Content distribution system and method

Abstract

A method and system for the secure distribution of content to authorized persons. A content provider uploads encrypted content to the system and specifies the institutions or individuals to which the content is to be provided and release conditions under which it is to be made available. Encrypted content is made available to a recipient together with a decryption code, if the identity of the recipient can be confirmed through a validation procedure and if the release conditions are met. The release conditions may include a time and date at which the release is to occur. The encrypted content has an associated sample which may be streamed to the recipient so as to permit the recipient to assess whether to download the fill encrypted content or not. In one embodiment, the validation procedure includes biometric validation of the identity of the recipient.

1 . A method of distributing digital music to a plurality of recipients over a distributed computer network, each recipient having a recipient terminal connected to the network, comprising:
 registering the plurality of recipients by storing a user profile for each recipient in a distribution server, wherein each user profile includes user information uniquely identifying the associated recipient;   receiving and storing, at the distribution server, a first music file delivered from a provider computer system connected to the network;   storing, at the distribution server, 1) a specific distribution list associated with the first music file and 2) at least one release condition, wherein the specific distribution list identifies one or more of the user profiles, and wherein the distribution server contains other music files, each music file having an associated distribution list and at least one associated release condition;   receiving a request for access from one of the recipient terminals, the request for access including identity information;   in response to the request,
 matching the identity information with the user information stored in one of the user profiles to verify the request for access is associated with a verified user profile, 
 searching the distribution server for distribution lists identifying the verified user profile, and 
 providing information to the recipient terminal regarding music files associated with distribution lists identifying the verified user profile, 
   receiving, at the distribution sever, a request for the first music file from the recipient terminal; and   in response to the receipt of the request,
 evaluating whether the release condition is met, and 
 if the release condition is met, then providing the recipient terminal with a copy of the first music file. 
   
   
   
       2 . The method claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said user information comprises a username and password, and wherein the identity information in the request for access comprises a submitted username and submitted password, and wherein matching includes identifying the verified user profile based on the submitted username and confirming that the submitted password matches the password stored in the verified user profile. 
   
   
       3 . The method claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said identity information in the request for access comprises a unique code associated with the recipient terminal. 
   
   
       4 . The method claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said release condition includes a time and a date before which the recipient terminal cannot be provided with the copy of the first music file. 
   
   
       5 . The method claimed in  claim 1 , further including, before receiving the request for access, notifying said plurality of recipients identified in said specific distribution list of the availability of said first music file. 
   
   
       6 . The method claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first music file comprises an encrypted music file, and wherein providing the recipient terminal with the copy includes downloading the encrypted music file to the recipient terminal and providing the recipient terminal with decryption code for decrypting the encrypted music file to produce said copy. 
   
   
       7 . The method claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first music file comprises an encrypted music file, and wherein providing the recipient terminal with the copy includes decrypting said encrypted music file to produce said copy and downloading said copy to the recipient terminal. 
   
   
       8 . The method claimed in  claim 7 , wherein downloading includes streaming. 
   
   
       9 . The method claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the distribution list and release condition are received at the distribution server from the provider computer system. 
   
   
       10 . A method of distributing digital music to a plurality of recipients over a distributed computer network using a distribution server connected to the network, each recipient having a recipient terminal connected to the network, wherein the distribution server includes a user profile for each recipient, and wherein each user profile includes user information identifying the associated recipient, the method comprising:
 accessing the distribution server through a provider computer system connected to the network;   selecting a first music file on the provider computer system;   uploading the first music file from the provider computer system to the distribution server; and   creating, 1) a specific distribution list associated with the first music file and 2) at least one release condition for the release of the first music file, wherein the specific distribution list identifies one or more of the user profiles, and wherein the distribution server contains other music files, each music file having an associated distribution list and at least one associated release condition,   wherein, on receiving a request for access to the distribution server from one of the recipient terminals, the request for access including identity information, the distribution server is configured to match the identity information with the user information stored in one of the user profiles to verify the request for access is associated with a verified user profile, search the distribution server for distribution lists identifying the verified user profile, and provide information to the recipient terminal regarding music files associated with distribution lists identifying the verified user profile, and wherein   on receiving a request for the first music file from the recipient terminal, the distribution server is configured to evaluate whether the release condition is met and, if the release condition is met, then to provide the recipient terminal with a copy of the first music file.   
   
