System for controlling the distribution and use of digital works using digital tickets

• US 6,944,600 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2001
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ContentGuard Holdings, Inc. (Pendrell Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ContentGuard Holdings, Inc. (Pendrell Corporation)
• Inventors: Pirolli, Peter L. T., Stefik, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Backer, Firmin
• Application Number:
  US09/777,966
• Publication Number:
  US 20010010045A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,679 Days
• Field of Search: 705 57- 54, 707/109, 709/9, 709/10, 709/102
• US Class Current: 705/57
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/301 for introducing or steering flexible instruments inserted into the body, e.g. catheters or endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/031 torque limiting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/376 using X-rays, e.g. fluoroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/37 Master-slave robots A61B34/35 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0113 Mechanical advancing means, e.g. catheter dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/007 Encryption, En-/decode, En-/decipher, En-/decypher, Scramble, (De-)compress
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2115 Third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2135 Metering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0185 Product, service or business identity fraud
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 : Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 : Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/184 : Intellectual property management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 : Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1403 : Architecture for metering, charging or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/146 : using digital cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1485 : Tariff-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1496 : involving discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/56 : Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/603 : Digital right managament [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 : applying security measures for digital rights management data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for commerce, e.g. marketing, shopping, billing, auctions or e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 : Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 : Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 : wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0442 : wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply asymmetric encryption, i.e. different keys for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for public-key encryption H04L9/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0464 : using hop-by-hop encryption, i.e. wherein an intermediate entity decrypts the information and re-encrypts it before forwarding it
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0807 : using tickets, e.g. Kerberos cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using tickets or tokens H04L9/3213
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 : using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 : for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 : Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 : Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 : Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/123 : received data contents, e.g. message integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3213 : using tickets or tokens, e.g. Kerberos network architectures or network communication protocols for entities authentication using tickets in a packet data network H04L63/0807
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3297 : involving time stamps, e.g. generation of time stamps
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23412 : for generating or manipulating the scene composition of objects, e.g. MPEG-4 objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 : Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 : Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26613 : for generating or managing keys in general key distribution for secret or secure communication involving central third party, e.g. key distribution center [KDC] or trusted third party [TTP] H04L9/083; network support of key management H04L63/06; key management for network security in communication control or processing H04W12/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 : Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6332 : directed to client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 : directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/835 : Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 : involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/83555 : using a structured language for describing usage rules of the content, e.g. REL
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 : Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 : Privileged access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 : Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A system for controlling the distribution and use of digital works using digital tickets. In the present invention, a “digital ticket” is used to entitle the ticket holder to exercise some usage right with respect to a digital work. Usage rights are used to define how a digital work may be used or distributed. Each usage right may specify a digital ticket which must be present before the right may be exercised. Digital works are stored in repositories which enforce a digital works usage rights. Each repository has a “generic ticket agent” which punches tickets. In some instances only the generic ticket agent is necessary. In other instances, punching by a “special ticket agent” residing on another repository may be needed.

Claims

1. In a computer controlled system for the distribution of digital works, a method for controlling the number of times that a usage right attached to a digital work may be exercised, said method comprising the steps of:

a) creating a digital work;

b) defining a usage right for said digital work, said usage right specifying a digital ticket indicating a predetermined number of times that said usage right may be exercised, said digital ticket being intangible and nonmagnetic;

c) creating said digital ticket with an indicator of said predetermined number;

d) storing said digital work, said usage right and said digital ticket in a first repository;

e) a second repository transmitting a request to access said digital work to said first repository, said request specifying said usage right;

f) said first repository determining if said digital ticket for said usage right indicates that said usage right has been exercised said predetermined number of times;

g) if said digital ticket indicates that said usage right has been exercised said predetermined number of times, said firs repository denying access to said digital work;

h) if said digital ticket indicates that said usage right has not been exercise said predetermined number of times, said first repository granting access to said digital work; and

i) said first repository punching said digital ticket to indicate a instance of exercising said usage right.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said usage right specifies a manner of rendering at least a portion of the digital work.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein the manner of rendering is viewing at least a portion of the digital work.

4. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein the manner of rendering is printing at least a portion of the digital work.

5. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein the manner of rendering is playing at least a portion of the digital work.

6. A method that controls the number of times that a usage right associated with a digital work may be exercised comprising:

creating a digital work;

determining a usage right for the digital work, the usage right specifying a digital ticket, said digital ticket being intangible and nonmagnetic and indicating a number of times the usage right may be exercised;

requesting access to the digital work including an identification of the usage right;

determining the validity of the usage right at least based on the number of times the digital ticket has been used;

granting or denying access to the digital work based on the result of the determining step;

updating the digital ticket if access to the digital work is granted.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein said usage right specifies a manner of rendering at least a portion of the digital work.

8. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein the manner of rendering is viewing at least a portion of the digital work.

9. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein the manner of rendering is printing at least a portion of the digital work.

10. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein the manner of rendering is playing at least a portion of the digital work.

11. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said digital ticket is an instance of a digital work.

12. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said digital ticket is stored in a memory device.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein said memory device is an ASIC chip.

14. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein said memory device is a PC card.

15. A method as recited in claims 12, wherein said memory device is removable.

16. An information storage media comprising code that controls the number of times that a usage right associated with a digital work may be exercised within a system having repositories for enforcing the usage rights, said media comprising:

code that defines content of a digital work;

code that specifies a usage right for controlling how a repository permits access to the content for the digital work, the usage right specifying a digital ticket, said digital ticket being intangible and nonmagnetic and indicating a number of times the usage right may be exercised;

code that requests access to the digital work including an identification of the usage right;

code that determines the validity of the usage right at least based on the number of times the digital ticket has been used;

code that grants or denies access to the digital work based on the validity determination;

code that updates the digital ticket if access to the digital work is granted.

17. The storage media as recited in claim 16 wherein said usage right specifies a manner of rendering at least a portion of the digital work.

18. The storage media as recited in claim 17 wherein the manner of rendering is viewing at least a portion of the digital work.

19. The storage media as recited in claim 17 wherein the manner of rendering is printing at least a portion of the digital work.

20. The storage media as recited in claim 17 wherein the manner of rendering is playing at least a portion of the digital work.

21. An information storage medium as recited in claim 16, wherein said digital ticket is an instance of a digital work.

22. An information storage medium as recited in claim 16, wherein said digital ticket is stored in a memory device.

23. An information storage medium as recited in claim 22, wherein said memory device is an ASIC chip.

24. An information storage medium as recited in claim 22, wherein said memory device is a PC card.

25. An information storage medium as recited in claim 22, wherein said memory device is removable.