Method and apparatus for distributing enforceable property rights

• US 7,028,009 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2002
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ContentGuard Holdings, Inc. (Pendrell Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ContentGuard Holdings, Inc. (Pendrell Corporation)
• Inventors: Chen, Eddie, Raley, Michael, Tadayon, Bijan, DeMartini, Thomas, Lao, Guillermo, Gilliam, Charles P., Wang, Xin
• Primary Examiner(s): Reagan, James A
• Application Number:
  US10/159,272
• Publication Number:
  US 20020198843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,408 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705 50- 59, 705/26, 705/76, 705/20, 380/201, 707/9, 707/104.1, 713182-186
• US Class Current: 705/51
• 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: H04L 2463/101 applying security measures for digital rights management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

An enforceable property right and a system for controlling the manner of use of an item in accordance with usage rights. The enforceable property right includes an item ticket having a security mechanism incorporated therein and specifying an item for which the item ticket can be redeemed and a license associated with the item ticket. The license includes usage rights specifying a manner of use for redeeming the item ticket and a mechanism for unlocking said security mechanism.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented system for enforcing an enforceable property right in an item in accordance with usage rights, the system comprising:

a device for electronically generating an item ticket specifying an item for which the item ticket can be redeemed, the item ticket having a security mechanism incorporated therein; and

a device for electronically generating a license associated with the item ticket, the license including usage rights specifying a manner of use for redeeming the item ticket and a mechanism for unlocking the security mechanism,

wherein the license further includes conditions that must be satisfied to activate the unlocking mechanism and exercise the manner of use,

wherein the item ticket includes a description of the item,

wherein the license further comprises usage rights specifying access to information and a condition of the access, and

wherein the condition includes a required security or trust rating for the access to the information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the item ticket includes an ID correlated to the item.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the item ticket includes limitations specified by the license.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the limitations are expressed in the conditions.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the security mechanism is based on encryption.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the item comprises tangible or non-tangible goods.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the item comprises tangible or non-tangible services.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the license includes a specification of the item ticket.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the item comprises tangible or non-tangible information.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the license further includes post-license conditions that do not need to be satisfied to activate the security mechanism and wherein the unlocking mechanism permits a specification of the item and the post-license conditions to be rendered.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the license further includes state variables.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the unlocking mechanism is operative to permit the item ticket to be rendered as a human readable description.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the unlocking mechanism is operative to permit the item ticket to be rendered as a computer readable code.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the usage rights include meta-rights which permit rights in the item to be granted to downstream parties.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the item comprises a financial instrument.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the item comprises a legal document.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the item comprises real estate.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a license device operative to associate the license with the item ticket; and

a security component operative to enforce the license and unlock the security mechanism, if the conditions are satisfied.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the security component comprises a client component in a user device, and an activation device for providing at least a portion of the client component.

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising a vendor device for permitting a user to select the item and the usage rights to be incorporated into the license generated by the license device.

21. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for parsing the license;

means for determining, if the conditions are satisfied; and

means for unlocking the security mechanism, if the conditions are satisfied.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the security mechanism is based on encryption, and the mechanism for unlocking is based on decryption.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is implemented using one or more hardware and/or software devices.

24. A computer-implemented system for enforcing an enforceable property right in an item in accordance with usage rights, the system comprising:

a device for electronically generating an item ticket specifying an item for which the item ticket can be redeemed, the item ticket having a security mechanism incorporated therein; and

a device for electronically generating a license associated with the item ticket, the license including usage rights specifying a manner of use for redeeming the item ticket and a mechanism for unlocking the security mechanism,

wherein the license further includes conditions that must be satisfied to activate the unlocking mechanism and exercise the manner of use,

wherein the item ticket includes a description of the item,

wherein the item comprises an online service, and

wherein the license further comprises usage rights specifying access to the online service and a condition of the access.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the condition includes a required security or trust rating for the access to the online service.

26. A computer-implemented method for enforcing an enforceable property right in an item in accordance with usage rights, the method comprising:

electronically generating an item ticket specifying an item for which the item ticket can be redeemed, the item ticket having a security mechanism incorporated therein;

electronically generating a license; and

associating the license with the item ticket, the license including usage rights specifying a manner of use for redeeming the item ticket and a mechanism for unlocking the security mechanism,

wherein the license further includes conditions that must be satisfied to activate the unlocking mechanism and exercise the manner of use,

wherein the item ticket includes a description of the item,

wherein the license further comprises usage rights specifying access to information and a condition of the access, and

wherein the condition includes a required security or trust rating for the access to the information.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the item ticket includes an ID correlated to the item.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the item ticket includes limitations specified by the license.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the limitations are expressed in the conditions.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the security mechanism is based on encryption.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the item comprises tangible or non-tangible goods.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein the item comprises tangible or non-tangible services.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein the license includes a specification of the item ticket.

34. The method of claim 26, wherein the item comprises tangible or non-tangible information.

35. The method of claim 26, wherein the license further includes post-license conditions that do not need to be satisfied to activate the security mechanism, and the method further comprises permitting via the unlocking mechanism a specification of the item and the post-license conditions to be rendered.

36. The method of claim 26, wherein the license further includes state variables.

37. The method of claim 26, further comprising permitting via the unlocking mechanism the item ticket to be rendered as a human readable description.

38. The method of claim 26, further comprising permitting via the unlocking mechanism the item ticket to be rendered as a computer readable code.

39. The method of claim 26, wherein the usage rights include meta-rights which permit rights in the item to be granted to downstream parties.

40. The method of claim 26, wherein the item comprises a financial instrument.

41. The method of claim 26, wherein the item comprises a legal document.

42. The method of claim 26, wherein the item comprises real estate.

43. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

associating via a license device the license with the item ticket; and

enforcing the license and unlocking the security mechanism via a security component, if the conditions are satisfied.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the security component comprises a client component in a user device, and an activation device for providing at least a portion of the client component.

45. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

permitting via a vendor device a user to select the item and the usage rights to be incorporated into the license generated by the license device.

46. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

parsing the license;

determining, if the conditions are satisfied; and

unlocking the security mechanism, if the conditions are satisfied.

47. The method of claim 26, wherein the security mechanism is based on encryption, and the mechanism for unlocking is based on decryption.

48. The method of claim 26, wherein the method is implemented using one or more hardware and/or software devices.

49. The method of claim 26, wherein in the method is implemented using computer readable medium including one or more computer-readable instructions embedded therein configured to cause one or more computer processors to perform the steps of the method.

50. A computer-implemented method for enforcing an enforceable property right in an item in accordance with usage rights, the method comprising:

electronically generating an item ticket specifying an item for which the item ticket can be redeemed, the item ticket having a security mechanism incorporated therein;

electronically generating a license; and

associating the license with the item ticket, the license including usage rights specifying a manner of use for redeeming the item ticket and a mechanism for unlocking the security mechanism,

wherein the license further includes conditions that must be satisfied to activate the unlocking mechanism and exercise the manner of use,

wherein the item ticket includes a description of the item,

wherein the item comprises an online service, and

wherein the license further comprises usage rights specifying access to the online service and a condition of the access.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the condition includes a required security or trust rating for the access to the online service.

52. A computer readable medium including one or more computer-readable instructions embedded therein for enforcing an enforceable property right in an item in accordance with usage rights and configured to cause one or more computer processors to perform the steps of:

electronically generating an item ticket specifying an item for which the item ticket can be redeemed, the item ticket having a security mechanism incorporated therein;

electronically generating a license; and

associating the license with the item ticket, the license including usage rights specifying a manner of use for redeeming the item ticket and a mechanism for unlocking the security mechanism,

wherein the license further includes conditions that must be satisfied to activate the unlocking mechanism and exercise the manner of use,

wherein the item ticket includes a description of the item,

wherein the license further comprises usage rights specifying access to information and a condition of the access, and

wherein the condition includes a required security or trust rating for the access to the information.

53. The computer readable medium of claim 52, wherein the item ticket includes an ID correlated to the item.

54. The computer readable medium of claim 52, wherein the item ticket includes limitations specified by the license.

55. The computer readable medium of claim 54, wherein the limitations are expressed in the conditions.

56. The computer readable medium of claim 52, wherein the security mechanism is based on encryption.

57. The computer readable medium of claim 52, wherein the item comprises tangible or non-tangible goods.

58. The computer readable medium of claim 52, wherein the item comprises tangible or non-tangible services.

59. The computer readable medium of claim 52, wherein the license includes a specification of the item ticket.

60. The computer readable medium of claim 52, wherein the item comprises tangible or non-tangible information.

61. The computer readable medium of claim 52, wherein the license further includes post-license conditions that do not need to be satisfied to activate the security mechanism, and further comprising computer-readable instructions configured to cause the computer processors to perform the step of permitting via the unlocking mechanism a specification of the item and the post-license conditions to be rendered.

62. The computer readable medium of claim 52, wherein the license further includes state variables.

63. The computer readable medium of claim 52, further comprising computer-readable instructions configured to cause the computer processors to perform the step of permitting via the unlocking mechanism the item ticket to be rendered as a human readable description.

64. The computer readable medium of claim 52, further comprising computer-readable instructions configured to cause the computer processors to perform the step of permitting via the unlocking mechanism the item ticket to be rendered as a computer readable code.

65. The computer readable medium of claim 52, wherein the usage rights include meta-rights which permit rights in the item to be granted to downstream parties.

66. The computer readable medium of claim 52, wherein the item comprises a financial instrument.

67. The computer readable medium of claim 52, wherein the item comprises a legal document.

68. The computer readable medium of claim 52, wherein the item comprises real estate.

69. The computer readable medium of claim 52, further comprising computer-readable instructions configured to cause the computer processors to perform the steps of:

associating via a license device the license with the item ticket; and

enforcing the license and unlocking the security mechanism via a security component, if the conditions are satisfied.

70. The computer readable medium of claim 69, wherein the security component comprises a client component in a user device, and an activation device for providing at least a portion of the client component.

71. The computer readable medium of claim 69, further comprising computer-readable instructions configured to cause the computer processors to perform the step of permitting via a vendor device a user to select the item and the usage rights to be incorporated into the license generated by the license device.

72. The computer readable medium of claim 52, further comprising computer-readable instructions configured to cause the computer processors to perform the steps of:

parsing the license;

determining, if the conditions are satisfied; and

unlocking the security mechanism, if the conditions are satisfied.

73. The computer readable medium of claim 52, wherein the security mechanism is based on encryption, and the mechanism for unlocking is based on decryption.

74. A computer readable medium including one or more computer-readable instructions embedded therein for enforcing an enforceable property right in an item in accordance with usage rights and configured to cause one or more computer processors to perform the steps of:

electronically generating an item ticket specifying an item for which the item ticket can be redeemed, the item ticket having a security mechanism incorporated therein;

electronically generating a license; and

associating the license with the item ticket, the license including usage rights specifying a manner of use for redeeming the item ticket and a mechanism for unlocking the security mechanism,

wherein the license further includes conditions that must be satisfied to activate the unlocking mechanism and exercise the manner of use,

wherein the item ticket includes a description of the item,

wherein the item comprises an online service, and

wherein the license further comprises usage rights specifying access to the online service and a condition of the access.

75. The computer readable medium of claim 74, wherein the condition includes a required security or trust rating for the access to the online service.