Patent US6512919B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5646992A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5646992A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Assembly, distribution, and use of digital information
Assignee: Microsemi Frequency and Time Corp
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Filing: 1993-09-23
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Granted: 1997-07-08
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Expires: 2013-09-23
Abstract
Abstract Hierarchically organized graphical representations of items and groups of the items of digital information which are available to be ordered by a user are displayed. The user interactively explores the representations and selects items or groups to be ordered, using a pointer. While the graphical representations are being displayed, a list of items or groups which have been selected for inclusion in an order is also displayed. Software is executed which automatically determines the configuration of the computer, and matches the configuration with the stored configuration information prior to the user placing an order. A user may automatically be given access to items in a later revision of the medium if the user had access to the items in an earlier revision.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald J. Subler
- 👤 Thomas Mark Hastings
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 18:25
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/10; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/08; G06Q10/087; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/06; G06Q30/0601; G06Q30/0641; G06Q30/0643; G06F2221/00; G06F2221/21; G06F2221/2107; G11; G11B; G11B20/00; G11B20/00086
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for controlling access to a subset of items arbitrarily selected from among a larger set of items of digital information, comprising encrypting said items belonging to said set using encryption keys, each of said items belonging to said set being encrypted using a corresponding one of said encryption keys, said corresponding one of said encryption keys being unique among said encryption keys used for encrypting said items belonging to said set, and providing a decryption key which permits decryption of said items belonging to said arbitrarily selected subset of items.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for controlling access to a subset of items arbitrarily selected from among a larger set of items of digital information, comprising encrypting said items belonging to said set using encryption keys, each of said items belonging to said set being encrypted using a corresponding one of said encryption keys, said corresponding one of said encryption keys being unique among said encryption keys used for encrypting said items belonging to said set, and providing a decryption key which permits decryption of said items belonging to said arbitrarily selected subset of items.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said encryption keys are associated with corresponding decryption keys, and said method further comprises encrypting said decryption keys using a single global encryption key, said global decryption key being said decryption key which is independent of the composition of said arbitrarily selected subset.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a request for access to said items belonging to said subset, incorporating in said request a request encryption key based on information unique to said request, said request encryption key being associated with a corresponding request decryption key, encrypting said global decryption key in accordance with said request encryption key, and decrypting said global decryption key in accordance with said request decryption key.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said request for access to said items comprises an order placed by a computer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said information unique to said request comprises information associated with said computer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said information unique to said request is based on randomized data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said information unique to said request is based on a serial number of a medium on which said digital information is stored.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said encryption keys are associated with corresponding decryption keys, and said method further comprising recording said larger set of items on a high-capacity random access storage medium, and recording said decryption keys on said medium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 8 further comprising encrypting said decryption keys prior to recording on said medium.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
189 words
A method for controlling access to a subset of items arbitrarily selected from among a larger set of items of digital information, comprising recording said larger set of items on a high-capacity storage medium, and encrypting said items belonging to said set using encryption keys, each of said items belonging to said set being encrypted using an encryption key which is unique among said items belonging to said set, said encryption keys being associated with corresponding decryption keys, and encrypting said decryption keys using a single global encryption key, said global encryption key being associated with a corresponding global decryption key, said global decryption key permitting decryption of said items belonging to said arbitrarily selected subset of items, recording said decryption keys on said medium, generating a request for access to said items belonging to said subset, incorporating in said request a request encryption key based on information unique to said request, said request encryption key being associated with a corresponding request decryption key, encrypting said global decryption key in accordance with said request encryption key, and decrypting said global decryption key in accordance with said request decryption key.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
189 words
