Case 1:21-cv-00027-LY Document 1-1 Filed 01/08/21 Page 1 of 122
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`COMPOSITE EXHIBIT A
`
`Index
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`Exhibit Page No.
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`64
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`122
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`123
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`122
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`U.S. Patent No. 9,715,581 B1 (the ’581 Patent)
`
`Certificate of Correction for the ’581 Patent
`
`Assignment Abstract of Title for the ’581 Patent
`
`U.S. Patent No. 9,898,590 B2 (the ’590 Patent)
`
`Certificate of Correction for the ’590 Patent
`
`Assignment Abstract of Title for the ’590 Patent
`
`U.S. Patent No. 10,489,560 B2 (the ’560 Patent)
`
`Assignment Abstract of Title for the ’560 Patent
`
`U.S. Patent No. 10,515,191 B2 (the ’191 Patent)
`
`Assignment Abstract of Title for the ’191 Patent
`
`U.S. Patent No. 10,860,691 B2 (the ’691 Patent)
`
`Assignment Abstract of Title for the ’691 Patent
`
`U.S. Patent No. 10,885,154 B2 (the ’154 Patent)
`
`Assignment Abstract of Title for the ’154 Patent
`
`
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`1
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`

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`Case 1:21-cv-00027-LY Document 1-1 Filed 01/08/21 Page 2 of 122
`
`LJS009715581B
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Estes
`
`(io) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 9,715,581 B1
`Jul. 25, 2017
`
`(54) DIGITAL MEDIA REPRODUCTION AND
`LICENSING
`
`(71) Applicant: Christopher Estes, Nashville, TN (US)
`
`(72)
`
`Inventor: Christopher Estes, Nashville, TN (US)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`(21) Appl. No.: 13/667,629
`Nov. 2, 2012
`(22) Filed:
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`(60) Provisional application No. 61/555,810, filed on Nov.
`4, 2011.
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`G06F 21/00
`G06F 21/10
`G06Q 30/02
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`CPC
`
`(2013.01)
`(2013.01)
`(2012.01)
`
`G06F 21/10 (2013.01); G06Q 30/02
`(2013.01)
`
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`None
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`6,920,567 Bl *
`
`7/2005 Doherty
`
`7,676,437 B2 *
`
`3/2010 Satkunanathan
`
`8,151,194 Bl *
`
`4/2012 Chan
`
`8,745,647 Bl *
`
`6/2014 Shin
`
`G06F 21/10
`707/999.104
`G06F 21/10
`705/56
`G06F 17/30817
`709/224
`H04N 21/442
`725/10
`
`9,148,706 Bl *
`2002/0032905 A1*
`
`9/2015 Shin
`3/2002 Sherr
`
`2002/0154157 A1* 10/2002 Sherr
`
`2003/0149884 A1*
`
`8/2003 Hernandez
`
`2003/0220883 A1* 11/2003 Block
`
`2004/0039916 A1*
`
`2/2004 Aldis
`
`(Continued)
`
`H04N 21/812
`G06F 21/10
`725/38
`G06F 21/10
`715/716
`G06F 21/10
`713/193
`G06F 21/105
`705/59
`G06F 21/10
`713/177
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`“ Online Video Analytics: YouTube Insight-Advanced Techniques”
`by Greg Habermann, May 17, 2000 retrieved from http://
`searchenginewatch.com/sew/news/2067016/online-video-analyt-
`ics-youtube-insight-advanced-techniques.*
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner — Dede Zecher
`Assistant Examiner — Richard A McCoy
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Wood Herron & Evans
`LLP
`
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`Systems and methods for monetizing the reproduction of
`digital media content for the rights-holders of the digital
`media content. Embodiments of the present disclosure relate
`to determining whether a user of a media content item has
`item. In one
`a license to reproduce the media content
`embodiment, the media content item may be reproduced
`when the user is licensed. The user is prompted to select to
`acquire a license to reproduce the media content item or to
`decline the license to reproduce the media content item
`when the user is not licensed. Further embodiments deter-
`mine whether a user may receive a license when the user
`wishes to acquire a license. In an embodiment, the user is
`declined a license when not approved for the license.
`
`32 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
`
`Load Digital Media for
`
`ReproductionJ
`J
`
`Analyze Digital Media
`
`Determine Digital Media
`Information
`
`120
`
`122
`
`124
`
`126
`
`Access License Database
`
`128
`
`130
`
`Med a L censed?
`
`N
`
`Does
`User
`Want to
`License?
`
`134
`
`Y
`
`132/
`
`Initialize
`Reproduction
`
`Initialize Licensing
`Interface
`' '
`Transmit User
`Identification Data
`
`— 138
`
`— 140
`
`Transmit Licensing
`Request to Licensing
`System
`
`— 142
`
`136
`
`Refuse to Reproduce M
`
`137-
`
`' r
`Transmit Statistics
`Data for Statistics
`Record
`
`

