Method and apparatus for controlled messages

• US 10,853,898 B1
• Filed: 12/11/2016
• Issued: 12/01/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark Lawrence
• Original Assignee: Mark Lawrence
• Inventors: Lawrence, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Huang, Jay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mercado, Gabriel
• Application Number:
  US15/375,087
• Time in Patent Office: 1,451 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3829 involving key management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2220/00 Business processing using cryptography postage metering system using cryptography G06Q2250/05
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/184 Intellectual property management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/103 applying security measure for protecting copy right protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment, e.g. protection the software providers copyright G06F21/10; data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; secrecy systems or subscription systems H04N7/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0435 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply symmetric encryption, i.e. same key used for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for symmetric key encryption H04L9/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0825 using asymmetric-key encryption or public key infrastructure [PKI], e.g. key signature or public key certificates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/14 using a plurality of keys or algorithms

Abstract

The present invention is a method and apparatus for a first user to create intellectual property, in the form of digital media, then sell it to a second user. Users can collaborate to create intellectual property in an efficient manner by following a preferred procedure. The intellectual property can be distributed in an encrypted form which allows the intellectual property owner to specify the conditions of use that must be met for a specified intellectual property user to use the intellectual property. The user can authenticate the intellectual property in a distributed secure platform before final payment. The intellectual property owner can tag each copy of the intellectual property to trace the source of unauthorized copies.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method to manage a transfer of a digital medium from a first user to a second user using a secure communication protocol, comprising:

receiving, from said first user, said digital medium;

receiving, from said first user, a plurality of meta data including a plurality of terms and conditions to use said digital medium;

receiving, from said first user, an offer of sale for said digital medium;

receiving, from said second user, a payment pre-authorization in response to said offer of sale;

encrypting said digital medium, a secure authorization and an authorization identifier in response to said payment pre-authorization;

transferring, to said second user, said encrypted version of said digital medium and said encrypted version of said authorization identifier;

decrypting, for said second user, said authorization identifier;

decomposing said encrypted version of said secure authorization into a block of linked subcomponents;

selecting a first computer randomly, from a plurality of member computers, for each of a first block of member computers and a second block of member computers;

writing a first subcomponent and a second subcomponent, from said block of linked subcomponents, to said first computer and a second computer, respectively, in said first block of member computers, to create a first copy of said block of linked subcomponents, wherein said first computer in said first block of member computers selects said second computer in said first block of member computers randomly from said plurality of member computers;

writing, periodically, said first subcomponent and said second subcomponent, from said block of linked subcomponents, to said first computer and a second computer, respectively, in said second block of member computers, to create a newest copy of said block of linked subcomponents, wherein said first computer in said second block of member computers selects said second computer in said second block of member computers randomly from said plurality of member computers;

deleting an oldest copy of said block of linked subcomponents after said creation of said newest copy of said block of linked subcomponents;

reconstructing said encrypted version of said secure authorization from said newest copy of said block of linked subcomponents based on using said authorization identifier to request and retrieve said secure authorization;

decrypting, for said second user, said encrypted version of said secure authorization;

receiving from said second user, a payment for said digital medium based on said secure authorization and said payment pre-authorization;

decrypting, for said second user, said digital medium based on a decryption key received by the second user after said payment; and

transmitting a non-confidential notification to a public email address of said second user, based on an event, including said payment from said second user, wherein a secure notification message associated with said event is transmitted, via a virtual private network, to a secure email address of said second user,

whereby said encrypted version of said secure authorization moves dynamically and randomly among said plurality of member computers based on said creation of said newest copy of said block of linked subcomponents and said deletion of said oldest copy of said block of linked subcomponents.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said digital medium includes at least one of audio, video, music, information and data.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said offer of sale for said digital medium is comprised of a plurality of public data that includes at least one of an overview of said digital medium, a sample of said digital medium, said plurality of terms and conditions to use said digital medium and a plurality of sales information about said digital medium including a price.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

said plurality of meta data includes a unique tag that associates said second user with said digital medium that is transferred to said second user.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of terms and conditions to use said digital medium includes at least one of no conditions, an identity of said second user, a time of day of use for said digital medium by said second user, a maximum number of uses by said second user, a location of use by said second user and an identifier for a device on which said second user can use said digital medium.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

