System and methods for error tolerant content delivery over multicast channels

Abstract

A system and method for error tolerant content delivery is provided. A data file for transmission including metadata and data is received. The metadata includes mandatory portions and optional portions. The file is parsed into packets and transmitted as a data stream to a plurality of receiver devices, which may look for transmission errors in the control data of the data stream. Data streams comprising errors are discarded; otherwise, the receiver device converts the data stream into the native file format and stores it. The system may bifurcate each data file into the common encrypted content and the uniquely encrypted portion. The commonly encrypted portion of the file may be transmitted to a plurality of receiver devices using a multicast transmission medium, and the relatively small uniquely encrypted portions may be transmitted using a unicast method to each receiver individually. The receiver device may then reconstitute the DRM data file.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for error tolerant delivery of transmitted data to a plurality of receiver devices, useful in association with a transmitter configured to periodically transmit data associated with the plurality of receiver devices, the method comprising:
 receiving a transmission of a data stream in a streaming file format, wherein the data stream includes data comprising control data and content data;   identifying errors in the control data;   if errors are located in the control data, then discard the data stream;   otherwise, convert the data stream into a native file format.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising correcting errors in the content data, wherein the correcting errors includes at least one of performing a spelling check on text, pattern recognition, and image cloning. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising sending a request for a retransmission of the data stream when the data stream is discarded. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the converted file is stored within a receiver device for at least one of later playback and queued processing. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining if errors within the content data is above a tolerance by comparing the total number of errors in the content data to a threshold; and   if errors are above the tolerance, then discarding the data stream.   
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the threshold is dependent upon at least one of the file size and the file type. 
     
     
         7 . A method for delivering content dictated by data rights management to a plurality of receiver devices, useful in association with a transmitter, the method comprising:
 receiving a plurality of data files for content, wherein the content for all the plurality of data files is encrypted using a master key, and wherein the master key is then uniquely encrypted for each data file of the plurality of data files, wherein the unique encryption corresponds to a single target receiver, and wherein the uniquely encrypted master key is included in a first portion before the content in each of the data files;   bifurcating each data file of the plurality of data files into the encrypted content and the uniquely encrypted first portion;   transmitted the encrypted content, using a multicast platform, to a plurality of target receivers; and   transmitting each uniquely encrypted first portion, using a unicast transmission, to each respective receiver of the plurality of target receivers.   
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the multicast platform includes a frequency modulated radio signal. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the unicast transmission includes transmission over at least one of a cellular network, a digital television signal, a short range wireless channel, power line carrier, optical transmission, infrared transmission, satellite transmission, and a physical multicast channel. 
     
     
         10 . A method for receiving content dictated by data rights management, useful in association with a transmitter, the method comprising:
 receiving, via a multicast transmission, encrypted content, wherein the content is encrypted using a master key;   receiving, via a unicast transmission, a unique first portion, wherein the unique first portion includes the master key uniquely encrypted corresponding to a target receiver;   reconstituting a data file from the encrypted content and the uniquely encrypted first portion;   decrypting the first portion using unique decryption keys on the target receiver in order to obtain the master key; and   decrypting the encrypted content using the obtained master key.   
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the multicast transmission includes transmission over a frequency modulated radio signal. 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the unicast transmission includes transmission over at least one of a cellular network, a digital television signal, a short range wireless channel, power line carrier, optical transmission, infrared transmission, satellite transmission, and a physical multicast channel. 
     
     
         13 . A system for receiving content dictated by data rights management, useful in association with a transmitter, the system comprising:
 a first receiver configured to receive, via a multicast transmission, encrypted content, wherein the content is encrypted using a master key;   a second receiver configured to receive, via a unicast transmission, a unique first portion, wherein the unique first portion includes the master key uniquely encrypted corresponding to a target receiver; and   a processor configured to reconstitute a data file from the encrypted content and the uniquely encrypted first portion, decrypt the first portion using unique decryption keys on the target receiver in order to obtain the master key, and decrypt the encrypted content using the obtained master key.   
     
     
         14 . The system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the first receiver is configured to receive a transmission over a frequency modulated radio signal. 
     
     
         15 . The system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the second receiver is configured to receive a transmission over at least one of a cellular network, a digital television signal, a short range wireless channel, power line carrier, optical transmission, infrared transmission, satellite transmission, and a physical multicast channel.