Abstract: A method for enhancing copyright revenue generation for a copyright protected frame-based work. The method includes embedding copyright and playback management information into at least one data field of the copyright protected frame-based work. The copyright and playback management information corresponds to access to the copyright protected frame-based work. The method also includes encoding the copyright protected frame-based work, transmitting the encoded copyright protected frame-based work and ensuring appropriate payment of entitled copyright royalties of the copyright protected frame-based work based at least in part on the embedded copyright and playback management information.

Abstract: Video recordings of meetings and scanned paper documents are natural digital documents that come out of a meeting. These can be placed on the Internet for easy access, with links generated between them by matching scanned documents to a segment of the video referencing the scanned document. Furthermore, annotations made on the paper documents during the meeting can be extracted and used as indexes to the video. An orthonormal transform, such as a Digital Cosine Transform (DCT) is used to compare scanned documents to video frames.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reporting the operation state of digital rights management are provided. In a home network formed with control devices and a control point, the apparatus for reporting the operation state of digital rights management of the control device to the control point includes: a digital rights management (DRM) module which performs digital rights management; a state variable generation unit which receives DRM operation state information indicating the state of a DRM process currently operating, from the DRM module, and based on the received DRM state information, generates DRM state variables; and a universal plug and play (uPnP) module which by using a uPnP protocol, transmits the generated state variables to the control point.

Abstract: An embodiment relates generally to a method of managing entitlements. The method includes receiving an indication of at least one purchase of a product by a user and determining an entitlement history of the user. The method also includes determining a plurality of purchasing conditions based on the entitlement history state and the at least one purchase of the product and providing the plurality of purchasing conditions for a user to select.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus deleting, from a second recording medium, a copy of electronic data once recorded in the second recording medium, an original of the electronic data being recorded in a first recording medium different from the second recording medium, includes: an electronic data deleting part deleting the copy of the electronic data from the second recording medium, which copy can be used when authentication is succeeded in based on medium identification information which is prepared for identifying the first recording medium; an electronic data validating part validating the electronic data once invalidated when the copy of the electronic data was created in the second recording medium; and a medium identification information deleting part deleting the medium identification information of the first recording medium which was recorded in a predetermined storage area when the copy was created in the second recording medium.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method for generating fees using a receiving device, involves distributing censored video from a distributor video to a receiving device; and uncensoring the censored video using the receiving device upon payment of a fee. The receiving device uses overlay data received from the distributor to uncensor the censored video by overlaying the overlay data over the censored video using a video overlay frame to overlay a video frame containing the censored video data in accordance with boundaries determined by an alpha plane within the receiving device. This abstract should not be considered limiting since embodiments consistent with the present invention may involve more, different or fewer elements.

Abstract: In a method for providing measured values for end customers: The measured value for a process variable is recorded using a sensor and is transmitted to a process control system. The number of transmission operations is counted on the basis of the number of transmission operations. The fundamental advantage of the invention is that the end customer no longer pays for the sensor itself, but rather only for that which he actually requires, the measured value.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide methods, systems and apparatuses for use in managing content on at least a local network. Some embodiments provide a method for use in distributing content that receives a request to deliver premium content over a distributed network; identifies a location relative to where the request is made; determines whether there is a first additional content associated with the location; adds the first additional content to the requested premium content when there is the first additional content associated with the location; and distributes the requested premium content and the first additional content according to the request.

Abstract: A method of digital watermarking which can resist against local geometrical distortions such as random bending attack, global geometrical distortions as well as projective transforms, but does not necessary require the recovering of global affine transform or even the repetition of the same watermark pattern. Further, the watermark can resist common global affine transformations such as rotation, scaling, and changes of aspect ratio, cropping as well as other types of operations such as filtering, lossy compression, printing/scanning or detection of watermark in front of video, web or photo camera or any imaging device.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for authenticating a pharmaceutical product is provided. The method includes receiving an identifier and a quantity for the pharmaceutical product and receiving a photonic signal from the pharmaceutical product, wherein the photonic signal includes a frequency and amplitude. The method can further include searching for the identifier and quantity that was received in a predefined list comprising identifier-quantity pairs, wherein a frequency and amplitude corresponds to each identifier-quantity pair. The method can further include matching the identifier and quantity that was received to a first identifier-quantity pair in the list. The method can further include storing a record indicating that the pharmaceutical product is counterfeit if the frequency and amplitude of the photonic signal does not match the frequency and amplitude corresponding to the first identifier-quantity pair.

