Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
     This invention relates to digital content publication. In particular, the invention is directed to a method and system for receiving digital content and metadata associated with the digital content, inputting publication information associated with the digital content, protecting the digital content, and sending a message including the metadata and publication information. 
     Content publishers are frequently responsible for managing digital content, such as audio, music, video, or text that may have been transformed into a digital format (digital asset). Many content publishers have expended much effort to incorporate new technologies within their core infrastructures. Bridging the gap between old and new technologies may be a complex task. 
     Many content publishers have adopted manual and time-consuming processes to create a seamless transition between the creation and the distribution of digital content. Some have incorporated a digital content management (DCM) system into their organizations to address the need for streamlining digital content storage and for repurposing digital content, while others have continued to store the content in warehouses. Many content publishers have focused on preventing unauthorized distribution of digital contents by using a digital rights management (DRM) system solution. A DRM system solution may include technologies to enforce digital rights such as, for example, watermarking, container-based encryption, and sniffer technologies. 
     However, current solutions may lack the ability to integrate DCM and DRM systems. The lack of integration often requires the content publisher to extract the digital content and metadata associated with the digital content from the DCM system and manually transfer it to the DRM system. In addition, there may be no integration between the process of entering price and rights information about the content and the process of extracting the digital content from the DCM system. 
     Moreover, many content publishers involve third parties in the protection and distribution of digital content. Content publishers often have to transfer the digital content to the third parties resulting in a loss of control over the digital content. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, the present invention provides a method that includes receiving digital content and metadata associated with the digital content, receiving publication information associated with the digital content, producing protected digital content, and sending a message including the metadata and publication information. 
     The aforesaid method may include receiving digital content from a digital content management (DCM) system and receiving publication information using a graphical user interface (GUI). Digital content can include at least one of streaming video content, music content, graphic content, print content, or audio content. Metadata may include at least one of a name, length, publisher, location, or description associated with the digital content. Publication information may include at least one of pricing, rights, or catalog information associated with the digital content. 
     The method also may include encrypting the digital content and storing the encrypted digital content into a file transfer protocol (FTP) directory such that the digital content is accessible over a network, and encrypting the digital content and storing the encrypted digital content into a real server transfer protocol (RSTP) directory such that the digital content is capable of being streamed over a network. The method also can produce thumbnail information associated with the digital content and storing the thumbnail information into a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) directory such that the thumbnail information is accessible over a network. The method also can control access to the digital content over a network using an XrML license. 
     The method also may include sending a rights-label to a DRM system, wherein the rights-label includes metadata and publication information associated with the digital content. The method may comprise alerting a digital content distributor of the availability of the metadata and publication information associated with the digital content. 
     In a second aspect, the invention provides a digital content publication apparatus configured to perform the methods disclosed above. 
     In a third aspect, the invention provides an article comprising a computer-readable medium that stores computer executable instructions for causing a computer system to perform the methods disclosed above. 
     In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a digital content management (DCM) computer configured send digital content and metadata associated with the digital content to a digital content publication (DCP) computer, in response to a request by the DCP computer. In an embodiment, the metadata may include at least one of a name, length, publisher, location, or description associated with the digital content. 
     In a fifth aspect, the invention provides a digital rights management (DRM) system configured to retrieve metadata and publication information, in response to a message that the metadata and the publication information are available, and store the metadata and the publication information. In an embodiment, the metadata may include at least one of a name, length, publisher, location, or description associated with the digital content. The publication information may include at least one of pricing, rights, or catalog information associated with the digital content. 
     In a sixth aspect, the invention provides a content distributor system configured to retrieve metadata and publication information associated with digital content, in response to an alert that the metadata and the publication information is available, store the metadata and the publication information, and make available the metadata and the publication information. In an embodiment, the metadata may include at least one of a name, length, publisher, location, or description associated with the digital content. The publication information may include at least one of pricing, rights, or catalog information associated with the digital content. 
     In a seventh aspect, the invention provides a content consumer computer configured to request a license to purchase digital content, and retrieve protected digital content based on whether the license grants access to the digital content. In an embodiment, the computer may be configured to retrieve thumbnail information associated with the digital content. 
     The foregoing techniques can enable the interaction between the DCM system and the DRM system to be automated. It can simplify the transfer of digital content and metadata associated with the digital content from the DCM system to the content distributor. In addition, the content distributor can connect directly to the DRM system and extract metadata and publication information associated with the digital content and store it in a local database. The content distributor can then use the information to list the digital content in the Web-catalog it maintains. 
     The foregoing techniques also can decrease the manual process required to move the digital content to the content distributor. For example, the transfer of the digital content and the metadata to the DRM system is automated. Encryption of the digital content also is automated. Moreover, the content publisher has more control over the digital content. For example, the digital content can be encrypted and packaged and then hosted on content publisher&#39;s own server or Web-site. This may result in decreased dependence on third party application service providers (ASP) such as, for example, the DRM system or the DCM system. 
     In addition, the foregoing techniques can provide a flexible solution which can be adapted to numerous situations depending on the needs and capabilities of the entities involved. For example, the size of the organization interested in creating and distributing digital content may be considered. For instance, a large organization may have the resources to host their own digital content rather then make use of third party resources such as a DCM system, a DRM system, or a content distributor. Each industry may have unique business models having an effect on how the particular solution is implemented. In addition, a process for incorporating content into the Web-catalog of the distributor must be coordinated. For example, the content distributor must have the willingness and capabilities to pull content information from the DRM system. 
     The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is computer network system according to an implementation of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is computer system according to an implementation of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart according to an implementation of the invention. 
         FIGS. 4A-4B  are simplified screen shots of a user interface according to an implementation of the invention. 
     
    
    
     Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a system  10  that can include a digital content publication (DCP) system  18  which can be used by a content publisher  32  to facilitate the publication of protected digital content  22 . The DCP system  18  communicates with a digital content management (DCM) system  12  to retrieve unprotected digital content  16  and metadata  14  associated with the unprotected digital content. A digital rights management (DRM) system  24  receives and stores publication information  20  and metadata associated with the protected digital content  22  from the DCP system  18 . A content distributor  28  is alerted by the DCP system  18  that information associated with the protected digital content  22  is available from the DRM system  24 . As a result, a content consumer  30  can search for digital content from the content distributor  28  and retrieve the digital content from the DCP system  18  once the consumer has been authorized. 
     The content publisher  32  can be embodied as a client computer communicating over a network  26  with the DCP system  18 . Such a network  26  can include, for example, the Internet, the World Wide Web (Web), a local area network (LAN), or other network. The protected digital content  22  can include, for example, Web-based content such as music, audio, video, sound, or print that may have been transformed into a digital format. 
     The DCM system  12  can include, for example, a server computer connected to the network  26  capable of providing functions such as centralized digitizing, cataloguing, and tracking of unprotected digital content  16  and metadata  14  associated with the unprotected digital content  16 . 
     The DCP system  18  can communicate with the DCM system  12  over the network  26 . The DCP system  18  can produce protected digital content  22  by extracting the unprotected digital content  16  from the DCM system  12  and encrypting and storing the protected content into the DCP system  18 . The DCP system  18  can provide the content publisher  32  with a program module  68  to allow publication information  20  related to the protected digital content  22  to be entered. Such a module  68  can include, for example, an active server page (ASP) capable of being executed from the DCP system  18  and having a graphical user interface (GUI). In addition, the module  68  can provide a rights management screen  21  that can enable publication information  20  to be entered and the metadata to be modified. 
     The DRM system  24  is capable of processing extensible rights markup language (XrML) labels  23  generated by the DCP system  18 . The XrML labels  23  can include the publication information and metadata data information associated with the digital content  22 . XrML is an open specification for describing rights, fees, and conditions for using digital content over a network. The DRM system  24  can be a server computer connected to the network  26  and can include a label database  38  that can be used to store the XrML labels  23 . However, the protected digital content  22  is not stored in the DCM system  24 . Instead, it is stored at the DCP system  18  and access can be controlled by the DCP system. The DRM system  24  can act like a “rights clearing house” by providing a security check between the protected digital contents  22  stored at the DCP system  18  and a content consumer  30  by assuring that the consumer interested in purchasing the protected digital content  22  has sufficient access. 
     The DRM system  24  also can include a license generator  32  which can be used to generate an encryption license permitting the protected digital contents  22  to be accessed by a content consumer  30 . A license can be requested by the content consumer  30  through the content distributor  28 . The license can be transferred to a content consumer  30  after the consumer has been validated or authorized to access the protected digital content  22 . The DRM system  24  can distribute the publication information and metadata information associated with the protected content from the label database  38  to a content distributor  28 . 
