Royalty collection method and system for use of copyrighted digital materials on the internet

• US 6,282,653 B1
• Filed: 05/15/1998
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Berstis, Viktors, Himmel, Maria Azua
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHEUNG, MARY DA ZHI WANG
• Application Number:
  US09/080,030
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 713/200, 713/201, 713/202, 713/150-181
• US Class Current: 726/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1012 to domains
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2135 Metering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method, system and computer program product to facilitate royalty collection with respect to online distribution of electronically published material over a computer network. In one embodiment, a method for managing use of a digital file (that includes content subject to copyright protection on behalf of some content provider) begins by establishing a count of a number of permitted copies of the digital file. In response to a given protocol, a copy of the digital file is then selectively transferred from a source to a target. Thus, for example, the source and target may be located on the same computer with the source being a disk storage device and the target being a rendering device (e.g., a printer, a display, a sound card or the like). The method logs an indication each time the digital file is transferred from the source to a target rendering device, and the count is decremented upon each transfer. When the count reaches a given value (e.g., zero), the file is destroyed or otherwise prevented from being transferred from the source device. The indications logged are transferred to a management server to facilitate payment of royalties to the content provider.

Claims

1. A method for managing use of a digital file, comprising the steps of:

establishing a secure link between a pair of devices, each of the devices being certified to operate under a given security protocol;

establishing a usage scheme defining one or more conditions under which the digital file may be transferred between the pair of devices; and

transferring one or more copies of the digital file over the secure link between the pair of devices in accordance with the established usage scheme;

wherein the digital file includes content subject to copyright protection.

2. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the pair of devices include a storage device and a rendering device.

3. The method as described in claim 2 wherein the storage device and the rendering device are located in a computer.

4. The method as described in claim 2 wherein the storage device is located in a first computer and the rendering device is located in a second computer and the secure link is established over a computer network connecting the first and second computers.

5. The method as described in claim 4 wherein the second computer is a personal computer and the rendering device includes circuitry for establishing the secure link.

6. The method as described in claim 4 wherein the second computer is a Web appliance and the rendering device includes software for establishing the secure link.

7. The method as described in claim 2 wherein the rendering device is selected from a group of rendering devices consisting essentially of a printer, a display, and a sound card.

8. The method as described in claim 1 further including the step of establishing an account representing a given monetary value.

9. The method as described in claim 8 further including the step of allocating a given charge against the given monetary value when a copy of the digital file is transferred between the pair of devices.

10. The method as described in claim 9 further including the step of associating the given charge with a content provider account to facilitate the payment of the given consideration to the provider of the digital file.

11. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the usage scheme includes a given payment method.

12. A method for managing use of digital material in a computer network, comprising the steps of:

establishing an account for a given client computer including a representation of a given monetary value;

establishing an account for a given content provider including a representation of a given royalty value; and

establishing a count of a number of permitted copies of a digital file;

in response to a given protocol, transferring a copy of the digital file from a source to a target associated with the given client computer;

adjusting the given monetary value in the account of the given client computer; and

adjusting the given royalty value in the account of the given content provider;

wherein the digital file includes content subject to copyright protection.

13. The method as described in claim 12 wherein the given protocol includes the steps of:

determining whether a given client computer requesting transfer of the digital file is authorized to effect the transfer;

if the client is authorized to receive the transfer of the digital file, determining whether the count has a given value; and

if the count has the given value, transferring the digital file from the source to the target.

14. The method as described in claim 13 wherein the given value is a non-zero value.

15. The method as described in claim 13 wherein the given protocol further includes the step of adjusting the count after a copy of the digital file has been transferred.

16. The method as described in claim 15 wherein the count is decremented.

17. The method as described in claim 12 wherein the source and target are located in the given client computer connected to the computer network.

18. The method as described in claim 17 wherein the source is a disk storage device and the target is a device selected from a group of rendering devices consisting essentially of a printer, a display, and a sound card.

19. The method as described in claim 12 wherein the source is located on a first computer and the target is located on a second computer connected to the first computer via the computer network.

20. A method for managing use of digital material in a computer network including a Web client connectable to a Web server, comprising the steps of:

establishing a count of a number of permitted copies of a digital file located at a source device in the Web client;

in response to a given protocol, transferring one or more copies of the digital file from the source device to a set of one or more target rendering devices in the Web client; and

for each such transfer from the source device to one of the target rendering devices, logging an indication that the digital file has been transferred to facilitate payment of a given consideration to a provider of the digital file;

wherein the digital file includes content subject to copyright protection.

21. The method as described in claim 20 wherein the Web client is a Web appliance and the source device is a secure disk storage.

22. The method as described in claim 21 wherein each target rendering device is a device selected from a group of target rendering devices consisting essentially of a printer, a display, and a sound card.

23. The method as described in claim 20 wherein the Web client is connected to the Web server via a non-secure connection.

24. The method as described in claim 23 wherein the given protocol further includes the step of establishing a secure channel between the source device and a target rendering device prior to transferring the digital file.

25. The method as described in claim 24 wherein the step of establishing a secure channel includes generating a secret key shared by the source device and the target rendering device.

26. The method as described in claim 25 wherein the source device encrypts the digital file with the secret key as the source device transfers the digital file to the target rendering device, and wherein the target rendering device decrypts the digital file with the secret key upon receipt.

27. A computer program product in computer-readable media for use in a Web client having a source device and one or more target rendering devices, the computer program product comprising:

means for establishing a count of a number of permitted copies of a digital file located at the source device;

means, responsive to a given protocol, for transferring one or more copies of the digital file from the source device to the one or more target rendering devices;

means, responsive to each transfer, for logging an indication that the digital file has been transferred to facilitate payment of a given consideration to a provider of the digital file; and

means responsive to the logging means for adjusting the count;

wherein the digital file includes content subject to copyright protection.

28. The computer program product as described in claim 27 further including means for restricting transfer of the digital file when the count reaches a given value.

29. The computer program product as described in claim 27 wherein the Web client is a Web appliance and the source device is a secure disk storage.

30. The computer program product method as described in claim 29 wherein each target rendering device is a device selected from a group of target rendering devices consisting essentially of a printer, a display, and a sound card.

31. The computer program product as described in claim 27 wherein the Web client is connected to the Web server via a non-secure connection.

32. The computer program product as described in claim 31 further including means for establishing a secure channel between the source device and a target rendering device prior to transferring the digital file.

33. The computer program product as described in claim 32 wherein the means for establishing a secure channel includes means for generating a secret key to be shared by the source device and the target rendering device.

34. The computer program product as described in claim 27 further including means responsive to a given occurrence for transferring the indication to a central authority.

35. The computer program product as described in claim 34 wherein the given occurrence is establishing a dialup connection between the Web client and an Internet Service Provider.

36. A computer system connected to a computer network and including a source device and one or more target rendering devices, comprising:

a processor;

an operating system;

an application for managing use of digital material, comprising;

means for establishing a count of a number of permitted copies of a digital file located at the source device;

means, responsive to a given protocol, for transferring one or more copies of the digital file from the source device to the one or more target rendering devices;

means, responsive to each transfer, for logging an indication that the digital file has been transferred to facilitate payment of a given consideration to a provider of the digital file; and

means responsive to the logging means for adjusting the count;

wherein the digital file includes content subject to copyright protection.

37. The computer system as described in claim 36 wherein the application further includes means for restricting transfer of the digital file when the count reaches a given value.

38. The computer system as described in claim 36 wherein the computer is a Web appliance and the source device is a secure disk storage.

39. The computer system as described in claim 38 wherein each target rendering device is a device selected from a group of target rendering devices consisting essentially of a printer, a display, and a sound card.

40. The computer system as described in claim 36 wherein the application further includes means for establishing a secure channel between the source device and a target rendering device prior to transferring the digital file.

41. The computer system as described in claim 36 wherein the application further includes means responsive to a given occurrence for transferring the indication to a central authority.

42. A data processing system, comprising:

a remote control unit; and

a base unit connectable to a monitor for providing Internet access under the control of the remote control unit, the base unit comprising;

a processor having an operating system;

a browser application run by the operating system;

a secure disk storage in which a digital file is stored;

one or more target rendering devices; and

means for restricting a number of copies of the digital file that may be transferred between the secure disk storage and the one or more target rendering devices;

wherein the digital file includes content subject to copyright protection.

43. The data processing system as described in claim 42 wherein the restricting means includes means responsive to a given occurrence for transmitting an indication of a number of copies of the digital file that were transferred between the secure disk storage and the one or more target rendering devices during a given time interval.

44. The data processing system as described in claim 43 wherein the given occurrence is a dialup connection of the data processing system to an Internet Service Provider.

45. A management server for use in managing collection and allocation of royalties among content providers, the management server connected in a computer network to an access provider servicing a plurality of Web client appliances receiving dialup access to Web content, the management server comprising:

means for establishing an account for each of set of given content providers, each account including a representation of a given royalty value; and

means for adjusting the given royalty value in the account of the given content provider in response to receipt of an indication that a given digital file associated with the given content provider has been transferred from a source to a target rendering device in a given Web client appliance;

wherein the digital file includes content subject to copyright protection.

46. A copy management system, comprising:

a first device and a second device, each of which is certified to operate under a given security protocol;

means for establishing a secure link between the first and second devices; and

means responsive to establishment of the secure link for managing transfer of a permitted number of copies of a digital file between the first and second devices in accordance with copy control information restrictions associated with the digital file;

wherein the digital file includes content subject to copyright protection.