Apparatus and method for storing and distributing encrypted digital content and functionality suite associated therewith

• US 20060015944A1
• Filed: 07/13/2005
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Daniel M. Fields, Karen L. Rooney
• Inventors: Fields, Daniel M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,237,268 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/606 by securing the transmission between two devices or processes
• 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 2221/2107 File encryption
• 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 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 63/0471 applying encryption by an intermediary, e.g. receiving clear information at the intermediary and encrypting the received information at the intermediary before forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/126 the source of the received data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/289 Intermediate processing functionally located close to the data consumer application, e.g. in same machine, in same home or in same sub-network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching

Abstract

The present invention provides for a method and system for providing a type of Managed/Secured File Transfer between one or more computers arraigned in server-client or peer-to-peer configuration. This method and system takes digital content in the form of a file, shreds this file into separate pieces and encrypts each piece separately. Once encrypted, each piece is stored into a database. Client applications can then access these pieces of digital content over a network, decrypt and reassemble each piece to be played in the case of audio/video content, or viewed in the case of visual content. In some embodiments, the content requested by the client application is stored into a second database in a shredded and encrypted format, whereas in other embodiments the content is reassembled into the original non-encrypted and non-shredded file format. This method and system can reside on a computer system, hand held device, or other device.

Claims

1. A method for handling shredded and encrypted digital content comprising:

manipulating digital content in the form of text with a word processing module;

manipulating digital content in the form of numeric values and text with a spreadsheet module;

manipulating digital content in the form of photos with a photo management module;

manipulating digital content in the form of messages between users with a messaging module; and

manipulating digital content to be posted for use by multiple users with a bulletin board module.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein manipulating text with a word processing module comprises:

displaying the text with a WYSIWYG type display;

writing the text;

editing the text;

checking the text with a spell checker; and

storing the text into a database as shredded and encrypted digital content.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein manipulating numeric and text values with a spreadsheet module comprises:

displaying the numeric and text values with a WYSIWYG type display;

performing various arithmetic calculations using the numeric values;

displaying the results of these various arithmetic calculations on the display; and

storing the numeric and text values into a database as shredded and encrypted digital content.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein manipulating photos with a photo management module comprises:

displaying one or more photos in an array;

rotating the photos;

resizing the photos;

cropping the photos; and

storing the photos into a database as shredded and encrypted digital content.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein manipulating messages between users with a messaging module comprises:

sending messages from a first user; and

receiving messages by second user.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the sending of messages is in the form of text, graphic, audio, video, audio-video data.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein manipulating digital content to be posted for use by multiple users with a bulletin board module comprises:

posting messages to a computer bulletin board; and

grouping these messages according to the content of the messages.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein manipulating digital content to be posted for use by multiple users with a bulletin board module comprises modifying fonts, color, or graphics of the message posted on the bulletin board.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein manipulating digital content to be posted for use by multiple users with a bulletin board module comprises posting audio digital content.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein manipulating digital content to be posted for use by multiple users with a bulletin board module comprises posting audio-video digital content.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein manipulating digital content to be posted for use by multiple users with a bulletin board module comprises posting video digital content.

12. Computer-readable media having executable instructions stored thereon for causing a suitable programmed central processor unit to perform a method comprising:

manipulating shredded and encrypted digital content in the form of text with a word processing module;

manipulating shredded and encrypted digital content in the form of numeric values and text with a spreadsheet module;

manipulating shredded and encrypted digital content in the form of photos with a photo management module;

manipulating shredded and encrypted digital content in the form of messages between users with a messaging module; and

manipulating shredded and encrypted digital content to be posted for use by multiple users with a bulletin board module.

13. The computer-readable media of claim 12, further comprising instructions for a word processing module to manipulate shredded and encrypted digital content in the form of text through:

displaying the text with a WYSIWYG type display;

writing the text;

editing the text; and

checking the text with a spell checker; and

storing the text into a database as shredded and encrypted digital content.

14. The computer-readable media of claim 12, further comprising instructions for a spreadsheet module to manipulate shredded and encrypted digital content in the form of numeric and text values through:

displaying the numeric and text values with a WYSIWYG type display;

performing various arithmetic calculations using the numeric values;

displaying the results of these various arithmetic calculations on the display; and

storing the numeric and text values into a database as shredded and encrypted digital content.

15. The computer-readable media of claim 12, further comprising instructions for a photo management module to manipulate shredded and encrypted digital content in the form of photos through:

displaying one or more photos in an array;

rotating the photos;

resizing the photos;

cropping the photos; and

storing the photos into a database as shredded and encrypted digital content.

16. The computer-readable media of claim 12, further comprising instructions for a messaging module to manipulate shredded and encrypted digital content in the form of text, graphic, audio, video or audio/video data.

17. The computer-readable media of claim 12, further comprising instructions for a messaging module to manipulate shredded and encrypted digital content in the form of text, graphic, audio, video or audio/video data through:

sending messages from a first user; and

receiving messages by second user.

18. The computer-readable media of claim 12, further comprising instructions for a bulletin board module to manipulate shredded and encrypted digital content in the form of text through:

posting messages to a computer bulletin board; and

grouping the messages according to the content of the messages.

19. The computer-readable media of claim 18, further comprising instructions for a bulletin board module to manipulate shredded and encrypted digital content in the form of text comprises modifying the text fonts, color, or graphics.

20. The computer-readable media of claim 18, further comprising instructions for a bulletin board module to manipulate shredded and encrypted digital content in the form of audio digital content posted to a computer bulletin board.

21. The computer-readable media of claim 18, further comprising instructions for a bulletin board module to manipulate shredded and encrypted digital content in the form of audio-video digital content posted to a computer bulletin board.

22. The computer-readable media of claim 18, further comprising instructions for a bulletin board module to manipulate shredded and encrypted digital content in the form of video digital content posted to a computer bulletin board.