Exchange mechanisms for digital information packages with bandwidth securitization, multichannel digital watermarks, and key management

• US 20080151934A1
• Filed: 01/23/2008
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wistaria Trading Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wistaria Trading Inc.
• Inventors: Cooperman, Marc, Moskowitz, Scott A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,830,915 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/468
• 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: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/005 Robust watermarking, e.g. average attack or collusion attack resistant
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0052 Embedding of the watermark in the frequency domain
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0061 Embedding of the watermark in each block of the image, e.g. segmented watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0064 for copy protection or copy management, e.g. CGMS, copy only once, one-time copy
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 1/00 Secret communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/56 Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/608 Watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32144 embedded in the image data, i.e. enclosed or integrated in the image, e.g. watermark, super-imposed logo or stamp
• 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

Abstract

Responsibility can be established for specific copies or instances of copies of digitized multimedia content using digital watermarks. Management and distribution of digital watermark keys (e.g., private, semiprivate and public) and the extension of information associated with such keys is implemented to create a mechanism for the securitization of multimedia titles to which the keys apply. Bandwidth rights can be created to provide for a distributed model for digital distribution of content which combines the security of a digital watermark with efficient barter mechanisms for handling the actual delivery of digital goods. Distributed keys better define rights that are traded between transacting parties in exchanging information or content. More than one party can cooperate in adding distinguished watermarks at various stages of distribution without destroying watermarks previously placed in the content. Additionally, the amount of information which any one party must divulge to another party can be minimized, and “downstream” parties can be prevented from compromising or otherwise gaining control of watermarks embedded by “upstream” parties.

Claims

1. A method of pricing on-line distribution of digital information packages comprising determining an on-line distribution net price based on a price of bandwidth resources necessary to transfer the digital information package between at least two parties and based on an underlying price of the digital information package itself.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the price of bandwidth resources is proportional to a percentage of bandwidth allocated to transfer of the digital information, and is indirectly inversely proportional to a duration of the transfer.

3-22. -22. (canceled)

23. A process for managing the distribution of digital information packages, comprising:

making available a digital information package, the digital information package comprising;

at least one of a passive work and an interactive work; and

at least one bandwidth securitization instrument, each of said at least one bandwidth securitization instrument representing a right to transmit a predetermined amount of data across a predetermined bandwidth resource;

receiving a request for the digital information package; and

transmitting the digital information package across a predetermined bandwidth resource in accordance with the bandwidth securitization instrument.

24. A method of packaging digital content data for distribution, comprising:

providing digital content data;

providing at least one bandwidth securitization instrument, each of said at least one bandwidth securitization instrument representing a right to transmit a predetermined amount of data across a predetermined bandwidth resource; and

combining the digital content data with the at least one bandwidth securitization instrument to form a digital information package.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the each of said at least one bandwidth securitization instruments represents a right to transmit a predetermined amount of data across a predetermined bandwidth resource during a duration period, said duration period having a initiation period and a termination period.

26. The method of 24, further comprising:

encoding the digital content data with at least one of a digital watermark or unique identifier.

27. A process for managing the distribution of content, comprising:

making content available for transfer, said content comprising digital data consisting of at least one of a passive work and an interactive work;

securing at least one bandwidth securitization instrument, each of said at least one bandwidth securitization instrument representing a value associated with use of a specific allocation of telecommunications bandwidth;

receiving a request to transfer the content; and

utilizing said at least one bandwidth securitization instrument to transmit the content across the specific allocation of telecommunications bandwidth.

28. The process of claim 27, further comprising:

attaching to the content, prior to its transmission, information regarding the at least one bandwidth securitization instrument that has been secured.

29. The process of claim 27, further comprising:

encoding the content with at least one digital watermark.

30. A method for managing a digital information package, comprising:

a) identifying at least one bandwidth resource, said bandwidth resource configured to transmit digital data;

b) determining a value for transmitting a predetermined amount of digital data across the identified bandwidth resource; and

c) creating a bandwidth securitization instrument, comprising;

1) data that identifies the identified bandwidth resource; and

2) information regarding the value for transmitting a predetermined amount of digital data across the identified bandwidth resource;

d) combining the determined value for transmitting the predetermined amount of digital data with the created bandwidth securitization instrument to form a digital information package.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the step of creating a bandwidth securitization instrument comprises:

1) generating data that identifies the identified bandwidth resource;

2) generating data that represents the value for transmitting a predetermined amount of digital data across the identified bandwidth resource; and

3) combining the generated data to create a bandwidth securitization instrument.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the bandwidth securitization instrument further comprises:

4) generating data that represents a temporal restriction on a transmission of the predetermined amount of digital data across the identified bandwidth resource.

33. A method executed in a computer system for encoding machine executable programs which when executed results in a machine executable program to estimate the value of bandwidth resources in a network comprising the steps of:

dividing the network into a plurality of discrete bandwidth resource units and associated rights;

receiving a demand for at least one of the plurality of discrete bandwidth resource units issued by at least one of a plurality of network users; and

representing a value for the demand as a function of the time to exercise the right and the cost associated with the discrete bandwidth resource unit.