According to one embodiment, a method of cryptographically binding content to a QUIC connection is performed by a first device. The method includes: generating a key based on at least one identifier corresponding to the QUIC connection; encrypting the content using the key based on the at least one identifier corresponding to the QUIC connection; and providing the encrypted content for transmission to a second device over the QUIC connection.

Tools are provided for distributing access-restricted content in an internet protocol television (“IPTV”) environment based on portable entitlement keys. Such tools can include a decoder, an encoder, and a network entitlement handler. The decoder may be configured to receive a key associated with entitlement information, and transmit the entitlement information over a network. The encoder may be configured to receive content from content providers, and to encode the content to create IP-compatible content, with access restrictions based on entitlement. The network entitlement handler may be configured to receive a request for requested content from the decoder; receive the access-restricted content (including the requested content) from the encoder; and transmit the requested content over the network to the decoder using IP, when the decoder is entitled to receive the requested content.

A content distribution system configured to store first and second creator content generated respectively by first and second creators, receive first and second rules generated separately by the first and second creator, respectively, the first rules governing requirements for consumers to access the first content, the second rules governing requirements for consumers to access the second content, the first and second rules requiring that a potential consumer must be a member of the respective creator's group, the first rules further requiring that the potential consumer must pay to receive access to the first content, receive a content request from a first-third party system from a first consumer requesting access to the first content, confirm that the first user qualifies to receive access and that the first third-party system is permitted, and provide access to the first content.

An information processing device includes: an exchange unit configured to exchange information concerning a communication state with, respect to a server using a first communication with another information processing device which becomes the other party of communication in a second communication; and a method selection unit configured to select a transmission/reception method of content data with respect to another information processing device using the second communication based on the information exchanged by the exchange unit in accordance with the communication state of each device with respect to the server using the first communication.

A method for delivering multimedia content during a communal session at a media system commutatively coupled with a streaming application. The method includes receiving a request to initiate the communal session; retrieving contact information for user devices selected to participate in the communal session; retrieving an address for each of the user devices; receiving a source location for multimedia content selected in the streaming application; and sharing the source location with a player that is configured to transmit the multimedia content to each of the user devices. The method also includes, at an appointed time, initiating video playback for each of the user devices, synchronizing delivery of the multimedia content and social media content generated on each of the user devices, and exchanging playback control messages with the streaming application to direct the synchronized transmissions of the multimedia content and social media content to each of the user devices.

Media content items is provided to content consumers for playback and consumption includes plurality of nodes interacting with each other in accordance with defined protocol in communication network. A first node receives a request for playback of a media content from a content consumer. A second node owns the requested media content and provides media content rights to the first participant and/or the content consumer. The first node further provides media content metadata to the consumer device for consumption. A plurality of instances of a distributed media rights transaction ledger, associated with respective node, includes a plurality of media content rights transactions corresponding to an acquisition of the media content rights by the first participant and/or content consumer prior to the consumption of the media content. The plurality of media content rights transactions is categorized, defined, and managed by plurality of nodes in accordance with the defined protocol.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to monitor streaming media content. Example apparatus disclosed herein include means for determining whether a streaming media flag is asserted in a payload of a watermark detected in media presented by a media presentation device, the streaming media flag to indicate whether the media was distributed to the media presentation device as streaming media. Disclosed example apparatus also include means for discarding the detected watermark from collected data in response to a determination that the streaming media flag is asserted. Disclosed example apparatus further include means for reporting the collected data to a remote server via a network.

Systems and methods are for content security may comprise transmitting a request for authorization to access secured content. A content key for the secured content may be received and stored to a restricted region of a memory. A device security module may have access to the restricted region and may decrypt, based on satisfaction of a use condition and using the content key, the secured content. An encryption key associated with a secure media system authorized to access the secured content may be received. The device security module may encrypt, using the encryption key, the secured content and route the secured content to the secure media system.

Provided are a system and method for media content rights transferal based on protocol for management of media content rights using distributed media rights transaction ledger. One of first gateway node or first node of plurality of nodes, associated with one of first or second initiating participant, respectively, receives request or determine need for media content rights transferal of media content. Associated instance of distributed media rights transaction ledger is traversed, address of one of second node or second gateway node associated with identifier of one of a first or a second receiving participant is determined, initial media content rights transaction is issued, and new media content rights response transaction is received. Accordingly, media content rights transferal transaction is executed. Each instance of distributed media rights transaction ledger is appended with initial media content rights transaction, new media content rights response transaction, and media content rights transferal transaction.

The invention is directed towards enabling data volume and data type based licensing of software in a distributed system of a plurality of remote and/or local nodes. The invention enables measuring and optionally restricting the use of software based on one or more provided licenses that restrict the amount and type of data that may be processed by the software. New and older licenses may be added together for a single, bulk entitlement for a given volume of data processing for one or all types of data. Different users in the same enterprise may combine license entitlements too. Also, a new license can be acquired repeatedly, without requiring the issuance of combined licenses by the issuing authority and/or the revocation of prior licenses.