A method for controlling access to a subset of items arbitrarily selected from among a larger set of items of digital information, comprising recording said larger set of items on a high-capacity storage medium, and encrypting said items belonging to said set using encryption keys, each of said items belonging to said set being encrypted using an encryption key which is unique among said items belonging to said set, said encryption keys being associated with corresponding decryption keys, and encrypting said decryption keys using a single global encryption key, said global encryption key being associated with a corresponding global decryption key, said global decryption key permitting decryption of said items belonging to said arbitrarily selected subset of items, recording said decryption keys on said medium, generating a request for access to said items belonging to said subset, incorporating in said request a request encryption key based on information unique to said request, said request encryption key being associated with a corresponding request decryption key, encrypting said global decryption key in accordance with said request encryption key, and decrypting said global decryption key in accordance with said request decryption key.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
83 words
Apparatus for controlling access to a subset of items arbitrarily selected from among a larger set of items of digital information, comprising an encryption mechanism for encrypting said items belonging to said set using encryption keys, each of said items belonging to said set being encrypted using an encryption key which is unique among said items belonging to said set, and a decryption key provider for providing a decryption key permitting decryption of said items belonging to said arbitrarily selected subset of items.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
83 words
Apparatus for controlling access to a subset of items arbitrarily selected from among a larger set of items of digital information, comprising an encryption mechanism for encrypting said items belonging to said set using encryption keys, each of said items belonging to said set being encrypted using an encryption key which is unique among said items belonging to said set, and a decryption key provider for providing a decryption key permitting decryption of said items belonging to said arbitrarily selected subset of items.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
61 words
A method for restricting use of decryption keys which are provided to a user for the purpose of allowing decryption of information stored on a high-capacity storage medium, comprising, encrypting the respective decryption keys using respectively different encryption keys, providing the decryption keys to the user, and enabling the user to decrypt the respective decryption keys using the respective encryption keys.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
61 words
A method for restricting use of decryption keys which are provided to a user for the purpose of allowing decryption of information stored on a high-capacity storage medium, comprising, encrypting the respective decryption keys using respectively different encryption keys, providing the decryption keys to the user, and enabling the user to decrypt the respective decryption keys using the respective encryption keys.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said encryption keys are generated based on information unique to a computer on which sid information is to be used.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said encryption keys are generated based on randomized information.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said information unique to said computer comprises a network address.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said information unique to said computer comprises a computer serial number.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said information unique to said computer comprises a disk serial number.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said information which is unique to a single computer is delivered, from said computer to a location where said encrypting is done, as part of a request for access to said encrypted information.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for enabling a publisher to control access to digital information items distributed to users in the form of successive revisions of a high-capacity random access storage medium, comprising encrypting said digital information items as distributed on said high-capacity random access storage medium, giving a user access to selected ones of said items by providing decryption information for decrypting said selected items, storing information indicative of items to which users had been given access in earlier revisions of said medium, and enabling a user automatically to have access to items in a later revision of said medium if said user had access to said items in an earlier revision.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for enabling a publisher to control access to digital information items distributed to users in the form of successive revisions of a high-capacity random access storage medium, comprising encrypting said digital information items as distributed on said high-capacity random access storage medium, giving a user access to selected ones of said items by providing decryption information for decrypting said selected items, storing information indicative of items to which users had been given access in earlier revisions of said medium, and enabling a user automatically to have access to items in a later revision of said medium if said user had access to said items in an earlier revision.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
67 words
A method for controlling access to items of digital information stored on a high capacity storage medium, comprising encrypting one group of said items by a mechanism which enables decryption based on a single decryption key not recorded on said medium, and encrypting another group of said items by a mechanism which requires different decryption keys, not recorded on said medium, for each of said other items.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
67 words
A method for controlling access to items of digital information stored on a high capacity storage medium, comprising encrypting one group of said items by a mechanism which enables decryption based on a single decryption key not recorded on said medium, and encrypting another group of said items by a mechanism which requires different decryption keys, not recorded on said medium, for each of said other items.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising storing information on said medium which indicates which of said items belong to which of said groups.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-07-07 | 2001-01-06 | 2001-07-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-07-07 | 2005-01-06 | 2005-07-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-07-07 | 2009-01-06 | 2009-07-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |