System for dynamically encrypting information for secure internet commerce and providing embedded fulfillment software

• US 20100299764A1
• Filed: 05/24/2010
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arvato Digital Service LLC (Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA)
• Original Assignee: Andrew Patterson, David Slik, Innes Muecke, Shannon Lee Byrne
• Inventors: Byrne, Shannon Lee, Slik, David, Muecke, Innes, Patterson, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 8,499,356 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/95 Retrieval from the web
• 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: G06F 21/60 Protecting data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/007 Encryption, En-/decode, En-/decipher, En-/decypher, Scramble, (De-)compress
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2107 File encryption
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes
• 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 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/04 Protocols for data compression, e.g. ROHC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0866 involving user or device identifiers, e.g. serial number, physical or biometrical information, DNA, hand-signature or measurable physical characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3226 using a predetermined code, e.g. password, passphrase or PIN network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using passwords in a packet data network H04L63/083
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3271 using challenge-response

Abstract

A data distribution system is provided which supplies customers with an executable for requested secured data files to provide the customer with fulfillment software, obviating the need for the customer to download fulfillment software prior to requesting secure data. The data distribution system is characterized by server technology which can dynamically encrypt secured data files just prior to a customer request to download the data file. A framework for building a universal data distribution infrastructure is provided which employs Requesters.

Claims

1. A method of delivering content with access controls to a client computer via a communication network comprising the steps of:

packaging selected content with access control information at a server for distribution to at least one client computer, the access control information providing a user of the client computer with a plurality of options for using the selected content depending on the type of access control provided to the user by a content provider of the selected content; and

transmitting the selected content to the client computer;

wherein the plurality of options for using the selected content comprises at least two of previewing the selected content, decrypting the selected content, requesting a release code to decrypt the selected content, decrypting a particular item within the selected content, and requesting a release code to decrypt a particular item within the selected content; and

wherein, if the user elects to decrypt the selected content or the particular item, the method further comprises

receiving a product code from the client computer, the product code being machine-dependent and generated using a content identifier corresponding to the selected content and a unique identifier corresponding to at least part of the client computer to uniquely identify the client computer;

after receiving the product code, generating a release code at said server that comprises a key and transmitting said release code to said client computer; and

transmitting said release code to the client computer to decrypt the selected content or the particular item via the client computer.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the product code differentiates the client computer from other client computers.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unique identifier is derived from a hardware device in said computer