Patent Publication Number: US-2007100755-A1

Title: Identification of protected content items by means of icons

Description:
The present invention relates generally to display interfaces for content rendering and/or recording devices and, more particularly, to icons for identifying digital rights management protected content accessibility and entitlements within display interfaces for content rendering and/or recording devices.  
      Various digital rights management (DRM) systems are available or have been proposed to restrict access to digital audio or digital audio/video (hereinafter simply “video”) content. Authorized domains for enterprise or personal use and enterprise or in-home networks may store a substantial amount of such content, originating from the content provider (owner or distributor), co-workers, family members or acquaintances. Often the digital rights management system is implemented in the form of a downloadable module for controlling decryption and/or rendering of the content item.  
      However, different content items accessible to a given user may be protected by different digital rights management systems that are not interoperable. The digital rights management module controlling access to a particular content item may not be present within the authorized domain or otherwise available to the user for execution. Even though the appropriate digital rights management module may be available for free retrieval via the Internet, the user may have no way of determining the correct module to seek (e.g., the file extension may not be registered on the user&#39;s system) from the item alone. Moreover, even if the digital rights management module for a particular content item is accessible to the user, that user may not be entitled to listen to or view the content item, and may not be able to determine from the item either that lack of entitlement is the obstacle to play-back or how to acquire rights to listen to or view the content item (e.g., by purchasing a subscription).  
      There is, therefore, a need in the art for improved identification of, and conveyance of information regarding, protected content items.  
      To address the above-discussed deficiencies of the prior art, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide, for use in a content access system displaying a set of display items representing content items including items protected by a number of different digital rights management systems, a display of the display items that includes icons associated at least with the display item for each protected content item. The icons indicate whether a respective content item is protected by a digital rights management system and, if so, which digital rights management system is employed to protect the respective content item, whether an executable digital rights management module for accessing the respective protected content item is accessible to the user, and whether the user is entitled to access the respective protected content item. The icons also serve as user controls either for accessing information regarding acquisition of, or initiating actual acquisition of, the digital rights management module, access rights, or both.  
      Other technical advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, description, and claims.  
      Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words or phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term “or” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like; and the term “controller” means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one operation, whether such a device is implemented in hardware, firmware, software or some combination of at least two of the same. It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document, and those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that such definitions apply in many, if not most, instances to prior as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases. 
    
    
      For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers designate like objects, and in which:  
       FIG. 1  depicts a content access system within which protected content items are identified and information relating to such items is conveyed by icons according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  illustrates a portion of user interface display content for a content access system within which protected content items are identified and information relating to such items is conveyed by icons according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of data structures facilitating identification of protected content items and conveyance of information relating to such items by icons according to one embodiment of the present invention; and  
       FIG. 4  is a high level flow chart for a process of generating user interface display content for a content access system within which protected content items are identified and information relating to such items is conveyed by icons according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
       FIGS. 1 through 4 , discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present invention in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present invention may be implemented in any suitably arranged device.  
       FIG. 1  depicts a content access system within which protected content items are identified and information relating to such items is conveyed by icons according to one embodiment of the present invention. Content access system  100  includes a user interface display  101  and one or more user input devices  102  (e.g., mouse or other cursor location control device, keyboard/buttons/remote control, stylus, dial, etc.) both communicably coupled to a control sub-system  103 . Display  101  and user input devices  102  are not necessarily separate, since user input may be enabled by, for example, a touch screen or contact of a stylus with the display.  
      Control sub-system  103  may include a processor or controller (not shown) together with one or more software systems, such as a basic input-output system (BIOS), operating system (OS), and/or embedded control software (also not shown). Control sub-system  103  is also communicably coupled: to local data storage medium(s)  104 , such as a hard disk drive, a compact disk (CD) and/or compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM) drive, and/or a digital versatile disk (DVD) drive; via communications link  105  such as a network or Internet connection to a remote data storage system  106 , which may be a file server or a HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) server; or to both.  
