Apparatus method and system for tracking information access
First Claim
1. A method of using at least one computer to effect access to information, comprising:
- collecting information regarding an entity (entity information), wherein the entity is represented by the entity information (EREI);
generating an unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI) for the EREI;
storing the collected entity information in a database record in a database, wherein the database record storing the collected entity information is keyed by the generated UPUNI, wherein the storage of the entity information occurs before effecting registration of the UPUNI in one phase of a multi-phase registration commitment;
generating validation information for the EREI;
transmitting validation information to an access device of the EREI, if an UPUNI registration agency (UPUNI-REG) generated the validation information;
deleting the validation information from the UPUNI-REG upon transmitting the validation information, if the UPUNI-REG generated the validation information;
transmitting validation information to the UPUNI-REG, if another device generated the validation information;
storing the generated validation information in a database record in a database, wherein the database record storing the generated validation information is keyed by the generated UPUNI, wherein the storage of the validation information occurs before effecting registration of the UPUNI in one phase of a multi-phase registration commitment;
registering a resolvable association between an UPUNI and reference to related information, wherein registration is effected in a database to associate and resolve UPUNIs and references to related information (UPUNI-RES), wherein the reference to related information is entered in a database record keyed by the generated UPUNI, wherein the registration of the UPUNI in the UPUNI-RES is a phase of a multi-phase registration commitment that occurs after effecting the storage of the related information, wherein in the entity information is related information, and wherein the validation information is related information.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus, method and system to track information access over a communications network. The present disclosure teaches how to associate access credentials with content accesser in a global and persistent manner. Both content and people are registered with a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) handle system (1603). Furthermore, security and other information such as certificates, personal records, encryption keys, and all other objects involved in such transactions may also be registered with a DOI in the handle system and/or may be associated with another DOI as one of the multiple-resolution pointers contained in a DOI record. A right clearinghouse (1604) then maintains a rights database associated content rights with content accessers by DOIs. The association of people, i.e., content accessers, with digital object identifiers further ensures that content and accessers may be mapped in a manner allowing for the secure tracking of content access.
-
Citations
352 Claims
-
1. A method of using at least one computer to effect access to information, comprising:
-
collecting information regarding an entity (entity information), wherein the entity is represented by the entity information (EREI);
generating an unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI) for the EREI;
storing the collected entity information in a database record in a database, wherein the database record storing the collected entity information is keyed by the generated UPUNI, wherein the storage of the entity information occurs before effecting registration of the UPUNI in one phase of a multi-phase registration commitment;
generating validation information for the EREI;
transmitting validation information to an access device of the EREI, if an UPUNI registration agency (UPUNI-REG) generated the validation information;
deleting the validation information from the UPUNI-REG upon transmitting the validation information, if the UPUNI-REG generated the validation information;
transmitting validation information to the UPUNI-REG, if another device generated the validation information;
storing the generated validation information in a database record in a database, wherein the database record storing the generated validation information is keyed by the generated UPUNI, wherein the storage of the validation information occurs before effecting registration of the UPUNI in one phase of a multi-phase registration commitment;
registering a resolvable association between an UPUNI and reference to related information, wherein registration is effected in a database to associate and resolve UPUNIs and references to related information (UPUNI-RES), wherein the reference to related information is entered in a database record keyed by the generated UPUNI, wherein the registration of the UPUNI in the UPUNI-RES is a phase of a multi-phase registration commitment that occurs after effecting the storage of the related information, wherein in the entity information is related information, and wherein the validation information is related information. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
-
-
2. A method of using at least one computer to effect access to information, comprising:
-
effecting collection of information regarding an entity (entity information), wherein the entity is represented by the entity information (EREI);
effecting generation of an unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI);
effecting storage of the collected entity information in a database record in a database;
effecting generation of validation information;
effecting transmission of validation information to access devices of the EREI, if an UPUNI registration agency (UPUNI-REG) generated the validation information;
effecting transmission of validation information to the UPUNI-REG, if the another device generated the validation information;
effecting storage of the generated validation information in a database record in a database;
effecting registration of a resolvable association between an UPUNI and reference to related information, wherein registration is effected in a database to associate and resolve UPUNIs and references to related information (UPUNI-RES), wherein in the entity information is related information, and wherein the validation information is related information.
