Digital rights management for multiple devices and methods for use therewith

Abstract

Media content is received for a plurality of devices based on a user selection. The media content includes digital rights for the plurality of devices. The media content is transferred to at least one of the plurality of devices in accordance with the digital rights.

1 . A method for use in a first device that includes a user interface, an external device interface and a network interface, the method comprising:
 receiving user selection of media content via the user interface;   receiving user selection of at least one external device via the user interface, wherein the at least one external device is capable of storing and playing the media content independently from the first device;   sending a request for the media content via the network interface to a media network for a plurality of selected devices including the first device and the at least one external device, the request identifying the plurality of selected devices;   receiving the media content via the network interface for the plurality of devices, the media content including digital rights for the plurality of devices; and   transferring the media content to at least one of the plurality of devices via the external device interface.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of receiving the media content is implemented as an application running on an open cable application platform. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of devices include at least two of: a set-top box, a television, a desktop computer, a portable computer, a personal digital assistant, a personal audio/video player, and a wireless telephone. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the media content is formatted in a first digital video format and the step of transferring the media content includes transcoding the media content into a second digital video format for use by the at least one of the plurality of selected devices. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the transcoding includes generating the second digital video file in accordance with the digital rights for the at least one of the plurality of selected devices. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the transcoding includes inserting an ad in the second digital video file. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the transcoding is performed in a network server. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the transcoding is performed automatically based on past behavior of a subscriber. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the transcoding is performed in response to a subscriber request for the media content. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 prompting a user with a plurality of options to download media content for the plurality of devices; and 
 receiving a selection from the user that corresponds to at least one of the plurality of options. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the plurality of options includes a cost for downloading the media content that is based on a total number of the plurality of devices. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the plurality of options lists particular devices that correspond to a user retrieved from a file stored in a memory of the first device, the file containing information regarding the particular devices. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the user selection is retrieved from a file containing information regarding the plurality of devices. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the request identifies the plurality of selected devices by device type. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the request includes a plurality of device identifiers that identify the plurality of selected devices. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the digital rights includes a corresponding plurality of device specific digital rights for each of the plurality of devices, each of the corresponding plurality of device specific digital rights allowing playback of the media content by one of the plurality of selected devices corresponding thereto and prohibiting playback of the media content by other devices. 
     
     
         17 . A method for use with a media service in communication with a plurality of devices each capable of independently storing and playing media content, the method comprising:
 receiving, from a first device of the plurality of devices, a user request for media content;   receiving, from the first device of the plurality of devices, a user selection that identifies the plurality of devices, wherein the plurality of devices further includes a second device;   transmitting, in response to the user request for the media content and the user selection that identifies the plurality of devices, the media content in a first format to the first device, the media content including digital rights for the first device; and   transmitting, in response to the user request for the media content and the user selection that identifies the plurality of devices, the media content in a second format to the second device, the media content including digital rights for the second device.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the user selection identifies the plurality of selected devices by device type. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the user selection includes a plurality of device identifiers that identify the plurality of selected devices. 
     
     
         20 . A method for use in a first device that includes a user interface, an external device interface and a network interface, the method comprising:
 receiving a user selection of media content via the user interface;   receiving a user selection of a plurality of devices including the first device and at least one external device via the user interface, wherein the at least one external device is capable of storing and playing the media content independently from the first device;   sending identification data to the media network via the network interface, wherein the identification data includes a plurality of device identifiers that identify the plurality of selected devices;   sending a request for the media content via the network interface to a media network for a plurality of selected devices including the first device and the at least one external device;   receiving the media content via the network interface for the plurality of devices, the media content including digital rights for the plurality of devices; and   transferring the media content to at least one of the plurality of devices via the external device interface.