Method for Digital Rights Management

• US 20070282615A1
• Filed: 06/01/2006
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated (Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Finn, Peter G., Boss, Gregory J., Waters, Timothy M., HAMILTON, RICK A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,937,328 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/367 involving electronic purses or money safes

Abstract

A method for digital rights management includes receiving a selection input from a user, associating a customer number with a file based on the selection input, embedding the customer number and a file identifier associated with the file in the file, and sending the file with the embedded customer number and file identifier to the user. One embodiment includes receiving a customer number change request, revising the central database in response to the customer number change request, determining a new customer number responsive to the customer number change request, and embedding the determined new customer number in the file. Another embodiment includes receiving an authorization request associated with a file, determining an authorization based on the central database and authorization request, and sending an authorization notice response to the determined authorization.

Claims

1. A method for digital rights management comprising:

receiving a selection input from a user;

associating a customer number with a file based on the selection input;

embedding the customer number and a file identifier associated with the file in the file; and

sending the file with the embedded customer number and file identifier to the user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the file identifier and customer number are associated in a central database.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

receiving a customer number change request;

revising the central database in response to the customer number change request; and

determining a new customer number responsive to the customer number change request; and

embedding the determined new customer number in the file.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

receiving a loan request associated with the sent file;

revising the central database in response to the loan request; and

receiving an end loan notification; and

revising the central database in response to the end loan notification.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the loan request includes a loan start date and a loan term associated with at least one file.

6. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

receiving an authorization request associated with a file;

determining an authorization based on the central database and authorization request; and

sending an authorization notice response to the determined authorization.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the customer number and file identifier are encrypted.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the file identifier is assigned prior to the customer number, and wherein the customer number is assigned concurrently with a sale or transfer.

7. The method of claim 7 wherein the authorization request includes the customer number and file identifier associated with the file.

10. A computer usable medium including computer readable code for digital rights management comprising:

computer readable code for receiving a selection input from a user;

computer readable code for associating a customer number with a file based on the selection input;

computer readable code for embedding the customer number and a file identifier associated with the file in the file; and

computer readable code for sending the file with the embedded customer number and file identifier to the user.

11. The medium of claim 10 wherein the file identifier and customer number are associated in a central database.

12. The medium of claim 11 further comprising:

computer readable code for receiving a customer number change request;

computer readable code for revising the central database in response to the customer number change request; and

computer readable code for determining a new customer number responsive to the customer number change request; and

computer readable code for embedding the determined new customer number in the file.

13. The medium of claim 11 further comprising:

computer readable code for receiving a loan request;

computer readable code for revising the central database in response to the loan request; and

computer readable code for receiving an end loan notification; and

computer readable code for revising the central database in response to the end loan notification.

14. The medium of claim 13 wherein the loan request includes a loan start date and a loan term associated with at least one file.

15. The medium of claim 10 further comprising:

computer readable code for receiving an authorization request associated with a file;

computer readable code for determining an authorization based on the central database and authorization request; and

computer readable code for sending an authorization notice response to the determined authorization.

16. The medium of claim 15 wherein the authorization request includes the customer number and file identifier associated with the file.

17. A system for digital rights management comprising:

means for receiving a selection input from a user;

means for associating a customer number with a file based on the selection input;

means for embedding the customer number and a file identifier associated with the file in the file; and

means for sending the file with the embedded customer number and file identifier to the user.