Abstract: Systems and methods for binding a secret to a computer system are disclosed. Systems and methods for generating a strong hardware identification (SHWID) for a given computer system are also disclosed. The strong hardware identification (SHWID) is coupled to a bound secret. The strong hardware identification (SHWID) may be used to control the use of software on the given computer system depending on the degree of hardware changes to the computer system.

Abstract: Registration codes associated with applications loaded on an information handling system are stored in a registration code table by a registration code module and retrieved for use when needed by an application to perform a restricted function, such as install or maintenance functions. The registration code table is populated at manufacture of the information handling system or automatically based on user preferences as a user inputs registration codes. The registration code table is secured with authentication information on the information handling system or, alternatively, at a network location accessible by the information handling system.

Abstract: Information is incorporated into motion picture film prints in the form of images or patterns that appear as unobtrusive defects or artifacts. The unique codes are used in association with the print number of the film and are reproduced in video copies of the film made by counterfeiters. This code can be read from the counterfeit copy and can be used to trace the source of the counterfeit. The digits of the print number are recorded in separate frames to increase the difficulty to counterfeiters in detecting and deleting them.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus handling a removable formation recording medium storing predetermined substance information and first license information concerning the information processing apparatus includes a storing part storing second license information concerning the removable information recording medium, a license checking part carrying out checking of license information with the use of at least one of the first license information and the second license information, and a substance information usage allowability control part controlling, based on a result of the checking carried out by the license checking part, allowability for usage of the predetermined substance information from the removable information recording medium.

Abstract: An administrative system receives unique ID information of disk from an orderer for ordering manufacture of the disks and provides the unique ID information for a disk maker. The maker stores on the disk unique attribute information of the disk including identification information for the disk maker side. The administrative system obtains normal recording information generated if normal recording is carried out when recording on the disk the unique attribute information of the disk. Alternatively, the administrative system obtains abnormal recording information generated if abnormal recording is carried out. Disk administrative information, for example, number of pieces of the disks delivered from the factory, is generated from the obtained normal and abnormal recording information.

Abstract: A method of maintaining electronic medical records, comprising the steps of receiving a medical transaction record, encrypted with an encryption key relating to a patient association of the file, accessing the encrypted medical transaction record according to a patient association; and further encrypting the encrypted accessed medical transaction record with an encryption key associated with an intended recipient of the medical record. The system and method according to the present invention presents a new business model for the creation, maintenance, transmission, and use of medical records, allowing financial burdens to be reallocated, for example more optimally or equitably, to decrease overall societal cost, or simply to provide a successful business model for a database proprietor. Secure entrusted medical records are held in trust by an independent third party on behalf of the patient, serving the medical community at large.

Abstract: An automated banking machine (10) with customizable transaction receipts is provided. The automated banking machine may include a computer (30), at least one printer device (24, 44, 46), at least one input device (14, 16, 32) and at least one transaction function device (20, 22, 26, 36). The machine may be in communication with a further computer (37) which includes a data store (38) with document templates (42) stored therein. Each of the document templates may be associated with template attributes (48). A document template from the data store may be selected responsive to at least one characteristic of: a printer device of the machine, a consumer using the machine, and/or a transaction function being performed at the machine. The machine may generate and print one or more documents using one or more printer devices of the machine responsive to the document template and the transaction function.

Abstract: Acoustic signal encoder is provided which comprises a subband filter band to divide an original signal into a plurality of frequency bands, a spectrum transformation circuit to detect the amplitude of a signal in each of the plurality of frequency bands in each of sub-blocks resulted by division of a block length for signal coding, process the signal amplitude in each band based on the detected amplitude and transform the signals divided in the frequency bans to spectra, a normalizing circuit and quantizing circuit to normalize and quantize the spectrum, respectively, and a code row generator to generate a code row from the signals processed by the above circuits.

Abstract: An apparatus, program product and method for determining unreturned standby resource usage. Unreturned standby resource data is monitored and stored separately from other standby resource data for billing and other accounting purposes.

Abstract: A system and method for licensing the use of “plug-in” type software that plays audio, video, and three dimensional content which logs the network address from which content is downloaded and played by the plug-in client software, then sends this information to a billing system maintained by the plug-in software developer. This billing system can then bill the content provider that is associated with the network address based on the number of times the content is played by users of the plug-in software. The system and method can also employ a public key encryption scheme to ensure that the network address information received by the plug-in software is valid and to block the playing of content from content providers that are delinquent in their license payments.

