Methods and apparatus for title structure and management

• US 7,707,121 B1
• Filed: 05/15/2003
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: API Market, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Navio Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Collins, Kevin, Bruce, James, Clark, Alex F., Ding, Josh C., Roever, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Worjloh; Jalatee
• Application Number:
  US10/440,286
• Time in Patent Office: 2,539 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/100, 705/37, 705/50, 705/64, 705 51- 59, 713/172, 713/175, 713/177, 715/513, 726/5, 345/764, 846/09
• US Class Current: 705/78
• 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: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/027 involving a payment switch or gateway
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0855 involving a third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/18 Legal services

Abstract

A title management apparatus resident on a first computer including a memory for storing a control program and data, and a processor for executing the control program and for managing the data. The apparatus includes user data resident in the memory including a set of user security indicia. The apparatus also includes a first title object resident in the memory including a title structure, the title structure further comprising a content element, a set of attributes, and a set of title object security indicia. The apparatus further includes a set of stub objects coupled to the title object, wherein the set of stub objects can further optimize the title structure; an authorization structure configured to selectively redeem the content element based at least in part of the user security indicia; and, a title management structure configured to associate a user with the first title object based at least in part of the user data and the title attributes.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for effecting transfer of title objects using one or more computing devices, comprising:

using a first subset of the one or more computing devices, storing a first title object received from a first entity with a lockbox programmed to securely execute transfer of title objects between parties, the first title object having been previously encoded with title data representing at least one right, the first title object being encoded to effect anonymous redemption of the at least one right by presentation of the first title object to a title-enabled process, the first title object also having been previously encoded with an associated title object state corresponding to a first value which corresponds to an externally stored state that is stored separately from the title object state;

verifying validity of the first title object by comparing the associated title object state and the externally stored state;

in response to verification of the validity of the first title object, transferring ownership of the at least one right represented by the first title object to a second entity by releasing the first title object from the lockbox to the second entity upon satisfaction of at least one criterion; and

using a second subset of the one or more computing devices, updating both the associated title object state and the externally stored state to correspond to a new value in conjunction with releasing the first title object to the second entity, thereby ensuring that only a single valid instance of the first title object is in circulation.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a second title object from the second entity with the lockbox before releasing the first title object, and releasing the second title object from the lockbox to the first entity upon satisfaction of the at least one criterion.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the at least one criterion comprises receipt by the lockbox of both of the first and second title objects.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one criterion comprises approval by at least one of the first and second entities of release of the first title object.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing an interface to at least one of the first and second entities for interacting with the lockbox.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the interface is operable to enable any of viewing of the first title object, verification of the first title object, inspection of the first title object, sampling of the first title object, and approval of release of the first title object.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the interface employs a controlled program for enabling restricted access to the first title object.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising updating the title object state and the externally stored state corresponding to the first title object as a result of interaction of the lockbox with the first title object.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing the first title object in a memory associated with and controlled by the lockbox.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the lockbox is controlled by one of the first and second entities.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the lockbox process is controlled by a third entity.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a software application to at least one of the first and second entities to facilitate interaction with the lockbox.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the lockbox comprises one of a plurality of lockboxes and the first and second entities comprise two of a plurality of entities, the method further comprising facilitating transfer of selected ones of the title objects among the plurality of entities with the plurality of lockboxes substantially simultaneously.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the first entity is a seller of a product represented by the first title object, and the second entity is a buyer of the product, the method further comprising:

facilitating selection of the product by the buyer;

facilitating transmission of the first title object from the seller to the lockbox in response to selection of the product by the buyer;

facilitating transmission of a sales order from the seller to the buyer, the sales order identifying terms of sale and including information relating to the lockbox; and

facilitating transmission of a payment title object from the buyer to the lockbox using the information, receipt of the payment title object by the lockbox corresponding to one of the at least one criterion.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

notifying the seller that the payment title object has been received by the lockbox;

facilitating verification of payment by the seller; and

facilitating capture of funds by the seller using the payment title object.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a second title object from the second entity with the lockbox before releasing the first title object;

under control of the lockbox, controlling access to the first and second title objects such that the first entity has restricted access to the second title object and the second entity has restricted access to the first title object; and

releasing the second title object from the lockbox to the first entity upon satisfaction of the at least one criterion.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the restricted access enables the first and second entities to perform at least one of viewing of, verification of, inspection of, and sampling of the second and first title objects, respectively.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the first title object represents a right to access digital content, and wherein the digital content is maintained separately from the first title object.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising facilitating access to at least a portion of the digital content by the second entity under control of the lockbox.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the first title object represents a right to access digital content, and wherein at least a portion of the digital content is embedded in the first title object.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising facilitating access to the portion of the digital content by the second entity under control of the lockbox.

22. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a record of the receipt and release of the first title object.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second entities are represented by first and second title manager processes, respectively, the first and second title manager processes being operable to facilitate organization and management of selected ones of the title objects associated with the first and second entities, the method further comprising facilitating interaction among the first and second title manager processes and the lockbox to facilitate handling of the first title object.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising receiving instructions from at least one of the first and second title manager processes, the instructions being for use by the lockbox to facilitate handing of the first title object.

25. The method of claim 1 further comprising facilitating manual verification of satisfaction of the at least one criterion by at least one of the first entity and the second entity.

26. The method of claim 1 further comprising facilitating verification of satisfaction of the at least one criterion by an automated process associated with at least one of the first entity and the second entity.

27. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving at least one additional title object from any of the first, second, and at least one additional entity with the lockbox; and

releasing the at least one additional title object from the lockbox to any of the first, second, and at least one additional entities upon satisfaction of the at least one criterion.

