WO2007067123A2

WO2007067123A2 - Legal download of subscribers own music files over public radio access to mobile device

Info

Publication number: WO2007067123A2
Application number: PCT/SE2006/001342
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ralf Schuh; Henrik Thuvesson; Andre Stranne; Peter Almers
Original assignee: Teliasonera Ab
Priority date: 2005-12-06
Filing date: 2006-11-28
Publication date: 2007-06-14
Also published as: SE0502669L; WO2007067123A8

Abstract

Means and methods for legally correct uploading and downloading to and from a remote server within a public radio access system and from and to a mobile terminal. The method comprising access control of upload and download coupled to a user's subscription.

Description

TITLE

Legal download of subscribers own music files over public radio access to mobile device FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of audio systems. More particularly, it relates to methods and apparatus for providing remote storage of audio files and wireless transfer of said files to a mobile device. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Music download over the Internet is a growing market (e.g. over LAN). Portable devices to store music are gaining in popularity (e.g. iPod). Mobile terminals can also be used for downloading, storing and playing the music as new mobiles with more memory cards/hard disks become available. Public radio access systems like WCDMA allows for higher speed when downloading and uploading data. However, there are fundamental limits with mobile devices regarding the handset design, which is the size of the screen, keyboard and memory which makes the downloading of information compared with over the internet to the home PC more complicated.

Also, WAP/Web-based interface solutions for downloading of music from existing Internet music domains, are expensive (payment for each song) and too complex.

Furthermore, the operators have to share the revenues with the music industry and the user has to pay for the service and radio connection.

Downloading from some "free" music site on the Internet may be illegal regarding copyright and music licensing agreements.

WO 01/28183 A1 describes a method for the selection, transmission and playback of pieces of music by subscribers of a digital mobile communication network, where said method comprises download over public mobile network with authentication from the user subscription.

US 2003/0005138 A1 describes a wireless streaming audio system where the user subscribes to a service for storage of music files on a server at a data centre which is outside the wireless network and where the user needs permission from the music centre to play the music.

It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a method and devices for providing a simple and cost effective method for a person to get access to his own, already paid for, music. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns legal music download of a user's own music files to a mobile device over public radio access systems (e.g. GPRS, 3G or public WLAN), from a storage place in the mobile network where the user storage place is associated with the user mobile subscription. The operator service, in the following called "myMusic storage" is arranged in the mobile network domain similar to the storage and access of SMS and MMS.

The access to the private content of myMusic storage (copyrighted material) is authenticated and authorised using the mobile network SIM/USIM authentication and authorisation as such used for SMS and MMS.

The user manages his personal myMusic storage space himself. Hence no additional fees for the song/songs have to be paid to third parties. The operator, or e.g. a subcontractor in cooperation with the operator, offers and maintains the memory space "myMusic" in the mobile network for the subscribers. The revenue for the operator is mainly as the user connects to the radio system in order to download/upload the music files. Furthermore with this new service new subscribers may be gained.

The music files are arranged to be accessed at any time and any place over the public radio access system. Compared to the mobile device's memory space, the myMusic memory space in the radio network is arranged to be virtually unlimited. Music copyright issues are protected as the myMusic storage is kept private to the user subscription and the files are not accessible by anyone else and cannot be distributed to a public audience.

The mobile device is used for download and listening to the music. The music upload can be done over the radio network or from the home PC over the public Internet and a Web interface. If uploading over the public Internet the user needs a password and key, which correspond to his mobile network subscription (SIM/USIM). No downloading of the music files over the public Internet is possible in order to protect the music copyrights. The user is responsible for the music files on his/her disk space.

With the invention, music browsing and downloading to the mobile device is simplified by utilizing user friendly WAP/Web pages with file and folder icons.

The user can listen to his own "all ready paid for"-music, which is placed on an authorised place within the operator's mobile radio network domain. The music can be downloaded for private use or it can be listened to in real time. The costs for the users are limited to the download cost of the music as he/she already owns the music. The authentication and authorization in order to connect to the music server follows the usual procedure when a user connects to a public radio access system to which he/she has a subscription. Hence, the upload, storage and download from myMusic are similar to the management of SMS and MMS. The music can be uploaded to the customised music server account, myMusic, over the radio network or from the home PC over the public Internet. If managing myMusic over the public Internet the user has to use some personalised username and password corresponding to the user radio network subscription in order to keep the legality. The music space is hardwired to the user SIM/USIM subscription which ensures the copyright protection of the music files when downloading to the mobile. No downloading of the music files over the public Internet is possible in order to protect the music copyright.

