Wi-Fi module, and the like. Content receiving device  104  may comprise any content playing device, such as a cable or satellite TV receiver, and IPTV set top box, a PC, a laptop, and the like. In some embodiments, content playing device  106  may be any content playing device, such as a television, a monitor, a projector, and the like. 
     In some embodiments, server  110  may be any kind of server, such as a content management server, a computer sever, a content delivery network server, a DRM server, a royalty management server, and the like. Server  110  may be a remote server and may be connected to module  102  via a network  118 , such as the internet. 
     At least one piece of content  112  may be any kind of content, including, but not limited to, digital content, such as movies, music, documents, and the like. In some embodiments, content  112  may be sent to content receiving device  104  from a content provider  116 , wherein content provider  116  may be any type of content provider, including, but not limited to, a cable or satellite television provider, a computer readable medium (e.g. DVD, CD, dongle, etc.) vendor, an IPTV provider, and the like. Content  112  may be provided through any means, including, but not limited to, digital delivery or computer readable medium delivery. 
     In some embodiments, at least one distribution right  114  may be any type of distribution right, or information associated to distribution, such as, but not limited to, a geographic distribution right, such as a territory, a temporal distribution right, such as a release window or a date or time, a venue distribution right, such as a theatre, home, and the like, a medium distribution right, such as television, IPTV, video on demand, DVD, theatrical, and the like, a distributor right, such as a regional distributor, a distribution chain right, such as a list of distributors, an end use distribution right, such as a commercial, residential, business, and the like, content identity, such as the title of the content, distributor identity, such as a name, and a royalty right, such as an amount of royalties to be paid by a viewer, to be apportioned amongst distributors, and the like. 
     In some embodiments, the at least one condition associated with the at least one distribution right is a physical condition of the module  102 , content receiving device  104 , or content playing device  106 , such as, but not limited to, a geographic location, a temporal condition, such as a date or time, and the like. In other embodiments, the condition could be a commercial condition, such as a type of venue, identity of end user, identity of distributor, medium for distribution, type of end user, and royalty amount. The at least one condition may be ascertained from an IP address, Global Positioning System (“GPS) location information, Wi-Fi positioning system information, GSM positioning system information, manually entered positioning information, and the like, of module  102 , content receiving device  104 , or content playing device  106 . Accordingly, system  100  may further comprise a GPS module, a GSM modem, an internet connection device, and the like. 
     In some embodiments, distribution right  114  may be contained in at least one data packet that may be any kind of data packet, such as a unique identifier, a DRM tag, a digital fingerprint, or a watermark, such as, but not limited to, an audio watermark and a video watermark. At least one data packet may be integrated with or embedded in content  112 , at any point or points in content  112 , or may be appended at the front-end or tail-end of content  112 . The data packet may contain any information related to content  112 , such as where content  112  originated from, where content  112  has resided, distribution rights associated with content  112 , chain of title, chain of distribution, copy count information, pricing, subscriber information, such as demographics, and the like. 
     In some embodiments, first distributor  122  may be any kind of distributor, such as, but not limited to, a primary distributor, which may include a content owner, movie studio, and the like. In a further embodiment, at least one second distributor  124  may be any kind of distributor, including, but not limited to, a secondary distributor, a sub-distributor, a content provider, such as content provider  116 , a retail outlet, a website, and the like. 
     In some embodiments, brokering or apportioning royalty fees  120  may comprise directly brokering or apportioning fees between first distributor  122  and second distributor  124 , which may include acting as a royalty management and apportioning service. In an alternate embodiment, brokering or apportioning royalty fees  120  may comprise indirectly brokering or apportioning fees such as by providing information, such as distribution right  114  and the at least one condition relating to distribution right  114  to first distributor  122 , second distributor  124 , or an independent royalty management/apportionment service provider. In some embodiments, royalty  120  may be a royalty collected from an end user, while in other embodiments, royalty  120  may be a royalty paid between first distributor  122  and second distributor  124 . 
