System and method for tracking content communicated over networks
First Claim
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1. A method for tracking content communicated over a network, comprising:
- receiving at least one message and associated content from an originator of the content over the network;
associating watermark data with the content to provide watermarked content;
registering the watermarked content to record an association of the watermarked content with the originator of the watermarked content;
monitoring for subsequent transmission of the watermarked content over the network to identify the originator of the watermarked content; and
maintaining a content transmission count for each of the originators of the watermarked content that is transmitted over the network.
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Abstract
A system, apparatus and method for tracking content communicated over a network. Users can have content registered and tracked in order to show the popularity of the content for a community of users. Content transmitted over the network is marked and registered such that subsequent transmission, such as through message forwarding, can be recognized as the messages proliferate the network. A bonus or other reward may be provided to users whose content proves to be popular, which can be determined by the number of times the content was transmitted and/or forwarded.
76 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for tracking content communicated over a network, comprising:
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receiving at least one message and associated content from an originator of the content over the network;
associating watermark data with the content to provide watermarked content;
registering the watermarked content to record an association of the watermarked content with the originator of the watermarked content;
monitoring for subsequent transmission of the watermarked content over the network to identify the originator of the watermarked content; and
maintaining a content transmission count for each of the originators of the watermarked content that is transmitted over the network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for tracking content communicated via Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) messages over a network, comprising:
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receiving MMS messages communicated over the network at a Multimedia Messaging Service Center (MMSC);
forwarding the MMS messages to a message tracking system;
associating a watermark with content provided via the MMS messages to generate watermarked content at the message tracking system;
registering the watermarked content at the message tracking system to record an association of the watermarked content with an originator of the watermarked content;
monitoring for subsequent MMS transmission of the watermarked content over the network to identify the originator of the watermarked content; and
maintaining a content transmission count for each of the originators of the watermarked content that is transmitted over the network.
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24. A message tracking system coupled to receive messages and associated content from a message routing entity over a network, the message tracking system comprising:
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a processing system;
a watermarking module operable via the processing system and configured to associate watermark data with the content to generate watermarked content;
a registration module operable via the processing system and configured to register the watermarked content as being received at the message tracking system;
a watermark verification module operable via the processing system and configured to recognize watermarked content that has been previously registered; and
wherein the registration module tracks a number of times in which the previously registered watermarked content has been received at the message tracking system for each originator of the watermark data.
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25. A system for tracking content communicated via messaging between devices operable on a network, comprising:
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a message center coupled to the network to receive messages and associated content from message source devices targeted for one or more message destination devices;
a message tracking system coupled to receive the messages and associated content from the message center, the message tracking system comprising;
a processing system;
a watermarking module operable via the processing system and configured to associate watermark data with the content to generate watermarked content;
a registration module operable via the processing system and configured to register the watermarked content as being received at the message tracking system;
a watermark verification module operable via the processing system and configured to recognize watermarked content that has been previously registered; and
wherein the registration module tracks a number of times in which the previously registered watermarked content has been received at the message tracking system for each originator of the watermark data. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon which are executable by a computer system for tracking content communicated over a network by performing steps comprising:
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receiving at least one message and associated content from an originator of the content over the network;
associating watermark data with the content to provide watermarked content;
registering the watermarked content to record an association of the watermarked content with the originator of the watermarked content;
monitoring for subsequent transmission of the watermarked content over the network to identify the originator of the watermarked content; and
maintaining a content transmission count for each of the originators of the watermarked content that is transmitted over the network.
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34. A message tracking system coupled to receive Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) messages and associated content from a Multimedia Messaging Service Center (MMSC) over a network, the message tracking system comprising:
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means for associating a watermark with the content to provide watermarked content;
means for registering the watermarked content to record an association of the watermarked content with an originator of the watermarked content;
means for identifying subsequent transmission of the watermarked content over the network and for identifying the originator of the watermarked content; and
means for maintaining a content transmission count for each of the originators of the watermarked content that is transmitted over the network.
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Specification