Certain STBs allow end users to view placeshifted media content utilizing a mobile phone, a tablet device, a laptop computer, or a similar device operated by an end user and remotely located from the STB (herein, a “client media receiver”). To initiate a placeshifting session, an authenticated, bidirectional connection is established between the STB and the client media receiver over the Internet, a LAN, a WAN, or a similar communications network. Utilizing a software application executed on the client media receiver, such as a browser player, the end user may select the media content that is desirably placeshifted for viewing at the client media receiver. In accordance with such user commands, the STB captures, encodes, possibly encrypts, and transmits the user-selected content to the client media receiver as a live media stream. Correspondingly, the client media receiver receives, decrypts (if needed), and decodes the media content, while presenting the streamed content in real time as the content is received by the receiver. In many instances, the client media receiver may avoid storage of the placeshifted content in non-transitory memory to mitigate any issues relating to the creation of unlicensed copies of the content.
While increasing the ease and convenience with which end users consume content, placeshifting has evoked concerns regarding the illicit copying and sharing of streamed content. Various DRM platforms or schemes have been developed to help deter such activities; however, existing DRM platforms are often limited in the context of placeshifting environments in which a user-selected browser player is utilized to control playback of content stored on an STB (or similar placeshifting device) located in the residence of an end user. Existing DRM platforms may be propriety and are often not universally shared between consumer devices, browser players, plugins, and other such software and hardware products. A non-exhaustive list of widely available proprietary DRM platforms includes PLAYREADY by MICROSOFT, FAIRPLAY by APPLE, WIDEVINE by GOOGLE, and PRIMETIME by ADOBE, all of which are exclusive to particular brands of devices and browser players. While alternative DRM platforms have been developed by groups including the MARLIN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY and the OPEN MOBILE ALLIANCE, such alternative DRM platforms also tend to be exclusive to a limited subset of commercially-available hardware and software products.
The lack of universality across DRM platforms creates difficulties in effectively maintaining DRM integrity in placeshifting environments, particularly when end users are permitted to select amongst a wide range of browser players to view placeshifted content on a given client media receiver. There consequently exists an ongoing industry demand for the provision of systems, methods, and program products supporting the effective implementation of a wide range of DRM platforms in placeshifting environments. Ideally, such systems, methods, and program products could be implemented in a relatively seamless manner, while providing little to no detriment to the ease and convenience with which end users can access and view placeshifted content utilizing a user-chosen browser player executed on a client media receiver. Other desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background section.