     In some embodiments, the computer executable instructions may be operative to allow or refuse transmission of at least one piece of content  112  from the content receiving device  112  to the content playing device  106  based on at least one of the at least one distribution right  114  and/or the at least one condition relating to the at least one distribution right  114 . 
     In yet a further embodiment, the computer executable instructions may be operative to collect a fee (or royalty) based on the at least one distribution right  114  and/or the at least one condition. The fee may be collected form an end user, or from a distributor. In some embodiment, collecting a fee from an end user may be a prerequisite to allowing content  112  to be played. 
     In some embodiments, module  102  is operative to communicate with server  110  to determine whether content  112  may be played on content playing device  106 . This may involve communicating information contained in distribution right  114  to server  110 , and then analyzing the information and comparing to information stored on a database to determine whether content  112  is pirated, whether it has been distributed properly and legally, and whether a user has rights to view content  112 . In some embodiments, where the playing of content  112  is unauthorized, module  102  may prevent the content  112  from playing on content playing device  106 . Alternatively, where the playing of content  112  is authorized, module  102  may allow content  112  to be played on content playing device  106 . 
     In some embodiments, content  112  shall not play on content playing device  106  without the presence of module  102 , or without a functioning module  102 , or if a connection between module  102  and server  110  is not established. Accordingly, content playing device  106  or content receiving device  104  may contain a module, either software or hardware, that may detect the presence of module  102  or module&#39;s  102  connection to server  110 , and refuse or allow the playing of content  112  depending on whether module  102  or module&#39;s  102  connection to server  110  is detected. 
     In a further embodiment, system  100  may prevent content  112  should no data packet  114  be found or should the wrong data packet be found. 
     In addition to authenticating content  112 &#39;s playback, module  102  may be used to communicate relevant information to server  110 , which may be used to compile statistical information for advertising purposes, content playback royalty collection purposes, pirated content tracking purposes, user experience customization services, and the like. Such information may include subscriber information, such as subscriber demographics, time of playing, geographic location, and the like. 
     In some embodiments, module  102  may contain a unique subscriber identification module, wherein said module may be a software module or a hardware module, which may be used in the playback authentication process. 
     In a further embodiment, content  112  may be encoded or encrypted at a point of distribution (e.g. DVD distribution, network distribution, Cable/TV distribution, etc.). Module  102  may be operative to decode or decrypt content  112  at a point of consumption (e.g. consumer&#39;s homes, theatres, offices, etc.). In some embodiments, only the module  102  may be authorized to decrypt or decode the content so that it is necessary to have a module to play content  112 . In some embodiments, module  102  may decrypt or decode content  112  after having received authorization from server  110 . 
     In some embodiments module  102  may be integrated or embedded in content receiving device  104  and/or content playing device  106 . 
     In some embodiments, module  102  may be operative to interconnect with legacy content receiving devices and content playing devices, which would allow for a more universal application and ease of deployment. 
     In a further embodiment, module  102  may comprise module  200 , described below with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a content authentication module is shown, comprising at least one processor  202 , at least one means  204  for receiving content  210  electronically connected to at least one processor  202 , at least one means  206  for playing content  210  electronically connected to at least one processor  202 , at least one means  208  with communicating with a server  212 , and computer executable instructions readable by at least one processor  202  and operative to analyze at least one piece of content  210  being received by the means  204  for receiving content  210 , determining at least one distribution right (not shown) associated with content  210 , determining at least one condition of module  200 , processor  202 , means  204  for receiving content  210 , and/or means  206  for playing content  210 , communicate the at least one distribution right and/or the at least one condition to server  212 , allow or refuse transmission of content  210  based on whether authorization is received from server  210 . 
     The term “electronically connected” as used herein shall include both wired and wireless connections and communications between two pieces of electronics. 
     At least one processor  202  may be any kind of processor, including but not limited to a single core processor, a multi-core processor, a video processor, and audio processor, a DRM processor, and the like. 
     In some embodiments, server  212  may use distribution rights data and condition data to broker or apportion royalty fees between at least one first distributor of content  210  and at least one second distributor of content  210  based on the distribution right and/or condition associated with the distribution right. 
