Media playback decoder tracing
View Patent ↗A method of identifying a traced media playback decoder embedded in a device, wherein data representative of a trace message is included in the content field of a media content file and a trigger string ( 16 ) is included in the user data field of the file. The file is input to the decoder, and a traced decoder is arranged and configured to render the trace message in a desired format in response to detection of the trigger string. If the decoder is not the traced decoder, the trigger string will be disregarded and the component will try and process the media content file like a normal media content file, which results in an error.
1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to perform a method for decoding received media content, for playback in a predetermined media format, the method comprising:
receiving a media content file at a media playback decoder, the media content file having a data format comprising a user data field and a content field and including representative data of a trace message in the content field; and
rendering in the predetermined media format the trace message from the representative data included in the received media content file,
including identifying the media playback decoder as a traced media playback decoder as the trace message is correctly rendered in the predetermined media format during playback of the media content file,
wherein the representative data of the trace message comprises a font file included in the content field of the media content,
wherein the font file comprises a collection of sound patterns, and where each sound pattern corresponds to a text fragment,
wherein the method further comprises generating the trace message using the font file.
2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the representative data of the trace message comprises a representation in the predetermined media format of the trace message.
3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 2 ,
wherein the representation comprises the trace message,
wherein the trace message is partially or fully encrypted by a predetermined encryption mechanism,
the decoder further performing the steps of:
decrypting and rendering in the predetermined media format the encrypted trace message included in the received media content.
4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 3 , wherein the trace message is encrypted using a product key unique to the traced media playback decoder.
5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 2 , wherein the media content file is compressed, either before or after encryption of the representative data of the trace message.
6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein a trigger signal is included in the user data field of the content file, for causing the decoder to render in the predetermined media format the trace message from the representative data included in the received media content.
7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6 , wherein the trigger signal comprises a trigger string inserted in the user data field of the media content file.
8. A method for decoding received media content for playback in a predetermined media format, the method comprising:
receiving a media content file at a media playback decoder of a media playback device, the media content having a data format comprising a user data field and a content field and including representative data of a trace message in the content field; and
rendering, at the media playback device, in the predetermined media format a trace message from the representative data included in the received media content file,
including identifying the media playback decoder as a traced media playback decoder as the trace message is correctly rendered in the predetermined media format during playback of the media content file,
wherein at least one of the receiving the media content file and the rendering is executed by a computer,
wherein the representative data of the trace message comprises a font file included in the content field of the media content,
wherein the font file comprises a collection of sound patterns, and where each sound pattern corresponds to a text fragment,
wherein the method further comprises generating the trace message using the font file.
9. The method according to claim 8 , the media content file having a data format comprising a user data field and a content field;
wherein data representative of a trace message is included in the content field.
10. The method according to claim 9 further comprising causing the decoder to render in the predetermined media format the trace message from the representative data included in the received media content.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the trace message is partially or fully encrypted by a predetermined encryption mechanism, the method further comprising:
decrypting and rendering in the predetermined media format the encrypted trace message included in the received media content.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the trace message is encrypted using a product key unique to the traced media playback decoder.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein a trigger signal is included in the user data field of the content file, for causing the rendering in the predetermined media format the trace message from the representative data included in the received media content.
14. A media playback device stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium implemented by a computer comprising:
a decoder for decoding received media content for playback in a predetermined media format, the media content having a data format comprising a user data field and a content field, wherein representative data of a trace message is included in the content field of the media content file,
the decoder configured to render in the predetermined media format the trace message represented by the data included in the received media content file,
the decoder further configured to identify the decoder as a traced media playback decoder;
wherein the decoder is identified as a traced media playback decoder only if as the trace message is correctly rendered in the predetermined media format during playback of the media content file,
wherein the representative data of the trace message comprises a font file included in the content field of the media content,
wherein the font file comprises a collection of sound patterns, and where each sound pattern corresponds to a text fragment,
wherein the decoder is further configured to generate the trace message using the font file.
15. The media playback device of claim 14 , wherein the trace message is partially or fully encrypted by a predetermined encryption mechanism, the decoder further performing the steps of:
decrypting and rendering in the predetermined media format the encrypted trace message included in the received media content.
16. The media playback device of claim 15 , wherein the trace message is encrypted using a product key unique to the traced media playback decoder.
17. The media playback device of claim 14 , wherein a trigger signal is included in the user data field of the content file, for causing the decoder to render in the predetermined media format the trace message from the representative data included in the received media content.