Method for controlling database copyrights

• US 7,447,914 B1
• Filed: 07/16/1997
• Issued: 11/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Piracy Protection LLC (LF Capital Partners, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Intarsia Software LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Saito, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): ZEE, EDWARD
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZEE, EDWARD
• Application Number:
  US08/895,493
• Time in Patent Office: 4,129 Days
• Field of Search: 380/4, 380/21, 380/25, 380/23, 380/279, 380/277, 380/280, 380/270, 380200-203, 713/193, 713/166, 713/167, 713/172, 713/168, 713/165, 705/51, 705/54, 705/57, 705/59, 382/124, 401/104, 726/27, 726/31, 726/33, 726/26, 717/174
• US Class Current: 713/193
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/603 Digital right managament [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 applying security measures for digital rights management
• 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 63/062 for key distribution, e.g. centrally by trusted party cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving a central third party H04L9/0819
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/30 Public key, i.e. encryption algorithm being computationally infeasible to invert or user's encryption keys not requiring secrecy
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32133 on the same paper sheet, e.g. a facsimile page header
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32144 embedded in the image data, i.e. enclosed or integrated in the image, e.g. watermark, super-imposed logo or stamp
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/44 Secrecy systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4406 Restricting access, e.g. according to user identity mechanisms actuated y cards, PIN or the like in apparatus for dispensing G07F7/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4426 involving separate means, e.g. a server, a magnetic card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4433 to an apparatus, part of an apparatus or an apparatus function
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/444 to a particular document or image or part thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4486 using digital data encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3225 of data relating to an image, a page or a document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3246 of data relating to permitted access or usage, e.g. level of access or usage parameters for digital rights management [DRM] related to still images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3281 Encryption; Ciphering
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 705/904 Usage protection of distributed files
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 705/908 : Software or content usage protection

Abstract

In the present invention, copyrights of digital data in a database system including real time transmission of a digital picture are controlled. Permit keys including a crypt key, are used when data which is encrypted and supplied is displayed, edited, stored, copied and transferred. As necessary, one or more of a copyright control program, copyright information or copyright control message are used, in addition to the permit key. The copyright control program, the copyright information and the copyright control message are supplied together with the permit key, or together with the data, or a part of them is supplied together with the permit key and the other part of them is supplied together with the data. The permit key, the copyright control message, the copyright information and the copyright control program are supplied with encryption or without encryption. The data is transmitted with encryption and is decrypted to be used, and may be encrypted again when stored, copied or transferred.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving at a user device one or more of a plurality of utilization permit keys, wherein said plurality of utilization permit keys includes;

a first utilization permit key capable of use in cryptographic operations and configured to permit one or more of the following uses of digital data;

displaying, editing, storing, copying, transferring; and

a second utilization permit key capable of use in cryptographic operations and configured to permit one or more of the following uses of digital data;

displaying, editing, storing, copying, transferring, wherein one or more uses permitted by the second utilization permit key are different from the one or more uses permitted by the first utilization permit key; and

decrypting encrypted digital data using one or more of the received plurality of utilization permit keys that includes at least the first utilization permit key or the second utilization permit key for performance of only the use or uses of the digital data that are permitted by the received one or more utilization permit keys.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of utilization permit keys include a display permit key permitting only display of the digital data, an edit permit key permitting only display and editing of the digital data, a storage permit key permitting only storage of the digital data, a copy permit key permitting only copying of the digital data, and a transfer permit key permitting only transferring of the digital data.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein a copyright control program ensures said decrypting is for performance of only the permitted use or uses of the digital data.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying a copyright control message by a copyright control program when the user device attempts a use of the digital data that is different from the use or uses of the digital data that are permitted by the received one ore more utilization permit keys.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising limiting, by a copyright control program, a number of times the digital data is used by the user device.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising limiting, by a copyright control program, a number of times the received one or more utilization permit keys are used for decryption of the encrypted digital data for the permitted use or uses of the digital data.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising maintaining, by copyright control program, copyright information on the digital data.

8. A method according to claim 3, further comprising receiving the copyright control program at the user device with the received one or more utilization permit keys.

9. A method according to claim 3, further comprising receiving the copyright control program at the user device with the encrypted digital data.

10. A method according to claim 7, wherein the copyright information includes history information on authorship of the digital data.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more of the plurality of utilization permit keys are received from a key control center.

12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising receiving a copyright control program from the key control center at the user device with the received or more utilization permit keys.

13. A method comprising:

receiving at a user device one or more of a plurality of utilization permit keys, wherein said plurality of utilization permit keys includes;

a first utilization permit key capable of use in cryptographic operations and configured to permit one or more of the following uses of digital data;

displaying editing, storing, copying, transferring; and

a second utilization permit key capable of use in cryptographic operations and configured to permit one or more of the following uses of digital data;

displaying, editing, storing, copying, transferring, wherein one or more uses permitted by the second utilization permit key are different from the one or more uses permitted by the first utilization permit key;

decrypting encrypted digital data using one or more of the received plurality of utilization permit keys that include at least the first utilization permit key or the second utilization permit key only when the use or uses of the digital data permitted by the one or more received utilization permit keys are displaying digital data or editing digital data; and

performing only the use of uses of the digital data that are permitted by the received one or more utilization permit keys.

14. A method according to claim 13, further comprising re-encrypting the decrypted digital data after performance of the use or uses when the permitted use or uses are displaying digital data or editing digital data.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of utilization permit keys include a display permit key permitting only display of the digital data, an edit permit key permitting only display and editing of the digital data, a storage permit key permitting only storage of the digital data, a copy permit key permitting only copying of the digital data, and a transfer permit key permitting only transferring of the digital data.

16. A method according to claim 13, wherein a copyright control program ensures said performing is only of the permitted use or uses of the digital data.

17. A method according to claim 16, further comprising receiving the copyright control program by the user device with the received one or more utilization permit keys.

18. A method according to claim 16, further comprising receiving the copyright control program at the user device with the encrypted digital data.

19. A method according to claim 13, further comprising displaying a copyright control message by a copyright control program when the user device attempts a use of the digital data that is different from the use or uses of the digital data that are permitted by the received one or more utilization permit keys.

20. A method according to claim 13, further comprising limiting, by a copyright control program, a number of times the digital data is used by the user device.

21. A method according to claim 13, further comprising limiting, by a copyright control program, a number of times the received one or more utilization permit keys are used for decryption of the encrypted digital data.

22. A method according to claim 13, further comprising maintaining, by a copyright control program, copyright information on the digital data.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the copyright information includes history information on authorship of the digital data.

24. A method according to claim 13, wherein the one or more of the plurality of utilization permit keys are received from a key control center.

25. A method according to claim 24, further comprising receiving a copyright control program from the key control center by the user device with the received one or more utilization permit keys.

26. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving by a user device one or more of a plurality of utilization permit keys, wherein said plurality of utilization permit keys includes;

a first utilization permit key capable of use in cryptographic operations and configured to permit one or more of the following uses of digital data;

displaying, editing, storing;

copying, transferring, and

a second utilization permit key capable of use in cryptographic operations and configured to permit one or more of the following uses of digital data;

displaying, editing, storing, copying, transferring;

wherein one or more uses permitted by the second utilization permit key are different from the one or more uses permitted by the first utilization permit key; and

means for decrypting encrypted digital data using one or more of the received plurality of utilization permit keys that includes at least the first utilization permit key or the second utilization permit key for performance of only the use or uses of the digital data that are permitted by the one or more received utilization permit keys.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the plurality of utilization permit keys include a display permit key permitting only display of the digital data, an edit permit key permitting only display and editing of the digital data, a storage permit key permitting only storage of the digital data, a copy permit key permitting only copying of the digital data, and a transfer permit key permitting only transferring of the digital data.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising means for ensuring said decrypting is for performance of only the use or uses of the digital data that are permitted by the received one or more utilization permit keys.

29. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising means for displaying a copyright control message when the user device attempts a use of the digital data that is different from the use or uses of the digital data that are permitted by the received one or more utilization permit keys.

30. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising means for limiting a number of times the digital data is used by the user device.

31. An article comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, if executed by a user device, cause the user device to;

receive one or more of a plurality of utilization permit keys, wherein said plurality of utilization permit keys includes;

a first utilization permit key capable of use in cryptographic operations and configured to permit one or more of the following uses of digital data;

displaying, editing, storing, copying, transferring; and

a second utilization permit key capable of use in cryptographic operations and configured to permit one or more of the following uses of digital data;

displaying, editing, storing, copying, transferring, wherein one or more uses permitted by the second utilization permit key are different from the one or more uses permitted by the first utilization permit key; and

decrypt encrypted digital data using one or more of the received plurality of utilization permit keys that includes at least the first utilization permit key or the second utilization permit key for performance of only the use or uses of the digital data that are permitted by the one or more received utilization permit keys.

32. The article of claim 31, wherein the plurality of utilization permit keys include a display permit key permitting only display of the digital data, an edit permit key permitting only display and editing of the digital data, a storage permit key permitting only storage of the digital data, a copy permit key permitting only copying of the digital data, and a transfer permit key permitting only transferring of the digital data.

33. The article of claim 31, wherein said instructions, if executed, further cause the user device to ensure said decryption is for performance of only the permitted use or uses of the digital data via a copyright control program.

34. The article of claim 31, wherein said instructions, if executed, further cause the user device to display a copyright control message via a copyright control program when the user device attempts a use of the digital data that is different from the use or uses of the digital data that are permitted by the received one or more utilization permit keys.

35. The article of claim 31, wherein said instructions, if executed, further cause the user device to limit a number of times the digital data is used by the user device via a copyright control program.