Method and apparatus to provide an authoring tool to create content for a secure content service

• US 20070256143A1
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Moreover Acquisition Corporation
• Original Assignee: VeriSign, Inc.
• Inventors: Graves, Michael, Krall, Gary, Prafullchandra, Hemma, Granqvist, Hans, Lundberg, Ryan Emory
• Granted Patent: US 9,288,052 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/60 Digital content management, e.g. content distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/321 involving a third party or a trusted authority
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2347 involving video stream encryption
• 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

Abstract

A method and apparatus to provide an authoring tool enabling a user to create content and to selectively encrypt content is described. The encryption is designed to associate an entitlement with the content, the entitlement restricting access to the content. The system in one embodiment further includes a reading tool to access various content, the reading tool to enable an integrated reading of clear-text content and encrypted content. The system, in one embodiment, is designed to interact with a secure content service to provide a decryption key when an authorized user wishes to access the encrypted content.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an authoring tool to enable a user to create content and to selectively encrypt content, the encryption associating an entitlement with the content, the entitlement restricting access to the content; and

a reading tool to access various content, the reading tool to enable an integrated reading of clear-text content and encrypted content;

a secure content service to provide a decryption key when an authorized user wishes to access the encrypted content.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the entitlement comprises one or more of the following:

a static group including an authorized individual user, a dynamic group including a predefined user group having at least one user, a virtual dynamic group wherein group membership is specified by one or more characteristics in a user profile.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the entitlement is defined by a characteristic specified in or derivable from a reader'"'"'s user profile.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the entitlement is defined by a characteristic specified in or derivable from an author'"'"'s user profile.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the reading tool further comprises:

a message substitution logic to insert an encryption-appropriate message for display when a non-authorized user attempts to view an encrypted entry.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the authoring tool further comprises:

a timing logic to enable the setting of an entitlement period for a specific duration.

7. An authoring tool comprising:

a writing tool to enable a user to generate content;

an encryption tool to enable the user to selectively encrypt content; and

an entitlement logic to enable the user to associate an entitlement with the content, the entitlement restricting access to the content based on one or more characteristics in a user profile.

8. The authoring tool of claim 7, wherein the one or more characteristics in a user profile comprise characteristics in one or more of the following:

the authoring user'"'"'s profile, and a reader'"'"'s user profile.