   
       11 . The method claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said release condition includes a time and a date before which the recipient terminal cannot be provided with the copy of the first music file. 
   
   
       12 . The method claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the creating step is performed by a content provider using the provider computer system. 
   
   
       13 . A method of obtaining digital music over a distributed computer network, the distributed computer network having a distribution server storing a first music file, a specific distribution list associated with the first music file, and at least one release condition, wherein the specific distribution list identifies one or more user profiles stored on the distribution server, and wherein the distribution server contains other music files, each music file having an associated distribution list and at least one release condition, the method comprising:
 registering with a distribution server using a recipient terminal connected to the network, the registering step including providing user information identifying a recipient, wherein, in response to the registration, the user information is stored by the distribution server in a first user profile that includes the user information;   sending a request for access to the distribution server from the recipient terminal, the request for access including identity information, wherein, in response to the request, the distribution server 1) matches the identity information with the user information stored in the first user profile to verify that the request for access is associated with a verified user profile, and 2) searches the distribution server for distribution lists identifying the verified user profile;   receiving information at the recipient terminal from the distribution server regarding music files associated with distribution lists identifying the verified user profile;   sending a request for the first music file to the distribution server from the recipient terminal, wherein, in response to receipt of the request for the first music file, the distribution server evaluates whether the release condition is met; and   if the release condition is met, then receiving a copy of the first music file at the recipient terminal from the distribution server.   
   
   
       14 . The method claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said user information comprises a username and password, and wherein the identity information in the request for access comprises a submitted username and submitted password, and wherein the distribution server is configured to verify the request for access by identifying the first user profile based on the submitted username and confirming that the submitted password matches the password stored in the first user profile. 
   
   
       15 . The method claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said identity information in the request for access comprises a unique code associated with the recipient terminal. 
   
   
       16 . The method claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said release condition includes a time and a date before which the recipient terminal cannot receive the copy of the first music file. 
   
   
       17 . The method claimed in  claim 13 , further including, before sending the request for access, receiving email notification of the availability of said first music file from the distribution server. 
   
   
       18 . The method claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said first music file comprises an encrypted music file, and wherein receiving the copy includes receiving the encrypted music file at the recipient terminal, receiving decryption code from the distribution server, and decrypting the encrypted music file using said decryption code to produce said copy at the recipient terminal. 
   
   
       19 . The method claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said first music file comprises an encrypted music file, and wherein receiving the copy includes receiving a decrypted copy of said encrypted music file at the recipient terminal. 
   
   
       20 . The method claimed in  claim 19 , wherein receiving the decrypted copy includes receiving a stream containing the decrypted copy. 
   
   
       21 . A system for distributing digital music to a plurality of recipients over a distributed computer network, each recipient having a recipient terminal connected to the network, a music provider having a provider terminal connected to the network, the system comprising:
 a distribution server, including a processor, connected to the network for communicating with the provider terminal and the recipient terminals, wherein the distribution server is configured to receive a request for access from one of the recipient terminals, the request for access including identity information;   a computer-readable storage device accessible to the distribution server and storing
 a user profile for each recipient, wherein each user profile includes user information identifying the associated recipient, 
 music files including a first music file, uploaded by one or more provider terminals, 
 a distribution list for each of the music files, including a first distribution list associated with the first music file, each distribution list identifying one or more of the user profiles based on selections received from the provider terminal when uploading the associated music file; 
 at least one release condition associated with each music file; 
 an identity verification module executable by the processor to configure the distribution server to, in response to the request for access, 
 match the identity information with the user information stored in one of the user profiles to verify that the request for access is associated with a verified user profile, 
 search the distribution server for distribution lists identifying the verified user profile, and 
 provide information to the recipient terminal identifying music files associated with distribution lists identifying the verified user profile, 
   
     wherein the distribution server is configured to receive a request for the first music file from said one of the recipient terminals, evaluate whether the release condition is met, and, if the release condition is met, provide said one of the recipient terminals with a copy of the first music file. 
   