      Those skilled in the art will recognize that the full construction and operation of a content access system is not depicted or described herein. Instead, for simplicity and clarity, only so much of a content access system as is unique to the present invention or necessary for an understanding of the present invention is depicted and described herein. Content access system  100  may be, for example, a set-top box, a personal computer, a CD or DVD player and/or recorder, a satellite or terrestrial television receiver unit, a portable audio (e.g., MP3) or video playback device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile telephone, or some combination of the functionality of any of such devices.  
      In the present invention, content access system  100  includes at least one of: a content rendering/editing program  107 , such as a DVD or other video player application, an audio media player application, or a document editor; and a browser application  108  including content rendering modules  109  for playing video or audio files and/or content access and management functionality  110 . Content access system  100  may alternatively include separate content access and/or management functionality  111  capable either of operating independently of browser application  108 , of operating with browser application  108  as a user interface thereof, or both. Content access system  100  is also communicably coupled to, or alternatively contains therein, one or more digital rights management system module(s)  112 . The digital rights management system module(s)  112  may be any permutation of local or remote hardware and/or software. A particular digital rights management module may, for instance, be embodied in a smart card or other separate device from content access system  100 . In addition, the digital rights management system module(s)  112  may be partially or fully integrated within, or operable as a “plug-in” to, one or more of content rendering/editing program  107  and/or content rendering modules  109 .  
       FIG. 2  illustrates a portion of user interface display content for a content access system within which protected content items are identified and information relating to such items is conveyed by icons according to one embodiment of the present invention. Display content portion  200  is generated by one of content rendering program(s)  107 , browser  108  and either content rendering module(s)  109  or content management functionality  110 , or content management functionality  111  executing within content access system  100  and displayed on display  101 . Display content portion  200  includes, in the exemplary embodiment, a tabular listing  201  of a set of content items  201   a - 201   c , with three content items being displayed in the example shown. The list  201  contains titles or file names  202  for content items accessible to the user of content access system  100 , although each content item might alternatively be represented graphically or by a combination of text and graphics. The content items may contain audio, video, or text content or some combination thereof.  
      While viewing or browsing set  201  of content items accessible to the user (i.e., located within the “authorized domain,” the set of storage devices or systems that the user may permissibly access), the user of content access system  100  may want a clear indication of attributes of the content items, such as content type, size, generation date/time, and content protection system, if any. With respect to content items protected by digital rights management systems, the user may wish to know: if the content item is protected by a digital rights management system; which digital rights management system is employed for the content item, if protected; if a digital rights management module enabling access to the content item is available to the user for execution from anywhere within the authorized domain; if the specific digital rights management module is not available to the user, how to obtain that digital rights management module; whether the user is entitled to access the content item; and, if the user is not entitled to access the content item, how to obtain rights to access the content item.  
      In the present invention, digital rights management protection of content items is identified, and the information described above regarding such protection is conveyed, through icons  203 - 205  associated with items  201   a - 201   c  within set  201 . Each icon may be a graphic image (either fixed or varying), text, or a combination of both. The association of particular icons with a specific item  201   a - 201   c  is indicated by proximity and position within the tabular listing  201 , or otherwise for other display formats of the set of accessible content items. For example, in a display format in which all accessible content items are represented by a “scrollable” array of graphical images and associated text, the icons  203 - 205  may appear in a “pop-up” dialog box when the graphical image (or image portion) representing an item is highlighted or when a cursor “hovers” over the image. Alternatively, the icons  203 - 205  may be displayed as satellite icons, smaller sized icons positioned close to, and optionally at a predetermined position such as near the upper right edge of, the graphical image representing the corresponding content item.  
      In an exemplary embodiment, icons  203  having the appearance of a lock associated with particular content items indicate that the respective content item is protected by a digital rights management system. The absence of such an icon indicates that the respective content item is not protected. Items  201   a  and  201   b  in the example shown are indicated as being protected while item  201   c  is indicated as not being protected.  
