Watermarking messaging sessions

• US 7,269,622 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2001
• Issued: 09/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dutta, Rabindranath, Paolini, Michael A., Brown, Michael Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky; Moustafa
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOLD, AVI M
• Application Number:
  US09/915,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20030023682A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,238 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200, 709/204, 709/228, 709/230, 713/176
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1831 Tracking arrangements for later retrieval, e.g. recording contents, participants activities or behavior, network status
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/103 applying security measure for protecting copy right protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment, e.g. protection the software providers copyright G06F21/10; data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; secrecy systems or subscription systems H04N7/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/123 received data contents, e.g. message integrity

Abstract

A method, system and program is provided for watermarking messaging sessions such that the origin of recorded messaging sessions is traceable. A distinguishable watermark is applied to message entries within a messaging session. The messaging entries are then recorded with the distinguishable watermark applied, such that the origin of the message entries is traceable according to the distinguishable watermark. Users participating in the messaging session receive a recording of the watermarked message entries for the messaging session, wherein user of the recording of the messaging session is traceable according to the watermark.

Claims

1. A method, in at least one server system for enabling at least one real time chat messaging session channel via a network between at least a selection of a plurality of separate client systems communicatively connected to said network, for recording a real time chat messaging session, said method comprising the steps of:

applying, at said at least one server system, a separate distinguishable digital watermark to each of a plurality of message entries communicated within said chat messaging session between said selection of said plurality of separate client systems, wherein each said separate distinguishable digital watermark identifies a separate origin of said message entry from among said plurality of separate client systems; and

recording, at said at least one server system, a log of said chat messaging session, wherein said log comprises said plurality of messaging entries with each said separate distinguishable watermark applied, such that an origin of each of said plurality of message entries stored in said log is traceable and the integrity of each of said plurality of message entries stored in said log is verifiable according to said distinguishable watermark.

2. The method for recording a chat messaging session according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

applying each said separate distinguishable digital watermark and recording said log of said chat messaging session with said plurality of messaging entries at a particular client system from among said plurality of client systems.

3. The method for recording a chat messaging session according to claim 1, said step of applying, at said at least one server system, a separate distinguishable digital watermark further comprising the step of:

applying, at said at least one server system, a separate textual watermark to each of said plurality of message entries within said chat messaging session.

4. The method for recording a chat messaging session according to claim 1, said step of applying, at said at least one server system, a separate distinguishable digital watermark further comprising the step of:

applying, at said at least one server system, a separate graphical watermark to each of said plurality of message entries within said chat messaging session.

5. The method for recording a chat messaging session according to claim 1, said step of applying, at said at least one server system, a separate distinguishable digital watermark further comprising the step of:

applying, at said at least one server system, a separate audible watermark to each of said plurality of message entries within said chat messaging session.

6. The method for recording a chat messaging session according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

transmitting said log of said chat messaging session to a plurality of users participating in said chat messaging session.

7. The method for recording a chat messaging session according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

storing said log of said chat messaging session in a log file repository for tracing said origin of said plurality of message entries according to each said separate distinguishable watermark.

8. The method for recording a chat messaging session according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

applying each said separate distinguishable digital watermark in response to a user request received from at least one from among said plurality of client systems to record said plurality of messaging entries with watermarking.

9. The method for recording a chat messaging session according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

applying said distinguishable watermark to a plurality of message entries already recorded in a second log of said chat messaging session.

10. A system for recording a chat messaging session, said system comprising:

a messaging server communicatively connected to a network, said messaging server for enabling at least one real time chat messaging session channel via said network between at least a selection of a plurality of separate client systems communicatively connected to said network to facilitate said chat messaging session;

said messaging server further comprising;

means for applying a separate distinguishable digital watermark to each of a plurality of message entries communicated within said chat messaging session, wherein each said separate distinguishable digital watermark identifies a separate origin of said message entry from among said plurality of separate client systems; and

means for recording a log of said chat messaging session, wherein said log comprises said plurality of messaging entries with each said separate distinguishable watermark applied, such that an origin of each of said plurality of message entries stored in said log is traceable and the integrity of each of said plurality of message entries stored in said log is verifiable according to said distinguishable watermark.