`

`Case 1:21-cv-00027-LY Document 1-1 Filed 01/08/21 Page 3 of 122
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`US 9,715,581 B1
`Page 2
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`2011/0213721 Al *
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`2012/0010931 Al *
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`2012/0096339 Al *
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`2012/0109834 Al *
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`2012/0123831 Al *
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`2012/0123916 Al *
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`2012/0124638 Al *
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`2013/0047271 Al *
`
`2013/0051772 Al *
`
`2014/0108029 Al *
`
`2015/0040002 Al *
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2005/0004873 A1*
`
`1/2005 Pou
`
`2005/0060701 A1*
`
`3/2005 Murase
`
`2005/0114265 A1*
`
`5/2005 Satkunanathan
`
`2005/0177844 Al *
`
`8/2005 Levi
`
`2005/0223415 Al * 10/2005 Oho
`
`2006/0031785 Al *
`
`2/2006 Raciborski
`
`2007/0055439 Al *
`
`3/2007 Denker
`
`2007/0241176 Al * 10/2007 Epstein
`
`2008/0027742 Al *
`
`1/2008 Maeda
`
`2008/0243694 Al * 10/2008 Johnson
`
`2009/0210245 Al *
`
`8/2009 Wold
`
`2010/0324983 Al * 12/2010 Etchegoyen
`
`2011/0051914 Al *
`
`3/2011 Neuman
`
`G06F 21/10
`705/51
`G06Q 30/06
`717/178
`G06F 21/10
`705/59
`G06Q 30/02
`725/30
`G06F 21/606
`726/27
`G06F 17/30041
`715/859
`G01S 5/0036
`701/532
`G06F 21/10
`235/375
`G06F 21/105
`705/1.1
`G06Q 30/0603
`705/52
`G06Q 10/10
`700/300
`G06F 21/10
`705/14.23
`H04M 19/04
`379/93.17
`
`4/2014 Kim
`
`2/2015 Kannan
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`NPL: “ Online Video Analytics: YouTube Insight-Advanced Tech-
`niques” by Greg Habermann, May 17, 2000 hereinafter referred as
`“ Habermann” .*
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`9/2011 Raley
`
`1/2012 Mehra
`
`4/2012 Cohen
`
`5/2012 Bongiovanni
`
`5/2012 King
`
`5/2012 Shintani
`
`5/2012 King
`
`G06F 21/10
`705/310
`G06Q 10/107
`705/14.16
`H04L 67/06
`715/221
`G06Q 30/018
`705/317
`G06Q 30/0274
`705/14.7
`G06Q 30/0251
`705/30
`G06Q 10/101
`726/1
`G06F 21/10
`2/2013 Tang
`726/30
`2/2013 Ramaswamy ... H04N 21/25875
`386/291
`G06Q 50/22
`705/2
`G06F 3/0482
`715/246
`
`

