(12) United States Patent
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`Elabbady et al.
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`(10) Patent No.:
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`(45) Date of Patent:
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`US 7,483,958 B1
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`Jan. 27, 2009
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`US007483958B1
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`5/2002 Levy ........................ .. 707/200
`2002/0052885 A1*
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`8/2002 Lennon etal.
`2002/0107973 A1*
`709/231
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`2002/0147771 A1* 10/2002 Traversatetal.
`.. 709/203
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`2003/0005135 Al*
`l/2003 Inoueetal.
`709/229
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`.. 709/219
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`707/9
`Inventors: Tarek Z. Elabbady, Redmond, WA Q fge ““““““"
`(US)9 Sh‘"“‘°“ J‘ Chan’ Bellevue“ WA
`2006/0031551 A1*
`2/2006 Ag.e'eL;;'e}';ii"f..........fff .709/231
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`(US); James M. Alkove, Woodinville,
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`WA (US); Sandeep S. Sahasrabudhe,
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`Redmond’ WA (US)
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`(73) Assignee: Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA
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`(US)
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`* cited by examiner
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`Primary Examiner—Saleh Najjar
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`Assistant Exammer Hamza
`a es,
`orne ,
`en , or 1rm— ee
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`y Ag 2
`L & H y
`(74) All
`F
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`PLLC
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`(54) METHODSANDAPPARATUSES FOR
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`SHARING MEDIA CONTENT, LIBRARIES
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`AND PLAYLISTS
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`(75)
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`(57)
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`ABSTRACT
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`Methods and systems suitable for sharing media content are
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`provided. One system includes at least one media holder, at
`least one media cataloger, at least one user control point, at
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`least one media player, and at least one network operatively
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`connecting them. The media holder is configured to selec-
`tively output shared media metadata, media content and at
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`least one corresponding media playing license over the net-
`work. The media cataloger is configured to receive the meta-
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`data identifying the shared media content that is available
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`from the media holder(s). The media cataloger is configured
`to output at least one media catalog over the network. The
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`media catalog identifies the shared media content that is avail-
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`able from the media holder(s). The user control point is con-
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`figured to reeerve the media eata10g(S) and request the Shared
`media content as selected from the media catalog,
`for
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`exalnple,
`a user. The user eontrgl point configures the
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`media player to receive the media playing license and the
`media content over the network. The media player cannot
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`play protected media content without having a proper license.
`The license may be withheld if certain authentication criteria
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`are not met by the playing device. In certain implementations,
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`the network includes a Universal Plug-and-Play network that
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`allows the various devices to quickly integrate with one
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`-
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`another without user intervention. The network also provides
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`3‘ lebusl e“"“°“mem=.S“°h than egv medl?‘ Cement Sllanng
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`can easily be accomplished even ifthe media cataloger is not
`aVai1ab1e~
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`22 Claims, 5 Drawing sheets
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`( * ) Notice:
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`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
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`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
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`USC. 154(1)) by 702 days.
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`(21) Appl NO; 10/108474
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`Filed:
`Man 26’ 2002
`(22)
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`(60)
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`Related U_s_ Application Data
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`t
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`t
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`Pl0V1510l1al applleallen N0~ 60/278304: filed on Map
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`26: 200l~
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`(5 1)
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`Int‘ Cl‘
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`(200601)
`G06F 15/16
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`(52) U.S. Cl.
`..................... .. 709/217; 709/218; 709/219;
`709/23l
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`Of Classification Search ............... ..
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`709/200, 203, 217'219, 229, 230, 238; 705/50,
`705/51: 59
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`See applleallen file for eemplele Seareh l1l5l01'Y~
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`References Cited
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`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`
`
`6,349,340 B1 *
`2/2002 Dyer et al.
`................ .. 709/231
`
`
`5/2005 Frazier et at
`6,901,428 B1 *
`709/203
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`1/2006 Padole et al.
`...... ..