   
       22 . The system claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said user information comprises a username and password, and wherein the identity information in the request for access comprises a submitted username and submitted password, and wherein the user verification module configures the distribution server to identify the verified user profile based on the submitted username and to confirm that the submitted password matches the password stored in the verified user profile. 
   
   
       23 . The system claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said identity information in the request for access comprises a unique code associated with the recipient terminal. 
   
   
       24 . The system claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said release condition includes a time and a date before which the recipient terminal cannot be provided with the copy of the first music file. 
   
   
       25 . The system claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the distribution server is configured to send a notification to the plurality of recipients identified in said first distribution list regarding the availability of said first music file. 
   
   
       26 . The system claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said first music file comprises an encrypted music file, and wherein the distribution server is configured to provide said one of the recipient terminals with a copy by downloading the encrypted music file to said one of the recipient terminals and providing said one of the recipient terminals with decryption code for decrypting the encrypted music file to produce said copy. 
   
   
       27 . The system claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said first music file comprises an encrypted music file, and wherein the distribution server is configured to provide said one of the recipient terminals with a copy by decrypting said encrypted music file to produce said copy and downloading said copy to said one of the recipient terminals. 
   
   
       28 . A method of distributing digital music to a plurality of recipients over a distributed computer network, each recipient having a recipient terminal connected to the network, comprising:
 registering the plurality of recipients by storing a user profile for each recipient in a distribution server, wherein each user profile includes user information identifying the associated recipient;   receiving and storing, at the distribution server, a first music file delivered from a provider computer system connected to the network;   
     receiving, from the provider computer system, and storing at the distribution server, 1) a specific distribution list associated with the first music file and 2) at least one release condition for release of the first music file, wherein the specific distribution list associates the first music file with one or more user profiles, and wherein the distribution server contains other music files, each music file having an associated distribution list;
 receiving, at the distribution server, a request for access from one of the recipient terminals, the request for access including identity information; 
 at the distribution server, in response to the request,
 matching the identity information with the user information stored in one of the user profiles to verify the request for access is associated with a verified user profile, 
 searching the distribution server for distribution lists containing associations with the verified user profile, and 
 providing information to the recipient terminal regarding music files associated with the verified user profile, 
 
 receiving, at the distribution server, a request for the first music file from the recipient terminal; 
 evaluating whether the release condition is met; and 
 if the release condition is met, then providing the recipient terminal with a copy of the first music file from the distribution server. 
 
   
   
       29 . A method of distributing digital music to a plurality of recipients over a distributed computer network, each recipient having a recipient terminal connected to the network, comprising:
 registering the plurality of recipients by storing a user profile for each recipient in a distribution server, wherein each user profile includes user information uniquely identifying the associated recipient;   receiving, at the distribution server, a plurality of music files delivered from provider computer systems connected to the network;   storing the music files in the distribution server;   storing, in the distribution server, a distribution list for each music file and a release condition for each music file, wherein each distribution list identifies at least one of the user profiles;   receiving a request for access from one of the recipient terminals, the request for access including identity information;   in response to the request,
 matching the identity information with the user information stored in one of the user profiles to verify the request for access is associated with a verified user profile, and 
 determining which music files have a distribution list that includes the verified user profile; 
   receiving, at the distribution sever, a request from the recipient terminal to access one of the music files; and   in response to the receipt of the request,
 determining whether the release condition is met, and 
 if the release condition is met, then providing the recipient terminal with a copy of the first music file.