      Icons  204  associated with each protected content item  201   a - 201   b  identify the particular digital rights management system employed to protect the respective content item. In the example shown, two different digital rights management systems are identified, one in association with content item  201   a  and a different one in association with content item  201   b . Graphical attributes of icons  204  may be employed to indicate whether the digital rights management module necessary to access the protected content item  201   a - 201   b  is available to the user. Thus, the “X” portion of the icon  204  associated with item  201   b  indicates that the digital rights management module necessary to access content item  201   b  is not available to the user. Availability of the appropriate digital rights management module may be conveyed by a particular icon, while non-availability is indicated by the same icon with a superimposed negation image such as a red “X” or circle with a diagonal slash.  
      Icons  205  associated with each protected content item  201   a - 201   b  indicate whether the current user is entitled to access the respective content item. In the example shown, a graphical image of a conventional “play” button (i.e., a rectangle with a right-pointing triangle therein) is employed for icons  205 , with variation of the icon characteristics, such as a green or shaded triangle rather than a red or unshaded triangle, indicating whether the current user has rights to access the respective content item  201   a - 201   b . In the example shown, the user is indicated to have rights to access item  201   b  but not item  201   a.    
      For each of icons  203 - 205 , variations of the exemplary embodiment may be employed to indicate the information described. Each of icons  203  and  205  may indicate presence or absence of protection or entitlements by presence or absence of the corresponding icon, by varying attributes such as color or shading of the icon, by displaying a ghost or phantom image of the icon versus a “full” image of the icon, or by selectively superimposing a negation image (e.g., a red “X” or circle with diagonal slash) over the icon. Alternatively, a columnar heading or header row at the top of list  201  may be supplied to define the information conveyed, with checkmarks associated with items  201   a - 201   c  as necessary. Icon  204  may have negation images superimposed over an image or logo representing a particular digital rights management system as described above, or may display either a phantom image or the full image.  
      Icons  203  and  204  are preferably also user controls, such that selection of the icon (actuating a user control while the icon is highlighted or otherwise distinguished from remaining icons in the display, or positioning a cursor over the icon or otherwise highlighting the item, then actuating a user control such as a mouse button or a “Select” key) display of information. For example, actuating icon  203  may trigger display of information regarding acquisition of the appropriate digital rights management module (e.g., by purchase and download from an Internet server, by purchase in the form of a smart card from a local retail establishment, etc.), while actuating on icon  204  may trigger display of information on acquiring access rights (e.g., by purchasing or registering for a copy or a subscription). Such information may be displayed in a “pop-up” dialog display, by “jumping” to a page of display content containing the information, or by displaying the information in a separate “window” or display area opened or created for that purpose. In addition, in certain embodiments icon  203  may indicate merely the presence or absence of, for instance, a smart card containing the requisite digital rights management module.  
      In one embodiment, the display triggered by actuating icon  203  may simply contain a description and link that may be selectively employed to initiate download of a digital rights management module, may directly load a page of display content from which such download may be initiated, or may actually initiate such a download. Similarly, the display triggered by actuating on icon  204  may simply contain a description and link that may be selectively employed to acquire access rights or may directly load a page of display content that may be employed to acquire such rights. Optionally, a separate display describing the nature of the icon and the action triggered by actuating the user control represented by the icon may be displayed in a pop-up display when an icon is highlighted or a cursor hovers over any of the icons.  
      Icons  203  and  204  may be effectively merged, with protection indicated simply by presence of an icon  204  identifying use of a particular digital rights management system for a particular content item, with absence of any such icon tacitly indicating the absence of any such content protection for an associated item. Optionally, icons  204  and  205  may also be effectively merged, with a negative indicator (such as a superimposed negation image) indicating either (a) lack of access to the appropriate digital rights management module or (b) lack of access rights by the current user. Since icons  204  and  205  are also user controls for triggering download of the appropriate digital rights management module or acquisition of necessary access rights, an un-negated (i.e., “normal” or full, or without superimposed negation image) icon image may indicate both presence of the necessary digital rights management module and access rights for the current user, while a negated icon image (i.e., phantom or differently shaded) icon image or superimposed negation image may indicate either absence of the appropriate digital rights management system module, absence of access rights, or both. Actuating the merged icon may trigger download of the requisite digital rights management module, acquisition of access rights, or both, as warranted for a particular content item. In this manner, icons  203 - 205  may optionally be merged into a single icon and user control.  
