System and method for selectively changing parameter settings based on lineage analysis of digital information

• US 7,555,463 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2006
• Issued: 06/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SL Patent Holdings LLC (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SL Patent Holdings LLC (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schull, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca; Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US11/559,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20070106615A1
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 705/51
• US Class Current: 705/51
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 13/02 Viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2213/025 Sightline detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/109 by using specially-adapted hardware at the client
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/16 Program or content traceability, e.g. by watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/007 Encryption, En-/decode, En-/decipher, En-/decypher, Scramble, (De-)compress
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2117 User registration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

Software lineages arise through purchase and reproduction. Lineages are tracked by storing lineage-relevant information in variable regions of software instances and/or in a central database according to methods disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of selectively changing a parameter setting based on lineage analysis of digital information, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a client to access the digital information, the digital information including the parameter setting;

receiving a lineage of the digital information, the lineage including at least one of a copy history of the digital information, a purchase history of the digital information, or a usage history of the digital information;

analyzing the lineage; and

sending data to the client to affect one of;

changing the parameter setting of the digital information,

replacing a portion of the digital information to change the parameter setting of the digital information, or

replacing the digital information with another instance of the digital information to change the parameter setting of the digital information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital information is a software program, and wherein the parameter setting specifies a period of time for operating the software program in a demo mode.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising analyzing a purchase history of the digital information to identify a parameter setting that correlates with a tendency to promote a purchase of the digital information.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising changing the parameter setting to affect the utility of the digital information.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein changing the parameter setting comprises determining an optimal value for a feature of the digital information.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising:

generating a second digital information in response to the lineage analysis;

wherein the parameter setting of the digital information is not fixed and controls a feature of the digital information; and

wherein the second digital information is related to the digital information and includes a second parameter setting, the second parameter setting in the second digital information being fixed, and controlling a feature of the second digital information, wherein the feature of the second digital information and the feature of the digital information are the same.

7. A device for selectively changing a parameter setting based on lineage analysis of digital information, the device comprising:

a first receiver that receives a request from a client to access the digital information, wherein the digital information includes the parameter setting;

a second receiver that receives a lineage of the digital information, wherein the lineage includes at least one of a copy history of the digital information, a purchase history of the digital information, or a usage history of the digital information;

an analyzer that analyzes the lineage; and

a processor that sends to the client parameter data selected from the group consisting of a first parameter data, a second parameter data, and a third parameter data,

wherein the first parameter data changes the parameter setting of the digital information, and

wherein the second parameter data replaces a portion of the digital information to change the parameter setting of the digital information, and wherein the third parameter data replaces the digital information with another instance of the digital information to change the parameter setting of the digital information.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the parameter setting controls a period of time for operating the digital information in a demo mode.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the parameter setting enables access to a feature of the digital information, wherein the feature is identified from the purchase history as having a tendency to promote a purchase of the digital information.

10. The device of claim 7, comprising a second processor that changes a parameter setting for the digital information to promote copying, purchasing, or utilizing of the digital information.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the second processor is adapted to change the parameter setting by determining an optimal value for a feature of the digital information.