System, method and apparatus for controlling the dissemination of digital works
A system, business methodology and apparatus for facilitating controlled dissemination of digital works is disclosed. An audio and video organizer, entertainment, and communication unit that plays back audio and video media content received from a central storage server. The unit relies on a smartcard, which has a personalized key that unlocks encrypted content. Using the unit, a user can purchase music or other types of media using a appropriate ordering method. The central storage server then transmits a double-encrypted, compressed audio file to the unit, where it is decrypted based on the smartcard key, and available for listening.
1 . A player unit for facilitating digital media files playback, said player unit comprising:
a storage unit for storing downloaded digital media files;
at least one analog output port, said player unit not having digital output ports;
a media processing element for generating only analog versions of selected media files of the stored digital media files and outputting only said analog versions; and
a card reader for retrieving an electronic value from a card inserted in said card reader, said electronic value being used to generate said analog versions of said digital media files.
2 . The player unit according to claim 1 , further comprising:
navigation means for navigating through said digital media files on said storage unit; and
user-manipulated control devices for controlling said navigation means by a user.
3 . The player unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a video output port for outputting a video signal representative of a navigation operation of said player unit.
4 . The player unit according to claim 1 , further comprising an interface for interfacing said player unit with a digital camera and receiving digital video signals therefrom.
5 . The player unit according to claim 1 , wherein said player unit is a desktop player unit.
6 . The player unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a network connection means for downloading digital media files from a network.
7 . The player unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a remote transceiver for transceiving optical signals between said player unit and a remote control, said optical signals controlling said player unit.
8 . The player unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen for visually displaying an operation performed by said player unit.
9 . The player unit according to claim 1 , wherein said player unit is a portable player unit.
10 . The player unit according to claim 9 , further comprising a transmitter for transmitting said analog versions of said selected digital media files over a wireless channel.
11 . The player unit according to claim 9 , further comprising an interface for interfacing with a docking station for downloading said digital media files.
12 . The player unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a touch screen for visually displaying information relating to the operation of said player unit and selecting functions performed by said player unit.
13 . A player unit for facilitating digital media files playback, said player unit comprising:
a storage unit, said storage unit storing downloaded digital media files;
a media processing element, said media processing element generating only analog versions of said downloaded digital media files; and
an output port, said output port outputting only said analog versions of said downloaded digital media files,
said output port being an analog-only port, said player unit having no digital output ports.
14 . The player unit according to claim 13 , further comprising:
a display, said display providing a visual indication of files on the player unit.
15 . The player unit according to claim 14 , further comprising:
a navigator, said navigator providing a user a way to navigate on the display through the files on the player unit.
16 . The player unit according to claim 14 , wherein said display is a touch screen device, whereby a user can touch navigate through the files stored on the player unit or elsewhere through a network connection.
17 . The player unit according to claim 13 , wherein media output from said output port are selected from the group consisting of: audio, video, data and combinations thereof.
18 . The player unit according to claim 13 , wherein said analog versions are stored on said storage unit.
19 . The player unit according to claim 13 , further comprising:
a decryptor for decrypting said downloaded digital media files.
20 . The player unit according to claim 19 , wherein said decryptor employs at least two decryption keys.
21 . The player unit according to claim 20 , wherein one of said decryption keys corresponds to the user of said player unit and the other said decryption key corresponds to the player unit.
22 . The player unit according to claim 13 , further comprising:
a connector, said connector connecting said player unit to a content provider.
23 . The player unit according to claim 22 , wherein said connector is selected from the group consisting of: the Internet, Ethernet, a modem, a wireless transceiver, docketing station, computer and television.
24 . The player unit according to claim 13 , wherein said player unit is selected from the group consisting of: a portable player unit, a desktop player unit, and a car player unit.
25 . A player unit for facilitating digital media files playback, said player unit comprising:
a storage unit for storing downloaded digital media files therein;
a conversion means for converting a digital media file stored on said storage unit to an analog version thereof and outputting only said analog version; and
said player unit having only analog outputs and no digital outputs.
26 . A player device comprising:
a memory, said memory containing at least one digital file thereon;
at least one output port, said at least one output port being analog only, said player device having no digital output ports; and
a connection device, said connection device connecting said player device to a network,
whereby a user of said player device can download said at least one digital file to the player device and play said at least one digital file through said at least one output port in analog, said user able to play an analog version of said at least one digital file but unable to make a digital copy of said at least one digital file from said player device.
27 . A player device accordingly to claim 26 , further comprising:
conversion means for converting said at least one digital file to an analog representation for playing through said at least one output port in analog.