Seed-Based Content Transfer for Portable Media Players

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current satellite television systems are inconvenient as they require physical movement of the set top box to play recorded content on another television, and there is a need to prevent unauthorized use of stored content on portable media players while maintaining content owners' rights.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that generates a seed, broadcasts it to set top boxes, and uses it to securely transfer files from a digital video recorder to a portable media player, ensuring only authorized devices can play back the content by matching household keys.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If content is made accessible on portable media players, then user convenience and adaptability are improved, but security and content protection deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent accessibilityVSAvoidcontent security

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The content is divided into multiple segments that are distributed across different locations (set-top box and portable media player). Each segment alone is insufficient for complete playback, requiring both segments to be present and properly authenticated. This segmentation prevents unauthorized copying while enabling portable playback capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A seed value acts as an intermediary between the content owner and the portable media player. The seed is used to generate household keys that authenticate the portable device's right to access specific content segments. This intermediary mechanism enables secure content transfer without directly exposing the content to unauthorized devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If physical movement of set top box is required to play recorded content on another television, then content security is maintained, but user convenience and ease of operation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent securityVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The content segment is extracted from the set-top box and transferred to the portable media player. The portable device becomes a standalone playback unit that does not require the physical presence or movement of the set-top box. Users can play content on any television by simply connecting the portable media player, eliminating the inconvenience of moving equipment while maintaining security through segmented content architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS8107626B2Method and system for enabling transfer of content between a storage device and a portable media player device

Publication Date: 2012.01.31 DIRECTV LLC

AI summary

A method and system for storing a file on a portable device includes a central location 100 generating a seed in response to a unique portable device identifier, a storage device 32 having an interface wherein the storage device 32 stores the seed therein. A portable media player 36 is in communication with the storage device 32 through the interface. The storage device 32 transfers files to the portable media player 36 through the interface in response to the seed.