     The content distributor  28  can be a server computer configured as an online e-commerce Web-site connected to the network  26 . It can include a content database  36  providing the content consumer  30  information related to the digital contents that may be available for purchase. Such a database can include, for example, Microsoft SQL 2000, Oracle, Sybase, or other database. The information in the database  36  can be used to populate the Web-catalog  34  which can be a part of the content distributor&#39;s  28  storefront Web-site. The content distributor  28  can be running a server based operating system (OS) providing a turnkey approach to the implementation of an e-commerce Web-site. Such an OS can include, for example, Microsoft commerce server 2000 OS. 
     The content consumer  30  can be a client computer connected to the network  26 . For example, in an Internet computer network embodiment, the content consumer computer  30  can be running a Web-browser  40  enabling the consumer to browse the Web including the content distributors  28  Web-site. The content consumer  30  also can be running a “plugin”  42  which may allow digital content in different formats to be download and viewed, such as, for example, streaming video. 
       FIG. 2  is a computer system  50  showing an embodiment of a DCP system  18  according to the invention. The DCP system  18  can be a server computer such as, for example, an Internet information server (IIS) or other server computer. The DCP system  18  can include a central processing unit (CPU)  56  such as an Intel Pentium Processor. The DCP system  18  also can include a system bus  53  that can provide a connection to various computer components by using adapters such as, for example, a output device adapter  66 , an input device adapter  61 , a disk adapter  67 , a network adapter  64 , or other adapters. The disk adapter  67  can be used to couple a storage device  62  to the system bus  53 . The storage device  62  can include any device capable of holding large amounts of data, such as a hard drive, compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disk (DVD), redundant array of inexpensive drives (RAID), or other storage device. 
     The input device adapter  61  can connect an input device  63  such as a pointing device, a mouse, track ball, light pen, touch-sensitive display, or other type of pointing device and may be used in combination with a keyboard  63  to input data into the DCP system  18 . The output device adapter  66  can be used to connect a display device  55  capable of displaying images and other information. The network adapter  64  can couple the DCP system  18  to a network  26 . Such a network can be wired or wireless and an can include, for example, a LAN, a WAN, a token-ring, Ethernet, the Internet, the Web, or digital subscriber line (DSL) adapter or a cable or high-speed analog modem, or other network. 
     The DCP system  18  can include memory  52 , such as, for example, read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), or other memory which can be connected to the CPU  56  through system bus  53 . The CPU  56  can execute programs running in memory  53  and process data residing in memory  53 . For example, an OS  66  can be a program responsible for running other programs and for managing the resources of the DCP system  18 . Such an OS may include, for example, SUN Apache, Windows 2000, Linux, Unix, or other server based OS. A device driver  70  can be a set of programs that can handle the low-level aspects of computer devices and interfaces such as the storage device  62  or the network adapter  64 . 
     A DCP module  68  can be a program in memory  52  that can provide the functionality of digital content publication system according to the invention. The operation of the DCP module  68  will be discussed in detail later. The DCP module  68  can be accessible by other computers over the network  26 . For example, the DCP module  68  can be launched or executed by a program running on the DCM system  12 . The DCP module  68  is capable of generating display screens such as a rights management page  21  which will be discussed later ( FIGS. 4A-4B ). The DCP module  68  also can generate XrML rights labels  23  which can include information associated with the protected digital content. A program running on the DCM system  12  could use a uniform resource link (URL) embedded in the program that can reference the location of the DCP module  68 . The URL represents the address of a file (resource) accessible on the Internet. 
     As discussed above, the DCP module  68  can be implemented using, for example, ASP technology which can include a hypertext markup language (HTML) page having one or more scripts (small embedded programs) that can be processed on a server computer before the HTML page is executed by the DCM system  12 . HTML is a set of markup symbols or codes inserted in a file intended for display on a Web-browser. 
     ASP technology is similar to a server side program or a common gateway interface (CGI) application since they involve programs that can run on a server computer. In general, a server is a computer program that can provide services to other computer programs in the same or other computers. In a client/server programming model, a server is a program that awaits and fulfills requests from client programs in the same or other computers. A given application in a computer may function as a client with requests for services from other programs and also as a server of requests from other programs. 
