US5699427A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method to deter document and intellectual property piracy through individualization
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1995-06-23
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Granted: 1997-12-16
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Expires: 2015-06-23
Abstract
Abstract A system for identifying the authorized receiver of any particular copy of a document. More specifically, each particular copy of a document is fingerprinted by applying a set of variations to a document, where each variation is a change in data contents, but does not change the meaning or perusal experience of the document. A database associating a set of variants to a receiver is maintained. Thus any variant or copy of that variant can be traced to an authorized receiver.
Inventors
- 👤 Chee-Seng Chow
- 👤 Shay Kutten
- 👤 Marcell Mordechay Yung
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 10:12
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B23/00; G11B23/28; G11B23/283; G11B20/00; G11B20/00086; G11B20/00094; G11B20/00123; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/32; H04N1/32101; H04N1/32144; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/32; H04N2201/3201; H04N2201/3204; H04N2201/3205; H04N2201/3225; H04N2201/3233; H04N2201/3269; H04N2201/327; H04N2201/3274; H04N2201/3278
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A copy protection system for detecting unauthorized copying or distribution of a document, said system comprising: a. means for generating a plurality of variants of said document, each variant of said document being generated by applying a particular set of variations to said document, where each variation is a change in the contents of said document but is not a modification in the meaning or perusal experience of said document; b. a means for maintaining a database associating each of said variants of said document with a receiver; and c. a means for identifying a receiver of any one variant of said document using said database, wherein unauthorized copying or distribution of said document can be traced to said receiver according to which variant of said document was copied or distributed without authorization.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A copy protection system for detecting unauthorized copying or distribution of a document, said system comprising: a. means for generating a plurality of variants of said document, each variant of said document being generated by applying a particular set of variations to said document, where each variation is a change in the contents of said document but is not a modification in the meaning or perusal experience of said document; b. a means for maintaining a database associating each of said variants of said document with a receiver; and c. a means for identifying a receiver of any one variant of said document using said database, wherein unauthorized copying or distribution of said document can be traced to said receiver according to which variant of said document was copied or distributed without authorization.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
90 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein if said document is a textual document, then each said variation in content is a change to at least one symbol, and wherein if said document is an image or a video stream, then each said content variation is a change in visual qualities of at least one object, and wherein if said document is an audio stream, then each said content variation is a change in at least one total quality of at least one audio element in an audio stream.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as recited in claim 1, wherein one of said variations is the use of a pronoun in place of its antecedent in said document.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as recited in claim 1, wherein one of said variations is a synonym for a word used in said document.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as recited in claim 1, wherein one of said variations is an equivalent alternative spelling for a word in said document.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as recited in claim 1, wherein one of said variations is an alternative punctuation choice for punctuation in said document.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as recited in claim 1, wherein one of said variations is the reordering of some parts of said document.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as recited in claim 1, wherein one of said variations is the location of a figure in a page in said document.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system as recited in claim 1, wherein one of said variations is the use of different symbols to label figures, footnotes, sections, references, citations, equations, and other parts in said document.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as recited in claim 1, wherein one of said variations is the use different equivalent representations of mathematical objects in said document.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said document contains a computer-generated picture or video stream, one of said variations is the use of different colors for certain objects in said picture or video stream.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said document contains a computer-generated picture or video stream, one of said variations is the absence or presence of certain inconspicuous objects in said picture or video stream.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said document contains a computer-generated picture or video stream, one of said variations is the location of certain objects in said picture or video stream.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said document contains a computer-generated picture or video stream, one of said variations is the size of certain objects in said picture or video stream.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said document contains a computer-generated picture or video stream, one of said variations is the size of certain objects in said picture or video stream.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said document contains a digital audio or musical track, one of said variations is the absence of presence of certain notes or segments in said track.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said document contains a digital audio or musical track, one of said variations is the variation in loudness of certain instruments or sound sources in said track.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said document contains a digital audio or musical track, one of said variations is the variation in speed of certain segments in said track.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
A copy protection system arising in claim 1, further comprising: a. means for providing cryptographic authentication for detection of modifications to an original document (variant).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
106 words
A copy protection system for detecting unauthorized copying or distribution of a document, said system comprising: a. means for associating a receiver of said document with information associated with said receiver; and b. hashing said information to a sequence of tagging vits; and c. preparing variants of said document in accordance with said sequence, wherein unauthorized copying or distribution of said document can be traced to said receiver according to which of said variants of said document was copied or distributed without authorization, wherein each of said variants is a variation of said document, where each variation is a change in the content of said document.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
106 words
A copy protection system for detecting unauthorized copying or distribution of a document, said system comprising: a. means for associating a receiver of said document with information associated with said receiver; and b. hashing said information to a sequence of tagging vits; and c. preparing variants of said document in accordance with said sequence, wherein unauthorized copying or distribution of said document can be traced to said receiver according to which of said variants of said document was copied or distributed without authorization, wherein each of said variants is a variation of said document, where each variation is a change in the content of said document.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus arising in claim 20, wherein said sequence of tagging vits is augmented with some chosen vits which bind said sequence of tagging vits via a cryptographic operation for detecting alteration of said document.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
124 words
A copy protection system comprising: a. means for associating a document receiver using information associated with said receiver; b. hashing said information to a sequence of tagging vits; c. preparing variants of said document in accordance with said sequence, wherein unauthorized copying or distribution of said document can be traced to said receiver according to which of said variants of said document was copied or distributed without authorization, wherein each of said variants is a variation of said document, where each variation is a change in the content of said document; and d. means for providing cryptographic authentication of variants to said sequence of tagging vits via cryptographic authentication of said sequence of chosen vits to detect modifications of said variants of said document.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
124 words
A copy protection system comprising: a. means for associating a document receiver using information associated with said receiver; b. hashing said information to a sequence of tagging vits; c. preparing variants of said document in accordance with said sequence, wherein unauthorized copying or distribution of said document can be traced to said receiver according to which of said variants of said document was copied or distributed without authorization, wherein each of said variants is a variation of said document, where each variation is a change in the content of said document; and d. means for providing cryptographic authentication of variants to said sequence of tagging vits via cryptographic authentication of said sequence of chosen vits to detect modifications of said variants of said document.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-12-15 | 2001-06-16 | 2001-12-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-12-15 | 2005-06-16 | 2005-12-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-12-15 | 2009-06-16 | 2009-12-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |