US6807534B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for managing copyrighted electronic media
Assignee: Dartmouth College
•
Filing: 2000-05-31
•
Granted: 2004-10-19
•
Expires: 2020-05-31
Abstract
Abstract Copyrighted electronic media are packaged in a secure electronic format, and registered on associated registration server, which serves to provide on-line licensing and copyright management for that media. Users are connected to the server, e.g., through a computer network or the Internet, to enable data transfers and to transact licenses to utilize the media. Packaged electronic media are typically created by an author or derivative user of the work. Once the packaged media is registered on the server, the media is made available for limited use and possible license through an authorization server. This limited use is specified within the minimum permissions data set assigned to each packaged media. Without a license, users are typically permitted to view the packaged media—through a system which unpackages the media—but cannot save or otherwise transfer the media without obtaining auxiliary permissions to do so from the authorization server. The electronic media is authenticated through digital signatures and optional encryption.
Inventors
- 👤 John S. Erickson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 20:28
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L63/00; H04L63/04; H04L63/0428; G; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/10; H04L63/10; H04L63/105; H04L63/12; H04L63/123; H04L63/126; G06F2211/00; G06F2211/007; G06F2211/008; H04L2463/00; H04L2463/103
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for managing copyrighted electronic media, comprising: formatting the media into a secure electronic container, the container including a digital representation of the media and a minimum permissions data set specifying the minimum authorized use of the media; registering the electronic media on a server and assigning a registration identifier to the container, the server being connected for on-line data transfers with at least one computer; transmitting licensing terms from the server to the computer in response to a request to license the media; and augmenting the permissions data set with auxiliary permissions when the computer indicates acceptance of the terms, the auxiliary permissions providing authorization to utilize the media beyond what is authorized in the minimum permissions data set.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for managing copyrighted electronic media, comprising: formatting the media into a secure electronic container, the container including a digital representation of the media and a minimum permissions data set specifying the minimum authorized use of the media; registering the electronic media on a server and assigning a registration identifier to the container, the server being connected for on-line data transfers with at least one computer; transmitting licensing terms from the server to the computer in response to a request to license the media; and augmenting the permissions data set with auxiliary permissions when the computer indicates acceptance of the terms, the auxiliary permissions providing authorization to utilize the media beyond what is authorized in the minimum permissions data set.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 , further comprising determining whether the computer's use of the media is authorized by the permissions data set.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 1 , further comprising enabling limited use of the media at the computer, the limited use corresponding to the minimum permissions data set.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 1 , further comprising verifying that a user of the computer is an authorized user, the step of verifying occurring before the computer requests a license from the server.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 4 , wherein the step of verifying includes the step of searching for the user's public key with a certification stamp from a certification authority.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of formatting the media further comprises the step of including sourceworks extensions within the container, the sourceworks extensions providing a bibliographic record of the media.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
154 words
A system for authorizing access to copyrighted electronic media, comprising an authorization server connected for data transfer between an internal memory and at least one external data processor, the server having (A) first storage means for storing selected information about the electronic media; (B) relay means, responsive to a request signal by the data processor, for communicating the selected information to the data processor; (C) data comparison means for receiving response signals from the data processor and comparing the selected information with the response signals, the data comparison means generating an acceptance signal when the response signals correspond to at least a part of the selected information, and communicating the acceptance signal to the data processor to authorize access to the media; and (D) a sourceworks extension module for storing a bibliographic record of the media, the bibliographic record forming a digital representation that specifies authorship information and access restrictions associated with the media.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
154 words
A system for authorizing access to copyrighted electronic media, comprising an authorization server connected for data transfer between an internal memory and at least one external data processor, the server having (A) first storage means for storing selected information about the electronic media; (B) relay means, responsive to a request signal by the data processor, for communicating the selected information to the data processor; (C) data comparison means for receiving response signals from the data processor and comparing the selected information with the response signals, the data comparison means generating an acceptance signal when the response signals correspond to at least a part of the selected information, and communicating the acceptance signal to the data processor to authorize access to the media; and (D) a sourceworks extension module for storing a bibliographic record of the media, the bibliographic record forming a digital representation that specifies authorship information and access restrictions associated with the media.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
154 words
A system for authorizing access to copyrighted electronic media, comprising an authorization server connected for data transfer between an internal memory and at least one external data processor, the server having (A) first storage means fair storing selected information about the electronic media; (B) relay means, responsive to a request signal by the data processor, for communicating the selected information to the data processor; (C) data comparison means for receiving response signals from the data processor and comparing the selected information with the response signals, the data comparison means generating an acceptance signal when the response signals correspond to at least a part of the selected information, and communicating the acceptance signal to the data processor to authorize access to the media; and (D) access control means for withholding access authorization to a portion of the media, the access control means being responsive to the acceptance signal to remove access restrictions to the portion.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
