Patents Examined by Andrew J. Fischer
  • Patent number: 7788182
    Abstract: A method, system and software for permitting use of digital works having rights associated therewith within a system having repositories configured to enable use of the digital work in accordance with the rights, including associating a transfer right with a digital work, the transfer right specifying that the digital work is transferred from a first repository to a second repository; transferring the digital work from the first repository to the second repository in accordance with the transfer right; and in response to the transferring, step updating transfer right information in respect of the digital work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: ContentGuard Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Peter L. T. Pirolli
  • Patent number: 7783573
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for use with smartcards or other like shared computing resources. By selectively granting exclusive use to a requesting entity for a period of time, performance is improved by reducing unnecessary redundant overhead data, communication, storage and/or processing for an applicable series of transactions associated with a granted access request operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel C. Griffin, Eric C. Perlin, Klaus U. Schutz
  • Patent number: 7778928
    Abstract: A licence ticket 6 obtained by a user 12, such as by purchase from a retail outlet 4, bears a licence key 12 behind a scratch off panel 10. This licence key when entered into a webpage dialog with a download server 16 is validated by that download server 16 as legitimate and used to trigger download and installation of a computer program product onto the user's computer 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: McAfee, Inc.
    Inventor: Jack Robert Arron Clark
  • Patent number: 7778930
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for delivering targeted informational messages includes a computer system for creating a de-identified encrypted PID and de-identified patient transaction data in a retail store for transmission and storage. A subset of de-identified encrypted PIDs are associated with targeted informational messages by the system and transmitted to retail stores, where a targeted message is printed on behalf of the patient corresponding to the de-identified encrypted PID.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Catalina Marketing Corporation
    Inventors: Michael F. Roberts, Simon Banfield, Suzanne Eastman
  • Patent number: 7778931
    Abstract: The present description refers to a method for securing processing of an order by a mobile agent from a first server (So) within a network system with a plurality of servers (So, S1, . . . ,Sn), at least a number of which the mobile agent has to pass according to an appropriate succession, wherein each of the plurality of servers has a pair of a public key (KSo, . . . ,KSi, . . . , KSn) and a private key (PKSo, . . . ,PKSi, . . . , PKSn) associated therewith, respectively, the method comprising, starting from any one of the number of servers the mobile agent has to pass, called herein the i'th server at least the steps of receiving the mobile agent which has been prepared by the first server by choosing a unique number (r0) and assigning it to the mobile agent, encoding the chosen unique number (r0) with the private key (PKSo) of the first server (So), thus forming an agent specific initialisation number (Co) as basis for a sequence of checksums (Co, . . . ,Ci, . . .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: SAP AG
    Inventor: Maarten E. Rits
  • Patent number: 7774280
    Abstract: A method, system and device for transferring rights adapted to be associated with items from a rights supplier to a rights consumer, including obtaining a set of rights associated with an item, the set of rights including meta-rights specifying derivable rights that can be derived from the meta-; determining whether the rights consumer is entitled to the derivable rights specified by the meta-rights; and deriving at least one right from the derivable rights, if the rights consumer is entitled to the derivable rights specified by the meta-rights, wherein the derived right includes at least one state variable based on the set of rights and used for determining a state of the derived right.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: ContentGuard Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Mai Nguyen, Xin Wang, Thanh Ta, Guillermo Lao, Eddie J. Chen
  • Patent number: 7769690
    Abstract: A method and system for supply of data relating to a described entity (302) to a relying entity (304), which includes the generation of a first digital certificate referred to as an empowerment certificate signed by a first signing entity. The empowerment certificate includes attributes of the described entity (302) information and identifying the first signing entity. It also includes an indication of data relating to the described entity (302) which is to be supplied and an indication of one or more sources (306) for said data. The empowerment certificate also includes identification of relying entities (304) to which the data can be supplied. The relying entity (304) forwards the empowerment certificate to source (306) supplying the data indicated in the empowerment certificate. Some or all of the data relating to the described entity (302) may be supplied by means of a second digital certificate referred to as a custom certificate, signed by a second signing entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Roy Dare, John Owlett, Imran Faiz Tyabji
  • Patent number: 7769696