-
-
48. A method of using at least one computer to effect access to information, comprising:
-
determining if information an entity desires to access (desired information) on the entity'"'"'s access device (entity device) has an unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI) embedded within the desired information;
accessing the desired information, if the UPUNI is absent from the desired information;
determining if the desired information is inaccessible, wherein the desired information is inaccessible because the desired information is protected;
determining if there exists an UPUNI that represents the entity (E-UPUNI);
effecting the generation of the E-UPUNI, if the entity is un-represented by an UPUNI;
effecting resolution of the entity device to the desired information'"'"'s UPUNI (DI-UPUNI), if an E-UPUNI exists, wherein the DI-UPUNI resolution directs the entity device to a rights clearinghouse;
sending entity verification information, wherein the E-UPUNI is entity verification information, wherein the DI-UPUNI is entity verification information, wherein the entity verification information is sent to the rights clearinghouse by the entity device;
effecting verification of the entity'"'"'s identity and access rights to the desired content with the provided entity verification information (entity verification), wherein the rights clearinghouse verifies the entity verification information;
receiving access credentials, if the entity'"'"'s identity and access rights to the desired content are verified, wherein the access credentials are received by the entity device from the rights clearinghouse;
applying the received access credentials upon the desired information, which is initially in an inaccessible state, to make the desired information accessible;
accessing of the desired information, if the desired information is accessible.
-
-
49. A method of using at least one computer to effect access to information, comprising:
-
effecting determination of if information an entity desires to access (desired information) on the entity'"'"'s access device (entity device) has an unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI) embedded within the desired information;
effecting determination of if the desired information is inaccessible;
effecting determination of if there exists an UPUNI that represents the entity (E-UPUNI);
effecting the generation of the E-UPUNI, if the entity is un-represented by an UPUNI;
effecting the resolution of the entity device to the desired information'"'"'s UPUNI (DI-UPUNI);
effecting the provision of entity verification information;
effecting verification of the entity'"'"'s identity and access rights to the desired content with the provided entity verification information (entity verification);
effecting provision of access credentials, if the entity'"'"'s identity and access rights to the desired content are verified. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82)
-
-
83. A memory for access by a program module to be executed on a processor, comprising:
a data structure stored in the memory, the data structure having interrelated data types, including, a data type to store an unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI) associated with information an entity desires (desired information) to access (DI-UPUNI);
a data type to store an UPUNI associated with an entity (E-UPUNI). - View Dependent Claims (84, 85)
-
86. A system for using at least one computer to effect access to information, comprising:
-
means to collect information regarding an entity (entity information), wherein the entity is represented by the entity information (EREI);
means to generate an unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI) for the EREI;
means to store the collected entity information in a database record in a database, wherein the database record storing the collected entity information is keyed by the generated UPUNI, wherein the storage of the entity information occurs before effecting registration of the UPUNI in one phase of a multi-phase registration commitment;
means to generate validation information for the EREI;
means to transmit validation information to an access device of the EREI, if an UPUNI registration agency (UPUNI-REG) generated the validation information;
means to delete the validation information from the UPUNI-REG upon transmitting the validation information, if the UPUNI-REG generated the validation information;
means to transmit validation information to the UPUNI-REG, if another device generated the validation information;
means to store the generated validation information in a database record in a database, wherein the database record storing the generated validation information is keyed by the generated UPUNI, wherein the storage of the validation information occurs before effecting registration of the UPUNI in one phase of a multi-phase registration commitment;
means to register a resolvable association between an UPUNI and reference to related information, wherein registration is effected in a database to associate and resolve UPUNIs and references to related information (UPUNI-RES), wherein the reference to related information is entered in a database record keyed by the generated UPUNI, wherein the registration of the UPUNI in the UPUNI-RES is a phase of a multi-phase registration commitment that occurs after effecting the storage of the related information, wherein in the entity information is related information, and wherein the validation information is related information.
-
-
87. A system for using at least one computer to effect access to information, comprising:
-
means to effect collection of information regarding an entity (entity information), wherein the entity is represented by the entity information (EREI);
means to effect generation of an unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI);
means to effect storage of the collected entity information in a database record in a database;
means to effect generation of validation information;
means to effect transmission of validation information to access devices of the EREI, if an UPUNI registration agency (UPUNI-REG) generated the validation information;
means to effect transmission of validation information to the UPUNI-REG, if the another device generated the validation information;
means to effect storage of the generated validation information in a database record in a database;
means to effect registration of a resolvable association between an UPUNI and reference to related information, wherein registration is effected in a database to associate and resolve UPUNIs and references to related information (UPUNI-RES), wherein in the entity information is related information, and wherein the validation information is related information. - View Dependent Claims (88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132)
-
-
133. A system for using at least one computer to effect access to information, comprising:
-
means to determine if information an entity desires to access (desired information) on the entity'"'"'s access device (entity device) has an unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI) embedded within the desired information;
means to access the desired information, if the UPUNI is absent from the desired information;
means to determine if the desired information is inaccessible, wherein the desired information is inaccessible because the desired information is protected;
means to determine if there exists an UPUNI that represents the entity (E-UPUNI);
means to effect the generation of the E-UPUNI, if the entity is un-represented by an UPUNI;
means to effect resolution of the entity device to the desired information'"'"'s UPUNI (DI-UPUNI), if an E-UPUNI exists, wherein the DI-UPUNI resolution directs the entity device to a rights clearinghouse;
means to send entity verification information, wherein the E-UPUNI is entity verification information, wherein the DI-UPUNI is entity verification information, wherein the entity verification information is sent to the rights clearinghouse by the entity device;
means to effect verification of the entity'"'"'s identity and access rights to the desired content with the provided entity verification information (entity verification), wherein the rights clearinghouse verifies the entity verification information;
means to receive access credentials, if the entity'"'"'s identity and access rights to the desired content are verified, wherein the access credentials are received by the entity device from the rights clearinghouse;
means to apply the received access credentials upon the desired information, which is initially in an inaccessible state, to make the desired information accessible;
means to access of the desired information, if the desired information is accessible.
-
-
134. A system for using at least one computer to effect access to information, comprising:
-
means to effect determination of if information an entity desires to access (desired information) on the entity'"'"'s access device (entity device) has an unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI) embedded within the desired information;
means to effect determination of if the desired information is inaccessible;
means to effect determination of if there exists an UPUNI that represents the entity (E-UPUNI);
means to effect the generation of the E-UPUNI, if the entity is un-represented by an UPUNI;
means to effect the resolution of the entity device to the desired information'"'"'s UPUNI (DI-UPUNI);
means to effect the provision of entity verification information;
means to effect verification of the entity'"'"'s identity and access rights to the desired content with the provided entity verification information (entity verification);
means to effect provision of access credentials, if the entity'"'"'s identity and access rights to the desired content are verified. - View Dependent Claims (135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167)
-
-
168. A program stored on a medium readable by a processor, the program, comprising:
-
a module to collect information regarding an entity (entity information), wherein the entity is represented by the entity information (EREI);
a module to generate an unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI) for the EREI;
a module to store the collected entity information in a database record in a database, wherein the database record storing the collected entity information is keyed by the generated UPUNI, wherein the storage of the entity information occurs before effecting registration of the UPUNI in one phase of a multi-phase registration commitment;
a module to generate validation information for the EREI;
a module to transmit validation information to an access device of the EREI, if an UPUNI registration agency (UPUNI-REG) generated the validation information;
a module to delete the validation information from the UPUNI-REG upon transmitting the validation information, if the UPUNI-REG generated the validation information;
a module to transmit validation information to the UPUNI-REG, if another device generated the validation information;
a module to store the generated validation information in a database record in a database, wherein the database record storing the generated validation information is keyed by the generated UPUNI, wherein the storage of the validation information occurs before effecting registration of the UPUNI in one phase of a multi-phase registration commitment;
a module to register a resolvable association between an UPUNI and reference to related information, wherein registration is effected in a database to associate and resolve UPUNIs and references to related information (UPUNI-RES), wherein the reference to related information is entered in a database record keyed by the generated UPUNI, wherein the registration of the UPUNI in the UPUNI-RES is a phase of a multi-phase registration commitment that occurs after effecting the storage of the related information, wherein in the entity information is related information, and wherein the validation information is related information.