In other words, the invention provides a system comprising a method for remote storage of owned audio files comprising the following steps

- getting access to an access protected remote server connected to a personal storage - uploading owned audio files to said personal storage

Also provided is a method for wireless transfer of owned audio files from a remote server in a public radio access system to a personal mobile device comprising the following steps

- opening the personal mobile device for communication using authentication and authorisation of a SIM or USIM card

- getting access to said remote server

- downloading audio files from said remote server to said personal mobile device The system also comprises a server for handling audio files where said server is arranged within a public radio access system and being provided with a mobile network access control unit for providing controlled access to uploading and downloading of audio files to a mass storage of said server from and to a mobile terminal.

The server also is provided with, e.g. a WAP page generator, for supplying WAP pages to be downloaded to a mobile terminal for facilitating easy user communication for uploading, downloading, playback and/or synchronisation.

The server may also comprise a music file format converter and/or a bit rate control unit.

The server is also connectable to the Internet and being provided with an internet access control unit, which unit permits uploading of audio files via the internet only by a user that has been authenticated and authorised by said internet access control unit. The system also comprises a mobile terminal useable in a public radio access system being provided with an authentication unit, a playback unit and a music memory where said mobile terminal comprises an uploading unit and a downloading unit for uploading and downloading audio files from the music memory internal to the mobile terminal to a mass storage of a remote server within said public radio access system.

The mobile terminal may further comprise a synchronising unit for synchronising the content of the music memory and a corresponding portion of the mass storage of the remote server within the public radio access system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be best understood by reference to the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic overview of a system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention comprising the upload of a subscriber's own music files via a PC connected to the Internet.

Fig. 2 shows a mobile terminal having a user interface adapted to handle a music service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 shows in schematic form a server and a mobile terminal with their respective units for handling a music service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following and for the sake of the present invention, the following terms and abbreviations are used with their accompanying meaning:

AAA Authentication Authorization Accounting

GSM Global System for Mobile communications

GGSN Gateway GPRS Supporting Node

GPRS General Packet Radio Service

HSDPA High Speed Downlink Packet Access

MMS Multimedia Messaging Service

MPEG Motion Picture Experts Group

MP3 MPEG1 audio Layer 3

SIM Subscriber Identity Module

SMS Short Message Service

UMTS Universal Mobile Telecommunications System USIM Universal Subscriber Identity Module

WAP Wireless Application Protocol

WMA Windows Media Audio

WCDMA Wideband Code Division Multiplex Access

With "owned" in this context is meant that something is owned, i.e., bought and already paid for or created by a person who may come to use the services described in this document.

With "myMusic storage" is meant a storage place and an associated operator service arranged in the mobile network domain similar to the storage and access of SMS and MMS.

With "public radio access system" is meant a GPRS, 3G, public WLAN or similar system.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic overview of a system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention comprising upload of a subscriber's own music files via a PC connected to the Internet and legal download of subscriber's own music files over public radio access system to mobile device with SIM/USIM subscription from myMusic storage located in the mobile network.

The invention relates to music download/upload to mobile devices over public radio access system networks. The customer's "own" music is stored within a storage location in the mobile network 1. The music server allows private access and use of the "myMusic" storage after the user has passed the usual authorisation and authentication process. The authentication and authorisation for accessing the

"myMusic" server is directly connected to the user mobile subscription (SIM/USIM - card). The music server may also contain music file data converters to different music formats and/or adapting to the radio access speeds. The music is downloaded over WAP/IP gateway to the mobile device. Web browsing with download, streaming, Email or MMS may be used to obtain the requested myMusic file/files. The radio access 2 can be GPRS/EDGE, WCDMA/HSDPA, WLAN or any other public radio access system with authentication and authorisation process. The music is downloaded and stored in the mobile device 3 which can also play the music.

The mobile device contains the subscriber identity, e.g. SIM/USIM, hardware security module in order to ensure legal download of the music. The uploading of music to the myMusic storage may be performed using the mobile terminal 3, or from e.g. the home PC location 4 over the public Internet. To facilitate uploading the music over the public Internet the myMusic server is provided with means such that the user has to use a username and password in order to access his "MyMusic" account. The username and password is connected to the user's radio network subscription. Over the public Internet the user can only upload files to the myMusic server in order to protect the copyright of the music. Means are provided for Web or ftp upload. Download from myMusic server over internet is not possible. Only subscriber #x can access his/her own private music files and the download of the music files is limited to a single mobile device at a time, which is ensured by the SIM/USIM card which is in a way hardwired to the mobile device.

The idea also covers future software based SIM/USIM solutions for user authentication and authorisation.

The following scenario regarding WAP/Web music download at the mobile can be imagined. The user uses his usual WAP/Web interface in the mobile in order to get online to different WAP/Web services. One of the shortcut keys could be "MyMusic", and if pressed by the user the mobile is connected to the music server. There, the user can select different CD albums (directories) or individual music files of the user's privately owned music for downloading and listening to in the mobile device, either in real time or after downloading has been completed.