`

`U.
`
`S.Patent
`Jul.
`25,2017
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`of
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`7 U
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`S9,7
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`15,581
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`B1
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`Case 1:21-cv-00027-LY Document 1-1 Filed 01/08/21 Page 4 of 122
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`30
`
`18
`
`20
`
`22
`
`Media
`Content
`Rights-
`Holders
`System
`
`Third Party
`Online Media
`Retailers
`System
`
`Hardware
`Device
`Manufacturers
`System
`
`10
`
`External
`Multimedia
`Hardware
`Device
`
`14
`
`12
`
`Network
`
`i
`
`Media
`Content
`Licensing
`and
`Verification
`System
`
`16
`
`FIG. 1
`
`

`

`U.
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`S.Patent
`Jul.
`25,2017
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`of
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`Case 1:21-cv-00027-LY Document 1-1 Filed 01/08/21 Page 5 of 122
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`10
`
`Processor 40
`Media Recognition
`
`95
`
`42
`
`TX/RX
`
`I/O Interface
`
`Memory 52
`Digital Media
`
`Application 54
`
`OS
`
`56
`
`Mass Storage 60
`License Database
`License Record
`
`License Record
`
`Digital Media File
`
`Digital Media File
`
`44
`
`46
`58
`
`HMI
`
`Reproduction
`
`62
`
`64
`
`58
`
`12
`
`16
`
`TX/RX
`
`68
`
`70 I/O Interface
`
`Processor 66
`
`74 Mass Storage
`
`Network
`
`78
`
`Memory
`
`76
`
`Application
`
`OS
`
`80
`
`Registered User Database
`88 User Record
`88 User Record
`License Record
`License Record
`License Record
`License Record
`
`86
`
`48
`
`50
`
`84
`
`94
`
`Digital Media Catalog Database 82
`Media Record
`Media Record
`Media Record
`Media Record
`
`Licensing Statistics Database
`Statistics
`Statistics
`Record
`Record
`
`92
`
`FIG. 2
`
`72
`
`HMI
`
`

`

`U.
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`S.Patent
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`25,2017
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`Case 1:21-cv-00027-LY Document 1-1 Filed 01/08/21 Page 6 of 122
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`100
`
`Receive Media Content
`
`i
`
`Analyze Media Content
`
`I
`Determine Media Content
`Natural Media Fingerprint
`
`V
`Generate Media Record
`
`T
`Store Media Record in
`Digital Media Catalog
`Database
`
`FIG. 3
`
`102
`
`104
`
`106
`
`108
`
`110
`
`

`

`U.
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`S.Patent
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`25,2017
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`Case 1:21-cv-00027-LY Document 1-1 Filed 01/08/21 Page 7 of 122
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`Load Digital Media for
`Reproduction
`
`i
`
`Analyze Digital Media
`
`Determine Digital Media
`Information
`
`120
`
`122
`
`124
`
`126
`
`Access License Database
`
`128
`
`130
`
`Media Licensed?
`
`132L
`
`Initialize
`Reproduction
`
`136
`
`Refuse to Reproduce
`
`137
`
`Transmit Statistics
`Data for Statistics
`Record
`
`134
`
`N
`
`Does
`User
`Want to
`License?
`
`FIG. 4
`
`Initialize Licensing
`
`InterfaceT
`
`Transmit User
`Identification Data
`
`— 138
`
`140
`
`Transmit Licensing
`Request to Licensing
`System
`
`— 142
`
`

