Method, system, program, and medium for video streaming access to paywalled site

Abstract

An intermediary site receives a request for a URL associated with a paywalled content site and forwards the URL to a virtual machine which requests paywalled content using the URL and using credential

Description

DESCRIPTION Field of invention The invention relates to a method, system, program and medium for streaming access to paywalled site. Background There is an obstacle to sharing paywalled content due to complicated case-by-case integration. Each integration with a new partner typically requires special publishing software installation. There is also a risk to consumers of paywalled content in that the consumer is tracked and / or exposed to malicious software. A further issue with available content sharing is the risk of the shared content interfering with originators' search engines optimisation. Available sharing of paywalled content also risks text copying. The invention aims to address these issues. Solution The objectives of the present invention are achieved by the subject-matter of claims 1, 10, 11, and 12. In particular, the objectives are achieved by a computer-implemented method comprising the steps of: a) receiving, at an intermediary site, preferably from a user device, a request for a URL associate with a paywalled content site, preferably associated with content within the paywalled content site; b) forwarding the URL to a virtual machine; c) requesting, by the virtual machine, paywalled content using the URL and using credentials for the paywalled content available at the virtual machine; d) receiving, in response to the request, the paywalled content at the virtual machine; e) rendering the paywalled content as image frames in a frame buffer on the virtual machine or receiving image frames to be stored in a frame buffer on the virtual machine; f) create a video stream based on buffer at the virtual machine; and g) forwarding the video stream to the user device. Advantage include avoiding publisher integration issues and avoiding publishing software installation. Publishers further do not need syndicating content. User has secure access to content and avoiding risk of tracking. The solution also avoids publisher content search engine interfering and allows publishers to maintain control of content, such as preventing text copying. Using a virtual server that is logged into a paywalled site, a user is able to view content via video screen capture of that site, thereby circumventing the paywall and facilitating easy publisher integration. In one embodiment, the method further comprising the step: h) displaying the video stream on a display of the user device. In one embodiment, in step b), a user device screen resolution is further forwarded to the virtual machine, and rendering the paywalled content in step e) is adapted to the screen resolution. Alternatively, any other size indication like the size of a displaying window or frame, e.g. within anoemther application can be communicated to the virtual machine. The virtual machine can output the video stream in a manner that takes into consideration the size indication. Thereby the relevant information is transported most efficiently. In one embodiment, the URL to the paywalled content site is requested as HTTP GET or HTTP POST parameters as part of a second URL locating the intermediary site, and the second URL is received at the user device from a partner site. In one embodiment, a bi-directional connection is maintained between the user device and the Virtual Machine; wherein user navigation instructions, such as scrolling up and down, is forwarded from the user device to the virtual machine; wherein the rendered paywalled content is navigated within a browser of the virtual machine according to the instructions; and wherein the navigation of the rendered paywalled content within the browser is captured as the video stream. Of course it needs to be understood that the browser as captioned above can be substituted by any type of software component that behaves like a browser, e.g. issues HTTP requests or posts. In the following the term browser is used for a browser as commonly understood as well as the substituting component. In one embodiment, the paywalled content is static content, such as text and / or images. In one embodiment, the paywalled content is dynamic content, such as audio, video and / or interactive content, such as computer games. In one embodiment, downloads and / or external links are disabled in the paywalled content. In one embodiment, the credentials for the paywalled content site are looked up at the virtual machine preferably based on a domain name part of the URL. The objectives of the present invention are further achieved by a data processing system comprising: a user device; an intermediary site; a virtual machine; a paywalled content site; wherein the system is configured to perform the one of the herein-described methods. The above captioned component can be hosted within a single virtual environment and / or distributed across several virtual environments and / or hardware components. Also, the virtual machine can as a software component be hosted on the intermediate site or other entities like the above described partner site. The objectives of the present invention are further achieved by a computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is being executed by one or more computers, cause the computers to carry out one of methods as captioned above. The objectives of the present invention are further achieved by a computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by one or more computers, cause the one or more computers to carry out the one embodiment of methods as described herein. The advantages of the described system, program and medium, is equal or similar to the advantages of the herein described method. In the following, embodiments of the invention are described with respect to the figures, wherein: Fig. 1 shows a procedure of providing streamed video streaming access to paywalled content sites according to an embodiment. Fig. 2 depicts a computer-implemented method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 depicts a user device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 depicts a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 shows a procedure of using a virtual server 420 that is logged into a paywalled site 410, a user is able to view content via video screen capture of that site, thereby circumventing the paywall and avoiding publisher integration. First, an intermediary actor procures access / subscription to a paywalled content site 410 (e.g. paywalled Publisher site). Second, a virtual machine / container (Content Virtual Machine) 420 is setup with credentials for access the paywalled content site, and displays a web browser that is logged into the paywalled content site using the credentials. The virtual machine may be logged into all participating paywalled content sites via browser sessions. 130: Through a partner 450, a user requests an article from a paywalled content site using a URL, and is directed to an intermediary site, e.g. the site "content.supertab.co". Next, the URL to the paywalled content is read by the intermediary site 430. The intermediary site 430 may also read the user's screen resolution. The virtual machine 420 is instructed to render the paywalled content article URL. If user's screen resolution is available, the browser window is set to the appropriate size for the user's device. The content virtual machine 420 establishes a live video screen capture stream of the rendering results as provided by the web browser and sends the result back such as to the reader view on the intermediary site 430, e.g. content.supertab.co. Screen capture may be driven through WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication). The stream may be transported via a direct connection between the user device 440 and the virtual machine 420, or it may be routed through the intermediary site 430. A reader view may be opened on the intermediary site 430, consisting e.g. a top frame with a logo, current Tab status, and navigation menu, and a frame that show the desired URL content streamed from the virtual machine 420. The user may interact with e.g. navigate the reader view through a simplified web interface that allows the user to scroll the page and for basic interaction. These actions are transmitted to the virtual machine 420, which then performs the actions on its browser, and renders the result which in turn is captured as video. (In one embodiment, the browser is locked down such that the user could not load other pages or do anything but scroll and interact with the page. Key commands would be disabled). The user device 440 virtual machine 420 may maintain a continuous bi-directional communication allowing the user's instructions to be sent to the server and the server's video to be sent to the client. This connection could be facilitated by websockets or other real-time communication technologies. Fig. 2 depicts a computer-implemented method according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprising the steps of: a) receiving 210, at an intermediary site 430, preferably from a user device 440, a request for a URL associate with a paywalled content site 410, preferably associated with content within the paywalled content site; b) forwarding 220 the URL to a virtual machine 420; c) requesting 230, by the virtual machine 420, paywalled content using the URL and using credentials for the paywalled content available at the virtual machine 420; d) receiving 240, in response to the request, the paywalled content at the virtual machine 420; e) rendering 250 the paywalled content as image frames in a frame buffer on the virtual machine 420 or receiving image frames to be stored in a frame buffer on the virtual machine; f) create 260 a video stream based on buffer at the virtual machine 420; and g) forwarding 270 the video stream to the user device 440. Fig. 3 depicts a display 300, on a user's device 440. The Figure may further comprise logo, Tab, and Hamburger menu bar 310, and a frame comprising paywalled site content 320. A hamburger menu is typically three stacked lines that indicate a hidden menu. When the lines are clicked or tapped on, a menu slides into view or a drawer appears. The menu holds a list of navigation items or other elements that users can access. Fig. 4 depicts a system according to the present invention, comprising paywalled content sites 410, a virtual machine 420, an intermediary site 430, and a user device 440. User device 440 requests paywalled content as part of communication with an intermediary site 430. The virtual machine, either directly from the user device, or via the intermediary site, receives the request for the paywalled content. The virtual machine access the paywalled content site using paywalled credentials. The response is rendered at the virtual machine as image frames, which are captured as a video stream at the virtual machine. The video stream is received by the user device, either directly from the virtual machine, or via the intermediary site. It will be understood that, while various aspects of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described by way of example, the invention described herein is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied as suggested by the disclosure and as indicated within the scope of the following exemplary claims. For instance, despite the disclosure pertaining to a system and method for the rendering of a virtual world, such a system or method may additionally be implemented in an augmented-reality or holographic system, or the like, in accordance with the previously described invention. List of references: 110 intermediary site actor procures access / subscription to a paywalled content site 120 a virtual machine / container is setup and displays a web browser that is logged into the paywalled content site using credentials received during the above step. The browser would be logged into all participating paywalled content sites. through a intermediary site partner, a user requests an article from a paywalled content site using a URL to paywalled content, and is directed to an "intermediary site", e.g. the site "content.supertab.co". the URL to paywalled content is read by the intermediary site. The intermediary site also reads the user's screen resolution. the virtual machine is instructed to render the paywalled article URL based on the user's screen resolution, the browser window is set to the appropriate size for the user's device. the Content Victual Machine establishes a live video screen capture stream of the web browser displaying the paywalled content site content, and sends the result back to the reader view on the intermediary site, e.g. content.supertab.co. (Screen capture likely driven through WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication)). a reader view is opened on the intermediary site, consisting e.g. a top frame with a logo, current Tab status, and navigation menu, and a frame that show the desired URL video feed from the virtual machine. the user interacts with the reader view through a simplified web interface that allows the user to scroll the page and for basic interaction. These actions are transmitted to the virtual machine, which then performs the actions on its browser, and renders the result via video. (The browser would be locked down such that the user could not load other pages or do anything but scroll and interact with the page. Key commands would be disabled). the client and server maintain a continuous bi-directional communication allowing the user's interactions to be sent to the server and the server's video to be sent to the client. This connection could be facilitated by websockets or other real-time communication technologies. receiving, via an intermediary site, a request for a URL to paywalled content at a user device. forwarding the URL from the user device to a virtual machine requesting, by the virtual machine, paywalled content using the URL and paywalled credentials available at the virtual machine, receiving the paywalled content at the virtual machine rendering the paywalled content in a frame buffer on the virtual machine; creating a video stream based on buffer at the virtual machine and forwarding the video stream to the user device. forwarding the video stream to the user device displaying the video stream on the user device user device display Space for logotype, The Tab, and Hamburger menu paywalled content site content paywalled content site virtual machine intermediary site user device partner site

