Trusted and Secure Techniques for Item Delivery and Execution

• US 20070271463A1
• Filed: 08/02/2007
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1995
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intertrust Technologies Corporation (Fidelio Acquisition Co LLC)
• Original Assignee: Intertrust Technologies Corporation (Fidelio Acquisition Co LLC)
• Inventors: Weber, Robert, Van Wie, David, Ginter, Karl, Spahn, Francis, Shear, Victor
• Application Number:
  US11/833,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20070271463A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/176
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/1408 by using cryptography for digital transmission H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/109 by using specially-adapted hardware at the client
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/16 Program or content traceability, e.g. by watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/33 using certificates
• 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 21/86 Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/007 Encryption, En-/decode, En-/decipher, En-/decypher, Scramble, (De-)compress
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2115 Third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2135 Metering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2151 Time stamp
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/023 the neutral party being a clearing house
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/24 : Credit schemes, i.e. "pay after"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/389 : Keeping log of transactions for guaranteeing non-repudiation of a transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 : Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 : Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 : for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/56 : Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/60 : Digital content management, e.g. content distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/805 : Lightweight hardware, e.g. radio-frequency identification [RFID] or sensor
• 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 2463/102 : applying security measure for e-commerce data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/103 : applying security measure for protecting copy right protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment, e.g. protection the software providers copyright G06F21/10; data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; secrecy systems or subscription systems H04N7/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 : for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 : for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3231 : Biological data, e.g. fingerprint, voice or retina network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using biometrical features in a packet data network H04L63/0861
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3263 : involving certificates, e.g. public key certificate [PKC] or attribute certificate [AC]; Public key infrastructure [PKI] arrangements network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using certificates in a packet data network H04L63/0823
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2347 : involving video stream encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 : Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2362 : Generation or processing of Service Information [SI]
• 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 21/2547 : Third Party Billing, e.g. billing of advertiser
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 : involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 : embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 : Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 : Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4405 : involving video stream decryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 : Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 : OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• 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 21/4753 : for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 : Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8166 : involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• 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 21/83555 : using a structured language for describing usage rules of the content, e.g. REL
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8358 : involving watermark protecting executable software by watermarking G06F21/16; image watermarking in general G06T1/0021; watermarks inserted in still images for transmission purposes H04N1/32144; inserting watermarks during video coding H04N19/467
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/162 : Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 : Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

Documents and other items can be delivered electronically from sender to recipient with a level of trustedness approaching or exceeding that provided by a personal document courier. A trusted electronic go-between can validate, witness and/or archive transactions while, in some cases, actively participating in or directing the transaction. Printed or imaged documents can be marked using handwritten signature images, seal images, electronic fingerprinting, watermarking, and/or steganography. Electronic commercial transactions and transmissions take place in a reliable, “trusted” virtual distribution environment that provides significant efficiency and cost savings benefits to users in addition to providing an extremely high degree of confidence and trustedness. The systems and techniques have many uses including but not limited to secure document delivery, execution of legal documents, and electronic data interchange (EDI).

Claims

1. A method of securely delivering an item from a first electronic appliance, the first electronic appliance comprising a protected processing environment, the protected processing environment at least in part protecting information contained in the protected processing environment from tampering by a user of the first electronic appliance, the method comprising:

authenticating an identity of a user of the first electronic appliance;

authenticating an intended recipient of the item;

associating one or more electronic controls with the item; and

packaging the item and the one or more electronic controls into one or more secure electronic containers.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising registering one or more electronic controls received from the intended recipient, wherein the step of associating one or more electronic controls with the item includes associating at least one of the one or more controls received from the intended recipient.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of associating one or more electronic controls with the item includes associating at least one electronic control received from a user of the first electronic appliance.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first electronic appliance comprises at least one of:

a display screen;

an electronic card reader;

a telephone receiver; and

a telephone dialing keypad.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first electronic appliance comprises a kiosk comprising at least one of:

a document reader;

a camera;

a microphone; and

a speaker.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first electronic appliance is selected from the group consisting of:

personal computer, workstation, server, and television.

7. The method of claim 1, in which the protected processing environment comprises a secure processing unit.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the one or more secure electronic containers to a second electronic appliance associated with the intended recipient.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the transmitting step comprises transmitting at least a first secure electronic container via an electronic network, the electronic network being selected from the group consisting of:

the Internet, an internal network, and a local-area network.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the item is selected from the group consisting of:

a document, a digital photograph, graphical data, audio data, a computer program, video data, a film, moving image data, a video game, and a piece of multimedia.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein authenticating an identity of a user of the first electronic appliance comprises evaluating biometric information associated with the user of the first electronic appliance.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein authenticating an identity of a user of the first electronic appliance comprises:

accessing information from a smart card; and

comparing the information from the smart card to expected information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the information from the smart card comprises information from at least one digital certificate.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein authenticating an identity of a user of the first electronic appliance comprises:

receiving a digital certificate associated with the user of the first electronic appliance; and

comparing information from the digital certificate to expected information.

15. A method comprising the steps of:

receiving a secure electronic container;

opening the secure electronic container;

authenticating one or both of the secure electronic container and contents of the secure electronic container, wherein the contents include a received item;

automatically accessing one or more controls associated with the secure electronic container, the controls having been received independently of the secure electronic container; and

performing processing on the received item in accordance with the one or more controls.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the performing step comprises at least one step selected from the group consisting of:

restricting access to at least part of the received item;

restricting modification rights to at least part of the received item;

restricting further distribution of the received item;

destroying the received item after a specified time period; and

destroying the received item after a specified number of handlings.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the performing step comprises at least one step selected from the group consisting of:

applying at least one signature;

applying at least one seal;

providing a handwritten signature;

providing a steganographic electronic fingerprint;

providing a visual electronic fingerprint;

issuing one or more receipts;

performing one or more contract execution functions;

performing one or more audit functions;

performing one or more contract settlement functions;

performing one or more archival functions;

performing one or more notary functions;

performing one or more electronic negotiation functions; and

performing one or more payment handling functions.

18. A method comprising the steps of:

receiving a notification that a secure electronic container has arrived;

authenticating the secure electronic container;

opening the secure electronic container;

authenticating contents of the secure electronic container;

accessing at least one processing control, the processing control specifying, at least in part, one or more processing operations that must be performed on the secure electronic container and/or the contents of the secure electronic container;

performing the one or more processing operations;

notifying at least one remote entity upon completion of the one or more operations.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising storing the secure electronic container in an archive.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein at least one of the one or more processing operations is selected from the group consisting of:

restricting access to the contents of the secure electronic container;

restricting modification of the contents of the secure electronic container;

restricting further distribution of the secure electronic container;

destroying the secure electronic container after a specified time period; and

destroying the secure electronic container after a specified number of handlings.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein at least one of the one or more processing operations is selected from the group consisting of:

providing a return receipt;

applying at least one digital signature;

applying at least one electronic seal;

providing a handwritten signature;

providing a steganographic electronic fingerprint;

providing a visual electronic fingerprint;

performing one or more contract execution functions;

performing one or more audit functions;

performing one or more contract settlement functions;

performing one or more archival functions;

performing one or more notary functions;

performing one or more electronic negotiation functions; and

performing one or more payment handling functions.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

sending a request to a trusted intermediary requesting permission to redistribute the secure electronic container; and

receiving a failure notification if the trusted intermediary is unable to obtain all required permissions.