Fingerprinting plain text information
First Claim
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1. A computer-implemented method of fingerprinting an electronic document comprising the steps of:
- providing a user identifier to identify one or more recipients of said electronic document;
identifying a text segment of said electronic document that has at least two alternative character strings that have substantially the same meaning; and
modifying said text segment of said electronic document, said modifying step includes selecting one of said alternative character strings for said text segment in accordance with said user identifier.
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Abstract
A system for enhancing security of electronic documents distribution wherein electronic documents are fingerprinted with one or more modifications to the document text. The text modifications may be selected so that multiple copies of the same master document will all have the same meaning. By examining text modifications in an unauthorized copy, one can identify the authorized source. The ability to detect the source of a copy discourages unauthorized distribution. This electronic document distribution system may find particular application on the Internet.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method of fingerprinting an electronic document comprising the steps of:
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providing a user identifier to identify one or more recipients of said electronic document; identifying a text segment of said electronic document that has at least two alternative character strings that have substantially the same meaning; and modifying said text segment of said electronic document, said modifying step includes selecting one of said alternative character strings for said text segment in accordance with said user identifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer-implemented method of detecting copying of an electronic document comprising the steps of:
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identifying one or more segments of said electronic document indicative of a source of said electronic document; and extracting a copy key of said electronic document based on text of said one or more identified segments; and replacing said one or more identified segments with an alternative segment based on a bit of said copy key. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer system comprising:
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a network interface that receives a document request via a network; a storage interface that retrieves a master copy of a document from an electronic storage device in accordance with said document request; and a processing system configured to; scan said master copy for one or more segments identified by a tag, wherein alternative character strings having similar meanings are available for each of said one or more selected segments; modify text of said master copy in accordance with user identification information to develop a fingerprinted copy; and transmit said fingerprinted copy via said network interface. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A computer system comprising:
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an electronic storage system configured to store a fingerprinted document copy; and a processing system configured to; identify one or more segments of said electronic document indicative of a source of said electronic document; and extract a copy key of said document based on contents of said one or more identified segments; and replacing said one or more identified segments with an alternative segment based on a bit of said copy key. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A computer system comprising:
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a host system storing a master copy of an electronic document; and one or more remote systems connected to said host system via a network; wherein said host system is configured to send a selected one of said one or more remote systems a fingerprinted copy of said electronic document by virtue of being configured to; scan said master copy for one or more segments identified by a tag, wherein alternative character strings having similar meanings are available for each of said one or more selected segments; modify text of said master copy in accordance with user identification information to develop said fingerprinted copy; and transmit said fingerprinted copy to said selected remote system.
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26. A computer program product that fingerprints documents comprising:
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code that provides a user identifier to identify one or more recipients of said electronic document; code that identifies a text segment of said electronic document that has at least two alternative character strings that have substantially the same meaning; code that modifies said text segment of said electronic document, said code that modifies includes code that selects one of said alternative character strings for said text segment in accordance with said user identifier; and a computer readable medium that stores the computer codes. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A computer program product that detects copying of an electronic document comprising:
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code that identifies one or more segments of said electronic document indicative of a source of said electronic document; code that extracts a copy key of said electronic document based on text of said one or more identified segments; code that replaces said one or more identified segments with an alternative segment based on a bit of said copy key; and a computer readable medium that stores the codes. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification