Methods of controlling access to network content referenced within structured documents

• US 20060259492A1
• Filed: 05/10/2006
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digital River Incorporated (Danube Private Holdings II, LLC)
• Original Assignee: BitPass, Inc. (Danube Private Holdings II, LLC)
• Inventors: Huang, Kurt, Kuroda, Duane, Jun, Gyuchang
• Granted Patent: US 8,566,462 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• 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 21/6209 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 2221/2135 Metering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to methods of controlling access to one or more items of network content referenced within a structured document such as an RSS feed. Embodiments of the invention are particularly suited to podcasting, where the access control is based on monetary payment, presentation of coupons or other promotional devices, or other forms of web commerce; or may limit the duration of accessibility of the content, the number of times it can be downloaded, or other characteristics of access.

Claims

1. A method of controlling access to network content, comprising the steps of:

validating a token for a structured document comprising references to one or more items of network content offered by a first party;

generating a one-time token enabling access to one or more of the items of network content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the one-time token is capable of inclusion in a URL.

3. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising the steps of:

generating a URL for information other than the items of network content if the token for the structured document is invalid.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the step of generating a one-time token is carried out on behalf of a second party.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the structured document comprises XML format.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the checking of the validity of the token is based on payment.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the items of network content comprise audio files.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the XML format comprises an RSS format.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the one-time token is computed by a one-way hash function on arguments comprising:

a randomly generated seed;

a URL;

a shared secret string; and

a time window.

10. An apparatus providing control of access to network content, comprising:

a validator of a token for a structured document containing references to one or more items of network content offered by a first party;

a generator of a one-time token enabling access to one or more of the items of the network content.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the one-time token is capable of inclusion in a URL.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, additionally comprising:

means for generating a URL for information other than the one or more items of network content if the token for the structured document is invalid.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the apparatus is operated on behalf of a second party.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the structured document comprises XML format.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the validator of the token for the structured document makes use of payment information.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the items of network content comprise audio files.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the XML format comprises an RSS format.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the generator of the one-time token uses a one-way hash function on arguments comprising:

a randomly generated seed;

a URL;

a shared secret string; and

a time window.

19. An apparatus providing control of access to network content, comprising:

a validator for a token for a structured document comprising references to one or more items of network content offered by a first party;

means for sending on a network a one-time token for one or more of the items of network content.

20. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein:

the apparatus is operated on behalf of a second party.