     In some embodiments, module  200  may be incorporated into a larger system, such as system  100  described above with reference to  FIG. 1 . Accordingly, some or all of the components of module  200  may include or may be operative to work with any or all of the elements of system  100 . 
     In another embodiment, module  200  may comprise a dongle, which may be connected to a means for receiving content, such as a set top box, and/or a means for playing content, such as a television, and the like. Accordingly, means for receiving and/or playing content,  204 ,  206  content may be a cable, port wireless connection, a content processing chip, and the like. 
     In another embodiment, module  200  may be integrated with or incorporated into a set top box, such as an IPTV set top box. Accordingly, means for receiving and playing content  204  and  206  may be a content decoder/transceiver, and/or a content rendering chip, port, or cable. 
     In another embodiment, module  200  may further comprise a dongle connected to at least one processor  202 , wherein the dongle may contain a unique identifier to identify the end user, and any distribution rights associated with the end user. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , an embodiment of a method  300  is shown for monitoring and managing the distribution of content comprising using at least one processor to perform any or all of the following: associating, attaching, or integrating at least one distribution right with at least one piece of content at a point of distribution (block  302 ), analyzing the at least one distribution right at (or during) the content&#39;s consumption (block  304 ); determining at least one condition at the point of the content&#39;s consumption, wherein the at least one condition is associated with the at least one distribution right (block  306 ), and brokering or apportioning royalty fees between at least one first distributor of the at least one piece of content and at least one second distributor of the at least one piece of content based on the at least one distribution right and/or the at least one condition (block  308 ). 
     In some embodiments, method  300  further comprises allowing or preventing the at least one piece of content&#39;s playback at the point of consumption based on the at least one distribution right and/or at least one condition, and/or whether the at least one piece of content has reached the point of consumption through authorized means. 
     In some embodiments, the point of distribution may be a post-production house, a movie studio, a content delivery network, a DVD factory, a television service provider, and the like. In another embodiment, the point of consumption may be a home, an office, a business, a hotel, an airplane, a mobile device, and the like. 
     The at least one piece of content may be any kind of content, including, but not limited to, digital content, such as movies, music, documents, and the like. In some embodiments, the content may be sent to a content receiving device from a content provider, wherein content provider may be any type of content provider, including, but not limited to, a cable or satellite television provider, a computer readable medium (e.g. DVD, CD, dongle, etc.) vendor, an IPTV provider, and the like. The content may be provided through any means, including, but not limited to, digital delivery or computer readable medium delivery. 
     In some embodiments, the at least one distribution right may be any type of distribution right, or information associated to distribution, such as, but not limited to, a geographic distribution right, such as a territory, a temporal distribution right, such as a release window or a date or time, a venue distribution right, such as a theatre, home, and the like, a medium distribution right, such as television, IPTV, video on demand, DVD, theatrical, and the like, a distributor right, such as a regional distributor, a distribution chain right, such as a list of distributors, an end use distribution right, such as a commercial, residential, business, and the like, content identity, such as the title of the content, distributor identity, such as a name, and a royalty right, such as an amount of royalties to be paid by a viewer, to be apportioned amongst distributors, and the like. 
     In some embodiments, the at least one condition associated with the at least one distribution right is a physical condition such as, but not limited to, a geographic location, a temporal condition, such as a date or time, and the like. In other embodiments, the condition could be a commercial condition, such as a type of venue, identity of end user, identity of distributor, medium for distribution, type of end user, and royalty amount. The at least one condition may be ascertained from an IP address, Global Positioning System (“GPS) location information, Wi-Fi positioning system information, GSM positioning system information, manually entered positioning information, and the like. 
     In some embodiments, the distribution right may be contained in at least one data packet that may be any kind of data packet, such as a unique identifier, a DRM tag, a digital fingerprint, or a watermark, such as, but not limited to, an audio watermark and a video watermark. At least one data packet may be integrated with or embedded in the content, at any point or points in the content, or may be appended at the front-end or tail-end of the content. The data packet may contain any information related to the content, such as where the content originated from, where the content has resided, distribution rights associated with the content, chain of title, chain of distribution, copy count information, pricing, subscriber information, such as demographics, and the like. 