`6,993,664 B2 *
`705/59
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`
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`6/2006 Mecartney et at
`t
`7,065,527 B2 =1<
`N 707/10
`
`7/2006 Hillegassetal.
`7,076,468 132*
`705/56
`
`
`
`
`
`
`9/2006 Feldman etal.
`7,110,982 B2 *
`............. .. 705/51
`
`
`
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`
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`7,136,866 B2 * 11/2006 Springer et al.
`........... .. 707/102
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`(56)
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`2515
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`r/
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`MEDIA CATALOG
`SERVICE """ “*
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`MEDIA LIBRARY
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`SERVICE
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`NTERFACE
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`POINT (UCP)
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`D§33Y':RRl
`HTTP CLIENT
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`LICENSE
`NEIWORK
`
`GENERATOR
`
`
`
`
` LICENSE
`
`3.06
`CLIENT
`STORE 0“ 3-12
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`EM
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`3.0;
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`ON
`
`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1004
`
`
`
`
`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1004
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`Sheet 1 of5
`
`US 7,483,958 B1
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1004
`
`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1004
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`
`
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`
`Sheet 2 of5
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`US 7,483,958 B1
`
` C O C
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`Device
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1004
`
`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1004
`
`

`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`
`
`
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
`
`
`
`Sheet 3 of5
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`US 7,483,958 B1
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1004
`
`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1004
`
`

`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`
`
`
`Jan. 27, 2009
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`
`Sheet 4 of5
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`US 7,483,958 B1
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1004
`
`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1004
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
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`
`Jan. 27, 2009
`
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`Sheet 5 of5
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`US 7,483,958 B1
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`402
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`404
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`406
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`40° W
`
` A MEDIA CATALOG SERVICE (CS) IS CREATED ON AT LEAST
`
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`ONE DEVICE THAT Is COUPLED TO A NETWORK
`
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`THE MEDIA CS SENDS A REQUEST FOR AVAILABLE MEDIA
`INFORMATION OVER THE NETWORK
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`AT LEAST ONE MEDIA LIBRARY SERVICE (LS) OPERATING ON A
`DEVICE COUPLED TO THE NETWORK RECEIVES THE REQUEST
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`AND IN RESPONSE SENDS MEDIA LIBRARY INFORMATION TO
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`THE MEDIA CS
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`THE MEDIA CS RECEIVES THE MEDIA LIBRARY INFORMATION
`FROM AT LEAST ONE MEDIA LS AND FORMS A MEDIA CATALOG
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`THE MEDIA CS SENDS OUT A NOTIFICATION THAT THE MEDIA
`CATALOG IS AVAILABLE
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`410
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`412
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`THE MEDIA CS SENDS AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE MEDIA
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`CATALOG OVER THE NETWORK TO AT LEAST ONE NETWORKED
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`DEVICE
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`THE NETWORKED DEVICE PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT
`SELECTED MEDIA CONTENT IDENTIFIED IN THE MEDIA CATALOG
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`414
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`TO A USER FOR POSSIBLE SELECTION
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`THE NETWORKED DEVICE ACCEPTS USER INPUT SELECTING
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`MEDIA CONTENT IDENTIFIED IN THE MEDIA CATALOG
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`416
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`THE NETWORKED DEVICE REQUESTS THE SELECTED MEDIA
`CONTENT OVER THE NETWORK FROM AN APPLICABLE MEDIA
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`418
`CONTENT HOLDER
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`THE APPLICABLE MEDIA CONTENT HOLDER PROVIDES THE
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`SELECTED MEDIA CONTENT TO THE NETWORKED DEVICE
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1004
`
`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1004
`
`

`
`
`
`US 7,483,958 B1
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`1
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`METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR
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`SHARING MEDIA CONTENT, LIBRARIES
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`AND PLAYLISTS
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`RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
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`This U.S. Non-provisional application for Letters Patent
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`claims the benefit of priority from, and hereby incorporates
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`by reference the entire disclosure of, co-pending U.S. Provi-
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`sional application for Letters Patent Ser. No. 60/278,804 filed
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`Mar. 26, 2001.
