System and method for controlling distribution and use of digital works using price specifications

• US 20040225611A1
• Filed: 06/17/2004
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1994
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ContentGuard Holdings, Inc. (Pendrell Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ContentGuard Holdings, Inc. (Pendrell Corporation)
• Inventors: Stefik, Mark J., Pirolli, Peter L.T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,039,613 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/301 for introducing or steering flexible instruments inserted into the body, e.g. catheters or endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/031 torque limiting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/376 using X-rays, e.g. fluoroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/37 Master-slave robots A61B34/35 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0113 Mechanical advancing means, e.g. catheter dispensers
• 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: G06F 2221/2115 Third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2135 Metering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0185 Product, service or business identity fraud
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 : Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 : Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/184 : Intellectual property management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 : Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1403 : Architecture for metering, charging or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/146 : using digital cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1485 : Tariff-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1496 : involving discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/56 : Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/603 : Digital right managament [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 : applying security measures for digital rights management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 : Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 : Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 : wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0442 : wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply asymmetric encryption, i.e. different keys for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for public-key encryption H04L9/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0464 : using hop-by-hop encryption, i.e. wherein an intermediate entity decrypts the information and re-encrypts it before forwarding it
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0807 : using tickets, e.g. Kerberos cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using tickets or tokens H04L9/3213
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 : using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 : for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 : Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 : Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 : Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/123 : received data contents, e.g. message integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3213 : using tickets or tokens, e.g. Kerberos network architectures or network communication protocols for entities authentication using tickets in a packet data network H04L63/0807
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3297 : involving time stamps, e.g. generation of time stamps
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23412 : for generating or manipulating the scene composition of objects, e.g. MPEG-4 objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 : Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 : Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26613 : for generating or managing keys in general key distribution for secret or secure communication involving central third party, e.g. key distribution center [KDC] or trusted third party [TTP] H04L9/083; network support of key management H04L63/06; key management for network security in communication control or processing H04W12/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 : Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6332 : directed to client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 : directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/835 : Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 : involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/83555 : using a structured language for describing usage rules of the content, e.g. REL
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 : Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 : Privileged access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 : Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A method, system and device for determining fees for access to digital works including associating a usage right with a digital work and which specifies a manner of use of the digital work and (i) a fee specification including a maximum price and a best price specification indicating a best price to be charged to a consumer upon exercising the manner or (ii) a price to be charged and a markup specification indicating a markup percentage to the price to be charged to a consumer upon exercising the manner of use; determining when the consumer is entitled to the best price or the markup specification and if so, returning a difference between the maximum price and the best price to the consumer or adding the markup percentage to the price to be charged to the consumer upon exercising the manner of use, respectively.

Claims

1. A method for determining fees for access to digital works within a system having at least one repository to enforce usage rights associated with the digital works, the method comprising the steps of:

associating at least one usage right with a digital work;

specifying in the usage right a manner of use of the digital work and a fee specification including a maximum price to be charged to a consumer upon exercising the manner of use and a best price specification indicating a best price to be charged to a consumer upon exercising the manner of use;

determining when the consumer is entitled to the best price specification; and

if it is determined that the consumer is entitled to the best price specification, returning a difference between the maximum price and the best price to the consumer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the best price specification is for accommodating at least one of auctions, special deals, rebates, and pricing that depend on information that is not available to a repository enforcing the manner of use of the digital work.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising:

combining the best price specification with one of a ticket and an authorization indicating that the consumer exercising the manner of use of the digital work is one of a wholesaler and a preferred customer.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising:

combining the best price specification with one of a ticket and an authorization indicating that a seller of the manner of use of the digital work is authorized in a predetermined way.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising:

debiting tentatively the maximum price for exercising the manner of use of the digital work from a credit server associated with the digital work.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising:

performing the returning step in a separate transaction from the transaction for exercising the manner of use of the digital work.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising:

associating a plurality of usage rights with the digital work, wherein at least one of the plurality of usage rights specifies one of a maximum price and a best price specification which is different from a maximum price or a best price specification of at least one of the other of the plurality of usage rights.

