US6591365B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Copy protection control system
Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC
•
Filing: 2000-01-06
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Granted: 2003-07-08
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Expires: 2020-01-06
Abstract
Abstract A system for protecting against use of pirated music. Two watermarks are inserted into the music to be protected by the music publisher. One watermark is robust—it will not be destroyed by compression. The other watermark is weak—it is designed to be destroyed by compression. The robust mark tells a player that the music is protected, i.e., that it is not authorized to be delivered in compressed form over an insecure channel. If the music is found to have been compressed and it was delivered over an insecure channel, then its play or other processing can be restricted.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher J. Cookson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:06
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B20/00; G11B20/00086; G11B20/00884; G11B20/00891; G11B20/00007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
A method for facilitating the detection of pirated music by inserting robust and weak watermarks in music that is to be protected against piracy, the robust watermark withstanding compression and the weak watermark being such that it will be destroyed if the music is compressed, and examining the music to detect which of the watermarks are present in order to determine the allowed use of the music.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
67 words
A method for facilitating the detection of pirated music by inserting robust and weak watermarks in music that is to be protected against piracy, the robust watermark withstanding compression and the weak watermark being such that it will be destroyed if the music is compressed, and examining the music to detect which of the watermarks are present in order to determine the allowed use of the music.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the robust watermark represents the permissible use to be made of the music in which it is contained.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein, if the music is received in the form of a digital file intended for storage on a computer or a portable player device, then the music file is examined for the presence of said robust and weak watermarks in order to determine what use restrictions if any are applicable to the file.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein in the absence of a robust watermark it is determined that there are no use restrictions applicable to the file.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein in the presence of a robust watermark and the absence of said weak watermark it may be determined that there are use restrictions applicable to the file.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein if said digital file is received over a secure channel, then regardless of which watermarks are present it is determined that there are no use restrictions applicable to the file.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
37 words
A method in accordance with any of claims 3 - 6 wherein the determination of use restrictions that are applicable to said file is made independent of whether said file is received in compressed or uncompressed form.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
37 words
A method in accordance with any of claims 3 - 6 wherein the determination of use restrictions that are applicable to said file is made independent of whether said file is received in analog or digital form.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
138 words
A method for facilitating the detection of pirated music by inserting watermark information in music that is to be protected against piracy, the watermark information being such that it withstands compression to the extent that it remains detectable but is changed in a manner that remnants thereof are recognizable if the music is compressed, and examining the music to detect the extent to which the watermark information is present in order to determine the allowed use of the music, wherein in the presence of any remnants of said watermark information it may be determined that there are use restrictions applicable to the file, and if said digital file is received over a secure channel, then regardless of whether remnants of said watermark information are present it is determined that there are no use restrictions applicable to the file.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
138 words
A method for facilitating the detection of pirated music by inserting watermark information in music that is to be protected against piracy, the watermark information being such that it withstands compression to the extent that it remains detectable but is changed in a manner that remnants thereof are recognizable if the music is compressed, and examining the music to detect the extent to which the watermark information is present in order to determine the allowed use of the music, wherein in the presence of any remnants of said watermark information it may be determined that there are use restrictions applicable to the file, and if said digital file is received over a secure channel, then regardless of whether remnants of said watermark information are present it is determined that there are no use restrictions applicable to the file.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for restricting the processing of a received music file comprising the steps of examining the received music file for robust and weak watermarks that may have been inserted therein, the robust watermark withstanding compression and the weak watermark being such that it will be destroyed if the music containing it is compressed, and restricting processing of the received music file if the robust watermark is present and the weak watermark is not.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for restricting the processing of a received music file comprising the steps of examining the received music file for robust and weak watermarks that may have been inserted therein, the robust watermark withstanding compression and the weak watermark being such that it will be destroyed if the music containing it is compressed, and restricting processing of the received music file if the robust watermark is present and the weak watermark is not.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein the robust watermark represents the permissible use to be made of the music in which it is contained.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein, if the music is received in the form of a digital file intended for storage on a computer or a portable player device, then the music file is examined for the presence of said robust and weak watermarks in order to determine what use restrictions if any are applicable to the file.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein in the absence of a robust watermark it is determined that there are no use restrictions applicable to the file.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein if said digital file is received over a secure channel, then regardless of which watermarks are present it is determined that there are no use restrictions applicable to the file.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein if said digital file is received over a secure channel, then regardless of which watermarks are present it is determined that there are no use restrictions applicable to the file.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
37 words
A method in accordance with any of claims 10 - 15 wherein a determination of use restrictions that are applicable to said file is made independent of whether said file is received in compressed or uncompressed form.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
37 words
A method in accordance with any of claims 10 - 15 wherein a determination of use restrictions that are applicable to said file is made independent of whether said file is received in analog or digital form.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for restricting the processing of received music comprising the steps of examining the received music for a possible remnant watermark indicating that the music is to be protected against piracy, the original watermark in the music being such that it is altered by compression of the music in a manner that leaves a remnant of it detectable, and restricting processing of the received music if the remnant watermark is found, wherein if the music is received over a secure channel in the form of a digital file, then regardless of whether any remnant watermark is present it is determined that there are no use restrictions applicable to the file.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for restricting the processing of received music comprising the steps of examining the received music for a possible remnant watermark indicating that the music is to be protected against piracy, the original watermark in the music being such that it is altered by compression of the music in a manner that leaves a remnant of it detectable, and restricting processing of the received music if the remnant watermark is found, wherein if the music is received over a secure channel in the form of a digital file, then regardless of whether any remnant watermark is present it is determined that there are no use restrictions applicable to the file.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
79 words
A player that restricts the processing of a received music file comprising a first module that examines the received music file for robust and weak watermarks that may have been inserted therein, the robust watermark withstanding compression and the weak watermark being such that it will be destroyed if the music containing it is compressed, and a second module that restricts processing of the received music file if the robust watermark is present and the weak watermark is not.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
79 words
A player that restricts the processing of a received music file comprising a first module that examines the received music file for robust and weak watermarks that may have been inserted therein, the robust watermark withstanding compression and the weak watermark being such that it will be destroyed if the music containing it is compressed, and a second module that restricts processing of the received music file if the robust watermark is present and the weak watermark is not.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
45 words
A player in accordance with claim 19 wherein the robust watermark represents the permissible use to be made of the music in which it is contained, and further including a third module that controls usage of the music file in accordance with said robust watermark.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
A player in accordance with claim 20 wherein in the absence of a robust watermark it is determined that there are no use restrictions applicable to the file.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
A player in accordance with claim 20 wherein if said music file is received over a secure channel, then regardless of which watermarks are present it is determined that there are no use restrictions applicable to the file.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
A player in accordance with any of claims 20 - 22 wherein a determination of use restrictions that are applicable to said file is made independent of whether said file is received in compressed or uncompressed form.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
37 words
A player in accordance with any of claims 20 - 22 wherein a determination of use restrictions that are applicable to said file is made independent of whether said file is received in analog or digital form.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
155 words
A player that restricts the processing of received music comprising a module that examines the received music for a possible remnant watermark indicating that the music is to be protected against piracy, the original watermark in the music being such that it is altered by compression of the music in a manner that leaves a remnant of it detectable, and a module that restricts processing of the received music if the remnant watermark is found, wherein the remnant watermark represents the permissible use to be made of the received music in which it is contained, in the absence of said remnant watermark it is determined that there are no use restrictions applicable to the received music, and if the music is received over a secure channel in the form of a digital file, then regardless of whether said remnant watermark is present it is determined that there are no use restrictions applicable to the file.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
155 words
A player that restricts the processing of received music comprising a module that examines the received music for a possible remnant watermark indicating that the music is to be protected against piracy, the original watermark in the music being such that it is altered by compression of the music in a manner that leaves a remnant of it detectable, and a module that restricts processing of the received music if the remnant watermark is found, wherein the remnant watermark represents the permissible use to be made of the received music in which it is contained, in the absence of said remnant watermark it is determined that there are no use restrictions applicable to the received music, and if the music is received over a secure channel in the form of a digital file, then regardless of whether said remnant watermark is present it is determined that there are no use restrictions applicable to the file.
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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) | 2006-07-07 | 2007-01-06 | 2007-07-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-07-07 | 2011-01-06 | 2011-07-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-07-07 | 2015-01-06 | 2015-07-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |