Digital media content distribution

Abstract

A method for distributing digital media content, including the use of a digital performance right key that is unique for a media content and a subscriber of the digital media content distribution service, and apparatuses configured to practice the method or portions thereof, are described herein.

1 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program code, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform a method for providing media content, the method comprising:
 receiving directly from a subscriber device a request to stream media content independent from the subscriber device directly to an apparatus located proximally to the subscriber device, the request including a performance key;   performing a validation procedure to verify that the subscriber device is proximally disposed to the proximally located apparatus, wherein performing the validation procedure comprises periodically transmitting a challenge to the proximally located apparatus, wherein the challenge requires the proximally located apparatus to request a response from the subscriber device using a short range communication; and   solely in response to the request received directly from the subscriber device, streaming the media content directly to the proximally located apparatus without additionally receiving the request from the proximally located apparatus.   
     
     
         38 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 37 , wherein the challenge requires the subscriber device to decrypt a portion of the media content. 
     
     
         39 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 38 , wherein the challenge requires the subscriber device to connect to a server to be able to continue decrypting. 
     
     
         40 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 37 , wherein the method further comprises initially detecting that the subscriber device and proximally located apparatus are proximally disposed based on location data received from the subscriber device and the proximally located apparatus. 
     
     
         41 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 37 , wherein the request from the subscriber device includes at least one of a media type and an encoding format supported by the proximally located apparatus. 
     
     
         42 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 37 , wherein the media content is provided in a format of higher quality than the subscriber device is able to render. 
     
     
         43 . An apparatus for providing media content, the apparatus comprising:
 a communication interface configured to:
 receive directly from a subscriber device a request to stream media content independent from the subscriber device directly to an apparatus located proximally to the subscriber device, the request including a performance key, 
 perform a validation procedure to verify that the subscriber device is proximally disposed to the proximally located apparatus, wherein performing the validation procedure comprises periodically transmitting a challenge to the proximally located apparatus, wherein the challenge requires the proximally located apparatus to request a response from the subscriber device using a short range communication; and 
 solely in response to the request received directly from the subscriber device, stream the media content directly to the proximally located apparatus without additionally receiving the request from the proximally located apparatus. 
   
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the communication interface is further configured to periodically request that the subscriber device check in with a server. 
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the communication interface is further configured to initially detecting that the subscriber device and proximally located apparatus are proximally disposed based on location data received from the subscriber device and the proximally located apparatus. 
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the request from the subscriber device includes at least one of a media type and an encoding format supported by the proximally located apparatus. 
     
     
         47 . A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program code, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform a method for providing media content, the method comprising:
 transmitting a request from a subscriber device directly to a server to stream media content independent from the subscriber device directly to an apparatus proximally located to the subscriber device, the request including a performance key, wherein the server streams the media content solely in response to the request transmitted directly to the server;   receiving a portion of the media content from the proximally located apparatus using a short range communication;   decrypting the portion of the media content; and   transmitting the decrypted portion of the media content to the proximally located apparatus.   
     
     
         48 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 47 , wherein the method comprises periodically receiving and decrypting portions of the media content. 
     
     
         49 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 47 , wherein the method further comprises periodically connecting to the server, and wherein the periodic connections to the server are needed to continue decryption. 
     
     
         50 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 47 , wherein the method further comprises initially providing location data to the server to determine the presence of the proximally located apparatus. 
     
     
         51 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 47 , wherein the method further comprises initially sending a discovery packet to detect the presence of the proximally located apparatus. 
     
     
         52 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 51 , wherein the method further comprises receiving a response from the proximally located apparatus, wherein the response includes at least one of a media type and an encoding format supported by the proximally located apparatus. 
     
     
         53 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 47 , wherein transmitting the request comprises transmitting an encoding format, and wherein the encoding format is of a higher quality than the subscriber device is able to render. 
     
     
         54 . A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program code, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform a method for rendering media content, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a media device, streaming of media content directly from a server, the media content being streamed solely in response to a request received by the server directly from a subscriber device without the media device additionally transmitting the request to the server, the subscriber device being proximally located to the media device, and the request including a performance key of the media content;   receiving periodic challenges from the server;   in response to the periodic challenges, verifying that the subscriber device remains proximally disposed to the media device; and   rendering the received media content.   
     
     
         55 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 54 , wherein verifying that the subscriber device remains proximally disposed comprises requesting a response from the subscriber device using a short range communication. 
     
     
         56 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 54 , wherein verifying that the subscriber device remains proximally disposed comprises transmitting a portion of the media content to the subscriber device for decryption. 
     
     
         57 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 54 , wherein the method further comprises initially receiving a discovery packet from a subscriber device seeking proximally located apparatuses. 
     
     
         58 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 57 , wherein the method further comprises responding to the discovery packet, wherein the response includes at least one of a media type and an encoding format supported. 
     
     
         59 . An apparatus for rendering media content, the apparatus comprising:
 a communication interface configured to:
 receive streaming of media content directly from a server, the media content being streamed solely in response to a request received by the server directly from a subscriber device without the communication interface additionally transmitting the request to the server, the subscriber device being proximally located to the apparatus, and the request including a performance key of the media content, 
 receive periodic challenges from the server, and 
 in response to the periodic challenges, verify that the subscriber device remains proximally disposed to the apparatus; and 
   a user interface configured to render the received media content.   
     
     
         60 . The apparatus of  claim 59 , wherein the challenge requires the communication interface to request a response from the subscriber device using a short range communication. 
     
     
         61 . The apparatus of  claim 59 , wherein the challenge requires the communication interface to transmit a portion of the media content to the subscriber device for decryption. 
     
     
         62 . The apparatus of  claim 59 , wherein the communication interface is configured to initially receive a discovery packet from a subscriber device seeking proximally located apparatuses. 
     
     
         63 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , wherein the communication interface is configured to respond to the discovery packet, wherein the response includes at least one of a media type and an encoding format supported by the user interface.