-
-
169. A program stored on a medium readable by a processor, the program, comprising:
-
a module to effect collection of information regarding an entity (entity information), wherein the entity is represented by the entity information (EREI);
a module to effect generation of an unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI);
a module to effect storage of the collected entity information in a database record in a database;
a module to effect generation of validation information;
a module to effect transmission of validation information to access devices of the EREI, if an UPUNI registration agency (UPUNI-REG) generated the validation information;
a module to effect transmission of validation information to the UPUNI-REG, if the another device generated the validation information;
a module to effect storage of the generated validation information in a database record in a database;
a module to effect registration of a resolvable association between an UPUNI and reference to related information, wherein registration is effected in a database to associate and resolve UPUNIs and references to related information (UPUNI-RES), wherein in the entity information is related information, and wherein the validation information is related information. - View Dependent Claims (170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214)
-
-
215. A program stored on a medium readable by a processor, the program, comprising:
-
a module to determine if information an entity desires to access (desired information) on the entity'"'"'s access device (entity device) has an unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI) embedded within the desired information;
a module to access the desired information, if the UPUNI is absent from the desired information;
a module to determine if the desired information is inaccessible, wherein the desired information is inaccessible because the desired information is protected;
a module to determine if there exists an UPUNI that represents the entity (E-UPUNI);
a module to effect the generation of the E-UPUNI, if the entity is un-represented by an UPUNI;
a module to effect resolution of the entity device to the desired information'"'"'s UPUNI (DI-UPUNI), if an E-UPUNI exists, wherein the DI-UPUNI resolution directs the entity device to a rights clearinghouse;
a module to send entity verification information, wherein the E-UPUNI is entity verification information, wherein the DI-UPUNI is entity verification information, wherein the entity verification information is sent to the rights clearinghouse by the entity device;
a module to effect verification of the entity'"'"'s identity and access rights to the desired content with the provided entity verification information (entity verification), wherein the rights clearinghouse verifies the entity verification information;
a module to receive access credentials, if the entity'"'"'s identity and access rights to the desired content are verified, wherein the access credentials are received by the entity device from the rights clearinghouse;
a module to apply the received access credentials upon the desired information, which is initially in an inaccessible state, to make the desired information accessible;
a module to access of the desired information, if the desired information is accessible.
-
-
216. A program stored on a medium readable by a processor, the program, comprising:
-
a module to effect determination of if information an entity desires to access (desired information) on the entity'"'"'s access device (entity device) has an unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI) embedded within the desired information;
a module to effect determination of if the desired information is inaccessible;
a module to effect determination of if there exists an UPUNI that represents the entity (E-UPUNI);
a module to effect the generation of the E-UPUNI, if the entity is un-represented by an UPUNI;
a module to effect the resolution of the entity device to the desired information'"'"'s UPUNI (DI-UPUNI);
a module to effect the provision of entity verification information;
a module to effect verification of the entity'"'"'s identity and access rights to the desired content with the provided entity verification information (entity verification);
a module to effect provision of access credentials, if the entity'"'"'s identity and access rights to the desired content are verified. - View Dependent Claims (217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249)
-
-
250. An apparatus, comprising:
-
a processor;
a memory, communicatively connected to the processor;
a program, stored in the memory, including, a module to collect information regarding an entity (entity information), wherein the entity is represented by the entity information (EREI);
a module to generate an unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI) for the EREI;
a module to store the collected entity information in a database record in a database, wherein the database record storing the collected entity information is keyed by the generated UPUNI, wherein the storage of the entity information occurs before effecting registration of the UPUNI in one phase of a multi-phase registration commitment;
a module to generate validation information for the EREI;
a module to transmit validation information to an access device of the EREI, if an UPUNI registration agency (UPUNI-REG) generated the validation information;
a module to delete the validation information from the UPUNI-REG upon transmitting the validation information, if the UPUNI-REG generated the validation information;
a module to transmit validation information to the UPUNI-REG, if another device generated the validation information;
a module to store the generated validation information in a database record in a database, wherein the database record storing the generated validation information is keyed by the generated UPUNI, wherein the storage of the validation information occurs before effecting registration of the UPUNI in one phase of a multi-phase registration commitment;
a module to register a resolvable association between an UPUNI and reference to related information, wherein registration is effected in a database to associate and resolve UPUNIs and references to related information (UPUNI-RES), wherein the reference to related information is entered in a database record keyed by the generated UPUNI, wherein the registration of the UPUNI in the UPUNI-RES is a phase of a multi-phase registration commitment that occurs after effecting the storage of the related information, wherein in the entity information is related information, and wherein the validation information is related information.