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of data structures facilitating identification of protected content items and conveyance of information relating to such items by icons according to one embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment of the present invention, each protected content item  300  has embedded therein a field  301  identifying the digital rights management system protecting that content item. Field  301 , or a separate field within the content item  300 , may optionally contain the icon(s)  302  to be displayed in association with the protected content item as part of display  201  depending on availability of an executable instance of the appropriate digital rights management module and/or access rights for a current user. Field  301  (or a separate field) may optionally also contain the link(s)  303  to be employed in initiating either display of information regarding acquisition of the requisite digital rights management module and access rights or actual acquisition of such module and access rights, or the actual information to be displayed. Content item  300  may also contain an access control list  304  of users authorized to access the respective instance or copy of the content item  300 .  
      In an alternative embodiment, a protected content registry  305  accessible to the content access system  100  may contain a table  306  identifying, based on file type (e.g., file extension), the digital rights management system employed to protect a particular group of content items and the links necessary to obtain the appropriate digital rights management module. Registry  305  may also contain a table  307  identifying specific content items and associated user for which access is authorized (and for what periods access is authorized). Registry  305  may be maintained on content access device  100 , within the authorized domain for the user of content access device  100 , on a system remotely accessible to content access device  100 , or in some combination of those locations, including by duplicate and/or partial copies at various locations.  
      In still other embodiments of the present invention, portions of the structure depicted for a protected content item  300  and for registry  305  may be combined. In addition, distribution and/or duplication of the information described between the protected content item and a registry (centralized or distributed) may be employed. Moreover, those skilled in the art will recognize that the exemplary structures shown may be suitably implemented in either data files or data communications packets.  
       FIG. 4  is a high level flow chart for a process of generating user interface display content for a content access system within which protected content items are identified and information relating to such items is conveyed by icons according to one embodiment of the present invention. The process  400  begins with receipt of a display request (step  401 ). The set of content items to be displayed is first determined (step  402 ), then protected content items are identified (step  403 ). Each protected content item is selected in turn and the associated digital rights management system is identified (step  404 ), the availability of the requisite digital rights management system is determined (step  405 ), and the requesting user&#39;s access rights to the item are determined (step  406 ). As long as individual protected content items remain to be processed (step  407 ). A display containing text or images (or both) representing the content items, together with icons as necessary to identify individual protected content items, the digital rights management system protecting the respective items, availability of digital rights management module(s) for accessing the protected content items, and the user&#39;s access rights, is then generated (step  408 ). If one of the icons is actuated (step  409 ), the appropriate information is displayed or download of the requisite digital rights management module and/or acquisition of access rights is initiated (step  410 ).  
      Only a few content players currently use digital rights management functionality, such as Windows Media Player from Microsoft Corporation. Moreover, such content players generally only handle content protected by one specific digital rights management system, and therefore do not show information about the digital rights management system or access rights in a content list. In the present invention, indication is given of which of a plurality of digital rights management systems is employed to protect each content item, together with availability of a module for accessing content protected by such a system and the user&#39;s rights, if any, to access the content item.  
      It is important to note that while the present invention has been described in the context of a fully functional system, those skilled in the art will appreciate that at least portions of the mechanism of the present invention are capable of being distributed in the form of a machine usable medium containing instructions in a variety of forms, and that the present invention applies equally regardless of the particular type of signal bearing medium utilized to actually carry out the distribution. Examples of machine usable mediums include: nonvolatile, hard-coded type mediums such as read only memories (ROMs) or erasable, electrically programmable read only memories (EEPROMs), recordable type mediums such as floppy disks, hard disk drives and compact disc read only memories (CD-ROMs) or digital versatile discs (DVDs), and transmission type mediums such as digital and analog communication links and frames or packets.  
      Although the present invention has been described in detail, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, substitutions, variations, enhancements, nuances, gradations, lesser forms, alterations, revisions, improvements and knock-offs of the invention disclosed herein may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.