encrypting said digital medium, further comprises encrypting said digital medium based on at least one of said second user'"'"'s public cryptographic encryption key and a symmetric cryptographic encryption key;

decrypting said digital medium, further comprises decrypting said encrypted version of said digital medium based on at least one of said second user'"'"'s private cryptographic encryption key and said symmetric cryptographic encryption key;

encrypting said secure authorization, further comprises encrypting said secure authorization based on at least one of said second user'"'"'s public cryptographic encryption key and said symmetric cryptographic encryption key; and

decrypting said secure authorization, further comprises decrypting said encrypted version of said secure authorization based on at least one of said second user'"'"'s private cryptographic encryption key and said symmetric cryptographic encryption key, wherein said second user'"'"'s private cryptographic encryption key matches said second user'"'"'s public cryptographic encryption key.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein said block of linked subcomponents includes at least 3 subcomponents, wherein at least two copies of said encrypted version of said secure authorization moves dynamically and randomly among said plurality of member computers.

6. A system, comprised of multiple computers, for a first user to transfer a digital medium to a second user using a secure communication protocol, comprising:

at least one memory, on each of said multiple computers, configured to store computer program code instructions; and

at least one processor, on each of said multiple computers, configured to execute said computer program code instructions to;

receive, from said first user, said digital medium;

receive, from said first user, a plurality of meta data including a plurality of terms and conditions to use said digital medium;

receive, from said first user, an offer of sale for said digital medium;

receive, from said second user, a payment pre-authorization in response to said offer of sale;

encrypt said digital medium, a secure authorization and an authorization identifier in response to said payment pre-authorization;

transfer, to said second user, said encrypted version of said digital medium and said encrypted version of said authorization identifier;

decrypt, for said second user, said authorization identifier;

decompose said encrypted version of said secure authorization into a block of linked subcomponents;

select a first computer randomly, from a plurality of member computers, for each of a first block of member computers and a second block of member computers, wherein the multiple computers of the system include the plurality of member computers;

write a first subcomponent and a second subcomponent, from said block of linked subcomponents, to said first computer and a second computer, respectively, in said first block of member computers, to create a first copy of said block of linked subcomponents, wherein said first computer in said first block of member computers selects said second computer in said first block of member computers randomly from said plurality of member computers;

write, periodically, said first subcomponent and said second subcomponent, from said block of linked subcomponents, respectively, to said first computer and a second computer, in said second block of member computers, to create a newest copy of said block of linked subcomponents, wherein said first computer in said second block of member computers selects said second computer in said second block of member computers randomly from said plurality of member computers;

delete an oldest copy of said block of linked subcomponents after said creation of said newest copy of said block of linked subcomponents;

reconstruct said encrypted version of said secure authorization from said newest copy of said block of linked subcomponents based on using said authorization identifier to request and retrieve said secure authorization;

decrypt, for said second user, said encrypted version of said secure authorization;

receive from said second user, a payment for said digital medium based on said secure authorization and said payment pre-authorization;

decrypt, for said second user, said digital medium based on said payment; and

transmit a non-confidential notification to a public email address of said second user, based on an event, including said payment from said second user, and further transmit, to a secure email address of said second user, via a virtual private network, a secure notification message associated with said event,

whereby said encrypted version of said secure authorization moves dynamically and randomly among said plurality of member computers based on said creation of said newest copy of said block of linked subcomponents and said deletion of said oldest copy of said block of linked subcomponents.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said digital medium includes at least one of audio, video, music, information and data.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein said offer of sale for said digital medium is comprised of a plurality of public data that includes at least one of an overview of said digital medium, a sample of said digital medium, said plurality of terms and conditions to use said digital medium and a plurality of sales information about said digital medium including a price.

9. The system according to claim 6, wherein:

said plurality of meta data includes a unique tag that associates said second user with said digital medium that is transferred to said second user.

10. The system according to claim 6, wherein said plurality of terms and conditions to use said digital medium includes at least one of no conditions, an identity of said second user, a time of day of use for said digital medium by said second user, a maximum number of uses by said second user, a location of use by said second user and an identifier for a device on which said second user can use said digital medium.