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising the steps of:a) receiving (210), at an intermediary site (430), preferably from a user device (440), a request for a URL associated with a paywalled content site (410), preferably associated with content within the paywalled content site;b) forwarding (220) the URL to a virtual machine (420);c) requesting (230), by the virtual machine (420), paywalled content using the URL and using credentials for the paywalled content available at the virtual machine (420);d) receiving (240), in response to the request, the paywalled content at the virtual machine (420);e) rendering (250) the paywalled content as image frames in a frame buffer on the virtual machine (420) or receiving image frames to be stored in a frame buffer on the virtual machine (420);f) creating (260) a video stream based on buffer at the virtual machine (420); andg) forwarding (270) the video stream to the user device (440).

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step:h) displaying (280) the video stream on a display (300) of the user device (440).

3. The method of claims 1 or 2, wherein, in step b), a user device (screen) resolution is forwarded to the virtual machine (420); and wherein rendering the paywalled content in step e) is adapted to the (screen) resolution.

4. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the URL to the paywalled content site is requested as HTTP GET or HTTP POST parameters as part of a second URL locating the intermediary site; and wherein the second URL is received at the user device (440) from a partner site (450).

5. The method of any of the preceding claims,wherein a bi-directional connection is established and / or maintained between the user device (440) and the virtual machine (420);wherein user navigation instructions, such as scrolling up and down, is forwarded from the user device (440) to the virtual machine (420);wherein the rendered paywalled content is navigated within a browser of the virtual machine (420) according to the instructions; andwherein the navigation of the rendered paywalled content within the browser is captured as the video stream.

6. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the paywalled content is static content, such as text and / or images.

7. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the paywalled content is dynamic content, such as audio, video and / or interactive content, such as computer games.

8. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein downloads and / or external links are disabled in the paywalled content.

9. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the credentials for the paywalled content site (410) are looked up at the virtual machine (420) preferably based on a domain name part of the URL.

10. A data processing system comprising:a user device (440);an intermediary site (430);a virtual machine (420);a paywalled content site (410);wherein the intermediary site (430) is configured to receive (210), preferably from the user device (440), a request for a URL associate with a paywalled content site (410), preferably associated with content within the paywalled content site; and further configured to forward (220) the URL to the virtual machine (420);wherein the virtual machine (420) is configured to request paywalled content using the URL and using credentials for the paywalled content available at the virtual machine (420);wherein the virtual machine (420) is further configured to receive (240), in response to the request, the paywalled content at the virtual machine (420);wherein the virtual machine (420) is further configured to render (250) the paywalled content as image frames in a frame buffer on the virtual machine (420) or receiving image frames to be stored in a frame buffer on the virtual machine (420); andwherein the virtual machine (420) is further configured to create (260) a video stream based on the buffer; and forward (270) the video stream to the user device (440); and / orwherein the system is configured to perform the method of any of the previous claims.

11. A computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by one or more computers, cause the one or more computers to carry out the method of one of the claims 1 to 9.

12. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by one or more computers, cause the one or more computers to carry out the method of one of the claims 1 to 9.

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