Physical digital media delivery

Abstract

The inventions relate to the delivery, transfer of content, and return of uniquely customized physical digital media. Digital content is specifically encrypted for use on a target player associated with a specific customer account. After use, the media is returned to a receiving location where use information is read from the media. Attention is given to cost of delivery, security of content, user experience in selecting, choosing, paying for, viewing or utilizing the content, and usage information created as a result of the content being utilized, rented, purchased, loaded or deleted.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 storing a second public encryption key, corresponding as a public-private key pair to a first private encryption key, into a key vault; 
 storing the first private encryption key in a secure memory device in a player; 
 encrypting, using a first content key, a digital content file; 
 encrypting, using the second public encryption key, the first content key for use with the player; 
 storing resulting encrypted digital content comprising the encrypted digital content file and the encrypted first content key on a first portable medium, the first portable medium configured to be used with the player; and 
 transmitting the first portable medium to the player; and 
 in response to detecting a compromise of security:
 re-encrypting the digital content file with a second content key; 
 encrypting, using the public encryption key, the second content key; 
 storing the re-encrypted digital file and the encrypted second content key on a second portable medium; and 
 transmitting the second portable medium to the player. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising storing the encrypted digital content file and the encrypted first content key in a hard drive associated with the first portable medium. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising storing the encrypted digital content file and the encrypted first content key in an optical drive associated with the first portable medium. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising storing the encrypted digital content file and the encrypted first content key in a solid-state memory associated with the first portable medium. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising receiving the first portable medium at a predetermined location, the predetermined location having access to the key vault with a cloned set of keys. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 re-encrypting digital content in response to detecting compromising of security; and   replacing the compromised digital content with re-encrypted digital content on the portable medium.   
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 updating encryption of the first portable medium that comprises a hard drive by block reading sectors of the hard drive into a memory module; 
 decrypting the encrypted digital content file and the encrypted first content key using an original encryption scheme utilized to originally encrypt the digital content file and the encrypted first content key; 
 re-encrypting the decrypted digital content file and the decrypted first content key using a new encryption scheme; and 
 
       storing the re-encrypted digital content file and the re-encrypted first content key to the hard drive. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 forming a secure flash processor, a clock storing correct Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), and a timer in the player at time of manufacture; 
 adjusting the time stored in the clock at the time the player is initialized; and 
 permitting reproduction, during predetermined time periods, of the encrypted digital content file and the encrypted first content key stored as data on the first portable medium. 
 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 reading usage information of the encrypted digital content file from the first portable medium. 
 
     
     
       10. A method comprising:
 sending a list of desired content desired to a content provider having access to a second public encryption key corresponding as a public-private key pair to a first private encryption key stored in a secure memory device in a player; 
 receiving in the player from a portable medium in communication with the player, an encrypted first content key and an encrypted digital content file comprising the desired content desired and an encrypted content key, the encrypted digital content file encrypted with the first content key for use with the player and the first content key encrypted with the second public encryption key; 
 copying the encrypted first content key and the encrypted digital content file from the portable medium to a local storage device in the player; and 
 playing the encrypted digital content file copied to the local storage device using the first private encryption key; and 
 in response to detection of a compromise of security:
 receiving a re-encrypted digital content file, wherein the re-encrypted digital content file is created by re-encrypting the digital content file with a second content key, and wherein the encrypted digital content file in the local storage device in the player is replaced with the re-encrypted digital content file; and 
 receiving an encrypted second content key, wherein the encrypted second content key is encrypted using the public encryption key, and wherein the encrypted first content key in the local storage device in the player is replaced with the encrypted second content key. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 storing usage information related to the playing of the encrypted digital content file on the portable medium. 
 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 determining that the encrypted digital content file on the local storage device has been altered and is no longer playable. 
 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 causing the player to generate a visual screen that permits selection of particular parts of digital content stored on the portable medium for transfer to the local storage device. 
 
     
     
       14. A portable cartridge, comprising:
 a connector configured to couple to a player having a corresponding first private encryption key associated therewith; and 
 a storage device coupled to the connector, wherein the storage device is configured to store digital content including a digital content file and a content key, one or more parts of which have wherein the content key has been encrypted by a second public encryption key, 
 wherein the second public encryption key is associated with the first private encryption key as a respective public-private key pair, such that the digital content key is configured to be reproduced by the player, 
 wherein the digital content further includes a list of available digital content files and the digital content includes information for communication with a processor, a clock, and a timer, wherein the processor, the clock, and the timer reside in the player, and 
 wherein the processor, clock and timer are portable cartridge is configured to communicate with the portable cartridge processor, the clock, and the timer to reproduce digital content onto a local storage medium in the player. 
 
     
     
       15. The portable cartridge of  claim 14 , wherein the digital content includes a content key and a digital content file that has been encrypted using the content key. 
     
     
       16. The portable cartridge of claim  15  14, wherein the content key is generated using a broadcast-based encryption algorithm, the broadcast-based encryption algorithm utilizing a seed key to initialize an encryption process, wherein the seed key is discarded after the encryption process is initialized, and wherein further keys are generated utilizing a secret decryption algorithm known to the player. 
     
     
       17. The portable cartridge of  claim 14 , wherein the storage device comprises one of a group comprising: a hard drive coupled to the connector via an interface that is an ATA, SATA, or SCSI interface,; an optical drive,; solid state memory,; a CD,; a DVD,; a flash card,; and a memory stick. 
     
     
       18. The portable cartridge of  claim 14 , wherein the connector comprises one of a standard connector and a proprietary connector. 
     
