Abstract: A method for on-line processing of electronic commercial transactions using three distinct communication networks to enhance the security of sensitive information such as credit card numbers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a digital signal processing apparatus, a digital signal processing method, an information center, and a data delivery system capable of judging reliably whether digital signals such as music data recorded on a storage medium have been legally purchased by a customer from a legitimate vendor so that only when the digital signals are judged to be legitimately purchased data will a new service be offered to the customer.

Abstract: A digital signal processing apparatus, a digital signal processing method, an information center, and a data delivery system are capable of judging reliably whether digital signals such as music data signals recorded on a storage medium have been legally purchased by a customer from a legitimate vendor, so that only when the digital signals are judged to be legitimately purchased data, will a new service be offered to the customer.

Abstract: Unique encoding of each of a substantial number of distribution video copies of a program such as a motion picture is produced by altering the images slightly at several pre-selected locations in the program in a uniquely coded pattern. Suspected counterfeits can be compared with an unaltered master video to determine the encoded number for the copy which was counterfeited to enable tracking the source of the counterfeit. Preferably, each frame of several whole scenes is altered at each location by shifting an image so as to make the alterations largely undetectable by counterfeiters but easily detected by comparison with an unaltered master video. Artifacts are inserted in patterns representing a unique number for the program. These supplement the encoding by alteration of images and gives added means to aid in tracing counterfeit copies.

Abstract: A computer-implemented mechanism for granting rights is described. A license may be used to identify one or more principals, resources, rights and conditions. The license also identifies a license format scheme and a license format modification scheme. An access control module or other entity may interpret the license in accordance with the license format scheme and license format modification scheme.

Abstract: In a postage payment system, a secure integrated circuit (IC) card is used to manage postage funds, and created encrypted postage indicia. Among other things, the system is capable of performing charge-back accounting of postage expenses and generating mail contents. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the postage indicia are applied onto selected locations of the mail contents while they are being generated. In the preferred embodiment, each mail content is placed in a window envelope such that the postage indicium on the mail content exposes through a window of the envelope to facilitate inspection of the indicium. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, by including transactional data in addition to the traditional postal data in a postage indicium, the indicium can be used to pay bills, purchase products and services, including any courier service different than the postal service.

Abstract: A licensing server source distributes a so-called license configuration file to a client for purposes of enabling operation of a software application installed on a computer. When a user initiates execution of the vendor software for the first time, code associated with the software application accesses the license configuration file for purposes of obtaining authorization (e.g., one or more activation certificates) to operate the software application. Depending on the type of license configuration file forwarded to the respective client, the license configuration file can include either a corresponding activation certificate to operate the software or include an address of a remote source (e.g., address) in which to register and obtain authorization to operate the software application.

Abstract: A method and system are described for completing and submitting an electronic voter registration form and an electronic ballot over a network. In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a blank registration form is transmitted, upon request at a first computer, via a transaction mediator, to the first computer. Registration information is transmitted from the first computer, via a transaction mediator, to a computer database that resides on a transaction repository server, all of which are networked together, to establish a registered voter. Upon request by a registered voter at a second computer, a blank electronic ballot is transmitted from the computer database that resides on the transaction repository server, via a transaction mediator, to the second computer. A voted electronic ballot is transmitted from the second computer, via the transaction mediator, to the computer database that resides on the transaction repository server.

Abstract: Mechanisms for controlling a commercial transaction are presented. An article of manufacture has a time cell that is read by an electronic apparatus. In response to a determination of a state of the time cell by the electronic apparatus, usage of the article of manufacture in a commercial transaction is enabled or denied based on the determined state of the time cell. The expiration period of a time cell controls the time period during which the commercial transaction is enabled or is denied to be performed; an unexpired time cell may both enable or deny performance of a commercial transaction, and an expired time cell may also both enable or deny performance of a commercial transaction. The time cell may be used to restrict the usage period of a coupon, a promotional offer, a pre-paid service, or some other commercial transaction that involves an article of manufacture.

Abstract: A revenue management system for a travel provider, such as airline, a car rental agency, a cruise line, a lodging provider; a travel agency; a bus line or a passenger rail service provider. The revenue management system comprises a database for storing revenue, product and service, and customer information; a logical data model comprising a plurality of entities and relationships defining the manner in which the revenue, product and service, and customer information is stored and organized within the database; and a revenue management application for analyzing the revenue, product and service, and customer information contained within the database to manage inventory, pricing and demand forecasting for the travel provider.

Abstract: Voice signature method. The signer obtains a public key from an intended recipient of a document to be electronically signed. The signer speaks a personal identification number (PIN) to generate a voice PIN and the signer also speaks at least the signer's name. The voice PIN and voice signature are appended to the document and the voice PIN is encrypted using the public key to create an encrypted voice PIN. A polynomial hash is generated based on the document, the voice signature and the encrypted voice PIN and this hash is itself encrypted based on the PIN to generate an encrypted hash. Finally, the document, the voice signature, the encrypted voice PIN and the encrypted hash are sent to the intended recipient.

