Methods and Apparatus for Sharing, Transferring and Removing Previously Owned Digital Media

Abstract

The invention provide systems and methods for management of digital media objects, comprising first and second client digital data processors (e.g., personal (or private) computers, laptops, dedicated music devices, electronic book readers, and so forth) that are in communications coupling with one or more stores (e.g, dedicated disk drives, flash drives, cloud storage, etc.). At least one digital media object (DMO) or copy thereof is stored in one or more of those stores and is accessible by at least one of the first and second client digital data processors.

1 - 62 . (canceled) 
     
     
         63 . A system for management of digital media objects, comprising:
 A. first and second digital data processors that are coupled for communications,   B. management logic executing on at least one of the first and second digital data processors, the management logic generating an instance ID for a digital media object or copy thereof (hereinafter, collectively, “digital media object”) that is transferred from the first digital data processor to the second digital data processor for storage thereon,   C. the management logic associating the instance ID with the digital media object as stored on the second digital data processor, and   D. wherein the instance ID is globally unique.   
     
     
         64 . The system of  claim 63 , wherein first digital data processor is a server digital data processor and wherein the second digital data processor is a client digital data processor. 
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 63 , wherein the management logic effects embedding of the instance ID with the digital media object as stored on the second digital data processor. 
     
     
         66 . The system of  claim 65 , wherein the management logic effects embedding of the instance ID as an acoustic or other watermark. 
     
     
         67 . The system of  claim 63 , wherein the digital media object is a digital file representing any of a digital song, a video, a movie, an electronic book, a digital story, a digital article, a digital document, a digital still image, a digital game, or a portion thereof. 
     
     
         68 .- 73 . (canceled) 
     
     
         74 . A system for management of digital media objects, comprising:
 A. first and second digital data processors that are coupled for communications,   B. management logic executing on at least one of the first and second digital data processors, the management logic validating a digital media object or copy thereof (hereinafter, collectively, “digital media object”) that is transferred from the first digital data processor to the second digital data processor for storage thereon by any of:
 comparing for disparity the purchase date of a digital media object as, optionally, reflected by MP3 tags or other metadata, with the creation date of a file embodying that object as, optionally, reflected in a file system of a said digital data processor from which that object is transferred, in order to discern evidence of surreptitious copying, 
 examining MP3 tags or other metadata associated with the digital media object for evidence that it may have been surreptitiously altered to mask wrongful copying, in order to discern evidence of surreptitious copying, 
 examining a cache of a browser or other client-side software executing on digital data processor or other device on which the digital media object is stored to discern whether the digital media object was downloaded from a legitimate download source, in order to discern evidence of surreptitious copying, 
 comparing for similarity a fingerprint of the digital media object against a fingerprint of such objects recorded as already having been sold by an owner of a digital data processor from which such the digital media object is being transferred, in order to discern evidence of surreptitious copying, 
 any of counting or tracking user identifications of the digital media object and other such objects associated with a said digital data processor from which the digital media object is being transferred, and determining whether the counted or tracked number is excessively large, in order to discern evidence of surreptitious copying, 
 any of counting or tracking differences in dates and/or software packages used to convert the digital media object and others, if any, from a same CD, DVD or other hardcopy medium from which the digital media object was converted to identify differences therein suggesting surreptitious copying. 
   
     
     
         75 . The system of  claim 74 , wherein first digital data processor is a server digital data processor and wherein the second digital data processor is a client digital data processor. 
     
     
         76 . The system of  claim 74 , wherein the management logic responds on evidence of surreptitious copying by any of
 A. examining tables or other records to determine whether the digital media object is rightfully owned,   B. designating the digital media object as ineligible for sale,   C. warning an owner of a digital data processor from which the digital media object is transferred of evidence of the surreptitious copying,   D. deleting the digital media object.   
     
     
         77 . A method for management of digital media objects, comprising:
 A. transferring a digital media object or copy thereof (hereinafter, collectively, “digital media object”) from the first digital data processor to the second digital data processor for storage thereon,   B. with management logic executing on at least one of the first and second digital data processors, validating a digital media object that is transferred from the first digital data processor to the second digital data processor for storage thereon by any of:
 comparing for disparity the purchase date of a digital media object as, optionally, reflected by MP3 tags or other metadata, with the creation date of a file embodying that object as, optionally, reflected in a file system of a said digital data processor from which that object is transferred, in order to discern evidence of surreptitious copying, 
 examining MP3 tags or other metadata associated with the digital media object for evidence that it may have been surreptitiously altered to mask wrongful copying, in order to discern evidence of surreptitious copying, 
 examining a cache of a browser or other client-side software executing on digital data processor or other device on which the digital media object is stored to discern whether the digital media object was downloaded from a legitimate download source, in order to discern evidence of surreptitious copying, 
 querying one or more “cloud” storage services to discern whether a copy of the DMO is currently stored there in order to in order to discern evidence of surreptitious copying, 
 comparing for similarity a fingerprint of the digital media object against a fingerprint of such objects recorded as already having been sold by an owner of a digital data processor from which such the digital media object is being transferred, in order to discern evidence of surreptitious copying, 
 any of counting or tracking user identifications of the digital media object and other such objects associated with a said digital data processor from which the digital media object is being transferred, and determining whether the counted or tracked number is excessively large, in order to discern evidence of surreptitious copying, and 
 any of counting or tracking differences in dates and/or software packages used to convert the digital media object and others, if any, from a same CD, DVD or other hardcopy medium from which the digital media object was converted to identify differences therein suggesting surreptitious copying. 
   
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 77 , wherein first digital data processor is a server digital data processor and wherein the second digital data processor is a client digital data processor. 
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 77 , comprising responding to evidence of surreptitious copying by any of
 A. examining tables or other records to determine whether the digital media object is rightfully owned,   B. designating the digital media object as ineligible for sale,   C. warning an owner of a digital data processor from which the digital media object is transferred of evidence of the surreptitious copying,   D. deleting the digital media object.   
     
     
         80 - 87 . (canceled)