11. The system for recording a chat messaging session according to claim 10, said means for applying a separate distinguishable digital watermark further comprising:

means for applying a separate textual watermark to each of said plurality of message entries within said chat messaging session.

12. The system for recording a chat messaging session according to claim 10, said means for applying a separate distinguishable digital watermark further comprising:

means for applying a separate graphical watermark to each of said plurality of message entries within said chat messaging session.

13. The system for recording a chat messaging session according to claim 10, said means for applying a separate distinguishable digital watermark further comprising:

means for applying a separate audible watermark to each of said plurality of message entries within said chat messaging session.

14. The system for recording a chat messaging session according to claim 10, said messaging server further comprising:

means for transmitting said log of said chat messaging session to a plurality of users participating in said chat messaging session.

15. The system for recording a chat messaging session according to claim 10, said messaging server further comprising:

means for storing said log of said chat messaging session in a log file repository for tracing said origin of said plurality of message entries according to each said separate distinguishable watermark.

16. The system for recording a chat messaging session according to claim 10, said messaging server further comprising:

means for applying each said separate distinguishable digital watermark in response to a user request received from at least one from among said plurality of client systems to record said plurality of messaging entries with watermarking.

17. The system for recording a chat messaging session according to claim 10, said messaging server further comprising:

means for applying said distinguishable watermark to a plurality of message entries already recorded in a second log of said chat messaging session.

18. A program for recording a chat messaging session, residing on a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means, said program comprising:

means for enabling at least one server system to facilitate at least one real time chat messaging session channel via a network between at least a selection of a plurality of separate client systems communicatively connected to said network to facilitate said chat messaging session;

means for controlling application, at said at least one server system, of a separate distinguishable digital watermark to each of a plurality of message entries communicated within said chat messaging session, wherein each said separate distinguishable digital watermark identifies a separate origin of said message entry from among said plurality of separate client systems; and

means for controlling recording of a log of said chat messaging session, at said at least one server system, wherein said log comprises said plurality of messaging entries with each said separate distinguishable watermark applied, such that an origin of each of said plurality of message entries stored in said log is traceable and the integrity of each of said plurality of message entries stored in said log is verifiable according to said distinguishable watermark.

19. The program for recording a chat messaging session according to claim 18, said means for controlling application, at said at least one server system, of a separate distinguishable digital watermark further comprising:

means for controlling application of a separate textual watermark to each of said plurality of message entries within said chat messaging session.

20. The program for recording a chat messaging session according to claim 18, said means for controlling application, at said at least one server system, of a separate distinguishable digital watermark further comprising:

means for controlling application of a separate graphical watermark to each of said plurality of message entries within said chat messaging session.

21. The program for recording a chat messaging session according to claim 18, said means for controlling application, at said at least one server system, of a separate distinguishable digital watermark further comprising:

means for controlling application of a separate audible watermark to each of said plurality of message entries within said chat messaging session.

22. The program for recording a chat messaging session according to claim 18, said program further comprising:

means for enabling transmission of said log of said chat messaging session to a plurality of users participating in said chat messaging session.

23. The program for recording a chat messaging session according to claim 18, said program further comprising:

means for directing storage of said log of said chat messaging session in a log file repository for tracing said origin of said plurality of message entries according to each said separate distinguishable watermark.

24. The program for recording a chat messaging session according to claim 18, said program further comprising:

means for controlling application of each said separate distinguishable digital watermark in response to a user request received from at least one from among said plurality of client systems to record said plurality of messaging entries with watermarking.

25. The program for recording a chat messaging session according to claim 18, said program further comprising:

means for controlling application of said distinguishable watermark to a plurality of message entries already recorded in a second log of said chat messaging session.