8. A system for determining fees for access to digital works and having at least one repository to enforce usage rights associated with the digital works, the system comprising:

means for associating at least one usage right with a digital work;

means for specifying in the usage right a manner of use of the digital work and a fee specification including a maximum price to be charged to a consumer upon exercising the manner of use and a best price specification indicating a best price to be charged to a consumer upon exercising the manner of use;

means for determining when the consumer is entitled to the best price specification; and

means for returning a difference between the maximum price and the best price to the consumer, if it is determined that the consumer is entitled to the best price specification.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the best price specification is for accommodating at least one of auctions, special deals, rebates, and pricing that depend on information that is not available to a repository enforcing the manner of use of the digital work.

10. The system of claim 8, comprising:

means for combining the best price specification with one of a ticket and an authorization indicating that the consumer exercising the manner of use of the digital work is one of a wholesaler and a preferred customer.

11. The system of claim 8, comprising:

means for combining the best price specification with one of a ticket and an authorization indicating that a seller of the manner of use of the digital work is authorized in a predetermined way.

12. The system of claim 8, comprising:

means for debiting tentatively the maximum price for exercising the manner of use of the digital work from a credit server associated with the digital work.

13. The system of claim 8, comprising:

means for performing the returning of the difference in a separate transaction from the transaction for exercising the manner of use of the digital work.

14. The system of claim 8, comprising:

means for associating a plurality of usage rights with the digital work, wherein at least one of the plurality of usage rights specifies one of a maximum price and a best price specification which is different from a maximum price or a best price specification of at least one of the other of the plurality of usage rights.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the means for associating, the means for specifying, the means for determining, and the means for returning comprise one or more devices of a computer system.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein the means for associating, the means for specifying, the means for determining, and the means for returning comprise one or more computer-readable instructions stored on a computer readable medium.

17. A device for determining fees for access to digital works within a system having at least one repository to enforce usage rights associated with the digital works, the device comprising:

means for receiving at least one usage right associated with a digital work, wherein the usage right specifies a manner of use of the digital work and a fee specification including a maximum price to be charged to a consumer upon exercising the manner of use and a best price specification indicating a best price to be charged to a consumer upon exercising the manner of use;

means for determining when the consumer is entitled to the best price specification; and

means for returning a difference between the maximum price and the best price to the consumer, if it is determined that the consumer is entitled to the best price specification.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the best price specification is for accommodating at least one of auctions, special deals, rebates, and pricing that depend on information that is not available to a repository enforcing the manner of use of the digital work.

19. The device of claim 17, comprising:

means for combining the best price specification with one of a ticket and an authorization indicating that the consumer exercising the manner of use of the digital work is one of a wholesaler and a preferred customer.

20. The device of claim 17, comprising:

means for combining the best price specification with one of a ticket and an authorization indicating that a seller of the manner of use of the digital work is authorized in a predetermined way.

21. The device of claim 17, comprising:

means for debiting tentatively the maximum price for exercising the manner of use of the digital work from a credit server associated with the digital work.

22. The device of claim 17, comprising:

means for performing the returning of the difference in a separate transaction from the transaction for exercising the manner of use of the digital work.

23. The device of claim 17, wherein a plurality of usage rights are associated with the digital work, and at least one of the plurality of usage rights specifies one of a maximum price and a best price specification which is different from a maximum price or a best price specification of at least one of the other of the plurality of usage rights.

24. A method for determining fees for access to digital works within a system having at least one repository to enforce usage rights associated with the digital works, the method comprising the steps of:

associating at least one usage right with a digital work;

specifying in the usage right a manner of use of the digital work and a fee specification including a price to be charged to a consumer upon exercising the manner of use and a markup specification indicating a markup percentage to the price to be charged to a consumer upon exercising the manner of use;

determining when the consumer is subject to the markup specification; and

if it is determined that the consumer is subject to the markup specification, adding the markup percentage to the price to be charged to the consumer upon exercising the manner of use.