     In some embodiments, the first distributor may be any kind of distributor, such as, but not limited to, a primary distributor, which may include a content owner, movie studio, and the like. In a further embodiment, the at least one second distributor may be any kind of distributor, including, but not limited to, a secondary distributor, a sub-distributor, a content provider, such as a content provider, a retail outlet, a website, and the like. 
     In some embodiments, brokering or apportioning royalty fees may comprise directly brokering or apportioning fees between the first distributor and the second distributor, which may include acting as a royalty management and apportioning service. In an alternate embodiment, brokering or apportioning the royalty fees may comprise indirectly brokering or apportioning fees such as by providing information, such as the distribution right and the at least one condition relating to the distribution right to the first distributor, the second distributor, or an independent royalty management/apportionment service provider. In some embodiments, the royalty may be a royalty collected from an end user, while in other embodiments, the royalty may be a royalty paid between the first distributor and the second distributor. 
     In some embodiments, method  300  may comprise allowing or refusing transmission of the at least one piece of content from the content receiving device to the content playing device based on at least one of the at least one distribution right and/or the at least one condition relating to the at least one distribution right. 
     In yet a further embodiment, method  300  may comprise collecting a fee (or royalty) based on the at least one distribution right and/or the at least one condition. The fee may be collected form an end user, or from a distributor. In some embodiment, collecting a fee from an end user may be a prerequisite to allowing the content to be played. 
     In some embodiments, method  300  may comprise communicating with a server to determine whether the content may be played on a content playing device. This may involve communicating information contained in the distribution right to the server, and then analyzing the information and comparing to information stored on a database to determine whether the content is pirated, whether it has been distributed properly and legally, and whether a user has rights to view the content. In some embodiments, where the playing of the content is unauthorized, the method  300  may comprise preventing the content from playing. Alternatively, where the playing of the content is authorized, method  300  may comprise allowing the content to be played. 
     In some embodiments, method  300  may comprise not allowing the content to play on a content playing device without the presence of module or dongle, such as modules  102 ,  200 , or without a functioning module, or if a connection between a module and a server is not established. 
     In a further embodiment, method  300  may comprise preventing playback if no data packet, distribution right, or condition is found or should the wrong data packet, distribution right, or condition be found. 
     In addition to authenticating the content&#39;s playback, method  300  may further comprise communicating relevant information to a server, which may be used to compile statistical information for advertising purposes, content playback royalty collection purposes, pirated content tracking purposes, user experience customization services, and the like. Such information may include subscriber information, such as subscriber demographics, time of playing, geographic location, and the like. 
     In a further embodiment, method  300  may comprise encoding or encrypting the content at a point of distribution (e.g. DVD distribution, network distribution, Cable/TV distribution, etc.). Method  300  may further comprise decoding or decrypting content at a point of consumption (e.g. consumer&#39;s homes, theatres, offices, etc.). In some embodiments, method  300  may comprise requiring a specific dongle to be present in order for any decoding or decryption to take place at the point of the content&#39;s consumption. In some embodiments, method  300  may comprise decrypting or decoding content after having received authorization from a server. 
     In some embodiments the at least one processor may be integrated or embedded in a content receiving device and/or content playing device. In another embodiment, the at least one processor may be part of a server. 
     In some embodiments, the at least one processor may be operative to interconnect with legacy content receiving devices and content playing devices, which would allow for a more universal application and ease of deployment. 
     In a further embodiment, the at least one processor may comprise module  102 ,  200 , described below with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , or processor  402 , as described below with reference to  FIG. 4 . 
     In some embodiments, method  300  may be carried out in whole or in part by systems  100 ,  400  or module  200 , or the method may call for using, in whole, or in part, systems  100 ,  400  or module  200  in carrying out its steps. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a system  400  is shown in accordance with one embodiment, wherein system  400  comprises at least one processor  402 , and computer executable instructions operative to analyze at least one piece of content  404  at a point of consumption, identify at least one distribution right  406  associated with at least one piece of content  404 , determine at least one condition (not shown) at the content&#39;s point of consumption, wherein the at least one condition is associated with the at least one distribution right, and broker or apportion royalty fees  412  between at least one first distributor  408  of the at least one piece of content  404  and at least one second distributor  410  of the at least one piece of content based on the at least one distribution right  406  and/or the at least one condition. 
