Limited-use browser and security system

• US 8,024,227 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2007
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CDN Innovations, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Kualo Properties Au LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Howard, Christopher J., Levy, Peter S., de la Cuesta, Joshue D.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZURITA, JAMES H
• Application Number:
  US11/742,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20070199063A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/37, 705/27
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1064 Restricting content processing at operating system level
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/007 Encryption, En-/decode, En-/decipher, En-/decypher, Scramble, (De-)compress
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A limited-use browser and related security system control access to content stored on a server computer linked to a network. The security system secures the content on the server and only permits it to be downloaded to a client computer running the limited-use browser or a general purpose browser executing an add-in security module providing the same functions as the limited-user browser. The limited-use browser or module secures the downloaded content on the client computer and displays it in a “view-only” mode. While the secured content is being displayed, menu selections, key combination, or pointing device commands initiated on the client computer that would modify the content or create a copy of another medium are either disabled as a default or monitored to determine if the action is permitted.

Claims

1. A computer implemented system, comprising:

a browser security module stored on a computer readable medium operatively coupled to a web browser configured to present content, the browser security module configures the web browser to disable non-ephemeral content transactions with respect to protected content; and

a payment module that verifies satisfaction of a request for compensation in connection with provision of the protected content by way of the web browser.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the non-ephemeral content transactions, disabled by the browser security module, includes at least one of:

a save or archival transaction of all or a portion of the protected content, a copy or paste transaction of all or a portion of the protected content, a print transaction of all or a portion of the protected content, or a drag or move transaction of all or a portion of the protected content.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the payment module verifies satisfaction based upon receipt of a fee or receipt of a promise or obligation to pay the fee.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the fee is a one-time fee based on provision of all or a portion of the protected content, or based on provision of at least one of the browser security module, the payment module, or the web browser.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the fee is a subscription fee based on provision of all or a portion of the protected content, or based on provision of previous, subsequent, or updated protected content.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the fee is a per-session fee based on provision of all or a portion of the protected content requested during one or more communication sessions.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the fee is a per-access fee based on provision of a portion of the protected content.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the fee is an enablement fee based on re-enabling the web browser to support one or more non-ephemeral content transactions in connection with the protected content.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the browser security module facilitates transmission to a server that hosts the protected content of a disablement message that indicates one or more non-ephemeral content transactions associated with the web browser are disabled.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the payment module facilitates transmission to a server that hosts the protected content of a payment message that indicates the request for compensation is satisfied.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the browser security module instructs the web browser to enable one or more non-ephemeral content transactions based upon satisfaction of an enablement fee.

12. A network-accessible content server, comprising:

a communication module that receives a request propagated by a web browser for protected content maintained by the server;

a server security module that receives (1) a disablement message propagated by the web browser that indicates one or more non-ephemeral content transaction features are disabled for the web browser, and (2) a payment message that indicates a request for compensation is satisfied; and

the communication module transmits the protected content to the web browser.

13. The server of claim 12, wherein the compensation indicated by the payment message relates to at least one of:

a one-time fee, a subscription fee, a per-session fee, a per-access fee, or an enablement fee.

14. The server of claim 12, wherein the server security module constructs an enablement message that indicates one or more non-ephemeral content transaction features associated with the web browser is permitted;

and the communication module transmits the enablement message to the web browser.

15. The server of claim 14, wherein the server security module constructs the enablement message based on satisfaction of an enablement fee indicated by the payment message.

16. A method, comprising:

presenting protected content with a computer-implemented browser application;

prohibiting non-transient output functions of the browser application relating to presentation, reproduction, or dissemination of the protected content;

presenting a request for remuneration for access or use of the protected content; and

confirming the request for remuneration is satisfied.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising confirming the request for remuneration is satisfied based on receipt of a fee or receipt of an agreement to pay the fee.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising presenting at least one of:

a one-time remuneration request, a subscription-based remuneration request, a per-session remuneration request, a per-access remuneration request, or an enablement remuneration request.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising adapting the browser for re-enabling one or more previously prohibited non-transient output functions based on confirmation that an enablement remuneration request is satisfied.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising at least one of:

propagating to a server maintaining or managing the protected content a disablement acknowledgment;

or propagating to the server a payment acknowledgment.

21. A method, comprising:

obtaining a solicitation from a browser for retrieval of or access to protected content hosted by at least one network-accessible, computer-implemented data store;

receiving a disablement acknowledgment indicating one or more non-transient output functions associated with the browser are disabled;

receiving a payment acknowledgment indicating remuneration is confirmed; and

propagating the protected content to the browser.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising generating an enablement acknowledgment for indicating one or more non-transient output functions associated with the browser is to be re-enabled.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising generating the enablement acknowledgment based upon a payment acknowledgment associated with an enablement remuneration.

24. A system, comprising:

means for configuring a content viewer to disable non-ephemeral presentation or reproduction of protected material;

means for validating consideration for access to the protected material; and

means for securely providing the protected material to the content viewer.