Patents by Inventor Mark J. Stefik

Mark J. Stefik has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20120331569
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and media for rendering digital content by at least one recipient computing device in accordance with usage rights information. An exemplary method comprises receiving the digital content by the at least one recipient computing device from at least one sending computing device only if the at least one recipient computing device has been determined to be trusted to receive the digital content from the at least one sending computing device, receiving, by the at least one recipient computing device, a request to render the digital content, determining, based on the usage rights information, whether the digital content may be rendered by the at least one recipient computing device, and rendering the digital content, by the at least one recipient computing device, only if it is determined that the content may be rendered by the at least one recipient computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: CONTENTGUARD HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Peter L.T. Pirolli
  • Publication number: 20120331565
    Abstract: Apparatus, method, and media for enforcing utilization of content. An exemplary method comprises receiving a request to utilize content, the request corresponding to a utilization of the content, determining whether the utilization corresponds to at least one usage right associated with the content, wherein the usage rights include status information relating to the state of the utilization of the content, the status information including a history list comprising information associated with events relating to the content, determining whether the request should be granted based at least in part on whether the utilization corresponds to at least one of the usage rights, and enforcing utilization of the content in accordance with the at least one of the usage rights that is determined to correspond to the utilization based at least in part on a determination that the request should be granted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: CONTENTGUARD HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Peter L.T. Pirolli
  • Publication number: 20120324586
    Abstract: Apparatus, method, and media for controlling utilization of content. An exemplary method comprises associating one or more usage rights with content, wherein the usage rights are based at least in part on a usage rights grammar, and wherein each of the usage rights corresponds to a permitted utilization of the content and one or more conditions which must be satisfied in order for the respective usage right to be exercised, receiving from an external computing device external, a request to access the content, the request corresponding to a utilization of the content, determining whether the requested utilization corresponds to at least one of the usage rights associated with the content, and transmitting to an external a computing device, at least one of the usage rights based at least in part on a determination that the requested utilization corresponds to at least one of the usage rights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: CONTENTGUARD HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Peter L.T. Pirolli
  • Publication number: 20120324587
    Abstract: Apparatus, method, and media for permitting use of content. An exemplary method comprises associating a transfer right with content, the transfer right specifying that the content is permitted to be transferred from a first computing device to a second computing device, transferring the content from the first computing device to the second computing device in accordance with the transfer right, updating information associated with the transfer right based on the transfer of the content from the first computing device to the second computing device, and associating a usage right with the content, the usage right corresponding to a utilization of the content, wherein the first computing device includes at least a server mode of operation, and wherein the second computing device includes both a requester mode of operation and a server mode of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: CONTENTGUARD HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Peter L. T. Pirolli
  • Publication number: 20120317659
    Abstract: Apparatus, system, and media for utilizing content. An exemplary system comprises a first computing device and a second computing device, wherein the first computing device transmits a request for access to content to the second computing device, receives the content from the second computing device, and grants at least one permitted utilization of the content, and wherein the second computing device receives the request for access to content from the first computing device, determines whether the first second computing device is permitted to receive the content, grants access to the content based at least in part on the first computing device being permitted to receive the content, and transmits the content to the first computing device based at least in part on the first computing device being permitted to receive the content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: CONTENTGUARD HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Peter L.T. Pirolli
  • Publication number: 20120317660
    Abstract: Apparatus, method, and media for utilizing content. An exemplary method comprises storing a description structure comprising one or more usage rights, storing content associated with the one or more usage rights, receiving a request for the content, the request corresponding to a utilization of the content, determining whether the utilization corresponds to at least one of the one or more usage rights, determining whether the computing device is an authorized device, and utilizing the content in accordance with the at least one of the one or more usage rights based at least in part on a determination that the utilization corresponds to the at least one of the one or more usage rights and a determination that the computing device is an authorized device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: CONTENTGUARD HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Peter L.T. Pirolli
  • Publication number: 20120317653
    Abstract: Apparatus, method, and media for utilizing content. An exemplary method comprises storing, on a removable storage device, a description structure comprising one or more usage rights, storing, on a removable storage device, content associated with the one or more usage rights, receiving a request for the content, the request corresponding to a utilization of the content, determining whether the utilization corresponds to at least one of the one or more usage rights, and utilizing the content in accordance with the at least one of the one or more usage rights that is determined to correspond to the utilization, wherein utilization of the content in accordance with the at least one of the one or more usage rights that is determined to correspond to the utilization is subject to fulfillment of a condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: CONTENTGUARD HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Peter L.T. Pirolli
  • Publication number: 20120317419
    Abstract: Method, apparatus, and media for embedding a watermark in digital content. An exemplary method comprises receiving digital content in an encrypted form, receiving a decryption key associated with the digital content, receiving permitted use information specifying conditions under which the digital content is permitted to be rendered and indicating that a watermark is to be embedded in a rendered copy of the digital content, determining whether the conditions are satisfied, and rendering the digital content if the conditions are satisfied based on the determining, the rendering including generating a watermark based on the permitted use information and creating a rendered copy of the digital content having the watermark embedded therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: CONTENTGUARD HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Glen W. Petrie, Steve A. Okamoto, Nicholas H. Briggs
  • Publication number: 20120317658
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and media for distributing digital content to at least one recipient computing device to be rendered by the at least one recipient computing device in accordance with usage rights information. An exemplary method comprises determining, by at least one sending computing device, if the at least one recipient computing device is trusted to receive the digital content from the at least one sending computing device, sending the digital content, by the at least one sending computing device, to the at least one recipient computing device only if the at least one recipient computing device has been determined to be trusted to receive the digital content from the at least one sending computing device, and sending usage rights information indicating how the digital content may be rendered by the at least one recipient computing device, the usage rights information being enforceable by the at least on recipient computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: CONTENTGUARD HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Peter L.T. Pirolli