26. A method, in a particular client system from among a plurality of clients systems enabled to communicate with one another through a chat messaging session channel facilitated by a chat messaging server via a network, for participating in a chat messaging session facilitated through said chat messaging session channel, said method comprising the steps of:

participating at said particular client system in a chat messaging session by receiving from said chat messaging server a plurality of messaging entries as each messaging entry is entered by separate ones of a plurality of separate users participating in said chat messaging session through separate ones of said plurality of client systems; and

receiving, at said particular client system separate from participating in said chat messaging session, a recording of said chat messaging session from said chat messaging server, wherein said plurality of message entries for said chat messaging session are each embedded by a separate digital watermark, wherein each said separate digital watermark identifies a separate origin of each of said plurality of message entries from among separate ones of said plurality of client systems, such that use of said recording of said chat messaging session is traceable according to a watermark.

27. The method for participating in a chat messaging session according to claim 26, said method further comprising the step of:

requesting, from said chat messaging server, said recording of said chat messaging session with each of said plurality of entries embedded by said separate digital watermark.

28. The method for participating in a chat messaging session according to claim 26, said method further comprising the step of:

participating in said chat messaging session by entering a messaging entry for distribution by said chat messaging server to said plurality of client systems through said chat messaging session channel.

29. The method for participating in a chat messaging session according to claim 26, said method further comprising the step of:

participating in said chat messaging session by entering watermarked message entries for distribution by said chat messaging server to said plurality of client systems participating in said chat messaging session.

30. A system for participating in a chat messaging session, said system comprising:

a particular client messaging system from among a plurality of client systems communicatively connected to a network, wherein said plurality of client systems are enabled to communicate with one another through a chat messaging session channel facilitated by a chat messaging server via a network;

said particular client messaging system further comprising;

means for participating in a chat messaging facilitated through said chat messaging session channel by receiving from said chat messaging server a plurality of messaging entries as each messaging entry is entered by separate ones of a plurality of separate users participating in said chat messaging session through separate ones of said plurality of client systems; and

means for receiving, separate from participating in said chat messaging session, a recording of said chat messaging session from said chat messaging server, wherein said plurality of message entries for said chat messaging session are each embedded by a separate digital watermark, wherein each said separate digital watermark identifies a separate origin of each of said plurality of message entries from among separate ones of said plurality of client systems, such that use of said recording of said chat messaging session is traceable according to a watermark.

31. The system for participating in a chat messaging session according to claim 30, said system further comprising:

means for requesting, from said chat messaging server, said recording of said chat messaging session with each of said plurality of entries embedded by said separate digital watermark.

32. The system for participating in a chat messaging session according to claim 30, said system further comprising:

means for participating in said chat messaging session by entering a messaging entry for distribution by said chat messaging server to said plurality of client systems through said chat messaging session channel.

33. The system for participating in a chat messaging session according to claim 30, said system further comprising:

means for participating in said chat messaging session by entering watermarked message entries for distribution by said chat messaging server to said plurality of client systems participating in said chat messaging session.

34. A program for participating in a chat messaging session, residing on a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means, said program comprising:

means for enabling a client system to communicate via at least one real time chat messaging session channel via a network between at least a selection of a plurality of separate client systems communicatively connected to said network, wherein a chat messaging server facilitates said chat messaging session channel;

means for enabling participation in a chat messaging session by said client system by receiving from said chat messaging server a plurality of messaging entries as each messaging entry is entered by separate ones of a plurality of separate users participating in said chat messaging session through separate ones of said plurality of client systems; and

means for enabling reception, separate from participating in said chat messaging session, by said client system of a recording of said chat messaging session from said chat messaging server, wherein said plurality of message entries for said messaging session are each embedded by a separate digital watermark, wherein each said separate digital watermark identifies a separate origin of each of said plurality of message entries from among separate ones of said plurality of client systems, such that use of said recording of said chat messaging session is traceable according to a watermark.

35. The program for participating in a chat messaging session according to claim 34, said program further comprising:

means for enabling transmission of a request to said chat messaging server for said recording of said chat messaging session with each of said plurality of entries embedded by said separate digital watermark.

36. The program for participating in a chat messaging session according to claim 34, said program further comprising:

means for participating in said chat messaging session by entering a messaging entry for distribution by said chat messaging server to said plurality of client systems through said chat messaging session channel.

37. The program for participating in a chat messaging session according to claim 34, said program further comprising:

means for enabling participation in said chat messaging session by entering watermarked message entries for distribution by said chat messaging server to said plurality of client systems participating in said chat messaging session.