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

• US 7,185,358 B1
• Filed: 06/16/2000
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• 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): Arani, Taghi T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jackson, Jenise E.
• Application Number:
  US09/595,839
• Time in Patent Office: 2,447 Days
• Field of Search: 713200-202, 705 56- 59, 709223-229, 345/187, 345/435, 726 2- 5, 726/29, 726/26
• US Class Current: 726/2
• 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 limiting the operational life of software in a network environment, the method comprising:

transmitting a program applet with a password embedded therein from a server computer to a client computer, via a network, the password having a limited operational life, and the program applet including executable code that runs on the client computer;

receiving by the server computer, from said program applet running on the client computer, via said network, (i) a request for information stored in a restricted access storage area of the server computer, and (ii) said embedded password;

authenticating said embedded password by the server computer, whenever said receiving occurs;

thereafter transmitting said information from the server computer, to said program applet running on the client computer, via said network, while said embedded password is valid; and

invalidating said embedded password by the server computer, coincident with an invalidation event.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said invalidating comprises invalidating said embedded password at a predetermined time.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said invalidating comprises invalidating said embedded password after lapse of a predetermined time from when said request was received.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said invalidating comprises invalidating said embedded password upon the detection of a loss of communication with said client.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said transmitting a program applet comprises generating said embedded password.

6. A network-based software authentication system comprising a server computer, the server computer comprising:

a password generator;

password validation apparatus;

a restricted-access storage area;

a program applet including executable code that runs on a client computer; and

invalidation apparatus;

wherein said server computer is operative to;

a) cause said password generator to generate a password, the password having a limited operational life;

b) embed said password within said program applet, and transmit said program applet with said password embedded therein to the client computer via a network;

c) receive from said program applet running on the client computer, (i) a request for information, and (ii) said embedded password for authentication;

d) authenticate said embedded password using said password validation apparatus, whenever information requested is stored in the restricted-access storage area;

e) transmit said information to said program applet running on the client computer, via said network, while said embedded password is valid; and

f) invalidate said embedded password using said invalidation apparatus coincident with an invalidation event.

7. A system according to claim 6 wherein said invalidation event comprises the arrival of a predetermined time.

8. A system according to claim 6 wherein said invalidation event comprises the lapsing of a predetermined time from when said request was received.

9. A system according to claim 6 wherein said invalidation event comprises the detection of a loss of communication with said client.