System and method for relaxing media access restrictions over time

Abstract

A disk bears a multimedia program and a player plays the program. The player is responsive to an image restraint token (IRT) to play the multimedia program only in a low resolution format and not in a high resolution format prior to an IRT expiration date. The player is then responsive to a key that is publicly available only on or after the expiration date and entered into the player to play the multimedia program in the high resolution format.

1 . A method comprising:
 establishing an expiration date for a multimedia program restriction after which expiration date the restriction can be lifted;   prior to the expiration date, providing the program on a storage medium to a user;   prior to the expiration date, permitting the storage medium to be engaged with a player to play the multimedia program only in a low resolution format, unsecure playing of the program in a high resolution format not being permitted unless a high definition authorization authentication is successfully executed by a processor in the player to authenticate high resolution playing of the program on the storage medium, in which case the multimedia program may be played in the high resolution format prior to the expiration date;   on or after the expiration date, making a key publicly available by publication in publicly-accessible print and/or electronic media; and   instructing users to enter the key into their players, the key being useful to lift the restriction and thereby permit playing of the program in the high resolution format.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the storage medium is an optical disk. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the high resolution format is 1080p. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the low resolution format is 960×540 or less. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein an image restraint token (IRT) is used to permit the player to play the multimedia program only in the low resolution format and not in the high resolution format prior to the IRT expiration date. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the player operates on the IRT to permit playing the program in the high resolution format only if the key is entered into the player by the user. 
     
     
         7 . A system comprising:
 a disk bearing at least one multimedia program;   a player engageable with the disk, the player accessing a non-transitory computer readable storage medium bearing a program of instructions executable by the player for playing the program on the disk when the disk is engaged with the player, the player executing the program of instructions to be responsive to an image restraint token (IRT) to play the multimedia program only in a low resolution format and not in a high resolution format prior to an expiration date unless high definition content protection (HDCP) authentication of at least the program on the disk by the player is successfully executed before the expiration date, the player executing the program of instructions to be responsive to a key that is publicly available only on or after the expiration date and entered into the player to play the multimedia program on the disk in the high resolution format, the key being made publicly available only on or after the expiration date by being published on a web site.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the disk is an optical disk. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a display communicating with the player to display the program. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the display is a TV display. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the high resolution format is 1080p. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the low resolution format is 960×540 or less. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the player resets the IRT to permit playing the program in the high resolution format only if the key is entered into the player by the user. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 7 , comprising a remote control manipulable by a user to enter the key into the player. 
     
     
         15 - 19 . (canceled)