     The storage resource  62  can be configured to include a HTTP directory  60  providing space for storage and retrieval of thumbnails associated with the protected digital content  22 . A thumbnail represents a preview image of the digital content  22  such as, for example, a small picture of a book or a clip of music. HTTP is an application level protocol for exchanging files over a network such as the Web. The files can include, for example, text, graphics, sound, video, or other file types. HTTP allows files to contain a reference or a hyperlink to other files whose selection may elicit additional file requests. 
     As part of HTTP, a server computer may include programs that can wait for HTTP requests and handle them as they arrive. Similarly, a client computer running a Web-browser using HTTP can issue HTTP requests. For example, the content consumer  30  can be a client computer running a Web-browser  40  that can access the thumbnails in the HTTP directory by issuing HTTP requests over the network  26 . In response, the DCP system  18  can be adapted to run HTTP and to respond to HTTP requests by retrieving the requested thumbnail and returning the thumbnail file to the client. 
     Similarly, the storage resource  62  can be configured to include a file transport protocol (FTP) directory  56  which can provide space for storage and retrieval for protected digital content  22 . FTP is a standard Internet protocol providing for the exchange of files between computers over a network such as the Internet. A client computer connected to the Internet and running a Web-browser can issue FTP requests directed to a server to download a program or file from the server. For example, once the content consumer  30  has been authorized to access the digital content  22 , the content consumer can issue FTP requests directed to the DCP system  18  to access or view the digital content  22 . 
     Likewise, a real server transport protocol (RSTP) directory  58  can provide storage and retrieval for digital content  22  that is capable of being formatted into streaming media such as streaming video and audio. For example, the digital content  22  can be in a streaming video format represented by a sequence of “moving images” that can be compressed and transmitted over the network  26 . In streaming video, the video images are sent in a continuous stream and played as they arrive. 
     To play the streaming video, a player, usually in the form of a “plugin”, is necessary to uncompress the video and send the audio portion to a speaker and the video portion to the display on the content consumer  30 . For example, once the content consumer  30  has been authorized to access the protected digital content  22 , the content consumer has the option of accessing the a digital content in a streaming format from the RSTP directory using various streaming technologies. Such technologies may include, for example, real network realsystem G2, Microsoft windows media video, or other streaming technologies. 
       FIG. 3  is a flow chart of an embodiment of techniques according to the invention. The content publisher  32  can search  100  for a particular unprotected digital content  16  stored on the DCM system  12  using a DCM program having a GUI provided by the DCM system. The content publisher  32  can then select unprotected digital content  16  for distribution or publication from the DCM system  12 . 
     Once a selection has been made, the DCM program can cause the DCP module  68  residing in the DCP system  18  to be executed (launched)  102  through the use of the URL linking mechanism discussed above. Once the DCP module  68  begins executing in the DCP system  18 , the module can receive  104  the metadata associated with the unprotected digital content  16  that had been previously selected by the content publisher. In addition, the DCP module  68  can generate a rights management screen  21  as shown in  FIGS. 4A-4B  which will be discussed below. 
     The rights management screen  21  can provide the content publisher with a GUI interface to input  106  publication information associated with the digital content. The DCP module  68  populates the rights management screen  21  with the metadata information it had received from the DCM system  12 . The rights management screen  21  allows the content publisher  32  to modify the metadata information. Once the content publisher  32  completes inputting publication information onto the rights management screen  21  provided by the DCP system  18 , the content publisher can “click” the publish button causing the screen to terminate. However, the DCP module  68  continues to perform various functions as discussed below. 
     Once the publish button has been clicked, several events occur which may not be visible to the content publisher. For example, the DCP module  68  can protect  108  the digital content by encrypting the digital content resulting in content that is protected from unauthorized access and distribution. The DCP module  68  also can control accesses to the protected digital content  22 . Protecting can include storing the digital content  22  in the DCP system  18  instead of sending the content to another system such as the DRM system or the content distributor  28 . As a result, the DCP system  18  maintains control over the digital content. 
     The digital content also can be stored in the FTP directory  56  for access over the network  26  by the content consumer  30 . The digital content  22  that is capable of being streamed over the network  26  can be stored in the RSTP directory  58 . In addition, a thumbnail of the digital content  22  can be stored in the HTTP directory  60  which is accessible by the content consumer  30  connected to the network  26 . 
