STEGANOGRAPHIC MEDIA PAYMENT SYSTEM

• US 20100250383A1
• Filed: 03/26/2009
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Teradata Corporation
• Original Assignee: Teradata Corporation
• Inventors: Thomas, Carol, Frazier, John D., Reed, Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/411,719
• Publication Number:
  US 20100250383A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/16 Program or content traceability, e.g. by watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/184 Intellectual property management

Abstract

A method for making a digital file available to a user at a client device. The method includes receiving the digital file at the client device, the client device having an associated client identifier, receiving a host identifier at the client device, the host identifier associated with the digital file and receiving a host payment identifier at the client device, the host payment identifier associated with the digital file and the host identifier. A product identifier is obtained from the digital file. A cost associated with the digital file is determined. Payment is obtained corresponding to the determined cost. The digital file is made available to a user at the client device.

Claims

1. A method for making a digital file available to a user at a client device, the method comprising:

receiving the digital file at the client device, the client device having an associated client identifier,

receiving a host identifier at the client device, the host identifier associated with the digital file;

receiving a host payment identifier at the client device, the host payment identifier associated with the digital file and the host identifier;

obtaining a product identifier from the digital file;

determining a cost associated with the digital file;

obtaining payment corresponding to the determined cost; and

making the digital file available to a user at the client device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the cost associated with the digital file further comprises retrieving the cost from a host table.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein retrieving the cost from the host table comprises issuing a query to the host table, the query including the product identifier and the host identifier.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising distributing the obtained payment to one or more recipients.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising determining the one or more recipients by retrieving one or more royalty identifiers from a royalty payment table, the one or more royalty identifiers associated with respective recipients.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein retrieving the one or more royalty identifiers comprises issuing a query to the royalty payment table, the query including the product identifier.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the client device is connected to a data network, the digital file received over the data network.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the client device is provided with a data port, the digital file received through the data port.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the client identifier is stored in a computer readable medium associated with the client device.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the client identifier is associated with the client device during a user session involving the client device.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital file is made available to a user at the client device only on obtaining the payment corresponding to the determined cost.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein payment is obtained from the user.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein payment is obtained from a party other than the user.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital file includes audio or video data, and wherein the digital file is made available to the user by playing the digital file on the client device.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital file includes image data, and wherein the digital file is made available to the user by displaying the digital file on the client device.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the product identifier is embedded within the digital file.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein two or more copies of the product identifier are embedded within the digital file.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the two or more copies of the product identifier are encrypted.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising the client device detecting the product identifier within the digital file.

20. A computer program stored on tangible storage media comprising executable instructions for performing a method for making a digital file available to a user at a client device, the method comprising:

receiving the digital file at the client device, the client device having an associated client identifier;

receiving a host identifier at the client device, the host identifier associated with the digital file;

receiving a host payment identifier at the client device, the host payment identifier associated with the digital file and the host identifier;

obtaining a product identifier from the digital file;

determining a cost associated with the digital file;

obtaining payment corresponding to the determined cost; and

making the digital file available to a user at the client device.

21. A system for making a digital file available to a user at a client device, the system configured to:

receive the digital file at the client device, the client device having an associated client identifier;

receive a host identifier at the client device, the host identifier associated with the digital file;

receive a host payment identifier at the client device, the host payment identifier associated with the digital file and the host identifier;

obtain a product identifier from the digital file;

determine a cost associated with the digital file;

obtain payment corresponding to the determined cost; and

make the digital file available to a user at the client device.