`

`U.
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`S.Patent
`Jul.
`25,2017
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`of
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`Case 1:21-cv-00027-LY Document 1-1 Filed 01/08/21 Page 8 of 122
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`Receive and Confirm User of Device
`
`i
`I
`
`Receive Digital Media
`Licensing Request
`
`Access Digital Media Catalog
`Database to Identify Digital
`Media
`
`168
`
`177
`
`Transmit No License
`Required Data to Device
`
`I
`
`Generate Statistics
`Record
`
`FIG. 5
`
`166
`
`Y
`
`N
`
`Digital
`Media
`Identified?
`
`172
`
`174 —
`
`176 —
`178
`
`i
`Process Licensing Transaction
`Including Requesting Payment
`
`InformationI
`Transmit License to Device
`i
`Generate Statistiscs and
`License Record
`
`Store Records in Databases
`
`160
`
`169
`
`N
`
`161
`
`162
`
`164
`
`Licensing
`Transaction
`Confirmed?
`
`Y
`
`170
`
`177
`
`Transmit No
`License Data
`
`V
`Generate
`Statistics
`Record
`
`

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`U.
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`25,2017
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`180
`
`Connect to Third Party Online
`Media Retail
`
`1f
`Receive User License Data
`
`1f
`Update Registered User
`Database
`
`182
`
`184
`
`186
`
`FIG. 6
`
`

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`200
`
`202
`
`204
`
`206
`
`208
`
`210
`
`I
`
`Store Transaction Record in
`Licensing Statistics Database
`
`Dynamically Aggregate
`Transaction Records based
`on Transaction Record Field
`
`I
`Receive Third Party Statistics
`RequestI
`
`Generate Third Party
`Statistics Report
`T
`Transmit Third Party
`Statistics Report
`
`FIG. 7
`
`

`

`Case 1:21-cv-00027-LY Document 1-1 Filed 01/08/21 Page 11 of 122
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`US 9,715,581 B1
`
`1
`DIGITAL MEDIA REPRODUCTION AND
`LICENSING
`
`FIELD
`
`Embodiments relate to licensing digital media for repro-
`duction, and more specifically to a digital media licensing
`system for licensing and enabling reproduction of digital
`media on a reproduction device.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`Conventionally, the distribution of media content, such as
`music, movies, and books for example, is in large part
`controlled by owners who are the rights-holders of the media
`content. In conventional systems,
`the media content
`is
`incorporated into a physical media such as a compact disk
`(CD), a digital video disk (DVD), a printed publication,
`and/or any other physical media. In such conventional
`systems, the rights-holders of the media content are able to
`control licensing of the media content, the production of
`physical media copies of the media content, and/or the
`distribution of the media content to customers and/or third
`party retailers and thereby monetize the media content.
`There has been a dramatic shift in the marketplace away
`from media content distributed on physical media to digital
`media content that may be distributed via the internet.
`Conventionally, rights-holders of digital media content have
`significantly less control over the distribution of such digital
`media content as compared to the distribution of physical
`media. For example, a party that does not hold rights of the
`digital media content may reproduce the digital media
`content and then distribute the digital media content via the
`internet without the permission of the actual rights-holder of
`the digital media content. As a result, the actual-rights holder
`of the digital media content cannot monetize the unauthor-
`ized distribution of the digital media content.
`The inability of rights-holders of digital media content to
`monetize the unauthorized distribution of the digital media
`content limits the financial gain that rights-holders of the
`digital media content obtain in creating the original digital
`media content. Often times such unauthorized distribution of
`the digital media content prohibits the rights-holders of the
`digital media from covering the costs of creating the original
`digital media content which discourages creation of digital
`media content.
`
`BRIEF SUMMARY
`
`Embodiments relate to monetizing the reproduction of
`digital media content for the rights-holder of the digital
`media content. In an embodiment, a computer implemented
`method provides a multimedia hardware device a capability
`to generate an authorized reproduction of a media content
`item included in a digital media file. A digital media file that
`includes a media content item may be loaded for reproduc-
`tion. The digital media file may be analyzed to identify
`digital media information associated with the media content
`item. A license database may be accessed to determine
`whether a user is licensed to reproduce the media content
`item based on the digital media information. The media
`content item may be reproduced when the user is licensed to
`reproduce the media content item based on the digital media
`information. A licensing query may be provided to the user
`when the user is not licensed to reproduce the media content
`item to prompt the user to select to acquire a license to
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`reproduce the media content item or to decline the license to
`reproduce the media content item.
`In another embodiment, a system provides a media con-
`licensing and verification system to license media
`tent
`content for reproduction. A transceiver may receive a media
`licensing request from an external device associated with a
`user. The media licensing request may include digital media
`information associated with a media content item included
`in a digital media file. A processor may access a media
`catalog database that includes a plurality of media content
`records where a media content record from the plurality of
`media content records is associated with the media content
`item. The processor may also determine whether the media
`licensing request is to be granted based on the media content
`record stored in the media catalog database that is associated
`with the media content item. The processor may grant the
`media licensing request for the external device when the
`media content record associated with the media content item
`verifies the granting of the license for the media content item
`to the external device. The processor may also decline the
`media licensing request for the external device when the
`media content record associated with the media content item
`does not verify the granting of the license for the media
`content item to the external device.
`Further embodiments, features, and advantages, as well as
`the structure and operation of the various embodiments, are
`described in detail below with reference to the accompany-
`ing drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE
`DRAWINGS/FIGURES
`
`Embodiments are described with reference to the accom-
`panying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers
`may indicate identical or functionally similar elements.
`FIG. 1 illustrates a digital media file licensing and autho-
`rized reproduction system, according to an embodiment;
`FIG. 2 illustrates a second digital media file licensing and
`authorized reproduction system, according to an embodi-
`ment;
`FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart illustrating an exemplary
`aspect of operation for the media content licensing and
`verification system to analyze a received catalog of media
`content and manage the catalog of media content, according
`to an embodiment;
`FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart illustrating an exemplary
`aspect of operation for the external multimedia hardware
`device, according to an embodiment;
`FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart illustrating an exemplary
`aspect of operation for the media content licensing and
`verification system to receive a payment for a license to
`reproduce a digital media file, according to an embodiment;
`FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart illustrating an exemplary
`aspect of operation for the media content licensing and
`verification system to receive licensing information from a
`third party media retailer, according to an embodiment; and
`FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart illustrating an exemplary
`aspect of operation for the media content licensing and
`verification system to receive a third-party request for
`licensing statistics.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`The digital media file licensing and authorized reproduc-
`tion system provides a capability to ensure that a user
`possesses a license to reproduce a digital media file and if
`the user does not have a license, providing to the user the
`
`

`

`Case 1:21-cv-00027-LY Document 1-1 Filed 01/08/21 Page 12 of 122
`
`US 9,715,581 B1
`
`3
`option to obtain such a license. In the Detailed Description
`herein, references to “ one embodiment” , “ an embodiment” ,
`an “ example embodiment” , etc., indicate that the embodi-
`ment described may include a particular feature, structure, or
`characteristic, by every embodiment may not necessarily
`include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic.
`Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the
`same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, struc-
`ture, or characteristic may be described in connection with
`an embodiment, it may be submitted that it may be within
`the knowledge of one skilled in the art to effect such feature,
`structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodi-
`ments whether or not explicitly described.
`Overview
`FIG. 1 illustrates a digital media file licensing and autho-
`rized reproduction system 30 in which embodiments or
`portions thereof, may be implemented. Digital media file
`licensing and authorized reproduction system 30 includes an
`external multimedia hardware device 10, a network 12, a
`media content licensing and verification system 16, a media
`content rights-holders system 18, a third party online media
`retailers system 20, and a hardware device manufacturers
`system 22.
`System 30 may monetize the reproduction of a media
`content item included within a digital media file. Reproduc-
`tion of a media content item may include reproducing sound
`from a digital audio file, reproducing video from a digital
`video file, reproducing text from a digital text file, and/or
`any other reproduction of a digital media file that will be
`to those skilled in the relevant art(s) without
`apparent
`departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
`Reproduction may be defined as a first use by a user of the
`media content item. For example, reproduction of the media
`content item may include when a user first accesses a media
`content item where the user obtained the media content item
`from an outside source, such as but not limited to a third
`party online media distributor. Reproduction may also be
`defined as further distribution of the media content item by
`the user after the user has initially accessed the media
`content item. For example, reproduction of the media con-
`tent item may include when the user distributes the media
`content item to other parties after the user has obtained the
`item from the third party online media
`media content
`distributor.
`Adigital media file may represent a MPEG Layer 3 (MP3)
`file, a RealAudio (RA) file, a raw sample (RAW) file, a
`Microsoft wave (WAV) file, a Windows Media Audio
`(WMA) file, and/or any other suitable digital media file that
`will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) without
`departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. The
`media content item may include any portion of data included
`in the digital media file. A user of external multimedia
`hardware device 10 may reproduce the media content item
`with external multimedia hardware device 10. Device 10
`tablet, a mobile
`may represent a smart phone, a smart
`telephone, a television, an audio system, a personal music
`player, a portable computing device, other computing
`devices such as a personal computer, a laptop, or a desktop
`computer, computer peripheral such as a printer, a portable
`audio/or a video player, and/or any other suitable electronic
`device that can reproduce a media content item that will be
`to those skilled in the relevant art(s) without
`apparent
`departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
`However, the user may not have a license that authorizes
`the user to reproduce the media content item. The digital
`media file including the media content item may have been
`procured from various sources that are not
`licensed to
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`reproduce the media content item and do not collect licens-
`ing fees for use of the media content item. As such, when the
`user loads the digital media file for reproduction, device 10
`may analyze the digital media file to determine the media
`content item included in the file and determine whether the
`user of device 10 is authorized. For example, the device may
`analyze a digital music file to identify the song and artist of
`the media content item that may be a track included in the
`digital music file. The user may be authorized when the user
`has a license to load and/or reproduce a media content item
`included in the digital media file.
`In an embodiment, device 10 may analyze a plurality of
`identifying characteristics associated with the media content
`item to identify the media content item and to determine
`whether the user of device 10 is authorized. The plurality of
`identifying characteristics may be an identifying character-
`item inherently
`istic associated with the media content
`present in the media content item such that the media content
`item is not remastered to include the identifying character-
`istic after the media content item is initially recorded. The
`plurality of identifying characteristics can represent a fin-
`gerprint, digital watermarking, and/or any other suitable
`algorithm to identify copyright ownership of the media
`content item included in the digital media file that will be
`to those skilled in the relevant art(s) without
`apparent
`departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. In an
`embodiment, device 10 may analyze metadata included in
`the loaded digital media file to identify the media content