     In some embodiments, at least one processor  402  may be any kind of processor, including but not limited to a single core processor, a multi-core processor, and the like. In some embodiments, at least one processor  402  may reside in a user PC, mobile device, set top box, or display device, in a dongle connected to a user set top box, PC, mobile device, or display device, in a server, such as a content delivery network server, a royalty management system server, a content provider server, and the like. In some embodiments system  400  comprises a plurality of at least one processor positioned in any single aforementioned device or location, or combination thereof. 
     The point of consumption may be a home, an office, a business, a hotel, an airplane, a mobile device, and the like. In some embodiments, the distribution rights  406  (and associated information) may be inserted, integrated, attached, embedded, or otherwise associated with content  404  at a point of distribution. In some embodiments, the point of distribution may be a post-production house, a movie studio, a content delivery network, a DVD factory, a television service provider, and the like. 
     The at least one piece of content  404  may be any kind of content, including, but not limited to, digital content, such as movies, music, documents, and the like. In some embodiments, the content  404  may be sent to a content receiving device from a content provider, wherein content provider may be any type of content provider, including, but not limited to, a cable or satellite television provider, a computer readable medium (e.g. DVD, CD, dongle, etc.) vendor, an IPTV provider, and the like. The content  404  may be provided through any means, including, but not limited to, digital delivery or computer readable medium delivery. 
     In some embodiments, the at least one distribution right  406  may be any type of distribution right, or information associated to distribution, such as, but not limited to, a geographic distribution right, such as a territory, a temporal distribution right, such as a release window or a date or time, a venue distribution right, such as a theatre, home, and the like, a medium distribution right, such as television, IPTV, video on demand, DVD, theatrical, and the like, a distributor right, such as a regional distributor, a distribution chain right, such as a list of distributors, an end use distribution right, such as a commercial, residential, business, and the like, content identity, such as the title of the content, distributor identity, such as a name, and a royalty right, such as an amount of royalties to be paid by a viewer, to be apportioned amongst distributors, and the like. 
     In some embodiments, the at least one condition associated with the at least one distribution right  406  may be a physical condition such as, but not limited to, a geographic location, a temporal condition, such as a date or time, and the like. In other embodiments, the condition could be a commercial condition, such as a type of venue, identity of end user, identity of distributor, medium for distribution, type of end user, and royalty amount. The at least one condition may be ascertained from an IP address, Global Positioning System (“GPS) location information, Wi-Fi positioning system information, GSM positioning system information, manually entered positioning information, and the like. 
     In some embodiments, the distribution right  406  may be contained in at least one data packet that may be any kind of data packet, such as a unique identifier, a DRM tag, a digital fingerprint, or a watermark, such as, but not limited to, an audio watermark and a video watermark. At least one data packet may be integrated with or embedded in the content  404 , at any point or points in the content, or may be appended at the front-end or tail-end of the content  404 . The data packet may contain any information related to the content  404 , such as where the content  404  originated from, where the content  404  has resided, distribution rights associated with the content  404 , chain of title, chain of distribution, copy count information, pricing, subscriber information, such as demographics, and the like. 
     In some embodiments, the at least one first distributor  408  may be any kind of distributor, such as, but not limited to, a primary distributor, which may include a content owner, movie studio, and the like. In a further embodiment, the at least one second  410  distributor may be any kind of distributor, including, but not limited to, a secondary distributor, a sub-distributor, a content provider, such as a content provider, a retail outlet, a website, and the like. 