Abstract: A media renting system includes a media rental provider and a client machine. The provider communicates with the client machine via a data transmission network. The provider stores user information including a payment card number of a user and a hardware ID of the client machine. In a related media renting method, when the user information from the client machine is recorded in the provider, the client machine succeeds to rent the media file and displays the media file. When rental fees of the media file are greater than or equal to a purchase price of the media file, the provider deducts the purchase price from a balance of the payment card and binds the media file to the client machine.

Abstract: In the present invention, a program is provided with a dummy module into which a watermark can be inserted without any effect on the operation of the program, and an digital signature. It is thereby possible for a distributor to insert a watermark for specifying a user to the dummy module, and to prevent unauthorized leakage of the program by the distributor. Further, by providing the program body with an digital signature, it is possible to prevent tampering of the program by the distributor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating many uniquely identifiable media copies from a few uniquely marked masters to reduce the expense of subjecting each media copy to a marking process while maintaining the ability to trace unauthorized copies back to an authorized source. A number of masters of a film or media presentation are digitally or optically marked with identifiers to distinguish each master from each other master. The identifiers provide the ability to distinguish corresponding partitions or segments among masters. The masters with their identifiers are then duplicated. Final media prints are then assembled by combining segments with the duplicated identifiers from various masters in a manner to form segments with unique identifier sequences. Thus, each final print may be distinguished from each other final print by their identifier sequences.

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: A transaction for downloadable digital data is facilitated over an electronic network. A presence is maintained on the electronic network to which a consumer may connect. A page is transmitted from the presence to the consumer over the electronic network, the page including information concerning the downloadable digital data. A command is received from the consumer over the electronic network indicating that the consumer wishes the transaction for the downloadable digital data.

Abstract: An editing apparatus generates a capsular work with usage conditions for each of plural usages and usage secret information. A ticket server apparatus issues a ticket containing a ticket key in the case of allowing a user to practice the usage requested by the user. A distribution center apparatus distributes the capsular work in accordance with the user's request. An audiovisual apparatus acquires the capsular work from the distribution center apparatus and requests the ticket necessary to make use of the capsular work from the ticket server apparatus, and then decrypts the encrypted work data contained in the capsular work and reproduces the work data only in the case where the audiovisual apparatus has acquired the ticket.

Abstract: Music is blanket transmitted to each customer's computer-based user station. Customers preselect from a list of available music in advance using an interactive screen selector, and pay only for music that they choose to have recorded for unlimited playback. An antipiracy “ID tag” is woven into the recorded music so that any illegal copies therefrom may be traced to the purchase transaction. Music is transmitted on a fixed schedule or through an active scheduling process that monitors music requests from all or a subset of satellite receivers and adjust scheduling according to demand for various CD's. In those instances where transmission interruptions result in data loss, the system downloads the next transmission of the requested CD and uses both transmissions to produce a “good copy”. In conjunction to the blanket transmission, an automated CD manufacturing facility may be provided to manufacture CD's and distribute them by ground transportation.

Abstract: A system for remote data acquisition and private and secure and authenticated, centralized processing and storage is disclosed called the DataTreasury™ Repository System. The DataTreasury™ Repository System provides a secure system for the storage and retrieval of data comprising personal information, financial information, and general information. The identity of the users are held private through the use of a biometric as the sole personal identifier. The system acquires transactional data at at least one remote locations, encrypts the data, transmits the encrypted data to a central location, transforms the data to a usable form, performs identification verification using biometric data, generates informative reports from the data and transmits the informative reports to the remote location(s), while maintaining privacy, security, and authenticity of the user's data and biometric. To ensure the complete security of the system, all data is re-encrypted while in storage, or when it is in a state of nonuse.

Abstract: Providing software over a network may include receiving a redirected access over the network from a user device at a central server, and receiving an identification of a network device and/or electronic advertisement from which the user device was redirected. A download file including the software and an acquisition code may be provided wherein the acquisition code corresponds to the identification of the network device and/or electronic advertisement from which the user device was redirected. In addition, the download file including the software and the acquisition code may be transmitted over the network to the user device. Related systems and computer program products are also discussed.

Abstract: Federated systems for issuing playback certifications granting access to technically protected content are described. One embodiment of the system includes a registration server connected to a network, a content server connected to the network and to a trusted system, a first device including a non-volatile memory that is connected to the network and a second device including a non-volatile memory that is connected to the network. In addition, the registration server is configured to provide the first device with a first set of activation information in a first format, the first device is configured to store the first set of activation information in non-volatile memory, the registration server is configured to provide the second device with a second set of activation information in a second format, and the second device is configured to store the second set of activation information in non-volatile memory.

Abstract: An approach for establishing secure communication among multiple multicast groups using a multi-master directory is disclosed. The multi-master directory is on a per object and per attribute access controls basis. The event service nodes, which can implemented as event servers, are distributed throughout an enterprise domain. The attributes of the event service nodes include the group session key and the private keys of the event service nodes. A standardized authentication service is used to register publishers and subscribers. These publishers and subscribers can individually belong to multiple multicast groups under a readily scalable, secure network architecture.

Abstract: When a person uses a first portable music player to wirelessly transmit a tune to a person with a second player in a social networking transaction for playing by the second player for a limited time, if the second person subsequently purchases an unrestricted version of the tune, the first person is compensated.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for a digital rights management system which enforces license rights by incorporating a decryption key in a license rights package that further includes an account number associated with a primary consumer. The digital rights management system also includes a mechanism for renewing/updating the license by charging the account number associated with a primary consumer. This way, the consumer may transfer the license rights package along with the digital content to any personal devices he likes but he is discouraged from freely disseminating the license package as uses by other consumers will be debited against his package or, if renewed/extended, charged against his account.

Abstract: An apparatus for rendering a digital content having license information defining specifics of permission of a rendering operation includes a license processor that acquires, from the license information of the digital content, a constraint defining conditions for rendering between the digital content and other digital content; an operation execution command generator that generates an operation execution command for rendering the digital content according to the constraint acquired by the license processor; and a content renderer that renders the digital content based on the operation execution command generated by the operation execution command generator.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for the electronic distribution of digitised information on demand, remote and/or local mass data stores are used to store digitised information for use in the generation of products such as software media. Available products and related information can be searched, browsed and requested at a local fulfilment unit; or requests can be made remotely. The products generated and associated packaging, certificates of authenticity, instruction manuals and licence numbers may optionally include customer specific information, and customer given personalisation. Additional security features include storing essential parts of the digitised information remotely so that products can not be generated using only locally stored information; and recording the digitised information on the at least final segments of longer than standard format CDs preventing complete copies onto CDs of standard format.

Abstract: The present invention includes a virtual customer database system for delivering personalized services to a consumer operating a communication device. The virtual customer database system includes an administrator and a distributed database. The distributed database may be selectively loaded by the administrator with customer related information extracted from participating businesses. The distributed database includes secure databases associated with each participating business and a public participant database. The administrator may process push and pull service requests by selectively querying the distributed database. Sensitive customer specific information may remain with each corresponding participating business while responses to the requests may include personalized customer specific information provided via a common interface standard.

Abstract: A method and system for enabling electronic delivery of files is disclosed. The method and system include maintaining a data repository for storing information relating to the files available in the digital marketplace, wherein the information includes business rules associated with each file that define electronic transfer of the files during commercial transactions. In response to a first user requesting to resell a particular file and thereby becoming a reseller, the data repository is accessed to dynamically generate a reseller uniform resource locator (RURL) that uniquely identifies the reseller and the file. The RURL is then provided to the reseller for posting on a website in order to make the file commercially available to others on the website.

Abstract: A method of adding a copy protection function to a program to be installed on a computer system comprising a copy protection unit is provided, said method comprising the steps of determining a decision section of the program, wherein information influencing the further course of the program is defined during execution of the program, as a function of the current running state of the program, and converting the decision section by means of code which is executable exclusively in the copy protection unit and which is executed in the copy protection unit during execution of the program.

Abstract: A content distribution method is provided that restricts content distribution means to a specific distribution method and traces a content distribution route in the specific distribution method, without any leakage, even when a user who does not reproduce contents on the way exists. The content distribution system primarily encrypts contents to distribute them from the server. When contents are distributed between terminals, a transmission terminal registers an encryption key for communication encryption in a server. A reception terminal captures the encryption key from the server. Thus, the server saves the content distribution route. Moreover, each terminal accesses the server to reproduce the contents. When the server verifies that the contents have been distributed to the terminal, the server issues the content reproduction key.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system that provides access to at least a portion of a software product are described. During operation, this system receives purchase information from a first location, where the purchase information includes information about purchased software features to which a user purchased access and where the purchased software features are provided by a first subset of modules in the software product. Next, the system receives an access request from a second location from which the software product can be accessed, where the access request includes an identifier provided to the user when the user purchased access to the purchased software features. Next, the system provides configuration instructions to the second location, where the configuration instructions dynamically enable the first subset of the modules.

Abstract: A data transfer apparatus referred to as a primary-recording-medium apparatus implements proper system operations by acquisition of information on a secondary recording medium mounted on a secondary-recording-medium apparatus to serve as a destination of a transfer (or a check-out) of a content. If a medium adopting its own unique management technique as is the case with a mini disc is used as the secondary recording medium serving as a destination of a check-out, the primary-recording-medium apparatus acquires information on the secondary recording medium from the secondary-recording-medium apparatus, which is typically a data-recording apparatus.

Abstract: A license management system may include a license analyzer that is capable of evaluating different licensing strategies for software products or services on a single device or a group of devices. Rules for licensing options are coupled with actual usage data and forecasts to determine various licensing options. The options may be implemented by an automated system for renewing licenses or changing licenses and installing updated licenses.

Abstract: In the case of modifying available copy count information which is contained in distribution data, the distribution data being distributed from a distribution server and stored in a PC which serves as a receiving device, the PC sends a reuse request to the distribution server. Thereafter, the PC receives a reuse information key from the distribution server so as to rewrite the available copy count of the distribution data based on the reuse information key, thereby making it possible to reuse the distribution data already distributed once.

Abstract: A content player can detect pirated content by storing a list of highly compressed content pieces that correspond to different pieces of content (e.g., audio content, video content, audio/video content, etc.). A piece of content to be played back by the content player is compared to the highly compressed content pieces stored at the content player. If the piece of content to be played back matches one of the highly compressed content pieces, then appropriate responsive action is taken. This repsponsive action can vary, and can include, for example, checking for a valid license, giving the user the option to notify the publisher if he or she has unknowingly acquired a pirated copy of the content, etc.

Abstract: A resource is obtained from a resource provider (RP) for a resource requester (RR) operating on a computing device. The RR has an identity descriptor (id) associated therewith, where the id including security-related information specifying an environment in which the RR operates. A code identity (code-ID) is calculated corresponding to and based on the loaded RR and loaded id. The RP verifies that the calculated code-ID in a request for the resource matches one of one or more valid code-IDs for the identified RR to conclude that the RR and id can be trusted, and the RP responds to the forwarded request by providing the requested resource to the RR.

Abstract: A method and arrangement for detecting a watermark embedded in an MPEG compressed signal includes a conventional MPEG decoder stripped to such an extent that a modified baseband video signal suitable for watermark detection is obtained. A plurality of pictures with the embedded watermark is accumulated (2,3,4) in the transform domain, and the inverse DCT (5) is applied to the accumulated result. Conventional watermark detection (6) is then applied to the accumulated plurality of pictures in the spatial domain.

Abstract: A digital rights management system for wireless platforms. The system includes client software running on the wireless platform for publishing and/or viewing protected content. Enterprise server code is executed on a first server platform for sending and receiving protected content. An extension on the enterprise server code is included for detecting the presence of protected content, storing any such protected content in memory and substituting new content for the protected content for viewing on the wireless platform. A digital rights management server provides licenses for viewing the protected content on the wireless platform. A license proxy server is coupled to the wireless platform and the digital rights management server and communicates data therebetween. In the illustrative embodiment, the protected content is digitally rights managed email message. In more specific embodiments, a rights managed secure viewer and a secure publisher run on the wireless platform.

Abstract: Subject matter includes exemplary systems and related methods for fully scalable encryption of scalable multimedia. A scalable bitstream encrypted using the subject matter maintains full functionality of scalable features in the encrypted form. The exemplary scalable encryption allows transcoding, rate shaping, and other operations directly on the ciphertext without degradation of scalable compression efficiency and error resiliency.

Abstract: Systems and methods consistent with the present invention ensure software integrity by associating each software component to be included in a federation with a distinct unique identifier. A subset of the identifiers corresponding to any two software components should match for the federation to be accepted.

Abstract: A copy prevention method and apparatus for a digital video system is disclosed including the steps of: (a) adding a header area of a header start code and key field to a reproduced bit stream: (b) decrypting and transmitting the bit stream to which the header area is added: (c) detecting a key field of the decrypted and transmitted bit stream and detecting copy prevention information; and (d) encrypting the bit stream according to information detected from stop (c) and recording it an tape. A copy protection method including receiving encrypted digital data to be recorded, key information which is required to decrypt the encrypted digital data, and first copy control information which indicates a copy permission status of the encrypted digital data; and recording the encrypted digital data, the key information, and second copy control information on a digital recording medium, based on at least a status of the first copy control information.