Method for providing individually customized content in a network

• US 6,112,192 A
• Filed: 05/09/1997
• Issued: 08/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Capek, Peter George
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nga B.
• Application Number:
  US08/854,227
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/14, 705/27, 705/59, 705/51, 395/700, 395/200, 348/10, 707/104, 707/540, 707/911, 707/513, 707/505, 707/500, 707/530, 709/200, 709/206
• US Class Current: 705/59
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/986 Document structures and storage, e.g. HTML extensions
• 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 2211/007 Encryption, En-/decode, En-/decipher, En-/decypher, Scramble, (De-)compress
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement

Abstract

A method of customizing and modifying program material to tailor it to a receiving end user or client. When program material is to be generated for future customization or modification, an encrypted license tag is associated with the program material. When examining putatively modifiable program material for possible modification, a license tag is decrypted. If clear text results then the putatively modifiable program material is established to be modifiable or customizable. Then the program material is modified or customized to suit the profile of a client or end user who is to receive this customized program material. With the encrypted license tag, the owner of the program material can control the modifications made to his or her program material.

Claims

1. A method of modifying program material to customize said program material for use by an end user, said method comprising:

a. when generating modifiable program material for future customization;

1) encrypting a license tag; and

2) associating said encrypted license tag with said program material;

b. when examining putatively modifiable program material for possible customization;

1) decrypting an associated encrypted license tag which is associated with said putatively modifiable program material; and

2) modifying said putatively modifiable program material only if a clear text license tag is obtained from decrypting latter said associated encrypted license tag, wherein said putative program material is customized for use by said end user.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said license tag indicates which portions of said program material can be modified.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said licensed tag indicates the nature of modifications that can be made to said program material.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said license tag indicates which portions of said program material can be modified and what modifications can be made to said program material.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said license tag is associated with said program material by inserting said encrypted license tag in said program material.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

recording each modification made to said program material.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said putatively modifiable program is modified in accordance with profile information associated with said user terminal and in accordance with permissible modifications indicated by said clear text license tag.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said putatively modifiable program is modified in accordance with profile information associated with said user and in accordance with permissible modifications indicated by said clear text license tag.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said program material is a web page.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said program material is a digital television transmission.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said program material is an analog television transmission.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said program material is an audio transmission.

15. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said communcations network is a cable TV network.

13. In a communications network having a source node of program material, an access provider node and at least one end user terminal connected to said network, a method of customizing said program material for use by said end user terminal, said method comprising:

a. when generating modifiable program material for future customization;

1) encrypting a license tag by said source, said license tag indicating locations of said program material that can be modified by said access provider and what allowed modifications can be made by said access provider;

2) inserting said encrypted license tag into said program material;

b. when examining putatively modifiable material for customization;

1) examining said program material to locate said encrypted license tag;

2) decrypting said encrypted license tag to determine if a clear text license tag is obtained; and

3) modifying said program material at said locations in accordance with said allowed modifications only if said clear text license tag is obtained, wherein said customized program material is obtained.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein said communications network is an Internet network.

16. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein said communications network is a analog cable TV network.

17. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein said communications network is a digital communications network.

18. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein said communications network is a multimedia Internet network.

19. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein said access provider is a gateway.

20. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein said access provider is a firewall.