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`TECHNICAL FIELD
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`This invention relates generally to networked computer
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`and media reproduction devices, and more particularly to
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`methods and systems for sharing media content between vari-
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`ous devices.
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`BACKGROUND
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`Personal computers (PCs) are popular tools forplaying and
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`sharing digital music files and more recently digital video
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`files. Downloading these and other types of media content
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`files over the Internet is becoming more and more common, as
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`a result of improved communication capabilities and
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`advances in computer processing and data storage. Consum-
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`ers also have more things to do with the media content once it
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`has been downloaded. For example, consumers may choose
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`to burn CDs or DVDs that can be replayed over stereos or
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`televisions, respectively. Consumers are also able to port
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`certain media files to digital audio players/receivers, such as,
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`e.g., MP-3 devices that can easily be transported. Other popu-
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`lar digital media content tools include digital cameras (both
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`still and video) and digital scanning devices, which can be
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`used to produce media content that can be shared with others
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`over the Internet.
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`A variety of digital audio content file sharing services are
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`available over the Internet. Some of these early music swap-
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`ping pioneers, such as, e.g., Napster, have successfully shown
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`that consumers are excited about the prospects provided by
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`online media content delivery. Some of services have also
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`highlighted the continuing need to ensure that copyrighted
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`media content is carefully protected.
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`There is also a movement underway to provide more
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`enhanced home networking capabilities, for example, that
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`allow consumers to interconnect various devices and/or
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`appliances together and possibly with other devices over the
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`Internet. One exciting possibility is providing consumers
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`with the ability to manage and deliver media content to
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`devices not only in their homes but in their automobiles and at
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`work. With the rapid changes in wireless technology, what
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`was once only a dream is quickly becoming a reality.
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`Consequently, there is a need for media content sharing
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`methods and systems that take advantage of these and other
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`technological improvements while also providing a respon-
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`sible and user-friendly networking environment.
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`SUMMARY
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`The above stated needs and others are satisfied,
`for
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`example, by a system suitable for sharing media content
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`dance with certain exemplary implementations of the present
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`invention, the system includes at least one media holder, at
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`least one media cataloger, at least one user control point, at
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`least one media player, and at least one network operatively
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`connecting them.
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`media metadata, media content and at least one correspond-
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`ing media playing license over the network. The media cata-
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`loger is configured to receive the metadata identifying the
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`figured to receive the media catalog(s) and request the shared
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`media content as selected from the media catalog,
`for
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`example, by a user. The user control point configures the
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`media player to receive the media playing license and the
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`media content over the network.
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`The media player cannot play protected media content
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`without having a proper media content playing license. The
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`license may be withheld if certain authentication criteria are
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`not met by the playing device and/or user.
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`In certain implementations, the network includes a Univer-
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`sal Plug-and-Play network that allows the various devices,
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`both wired and wireless devices, to quickly integrate with one
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`another without user intervention. The network also provides
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`a robust environment, such that, e.g., media content sharing
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`can easily be accomplished even if the media cataloger is not
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`available.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`A more complete understanding of the various methods
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`and systems of the present invention may be had by reference
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`to the following detailed description when taken in conjunc-
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`tion with the accompanying drawings wherein:
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`FIG. 1 is a block diagram generally illustrating an exem-
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`plary computer system suitable for use with certain imple-
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`mentations of the present invention.
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`FIG. 2A is a block diagram depicting a media content
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`sharing environment having a plurality of networked devices
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`including one device configured to provide a media catalog-
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`ing service (CS) and other devices configured to provide
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`media library services (LSs),
`in accordance with certain
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`exemplary implementations of the present invention.
