Filing Information

Inventor(s)	Alan J. McPherson · George Lydecker ·
Assignee(s)	Warner Music Group, Inc. ·  View assignee updates
Attorney/Agent(s)	Gottlieb, Rackman & Reisman, P.C. ·
Primary Examiner	Andrew Faile ·
Assistant Examiner	Ngoc Vu ·
Application Number	US9382537
Filing date	08/25/1999
Issue date	07/08/2003
Predicted expiration date	08/25/2019
U.S. Classifications	725/29  · 705/57  · 725/97  · 705/50  · 705/51  · 725/31  · 380/203  · 380/239  · 380/242  · 380/277  · 725/25  ·
International Classifications	--
Kind Code	B1
International Classifications	705 50- 51 · 348477-478 · 709204-207 · 380203 · 380242 · 380239 · 380277 · 705 57 · 348 1 · 348 3 · 348 55 · 348 7 · 348 9 · 348474 · 455 31 · 455 61 · 455 42 · 725 31 · 725 71 · 725 78 · 725 29 · 725 25 · 725 97 · 725104 · 709229 · 709248 ·

Patent Family

Abstract

A program distribution system is disclosed for the simultaneous release of a program at a plurality of locations. The locations may include local broadcasters, or even individual devices. A program is modified so that it cannot be played without a release control signal and is then copied and distributed .either fixed in a media or electronically, i.e. via private network, the Internet, etc.) At the receiver the receiver first detects the release control signal and then replays the program at will. The program may include a time stamp in which case the receiver cannot replay the program until a control indicative of a current time/date corresponding to the date stamp. Alternative the program can be encrypted in which case the release control signal includes the decryption key. The release control can be broadcast over a tv channel, a radio channel and so on and is preferably imbedded into the signals of the standard tv or radio signals.

Independent Claims | See all claims (17)

1. 1. A system for distributing a program and controlling its release or play, said system comprising: a program distribution center adapted to distribute multiple copies of a program, said program including a blocking component that prevents said program from being played; a release signal generator that selectively generates a release/control signal; and a plurality of receivers, each receiver including a detector for detecting said release/control signal and a player for playing said program by using said release/control signal to disable said blocking component; wherein all the receivers receive said release/control signal simultaneously.
2. 6. A plurality of receivers for playing a program, each of said receivers comprising: a control signal detector for detecting a release/control signal from a remote location, said release/control signal being provided to all the receivers simultaneously; and a player adapted to play said program any time after said release/control signal is detected, said player being blocked from playing said program before said release/control signal is detected.
3. 13. A method for distributing a program so that said program can be played by different receivers, comprising: generating said program; modifying said program to include a blocking component that prevents said program from being played; distributing the modified program to several receivers; distributing a common release/control signal simultaneously for all said receivers; at each of said receivers, detecting said common release/control signal; and using said release/control signal to disable said blocking component and to allow a plain program to be played from said modified program.