Abstract:
The ability of retail stores to sell digital products through the secure distribution and delivery of digital video and/or audio content directly to a Portable Multimedia Device or a memory module that inserts into a portable media device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is based upon and hereby claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Ser. No. 60/799,009 filed May 10, 2006 and entitled APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR THE SECURE DISTRIBUTION OF DIGITAL CONTENT TO PORTABLE MULTIMEDIA DEVICES IN AN UNSECURED ENVIRONMENT, hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for the secure distribution and delivery of digital video and/or audio content directly to a Portable Multimedia Device or a memory module that inserts into a portable media device. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Due to the rapid adoption of portable media devices such as the Apple iPod™ there is a need for traditional retail stores to be able to compete with Internet-based digital content download services. Currently the only way a consumer can purchase content for their Portable Multimedia Device (PMD) is to purchase the content from a centralized Internet Web Site and transfer the data to their PMD. Traditional retailers, however, are left out of this transaction as the sales takes place between the consumer and the Internet Web Site. 
         [0004]    In order to capture these lost sales, there is a need for a device that can be located at the retail store location that provides the ability to securely search, purchase and ultimately transfer content to the users PMD. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    A principal object of the present invention is to create an apparatus and method of facilitating the distribution of digital products in a secure fashion. 
         [0006]    Another object of the present invention is to create an apparatus and method for secure transmission of digital products to a portable media device. 
         [0007]    Another object of the present invention is to create an end-to-end ordering solution to facilitate the purchase of digital multimedia content. 
         [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to create a method for downloading content from the internet to a computer that was purchased via remote kiosk. 
         [0009]    Another object of the present invention is to create a secure infrastructure to protect the intellectual property rights of the content provider. 
         [0010]    Another object of the present invention is to create an additional revenue stream for the Retail Store Locations. 
         [0011]    Another object of the present invention is to utilize advanced cryptography to inhibit piracy. 
         [0012]    It is intended that any other advantages and objects of the present invention that become apparent or obvious from the detailed description or illustrations contained herein are within the scope of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  shows a remote kiosk, high speed network connection, and a Network Operations Center. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  shows a diagram of a consumer wishing to purchase digital content for use, utilizing the User Interface of the Remote Kiosk. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the present invention consists of three parts:
       1. A remote kiosk  10  that includes:
           a. Central Processing Unit  11     b. Large data storage array  12      Each product stored on the Large Storage Array  12  is stored in an encrypted form which in inaccessible unless a Sales Authorization Server  18  authenticates the order.   c. User interface  13      This can be touch screen interface, a mouse/keyboard driven interface, a voice-activated interface, or any other machine driven interface. Each Kiosk  10  can have one or many user interface connectors in order to facilitate multiple concurrent orders.   d. PMD data transfer connections  14      These are wired or wireless connections that enable data transfer to the PMD from the Remote Kiosk  10     
           2. High speed network connection  15      The connection can be either a dedicated connection such as a private frame relay or dedicated satellite connection; or a public internet connection.   3. Network Operations Center  16 
           a. Content Management Server  17      Manages transfer and storage of the digital content   b. Sales Authorization Server  18     
               
 
         [0025]    For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , a consumer  100 , wishing to purchase digital content for use on their PMD utilizes the User Interface  13  of the Remote Kiosk  101  to download the product and provides payment (Step  1 ). The Remote Kiosk  101 , utilizing the High speed network connection  15 , contacts The Network Operations Center  102  and authorizes the transaction via the Sales Authorization Server  103  (Step  2 ). Once the sale has been authorized (Step  3 ), the Consumer  100  attaches their PMD to the PMD data transfer connection cables  14  or enables any wireless transfer protocols that are necessary and the content is transferred to their device (Step  4 ). The content could also be available for download to consumer&#39;s home Computer at a later date. The Remote Kiosk verifies that the content has been transferred and the transaction is complete. 
         [0026]    A full log of the transaction is kept at the Network Operations Center  102 . Additional security measures such as proprietary Digital Rights Management (DRM), digital watermarking, or other anti-piracy techniques can be added to the digital product at the point of sale. 
         [0027]    It is further intended that any other embodiments of the present invention that result from any changes in application or method of use or operation, method of manufacture, shape, size, or material which are not specified within the detailed written description or illustrations contained herein yet are considered apparent or obvious to one skilled in the art are within the scope of the present invention.