Secure distribution of digital content

• US 20020095582A1
• Filed: 01/17/2001
• Published: 07/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Forcepoint LLC
• Original Assignee: PortAuthority Technologies, Inc. (Forcepoint LLC)
• Inventors: Tirosh, Oren, Litai, Assaf, Troyansky, Lidror, Peled, Ariel, Baratz, Arik
• Granted Patent: US 7,181,625 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/180
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1063 Personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2179 Interfaces allowing access to a plurality of users, e.g. connection to electronic image libraries
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32144 embedded in the image data, i.e. enclosed or integrated in the image, e.g. watermark, super-imposed logo or stamp
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32771 in response to a request, e.g. for a particular document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8358 involving watermark protecting executable software by watermarking G06F21/16; image watermarking in general G06T1/0021; watermarks inserted in still images for transmission purposes H04N1/32144; inserting watermarks during video coding H04N19/467
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/323 for tracing or tracking, e.g. forensic tracing of unauthorized copies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information

Abstract

A method for secure distribution of digital content, the method including the steps of dividing a unit of digital content into at least first and second portions, storing the first portion on a first computerized apparatus, digitally watermarking the second portion, and combining the first portion and the digitally watermarked second portion, thereby forming a watermarked version of the digital content.

Claims

1. A method for secure distribution of digital content, the method comprising the steps of:

dividing a unit of digital content into at least first and second portions;

storing said first portion on a first computerized apparatus;

digitally watermarking said second portion;

storing said digitally watermarked second portion on a second computerized apparatus; and

combining said first portion and said digitally watermarked second portion;

thereby forming a watermarked version of said digital content.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said dividing step comprises dividing said digital content into at least first and second portions, wherein each of said portions comprises non-contiguous segments of said digital content.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said dividing step comprises dividing said digital content into at least first and second portions, wherein said first portion is larger than said second portion.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said dividing step comprises dividing said digital content such that a qualitative measure of either of said first and second portions is degraded relative to a corresponding qualitative measure of said digital content.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said dividing step comprises dividing said digital content such that either of said first and second portions are individually inoperable.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein said storing said first portion step comprises storing on a proxy server.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein said digitally watermarking step comprises uniquely watermarking said second portion.

8. A method according to claim 1 and further comprising the steps of:

receiving a request from a requestor for said digital content; and

sending said watermarked version of said digital content to said requestor.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein said combinig step comprises combining at either of said computerized apparatus.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein said combining step comprises sending said portions to a third computerized apparatus and combining at said third computerized apparatus.

11. A method for secure distribution of digital content, the method comprising the steps of:

dividing a unit of digital content into at least first and second portions, wherein said first portion is larger than said second portion, and wherein said dividing step comprises either of;

dividing said digital content such that a qualitative measure of either of said first and second portions is degraded relative to a corresponding qualitative measure of said digital content, and

dividing said digital content such that either of said first and second portions are individually inoperable;

storing said first portion on a first computerized apparatus;

storing said second portion on a second computerized apparatus; and

combining said first portion and said second portion, thereby recreating said digital content.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein said dividing step comprises dividing said digital content into at least first and second portions, wherein each of said portions comprises non-contiguous segments of said digital content.

13. A method according to claim 11 wherein said storing said first portion step comprises storing on a proxy server.

14. A method according to claim 11 and further comprising the steps of:

receiving a request from a requestor for said digital content; and

sending said recreated digital content to said requester.

15. A method according to claim 11 wherein said combining step comprises combining at either of said computerized apparatus.

16. A method according to claim 11 wherein said combining step comprises sending said portions to a third computerized apparatus and combining at said third computerized apparatus.

18. A system according to claim 17 wherein said means for dividing is operable to divide said digital content into at least first and second portions, wherein each of said portions comprises non-contiguous segments of said digital content.

19. A system according to claim 17 wherein said means for dividing is operable to divide said digital content into at least first and second portions, wherein said first portion is larger than said second portion.

20. A system according to claim 17 wherein said means for dividing is operable to divide said digital content such that a qualitative measure of either of said first and second portions is degraded relative to a corresponding qualitative measure of said digital content.

21. A system according to claim 17 wherein said means for dividing is operable to divide said digital content such that either of said first and second portions are individually inoperable.

22. A system according to claim 17 wherein said means for storing said first portion is operative to store on a proxy server.

23. A system according to claim 17 wherein said means for digitally watermarking is operative to uniquely watermark said second portion.

24. A system according to claim 17 and further comprising:

means for receiving a request from a requestor for said digital content; and

means for sending said watermarked version of said digital content to said requestor.

25. A system according to claim 17 wherein said means for combining is operative to combine at either of said computerized apparatus.

26. A system according to claim 17 wherein said means for combining is operative to send said portions to a third computerized apparatus and combine at said third computerized apparatus.

28. A system according to claim 27 wherein said means for dividing is operative to divide said digital content into at least first and second portions wherein each of said portions comprises non-contiguous segments of said digital content.

29. A system according to claim 27 wherein said means for storing said first portion is operative to store on a proxy server.

30. A system according to claim 27 and further comprising:

means for receiving a request from a requestor for said digital content; and

means for sending said recreated digital content to said requestor.

31. A system according to claim 27 wherein said means for combinig is operative to combine at either of said computerized apparatus.

32. A system according to claim 27 wherein said means for combining is operative to send said portions to a third computerized apparatus and combine at said third computerized apparatus.

17. A system for secure distribution of digital content, the system comprising:

means for dividing a unit of digital content into at least first and second portions;

means for storing said first portion on a first computerized apparatus;

means for digitally watermarking said second portion;

means for storing sad digitally watermarked second portion on a second computerized apparatus; and

means for combining said first portion and said digitally watermarked second portion, thereby forming a watermarked version of said digital content.

27. A system for secure distribution of digital content, the system comprising:

means for dividing a unit of digital content into at least first and second portions, wherein said first portion is larger than said second portions said means for dividing being operative to either of;

divide said digital content such that a qualitative measure of either of said first and second portions is degraded relative to a corresponding qualitative measure of said digital content, and

divide said digital content such that either of said first and second portions are individually inoperable,

means for storing said first portion on a first computerized apparatus;

means for storing said second portion on a second computerized apparatus; and

means for combing said first portion and said second portions thereby recreating said digital content.