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`FIG. 2B is a block diagram depicting a media content
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`sharing environment having a plurality of networked devices
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`including at least two devices configured to provide media
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`cataloging services (CSs) and other devices configured to
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`provide media library services (LSs), in accordance with
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`certain other exemplary implementations of the present
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`invention.
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`FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating certain features and/
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`or functions associated with certain devices, e.g., as in FIGS.
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`1, and/or 2A-B, that are configured to share media content, in
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`accordance with certain exemplary implementations of the
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`present invention.
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`FIG. 4 is a flow diagram depicting a media sharing process,
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`in accordance with certain exemplary implementations ofthe
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`present invention.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
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`Turning to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals
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`refer to like elements, the invention is illustrated as being
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`implemented in a suitable computing environment. Although
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`not required, the invention will be described in the general
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`context ofcomputer-executable instructions, such as program
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`modules, being executed by a personal computer. Generally,
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`program modules include routines, programs, objects, com-
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`ponents, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1004
`
`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1004
`
`

`
`4
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`US 7,483,958 B1
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`3
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`implement particular abstract data types. Moreover, those
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`skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention may be
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`practiced with other computer system configurations, includ-
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`ing hand-held devices, multi-processor systems, micropro-
`cessor based or programmable consumer electronics, net-
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`work PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the
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`like. The invention may also be practiced in distributed com-
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`puting environments where tasks are performed by remote
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`processing devices that are linked through a communications
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`network. In a distributed computing environment, program
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`modules may be located in both local and remote memory
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`storage devices.
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`FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a suitable computing envi-
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`ronment 120 on which the subsequently described methods
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`and systems may be implemented. Exemplary computing
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`environment 120 is only one example of a suitable computing
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`environment and is not intended to suggest any limitation as
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`to the scope of use or functionality of the improved methods
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`and systems described herein. Neither should computing
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`environment 120 be interpreted as having any dependency or
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`requirement relating to any one or combination of compo-
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`nents illustrated in computing environment 120.
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`The improved methods and systems herein are operational
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`with numerous other general purpose or special purpose com-
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`puting system environments or configurations. Examples of
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`well known computing systems, environments, and/or con-
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`figurations that may be suitable include, but are not limited to,
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`personal computers, server computers, thin clients, thick cli-
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`ents, hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessor systems,
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`microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmable
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`consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, main-
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`frame computers, distributed computing environments that
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`include any of the above systems or devices, and the like. The
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`methods and systems may also be implemented, for example,
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`using various media processing devices such as desktop com-
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`puting devices, notebook computing devices, tablet comput-
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`ing devices, hand-held computing devices, personal digital
`assistant (PDA) devices, electronic paper devices, electronic
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`book devices, wearable computing devices, digital audio
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`receiver (DAR) devices, digital audio player devices, digital
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`audio recording devices, automobile-based media player
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`devices, digital
`television devices, digital video player
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`devices, digital versatile disc (DVD) player devices; set top
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`box devices, digital video receiver devices, digital video
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`recording devices, wireless communication devices, and the
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`like.
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`As shown in FIG. 1, computing environment 120 includes
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`a general-purpose computing device in the form of a com-
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`puter 130. The components of computer 130 may include one
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`or more processors or processing units 132, a system memory
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`134, and a bus 136 that couples various system components
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`including system memory 134 to processor 132.
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`Bus 136 represents one or more of any of several types of
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`bus structures, including a memory bus or memory controller,
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`a peripheral bus, an accelerated graphics port, and a processor
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`or local bus using any of a variety ofbus architectures. By way
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`of example, and not limitation, such architectures include
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`Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, Micro Channel
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`Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, Video
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`Electronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, and
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`Peripheral Component Interconnects (PCI) bus also known as
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`Mezzanine bus.
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`Computer 130 typically includes a variety of computer
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`readable media. Such media may be any available media that
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`is accessible by computer 130, and it includes both volatile
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`and non-volatile media,
`removable and non-removable
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`media.
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`In FIG. 1, system memory 134 includes computer readable
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`media in the form of volatile memory, such as random access
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`memory (RAM) 140, and/or non-volatile memory, such as
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`read only memory (ROM) 138. A basic input/output system
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`(BIOS) 142, containing the basic routines that help to transfer
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`information between elements within computer 130, such as
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`during start-up, is stored in ROM 138. RAM 140 typically
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`contains data and/or program modules that are immediately
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`accessible to and/or presently being operated on by processor
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`132.
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`Computer 130 may further include other removable/non-
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`removable, volatile/non-volatile computer storage media. For
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`example, FIG. 1 illustrates a hard disk drive 144 for reading
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`from and writing to a non-removable, non-volatile magnetic
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`media (not shown and typically called a “hard drive”), a
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`magnetic disk drive 146 for reading from and writing to a
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`removable, non-volatile magnetic disk 148 (e.g., a “floppy
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`disk”), and an optical disk drive 150 for reading from or
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`writing to a removable, non-volatile optical disk 152 such as
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`a CD-ROl\/I/R/RW, DVD-ROl\/I/R/RW/+R/RAM or other
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`optical media. Hard disk drive 144, magnetic disk drive 146
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`and optical disk drive 150 are each connected to bus 136 by
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`one or more interfaces 154.
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`The drives and associated computer-readable media pro-
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`vide nonvolatile storage of computer readable instructions,
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`data structures, program modules, and other data for com-
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`puter 130. Although the exemplary environment described
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`herein employs a hard disk, a removable magnetic disk 148
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`and a removable optical disk 152, it should be appreciated by
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`those skilled in the art that other types of computer readable
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`media which can store data that is accessible by a computer,
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`such as magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, digital video
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`disks, random access memories (RAMs), read only memories
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`(ROM), and the like, may also be used in the exemplary
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`operating environment.
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`A number of program modules may be stored on the hard
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`disk, magnetic disk 148, optical disk 152, ROM 138, or RAM
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`140, including, e.g., an operating system 158, one or more
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`application programs 160, other program modules 162, and
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`program data 164.
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`The improved methods and systems described herein may
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`be implemented within operating system 158, one or more
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`application programs 160, other program modules 162, and/
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`or program data 164.
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`A user may provide commands and information into com-
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`puter 130 through input devices such as keyboard 166 and
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`pointing device 168 (such as a “mouse”). Other input devices
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`(not shown) may include a microphone, joystick, game pad,
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`satellite dish, serial port, scanner, camera, etc. These and
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`other input devices are connected to the processing unit 132
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`through a user input interface 170 that is coupled to bus 136,
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`but may be connected by other interface and bus structures,
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`such as a parallel port, game port, or a universal serial bus
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`(USB).
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`A monitor 172 or other type of display device is also
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`connected to bus 136 via an interface, such as a video adapter
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`174. In addition to monitor 172, personal computers typically
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`include other peripheral output devices (not shown), such as
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`speakers and printers, which may be connected through out-
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`put peripheral interface 175.
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`Computer 130 may operate in a networked environment
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`using logical connections to one or more remote computers,
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`such as a remote computer 182. Remote computer 182 may
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`include many or all of the elements and features described
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`herein relative to computer 130.
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`Logical connections shown in FIG. 1 are a local area net-
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`work (LAN) 177 and a general wide area network (WAN)
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`
`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1004
`
`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1004
`
`

`
`
`
`US 7,483,958 B1
`
`5
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`179. Such networking environments are commonplace in
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`offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets, and
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`the Internet.
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`When used in a LAN networking environment, computer
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`130 is connected to LAN 177 via network interface or adapter
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`186. When used in a WAN networking environment, the
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`computer typically includes a modem 178 or other means for
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`establishing communications over WAN 179. Modem 178,
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`which may be internal or external, may be connected to sys-
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`tem bus 136 via the user input interface 170 or other appro-
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`priate mechanism.
