Music is blanket transmitted (for example, via satellite downlink transmission) to each customer's computer-based user station. Customers preselect from a list of available music in advance using an interactive screen selector, and pay only for music that they choose to have recorded for unlimited playback, for example, by a “CD burner”. An antipiracy “ID tag” is woven into the recorded music so that any illegal copies therefrom may be traced to the purchase transaction. Music is transmitted on a fixed schedule or through an active scheduling process that monitors music requests from all or a subset of satellite receivers and adjust scheduling according to demand for various CD's. Receivers store selections that are likely to be preferred by a specific customer. In those instances where weather conditions, motion atmospheric layers or dish obstructions result in data loss, the system downloads the next transmission of the requested CD and uses both transmissions to produce a “good copy”. In conjunction with the blanket transmission of more popular music, an automated CD manufacturing facility may be provided to manufacture CD's that are not frequently requested and distribute them by ground transportation.

Music distribution systems

A number of systems and methods, alone, or in combination, achieve various levels of protection against unauthorized modification and distribution of digital content. This encompasses at least unauthorized study, modification, monitoring, reconstruction, and any other means for subversion from the originally intended purpose and license model of the digital content. The invention combines a number of techniques that in whole, or in part, serve to protect such content from unauthorized modification, reconstructive engineering, or monitoring by third parties. This is accomplished by means of methods which protect against subversion by specific tools operating on specific platforms as well as general tools operating on general platforms. Specific time domain attacks are identified, code modification can be identified and reversed, and virtual and emulated systems are identified. In addition, identification of in-circuit emulator tools (both software and hardware), debuggers, and security threats to running programs can be achieved.

Systems and methods for the prevention of unauthorized use and manipulation of digital content

Theft, distribution, and piracy of digital content (software, video, audio, e-books, any content of any kind that is digitally stored and distributed) is generally accomplished by copying it, if possible, or, if it is protected from being copied in any fashion, such piracy is based upon a number of reverse engineering techniques. Aside from the straightforward copying of unprotected content, all of these other methods require first an understanding of the protective mechanism(s) guarding the content, and finally an unauthorized modification of that protection in order to disable or subvert it. Methods that prevent a skilled individual from using reverse engineering tools and techniques to attain that level of understanding and/or prevent anyone from performing such modifications can offer significant advantages to content creators who wish to protect their products.

Systems and methods for preventing unauthorized use of digital content

Software is securely distributed with limited usage rights. The software may be an executable program and/or one or more data files such as image or multimedia data files. The software includes an access control object which prevents at least some usage of the software without use of a first access control code. The first access control code is produced based on selected information characteristic of the user's computer system. The access control code is produced in a server computer to which the user directs a request for the access control code. The user makes a payment to receive the access control code, which is then downloaded to the user's computer system.

Methods and apparatus for secure distribution of software

Movies are distributed to customer households in a secure format on digital media such as optical disks for playing back via proprietary set-top boxes (14) A system operator produces movie disks in large quantities and delivers the disks to widely geographically dispersed distribution agents Agents produce copies of the disks with unique agent identification codes embedded therein, and distribute the disks to local customers who have compatible playback devices When customers view movies, information identifying the movie and a distribution agent who is responsible for the movie being distributed to that customer are communicated to the central computer of the system operator (20) The content providers are then paid royalties due and responsible distribution agents are compensated

Video distribution system

Digital product execution control as disclosed contemplates production of a final version of a digital product and subsequently imposing execution control on that digital product. The manufacturer of the original digital product need not incorporate execution control features into the final version of the product. Execution control programming attaches to an executable file of the digital product to create a controlled executable file. The resulting operating environment when loaded is insufficient for the original executable file, and control programming determines whether or not execution will be allowed. If allowed, control programming creates the necessary operating environment for the digital product, i.e., as would be provided by the operating system if loaded normally, and allows execution of the digital product only under controlled conditions. Further security measures identify an executable portion of the digital product and a plurality of sub-portions of the executable portion are encrypted. An exception handler is established with the operating system and upon access to memory regions marked as protected the exception handler decrypts each sub-portion when accessed. A further security measure stores at a remote clearing house a key needed to decrypt the digital product for use. Upon execution, the controlled digital product interacts with the remote clearing house to obtain permission to execute and to obtain the key needed for execution.

Eugene A. Neville

Papers

Digital product execution control and security