`item included in the digital media file.
`System 30 may query a license database locally and/or
`remotely located to system 30 to determine whether the user
`of device 10 has the appropriate license for the media
`content item. Device 10 may refuse to play the digital media
`file and query the user to determine whether the user wishes
`to purchase the appropriate license when the user does not
`have the appropriate license.
`Device 10 may communicate with media content licens-
`ing and verification system 16 over network 12 and transmit
`the fingerprint of the media content item to media content
`licensing and verification system 16 when the user selects to
`purchase the appropriate license. Licensing system 16 may
`identify the media content
`item based on the received
`fingerprint. Licensing system 16 may transmit back to
`device 10 the title and/or other information associated with
`the identified media content item and request the user to
`confirm purchase of the license. The user may interface with
`device 10 to conduct the licensing transaction with licensing
`system 16, and after purchasing the license, licensing system
`16 may transmit a license to device 10. After receiving the
`license from licensing system 16, device 10 may commence
`reproduction of the media content item. Moreover, licensing
`system 16 may store a record of the transaction for statistical
`purposes, and/or store a copy of the license in a database
`under a user record associated with the user of device 10.
`Device 10 and licensing system 16 may provide data
`associated with the use of the media content item to media
`content rights-holders system 18 over network 12. Rights-
`holders system 18 may be accessed by an owner of a
`copyright for the media content item. For example, device
`10 and licensing system 16 may provide data to rights-
`holders system 18 that includes the user who is accessing the
`media content item, the geographic location of the user who
`is accessing the media content item, other media content
`items that the user may be accessing, the quantity of times
`the media content item is accessed, and/or any other data
`associated with the use of the media content item that will
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`be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) without
`departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
`The data provided by device 10 and licensing system 16
`to rights-holders system 18 for the media content item may
`be used by the copyright owner to develop future licensing
`agreements that may be provided to the user of device 10 by
`licensing system 16 for future use of the media content item.
`Payments for the license to use the media content item may
`be received from the user via device10 and licensing system
`16. Payments may also be distributed to the copyright owner
`via rights-holders system 18.
`Device 10 and licensing system 16 may also provide data
`associated with the use of the media content item to third
`party online media retailers system 20. The data provided to
`retailers system 20 may be similar to the data provided to
`rights-holders system 18. However, retailers system 20 may
`be accessed by third party online media retailers who have
`been selected by the copyright owner of the media content
`item to distribute the media content item via the Internet.
`The data provided by device 10 and licensing system 16
`to retailers system 20 for the media content item may be
`used by the third party online retailers to develop future
`pricing for their online media content item distribution
`including which media content items to distribute in the
`future. The data provided to retailers system 20 may also be
`used to help third party online media retailers target the
`marketing of the media content item to demographics that
`have shown a trend of interest in the media content item.
`Payments for the distribution of the media content item by
`the third party online media retailer may be received from
`the user via device 10 and licensing system 16. Payments
`may also be distributed to the third party online media
`retailer via retailers system 20.
`Device 10 and licensing system 16 may also provide data
`associated with the use of the media content item to hard-
`ware device manufactures system 22. The data provided to
`manufactures system 22 may be similar to the data provided
`to rights-holders system 18 and retailer system 20. However,
`manufactures system 22 may be accessed by hardware
`device manufacturers who manufacture the hardware that
`may be implemented in device 10 that provides device 10
`with the capabilities to limit reproduction of the media
`content item to when the user has a license to reproduce the
`media content item. Payments for use of the hardware
`provided by the hardware device manufacturers imple-
`mented in device 10 by the user of device 10 may also be
`distributed to the hardware device manufacturer via manu-
`facturers system 20.
`Device 10 may be configured to connect to network 12.
`Network 12 may include one or more networks, such as the
`Internet. In some examples, network 12 may include one or
`more network technologies such as Ethernet, Fast Ethernet,
`Gigabit Ethernet, a variant of the IEEE 802.11 standard such
`as WiFi, and the like. Communication over network 12 takes
`place using one or more network communication protocols
`including reliable streaming protocols such as transmission
`control protocol (TCP). These examples are illustrative and
`not intended to limit the present disclosure. As shown in
`FIG. 1, device 10 may engage in communication with
`network 12 via connection 14, where connection 14 may be