`Depicted in FIG. 1, is a specific implementation of a WAN
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`via the Internet. Here, computer 130 employs modem 178 to
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`establish communications with at least one remote computer
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`182 via the Internet 180.
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`In a networked environment, program modules depicted
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`relative to computer 130, or portions thereof, may be stored in
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`a remote memory storage device. Thus, e.g., as depicted in
`
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`FIG. 1, remote application programs 189 may reside on a
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`memory device of remote computer 182. It will be appreci-
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`ated that the network connections shown and described are
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`exemplary and other means ofestablishing a communications
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`link between the computers may be used.
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`Attention is now drawn FIG. 2A, which is a block diagram
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`depicting a media content sharing environment 200 having a
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`plurality of networked devices including a first device 202
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`that is configured to provide a media cataloging service (CS)
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`over a network 204 with/for other devices 206a-d that are
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`configured to act as media players and/or provide media
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`library services (LSs), in accordance with certain exemplary
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`implementations of the present invention.
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`In this example first device 202 is further operatively
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`coupled to the Internet 208, which provides connectivity to at
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`least one server 210. Here, server 210 is coupled to media
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`content sharing mechanism that is represented by a database
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`212. Server 210 may, for example, be configured to provide
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`an Intemet-based service, such as, a media controller service,
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`a media provider service, a radio program service, a television
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`service, or the like. Device 206c is illustrated as also having
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`the ability to operatively connect to the Internet 208 through
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`communication link 207. Other devices, such as devices
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`206a, 206b and/or 206d may also have similar connectivity to
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`the Internet 208. For example, network 204 may be connected
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`to the Internet 208 through one or more other devices (not
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`shown).
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`Network 204 is representative of any communication sys-
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`tem/equipment that can provide the necessary data commu-
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`nication path between the various devices connected through
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`it. Thus, network 204 may include wired and/or wireless
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`connections.
`In certain implementations network 204
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`includes an Internet Protocol (IP) based network. To better
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`control the sharing of media content, in certain implementa-
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`tions network 204 includes a local area network (LAN).
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`One such implementation, in accordance with certain pre-
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`ferred implementations, includes the use of a Universal Plug-
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`and-Play (UPnP) protocol that provides a peer-to-peer net-
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`work capability that can support various devices through
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`wired and/or wireless connections. UPnP provides a distrib-
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`uted, open networking architecture that leverages Transmis-
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`sion Control Protocol
`(TCP/IP) and World Wide Web
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`(WWW) features to enable seamless proximity networking in
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`addition to control and data transfer among networked
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`devices in a home, office, or other like environment(s). UPnP
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`advantageously boasts device-driver independence and zero-
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`configuration networking.
`Devices 202, 206a-d (and later devices 202', 206e-h, and
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`300) are representative of a variety of different devices that
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`6
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`can be used to provide features/capabilities associated with
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`sharing media content in accordance with the methods and
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`systems provided herein. An exemplary list of some of the
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`types of devices that may be used was provided earlier. Those
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`skilled in the art will recognize other devices that can also be
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`used, including special purpose devices.
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`As depicted in FIG. 2A, device 202 is operatively config-
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`ured to provide a media catalog service 203. Media catalog
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`service (CS) 203 is configured to gather and/or distribute
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`information about media content that is available for sharing
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`between at least some of the connected devices. Thus, for
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`example,
`in certain implementations media CS 203 may
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`actively/dynamically query the various devices to gather
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`information about shared media content and/or passively
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`receive such information from the various devices.
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`In a UPnP environment, media CS 203 can employ the
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`capabilities provided by the UPnP protocol to dynamically
`discover and gather (e.g., aggregate) shared media content
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`information. Media CS 203 can then publish at least a portion
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`ofthe resulting aggregated information, e.g., as a correspond-
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`ing media catalog, over at least network 204. The media
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