    Abstract: An information storing apparatus for judging who requests personal information and for setting an access level for the personal information for the requester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Yoda
  • Patent number: 7765162
    Abstract: A system and method for conducting a financial transaction using an integrated circuit device issued by a card issuer and capable of conducting off-line and on-line transactions with a payment card network. The method includes utilizing the card for conducting a transaction and reading from the card a pre-authorized balance, a pre-authorized limit, and an account number. The method also includes requesting on-line authorization in the event the value of the transaction is greater than the difference between the pre-authorized limit and the pre-authorized balance. Finally, the method includes receiving authorization to conduct the transaction and updating by the card the pre-authorized balance and the pre-authorized limit, wherein the card issuer, through the integrated circuit device, is able to continually update the pre-authorized limit based on various factors including the transaction and account activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: MasterCard International Incorporated
    Inventors: Philip Binder, Adam Gluck
  • Patent number: 7765158
    Abstract: A playback apparatus judges whether a region code assigned to a BD-ROM matches a region code assigned to the playback apparatus. When the judgment result is in the affirmative, the playback apparatus plays back the content recorded on the optical disc. When the judgment result is in the negative, the playback apparatus does not play back the content, except when an exceptional playback is authorized. The exceptional playback is authorized when a combination of the content identifier of the content to be played back and the apparatus region code satisfies a predetermined condition defined by the owner of the rights of the content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Noriko Sugimoto, Yusuke Shimizu, Masayuki Kozuka
  • Patent number: 7765163
    Abstract: A system and method for effecting a transaction between a person and a provider of goods or services over a network are provided. The method includes establishing, from a communication device, a communication link over the network with the provider, entering into the communication device information pertinent to effecting the transaction and activating in conjunction with effecting the transaction a biometric device to generate a unique identification trait (UIT) associated with the person. The method further includes, in response this activating, automatically transmitting from the communication device over the network to the provider both the information and a signal corresponding to the UIT. This signal may be a coded or uncoded signal verifying the person's identity. A communication device for performing this method also is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Harold Aaron Ludtke, L. Michael Maritzen
  • Patent number: 7761385
    Abstract: A virtual payment system for ordering and paying for goods, services and content over an internetwork is disclosed. The virtual payment system comprises a commerce gateway component (52) and a credit processing server component (53). The virtual payment system is a secure, closed system comprising registered sellers and buyers. A buyer becomes a registered participant by applying for a virtual payment account. Likewise, a seller becomes registered by applying for a seller account. A buyer can instantly open an account on-line. That is, the credit processing component (53) immediately evaluates the buyer's virtual payment card application and assigns a credit limit to the account. Once an account is established, a digital certificate is stored on the registered participant's computer. The buyer can then order a product, i.e., goods, services or content from a seller and charge it to the virtual payment account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: eCharge Corporation
    Inventors: Robin B Hutchison, Robert J Llewellyn, Andre F Viljoen, David Griffiths, David Birch, Iain M Begg
  • Patent number: 7756793
    Abstract: The present invention is to provides a content data supply system, a content data supply apparatus and method, a content data reproduction apparatus and method, and a program. The content supply system supplies content data from a content data supply apparatus to a content reproduction apparatus via a network. The content reproduction apparatus includes notification means, content list acquisition means, activation file acquisition means, content data acquisition means, and license data acquisition means. The content data supply apparatus includes customer information management means, content list generation means, activation file generation means, storage means, content data supply means, and license data supply means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: SONY Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Murase, Takeshi Iwatsu, Noriyuki Sakoh
  • Patent number: 7752137
    Abstract: A subset of unique codes are generated from a set of codes. The subset of codes are stored in a database on a secure server and each of the codes is marked on a corresponding instantiation of the product. The marked instantiations are distributed. During their distribution, the marked instantiations are verified for authenticity and for routing. This verification is performed by reading or scanning the codes on the instantiations, and transmitting that information to the secure server for comparison against the codes and other information located in the database contained therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Meyers Printing Company
    Inventor: David Dillon
