Abstract: A system for providing digital rights management (DRM) license is provided. The system includes a sink system requesting a license for content, a source system generating and providing a first rights token including binding information related to the license, in accordance with the request, and a rights mediator generating a second rights token that is usable in the sink system on the basis of the first rights token and transmitting the generated second rights token to the sink system. The sink system provides the license for the content on the basis of the second rights token. The first rights token includes binding information of principals that indicates use subjects related to the license, and binding information of principals that indicates use objects related to the license.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assuring delivery of paid advertising to a user may involve asking a question about an advertisement or requiring data about the advertisement to be entered. In one embodiment, a human presence indicator, such as stylized letters, may be displayed during or after the presentation of an advertisement to be copied by a user to indicate presence during the advertisement. When the challenge relating to ad viewing is correctly answered, a value associated with viewing the ad may be credited to a user account, either locally or at a clearinghouse or other repository.

Abstract: Techniques are described for facilitating use of sequences of invocable services in a configurable manner, including by providing a metering service that tracks the use of invocable services by other invocable services or applications. In at least some situations, the invocable services are fee-based Web services or other fee-based network-accessible services, and are made available by providers of the services for use by others in exchange for fees defined by the service providers. The described techniques facilitate use of a sequence of such invocable services by applications in a manner configured by the creators of the applications and providers of the services, including to allow the application creators to define pricing terms that will be used to determine fees that end users of the applications will be charged for use of the invocable services via the applications.

Abstract: A method for managing a specific domain (or user domain), for example leaving the domain by a specific device after fully returning a Rights Object (RO) taken by the specific device, instead of deactivating the RO, when leaving the specific domain, the method in which the device desiring to leave the specific domain moves its RO to another device desiring to join the specific domain and thereafter leaves the specific domain under the control of a Domain Authority/Domain Enforcement Agent (DA/DEA).

Abstract: Systems and methods of partnering content creators with content partners online are disclosed. In an exemplary implementation a method may include receiving registration information from a content partner and building a profile describing desired creative content for the content partner and receiving creative content. Based on at least the profile, the method may include determining whether a match exists between a content partner and the creative content. If a match is found, the method may include providing the content partner access to the creative content, and extending an invitation for the content partner to acquire rights in the creative content.

Abstract: There are provided an information processing apparatus and a license distribution system including the information processing apparatus in which the reproduction or duplication of a content can be limited to the interior of a domain and a benefit based on the fact that an external device has participated in the domain can be made available at the time of reissuing a license. A reproducing device 1 transmits a request for reissuing the license for permitting the reproduction of the content in the domain, and participation information (S201). A server 2 receives the request for reissuing the license and the participation information (S202), and confirms validity of the transmitted participation information (S203). When the validity of the participation information is confirmed, the server 2 determines information on a specific privilege related to the license, transmits the information to the external device (S206), and reissues the license (S210).

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.

Abstract: A system and method for buying goods and billing agency using short message service are disclosed. If a purchaser transmits goods information to a mobile communication service system using short message service of a mobile phone, the mobile communication service system generates a certification code corresponding to the goods information and transmits it to a shopping mall server and the mobile phone. Then, the shopping mall server and the mobile phone exchange messages and run mutual authentication. Thereby, system construction expense for selling goods and service is decreased, purchasing procedure is simple, and the safe purchase can be done by mutual authentication using the certification code.

Abstract: Security is secured according to the type of a license so that unnecessary processing load is reduced. A license accumulation control unit (102) and a license transfer control unit (103) identifies a usage-rule type (204) which indicates whether or not a license (200) includes a usage rule (205) which requires updating each time a content is used, and encrypts the license (200) by using different encrypting methods depending on whether or not the usage rule (205) is included in the license (200). The license accumulation control unit (102) encrypts a content key: with a domain key when the license 200 does not include the usage rule (205); and with a license management device unique key, when the usage rule (205) is included, and accumulates the encrypted key in a license accumulation unit (110).

Abstract: A system rewards users who offer to share the memory, storage, or bandwidth of their computing resource to third parties within a distributed network. Users share processing, storage, bandwidth or memory resources with third parties by permitting such third parties to access files stored in the memory of the users' computing devices. Users that offer files for upload are encouraged to register with a central authority, and receive value each time a third party accesses a resource from their computing devices. The value awarded to each such user is tracked by the central authority and is weighted.

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.

