FAST-EXPIRING LICENSES USED TO SPECULATIVELY AUTHORIZE ACCESS TO STREAMING MEDIA CONTENT

摘要

Techniques are disclosed for improving user experience of multimedia streaming over computer networks. More specifically, techniques presented herein reduce (or eliminate) latency in playback start time for streaming digital media content resulting from digital rights management (DRM) authorizations. A streaming media client (e.g., a browser, set-top box, mobile telephone or tablet “app”) may request a “fast-expiring” license for titles the streaming media client predicts a user is likely to begin streaming. A fast-expiring license is a DRM license (and associated decryption key) which is valid for only a very limited time after being used for playback. During the validity period of such a license, the client device requests a “normal” or “regular” license to continue accessing the title after the fast-expiring license expires.

主权项

1. A computer-implemented method for presenting content, comprising:
presenting, in a streaming media interface, a set of one or more media titles available for streaming from a library of media titles; prior to receiving a request to stream a first one of the media titles from the library, sending a request for a fast-expiring license for at least the first media title, wherein the fast-expiring license is valid for a fixed time interval after playback of the first media title begins, and wherein the fixed interval is substantially less than a playback time of the first media title; and receiving the requested fast-expiring license.