Tools and techniques for original digital files

• US 20110035360A1
• Filed: 10/22/2010
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark L. Reynolds
• Original Assignee: Mark L. Reynolds
• Inventors: Reynolds, Mark L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,145,688 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/640
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/64 Protecting data integrity, e.g. using checksums, certificates or signatures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management

Abstract

The present invention provides tools and techniques for distinguishing a file from any or all copies of the file that may exist. One method ascertains (204) the actual physical location of the file (512) and associates (214) that physical location with the file as the claimed physical location (516) of the file. The file'"'"'s originality status may then be determined (104) by finding (304) the location claim, reading (306) from it the claimed physical location associated with the file, ascertaining (308) the actual physical location of the file, and comparing (310) the locations. If the claimed and actual locations are identical, then the file is the original file it claims to be. If there is disparity between the claimed physical location recited for or by the file and the actual physical location of the file, then it is not the original file it claims to be.

Claims

1-6. -6. (canceled)

7. A method of analyzing authenticity and originality based in part on a physically embedded medium identifier, the method comprising the steps of automatically:

obtaining an unmodifiable medium identifier from a computer-readable storage medium in which the unmodifiable medium identifier is physically embedded;

reading additional data from the computer-readable storage medium;

reading from the computer-readable storage medium a stored hash which is associated with the additional data;

calculating a test hash based on at least the additional data and the unmodifiable medium identifier; and

comparing the test hash to the stored hash.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of invoking self-extracting executable program, and wherein each of the other steps (obtaining, ascertaining, reading data, reading a stored hash, calculating, and comparing) is performed by the self-extracting executable program.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the obtaining step includes optically scanning a medium identifier that was machine-printed on a surface of the computer-readable storage medium.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the obtaining step obtains a medium identifier from a computer-readable storage medium location that is physically incapable of being rewritten.

11. The method of claim 7, comprising:

ascertaining a physical location at which the additional data is stored in the computer-readable storage medium; and

calculating the test hash based on at least the additional data, the unmodifiable medium identifier, and the physical location at which the additional data is stored in the computer-readable storage medium.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein ascertaining a physical location includes ascertaining at least one of:

a sector address, a file system cluster number, a file system block address, a track number, a data block number.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising decrypting the additional data, and placing the decrypted additional data in memory.

14. The method of claim 7, further comprising updating a secure log to note a use of the computer-readable storage medium.

15. A method of facilitating analysis of authenticity and originality based in part on a physically embedded medium identifier, the method comprising the steps of automatically:

physically embedding an unmodifiable medium identifier in a computer-readable storage medium;

storing user-designated data in the computer-readable storage medium;

calculating a hash based on at least the user-designated data and the unmodifiable medium identifier; and

writing the hash to the computer-readable storage medium.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of physically embedding an unmodifiable medium identifier in a computer-readable storage medium and the step of storing user-designated data in the computer-readable storage medium are performed with a device capable of printing a label on a spinning medium.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the physically embedding step writes the medium identifier in a computer-readable storage medium location that is physically incapable of then being rewritten.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the method comprises the following steps in the order stated:

receiving the storage medium in a device;

the device embedding the unmodifiable medium identifier in the storage medium;

the device storing user-designated data in the storage medium; and

then

the device releasing the storage medium for removal from the device;

whereby the storage medium is configured with the unmodifiable medium identifier and the user-designated data by a unitary operation.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the method comprises encrypting the user-designated data and then storing encrypted user-designated data in the computer-readable storage medium.

20. A method of analyzing authenticity based in part on one or more physical locations, the method comprising the steps of:

a calling program causing a self-extracting executable program to run;

the self-extracting executable program attempting to authenticate data by steps which include;

reading a claimed physical location identifier associated with the data;

ascertaining an actual physical location of the data;

comparing the claimed physical location identifier to the actual physical location of the data; and

deeming the data authentic only if the claimed physical location identifier associated with the data matches the actual physical location of the data;

and

the self-extracting executable program attempting to authenticate the calling program by steps which include;

reading a claimed physical location identifier associated with the calling program;

ascertaining an actual physical location of the calling program;

comparing the claimed physical location identifier to the actual physical location of the calling program; and

deeming the calling program authentic only if the claimed physical location identifier associated with the calling program matches the actual physical location of the calling program.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of associating at least one claimed physical location identifier by performing at least one of:

placing the claimed physical location identifier within a file, the file containing at least one of;

the calling program, the data;

placing the claimed physical location identifier in a supplementary document and creating a bridge between a file and the supplementary document without requiring in either document an embedded link to the other document, the file containing at least one of;

the calling program, the data;

placing the claimed physical location identifier in a database containing claimed physical location identifiers;

placing the claimed physical location identifier in a directory containing claimed physical location identifiers.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising securely storing the data and securely storing a claimed physical location identifier which is associated with the data.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising the steps of securely moving a file to a new physical location, the file containing at least one of:

the calling program, the data; and

entering in a secure log a new claimed physical location identifier which identifies the file'"'"'s new physical location.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising the steps of securely copying a file to another physical location thereby creating a file copy, the file copy containing at least one of:

the calling program, the data;

entering in a secure log a claimed physical location identifier which identifies the file copy'"'"'s physical location; and

noting in the secure log that the file was copied as opposed to being moved.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of associating a serial identifier with the file copy, whereby the method provides a serialized copy of the file.

26. The method of claim 20, further comprising the steps of securely deleting a file which contains at least one of:

the calling program, the data; and

noting in the secure log that the file was deleted.