Abstract: The invention relates to a product protection system whereby a product piece is provided with a product-specific identification sequence (K) which is converted into a coded check sequence (C), by means of an encoding method (F1) using a secret encoding sequence (B). A product control sequence is applied to or on the product piece which comprises the coded check sequence (C), or a sequence derived therefrom. In order to check the authenticity of the product piece, the product control sequence is recorded by a control requester and transmitted by internet to a product protection server structure. A decoded check sequence is derived therein from the product control sequence by means of a decoding method using a decoding sequence. The authenticity of the decoded check sequence, or a sequence derived therefrom is checked and the result of the authenticity check transmitted by internet to the control requester.

Abstract: A method for deposit of an electronic payment order by a first intermediary processor among a plurality of intermediary processors linked by a communication network. A routing message is received at the first intermediary processor, the message identifying one or more deposit target processors accessible through the network via the second intermediary processor and providing a respective secure identifier for each of the accessible deposit target processors. When the first intermediary processor receives the electronic payment order drawn on a specified one of the deposit target processors conveyed over the network from a depositing processor, it clears the payment order intermediary processor by checking the payment order against the secure identifier of the specified deposit target processor provided in the routing message.

Abstract: A method and system for the secure distribution of content to authorized persons. A content provider uploads encrypted content to the system and specifies the institutions or individuals to which the content is to be provided and release conditions under which it is to be made available. Encrypted content is made available to a recipient together with a decryption code, if the identity of the recipient can be confirmed through a validation procedure and if the release conditions are met. The release conditions may include a time and date at which the release is to occur. The encrypted content have an associated sample which may be streamed to the recipient so as to permit the recipient to assess whether to download the full encrypted content or not. In one embodiment, the validation procedure includes biometric validation of the identity of the recipient.

Abstract: An information offering system stores information on products and services along with attributes describing these products and services. Individual users are allowed to automatically register information on their products and services with the information offering system. By this method, the information offering system advertises products and services. Because the registration is done automatically by each offeror of a service or product, the efforts of a central administrator entering this information becomes unnecessary, thus making it possible to advertise more products and services efficiently.

Abstract: A system and method of transferring digital rights from a first device to a second device. A target rights management object is transferred from the first device to the second device. A probabilistic data structure is created that identifies each of a class of rights management objects that are present on the first device. The probabilistic data structure is employed to determine whether the target rights management object is present on the first device. The target rights management object is utilized on the second device in response to a determination through employment of the probabilistic data structure that the target rights management object is not present on the first device. The target rights management object and its state are returned to the first device in response to a determination through employment of the probabilistic data structure that the target rights management object is present on the first device.

Abstract: A stored value account includes a general stored value field and may include at least one stored value sub-field. The sub-field may represent a category and include category-specific benefits stored in the sub-field by a issuer of the stored-value account. The category benefits may include discounts, loyalty points, merchant specific stored value or merchant promotions. The category represented may include a group of institutions, a location specific institution or a varied location institution. Both an institutional client and a consumer client may load value into the stored value account.

Abstract: An offline payment method includes communicating a commitment value calculated by an electronic check medium to a terminal configured to receive a payment from the electronic check medium. The commitment value is calculated based on a first authentication code and secret key, wherein the first authentication code is calculated based on a payment amount and secret verification key. The terminal determines and communicates a random/pseudo-random guesstimation to the electronic check medium in response to receiving the verification code, the random/pseudo-random guesstimation being configured to verify that the electronic check medium is authentic. The electronic check medium determines and communicates a second authentication code to the terminal, the second authentication based upon the random/pseudo-random guesstimation.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating electronic transactions using a biometric are disclosed. The system for facilitating electronic transactions using a biometric comprises a smartcard-reader transaction system. The method comprises determining if a transaction violates an established rule, such as a preset spending limit. The method also comprises notifying a user to proffer a biometric sample in order to verify the identity of said user, and detecting a proffered biometric at a sensor to obtain a proffered biometric sample. The method additionally comprises verifying the proffered biometric sample and authorizing a transaction to continue upon verification of the proffered biometric sample.

Abstract: Consumer authentication information is associated with an information account stored in a central database, such that access to the information account by the consumer is conditioned upon receipt and verification of the consumer authentication information. A temporary authorization may also be associated with the information account. The temporary authorization has consumer-defined attributes that define access privileges to be granted to a person who presents the temporary authorization along with a request for further access to the information account. The temporary authorization may be transmitted to the consumer for presentation to a third-party of the consumer's choice. Alternately, the temporary authorization may be transmitted to a designated third-party or device on behalf of the consumer.

Abstract: A method for allocating a plurality of user licenses for simultaneous use of a software application in a wireless communication system. The method includes negotiating allocation of a single user license over a wireless connection. The single user license is allocated to a mobile device including the software application. The allocation of the single license is tracked with a used license count using an entity in the wireless communication system. The software application is run on the mobile device after allocation of the single user license. The method further includes detecting termination of the wireless connection and, responsive to that detection, starting a first timer included in the mobile device and a second timer operatively associated with the communication system entity. Operation of the software application is halted on expiration of the first timer and the used license count is decremented on the expiration of the second timer.

