Intial free preview for multimedia multicast content
AssigneeGeneral Instrument Corporation
InventorPetr Peterka
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
According to one embodiment of the invention, a free preview of a program can be provided to client computers in a multicasting system. This can allow viewers in the multicasting system to view a first portion of the program before deciding whether to order the program content. According to another embodiment, various distribution methods can be accomplished using encryption keys to distribute program content. According to yet another embodiment, an initial viewing period can be provided to allow negotiation of the encryption keys. According to another embodiment, rules and conditions for providing content in a multicasting environment can be utilized.
Claims20
A method of multicasting program content, said method comprising:
- providing encrypted program content for distribution to a client as part of a multicast distribution;
- providing a key for use by said client in decrypting a first portion of said encrypted program content;
- and
- distributing a first portion of said encrypted program content to said client as part of said multicast distribution, wherein said first portion of said encrypted program content is encrypted so as to be decrypted by said client using said key so as to obtain a free preview of said program content.
A method of multicasting program content, said method comprising:
- providing program content for distribution to a client as part of a multicast distribution;
- distributing a first portion of said program content to said client in an unencrypted format so as to provide a free preview of said program content;
- encrypting a remaining portion of said program content;
- distributing said encrypted remaining portion of said program content to said client.
A method of providing program content to a plurality of clients in a multicast system, said method comprising:
- providing a server for communication with a plurality of client computers;
- configuring said server so as to be operable to provide said program content to said plurality of client computers;
- providing a free preview of said program content to said plurality of client computers;
- and
- during said free preview, providing each purchasing client computer with a key operable to decrypt at least a portion of an encrypted portion of said program content.
A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:
- providing encrypted program content for distribution to a client as part of a multicast distribution;
- providing a key for use by said client in decrypting a first portion of said encrypted program content;
- and
- distributing a first portion of said encrypted program content to said client as part of said multicast distribution, wherein said first portion of said encrypted program content is encrypted so as to be decrypted by said client using said key so as to obtain a free preview of said program content.
A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:
- providing program content for distribution to a client as part of a multicast distribution;
- distributing a first portion of said program content to said client in an unencrypted format so as to provide a free preview of said program content;
- encrypting a remaining portion of said program content;
- distributing said encrypted remaining portion of said program content to said client.
A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:
- providing a server for communication with a plurality of client computers;
- configuring said server so as to be operable to provide said program content to said plurality of client computers;
- providing a free preview of said program content to said plurality of client computers;
- and
- during said free preview, providing each purchasing client computer with a key operable to decrypt at least a portion of an encrypted portion of said program content.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.