Other implementations in the mobile may, e.g., contain synchronisation of the mobile with the "MyMusic" account.

The music server and storage of the music files are similar to what is currently used in the mobile network for handling MMS. The music server may be provided with functionalities like: media conversion, e.g. from wma to mp3 format; change of music sample rate, stereo/mono format etc., for example, depending on the download speed; download/synchronisation of the music on the mobile device with the MyMusic server account over the night at a relative cheap rate.

Figure 3 shows in schematic form a server and a mobile terminal with their respective units for handling a music service according to an embodiment of the present invention. A server 305 is provided within a public radio access system. Said server 305 is provided with a mobile network access control unit 310, which provides access control to a mass storage 330. Said mobile network access control unit 310 is provided with means for providing a specific user access only to a certain memory space associated with said specific user's SIM/USIM subscription. The server 305 is further provided with an internet access control unit 315 providing internet access control to said mass storage 330. Said internet access control unit 315 provides uploading access only, and only to the user which provide the correct user id and password. One or more music file format converters 320 is also provided for easy conversion between different file formats. Further is a WAP page generator 325 provided for generating and/or supplying suitable WAP pages for downloading to the mobile terminal facilitating user communication for uploading, downloading, playback and/or synchronisation.

The embodiment further includes a mobile terminal 345 provided with a downloading unit for controlling download of music files from the mass storage 330 to a music memory 375 arranged in the mobile terminal 345.

The mobile terminal 345 is further provided with an uploading unit 355 for selecting and uploading music files from the music memory 375 of the mobile terminal 345 to the mass storage 330 of the music server 305. The uploading unit is preferably written in Java.

The mobile terminal 345 is also provided with a synchronising unit 360 for monitoring of the content of the mass storage 330 of the music server 305 and the music memory 375 of the mobile terminal 345, and, if one or more files are missing in one of the storages 330, 375 loading the missing file(s) from the other storage. A playback unit is provided for playing music files, either from mass storage 330 via downloading or from internal music memory 375. An authentication unit 370 is also provided in the mobile terminal, said authentication unit 370 may be identical to the SIM/USIM mechanism of the mobile terminal.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. A method for handling of sound files including the following steps:

- to, via internet, connect a subscriber's personal computer with web interface to an access protected remote server in a public radio access system;

- to check access authorization for said subscriber;

- to, at authorized subscriber, create access to load sound files but not download such files via internet to one for said subscriber personal storage;

- to transmit one or more sound files from the personal computer to the personal storage;

- to disconnect the connection to the access protected remote server;

- to, via a mobile telephone system, connect said subscriber's mobile telephone terminal to said access protected remote server;

- to check access authorization for said subscriber;

- to, at access attempt from authorized subscriber, create access to said subscriber's said personal storage;

- to transmit, from said personal storage, via the mobile telephone system, said one or more sound files to the mobile telephone terminal.

2. Method as claimed in patent claim 1 , where said check of access authorization to said personal storage is checked by means of a SIM- or USIM-card.

3. A server (305) for handling of sound files where said server is arranged in a public radio access system and in addition is connected to internet and equipped with an access check/control unit (315) for internet access to provide controlled/checked access to loading and downloading of sound files to a mass storage (330) in said server (305) from a subscriber^'s personal computer and where said control unit (310) is arranged to allow loading of sound files to the server only from the subscriber's personal computer via internet, but not to allow downloading of sound files from said mass storage (330) to said personal computer; further a control unit for mobile network access (310) is arranged, which, when said server is accessed from the subscriber's mobile telephone terminal (345), allows that sound files are downloaded and/or played back in said subscriber's said mobile telephone terminal (345).

4. The server (305) for handling of sound files as claimed in patent claim 3, where said server also is equipped with a WAP-page generator (325) to provide WAP-pages to be downloaded to said mobile terminal (345) to facilitate simple user communication for loading, downloading, play back and/or synchronization.

5. The server (305) for handling of sound files as claimed in patent claim 4, further including a format converter for music files (320).

6. The server (305) for handling of sound files as claimed in patent claim 4, further including a control/check unit for sampling speed (335).

7. A mobile terminal (345) which can be used in a public radio access system and functions together with a server as claimed in patent claim 3, and which is equipped with an authentication unit (370), a play back unit (365) and a music memory (375), where said mobile terminal (345) includes a loading unit (355) and a downloading unit (350) for loading and downloading of sound files from the internal music memory (375) in the mobile terminal (345) to a mass storage (330) in a remote connected server (305) in said public radio access system, and further including a synchronization unit for synchronization of the content in the music memory (375) and a corresponding part of the mass storage (330) in/at the remote server (305) within the public radio access system.