Abstract: An automated transaction machine such as an ATM (10) is provided. The ATM is operative to digitally sign electronic documents (42). The ATM may be in operative connection with a storage server (32). The storage server is operative responsive to the ATM to maintain electronic documents (42) in a data store (34) in association with the user's digital safe deposit account (40) and/or a financial account (48) such as checking, savings, debit, or credit account. The storage server is further operative to store a private key (44) of a user in association with the user's digital safe deposit account and/or financial account. The ATM is operative to cause electronic documents to be signed using the private key associated with the user. The ATM is further operative to output the electronic document on a display device (18) of the ATM where the user may view and edit the electronic document.

Abstract: A virtual packing list for facilitating electronic commerce transactions made over the Internet. When a consumer places an order over the Internet for digital content deliverables, a unique virtual packing list is generated for that order. The virtual packing list contains a manifest of all the digital contents ordered by the consumer. The virtual packing list also optionally includes legal rights, files, and/or other documentation pertaining to the intellectual property corresponding to that commercial transaction. The order is filled based on the virtual packing list. Thereupon, the ordered digital contents, along with the virtual packing list, is downloaded to the consumer. The consumer can verify delivery of the digital contents based on the virtual packing list. Furthermore, the virtual packing list can be used in a host of post-order processes, such as accounting, return receipt, invoicing, inventory control, etc.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing a seal of certification including compliance with requirements for such a seal of certification in electronic commerce including an online marketplace, particular sectors of an online marketplace and a web site and dynamic display of a media object representative of such a seal of certification and systems and methods for applying, customizing, displaying and administering such seals of certification.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for monitoring use of a licensed digital good, such as software, digital audio or video, text, and web pages. Each licensed digital good is associated with a shared resource, such as a record in a remote database in a license server. The shared resource is updated with data, such as a sequence or periodic transmission, from each instance of the licensed digital good when each instance is used. By detecting if the data in the shared resource has experienced a race condition, the use of multiple instances of the licensed digital good is detected. The method and system can also be used to determine a number of unlicensed uses of the digital good for purposes of automatically selling additional licenses.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for enabling a wireless device in a mobile communication environment to obtain rights to protected content of a digital asset. The digital asset is downloaded to the wireless device from any one of a plurality of content servers or other wireless devices. The digital asset comprising a content ID, content encrypted with a content key, and information on obtaining rights to the content being expressed in a voucher generated by a voucher server in the network. The method, system, and computer program product also creates the digital asset for downloading to a wireless device from one of a plurality of content servers in a network and generates a voucher at the voucher server.

Abstract: The invention provides a method, system, and computer program product to control the access, copying, and/or transfer of a digital asset by mobile, wireless devices using a digital voucher. The digital voucher references a primary content that contains all of the expression for that particular asset and a secondary content that contains information that can be distilled out as a preview. The information in the primary content can be limited to a specified duration or a specific number of viewings. The author, owner, or possessor of the digital asset specifies the terms and conditions for distribution of the digital asset. The digital voucher authorizes the mobile, wireless device to access a specified primary or secondary content that may be located elsewhere in the network. The mobile, wireless device can download a copy of portions or all of the content depending on the terms specified in the voucher.

Abstract: A portable terminal 20 according to the present invention is provided with an electronic book coupon storage 22, a book data receiver 24, an electronic book coupon deductor 25, and a book data decryptor 26. The electronic book coupon storage 22 stores an electronic book coupon used in acquisition of book data containing a plurality of page data units, along with a decryption key used in decryption of the plurality of page data units. The book data receiver 24 receives the book data from an electronic book providing server 30. The electronic book coupon deductor 25 deducts an electronic worth equivalent to a price according to page data requested to be readout, from the electronic book coupon. The book data decryptor 26 decrypts the page data in steps of one page data unit by use of the decryption key in conjunction with the deduction of the electronic worth.

Abstract: A system and method for performing an on-line transaction, such as making a payment, with a single-use payment instrument makes use of computer hardware and software, such as the computing device of a customer, the customer's bank's home banking server, the bank's card authorization server, a vendor's website server, and the vendor's credit card acquirer, coupled to one another over a network. The customer is issued a single use payment instrument through the bank, the bank debits an account nominated by the customer for the requested value of the payment instrument and may also specify an expiry for the payment instrument. The customer is able to nominate a particular source of funds for each transaction from among various accounts of the customer. The payment instrument settles and clears through existing credit card payment mechanisms without a need for special accommodation with the Internet vendor.

Abstract: The information reproduction device for reproducing contents information based on license information added to the contents information and required for reproducing the contents information, includes a determining section for determining whether encrypted contents information is the officially copied contents information or privately copied contents information based on the contents of the license information, and a reproduction section configured to reproduce the contents information determined as the privately copied contents information by the determining section under more severe restriction than the officially copied contents information. Thus, the contents copied by the proper route (officially copied contents) can be distributed in a more advantageous form than the contents copied without proper authorization.

Abstract: An improved interactive network system is provided that allows the Network Operator to control the transfer of information to and from the network end users, the system preferably using triggers or markers embedded within the programming broadcast to users via the network. As a consequence of this system, the Network Operator is able to efficiently garner revenues from third parties transacting business over the network and to control the look and feel of programming offered to network users. Additionally the system can be used as a means of limiting network access, filtering programming, providing on-screen graphics or audible signals for particular programming types or providers, bookmarking programming, profiling network users, targeting advertising, and simplifying network transactions.