US 9043481

US Patent 9043481, titled "Managed access to media services," was issued to Digital River Inc. on May 26, 2015, from an application filed on October 22, 2013. The patent lists Gyuchang Jun, Kurt Huang, and Duane Kuroda as its inventors. The patent is currently expired, having reached its anticipated expiration date on June 8, 2025.

The abstract describes methods, apparatuses, and systems for managing account-based access to media services. A media access controller server validates a voucher for network content and then issues a token to permit access. A media access manager server subsequently validates this token and initiates a playlist-generation process at a publishing point, delivering the content to the user's media player. A custom plug-in on the media access manager can enforce publisher-defined terms of service, such as limiting the number of simultaneous streams per voucher or enforcing a time window for voucher use. Streams are terminated by the plug-in if the voucher's end time has passed.

A plain-language overview of the independent claims is as follows:

• Independent Claim 1 (Method): This claim describes a method for controlling access to online content. It involves first verifying a "voucher" that confirms authorization to access the content, where this voucher includes a unique identifier for the original transaction. After validating the voucher, a separate "token" is generated to grant actual access. A key feature is the ability to generate a first token for a first media player and a second token for a second media player, both derived from the same validated voucher and both containing the unique transaction ID from that voucher.
• Independent Claim 5 (Apparatus): This claim outlines a system (an "apparatus") designed to manage access to network content. It comprises a "validator" component to check the validity of a user's voucher (which includes a unique transaction ID). It also includes a "generator" component that creates a token, distinct from the voucher, which grants access to the content after the voucher is validated. This generator is configured to create multiple tokens—for example, one for a first media player and another for a second media player—with both tokens incorporating the unique transaction ID from the validated voucher. Additionally, the apparatus includes a "sender" component to transmit these tokens over a network to the media players.
• Independent Claim 9 (Apparatus): Similar to Claim 5, this claim also describes an apparatus for controlling access to network content. It includes a "validator" for confirming the validity of a voucher that contains a unique transaction ID. It features a "generator" configured to produce both a first token and a second token (each separate from the voucher) once the voucher is validated. These tokens authorize access to the content and are generated for a first and second media player, respectively, with both tokens containing the unique ID from the validated voucher. Finally, a "sender" component is included to send these first and second tokens over a network to their corresponding first and second media players.

As of April 26, 2026, there are no active dockets found for patent 9043481 in the CAFC 2026 database, which is consistent with its expired legal status.## US Patent 9043481: Managed Access to Media Services

Title: Managed access to media services

Assignee: Digital River Inc

Inventors: Gyuchang Jun, Kurt Huang, Duane Kuroda

Filing Date: 2013-10-22

Issue Date: 2015-05-26

Abstract:
US Patent 9043481 describes methods, apparatuses, and systems for providing account-based access to media services. The core process involves a media access controller server validating a voucher that represents a user's authorization for network content. Upon validation, the server issues a unique token that permits access to the content. Subsequently, a media access manager server validates this token and triggers a playlist-generation step at a publishing point, which then delivers the content to the user's media player. The patent also details the use of a custom plug-in within the media access manager to enforce publisher-defined terms of service, such as limiting the maximum number of simultaneous streams allowed by a single voucher or imposing a time window for the voucher's use. The plug-in is also responsible for terminating streams when a voucher's end time expires.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1 (Method): This claim describes a process for managing access to online media. It involves two primary steps:

  1. Voucher Validation: Confirming that a user's "voucher" is legitimate, which serves as proof of authorization to access network content at a specific location (publishing point). This voucher contains a unique identification number (ID) linked to the transaction through which the user gained access.
  2. Token Generation: Creating a separate "token" that is distinct from the voucher, which then grants actual access to the content after the voucher has been validated. A key aspect is that this method allows for the generation of multiple tokens from a single validated voucher – for instance, a first token for one media player and a second token for another media player – with both generated tokens including the original unique transaction ID from the validated voucher.

• Claim 5 (Apparatus): This claim describes a physical or virtual system (an "apparatus") designed to control access to network content. The apparatus includes:

  1. A Validator: A component specifically configured to verify that a user's voucher, containing a unique transaction ID, is valid for accessing network content.
  2. A Generator: A component configured to create access tokens, which are separate from the voucher, once the voucher has been validated. This generator can produce a token for a first media player and a second token for a second media player, with both tokens incorporating the unique transaction ID from the validated voucher.
  3. A Sender: A component designed to transmit these generated tokens over a network to the respective media players.

• Claim 9 (Apparatus): This claim presents another apparatus for controlling access to network content, similar in concept to Claim 5 but emphasizing the generation and sending of distinct tokens to different players. It includes:

  1. A Validator: Configured to confirm the validity of a voucher, which includes a unique transaction ID, for accessing network content.
  2. A Generator: Configured to create two distinct tokens—a first token and a second token—both separate from the initial voucher. These tokens authorize access after the voucher is validated, with the first token being for a first media player and the second token for a second media player. Both of these generated tokens include the unique transaction ID from the validated voucher.
  3. A Sender: Configured to transmit the first token to the first media player and the second token to the second media player over a network.

Legal Status Note:
According to the provided patent information, US9043481 has an "Expired - Lifetime" legal status, with an "Anticipated expiration" date of 2025-06-08. Given the current date of April 26, 2026, the patent has indeed expired.

CAFC 2026 Dockets:
A search for US patent 9043481 in the CAFC 2026 dockets did not return any results. This indicates that there are no active cases involving this specific patent in the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit for the year 2026.