US6236971B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for controlling the distribution and use of digital works using digital tickets
Assignee: Contentguard Holdings Inc
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Filing: 1997-11-10
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Granted: 2001-05-22
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Expires: 2017-11-10
Abstract
Abstract A system for controlling the distribution and use of digital works using digital tickets. In the present invention, a “digital ticket” is used to entitle the ticket holder to exercise some usage right with respect to a digital work. Usage rights are used to define how a digital work may be used or distributed. Each usage right may specify a digital ticket which must be present before the right may be exercised. Digital works are stored in repositories which enforce a digital works usage rights. Each repository has a “generic ticket agent” which punches tickets. In some instances only the generic ticket agent is necessary. In other instances, punching by a “special ticket agent” residing on another repository may be needed.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark J. Stefik
- 👤 Peter L. T. Pirolli
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 01:17
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/018; G06Q30/0185; A; A61; A61B; A61B34/00; A61B34/30; A61B34/37; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/10; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/10; G06Q10/101; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/08; G06Q20/12; G06Q20/123; G06Q20/1235; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/36; G06Q20/367; G06Q20/3674; G06Q30/02; G06Q30/0283; G06Q30/04; G06Q30/06; G06Q30/0601; G06Q50/00; G06Q50/10; G06Q50/18; G06Q50/184; H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/02; H04L12/14; H04L12/1403; H04L12/1453; H04L12/146; H04L12/1485; H04L12/1496; H04L61/00; H04L61/45; H04L63/00; H04L63/04; H04L63/0428; H04L63/0442; H04L63/0464; H04L63/08; H04L63/0807; H04L63/0823; H04L63/10; H04L63/102; H04L63/104; H04L63/105; H04L63/12; H04L63/123; H04L9/00; H04L9/32; H04L9/321; H04L9/3213; H04L9/3297; H04L9/40; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/20; H04N21/23; H04N21/234; H04N21/23412; H04N21/25; H04N21/254; H04N21/2541; H04N21/2543; H04N21/266; H04N21/26613; H04N21/40; H04N21/45; H04N21/462; H04N21/4627; H04N21/60; H04N21/63; H04N21/633; H04N21/6332; H04N21/637; H04N21/6377; H04N21/80; H04N21/83; H04N21/835; H04N21/8355; H04N21/83555; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; A61B17/00; A61B2017/0046; A61B2034/301; A61B90/00; A61B90/03; A61B2090/031; A61B90/36; A61B90/37; A61B2090/376; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/0105; A61M25/0113; G06F2211/00; G06F2211/007; G06F2221/00; G06F2221/21; G06F2221/2115; G06F2221/2135; H04L2209/00; H04L2209/56; H04L2209/60; H04L2209/603; H04L2463/00; H04L2463/101; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99939; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99944; Y10S707/99945
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
A method for controlling access to digital works in a network of computer based systems comprising the steps of: a) for a digital work requiring controlled access, attaching a plurality of usage rights to said digital work; b) for an associated one of said attached plurality of usage rights, specifying that a digital ticket must be possessed by a requesting repository as a condition for performance of said corresponding usage right to be granted; c) storing said digital work and attached usage rights in a first repository; d) creating and storing said digital ticket in a second repository, said digital ticket itself being an instance of a digital work; e) a third repository obtaining a copy of said digital ticket from said second repository; f) said third repository transmitting a request to access said digital work to said first repository, said request for access specifying said associated one of said plurality of usage rights that specifies said digital ticket; g) said first repository querying said third repository for said digital ticket; h) said third repository confirming possession of said digital ticket to said first repository; and i) said first repository validating said third repository possesses said digital ticket and transmitting said digital work to said third repository.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
207 words
A method for controlling access to digital works in a network of computer based systems comprising the steps of: a) for a digital work requiring controlled access, attaching a plurality of usage rights to said digital work; b) for an associated one of said attached plurality of usage rights, specifying that a digital ticket must be possessed by a requesting repository as a condition for performance of said corresponding usage right to be granted; c) storing said digital work and attached usage rights in a first repository; d) creating and storing said digital ticket in a second repository, said digital ticket itself being an instance of a digital work; e) a third repository obtaining a copy of said digital ticket from said second repository; f) said third repository transmitting a request to access said digital work to said first repository, said request for access specifying said associated one of said plurality of usage rights that specifies said digital ticket; g) said first repository querying said third repository for said digital ticket; h) said third repository confirming possession of said digital ticket to said first repository; and i) said first repository validating said third repository possesses said digital ticket and transmitting said digital work to said third repository.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of: j) said first repository punching said digital ticket to indicate access by said third repository.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as recited as in claim 1 further comprising the step of said third repository copying said digital ticket from said second repository for a fee.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
94 words
