System and methods for permitting open access to data objects and for securing data within the data objects

• US 8,265,278 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2010
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wistaria Trading Inc.
• Original Assignee: Blue Spike, Inc.
• Inventors: Moskowitz, Scott, Berry, Mike W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoffman, Brandon
• Application Number:
  US12/886,732
• Publication Number:
  US 20110026709A1
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 380/252
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0021 involving encryption or decryption of contents recorded on or reproduced from a record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0071 involving a purchase action
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00818 wherein the usage restriction limits the signal quality, e.g. by low-pass filtering of audio signals or by reducing the resolution of video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00891 embedded in audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00985 the trial version being of lower quality than the original version
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/00014 the compressed signal being an audio signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/34 Encoding or coding, e.g. Huffman coding or error correction
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/12 Applying verification of the received information cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for data integrity or data verification H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/00 Cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0861 Generation of secret information including derivation or calculation of cryptographic keys or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/467 characterised by the embedded information being invisible, e.g. watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2347 involving video stream encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23476 by partially encrypting, e.g. encrypting the ending portion of a movie
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2351 involving encryption of additional data arrangements using cryptography for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/23
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23892 involving embedding information at multiplex stream level, e.g. embedding a watermark at packet level
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44008 involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in the video stream arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4405 involving video stream decryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8358 : involving watermark protecting executable software by watermarking G06F21/16; image watermarking in general G06T1/0021; watermarks inserted in still images for transmission purposes H04N1/32144; inserting watermarks during video coding H04N19/467
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/85406 : involving a specific file format, e.g. MP4 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/1675 : Providing digital key or authorisation information for generation or regeneration of the scrambling sequence pseudo-random number generators in general G06F7/58

Abstract

A system and methods for permitting open access to data objects and for securing data within the data objects is disclosed. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for securing a data object is disclosed. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for securing a data object is disclosed. The method includes the steps of (1) providing a data object comprising digital data and file format information; (2) embedding independent data into a data object; and (3) scrambling the data object to degrade the data object to a predetermined signal quality level. The steps of embedding and scrambling may be performed until a predetermined condition is met. The method may also include the steps of descrambling the data object to upgrade the data object to a predetermined signal quality level, and decoding the embedded independent data. The additional steps of descrambling and decoding may be performed until a predetermined condition is met. The predetermined condition may include, for example, reaching a desired signal quality of the data object.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a digital signal in a system including at least one processor;

selecting, using said at least one processor, at least one signal characteristic of the digital signal;

manipulating, using said at least one processor, the at least one signal characteristic to degrade the digital signal;

associating, using said at least one processor, at least one digital watermark with the degraded digital signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said manipulating comprises manipulating information independent of the digital signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said manipulating comprises manipulating format of the digital signal .

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said manipulating comprises using at least one of a browser, viewer, player, and payment facility to degrade said digital signal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said associating comprises embedding said at least one digital watermark in said degraded digital signal using at least one of a browser, viewer, player, and recorder.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said manipulating and said associating comprises using a key.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving comprises downloading at least one of video data, image data, and audio data.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein manipulating compromises inserting an advertisement.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving said digital signal in a system comprises receiving said digital signal in a content player.

10. A system, comprising:

at least one processor;

wherein said system configured to use said at least one processor to select at least one signal characteristic of a digital signal;

wherein said system is configured to use said at least one processor to manipulate said at least one signal characteristic to degrade the digital signal to form a degraded digital signal;

wherein said system is configured to use said at least one processor to associate with said degraded digital signal at least one digital watermark.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said system is configured to manipulate information independent of the digital signal.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said system is configured to manipulate format of said digital signal.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein said system comprises at least one of a browser, viewer, player, and payment facility.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein said system is configured to use a key to perform at least one of the manipulating said at least one signal characteristic and the associating said at least one digital watermark.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein said system is configured to download said digital signal.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said download comprises at least one of video data, image data, and audio data.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein said degraded digital signal comprises an advertisement.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein said system comprises a content player.