154 words
A system for authorizing access to copyrighted electronic media, comprising an authorization server connected for data transfer between an internal memory and at least one external data processor, the server having (A) first storage means fair storing selected information about the electronic media; (B) relay means, responsive to a request signal by the data processor, for communicating the selected information to the data processor; (C) data comparison means for receiving response signals from the data processor and comparing the selected information with the response signals, the data comparison means generating an acceptance signal when the response signals correspond to at least a part of the selected information, and communicating the acceptance signal to the data processor to authorize access to the media; and (D) access control means for withholding access authorization to a portion of the media, the access control means being responsive to the acceptance signal to remove access restrictions to the portion.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for authorizing data transfers of copyrighted digital media, comprising: affixing content-specific permission information to the media, the permission information specifying actions which are restricted and require augmented access privileges to perform, and specifying actions which are allowed under minimum privileges without the augmented access privileges; storing selected information about the media on an authorization server connected for data transfer with at least one computer; electronically communicating selected information about the media to the computer; receiving response signals from the computer and comparing the selected information with the response signals; and generating an acceptance signal when the response signals correspond to at least a part of the selected information, thereby authorizing access to the media.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for authorizing data transfers of copyrighted digital media, comprising: affixing content-specific permission information to the media, the permission information specifying actions which are restricted and require augmented access privileges to perform, and specifying actions which are allowed under minimum privileges without the augmented access privileges; storing selected information about the media on an authorization server connected for data transfer with at least one computer; electronically communicating selected information about the media to the computer; receiving response signals from the computer and comparing the selected information with the response signals; and generating an acceptance signal when the response signals correspond to at least a part of the selected information, thereby authorizing access to the media.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method according to claim 9 , wherein the step of communicating selected information comprises the step of communicating a digital representation of at least one of (i) a copyright ownership of the media, (ii) a set of licensing terms for the media for different user classifications, and (iii) revenue estimates about the media.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for maintaining an electronic bibliographic record of digital media, comprising: opening an object container containing the digital media, the object container including a representation of the media, a data identifier of media, and data specifying minimum permissions required to access the media; editing the digital media in an application environment; and attaching the data identifier and minimum permissions data to the edited media into a sourceworks list, the sourceworks list thereby providing a bibliographic record of the media.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for maintaining an electronic bibliographic record of digital media, comprising: opening an object container containing the digital media, the object container including a representation of the media, a data identifier of media, and data specifying minimum permissions required to access the media; editing the digital media in an application environment; and attaching the data identifier and minimum permissions data to the edited media into a sourceworks list, the sourceworks list thereby providing a bibliographic record of the media.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method according to claim 11 , wherein the container further includes auxiliary permissions data specifying subsequent use authorizations to the media, and further comprising the step of modifying the minimum permissions data such that the minimum permissions data and auxiliary permissions data are viewable to subsequent potential users of the media.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
76 words
A system for packaging electronic media within a secure digital document, comprising: means for enclosing the media as a binary data object within a data container; means for attaching identification data to the data container; and means for attaching minimum permissions data to the data container, the minimum permissions data specifying minimum uses authorized for the media without a license to the media, the data container, identification data, and minimum permissions thereby forming the digital document.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
76 words
A system for packaging electronic media within a secure digital document, comprising: means for enclosing the media as a binary data object within a data container; means for attaching identification data to the data container; and means for attaching minimum permissions data to the data container, the minimum permissions data specifying minimum uses authorized for the media without a license to the media, the data container, identification data, and minimum permissions thereby forming the digital document.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system according to claim 13 , further comprising means for attaching a digital signature to the data container, the digital signature providing an authentication to the media.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system according to claim 13 , further comprising means for encrypting the media.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system according to claim 13 , further comprising means for affixing source works extensions to the data container, the source works extension specifying a bibliographic record of the media, thereby providing persistence through generations of derivative use of the media.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
73 words
A method for protecting electronic media, comprising: packaging the electronic media within a secure electronic container by (i) attaching a data identifier to the media, and (ii) attaching data specifying minimum permissions required to use the media; registering the container on a server connected for data transfer with at least one data processor; and transferring auxiliary permissions from the server to the data processor upon acceptance of licensing terms associated with the media.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
73 words