Abstract: This invention features a method and system for protecting sensitive information from being disclosed and preventing unauthorized use of identity information by third parties. Virtual identifiers that identify an information holder whose sensitive information is involved in the process currently, are dynamically created by an entity called processing entity. The virtual identifiers are usually linked to a static identity of the information holder through a data management mechanism, such as a database system. A virtual identifier could serve for multiple functions. Usually, validity attributes that indicate when and for how long a virtual identifier is valid for the different functions, are associated with the virtual identifier. When an information holder interacts with a third party in a process that involves the information holder's sensitive information currently, the information holder uses a virtual identifier.

Abstract: A system and method to provide feedback data within a distributed feedback system of an e-commerce system. Feedback data describing e-commerce transactions are generated by buyers of goods and services and the corresponding sellers of these goods and services. The feedback data is stored and maintained within a set of feedback servers organized into a peer-to-peer network of distributed devices. The feedback data is organized into groupings of feedback data that are stored onto database storage associated with each of the P2P network nodes. Buyers and sellers may search the feedback data from these distributed data sources to obtain reputation data associated with parties with which they propose to enter into new transactions for goods and services.

Abstract: A method and a system perform software suite activation. In some embodiments, a method includes installing a software suite having a number of software products onto a computer device. If a copy of one of the number of software products is already activated on the computer device, the installing includes deactivating a license of the copy of the one of the number of software products. Additionally, if a copy of one of the number of software products is already activated on the computer device, the installing includes adopting, by the software suite, the copy of the one of the number of software products.

Abstract: A method is designed for embedding an identification code into a musical apparatus which is allotted a serial number. The method is carried out by the steps of accepting an input of the serial number by a user of the musical apparatus, applying a specific operation to the accepted serial number to generate the identification code which is associated with the serial number and which is capable of uniquely identifying the music apparatus, and writing the generated identification code into a specified address of a nonvolatile memory which is integrated in the music apparatus such that the written identification code is never rewritten inappropriately.

Abstract: An exchange system for intangible goods comprises a first user system, a second user system, a registry system, a clearinghouse system and a hash module coupled for communication with each other. The first and second user systems includes a content module for acting as a repository for intangible goods, a pricing module for setting the price of intangible goods, a transaction generator module for creating transactions between seller and buyer, and a transaction log module for recording any transaction in which the user system participates. These systems are used to consummate transactions with other users for exchanging intangible goods. As part of each transaction, the user and the transaction must be entered or registered in the registry system. The registry system comprises an account module and a transaction log module for maintaining the anonymity of the sellers and buyers.

Abstract: Various techniques are described for managing license rights for a variety of digital content. One technique involves initiating a request for a specific content package. The content package includes a unique content package identifier that can be linked with a license offer that also has a unique identifier. A determination is made as to whether the specific content package is available locally, and if not, the specific content package is downloaded. A use license can be obtained for digital content contained within the specific content package. One or more use-license parameters can be determined based on the use license obtained for the digital content. Finally, use of the digital content is enabled in accord with the license parameters that were thus determined.

Abstract: A method for providing information to requestors that includes the step of receiving a request from a remotely located information requestor. The request can be associated with an information controller and with a designated purpose. A transaction can be initiated to handle the request and to deliver a result to an information receiver. A record store can be queried for information associated with the information controller and associated with the designated purpose. The information requestor and the information receiver may not be authorized to directly access content of the record store. At least one request result can be generated based at least in part upon information returned from the querying step. Each request result can correspond to each information receiver and be tailored for information privileges of the information receiver. The information privileges can be established by the information controller. The request result can be conveyed to the information receiver.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method of biometric-based identity verification for authorizing financial transactions between a consumer and a merchant, said system comprising distributed processing to facilitate biometric matching and various types of financial transactions to facilitate said system's integration into current financial networks. System users register at least one biometric identifier, personal and/or business identity-verifying data, and financial account information. A user presents a biometric sample obtained from the user's person and the user's system ID number to conduct financial transactions. This data is used to authenticate the user's identity and authorize transfer of funds from the user's registered financial account to the designated recipient's account by matching the presented transaction biometric with at least one registered biometric template and without the use of a man-made financial account token or identity token.

Abstract: An anti-piracy software licensing system associates a license file with a particular software product, so that the license file cannot be used with a separate product. The license is associated with one and only one product by associating an Installer Identifier (IID) with the license file. At installation, a set-up or installation program can be executed to install the software product. The set-up program will generate an IID based on a characteristic of the media and will check the generated IID against the IID stored in a license file on the same media. A match will verify that the license file on the media (i.e., the media license file) was not tampered with prior to installation and that the license file was intended to be used with the software product on the media. However, if there is not a match, then the installation will be terminated. At run-time the locally stored license file will be checked. If the license file is present, execution of the software product will be enabled.