25. The method of claim 24, comprising:

allocating to a distributor of the digital work a fee corresponding to a percentage of a cumulative fee for exercising the manner of use of the digital work based on the markup specification.

26. The method of claim 24, comprising:

applying the markup specification to another fee specification specified in the usage right.

27. The method of claim 24, comprising:

employing the markup specification in shell provided by a distributor of the digital work.

28. The method of claim 24, comprising:

employing the markup specification for specifying one of a tax and a distributor overhead cost associated with the exercising of the manner of use of the digital work.

29. The method of claim 24, comprising:

associating a plurality of usage rights with the digital work, wherein at least one of the plurality of usage rights specifies one of a price to be charged and a markup specification which is different from a price to be charged or a best price specification of at least one of the other of the plurality of usage rights.

30. A system for determining fees for access to digital works and having at least one repository to enforce usage rights associated with the digital works, the system comprising:

means for associating at least one usage right with a digital work;

means for specifying in the usage right a manner of use of the digital work and a fee specification including a price to be charged to a consumer upon exercising the manner of use and a markup specification indicating a markup percentage to the price to be charged to a consumer upon exercising the manner of use;

means for determining when the consumer is subject to the markup specification; and

means for adding the markup percentage to the price to be charged to the consumer upon exercising the manner of use, if it is determined that the consumer is subject to the markup specification.

31. The system of claim 30, comprising:

means for allocating to a distributor of the digital work a fee corresponding to a percentage of a cumulative fee for exercising the manner of use of the digital work based on the markup specification.

32. The system of claim 30, comprising:

means for applying the markup specification to another fee specification specified in the usage right.

33. The system of claim 30, comprising:

means for employing the markup specification in shell provided by a distributor of the digital work.

34. The system of claim 30, comprising:

means for employing the markup specification for specifying one of a tax and a distributor overhead cost associated with the exercising of the manner of use of the digital work.

35. The system of claim 30, comprising:

means for associating a plurality of usage rights with the digital work, wherein at least one of the plurality of usage rights specifies one of a price to be charged and a markup specification which is different from a price to be charged or a best price specification of at least one of the other of the plurality of usage rights.

36. The system of claim 30, wherein the means for associating, the means for specifying, the means for determining, and the means for adding comprise one or more devices of a computer system.

37. The system of claim 30, wherein the means for associating, the means for specifying, the means for determining, and the means for adding comprise one or more computer-readable instructions stored on a computer readable medium.

38. A device for determining fees for access to digital works within a system having at least one repository to enforce usage rights associated with the digital works, the device comprising:

means for receiving at least one usage right associated with a digital work, wherein the usage right specifies a manner of use of the digital work and a fee specification including a price to be charged to a consumer upon exercising the manner of use and a markup specification indicating a markup percentage to the price to be charged to a consumer upon exercising the manner of use;

means for determining when the consumer is subject to the markup specification; and

means for adding the markup percentage to the price to be charged to the consumer upon exercising the manner of use, if it is determined that the consumer is subject to the markup specification.

39. The device of claim 38, wherein a distributor of the digital work is allocated a fee corresponding to a percentage of a cumulative fee for exercising the manner of use of the digital work based on the markup specification.

40. The device of claim 38, comprising:

means for applying the markup specification to another fee specification specified in the usage right.

41. The device of claim 38, wherein the markup specification is employed in shell provided by a distributor of the digital work.

42. The device of claim 38, comprising wherein the markup specification is employed for specifying one of a tax and a distributor overhead cost associated with the exercising of the manner of use of the digital work.

43. The device of claim 38, wherein a plurality of usage rights are associated with the digital work, and at least one of the plurality of usage rights specifies one of a price to be charged and a markup specification which is different from a price to be charged or a best price specification of at least one of the other of the plurality of usage rights.