Computerized method, program, and apparatus for limited sharing of digital content

• US 8,862,894 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2010
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Woodstock Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Woodstock Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Hoffman, James, Friskel, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Chea, Philip
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABEDIN, SHANTO
• Application Number:
  US12/709,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20100174918A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,695 Days
• Field of Search: 713/189, 713/168, 726/21, 726 2- 4, 726 26- 29, 709/226, 709/229, 709/230, 709/205, 705/59, 705/902, 705/908
• US Class Current: 713/189
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 applying security measures for digital rights management data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for commerce, e.g. marketing, shopping, billing, auctions or e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1068 Discovery involving direct consultation or announcement among potential requesting and potential source peers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1091 Interfacing with client-server systems or between P2P systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1093 Some peer nodes performing special functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 705/908 Software or content usage protection

Abstract

Personal Digital Server (“PDS”) is a unique computer application for the storage, updating, management and sharing of all types of digital media files, including audio, video, images and documents, irrespective of their format. PDS provides users with a single location to store and access, both locally and remotely, all of their digital media. It also provides the user total control of the overall management of these assets.

Claims

1. A computerized method of sharing digital content items, the method comprising:

automatically with a computer,

(a) in response to receiving, from a requesting computer associated with a first user of a plurality of users, a request to borrow a digital content item not owned by the first user and containing content for which a copyright is not owned by the first user, accessing an index entry associated with the digital content item to determine the digital content item'"'"'s borrowed status; and

(b) accessing a list of users of the plurality who are authorized borrowers, and;

(i) if both the borrowed status for the digital content item indicates the item is available for borrowing and a global unique identifier (GUID) associated with the first user is present in the list of authorized borrowers, (A) granting the requesting computer read-only access to the digital content item, (B) making available a copy of the digital content item that has been formatted so that only a computer associated with the GUID of the first user can render the digital content item, and (C) updating the index entry to change the borrowed status to denote the digital content item is borrowed; and

(ii) otherwise denying the requesting computer access to the digital content item;

(c) wherein the borrowed status for the digital content item comprises a limit calculated from data defining the number of copies of the digital content item that can be borrowed concurrently and the number of copies of the digital content that are borrowed by computers of users of the plurality other than the first user at the time of the request.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein part (b)(i)(B) comprises making the digital content item available to the requesting computer by causing a read-only copy of the digital content item to be delivered to the requesting computer.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein part (b)(i)(B) comprises causing the copy of digital content item to be streamed to the requesting computer.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein part (b)(i)(B) comprises encrypting the copy of the digital content item.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the each index entry further comprises a time period for which the digital content item can be borrowed and wherein the encryption applied to the copy of the digital content item prevents the requesting computer from rendering the copy of the digital content item after the time period has expired.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the encryption applied to the copy of the digital content item prevents the requesting computer from saving the copy of the digital content item.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the list of authorized borrowers

is present in the index entry associated with the digital content item.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first user'"'"'s associated GUID is based on an email address associated with the first user.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the number of copies of the digital content item that can be borrowed concurrently is two.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the computer is a web-enabled cellular phone.

11. The method of claim 2 further comprising, in response to receiving information indicating that the digital content item'"'"'s owner has removed the first user'"'"'s GUID from the list of authorized borrowers, preventing the digital content item from being made available to the requesting computer.

12. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium storing a set of computer instructions for sharing digital content items, wherein the set of computer instructions, when executed on the computer, causes the computer, automatically:

(a) in response to receiving, from a requesting computer associated with a first user of a plurality of users, a request to borrow a digital content item not owned by the first user and containing content for which a copyright is not owned by the first user, to access an index entry associated with the digital content item to determine the item'"'"'s borrowed status; and

(b) to access a list of users of the plurality who are authorized borrowers, and;

(i) if both the borrowed status for the digital content item indicates the item is available for borrowing and a global unique identifier (GUID) associated with the first user is present in the list of authorized borrowers, (A) to grant the requesting computer read-only access to the digital content item, (B) to make available a copy of the digital content item that has been formatted so that only a computer associated with the GUID of the first user can render the digital content item, and (C) to update the index entry to change the borrowed status to denote the digital content item is borrowed; and

(ii) otherwise to deny the requesting computer access to the digital content item;

(c) wherein the borrowed status for the digital content item comprises a limit calculated from data defining the number of copies of the digital content item that can be borrowed concurrently and the number of copies of the digital content that are borrowed by computers of users of the plurality other than the first user at the time of the request.

13. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 12 wherein the set of computer instructions, when executed on the computer, causes the computer, in connection with part (b)(i)(B), to make the digital content item available to the requesting computer by causing a read-only copy of the digital content item to be delivered to the requesting computer.

14. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 13 wherein the set of computer instructions, when executed on the computer, causes the computer, in connection with part (b)(i)(B), to encrypt the copy of the digital content item.

15. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 12 wherein the list of authorized borrowers

is present in the index entry associated with the digital content item.

16. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 12 wherein the first user'"'"'s associated CUID is based on an email address associated with the first user.

17. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 12 wherein the computer is a web-enabled cellular phone.

18. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 13 wherein, further, the set of computer instructions, when executed on the computer, causes the computer, in response to receiving information indicating that the digital content item'"'"'s owner has removed the first user'"'"'s GUID from the list of authorized borrowers, to prevent the digital content item from being made available to the requesting computer.

19. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 14 wherein the encryption applied to the copy of the digital content item also prevents the requesting computer from saving the copy of the digital content item.

