Information distribution and processing system

• US 6,772,344 B1
• Filed: 09/03/2002
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Online News Link LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Dr. Hark C. Chan
• Inventors: Chan, Hark C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peeso, Thomas R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zand, Kambiz
• Application Number:
  US10/233,362
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 713/193, 713/172, 750/51-57, 380/202, 380/241
• US Class Current: 713/193
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/40 Arrangements for broadcast specially adapted for accumulation-type receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/74 of satellite networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/93 which locates resources of other pieces of information, e.g. URL [Uniform Resource Locator]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/23 using cryptography, e.g. encryption, authentication, key distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/91 Mobile communication networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/85
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/94 Telephonic networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/84
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method for delivering computer code to a plurality of processing units is disclosed. A first set of digital data is distributed to the plurality of processing units. The first set of digital data is unencrypted and comprises a first set of computer code and an identification label. The first set of code is executable by the plurality of processing units. At least one of the processing units sends the identification label to a remote station. The remote station then encrypts a second set of computer code and delivers the encrypted code to the requesting processing unit. The requesting processing unit can decrypt the encrypted computer code.

Claims

1. A method for delivering information from a remote station to a plurality of processing units, each of said processing units being located in a separate remote site, said method comprising:

providing a first and a second set of digital data, said first set of digital data comprising a first computer code and an identification label, said first computer code executable by each of said plurality of processing units, said second set of digital data comprising a second computer code and related to said first set of digital data, said second computer code executable by each of said plurality of processing units;

distributing said first set of digital data to each of said plurality of processing units;

receiving by said remote station said identification label from at least one of said processing units; and

after receiving said identification label, delivering said second set of digital data to said one processing unit;

wherein one of said first and said second set of digital data is unencrypted and another of said first and said second set of digital data is encrypted.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving financial data from at least said one processing unit.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving from at least said one processing unit an identification related to said one processing unit.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said second set of digital data has a size less than that of said first set of digital data.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising authenticating at least said one processing unit.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said first and said second sets of digital data are stored in said remote station.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said distributing said first set of digital data includes distributing using a first communication link and wherein said delivering said second set of digital data includes delivering using a second communication link.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein a combination of said first and said second computer code is executable by said one processing unit.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising receiving financial data from at least said one processing unit.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising receiving from at least said one processing unit an identification related to said one processing unit.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein said second set of digital data has a size less than that of said first set of digital data.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising authenticating at least said one processing unit.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein said first and said second sets of digital data are stored in said remote station.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein said distributing said first set of digital data includes distributing using a first communication link and wherein said delivering said second set of digital data includes delivering using a second communication link.

22. The method of claim 13 wherein a combination of said first and said second computer code is executable by said one processing unit.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising receiving financial data from at least said one processing unit.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising receiving from at least said one processing unit an identification related to said one processing unit.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein said second set of digital data has a size less than that of said first set of digital data.

26. The method of claim 22 further comprising authenticating at least said one processing unit.

27. The method of claim 22 wherein said first and said second sets of digital data are stored in said remote station.

28. The method of claim 22 wherein said distributing said encrypted first set of digital data includes distributing using a first communication link and wherein said delivering said encrypted second set of digital data includes delivering using a second communication link.

15. A method for delivering information from a remote station to a plurality of processing units, each of said processing units being located in a separate remote site, said method comprising:

providing a first and a second set of digital data, said first set of digital data comprising a first computer code and an information identification, said first computer code executable by each of said plurality of processing units, said second set of digital data comprising a second computer code that are related to said first computer code, said second computer code executable by each of said plurality of processing units;

encrypting said first set of digital data at a first level;

encrypting said second set of digital data at a second level;

distributing said encrypted first set of digital data to each of said plurality of processing units;

receiving said information identification from at least one of said processing units; and

after receiving said information identification, delivering said encrypted second set of digital data to said one processing unit.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising receiving financial data from at least said one processing unit.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising receiving from at least said one processing unit an identification related to said one processing unit.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein said second set of digital data has a size less than that of said first set of digital data.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising authenticating at least said one processing unit.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein said first and said second sets of digital data are stored in said remote station.

21. The method of claim 15 wherein said distributing said encrypted first set of digital data includes distributing using a first communication link and wherein said delivering said encrypted second set of digital data includes delivering using a second communication link.