     
       19. The portable cartridge of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a processor onboard the storage device and configured to communicate with the player, such that the player is authorized to receive the digital content using an encrypted tunnel. 
 
     
     
       20. The portable cartridge of  claim 14 , wherein the list of available digital content files is filtered by preference data and the digital content further includes:
 an authentication file authorizing the player to receive the digital content, ship-to information, return address information, advertising materials, a help file, and a digital content file; and 
 digital rights associated with the digital content file, such that the digital content file is available when authorized by the digital rights being one or more of rules for digital content file usage, number of days per rental, specific times and dates for usage of the digital content file, pricing information and payment options. 
 
     
     
       21. The method of claim 1, wherein the second portable medium is different from the first portable medium. 
     
     
       22. A method comprising:
 storing a private encryption key in a first computing device, the private encryption key corresponding as a public-private key pair to a public encryption key;   encrypting, using a first content key, a digital content file;   encrypting, using the public encryption key, the first content key for use with the first computing device;   storing the encrypted digital content file and the encrypted first content key on a first portable medium, the first portable medium configured to be used with the first computing device; and   in response to detecting a compromise in security:
 re-encrypting the digital content file with a second content key; 
 encrypting, using the public encryption key, the second content key; 
 storing the re-encrypted digital file and the encrypted second content key on a second portable medium; and 
 transmitting the second portable medium to the first computing device. 
   
     
     
       23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:
 storing a second private encryption key in a second computing device, the second private encryption key corresponding as a public-private key pair to a second public encryption key;   encrypting, using the second public encryption key, the first content key to obtain a second encrypted first content key for use with the second computing device; and   storing the second encrypted first content key on the first portable medium.   
     
     
       24. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:
 reading usage information of the encrypted digital content file from the first portable medium, the usage information having been uploaded on the first portable medium by the first computing device.   
     
     
       25. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:
 reading a list of desired content from the first portable medium, the list of desired content having been uploaded on the first portable medium by the first computing device; and   selecting the digital content file before encryption based on the list of desired content.   
     
     
       26. The method according to claim 22, wherein the first portable medium includes one or more processors, a clock storing correct Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), and a timer; and
 the method further comprising:
 storing information on a time zone of the first computing device on the first portable medium, the information to be used for updating the first computing device according to the clock and the timer of the first portable medium. 
   
     
     
       27. The method of claim 22, wherein the second portable medium is different from the first portable medium. 
     
     
       28. A method comprising:
 storing a private encryption key in a media device, the private encryption key corresponding as a public-private key pair to a public encryption key;   receiving by the media device, from a first portable medium in communication with the media device, encrypted media content and an encrypted first content key, the encrypted first content key comprising a first content key having been encrypted using the public encryption key, and the encrypted media content having been encrypted using the first content key;   accessing, by the media device, the encrypted media content using the private encryption key and the first content key; and   in response to detection of a compromise of security:
 receiving, by the media device from a second portable medium in communication with the media device, re-encrypted media content, the re-encrypted media content having been created by re-encrypting the media content with a second content key; and 
 receiving, by the media device from the second portable medium, an encrypted second content key, the encrypted second content key having been encrypted using the public encrypted key. 
   
     
     
       29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the accessing of the encrypted media content comprises:
 decrypting the encrypted first content key using the private encryption key to obtain the first content key; and   decrypting the encrypted media content using the first content key to obtain decrypted media content.   
     
     
       30. The method according to claim 28, wherein the accessing of the encrypted media content comprises downloading, by the media device, the encrypted media content from the first portable medium. 
     
     
       31. The method according to claim 30, further comprising deleting, hiding, or scrambling the encrypted media content and the encrypted content key from the first portable medium after the downloading of the encrypted media content. 
     
     
       32. The method according to claim 30, further comprising encrypting, by the media device, the encrypted media content using an additional encryption key when the downloading of the encrypted media content is performed. 
     
     
       33. The method of claim 28, wherein the second portable medium is different from the first portable medium. 
     
     
       34. A media device configured to receive encrypted media content, the media device comprising:
 a storage device configured to store a private encryption key, the private encryption key corresponding as a public-private key pair to a public encryption key; and   at least one processor configured to:
 receive, from a first portable medium in communication with the media device, encrypted media content and an encrypted first content key, the encrypted first content key comprising a first content key having been encrypted using the public encryption key, and the encrypted media content having been encrypted using the first content key; 
 access the encrypted media content using the private encryption key and the first content key; and 
 in response to detection of a compromise of security:
 receive, from a second portable medium in communication with the media device, re-encrypted media content, the re-encrypted media content having been created by re-encrypting the media content with a second content key; and 
 receive, from the second portable medium, an encrypted second content key, the encrypted second content key having been encrypted using the public encryption key. 
 
   
     
     
       35. The media device of claim 34, wherein the at least one processor accesses the encrypted media content by:
 decrypting the first encrypted content key using the private encryption key to obtain the first content key; and   decrypting the encrypted media content using the first content key to obtain decrypted media content.   
     
     
       36. The media device of claim 34, wherein the at least one processor accesses the encrypted media content by downloading the encrypted media content from the first portable medium. 
     
     
       37. The media device of claim 36, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to delete, hide, or scramble the encrypted media content and the encrypted first content key on the first portable medium after downloading of the encrypted media content. 
     
     
       38. The media device of claim 36, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to encrypt the encrypted media content using an additional encryption key while downloading the encrypted media content from the first portable medium. 
     
     
       39. The media device of claim 34, wherein the second portable medium is different from the first portable medium.