System for controlling the distribution and use of composite digital works
First Claim
1. A method for controlling access to and distribution of a composite digital work between computer based systems, said composite digital work comprised of a plurality of parts, each part representing an individual digital work, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) creating an instance of a composite digital work;
b) creating a description structure for said composite digital work, said description structure comprising a plurality of description blocks, each of said description blocks for storing access information for at least one of said plurality of parts of said composite digital work, said access information specifying how said corresponding part may be used or distributed;
c) storing said description structure and said composite digital work in a repository;
d) said repository receiving a request to access said composite digital work, said request having request access information indicating how a requested composite digital work will be used;
e) said repository comparing the access information for each description block of said description structure of said composite digital work to said request access information; and
f) said repository granting said request to access said composite digital work if it is determined that said request access information is in the scope of the access information for each description block of said description structure of said composite digital work.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for controlling use and distribution of composite digital works. A digital work is comprised of a description part and a content part. The description part contains control information for the composite digital work. The content part stores the actual digital data comprising the composite digital work. The description part is logically organized in an acyclic structure, e.g. a tree structure. For a composite digital work each node of the acyclic structure represents an individual digital work or some distribution interest in the composite digital work. A node in the acyclic structure is comprised of an identifier of the individual work, usage rights for the individual digital work and a pointer to the digital work. Composite digital works are stored in repositories. A repository has two primary operating modes, a server mode and a requester mode. When operating in a server mode, the repository is responding to requests to access digital works. When operating in requester mode, the repository is requesting access to a digital work. A repository will process each request to access a composite digital work by examining the usage rights for each individual digital work found in the description part of the composite digital work.
1523 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for controlling access to and distribution of a composite digital work between computer based systems, said composite digital work comprised of a plurality of parts, each part representing an individual digital work, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) creating an instance of a composite digital work; b) creating a description structure for said composite digital work, said description structure comprising a plurality of description blocks, each of said description blocks for storing access information for at least one of said plurality of parts of said composite digital work, said access information specifying how said corresponding part may be used or distributed; c) storing said description structure and said composite digital work in a repository; d) said repository receiving a request to access said composite digital work, said request having request access information indicating how a requested composite digital work will be used; e) said repository comparing the access information for each description block of said description structure of said composite digital work to said request access information; and f) said repository granting said request to access said composite digital work if it is determined that said request access information is in the scope of the access information for each description block of said description structure of said composite digital work. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A repository for storing and controlling access to composite digital works comprising:
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an interface means for receiving requests to access digital works stored therein; a first storage unit for storing digital data representing digital works; a second storage unit for storing description structures for digital works stored in said first storage unit, said description structure comprising a plurality of description blocks, each of said description blocks comprising;
a pointer to a parent description block, one or more pointers to children description blocks, a pointer to a corresponding part of a digital work stored in said first storage unit and a usage rights part for storing one or more usage rights, each of said usage rights specifying an instance of how said part may be used;a transactions processor for processing requests to access a digital work, said transactions processor comprising a means for identifying a usage right from a request to access said digital work, and a means for determining if a description block contains an identified usage right. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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16. A system for controlling access to and usage of composite digital works between computer based systems, said composite digital work comprised of a plurality of digital works, said system comprising:
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means for attaching usage rights to digital works, said usage rights indicating how a recipient of a digital work may use and subsequently distribute said digital work; means for creating a description structure for said composite digital work, said description structure comprising a description block for each digital work of said composite digital work, said description block comprising said usage rights for said digital work and addressing information for said digital work; a plurality of repositories for managing exchange of composite digital works based on usage rights attached to said digital works comprising a composite digital work, each of said plurality of repositories associated with a computer based system and comprising a storage means for storing digital works, a processor having a first server mode of operation for processing access requests to said digital works and a second requester mode of operation for initiating requests to access digital works, a timekeeping means and a connection means; a rendering system for rendering of digital works, said rendering system comprising a rendering repository for secure receipt of composite digital works and a rendering device having means for converting digital signals to signals suitable for rendering of said digital works comprising said composite digital work. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification