Systems and methods for distributing and viewing electronic documents

• US 20080082903A1
• Filed: 09/18/2007
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zinio LLC (Naviga Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Zinio Systems, Inc. (Naviga Inc.)
• Inventors: Maggiotto, Richard, Kelleher, John, Pai, Samuel, McCurdy, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 8,561,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• 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: G06F 2221/2135 Metering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• 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 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/166 at the transport layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32771 in response to a request, e.g. for a particular document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32776 using an interactive, user-operated device, e.g. a computer terminal, mobile telephone H04N1/32782, H04N1/32784 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3246 of data relating to permitted access or usage, e.g. level of access or usage parameters for digital rights management [DRM] related to still images

Abstract

The invention relates to systems and methods for distributing and viewing electronic documents. In one embodiment, the invention provides a system for distributing electronic versions of printed documents comprising a memory device and a distribution system. The memory device is in operable communication with a content provider and stores at least one electronic document file that is based at least in part on a source electronic document provided by the content provider, wherein the source electronic document is an electronic version of a printed document. The distribution system is in operable communication with the memory device and is programmed for responding to requests from a client for delivery of an electronic document file, retrieving a copy of the requested electronic document file from the memory device, assigning at least one right to the copy of the electronic document file, the right defining the scope of at least one action capable of being be performed on at least a portion of the copy of the electronic document file, encrypting the copy of the electronic document file with a key based at least in part on the identity of the client and on the at least one right, and providing the copy of the electronic document file, with the associated key, to the client.

Claims

1-49. -49. (canceled)

50. A system for distributing an electronic document comprising:

a memory configured to store the electronic document; and

a distribution system in operable communication with the memory, the distribution system configured to;

retrieve a copy of the electronic document from the memory;

associate with the copy of the electronic document one or more rights, wherein each of said rights defines an action capable of being performed on at least a portion of the copy of the electronic document; and

provide the copy of the electronic document in a form that allows a first client to exercise the one or more rights associated with the copy of the electronic document,

wherein one of the rights associated with the copy of the electronic document includes the ability of the first client to share with a second client at least a portion of a body of content comprising the electronic document in a form that enables the second client to access the shared content based on rights derived from the first client through an act of said sharing even if the second client is not otherwise entitled to access the shared content.

51. The system of claim 50 wherein one of the one or more rights defines the scope of the action capable of being performed.

52. The system of claim 50 wherein one of the one or more rights defines who is able to perform the action capable of being performed.

53. The system of claim 50 wherein one of the one or more rights defines at least one of:

annotating, copying, printing, forwarding, editing, highlighting, tabbing, and storing the copy of the electronic document.

54. The system of claim 50 wherein the electronic document comprises content present in a printed document and at least one additional content not present in the printed document.

55. The system of claim 54 wherein the additional content comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of audio information, video information, graphic information, and links to locations on a computer network.

56. The system of claim 50 wherein the distribution system is further configured to receive payment information associated with the first client.

57. The system of claim 50 wherein the distribution system is further configured to receive information associated with the usage by the first client of the provided copy.

58. The system of claim 50 wherein the distribution system is further configured to receive information associated with the usage by the second client of the shared content.

59. A method for distributing an electronic document comprising:

associating with a copy of the electronic document one or more rights, wherein each of said rights defines an action capable of being performed on at least a portion of the copy of the electronic document; and

providing the copy of the electronic document in a form that allows a first client to exercise the one or more rights associated with the copy of the electronic document,

wherein one of the rights associated with the copy of the electronic document includes the ability of the first client to share with a second client at least a portion of a body of content comprising the electronic document in a form that enables the second client to access the shared content based on rights derived from the first client through an act of said sharing even if the second client is not otherwise entitled to access the shared content.

60. The method of claim 59 wherein one of the one or more rights defines the scope of the action capable of being performed.

61. The method of claim 59 wherein one of the one or more rights defines who is able to perform the action capable of being performed.

62. The method of claim 59 wherein one of the one or more rights defines at least one of:

annotating, copying, printing, forwarding, editing, highlighting, tabbing, and storing the copy of the electronic document.

63. The method of claim 59 wherein the electronic document comprises content present in a printed document and at least one additional content not present in the printed document.

64. The method of claim 59 further comprising receiving payment information associated with the first client.

65. The method of claim 59 further comprising receiving information associated with the usage by the first client of the provided copy.

66. The method of claim 59 further comprising receiving information associated with the usage by the second client of the shared content.

67. A computer program product for distributing an electronic document, the computer program product being embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising computer instructions for:

associating with a copy of the electronic document one or more rights, wherein each of said rights defines an action capable of being performed on at least a portion of the copy of the electronic document; and

providing the copy of the electronic document in a form that allows a first client to exercise the one or more rights associated with the copy of the electronic document,

wherein one of the rights associated with the copy of the electronic document includes the ability of the first client to share with a second client at least a portion of a body of content comprising the electronic document in a form that enables the second client to access the shared content based on rights derived from the first client through an act of said sharing even if the second client is not otherwise entitled to access the shared content.

68. The computer program product of claim 67 further comprising computer instructions for receiving information associated with the usage by the first client of the provided copy.

69. The computer program product of claim 67 further comprising computer instructions for receiving information associated with the usage by the second client of the shared content.