  • Publication number: 20120311727
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and media for controlling the use of a digital work in accordance with usage rights associated with the digital work. An exemplary server-side method comprises storing a description file associated with a content file of a digital work, the description file including usage rights for the content file, the usage rights indicating a permitted use for the content file of the digital work, communicating with a rendering device, receiving a request to render the content of the digital work originating from the rendering device, processing the request to render including enforcing the usage rights by granting or rejecting the request to render in accordance with the usage rights, and performing closing transaction steps upon detecting that the rendering device has finished rendering the content of the digital work.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: CONTENTGUARD HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Peter L.T. Pirolli
  • Publication number: 20120233707
    Abstract: Digital work adapted to be distributed within a system for controlling at least one of the distribution and use of digital works. The digital work includes digital content representing a portion of a digital work suitable for being rendered by a rendering device and usage rights associated with the digital content. The usage rights specify a manner of use indicating one or more stated purposes for which the digital work can be at least one of used and distributed by an authorized party.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: CONTENTGUARD HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Peter L. T. Pirolli
  • Publication number: 20120233711
    Abstract: Digital work adapted to be distributed within a system for controlling at least one of the distribution and use of digital works. The digital work includes digital content representing a portion of a digital work suitable for being rendered by a rendering device and usage rights associated with the digital content. The usage rights specify a manner of use indicating one or more stated purposes for which the digital work can be at least one of used and distributed by an authorized party.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: CONTENTGUARD HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Peter L. T. Pirolli
  • Publication number: 20120233709
    Abstract: Digital work adapted to be distributed within a system for controlling at least one of the distribution and use of digital works. The digital work includes digital content representing a portion of a digital work suitable for being rendered by a rendering device and usage rights associated with the digital content. The usage rights specify a manner of use indicating one or more stated purposes for which the digital work can be at least one of used and distributed by an authorized party.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: CONTENTGUARD HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Peter L.T. Pirolli
  • Publication number: 20120233710
    Abstract: Digital work adapted to be distributed within a system for controlling at least one of the distribution and use of digital works. The digital work includes digital content representing a portion of a digital work suitable for being rendered by a rendering device and usage rights associated with the digital content. The usage rights specify a manner of use indicating one or more stated purposes for which the digital work can be at least one of used and distributed by an authorized party.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: CONTENTGUARD HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Peter L. T. Pirolli
  • Patent number: 8239397
    Abstract: A system and method for managing user attention by detecting hot topics in social indexes is provided. Articles of digital information and at least one social index are maintained. The social index includes topics that each relate to one or more of the articles. Topic models matched to the digital information are retrieved for each topic. The articles are classified under the topics using the topic models. Each of the topics in the social index is evaluated for hotness. A plurality of time periods projected from the present is defined. Counts of the articles appearing under each time period are evaluated. The topics exhibiting a rising curve in the count of the articles that increases with recency during the time periods are chosen. Quality of the articles within the topics chosen is analyzed. The topics including the articles having acceptable quality are presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Sanjay Mittal, Lance E. Good
  • Publication number: 20120198563
    Abstract: Digital work adapted to be distributed within a system for controlling at least one of the distribution and use of digital works. The digital work includes digital content representing a portion of a digital work suitable for being rendered by a rendering device and usage rights associated with the digital content. The usage rights specify a manner of use indicating one or more stated purposes for which the digital work can be at least one of used and distributed by an authorized party.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: CONTENTGUARD HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Peter L. T. Pirolli
  • Publication number: 20120198571
    Abstract: Digital work adapted to be distributed within a system for controlling at least one of the distribution and use of digital works. The digital work includes digital content representing a portion of a digital work suitable for being rendered by a rendering device and usage rights associated with the digital content. The usage rights specify a manner of use indicating one or more stated purposes for which the digital work can be at least one of used and distributed by an authorized party.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: CONTENTGUARD HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Peter L. T. Pirolli
  • Publication number: 20120198562
    Abstract: Digital work adapted to be distributed within a system for controlling at least one of the distribution and use of digital works. The digital work includes digital content representing a portion of a digital work suitable for being rendered by a rendering device and usage rights associated with the digital content. The usage rights specify a manner of use indicating one or more stated purposes for which the digital work can be at least one of used and distributed by an authorized party.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: CONTENTGUARD HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Peter L. T. Pirolli
  • Publication number: 20120198567
    Abstract: Digital work adapted to be distributed within a system for controlling at least one of the distribution and use of digital works. The digital work includes digital content representing a portion of a digital work suitable for being rendered by a rendering device and usage rights associated with the digital content. The usage rights specify a manner of use indicating one or more stated purposes for which the digital work can be at least one of used and distributed by an authorized party.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: CONTENTGUARD HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Peter L. T. Pirolli
  • Patent number: 8205089
    Abstract: A trusted rendering system for use in a system for controlling the distribution and use of digital works. A trusted rendering system facilitates the protection of rendered digital works which have been rendered on a system which controls the distribution and use of digital works through the use of dynamically generated watermark information that is embedded in the rendered output. The watermark data typically provides information relating to the owner of the digital work, the rights associated with the rendered copy of the digital work and when and where the digital work was rendered. This information will typically aid in deterring or preventing unauthorized copying of the rendered work to be made. The system for controlling distribution and use of digital works provides for attaching persistent usage rights to a digital work. Digital works are transferred between repositories which are used to request and grant access to digital works.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: ContentGuard Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Glen W. Petrie, Steve A. Okamoto, Nicholas H. Briggs