The method as recited in claim 3 wherein said digital ticket is comprised of a first timestamp part for storing a time when said digital ticket was copied and a second timestamp part for storing a timestamp when said digital ticket was punched and said step of copying said digital ticket from said second repository for a fee is further comprised of the step of said second repository marking said first timestamp part of said digital ticket with a copy timestamp indicating the time and date the copy of said digital ticket was made.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method as recited in claim 4 further comprising the step of said first repository marking said second timestamp part of said digital ticket with a punch timestamp indicating the time and date the digital ticket was punched.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as recited in claim 5 wherein said method is further comprised of the step of said third repository refreshing said digital ticket to enable a subsequent reuse.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method as recited in claim 6 therein said step of said third repository refreshing said digital ticket to enable a subsequent reuse is further comprised of the steps of: k) said third repository making a copy of said digital ticket for a fee: and l) said third repository marking said first timestamp part of said digital ticket with a copy timestamp indicating the time and date the digital ticket was refreshed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
218 words
In a computer controlled system for the distribution of digital works, a method for controlling the access to said digital works, said method comprising the steps of: a) creating a digital work and a digital ticket, said digital ticket being an instance of a digital work; b) defining a plurality of usage rights for said digital work, wherein a first of said usage rights specifies said digital ticket and a special ticket agent for punching said digital ticket; c) storing said digital work in a first repository; d) distributing said digital ticket to a second repository; e) said second repository transmitting a request to access said digital work to said first repository, said request specifying said first usage right; f) said first repository determining if said second repository has said digital ticket; g) said second repository presenting said digital ticket to said first repository; h) said first repository presenting said digital ticket to said special ticket agent; i) said special ticket agent determining if said digital ticket is valid; j) if said digital ticket is invalid, said special ticket agent causing said request to access to be denied; k) if said digital ticket is valid, said special ticket agent punching said digital ticket; and l) said first repository granting access to said digital work by said second repository.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
218 words
In a computer controlled system for the distribution of digital works, a method for controlling the access to said digital works, said method comprising the steps of: a) creating a digital work and a digital ticket, said digital ticket being an instance of a digital work; b) defining a plurality of usage rights for said digital work, wherein a first of said usage rights specifies said digital ticket and a special ticket agent for punching said digital ticket; c) storing said digital work in a first repository; d) distributing said digital ticket to a second repository; e) said second repository transmitting a request to access said digital work to said first repository, said request specifying said first usage right; f) said first repository determining if said second repository has said digital ticket; g) said second repository presenting said digital ticket to said first repository; h) said first repository presenting said digital ticket to said special ticket agent; i) said special ticket agent determining if said digital ticket is valid; j) if said digital ticket is invalid, said special ticket agent causing said request to access to be denied; k) if said digital ticket is valid, said special ticket agent punching said digital ticket; and l) said first repository granting access to said digital work by said second repository.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
208 words
In a computer controlled system for the distribution of digital works, a method for distribution of upgrades to said digital works, said method comprising the steps of: a) creating a digital ticket, said digital ticket for permitting copying of an upgrade digital work, said digital ticket being an instance of a digital work; b) distributing said digital ticket and a corresponding digital work to a first repository for a fee; c) creating said upgrade digital work, said upgrade digital work having a copying right for permitting copying of said upgrade digital work to possessors of said digital ticket; d) storing said upgrade digital work in a second repository; e) said first repository transmitting a request to copy said upgrade digital work to said second repository; f) said second repository determining if said first repository has said digital ticket; g) said first repository presenting said digital ticket to said second repository; h) said second repository determining if said digital ticket is valid; i) if said digital ticket is invalid, said second repository causing said request to copy to be denied; j) if said digital ticket is valid, said second repository punching said digital ticket; and k) said second repository transmitting said upgrade digital work requested by said first repository.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
208 words
In a computer controlled system for the distribution of digital works, a method for distribution of upgrades to said digital works, said method comprising the steps of: a) creating a digital ticket, said digital ticket for permitting copying of an upgrade digital work, said digital ticket being an instance of a digital work; b) distributing said digital ticket and a corresponding digital work to a first repository for a fee; c) creating said upgrade digital work, said upgrade digital work having a copying right for permitting copying of said upgrade digital work to possessors of said digital ticket; d) storing said upgrade digital work in a second repository; e) said first repository transmitting a request to copy said upgrade digital work to said second repository; f) said second repository determining if said first repository has said digital ticket; g) said first repository presenting said digital ticket to said second repository; h) said second repository determining if said digital ticket is valid; i) if said digital ticket is invalid, said second repository causing said request to copy to be denied; j) if said digital ticket is valid, said second repository punching said digital ticket; and k) said second repository transmitting said upgrade digital work requested by said first repository.
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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) | 2004-05-21 | 2004-11-20 | 2005-05-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-05-21 | 2008-11-20 | 2009-05-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-05-21 | 2012-11-20 | 2013-05-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |