Fast-expiring licenses used to speculatively authorize access to streaming media content
Techniques are disclosed for improving user experience of multimedia streaming over computer networks. More specifically, techniques presented herein reduce (or eliminate) latency in playback start time for streaming digital media content resulting from digital rights management (DRM) authorizations. A streaming media client (e.g., a browser, set-top box, mobile telephone or tablet “app”) may request a “fast-expiring” license for titles the streaming media client predicts a user is likely to begin streaming. A fast-expiring license is a DRM license (and associated decryption key) which is valid for only a very limited time after being used for playback. During the validity period of such a license, the client device requests a “normal” or “regular” license to continue accessing the title after the fast-expiring license expires.
1. A computer-implemented method for presenting content, comprising:
presenting, in a streaming media interface, a set of one or more media titles available for streaming from a library of media titles;
prior to receiving a request to stream a first media title of the media titles from the library and requesting a digital rights management (DRM) license to access the first media title, sending a request for a fast-expiring license for at least the first media title, wherein the fast-expiring license is valid for a fixed time interval after playback of the first media title begins, and wherein the fixed interval is substantially less than a playback time of the first media title and is determined based on an amount of time taken to receive the DRM license; and
prior to receiving the DRM license, receiving the requested fast-expiring license.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to receiving a request to stream a media title from the library, sending a request for metadata describing a file storing the first media title.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
in response to receiving, from a user interacting with the streaming media interface, a request to stream the first media title:
retrieving an encrypted first portion of the first media title,
decrypting the encrypted first portion using a key associated with the fast-expiring license, and
initiating playback of the first portion of the first media title on the streaming media interface.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first portion of the first media title resumes viewing the first media title from a point reached during a prior streaming session of the first media title.
5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising,
after receiving the request to stream the first media title:
generating a request for the DRM license, and
sending the request to the streaming media service.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising,
prior to the end of the fixed time interval:
receiving the DRM license, and
accessing portions of the first media title using a key associated with the DRM license.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first media title is predicted to be a next selected media title for streaming.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending a request for at least a second fast-expiring license for at least a second one of the media titles.
9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including a program which, when executed, performs an operation for presenting streaming media content, the operation comprising:
presenting, in a streaming media interface, a set of one or more media titles available for streaming from a library of media titles;
prior to receiving a request to stream a first media title of the media titles from the library and requesting a digital rights management (DRM) license to access the first media title, sending a request for a fast-expiring license for at least the first media title, wherein the fast-expiring license is valid for a fixed time interval after playback of the first media title begins, and wherein the fixed interval is substantially less than a playback time of the first media title and is determined based on an amount of time taken to receive the DRM license; and
prior to receiving the DRM license, receiving the requested fast-expiring license.
10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the operation further comprises, prior to receiving a request to stream a media title from the library, sending a request for metadata describing a file storing the first media title.
11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the operation further comprises:
in response to receiving, from a user interacting with the streaming media interface, a request to stream the first media title:
retrieving an encrypted first portion of the first media title,
decrypting the encrypted first portion using a key associated with the fast-expiring license, and
initiating playback of the first portion of the first media title on the streaming media interface.
12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the first portion of the first media title resumes viewing the first media title from a point reached during a prior streaming session of the first media title.
13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the operation further comprises,
after receiving the request to stream the first media title:
generating a request for the DRM license, and
sending the request to the streaming media service.
14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the operation further comprises,
prior to the end of the fixed time interval:
receiving the DRM license, and
accessing portions of the first media title using a key associated with the DRM license.
15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the first media title is predicted to be a next selected media title for streaming.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the operation further comprises sending a request for at least a second fast-expiring license for at least a second one of the media titles.
17. A computing system, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory storing an application configured to access streaming media content by performing an operation, the operation comprising:
presenting, in a streaming media interface, a set of one or more media titles available for streaming from a library of media titles,
prior to receiving a request to stream a first media title of the media titles from the library and requesting a digital rights management (DRM) license to access the first media title, sending a request for a fast-expiring license for at least the first media title, wherein the fast-expiring license is valid for a fixed time interval after playback of the first media title begins, and wherein the fixed interval is substantially less than a playback time of the first media title and is determined based on an amount of time taken to receive the DRM license, and
prior to receiving the DRM license, receiving the requested fast-expiring license.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the operation further comprises, prior to receiving a request to stream a media title from the library, sending a request for metadata describing a file storing the first media title.
19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the operation further comprises:
in response to receiving, from a user interacting with the streaming media interface, a request to stream the first media title:
retrieving an encrypted first portion of the first media title,
decrypting the encrypted first portion using a key associated with the fast-expiring license, and
initiating playback of the first portion of the first media title on the streaming media interface.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the first portion of the first media title resumes viewing the first media title from a point reached during a prior streaming session of the first media title.
21. The system of claim 11 , wherein the operation further comprises,
after receiving the request to stream the first media title:
generating a request for the DRM license, and
sending the request to the streaming media service.
22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the operation further comprises,
prior to the end of the fixed time interval:
receiving the DRM license, and
accessing portions of the first media title using a key associated with the DRM license.
23. The system of claim 17 , wherein the first media title is predicted to be a next selected media title for streaming.
24. The system of claim 17 , wherein the operation further comprises sending a request for at least a second fast-expiring license for at least a second one of the media titles.