METHOD AND APPARATUS TO PROVIDE A USER PROFILE FOR USE WITH A SECURE CONTENT SERVICE

• US 20090282241A1
• Filed: 05/22/2009
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gary Krall, Hans Ganqvist, Hemma Prafullchandra, Michael Graves, Ryam Emory Lundberg
• Original Assignee: Gary Krall, Hans Ganqvist, Hemma Prafullchandra, Michael Graves, Ryam Emory Lundberg
• Inventors: Graves, Michael, Lundberg, Ryam Emory, Ganqvist, Hans, Krall, Gary, Prafullchandra, Hemma
• Application Number:
  US12/471,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20090282241A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/50 Monitoring users, programs or devices to maintain the integrity of platforms, e.g. of processors, firmware or operating systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

A secure content service available through a network comprising a user profile stored in a user profile store and a profile access controller to enforce access rights to the user profile, wherein the user profile is used to provide access rights to other content.

Claims

1. A method of inhibiting unauthorized access to content available on a network, the method comprising:

receiving information from a consumer;

storing the information in a user profile;

receiving an encryption request from a content creator;

transforming content identified by the creator into encrypted content using an encryption key;

receiving a request to access the encrypted content from the consumer;

determining whether the consumer'"'"'s user profile satisfies entitlement criteria associated with the content; and

if the consumer'"'"'s user profile satisfies the entitlement criteria, transmitting authorization data to the consumer thereby allowing the consumer access to the encrypted content.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the content is assigned a unique content identifier.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the encryption key is associated with the content identifier.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the content identifier is used to generate the encryption key.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the authorization data comprises a decryption key associated with the encryption key.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the authorization data comprises the content.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the content creator associates the entitlement criteria to the content.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the entitlement criteria is attached to the content.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the content is in a format selected from the group consisting of text, image, video, audio, and combinations thereof.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the entitlement criteria are encrypted with a separate entitlement encryption key.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the entitlement criteria include timing details.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the user profile includes a reliance score indicating a level of confidence in the accuracy of the stored profile information.

13. A system that inhibits unauthorized access to content available on a network, the system comprising:

a communication interface;

one or more storage devices; and

one or more processors in communication with the communication interface and the one or more storage devices, the one or more processors programmed to;

receive information via the communication interface from a consumer;

store the information in a user profile on the one or more storage devices;

receive an encryption request via the communication interface from a content creator;

transform content identified by the creator into encrypted content using an encryption key;

receive a request to access the encrypted content via the communication interface from the consumer;

determine whether the consumer'"'"'s user profile satisfies entitlement criteria associated with the content; and

if the consumer'"'"'s user profile satisfies the entitlement criteria, transmit via the communication interface authorization data to the consumer thereby allowing the consumer access to the encrypted content.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein a unique content identifier is assigned to the content, and wherein the encryption key is associated with the content identifier.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein the entitlement criteria are encrypted with a separate entitlement encryption key.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein the entitlement criteria include timing details.

17. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied thereon, the processor readable code for instructing one or more processors to limit access to content available on a network, comprising the steps of:

receiving information from a consumer;

storing the information in a user profile;

receiving an encryption request from a content creator;

transforming content identified by the creator into encrypted content using an encryption key;

receiving a request to access the encrypted content from the consumer;

determining whether the consumer'"'"'s user profile satisfies entitlement criteria associated with the content; and

if the consumer'"'"'s user profile satisfies the entitlement criteria, transmitting authorization data to the consumer thereby allowing the consumer access to the encrypted content.

18. The one or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 17, wherein the processor readable code further instructs the one or more processors to assign a unique content identifier to the content.

19. The one or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 18, wherein the processor readable code further instructs the one or more processors to use the content identifier to generate the encryption key.

20. The one or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 17, wherein the processor readable code further instructs the one or more processors to encrypt the entitlement criteria with a separate entitlement encryption key, and wherein the entitlement criteria include timing details.