Abstract: Generally speaking, methods and media for authorizing a guest to use an electronic financial transaction card, such as a credit card or debit card, are disclosed. Embodiments may include receiving information about a desired guest transaction (which may be limited in size, timeframe, nature, etc.) from a customer associated with an EFT card, generating a guest PIN number and artifact information for the guest transaction, and transmitting them to the customer. Embodiments may also include receiving from a financial terminal a PIN number and an indication of a supplied artifact associated with a proposed transaction utilizing the EFT card. Embodiments may include determining whether the proposed transaction should be authorized based on the received PIN number and the supplied artifact and, in response to determining that the proposed transaction should be authorized, transmitting approval of the proposed transaction to the financial terminal.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward methods and systems for monitoring resource usage in an architecture where neither the resource buyer nor the resource seller can be trusted, and for rewarding benefits, compensation, or rewards based upon such monitored resource usage data. The system rewards users who offer to share the memory, storage, or bandwidth of their computing resource to third parties within a distributed network. In an exemplary embodiment, users share processing, storage, bandwidth or memory resources with third parties by permitting such third parties to access files stored in the memory of the users' computing devices. Users that offer files for upload are encouraged to register with a central authority, and receive value each time a third party accesses a resource from their computing devices. The value awarded to each such user is tracked by the central authority. They can use the value in exchange for products or services.

Abstract: A DVD player 11 reads disc control information recorded on a DVD medium M and causes a display 12 to display a start menu screen, thereby prompting a viewer to perform authentication (1). The viewer uses a remote controller 11a to display a first viewer authentication screen (2). Then, an acquisition code is indicated and an input of a password is requested. Here, the viewer uses a mobile telephone 13 to access the website indicated by an URL shown on the first viewer authentication screen (substantially, a server computer 2) and inputs a user ID and an acquisition code, thereby acquiring a password required for viewing the content of the DVD medium M ((3) and (4)). The viewer inputs the acquired password into the first viewer authentication screen (5). While a program recorded on the DVD medium M is executed, the DVD player 11 authenticates the password which has been input. If the password is judged to be valid, reproduction of the specified content is started.

Abstract: A mobile communication terminal moves and backs up a content, which was downloaded from a content server, to a personal computer. When the mobile communication terminal receives an encryption key generation request from the personal computer via a cable, the mobile communication terminal extracts information to be used for generating the encryption key and generates the encryption key by using the extracted information and own telephone number. And the generated encryption key is transmitted to the personal computer via the cable. Accordingly, the backed up and moved content can be reproduced with the personal computer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, processes, apparatus, algorithms, etc., for secure identification of secret answers that satisfy secret questions. The methods, etc., can be used for the negotiated exchange of information, goods, or services when the Seeker and the Provider conceal their negotiating positions.

Abstract: A method and system, suitable for using an original entertainment file for playing as a ring tone on a communication device (104), is provided. The method includes decrypting (304) a part of the original entertainment file using an authorization key upon receiving an incoming call signal. The part of the original entertainment file is played (306) until the incoming call signal is acknowledged. The method further includes decrypting (308) a remaining part of the original entertainment file using the authorization key after the incoming call signal is acknowledged. The remaining part of the original entertainment file is then encrypted (310) using a local authorization key to form a second entertainment file. The second entertainment file is then stored (312) in the communication device.

Abstract: A method includes inputting into the computer a digital content file of the merchant, the digital content file including a header with information related to purchasing a digital content product and the digital content product in encoded form. The computer reads the downloaded header and displays at least some of the information related to purchasing the digital content product while concurrently downloading the encoded digital content product into the computer.

Abstract: A digital content distribution control method, a digital content reproducing method, and a digital content reproducing apparatus. The digital content distributing side manipulates digital content by encrypting and compressing the same, transmits the manipulated digital content, an encrypted content key, and encrypted billing information to the other party of communication, and distributes to digital content proprietors the digital content usage fees collected based on digital content usage information received from the other party. On the other hand, the digital content reproducing side decrypts, in a single portable terminal, the manipulated digital content by the digital key and decompresses the decrypted digital content for reproduction. At the same time, the reproducing side decrements the billing information according to the use of the content and generates content usage information to be transmitted to the content distributing side.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to lighten the user load for the distribution of content in an album form. In order to look at/listen to album content, a user executes album content purchase operation. In response to a request for the distribution of a first item of content, a content server sends the requested content to a terminal. After the distribution, the terminal acquires the license of the first item of content. The content and its license are bound each other in the terminal. The license server executes, on a charging and settlement server, the processing necessary for the charging and settlement of the fee of the purchased album content. In response, the charging and settlement server executes the charging and settlement processing. The subject of charging is not only the first item of content, but also all items of content packaged as album content. Subsequently, all items of content in the album are downloaded.