     The DCP system  18  sends  110  a message to the DRM system  24  over the network  26  indicating that the metadata and the publication information associated with the digital content  22  is available. The message can be implemented using, for example, a set of application program interface (API) function calls that can establish a connection to the DRM system  24  using a password and user name. The message can be implemented using an XrML rights label containing metadata information and publication information associated with the digital content  22 . 
     The XrML rights label may also contain the location of the digital content  22 , an encryption protection key, and rights for using the protected content. The XrML also can register the content  22  with the DRM system  24 ; however, the content is stored in the DCP system  18  and not in the DRM system. The DRM system  24  can then extract the information from the label and store it in the label database. Once the label representing the content is registered with the DRM system  24 , the content distributor  28  may access the label information to populate their Web-catalog. 
     The content distributor  28  can now make available  112  the digital content  22  that is stored in the DCP system  18  to a content consumer  30 . The DCP system  18  can send a signal to the content distributor system  28  to alert the system  28  that it can proceed to retrieve the label information from the DRM system  24 . If the content distributor  28  decides to retrieve the label, then it can then parse the label and extract the desired metadata and publication information, such as pricing, and populate the content distributor  28  database  36 . The content distributor  28  can be a Web-site/storefront and can use the information in the database  36  to provide a Web-catalog. 
     The content consumer  30  can search  114  the Web-catalog of the content distributor  28  to purchase protected digital content  22 . The digital content  22  can be accessed using the URL locations of the content and of the thumbnail which are stored in the content database as a reference. For example, if a thumbnail is displayed on a Web-page, the URL location is what points to the actual thumbnail located on the DCP system  18 . As discussed above, neither the content nor the thumbnail is stored in the content distributor computer  28 . If the content consumer  30  decided to purchase digital content  22 , then transactions including credit card processing can be performed by the content distributor computer  28 . Once the transactions are complete and the content consumer  30  has been authorized to access the digital content  22 , then the content distributor  28  can request the DRM  24  to generate a license for the particular purchased digital content  22 . 
     The license can be an XrML document that can be derived from the XrML rights labels discussed above. The license can contain purchase rights and conditions, customized protection key, and digital signatures for the license and the protected content. The customized protection key is encrypted using the content consumers&#39; public key, so only the consumer with the corresponding private key can decrypt the protected content. Once the license is generated, it can be sent back to the content distributor  28  who then subsequently can deliver it to the content consumer  30 . 
     The content consumer  30  may be provided with a Web-page containing a link to download the license and to access the protected digital content  22 . The content consumer  30  downloads the license to their local machine to view the protected content  22 . Once the license has been downloaded, the consumer can view the content by clicking the appropriate content link. For example, for streaming digital content, the link may point to the content publisher RSTP directory. The protected content can then be streamed down to the consumer and rendered (consumed) using the appropriate license. 
       FIGS. 4A-4B  are screen shots of an embodiment of the rights management screen  21  which may provide the content publisher with the ability to enter information related to the digital content. The rights management screen  21  is displayed once the content publisher  32  selects a particular digital content from the DCM system. Referring to  FIG. 4A , the background section  72  represents metadata information associated with the selected digital content. Metadata information may include, for example, title, description, author, length, the publisher name, and the publisher Email. As discussed earlier, the metadata information is extracted from the digital content stored on the DCM system. The rights management screen  21  also allows any portion of the metadata information to be modified. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4B , the rights management screen  21  also can provide the content publisher the ability to enter publication information associated with digital content such as distribution and pricing information. The screen  21  can be divided into a distribution information section  74  and a price information section  76 . 
     In the distribution section  74 , distribution information can include the name of the distributors, the particular catalog in which the digital content will be placed, the caption, and a keyword section. Under the pricing section  76 , pricing information can include a price structure field such as retail, the type of currency used in the distribution arrangement such as dollars, and the price for playing the digital content. In addition, the digital content type field can provide the option for a particular digital content format. For example, the online play selection represents digital content that is in a streaming format. In contrast, the offline play selection represents digital content that is in a non-streaming format such as a downloaded video file played locally on a user&#39;s machine. The “publish” button  78  can cause the rights management screen  21  to terminate. In addition, the screen is sent to the DCP system  18  to process the metadata and publication information. The “Clear” button  80  allows the information on the screen to be cleared and new information to be entered. 
     A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, although one content consumer was shown, more than one content consumer computer  30  can be connected to the network  26  to access the digital content  22 . Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.

Technology Category: h