-
-
251. An apparatus, comprising:
-
a processor;
a memory, communicatively connected to the processor;
a program, stored in the memory, including, a module to effect collection of information regarding an entity (entity information), wherein the entity is represented by the entity information (EREI);
a module to effect generation of an unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI);
a module to effect storage of the collected entity information in a database record in a database;
a module to effect generation of validation information;
a module to effect transmission of validation information to access devices of the EREI, if an UPUNI registration agency (UPUNI-REG) generated the validation information;
a module to effect transmission of validation information to the UPUNI-REG, if the another device generated the validation information;
a module to effect storage of the generated validation information in a database record in a database;
a module to effect registration of a resolvable association between an UPUNI and reference to related information, wherein registration is effected in a database to associate and resolve UPUNIs and references to related information (UPUNI-RES), wherein in the entity information is related information, and wherein the validation information is related information. - View Dependent Claims (252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296)
-
-
297. An apparatus, comprising:
-
a processor;
a memory, communicatively connected to the processor;
a program, stored in the memory, including, a module to determine if information an entity desires to access (desired information) on the entity'"'"'s access device (entity device) has an unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI) embedded within the desired information;
a module to access the desired information, if the UPUNI is absent from the desired information;
a module to determine if the desired information is inaccessible, wherein the desired information is inaccessible because the desired information is protected;
a module to determine if there exists an UPUNI that represents the entity (E-UPUNI);
a module to effect the generation of the E-UPUNI, if the entity is un-represented by an UPUNI;
a module to effect resolution of the entity device to the desired information'"'"'s UPUNI (DI-UPUNI), if an E-UPUNI exists, wherein the DI-UPUNI resolution directs the entity device to a rights clearinghouse;
a module to send entity verification information, wherein the E-UPUNI is entity verification information, wherein the DI-UPUNI is entity verification information, wherein the entity verification information is sent to the rights clearinghouse by the entity device;
a module to effect verification of the entity'"'"'s identity and access rights to the desired content with the provided entity verification information (entity verification), wherein the rights clearinghouse verifies the entity verification information;
a module to receive access credentials, if the entity'"'"'s identity and access rights to the desired content are verified, wherein the access credentials are received by the entity device from the rights clearinghouse;
a module to apply the received access credentials upon the desired information, which is initially in an inaccessible state, to make the desired information accessible;
a module to access of the desired information, if the desired information is accessible.
-
-
298. An apparatus, comprising:
-
a processor;
a memory, communicatively connected to the processor;
a program, stored in the memory, including, a module to effect determination of if information an entity desires to access (desired information) on the entity'"'"'s access device (entity device) has an unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI) embedded within the desired information;
a module to effect determination of if the desired information is inaccessible;
a module to effect determination of if there exists an UPUNI that represents the entity (E-UPUNI);
a module to effect the generation of the E-UPUNI, if the entity is un-represented by an UPUNI;
a module to effect the resolution of the entity device to the desired information'"'"'s UPUNI (DI-UPUNI);
a module to effect the provision of entity verification information;
a module to effect verification of the entity'"'"'s identity and access rights to the desired content with the provided entity verification information (entity verification);
a module to effect provision of access credentials, if the entity'"'"'s identity and access rights to the desired content are verified. - View Dependent Claims (299, 300, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327, 328, 329, 330, 331)
-
-
332. A method to effect access to information, comprising:
-
storing an unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI) that represents an entity (E-UPUNI) in a memory device;
reading the E-UPUNI from the memory device;
effecting the resolution of the read E-UPUNI to related information representing the entity. - View Dependent Claims (333, 334, 335)
-
-
336. A system to effect access to information, comprising:
-
means to store an unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI) that represents an entity (E-UPUNI) in a memory device;
means to read the E-UPUNI from the memory device;
means to effect the resolution of the read E-UPUNI to related information representing the entity. - View Dependent Claims (337, 338, 339)
-
-
340. A program stored on a medium readable by a processor, the program, comprising:
-
a module to store an unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI) that represents an entity (E-UPUNI) in a memory device;
a module to read the E-UPUNI from the memory device;
a module to effect the resolution of the read E-UPUNI to related information representing the entity. - View Dependent Claims (341, 342, 343)
-
-
344. An apparatus to identify an entity, comprising:
-
a memory, disposed for communication with a processor;
a base form encasing the memory;
a data-structure stored in the memory, including, a field to store an unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI) that represents an entity (E-UPUNI);
- View Dependent Claims (345, 346, 347, 348)
-
-
349. An apparatus to identify an entity, comprising:
-
a processor;
a memory, communicatively connected to the processor;
a program, stored in the memory, including, a module to store an unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI) that represents an entity (E-UPUNI) in a memory device;
a module to read the E-UPUNI from the memory device;
a module to effect the resolution of the read E-UPUNI to related information representing the entity. - View Dependent Claims (350, 351, 352)
-
Specification