A method for protecting electronic media, comprising: packaging the electronic media within a secure electronic container by (i) attaching a data identifier to the media, and (ii) attaching data specifying minimum permissions required to use the media; registering the container on a server connected for data transfer with at least one data processor; and transferring auxiliary permissions from the server to the data processor upon acceptance of licensing terms associated with the media.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 17 , wherein the step of packaging the media includes the step of encrypting the media.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 18 , further comprising encrypting the media through an RSA public key algorithm.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 17 , further comprising transferring the container to the data processor via one of point-to-point email, CD-ROM, ftp, gopher, snmp, and http.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 17 , further comprising communicating with the data processor in accord with TCP/IP protocol.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 17 , further comprising of affixing an encrypted digital signature to the media, the signature corresponding to a registration of the media to provide authentication to the media.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
100 words
A system for registering electronic media, comprising an authorization server connected for data transfer between an internal memory and at least one external data processor, the server having (A) request means for receiving a request signal from the data processor, the request signal representing a request to register the media on the server; (B) authentication means for determining the authenticity of the media and the data processor based upon informal ion about the media and the request signal; and (C) means generating an acceptance signal when the media is authenticated, thereby indicating that the server accepts the media for registration.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
100 words
A system for registering electronic media, comprising an authorization server connected for data transfer between an internal memory and at least one external data processor, the server having (A) request means for receiving a request signal from the data processor, the request signal representing a request to register the media on the server; (B) authentication means for determining the authenticity of the media and the data processor based upon informal ion about the media and the request signal; and (C) means generating an acceptance signal when the media is authenticated, thereby indicating that the server accepts the media for registration.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for unpackaging electronic media configured within an electronic container, comprising: recognizing minimum permission data associated with the media, the minimum permission data specifying one or more authorizations needed to electronically access the media; utilizing the media in a manner corresponding to the minimum permission data without requiring additional authorizations; upon providing a predetermined signal, receiving updated permission data associated with the media, the updated permission data specifying one or more authorizations needed for expanded access to the media; and utilizing the media in a manner corresponding to the updated permission data when a user has the requisite authorizations to do so.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for unpackaging electronic media configured within an electronic container, comprising: recognizing minimum permission data associated with the media, the minimum permission data specifying one or more authorizations needed to electronically access the media; utilizing the media in a manner corresponding to the minimum permission data without requiring additional authorizations; upon providing a predetermined signal, receiving updated permission data associated with the media, the updated permission data specifying one or more authorizations needed for expanded access to the media; and utilizing the media in a manner corresponding to the updated permission data when a user has the requisite authorizations to do so.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for managing copyrighted electronic media, comprising: receiving a request at a server to register a secure electronic container, the container including a digital representation of the media and a minimum permissions data set specifying the minimum authorized use of the media; registering the electronic media on a server and assigning a registration identifier to the container, the server being connected for on-line data transfers with at least one computer; providing licensing terns for transmission from the server to the computer, the transmission to occur in response to a request to license the media; and providing an augment permissions data set, the augmented permission data set to augment the minimum permission data set when the computer indicates acceptance of the licensing terms, the auxiliary permissions providing authorization to utilize the media beyond what is authorized in the minimum permissions data set.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for managing copyrighted electronic media, comprising: receiving a request at a server to register a secure electronic container, the container including a digital representation of the media and a minimum permissions data set specifying the minimum authorized use of the media; registering the electronic media on a server and assigning a registration identifier to the container, the server being connected for on-line data transfers with at least one computer; providing licensing terns for transmission from the server to the computer, the transmission to occur in response to a request to license the media; and providing an augment permissions data set, the augmented permission data set to augment the minimum permission data set when the computer indicates acceptance of the licensing terms, the auxiliary permissions providing authorization to utilize the media beyond what is authorized in the minimum permissions data set.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for protecting electronic media, comprising: receiving a request at a server to register a container including the electronic media packaged within a secure electronic container, the container including at least: i) a data identifier to the media, and ii) data specifying minimum permissions required to use the media; registering the container on the server, the server being connected for data transfer with at least one data processor; and transferring auxiliary permissions from the server to the data processor upon acceptance of licensing terns associated with the media.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for protecting electronic media, comprising: receiving a request at a server to register a container including the electronic media packaged within a secure electronic container, the container including at least: i) a data identifier to the media, and ii) data specifying minimum permissions required to use the media; registering the container on the server, the server being connected for data transfer with at least one data processor; and transferring auxiliary permissions from the server to the data processor upon acceptance of licensing terns associated with the media.
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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) | 2007-10-19 | 2008-04-19 | 2008-10-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-10-19 | 2012-04-19 | 2012-10-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-10-19 | 2016-04-19 | 2016-10-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |