Patents by Inventor Peter L. T. Pirolli

Peter L. T. Pirolli 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).

  • Patent number: 7664708
    Abstract: A method, system and software for controlling the number of times that a usage right associated with a digital work can be exercised, including creating a digital work; determining a usage right for the digital work, the usage right specifying a digital ticket, the digital ticket indicating a number of times the usage right may be exercised; requesting access to the digital work including an identification of the usage right; determining the validity of the usage right based on a number of times the digital ticket has been used; granting or denying access to the digital work based on the result of the determining step; and updating the digital ticket if access to the digital work is granted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: ContentGuard Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Peter L. T. Pirolli
  • Patent number: 7523072
    Abstract: A method, system and software for securely rendering digital documents, including storing a digital document in a document platform; and storing a usage right associated with the digital document. The usage right specifies a manner of use indicating the manner in which the digital document can be rendered by the document platform. The digital document comprises plural parts of digital content. The usage right includes plural usage rights respectively associated with each of the plural parts of digital content. Whether one of the parts of the digital document may be rendered by the document platform is determined based a respective usage right. If the respective usage right allows the digital document to be rendered on the document platform, the corresponding part of the digital document is rendered by the document platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Contentguard Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Peter L. T. Pirolli
  • Patent number: 7389270
    Abstract: A method, system and software for securely rendering digital documents, including storing a digital document in a document platform; and storing a usage right associated with the digital document. The usage right specifies a manner of use indicating the manner in which the digital document can be rendered by the document platform. The digital document comprises plural parts of digital content. The usage right includes plural usage rights respectively associated with each of the plural parts of digital content. Whether one of the parts of the digital document may be rendered by the document platform is determined based a respective usage right. If the respective usage right allows the digital document to be rendered on the document platform, the corresponding part of the digital document is rendered by the document platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: ContentGuard Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Peter L. T. Pirolli
  • Patent number: 7269576
    Abstract: A system for controlling the distribution and use of digital works using digital tickets. In the present invention, a “digital ticket” is used to entitle the ticket holder to exercise some usage right with respect to a digital work. Usage rights are used to define how a digital work may be used or distributed. Each usage right may specify a digital ticket which must be present before the right may be exercised. Digital works are stored in repositories which enforce a digital works usage rights. Each repository has a “generic ticket agent” which punches tickets. In some instances only the generic ticket agent is necessary. In other instances, punching by a “special ticket agent” residing on another repository may be needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: ContentGuard Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Peter L. T. Pirolli, Ralph C. Merkle
  • Patent number: 7269577
    Abstract: A system for controlling the distribution and use of digital works using digital tickets. In the present invention, a “digital ticket” is used to entitle the ticket holder to exercise some usage right with respect to a digital work. Usage rights are used to define how a digital work may be used or distributed. Each usage right may specify a digital ticket which must be present before the right may be exercised. Digital works are stored in repositories which enforce a digital works usage rights. Each repository has a “generic ticket agent” which punches tickets. In some instances only the generic ticket agent is necessary. In other instances, punching by a “special ticket agent” residing on another repository may be needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: ContentGuard Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Peter L. T. Pirolli
  • Patent number: 7260643
    Abstract: Techniques for determining user types based on multi-modal clustering are provided. The topology, content and usage of a document collection or web site is determined. The user paths are identified using longest repeating subsequence techniques and a multi-modal information need vector is determined for each significant user path. Multi-modal vectors for each document in the significant path, content, uniform resource locators, inlink and outlink multi-modal vectors are determined and combined based on path position and access frequency. Multi-modal clustering is performed based on a multi-modal similarity function and a specified measure of similarity using a type of multi-modal clustering such as K-means or wavefront clustering. The identified clusters may be further analyzed based on changes to the weighting of the corresponding content, url, inlinks and outlinks multi-modal feature vectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Ed H. Chi, Jeffery M Heer, Peter L. T. Pirolli
  • Patent number: 7225160
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: ContentGuard Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Peter L. T. Pirolli, Ralph C. Merkle
  • Patent number: 7209902
    Abstract: A trusted system having at least one repository for controlling use of digital works in accordance with usage rights associated with the digital works. The system comprises means for receiving a request to access a digital work in accordance with usage rights associated with the digital work, the usage rights specifying a manner of access and indicating a security class, means for determining a security level of a repository controlling the requested access, and means for granting the request and permitting exercise of the manner of access specified in the usage rights associated with the digital work in accordance with the usage rights if the security level of the repository corresponds to the security class specified in the usage rights associated with the digital work. The security class indicates a security level of a repository that can access the digital work, and the usage rights are expressed with a grammar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: ContentGuard Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Peter L. T. Pirolli
  • Patent number: 7203899
    Abstract: Systems and methods measure the navigability of a web site by determining the rate at which simulated users absorb information scent. This note can be viewed as a measurement of accomplishing the users' information goals. As users reach their target information, the users terminate their navigation in the web site. Thus, the rate at which users finish is a measurement of the navigability of the web site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Ed H. Chi, Peter L. T. Pirolli
  • Patent number: 7200574
    Abstract: A system for controlling the distribution and use of digital works using digital tickets. In the present invention, a “digital ticket” is used to entitle the ticket holder to exercise some usage right with respect to a digital work. Usage rights are used to define how a digital work may be used or distributed. Each usage right may specify a digital ticket which must be present before the right may be exercised. Digital works are stored in repositories which enforce a digital works usage rights. Each repository has a “generic ticket agent” which punches tickets. In some instances only the generic ticket agent is necessary. In other instances, punching by a “special ticket agent” residing on another repository may be needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: ContentGuard Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Peter L. T. Pirolli
  • Patent number: 7117180