`a wireless, wired, a secured communication connection, any
`combination thereof, and/or any other communication con-
`nection that will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant
`art(s) without departing from the spirit and scope of the
`disclosure.
`Licensing system 16 may be configured to engage in
`communication with network 12. As such, device 10 may
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`6
`communicate with licensing system 16 via network 12.
`Additionally, rights-holders system 18, retailers system 20,
`and/or manufacturers system 22 may also communicate with
`licensing system 16 and device10 via network12. Licensing
`system 16, rights-holders system 18, retailers system 20,
`and/or manufacturers system 22 may engage in communi-
`cation with network 12 via a communication connection
`similar to connection 14.
`Device 10, licensing system 16, rights-holders system 18,
`retailers system 20, and/or manufacturers system 22 may
`have a cloud computing configuration. Device 10, licensing
`system 16, rights-holders system 18, retailers system 20,
`and/or manufacturers system 22 may share resources via
`network 12. For example, device 10 may retrieve licensing
`information for the user of device 10 who wishes to repro-
`duce the media content item via network 12. Licensing
`system 16 may also update rights-holders system 18 with the
`user information for the user who wishes to reproduce the
`media content item. Based on the cloud computing configu-
`ration, the interaction between device 10, licensing system
`16, and rights-holders system 18 may not be limited to a
`single external multimedia hardware device. A plurality of
`external multimedia hardware devices may update licensing
`system 16 and rights-holders system 18 via network 12 with
`user information of users wishing to reproduce the media
`content item. Licensing system 16 may provide each of these
`updates for the user information to any media content
`rights-holders system that requests the user information.
`Digital Media File Licensing and Authorized Reproduction
`System
`FIG. 2 illustrates a second digital media file licensing and
`authorized reproduction system 95 in which embodiments or
`portions thereof, may be implemented. Digital media file
`licensing and authorized reproduction system 95 includes
`external multimedia hardware device 10, media content
`licensing and verification system 16, and network 12. Exter-
`nal multimedia hardware device 10 includes a processor 40,
`a transceiver 44, an input/output interface 46, a memory 52,
`a mass storage 60, a human machine interface (HMI) 48 and
`a reproduction module 50. Processor 40 may be a hardware
`based processor that includes a general purpose microcon-
`troller, a special purpose microcontroller and/or any other
`controller that will be apparent to those skilled in the
`relevant art(s) without departing from the spirit and scope of
`the disclosure.
`Processor 40 includes a media recognition module 42.
`Media recognition module 42 may be configured to analyze
`a loaded digital media file to identify the media content item
`included in the digital media file and/or determine an
`identifying characteristic, such as a fingerprint for example,
`of the media content item. In an embodiment, the media
`recognition module 40 may include hardware based circuitry
`configured to analyze a loaded digital media file. In an
`embodiment, the media recognition module 42 may include
`program code executing on the processor 40 configured to
`cause the processor 40 to analyze a loaded digital media file.
`Memory 52 includes a digital media file 58, an application
`54, and an operating system (OS) 56. Memory 52 may be
`accessed by processor 40, such that processor 40 may read
`data from memory 52 and write data to memory 52. In some
`embodiments, application 54 and/or OS 56 may include
`program code including one or more instructions, that when
`executed by processor 40 cause device 10 to perform the
`steps necessary to execute steps or elements embodying the
`various aspects of the disclosure. Furthermore, digital media
`file 58 may be loaded for reproduction.
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`Mass storage 60 includes a license database 62 and digital
`media file 58. License database 62 includes a license record
`64. Mass storage 60 may be utilized in addition to memory
`52, or may not be included at all, in which case the data
`elements illustrated as stored on mass storage 60 would be
`stored in memory 52. For exemplary purposes, mass storage
`60 includes digital media files 58, illustrating that one or
`more digital media files 58 may be stored in mass storage 60
`of device 10. Moreover, mass storage 60 includes a license
`database 62, where license database 62 includes one or more
`license records 64. In an embodiment, license database 62
`includes license records 64, where license records 64 indi-
`cate a media content item that a user of the device may be
`licensed to reproduce.
`licensing and verification system 16
`Media content
`includes a transceiver 68, a processor 66, an input/output
`interface 70, a mass storage 74, a memory 76, and a HMI 72.
`Memory 76 includes an application 78, an OS 80, a regis-
`tered user database 86, a digital media catalog database 82,
`and a licensing statistics database 92. Application 78 and/or
`the OS 80 may include program code including one or more
`instructions configured to be executed by processor 66 to
`cause licensing system 16 to perform steps necessary to
`perform embodiments of the disclosure.
`Registered user database 86 includes a user record 88.
`User record 88 includes a license record 90. Digital m