     In some embodiments, brokering or apportioning royalty fees  412  may comprise directly brokering or apportioning fees  412  between the first distributor  408  and the second distributor  410 , which may include acting as a royalty management and apportioning service. In an alternate embodiment, brokering or apportioning the royalty fees may comprise indirectly brokering or apportioning fees such as by providing information, such as the distribution right  406  and the at least one condition relating to the distribution right  406  to the first distributor  408 , the second distributor  410 , or an independent royalty management/apportionment service provider. In some embodiments, the royalty  412  may be a royalty collected from an end user, while in other embodiments, the royalty  412  may be a royalty paid between the first distributor  408  and the second distributor  410 . 
     In some embodiments, the computer executable instructions may be operative to allow or refuse transmission of the at least one piece of content  404  based on at least one of the at least one distribution right  406  and/or the at least one condition relating to the at least one distribution right  406 . 
     In yet a further embodiment, the computer executable instructions may be operative to collect a fee (or royalty) based on the at least one distribution right  406  and/or the at least one condition. The fee may be collected form an end user, or from a distributor. In some embodiments, collecting a fee from an end user may be a prerequisite to allowing the content  404  to be played. 
     In some embodiments, the computer executable instructions may be operative to communicate with a server to determine whether the content  404  may be played. This may involve communicating information contained in the distribution right to the server, and then analyzing the information and comparing to information stored on a database to determine whether the content  404  is pirated, whether it has been distributed properly and legally, and whether a user has rights to view the content  404 . In some embodiments, where the playing of the content  404  is unauthorized, the computer executable instructions may be operative to prevent the content  404  from playing. Alternatively, where the playing of the content  404  is authorized, the computer executable instructions may be operative to allow the content  404  to be played. 
     In some embodiments, the computer executable instructions may be operative to not allow the content  404  to play on a content playing device without the presence of module or dongle, such as modules  102 ,  200 , or without a functioning module, or if a connection between a module and a server is not established. 
     In a further embodiment, the computer executable instructions may be operative to prevent playback if no data packet, distribution right  406 , or condition is found or should the wrong data packet, distribution right  406 , or condition be found. 
     In addition to authenticating the content  404 &#39;s playback, the computer executable instructions may be operative to communicate relevant information to a server, which may be used to compile statistical information for advertising purposes, content playback royalty collection purposes, pirated content tracking purposes, user experience customization services, and the like. Such information may include subscriber information, such as subscriber demographics, time of playing, geographic location, and the like. 
     In a further embodiment, the computer executable instructions may be operative to encrypt or encode content  404  at a point of distribution (e.g. DVD distribution, network distribution, Cable/TV distribution, etc.). The computer executable instructions may be further operative to decrypt or decode content  404  at a point of consumption (e.g. consumer&#39;s homes, theatres, offices, etc.). In some embodiments, the computer executable instructions may be operative to require a specific dongle to be present in order for any decoding or decryption to take place at the point of the content  404 &#39;s consumption. In some embodiments, the computer executable instructions may be operative to decrypt or decode content  404  after having received authorization from a server. 
     In some embodiments the at least one processor  402  may be integrated or embedded in a content receiving device and/or content playing device. In another embodiment, the at least one processor  402  may be part of a server, as mentioned above. 
     It should be noted that system  400 , and any or all of its various components, elements, and processes, may be used in conjunction with or as a part of system  100 , module  200 , and/or method  300 , or any or all of their various components, elements, and processes described above and elsewhere throughout the present disclosure. 
     In some embodiments, system  400  further comprises at least one server to broker or apportion the royalty fees  412  between at least one first distributor  408  and of the at least one piece of content  404 , and at least one second distributor  410  of the at least one piece of content  404 . 
     With reference to systems  100 ,  400 , module  200 , and method  300 , and the various embodiments thereof, by being able to determine a distribution right at a content&#39;s point of consumption, such as a geographic distribution right, as well as a condition at the point of consumption, royalty fees may be calculated based on said distribution rights and conditions, which enables creative royalty calculations for content consumption based on models such as roaming in terms of geographic scope, varying mediums of delivery and viewing, time scope, end use, and the like. 
     The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Accordingly, while the principles of the disclosure have been described herein, it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation as to the scope of the disclosure. Other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the present disclosure in addition to the exemplary embodiments shown and described herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.