    Abstract: A rendering method, system, repository and software for controlling use of digital works in accordance with usage rights associated therewith and including a manner of use therefor, including receiving requests for digital works; determining whether a request for a digital work should be granted based on usage rights associated with the digital work; and storing digital works in a removable storage device. Whether a manner of use specified in the request corresponds to a manner of use included in the usage rights is determined and if so the request is granted. A contents file of the digital work and a description file including the usage rights and associated with the contents file are stored on the removable storage device. A secure and trusted communication is established between the repository and the removable storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: ContentGuard Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Peter L. T. Pirolli
  • Patent number: 7113912
    Abstract: A method for creating a composite digital work having usage rights and composite digital works having usage rights. The method comprises creating a digital content portion of a composite digital work including a plurality of content parts, and creating a description structure for the composite digital work. The description structure comprises a plurality of description blocks containing usage rights associated with at least a corresponding at least one of said content parts. The usage rights specify a manner of use for the corresponding one of the content parts. The manner of use indicates one or more stated purposes for which the corresponding digital content portion can be at least one of used and distributed by an authorized user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: ContentGuard Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Peter L. T. Pirolli
  • Patent number: 7096202
    Abstract: A method for facilitating distribution of a digital work within a system having at least one repository configured to enforce use of said digital work in accordance with rights. The digital work has one or more rights associated therewith. A copy right or other right is associated with a digital work. The copy right specifies a fee to be paid as a condition for the repository permitting a specified use of the digital work to be made. The digital work can be provided to a distributor for distribution to at least one other party. The fee is reported as a transaction in response to a distribution of said digital work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: ContentGuard Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Peter L. T. Pirolli
  • Patent number: 7065505
    Abstract: A method for providing multiple use packages for a digital work having one or more rights associated therewith within a system having at least one repository configured to enforce use of said digital work in accordance with the rights. A copy right and a plurality of versions of a play right are associated with the digital work. Each version of the play right specifies a respective play fee for playing the digital work in a manner specified by the version of the play right. In response to obtaining a copy of the digital work by a consumer, a respective play fee corresponding to an exercised version of the play right is reported as a transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: ContentGuard Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Peter L. T. Pirolli
  • Patent number: 7058606
    Abstract: A method for loaning a digital work having one or more rights associated therewith within a system having repositories configured to enforce use of the digital work in accordance with the rights. A loan right is associated with a digital work and specifies how the digital work can be loaned. If a request for the digital work is valid, use of the digital work is transferred during a loan period from a repository to the requester in accordance with the loan. Loan right data for the digital work is then updated and use of the digital work by the requestor is deactivated upon exhaustion of the loan period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: ContentGuard Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Peter L. T. Pirolli
  • Patent number: 7043702
    Abstract: A method and system for visualizing actual and predicted usage patterns through a web site is provided. A plurality of web pages may be represented as a node and visualized on a dome tree. The dome tree is a three-dimensional image of a dome, with a portion of the outer wall removed, displayed on a two-dimensional monitor. Paths into and out of each node are displayed using a variety of colors and patterns and information relating to the nodes and paths may also be accessed. By designating a web page as the root node each of the associated pages are laid out within the dome tree radially based on actual usage information. Predicted information for each node is displayed as a bar near the node, thereby assisting a user in understanding the relationship between actual and predicted usage patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Ed H. Chi, Peter L. T. Pirolli, James E. Pitkow
  • Patent number: 7043453
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for establishing a secure communications channel between a first repository and a second repository using a repository transaction protocol. A registration identifier and registration message including an identification certificate, and an identifier of a master repository that encrypted the identification certificate are generated by the first repository. The registration identifier and message are sent to the second repository and the identity of the first repository by is verified by verifying the identification certificate. Messages containing at least one session key are exchanged between the first and second repositories and a usage transactions related to a digital work are conducted between the first repository and the second repository using the session keys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: ContentGuard Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Peter L. T. Pirolli
  • Patent number: 7039613
    Abstract: A method, system and device for determining fees for access to digital works including associating a usage right with a digital work and which specifies a manner of use of the digital work and (i) a fee specification including a maximum price and a best price specification indicating a best price to be charged to a consumer upon exercising the manner or (ii) a price to be charged and a markup specification indicating a markup percentage to the price to be charged to a consumer upon exercising the manner of use; determining when the consumer is entitled to the best price or the markup specification and if so, returning a difference between the maximum price and the best price to the consumer or adding the markup percentage to the price to be charged to the consumer upon exercising the manner of use, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: ContentGuard Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Peter L. T. Pirolli
  • Patent number: 7024392
    Abstract: Method for providing database content usage. The database content can be a digital work having one or more rights associated therewith. The method can be effected within a system having at least one repository configured to enforce use of the content in accordance with the one or more usage rights. A usage right is associated with database content, the usage right specifying rights for the usage of database content and usage fees for exercise of such usage. The database content is provided in accordance with the usage right, and the usage fees are reported as a transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: ContentGuard Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Peter L. T. Pirolli
  • Patent number: 6959290
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling use of digital works in accordance with usage rights associated with the digital works. The method includes the steps of receiving a request to use a digital work, and determining whether the request should be granted based on usage rights associated with the digital work. The usage rights include a manner of use for the digital work, conditions that must be satisfied in order to exercise the manner of use, and status information relating to the state of the usage. Use of the digital work is granted in accordance with the manner of use if the result of the determining step is that the request should be granted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: ContentGuard Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Stefik, Peter L. T. Pirolli