Method and apparatus for tracking states of digital works

• US 20050289068A1
• Filed: 09/01/2005
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1994
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ContentGuard Holdings, Inc. (Pendrell Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ContentGuard Holdings, Inc. (Pendrell Corporation)
• Inventors: Pirolli, Peter L. T., Stefik, Mark J.
• Application Number:
  US11/216,275
• Publication Number:
  US 20050289068A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/51
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• 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 data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for commerce, e.g. marketing, shopping, billing, auctions or e-commerce G06Q30/00
• 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 software for enforcing use of digital works in accordance with usage rights associated therewith, including receiving a request to use a digital work; and determining at a non-centralized repository, whether the request should be granted based on usage rights associated with the digital work, wherein the usage rights include a manner of use for indicating how the digital work can be used, and status information relating to the state of the usage of the digital work; enforcing use of the digital work on a computing device in accordance with the manner of use if the result of the determining step is that the request should be granted; and accomplishing one or more transactions with respect to the digital work, including copy, transfer, loan, play, print, backup, restore, delete, directory, folder, extract, embed, edit, execute, authorization, install, and uninstall transactions.

Claims

1-36. -36. (canceled)

37. A computer-implemented method for enforcing use of digital works in accordance with usage rights associated with the digital works, the method comprising:

receiving a request to use a digital work;

determining at a non-centralized repository, whether the request should be granted based on usage rights associated with the digital work,

wherein the usage rights include a manner of use for indicating how the digital work can be used, and

the usage rights include status information relating to the state of the usage of the digital work;

enforcing use of the digital work on a computing device in accordance with the manner of use if the result of the determining step is that the request should be granted; and

accomplishing one or more transactions with respect to the digital work,

wherein the transactions in the accomplishing step include at least one of copy, transfer, loan, play, print, backup, restore, delete, directory, folder, extract, embed, edit, execute, authorization, install, and uninstall transactions.

38. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein the determining step comprises checking the status information to determine if conditions of the usage rights are satisfied.

39. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein the request specifies a manner of use indicating how the digital work can be used and the determining step further comprises determining whether the manner of use specified in the request corresponds to a manner of use included in the usage rights.

40. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein the usage rights include conditions that must be satisfied in order to exercise the manner of use.

41. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein the status information comprises a history list indicating events relating to the digital work, and the history list includes dates of each of the events.

42. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein the manner of use indicates a specific instance of how the digital work can be used.

43. A method as recited in claim 42, wherein the manner of use indicates how the digital work can be distributed.

44. A method as recited in claim 42, wherein the manner of use indicates how the digital work can be accessed.

45. A method as recited in claim 42, wherein the digital work comprises a computer program and the manner of use indicates how the computer program can be executed.

46. A method as recited in claim 42, wherein the manner of use indicates how the digital work can be rendered.

47. A method as recited in claim 37, further comprising creating the usage rights using a usage rights language.

48. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein the usage rights are expressed by a grammar.

49. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein the usage rights are stored in one or more repositories.

50. A method as recited in claim 37, further comprising accomplishing a session initiation transaction.

51. A method as recited in claim 50, further comprising establishing a secure and trusted communication link.

52. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein the digital work is represented as an object.

53. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein the usage rights are stored in one or more non-centralized repositories.

54. A method as recited in claim 53, wherein one or more of the non-centralized repositories are parts of a same repository.

55. A method as recited in claim 53, wherein one or more of the non-centralized repositories are parts of different repositories.

56. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein at least one of the digital work and the usage rights are stored on a removable storage device.

57. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein at least one of the digital work and the usage rights are stored on an optical disk.

58. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein the status information includes a copies in use number that is incremented when another copy of the digital work is used, and that is decremented when use of the digital work is completed.

59. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein the status information includes loan period time units indicating a maximum number of time-units that the digital work can be loaned out

60. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein the status information includes a loaner copy Boolean indicator that indicates that a current digital work is a loaned out copy of an authorized digital work.

61. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein the status information includes remaining time units indicting a remaining time of use on a metered digital work right.

62. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein the status information includes a document description string identifying information about the digital work, including at least one of name of a publisher of the digital work, a name of an author of the digital work, and an ISBN number of the digital work.

63. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein the status information includes a revenue owner description handle identifying a revenue owner for the digital work for reporting usage fees associated with the digital work.

64. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein the status information includes a publication date indicating a date that the digital work was published.

65. A method as recited in claim 41, wherein the events in the history list include at least one of copy, transfer, backup, and restore operation associated with the digital work.

66. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein the method is implemented with a computer system including one or more hardware and/or software components.

67. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein the method is implemented via one or more computer readable instructions embedded on a computer readable medium and configured to cause one or more computer processors to perform the steps of the method.

68. A system for enforcing use of digital works in accordance with usage rights associated with the digital works, the system comprising:

means for receiving a request to use a digital work;

means for determining at a non-centralized repository, whether the request should be granted based on usage rights associated with the digital work,

wherein the usage rights include a manner of use for indicating how the digital work can be used, and

the usage rights include status information relating to the state of the usage of the digital work;

means for enforcing use of the digital work on a computing device in accordance with the manner of use if the result of the determining step is that the request should be granted; and

means for accomplishing one or more transactions with respect to the digital work,

wherein the transactions include at least one of copy, transfer, loan, play, print, backup, restore, delete, directory, folder, extract, embed, edit, execute, authorization, install, and uninstall transactions.

69. A system as recited in claim 68, wherein the means for determining comprises means for checking the status information to determine if conditions of the usage rights are satisfied.

70. A system as recited in claim 68, wherein the request specifies a manner of use indicating how the digital work can be used and the means for determining further comprises means for determining whether the manner of use request corresponds to a manner of use included in the usage rights.

71. A system as recited in claim 68, wherein the usage rights include conditions that must be satisfied in order to exercise the manner of use.

72. A system as recited in claim 68, wherein the status information comprises a history list indicating events relating to the digital work, and the history list includes dates of each of the events.

73. A system as recited in claim 68, wherein the manner of use indicates a specific instance of how the digital work can be used.

74. A system as recited in claim 68, wherein the manner of use indicates how the digital work can be distributed.

75. A system as recited in claim 68, wherein the manner of use indicates how the digital work can be accessed.

76. A system as recited in claim 68, wherein the digital work comprises a computer program and the manner of use indicates how the computer program can be executed.

77. A system as recited in claim 68, wherein the manner of use indicates how the digital work can be rendered.

78. A system as recited in claim 68, further comprising means for creating the usage rights using a usage rights language.

79. A system as recited in claim 68, wherein the usage rights are expressed by a grammar.

80. A system as recited in claim 68, wherein the usage rights are stored in one or more non-centralized repositories.

81. A system as recited in claim 68, further comprising means for accomplishing a session initiation transaction.

82. A system as recited in claim 81, further comprising means for establishing a secure and trusted communication link.

83. A system as recited in claim 68, wherein the digital work is represented as an object.

84. A system as recited in claim 80, wherein one or more of the non-centralized repositories are parts of a same repository.

85. A system as recited in claim 80, wherein one or more of the non-centralized repositories are parts of different repositories.

86. A system as recited in claim 68, wherein at least one of the digital work and the usage rights are stored on a removable storage device.

87. A system as recited in claim 68, wherein at least one of the digital work and the usage rights are stored on an optical disk.

88. A system as recited in claim 68, wherein the status information can include a copies in use number that is incremented when another copy of the digital work is used, and that is decremented when use of the digital work is completed.

89. A system as recited in claim 68, wherein the status information can include loan period time units indicating a maximum number of time-units that the digital work can be loaned out

90. A system as recited in claim 68, wherein the status information can include a loaner copy Boolean indicator that indicates that a current digital work is a loaned out copy of an authorized digital work.

91. A system as recited in claim 68, wherein the status information can include remaining time units indicting a remaining time of use on a metered digital work right.

92. A system as recited in claim 68, wherein the status information can include a document description string identifying information about the digital work, including at least one of name of a publisher of the digital work, a name of an author of the digital work, and an ISBN number of the digital work.

93. A system as recited in claim 68, wherein the status information can include a revenue owner description handle identifying a revenue owner for the digital work for reporting usage fees associated with the digital work.

94. A system as recited in claim 68, wherein the status information can include a publication date indicating a date that the digital work was published.

95. A system as recited in claim 72, wherein the events in the history list include at least one of copy, transfer, backup, and restore operation associated with the digital work.

96. A system as recited in claim 68, wherein the system is implemented with one or more hardware and/or software components.