13. The system according to claim 6, wherein said at least one processor is further configured to:

encrypt said digital medium based on at least one of said second user'"'"'s public cryptographic encryption key and a symmetric cryptographic encryption key;

decrypt said digital medium based on at least one of said second user'"'"'s private cryptographic encryption key and said symmetric cryptographic encryption key;

encrypt said secure authorization based on at least one of said second user'"'"'s public cryptographic encryption key and said symmetric cryptographic encryption key; and

decrypt said encrypted version of said secure authorization based on at least one of said second user'"'"'s private cryptographic encryption key and said symmetric cryptographic encryption key, wherein said second user'"'"'s private cryptographic encryption key matches said second user'"'"'s public cryptographic encryption key.

16. The system according to claim 6, wherein said block of linked subcomponents includes at least 3 subcomponents, wherein at least two copies of said encrypted version of said secure authorization moves dynamically and randomly among said plurality of member computers.

11. At least one non-transitory computer storage medium each storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor operatively connected to the at least one non-transitory computer storage medium, cause the at least one processor to perform a computer-implemented method that enables a first user to transfer a digital medium to a second user using a secure communication protocol, said method comprising:

receiving, from said first user, said digital medium;

receiving, from said first user, a plurality of meta data including a plurality of terms and conditions to use said digital medium;

receiving, from said first user, an offer of sale for said digital medium;

receiving, from said second user, a payment pre-authorization in response to the offer of sale;

encrypting said digital medium, a secure authorization and an authorization identifier in response to said payment pre-authorization;

transferring, to said second user, said encrypted version of said digital medium and said encrypted version of said authorization identifier;

decrypting, for said second user, said authorization identifier;

decomposing said encrypted version of said secure authorization into a block of linked subcomponents;

selecting a first computer randomly, from a plurality of member computers, for each of a first block of member computers and a second block of member computers;

writing, a first subcomponent and a second subcomponent, from said block of linked subcomponents, to said first computer and a second computer, respectively, in said first block of member computers, to create a first copy of said block of linked subcomponents, wherein said first computer in said first block of member computers selects said second computer in said first block of member computers randomly from said plurality of member computers;

writing, periodically, said first subcomponent and said second subcomponent, from said block of linked subcomponents, to said first computer and a second computer, respectively, in said second block of member computers, to create a newest copy of said block of linked subcomponents, wherein said first computer in said second block of member computers selects said second computer in said second block of member computers randomly from said plurality of member computers;

deleting an oldest copy of said block of linked subcomponents after said creation of said newest block of linked subcomponents;

reconstructing said encrypted version of said secure authorization from said newest copy of said block of linked subcomponents based on using said authorization identifier to request and retrieve said secure authorization;

decrypting, for said second user, said encrypted version of said secure authorization;

receiving from said second user, a payment for said digital medium based on said secure authorization and said payment pre-authorization;

decrypting, for said second user, said digital medium based on said payment; and

transmitting a non-confidential notification to a public email address of said second user, based on an event, including said payment from said second user, wherein a secure notification message associated with said event is transmitted, via a virtual private network, to a secure email address of said second user,

whereby said encrypted version of said secure authorization moves dynamically and randomly among a plurality of member computers based on said creation of said newest copy of said block of linked subcomponents and said deletion of said oldest copy of said block of linked subcomponents.

14. The at least one non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 11, wherein:

encrypting said digital medium, further comprises encrypting said digital medium based on at least one of said second user'"'"'s public cryptographic encryption key and a symmetric cryptographic encryption key;

decrypting said digital medium, further comprises decrypting said encrypted version of said digital medium based on at least one of said second user'"'"'s private cryptographic encryption key and said symmetric cryptographic encryption key;

encrypting said secure authorization, further comprises encrypting said secure authorization based on at least one of said second user'"'"'s public cryptographic encryption key and said symmetric cryptographic encryption key; and

decrypting said secure authorization, further comprises decrypting said encrypted version of said secure authorization based on at least one of said second user'"'"'s private cryptographic encryption key and said symmetric cryptographic encryption key, wherein said second user'"'"'s private cryptographic encryption key matches said second user'"'"'s public cryptographic encryption key.

17. The at least one non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 11, wherein said block of linked subcomponents includes at least 3 subcomponents, wherein at least two copies of said encrypted version of said secure authorization moves dynamically and randomly among said plurality of member computers.