  • Patent number: 7747540
    Abstract: A computer system includes a security module programmed to generate a first privacy key for use with secure communications with a first web site, and a second privacy key for use with secure communications with a second web site, the first and second keys being different. The computer system also includes an identity module programmed to receive a request from the first web site for linking a first user account associated with the first web site with a second user account associated with the second web site, and the identity module being programmed to present a user with an option to link the first and second user accounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kim Cameron, Arun K. Nanda
  • Patent number: 7747480
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing data assets in an enterprise computing environment are provided. Data assets associated with a plurality of source systems operating within the enterprise computing environment may be registered with an asset repository hub. The asset repository hub receives a registration request from a source system for a particular data asset and determines whether the data asset is unique within the enterprise computing environment. If the data asset is unique, then the data asset is stored at the asset repository hub and a unique enterprise identifier is associated with the data asset. In determining whether the asset is unique, the asset repository hub may cleanse the data asset against a set of business rules; generate a plurality of match codes that describe the content of the data asset; and cluster the generated match codes against clusters of previously generated match codes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: SAS Institute Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Jeffrey Agresta, Scott Aron Gidley, Brian Carl Rineer, Alexander A. Novozhilov
  • Patent number: 7747531
    Abstract: A system and method for delivery of secure software license information to authorize the use of a software program is disclosed. The method and system comprises a computer system for executing the software program and the authorizing program, and a license server, connected to the computer system over a network. The method and system include associating a publisher certificate and a signed product key pair with the program to be authorized, generating a license request containing user and product information and signed by the private key from the product key pair, transmitting the license request to a license server, generating a license using data extracted from the license request and license terms, signing the license with the publisher private key associated with the publisher certificate, transmitting the license to the authorization program, validating the license using the publisher certificate, and using the license terms to control the use of the software program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Pace Anti-Piracy
    Inventor: Paul A. Cronce
  • Patent number: 7747533
    Abstract: A plurality of digital licenses correspond to a piece of content, including a base license and at least one add-on license. Each add-on license includes a reference to the base license, and each of the base license and each add-on license sets forth rules specifying how the content may be employed. Each add-on license is identified by way of the reference therein to the base license, and the rules in the base license and in each identified add-on license are aggregated into an aggregated set of rules that is evaluated to determine if such aggregated set of rules allows employing the content in a particular manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ning Zhang, Richard S. Eizenhoefer, Wen-Pin Scott Hsu
  • Patent number: 7742992
    Abstract: A method for delivery of a licensed toolset to a software publisher for creating license-managed software products is disclosed. The method comprises providing an authorization process, and implementing the authorization process for both a toolset publisher and related toolset and a software publisher and related software product, whereby the same authorization process is used to obtain respective licenses. The authorization process includes creating a first public and private key pair for the software publisher, creating a second public and private key pair for the software product, creating an authorization program for the software program, with embedded copies of the first and second public keys, and combining the software program and the authorization program, such that when the authorization program is invoked, the authorization program obtains a license for controlling the use of the software program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Pace Anti-Piracy
    Inventor: Paul A. Cronce
  • Patent number: RE41657
    Abstract: A system for dealing in an original data content and an edited data content. A data content is handled as an object, and the data content is edited by editing a data content, functioning as an object, in accordance with an edit program. The edited data content is expressed by the original data content and the editing scenario which describes editing detail by the edit program. Only the encrypted editing scenario is dealt in. Upon receipt of the encrypted editing scenario, a user decrypts the encrypted editing scenario using a crypt key obtained from a key management center, and obtains the original data content from the database in accordance with the editing scenario and re-constitutes the edited data content. In case there is the one who wishes sale of the editing scenario, its utilization right is sold by auction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Inventor: Makoto Saito