28. The method of claim 1 wherein the lockbox is operable to facilitate any of multi-party trades, dependent trades, nested trades, and complex trades.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the complex trades relate to any of service level agreements, insurance agreements, legal recourse agreements, and guarantee agreements, content inspection agreements.

30. A platform for facilitating transfer of title objects, comprising one or more computing devices, a first one of the computing devices being programmed to implement a lockbox for securely executing transfer of title objects between parties, the lockbox being operable to store a first title object received from a first entity using a first subset of the computing devices, the first title object having been previously encoded with title data representing at least one right, the first title object being encoded to effect anonymous redemption of the at least one right by presentation of the first title object to a title-enabled process, the first title object also having been previously encoded with an associated title object state corresponding to a first value which corresponds to an externally stored state that is stored separately from the title object state, a second subset of the computing devices being further programmed to verify the validity of the first title object by comparing the associated title object state and the externally stored state, and in response to verification of the validity of the first title object to transfer ownership of the at least one right represented by the first title object to a second entity by releasing the first title object to the second entity upon satisfaction of at least one criterion, the second subset of the computing devices being further programmed to update both the associated title object state and the externally stored state to correspond to a new value in conjunction with releasing the first title object to the second entity, thereby ensuring that only a single valid instance of the first title object is in circulation.

31. The platform of claim 30 wherein the lockbox is further operable to receive a second title object from the second entity before releasing the first title object, and release the second title object to the first entity upon satisfaction of the at least one criterion.

32. The platform of claim 31 wherein the at least one criterion comprises receipt by the lockbox of both of the first and second title objects.

33. The platform of claim 30 wherein the at least one criterion comprises approval by at least one of the first and second entities of release of the first title object.

34. The platform of claim 30 wherein the at least one computing device is configured to provide an interface to at least one of the first and second entities for interacting with the lockbox.

35. The platform of claim 34 wherein the interface is operable to enable any of viewing of the first title object, verification of the first title object, inspection of the first title object, sampling of the first title object, and approval of release of the first title object.

36. The platform of claim 35 wherein the interface employs a controlled program for enabling restricted access to the first title object.

37. The platform of claim 30 wherein the at least one computing device is operable to facilitate updating of the title object state and the externally stored state corresponding to the first title object as a result of interaction of the lockbox with the first title object.

38. The platform of claim 30 further comprising a memory under control of the lockbox, the at least one computing device being configured to store the first title object in the memory.

39. The platform of claim 30 wherein the at least one computing device is controlled by one of the first and second entities.

40. The platform of claim 30 wherein the at least one computing device is controlled by a third entity.

41. The platform of claim 30 wherein the at least one computing device is configured to provide a software application to at least one of the first and second entities to facilitate interaction with the lockbox.

42. The platform of claim 30 wherein the lockbox comprises one of a plurality of lockboxes and the first and second entities comprise two of a plurality of entities, the at least one computing device further being configured to facilitate transfer of selected ones of the title objects among the plurality of entities with the plurality of lockboxes substantially simultaneously.

43. The platform of claim 30 wherein the first entity is a seller of a product represented by the first title object, and the second entity is a buyer of the product, the at least one computing device is further configured to:

facilitate selection of the product by the buyer;

facilitate transmission of the first title object from the seller to the lockbox in response to selection of the product by the buyer;

facilitate transmission of a sales order from the seller to the buyer, the sales order identifying terms of sale and including information relating to the lockbox; and

facilitate transmission of a payment title object from the buyer to the lockbox using the information, receipt of the payment title object by the lockbox corresponding to one of the at least one criterion.

44. The platform of claim 43 wherein the at least one computing device is further configured to:

notify the seller that the payment title object has been received by the lockbox;

facilitate verification of payment by the seller; and

facilitate capture of funds by the seller using the payment title object.

45. The platform of claim 30 wherein the at least one computing device is further configured to:

receive a second title object from the second entity with the lockbox before releasing the first title object;

control access to the first and second title objects such that the first entity has restricted access to the second title object and the second entity has restricted access to the first title object; and

release the second title object from the lockbox to the first entity upon satisfaction of the at least one criterion.

46. The platform of claim 45 wherein the restricted access enables the first and second entities to preform at least on of viewing of, verification of, inspection of, and sampling of the second and first title objects.

47. The platform of claim 30 wherein the first title object represents a right to access digital content, and wherein the digital content is maintained separately from the first title object, and wherein the at least one computing device is configured to facilitate access to at least a portion of the digital content by the second entity under control of the lockbox.

48. The platform of claim 30 wherein the first title object represents a right to access digital content, and wherein at least a portion of the digital content is embedded in the first title object, and wherein the at least one computing device is configured to facilitate access to the portion of the digital content by the second entity under control of the lockbox.

49. The platform of claim 30 wherein the at least one computing device is operable to generate a record of the receipt and release of the first title object by the lockbox.

50. The platform of claim 30 wherein the at least one computing device is configured to facilitate manual verification of satisfaction of the at least one criterion by at least one of the first entity and the second entity.

51. The platform of claim 30 wherein the at least one computing device is configured to facilitate verification of satisfaction of the at least one criterion by an automated process associated with at least one of the first entity and the second entity.

52. The platform of claim 30 wherein the at least one computing device is configured to:

receive at least one additional title object from any of the first, second, and at least one additional entity with the lockbox; and

release the at least one additional title object from the lockbox to any of the first, second, and at least one additional entities upon satisfaction of the at least one criterion.

53. The platform of claim 30 wherein the lockbox is operable to facilitate any of multi-party trades, dependent trades, nested trades, and complex trades.

54. The platform of claim 53 wherein the complex trades relate to any of service level agreements, insurance agreements, legal recourse agreements, guarantee agreements, and content inspection agreements.