Computer program for securely viewing a file

• US 20050204130A1
• Filed: 03/10/2004
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steven Massey Harris
• Original Assignee: Steven Massey Harris
• Inventors: Harris, Steven M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,836,301 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/165
• 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 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2147 Locking files

Abstract

A method for distributing a password protected content file without revealing the password to a recipient. An unlocking program that has access to at least one password corresponding to the password protecting the content file is distributed to the recipient'"'"'s computer. A password protected content file is distributed to the recipient'"'"'s computer wherein upon activation of the unlocking program, the unlocking program automatically supplies the at least one password upon loading of the password protected content file.

Claims

1. A method for distributing a password protected content file without revealing the password to a recipient, comprising the steps of:

a. distributing to the recipient'"'"'s computer an unlocking program having access to at least one password corresponding to the password protecting the content file;

b. distributing the password protected content file to the recipient'"'"'s computer wherein upon activation the unlocking program automatically supplies the at least one password upon loading of the password protected content file.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the content file is readable by an application program, and wherein the step of distributing the content file is defined further as supplying the at least one password to the application program upon the application program loading the content file.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the unlocking program is adapted to run separately from the application program and to monitor the application program for a request for a password.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein steps a and b are repeated at a predetermined rate and wherein the password protecting the content file and the password accessed by the unlocking program are different in each repeat cycle.

5. A method for distributing a password protected content file without revealing the password to a recipient, comprising the steps of:

distributing a self-executing file stored on a computer readable medium, the self-executing file comprising;

a content file storing content, the content file being readable by an application program, the content file being locked with at least one password; and

an unlocking program having access to at least one password corresponding to the at least one password locking the content file, the unlocking program having instructions to automatically supply the at least one password to the application program upon the application program loading the content file.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the content file is readable by an application program, and wherein the step of distributing the content file is defined further as supplying the at least one password to the application program upon the application program loading the content file.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the unlocking program is adapted to run separately from the application program and to monitor the application program for a request for a password.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein steps a and b are repeated at a predetermined rate and wherein the password protecting the content file and the password accessed by the unlocking program are different in each repeat cycle.

9. A self-executing file stored on a computer readable medium, the self-executing file comprising:

a content file storing content, the content file being readable by an application program, the content file being locked with at least one password; and

an unlocking program having access to at least one password corresponding to the at least one password locking the content file, the unlocking program having instructions to automatically supply the at least one password to the application program upon the application program loading the content file.

10. The self-executing file of claim 9, wherein the unlocking program includes at least one instruction for initiating the application program and for causing the application program to load the content file.

11. The self-executing file of claim 9, wherein the unlocking program includes means for preventing a screen capture representing at least a portion of the content stored in the content file.

12. The self-executing file of claim 9, wherein the unlocking program is adapted to run independently of the application program.

13. The self-executing file of claim 9, wherein the unlocking program includes instructions for monitoring the running of at least one system administration program capable of terminating the unlocking program.

14. The self-executing file of claim 13, wherein the unlocking program includes instructions for automatically terminating the system administration program upon detecting the running of such system administration program.

15. The self-executing file of claim 13, wherein the unlocking program includes an instruction for terminating the application program upon detecting the running of such system administration program.

16. The self-executing file of claim 15, wherein the unlocking program includes an instruction for terminating the unlocking program after the application program has been terminated.

17. The self-executing file of claim 9, wherein the at least one system administration program includes a TaskManager program provided with a Windows operating system.

18. The self-executing file of claim 9, wherein the unlocking program includes an instruction to prevent termination of the unlocking program.

19. The self-executing file of claim 9, wherein the content file is characerized as a .pdf file.

20. An unlocking program for unlocking a content file readable by an application program, the content file being locked with at least one password, the unlocking program having access to at least one password corresponding to the at least one password locking the content file and instructions to automatically supply the at least one password to the application program upon the application program loading the content file.

21. The self-executing file of claim 20, wherein the unlocking program includes at least one instruction for initiating the application program and for causing the application program to load the content file.

22. The self-executing file of claim 20, wherein the unlocking program includes means for preventing a screen capture representing at least a portion of the content stored in the content file.

23. The self-executing file of claim 20, wherein the unlocking program is adapted to run independently of the application program.

24. The self-executing file of claim 20, wherein the unlocking program includes instructions for monitoring the running of at least one system administration program capable of terminating the unlocking program.

25. The self-executing file of claim 24, wherein the unlocking program includes instructions for automatically terminating the system administration program upon detecting the running of such system administration program.

26. The self-executing file of claim 24, wherein the unlocking program includes an instruction for terminating the application program upon detecting the running of such system administration program.

27. The self-executing file of claim 26, wherein the unlocking program includes an instruction for terminating the unlocking program after the application program has been terminated.

28. The self-executing file of claim 20, wherein the at least one system administration program includes a TaskManager program provided with a Windows operating system.

29. The self-executing file of claim 20, wherein the unlocking program includes an instruction to prevent termination of the unlocking program.

30. The self-executing file of claim 20, wherein the content file is characterized as a .pdf file.