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 system for facilitating and controlling the usage of digital media files, said system comprising:
a player unit having a memory therein,
said player unit having an analog output port,
said player unit having a digital-to-analog converter;
said digital-to-analog converter in said player unit converting a digital media file stored in said memory to an analog version thereof, and forwarding said analog version to said analog output port; and
a network connector, said network connector connecting said player unit to a network,
wherein a user of said player unit can only receive analog data through said at least one analog output port, said analog data being an analog representation of digital data for a given digital media file stored in said memory, and
wherein said digital media file is downloaded to said memory via said network connector, but said digital media file stored in said memory is not digitally output from said player unit, said player unit having no output data port capable of digitally transmitting any digital media files external to said player unit,
whereby the external transmission of digital data of said given digital media file from said player unit is prevented, thereby preventing digital copies thereof.
2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said player unit further comprises:
a card reader unit, said player unit is adapted to retrieve an electronic value from a card inserted in said card reader unit, said electronic value being used to generate said analog representations of said digital media files.
3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said digital media file stored in said memory is encrypted.
4. The system according to claim 3 , wherein said player unit decrypts said digital media file according to an electronic value.
5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said player unit is a portable player unit or a desktop player unit.
6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said player unit further comprises a browser.
7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said digital media file is selected by a user of said player unit on a website within said network, and downloaded therefrom.
8. The system according to claim 7 , wherein said user selects said digital media file using a selector, said selector selected from the group consisting of: a mouse, a remote control unit, a voice command unit, a keypad and a television interface controller.
9. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a stereo component connected to said player unit, said stereo component capable of playing said analog version of said digital media file.
10. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a transmitter for selectively transmitting said analog version of said digital media file over a wireless channel.
11. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
headphones, said headphones connected to said player unit and capable of receiving and playing said analog version of said digital media file.
12. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said player unit further comprises:
a digital video interface for capturing digital video images.
13. The system according to claim 12 , wherein said digital video interface connects a digital camera and said player unit.
14. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said network connector is an Ethernet card.
15. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said digital media file is encoded according to an MP3 format.
16. The system according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of said digital media files are resident in said memory.
17. A method for controlling the playback of digital media files on a player unit, said method comprising:
selecting, by a user, a digital media file within a memory in said player unit;
converting said digital media file to an analog version thereof; and
forwarding said analog version to an analog output port of said player unit,
wherein said user of said player unit can only receive said analog version through said analog output port, and
wherein said digital media file stored in said memory is not digitally output from said player unit, said player unit having no output data port capable of digitally transmitting said digital media file external to said player unit,
whereby the external transmission of digital data of said digital media file from said player unit is prevented, thereby preventing digital copies thereof.
18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein said converting is done by a digital-to-analog converter.
19. The method according to claim 17 , wherein a plurality of digital media files are resident in said memory, said method further comprising, prior to said selecting:
searching said plurality of digital media files.
20. The method according to claim 17 , further comprising, prior to said step of selecting:
downloading said digital media file; and
storing said digital media file in said memory.
21. The method according to claim 20 , further comprising, prior to said step of downloading:
browsing a plurality of digital media files on a network; and
choosing said digital media file download from said network.
22. The method according to claim 17 , further comprising:
transmitting said analog version over an air interface.
23. The method according to claim 17 , wherein said digital media file is in an MP3 encoded format.
24. The method according to claim 23 , further comprising:
decoding said digital media file.
25. The method according to claim 17 , wherein a plurality of said digital media files are resident in said memory.