20. A computer for sharing digital content items, the computer having access to a data store containing the digital content items, the computer programmed to, automatically:

(a) in response to receiving, from a requesting computer associated with a first user of a plurality of users, a request to borrow a digital content item not owned by the first user and containing content for which a copyright is not owned by the first user, access an index entry associated with the digital content item to determine the item'"'"'s borrowed status; and

(b) access a list of users of the plurality who are authorized borrowers, and;

(i) if both the borrowed status for the digital content item indicates the item is available for borrowing and a global unique identifier (GUID) associated with the first user is present in the list of authorized borrowers, (A) grant the requesting computer read-only access to the digital content item, (B) make available a copy of the digital content item that has been formatted so that only a computer associated with the GUID of the first user can render the digital content item, and (C) update the index entry to change the borrowed status to denote the digital content item is borrowed; and

(ii) otherwise deny the requesting computer access to the digital content item;

(c) wherein the borrowed status for the digital content item comprises a limit calculated from data defining the number of copies of the digital content item that can be borrowed concurrently and the number of copies of the digital content that are borrowed by computers of users of the plurality other than the first user at the time of the request.

21. The computer of claim 20 wherein the computer includes the data store.

22. The computer of claim 20 wherein the computer is programmed, in connection with part (b)(i)(B), to make the digital content item available to the requesting computer by causing a read-only copy of the digital content item to be delivered to the requesting computer.

23. The computer of claim 22 wherein the computer is programmed, in connection with part (b)(i)(B), to encrypt the copy of the digital content item.

24. The computer of claim 20 wherein the list of authorized borrowers

is present in the index entry associated with the digital content item.

25. The computer of claim 20 wherein the first user'"'"'s associated GUID is based on an email address associated with the first user.

26. The computer of claim 20 wherein the computer is a web-enabled cellular phone.

27. The computer of claim 22 wherein the computer is further programmed, in response to receiving information indicating that the digital content item'"'"'s owner has removed the first user'"'"'s GUID from the list of authorized borrowers, to prevent the digital content item from being made available to the requesting computer.

28. The computer of claim 23 wherein the encryption applied to the copy of the digital content item also prevents the requesting computer from saving the copy of the digital content item.

29. A system for sharing stored digital content associated with respective computer users, the system comprising:

(a) a plurality of computers, each computer associated with one of a plurality of users, each of which users being associated with one of a plurality of data stores;

(b) an index, comprising a plurality of entries, wherein each entry is associated with one of the plurality of digital content items and comprises (i) an identifier designating the digital content item, and (ii) a borrowed status for the digital content item; and

(c) a plurality of controllers, each controller associated with one of the data stores and programmed, in response to receiving, from one of the computers associated with one of the users other than the user associated with the data store, a request to borrow one of the digital content items not owned by the requesting computer'"'"'s associated user and containing content for which a copyright is not owned by the requesting computer'"'"'s associated user, automatically;

(i) to access an index entry associated with the digital content item to determine the item'"'"'s borrowed status; and

(ii) to access a list of users of the plurality who are authorized borrowers, and;

(A) if both the borrowed status for the requested digital content item indicates the item is available for borrowing and a global unique identifier (GUID) of the requesting computer'"'"'s associated user is present in the list of authorized borrowers, (1) to grant the requesting computer read-only access to the digital content item, (2) to make available a copy of the digital content item that has been formatted so that only a computer associated with the GUID of the first user can render the digital content item, and (3) to update the index entry to change the borrowed status to denote the digital content item is borrowed; and

(B) otherwise to deny the requesting computer access to the requested digital content item;

(d) wherein the borrowed status for the digital content item comprises a limit calculated from data defining the number of copies of the digital content item that can be borrowed concurrently and the number of copies of the digital content that are borrowed by computers associated with users of the plurality other than the requesting computer'"'"'s associated user at the time of the request.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein each computer includes the controller that is associated with the data store associated with the computer'"'"'s associated user.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein each computer includes the data store associated with the computer'"'"'s associated user.

32. The system of claim 29 wherein the digital content item is a digital book, and the computer causes the digital content item to be made available to the user by causing text from the digital book to be displayed on a display coupled to the computer.

33. The system of claim 29 wherein the digital content item is an image file, and the computer causes the digital content item to be made available to the user by causing an image from the image to be displayed on a display coupled to the computer.

34. The system of claim 29 wherein the digital content item is a video file, and the computer causes the digital content item to be made available to the user by causing playback of the video file on a display coupled to the computer.

35. The system of claim 29 wherein the digital content item is an audio file, and the computer causes the digital content item to be made available to the user by causing playback of the audio file.

36. The system of claim 29 wherein each computer is further programmed to prevent saving of the digital content item by the computer.

37. The system of claim 29 wherein each index entry further comprises a time period for which the digital content item can be borrowed, and wherein each computer is further programmed, in response to detecting the expiration of the time period for which the digital content item can be borrowed, to prevent the digital content item from being made available to the computer'"'"'s associated user.

38. The system of claim 29 wherein each computer is further programmed, in response to receiving information indicating that the data store'"'"'s associated user has removed the GUID associated with the requesting computer'"'"'s associated user from the list of authorized borrowers, to prevent the digital content item from being made available to the requesting computer'"'"'s associated user.

39. The system of claim 29 wherein each controller is further programmed, in connection with part (c)(ii)(A)(2), to cause the digital content item to be streamed to the requesting computer.

40. The system of claim 29 wherein each controller is further programmed, in connection with part (c)(ii)(A)(2), to encrypt the digital content item.

41. The system of claim 29 wherein the list of authorized borrowers

is present in the index entry associated with the requested digital content item.

42. The system of claim 29 wherein the GUID of the requesting computer'"'"'s associated user is based on an email address associated with the requesting computer'"'"'s associated user.

43. The system of claim 29 wherein at least one of the plurality of computers is a web-enabled cellular phone.