US6850252B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Intelligent electronic appliance system and method
Assignee: STEVEN M HOFFBERG 2004-1 GRAT
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Filing: 2000-10-05
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Granted: 2005-02-01
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Expires: 2020-10-05
Abstract
Abstract An intelligent electronic appliance preferably includes a user interface, data input and/or output port, and an intelligent processor. A preferred embodiment comprises a set top box for interacting with broadband media streams, with an adaptive user interface, content-based media processing and/or media metadata processing, and telecommunications integration. An adaptive user interface models the user, by observation, feedback, and/or explicit input, and presents a user interface and/or executes functions based on the user model. A content-based media processing system analyzes media content, for example audio and video, to understand the content, for example to generate content-descriptive metadata. A media metadata processing system operates on locally or remotely generated metadata to process the media in accordance with the metadata, which may be, for example, an electronic program guide, MPEG 7 data, and/or automatically generated format. A set top box preferably includes digital trick play effects, and incorporated digital rights management features.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven M. Hoffberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 04:04
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/162; H04N7/163; G; G06; G06V; G06V40/00; G06V40/10; G06V40/103; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/431; H04N21/4318; H04N21/44; H04N21/44008; H04N21/442; H04N21/44213; H04N21/44222; H04N21/44224; H04N21/45; H04N21/466; H04N21/4668; H04N21/47; H04N21/475
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A digital rights management method, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving media having visual or audio content; (b) analyzing a physical environment of presentation to a user; (c) predistorting the media in accordance with a state of the analyzed physical environment to at least partially compensate for the physical environment while altering the visual or audio content from its state as received; (d) presenting the predistorted media to the user in the physical environment; and (e) restricting access to the received media in an undistorted form, to thereby manage rights in the media.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
93 words
A digital rights management method, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving media having visual or audio content; (b) analyzing a physical environment of presentation to a user; (c) predistorting the media in accordance with a state of the analyzed physical environment to at least partially compensate for the physical environment while altering the visual or audio content from its state as received; (d) presenting the predistorted media to the user in the physical environment; and (e) restricting access to the received media in an undistorted form, to thereby manage rights in the media.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: defining a minimum level of predistortion; and predistorting the media to a level of distortion in excess of said minimum level of distortion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of introducing a watermark into the media, rendering the predistorted media traceable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein said predistorting comprises introducing a pseudorandom component into the media in a manner resistant to filtering.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein said method is performed within an apparatus within the environment of operation, the apparatus forming a part of and perceptually influencing the analyzed environment of presentation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 5 , wherein the apparatus produces intrinsic acoustic emissions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 5 , wherein an intrinsic acoustic emission from the apparatus is controlled in accordance with the media.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method according to claim 5 , wherein the apparatus comprises: (a) an actuator, producing an acoustic emission; and (b) a controllable noise abatement transducer; the method further comprising the step of controlling said actuator and said transducer, to reduce a perceived effect of an acoustic emission from the apparatus, with respect to the received media.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 8 , wherein the apparatus comprises a rotating data storage medium and a positionable data read head on said actuator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 8 , wherein the apparatus comprises a rotating magnetic disk storage system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 8 , wherein the apparatus comprises a rotating optical disk storage system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 8 , wherein said controllable noise abatement transducer comprises a low frequency, high amplitude, narrowband transducer and a broadband, low amplitude transducer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 8 , further comprising the step of controlling said actuator to produce an acoustic signature corresponding to a compensation capability of said noise abatement transducer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 8 , further comprising the step of controlling said actuator and said noise abatement transducer simultaneously based on a model of said data storage device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 5 , wherein the predistortion of the media compensates for the perceptual influences of the apparatus in the environment of the presentation.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for securing against undistorted copying media presented by an apparatus within physical environment of presentation, comprising: (a) receiving media; (b) producing an acoustic emission from the apparatus, the acoustic emission not being defined by the media; (c) analyzing a physical environment of presentation to a user, comprising at least measuring the acoustic emission from the apparatus; (d) predistorting the media in accordance with the analyzed physical environment of presentation to at least partially compensate for the physical environment while altering the media from its state as received; (e) outputting the predistorted media in the physical environment of presentation to the user; and (f) restricting access to the received media in an undistorted form, to thereby manage rights in the media.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for securing against undistorted copying media presented by an apparatus within physical environment of presentation, comprising: (a) receiving media; (b) producing an acoustic emission from the apparatus, the acoustic emission not being defined by the media; (c) analyzing a physical environment of presentation to a user, comprising at least measuring the acoustic emission from the apparatus; (d) predistorting the media in accordance with the analyzed physical environment of presentation to at least partially compensate for the physical environment while altering the media from its state as received; (e) outputting the predistorted media in the physical environment of presentation to the user; and (f) restricting access to the received media in an undistorted form, to thereby manage rights in the media.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 16 , wherein the acoustic emission is generated by a fan.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 16 , wherein the acoustic emission is generated by an electromechanical actuator.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
114 words
An apparatus for securing against undistorted copying of media, comprising: (a) an input for receiving media; (b) means, associated with the apparatus, for producing an acoustic emission in a physical environment, not defined by the media; (c) a processor for analyzing ad a physical environment of presentation to a user, comprising at least measuring the acoustic emission and predistorting the media in accordance with the analyzed physical environment of presentation to the user, to at least partially compensate for the physical environment while altering the media from its state as received at the input, and for restricting access to the received media in undistorted form; (d) an output for presenting the predistorted media user.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
114 words
An apparatus for securing against undistorted copying of media, comprising: (a) an input for receiving media; (b) means, associated with the apparatus, for producing an acoustic emission in a physical environment, not defined by the media; (c) a processor for analyzing ad a physical environment of presentation to a user, comprising at least measuring the acoustic emission and predistorting the media in accordance with the analyzed physical environment of presentation to the user, to at least partially compensate for the physical environment while altering the media from its state as received at the input, and for restricting access to the received media in undistorted form; (d) an output for presenting the predistorted media user.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein the received media is encrypted, and remains secure until after distortion.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein the predistorted media comprises a media watermark identifying said apparatus.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus according to claim 20 , wherein said apparatus further comprises a transducer for sensing environment of presentation, predistorting the media including compensation for the acoustic emission from said apparatus and sensed external conditions.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-02-01 | 2008-08-02 | 2009-02-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-02-01 | 2012-08-02 | 2013-02-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-02-01 | 2016-08-02 | 2017-02-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |