System for dynamically encrypting content for secure internet commerce and providing embedded fulfillment software

• US 20030208680A1
• Filed: 04/22/2002
• Published: 11/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: III Holdings 12, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Protexis, Inc. (Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA)
• Inventors: Muecke, Innes, Patterson, Andrew, Slik, David, Byrne, Shannon
• Granted Patent: US 7,356,847 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/00 Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/007 Encryption, En-/decode, En-/decipher, En-/decypher, Scramble, (De-)compress
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/04 Protocols for data compression, e.g. ROHC

Abstract

A data distribution system is provided which supplies customers with an executable for requested secured data files to provide the customer with fulfillment software, obviating the need for the customer to download fulfillment software prior to requesting secure data. The data distribution system is characterized by server technology which can dynamically encrypt secured data files just prior to a customer request to download the data file. A framework for building a universal data distribution infrastructure is provided which employs Requesters.

Claims

1. A method of delivering encrypted content to a user computer via a communication network comprising the steps of:

storing content in a server data repository;

receiving queries from a user computer searching for content via a communication network;

retrieving selected content from said server data repository in response to said queries;

encrypting at least a portion of said selected content using a key;

bundling said selected content into a customized package;

generating and storing a unique package identifier for said package;

transmitting said package to said user computer for downloading;

receiving a request from said user computer to decrypt a selected portion of said package, said request comprising a product code generated using said package identifier and a hardware identifier that is unique to said user computer; and

generating a release code for decrypting said selected portion using said key and said product code.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said package comprises mixed digital media content having at least two of images, audio, video and software.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said package comprises a management application to allow a user to access at least one of preview content and trial content in said package and to enable a transaction for acquiring selected content in said package.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said generating and storing step comprises the step of storing said key and said package identifier in a transactional database, and said generating step comprises using said package identifier to locate said key in said transactional database.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said package comprises at least one of previews of content and trial versions of software that are not encrypted

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting said release code to said user computer.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

verifying payment for said selected portion; and

transmitting said release code to said user computer.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hardware identifier is derived from a hardware device in said user computer.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hardware identifier is derived from a card number of a circuit board in said user computer.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said content is stored unencrypted.

11. A method of delivering encrypted content to a user computer via a communication network comprising the steps of:

generating queries using said user computer to search for content via said communication network, said content being available from an information provider via a server and said communication network;

downloading a package from said information provider, said package comprising selected content retrieved from said server data repository and bundled in response to said queries and a unique package identifier assigned to said package and stored in said server data repository, at least a portion of said content being encrypted using a key in response to said queries;

previewing said package using said user computer;

selecting at least one content item provided in said package;

generating a machine-dependent product code at said user computer, said product code comprising a unique identifier corresponding to said user computer; and

transmitting a request for said at least one content item and said product code to said information provider.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said at least one content item is encrypted and further comprising the steps of:

receiving a release code from said information provider to decrypt said at least one content item, said release code being generated using said product code and said key; and

decrypting said purchaseable item at said user computer using said release code.

13. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said package comprises secure content previews of selected said content items from said server data repository, said selected content items being stored unencrypted at said data repository, said reviewing step comprising the step of reviewing said previews, and further comprising the step of encrypting said at least one purchaseable item in response to said request.

14. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said unique identifier is derived from a hardware device in said user computer.

15. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said unique identifier is derived from a card number of a circuit board in said user computer.