Method and apparatus for preventing reuse of text, images, and software transmitted via networks

• US 6,944,822 B1
• Filed: 06/16/2000
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kioba Processing, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Finjan Software Limited (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Schreiber, Daniel, Guedaliah, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Sanjiv
• Assistant Examiner(s): YUAN, ALMARI ROMERO
• Application Number:
  US09/595,814
• Time in Patent Office: 1,915 Days
• Field of Search: 715/501.1, 715/513, 715/523, 715/530, 715/531, 709/219, 709/246, 713/200, 713/201, 713/202
• US Class Current: 715/207
• 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 40/109 Font handling; Temporal or kinetic typography
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method for providing textual information in a network environment, the method comprising: receiving a request via a network for text-editable textual information; converting the text-editable textual information into a non-text-editable textual format on line upon receiving the request; and sending the non-text-editable textual information via the network. Network-based systems are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for providing textual information in a network environment, the method comprising:

receiving at a server connected to a network from a computer terminal connected to said network, a request via said network for text-editable data;

determining whether said text-editable data is stored in a first storage area of said server that is inaccessible to said computer terminal, or in a second storage area of said server that is accessible to said computer terminal;

if said determining determines that said text-editable data is stored in the first storage area, then;

converting said text-editable data into non-text-editable data on line upon receiving said request; and

sending said non-text-editable data via said network from said server to said computer terminal; and

if said determining determines that said text-editable data is stored in the second storage area, then;

sending said text-editable data via said network from said server to said computer terminal,

thereby enabling the server to securely store the text-editable data in the first storage area by conditionally converting the text-editable data into non-text-editable data and by sending the non-text-editable data instead of the text-editable data when a request is received for the text-editable data.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said converting comprises converting said text-editable data into a non-text-editable graphical representation of said text-editable data.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein said converting comprises converting said text-editable data into said non-text-editable graphical representation wherein said graphical representation comprises at least one hyperlink.

4. A method according to claim 1 and further comprising displaying said non-text-editable data via a computer terminal display.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said converting is performed at said server.

6. A network-based textual information system comprising:

a computer terminal operative to send a request via a-network for text-editable data; and

a server comprising;

a first storage area that is inaccessible to said computer terminal; and

a second storage area that is accessible to said

computer terminal,

said server being operative to

receive said request;

determine whether said text-editable data is stored (i) in said first storage area, or (ii) in said second storage area;

in case (i);

convert said text-editable data into non-text-editable data on line upon receiving said request; and

send said non-text-editable data to said computer terminal via said network; and

in case (ii);

send said text-editable data to said computer terminal via said network,

thereby enabling the server to securely store the text-editable data in the first storage area by conditionally converting the text-editable data into non-text-editable data and by sending the non-text-editable data instead of the text-editable data when a request is received for the text-editable data.

7. A system according to claim 6 wherein said non-text-editable data comprises a non-text-editable graphical representation of said text-editable data.

8. A system according to claim 7 wherein said non-text-editable graphical representation comprises at least one hyperlink.