Abstract: A sensor communications system provides for the secure transfer of sensor measurement data from sensor devices to a remote, network connected server system. The sensor devices include processor to encrypt a sensor measurement data stream using the public key of an asymmetric key pair and to transmit the encrypted sensor measurement data stream through the local network interface. The remote server system includes a network gateway and a compute server with the compute server being couplable to the network gateway and an authorization server storing the private key of the asymmetric key pair. The compute server operates to decrypt the encrypted sensor measurement data stream using the private key and to process the decrypted sensor measurement data stream for presentation a user of the remote server system.

Abstract: A method includes, in a user device (24) that runs an Operating System (OS-48), deciding to preload at least a User-Interface (UI) display of a user application (26). At least the UI display is preloaded in a simulated-foreground mode in which the UI display is (i) processed in a foreground mode by the user application, but (ii) kept in a background mode by the OS and hidden from a user of the user device.

Abstract: Provided are a system and method for media content rights transferal based on protocol for management of media content rights using distributed media rights transaction ledger. One of first gateway node or first node of plurality of nodes, associated with one of first or second initiating participant, respectively, receives request or determine need for media content rights transferal of media content. Associated instance of distributed media rights transaction ledger is traversed, address of one of second node or second gateway node associated with identifier of one of a first or a second receiving participant is determined, initial media content rights transaction is issued, and new media content rights response transaction is received. Accordingly, media content rights transferal transaction is executed.

Abstract: As an example, a server may receive, from a computing device, a submission created by an author. The submission includes book data associated with a book and author data associated with the author. The author data includes incarceration data indicating whether the author was incarcerated. The server may determine, based on the author data and the book data, that the submission is publishable. The server may create, based on the book data, a printable book, an e-book, and an audio book and make one or more of the printable book, the e-book, and the audio book available for acquisition.

Abstract: One example method, includes checking, by an intelligent time detector service running on a computing system, a trial period duration of software on the computing system, starting, by the intelligent time detector service, a counter for the software, and the counter is operable to generate a counter value based on a clock of the computing system, storing, by the intelligent time detector service, a counter value of the counter, and decommissioning, by the intelligent time detector service, the software after the trial period has expired.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to extend a timestamp range supported by a watermark without breaking backwards compatibility are disclosed. An example watermark encoder includes a counter to increment symbols of a watermark timestamp and a controller to control the counter to increment the symbols of the watermark timestamp based on a key, the controller to cause the counter to restrict ones of the symbol values to increment over one of a first range of symbol values or a second range of symbol values based on a value of the key, the second range of symbol values different from the first range of symbol values.

Abstract: A computer system for providing software over a network includes: a computer system for providing software over a network is provided. The system includes: a control unit configured to reside at a site, the control unit including a control unit identification (ID) that uniquely identifies the control unit to the network; a copy of the software, the software including sets of features; a license generator configured to create a features activation file containing the control unit ID and identifying at least one set of features to be activated by the control unit; a computer configured to download the features activation file to the control unit; and, the control unit configured for activating one of the sets of features according to the features activation file. A method and a computer program product are disclosed.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to personal information management. Various embodiments disclosed herein relate to a personal information management device, a personal information management system, a personal information management method, and a computer-readable non-transitory medium that records the personal information. In an example, a personal information management method based on a blockchain or by using a smart contract based on a blockchain is provided. In another example, a portable electronic device and a system operating to manage personal information are provided. In another example, a computer-readable non-volatile recording medium having a computer code recorded therein, required for the personal information management, is provided.

Abstract: Systems, methods, articles of manufacture, and computer-readable media for secure authentication based on identity data stored in a contactless card associated with an account. An application may receive an indication specifying to perform an operation. The application may receive encrypted data from the card. The application may receive an indication that the authentication server decrypted the encrypted data. The application may determine a type of data required to authorize the operation. The application may receive data comprising passport data or driver license data from the card. The application may determine that the data satisfies a rule for authorizing the operation and authorize performance of the operation based on the authentication server verifying the encrypted data and the data satisfying the at least one rule.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for encrypting and/or decrypting content according to broadcast encryption scheme. The decryption method includes: determining whether or not a revoked device among devices that have licenses for predetermined content is present; and according to the determination result, selectively decrypting a content key encrypted by using a key to prevent the revoked device from decrypting the predetermined content. By doing so, an unnecessary encryption process and decryption process that occur when there is no revoked device are avoided.

Abstract: Metering is enabled through an arrangement in which a metering certificate is communicated to a mobile device using an over-the-air protocol. A metering trigger provides the metering certificate that includes a location to which metering data is posted by the mobile device and a public key of a public-private key pair, or alternatively provides a link to such metering certificate. A metering helper passes the metering certificate to a DRM system on the mobile device which collects metering data associated with the metering ID and uses the public key to encrypt the metering data into a metering challenge. The metering helper posts the metering challenge to the location. The metering service extracts the metering data from the metering challenge using a private key and generates a metering response that is received by the metering helper which prompts the DRM system to reset at least a portion of a data store in which the metering data is stored.

Abstract: A system for automatically locating and data-typing information originating from many Web pages, and then collecting that information in a database. The database is then made available via an online data marketplace which allows users from different organizations to buy and sell related data, associated advertisements, and access to the communities of end-users who may also view advertisements and make purchases.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, a data processing system, and a computer program publish an audio annotation of a media signal. A media player plays a media signal. The media player then records an audio annotation to the media signal. Responsive to recording the audio annotation to the media signal, the media player records an identifier to be associated with the media signal. The audio annotation is then published to a social networking host.

Abstract: A method enables selected features of a software product residing on an end user electronic device with a license delivered from a licensing provider to a service provider of the end user electronic device. The method includes requesting at least one license to authorize a first service provider. An encrypted installation key uniquely associated with the first service provider is received as well as an authorization agent module for installation on one or more authorization agent devices associated with the first service provider. The encrypted installation key and the authorization agent module are installed on the authorization agent devices. A device-unique identifier (DUID) is generated for each authorization agent device based on hardware characteristics of the respective authorization agent devices. The DUID and the encrypted installation key are sent from the authorization agent device to a licensing provider to obtain the requested license.

Abstract: A proactive intellectual property enforcement system is disclosed. File sharing services may be disrupted by uploading a collection of multiple modified versions of a media file. The collection of modified copies may each include a distinct portion of modified and unmodified content. However, even though each modified copy includes a distinct variation of modified and unmodified content, the set of modified files are constructed such that some common portion (or portions) of the media file are always created as the modified version. Thus, a complete, unmodified copy of the media title cannot be reconstructed from the set of modified copies.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing digital rights settings are provided. In some aspects, the systems and methods described include receiving user input including an order for obtaining access rights to a media asset. Control circuitry determines whether the media asset is associated with a first package of media assets. The control circuitry cross-references a database of user order history to determine whether the user has obtained access rights for each media asset in the first package of media assets. If the user has obtained access rights for each media asset in the first package of media assets, the control circuitry generates digital rights settings for each media asset in the first package of media assets to enable the user to create a mashup. The mashup includes portions of at least one media asset in the first package. The control circuitry generates a display based on the digital rights settings.

Abstract: A content key (CK) to decrypt a piece of encrypted content is obtained encrypted according to a public key of a licensor (PU-L) to result in (PU-L(CK)). (PU-L(CK)) is obscured according to (PU-L) and a value R to result in Obs (PU-L(CK)), and Obs (PU-L(CK)) is sent to the licensor, which applies a private key (PR-L) corresponding to (PU-L) to Obs (PU-L(CK)) to result in Obs (CK) as an obscured version of (CK). Obs (CK) is received from the licensor; and (CK) is obtained from Obs (CK) based on applying R thereto. The licensor cannot identify from Obs (PU-L(CK)) or from Obs (CK) the encrypted content or the content key (CK) from which the encrypted content may be identified.

Abstract: A content rental system includes one data store for storing rental content. The content rental system also includes a content server for transferring content to one viewing device based upon a received request. The content server is further configured to authorize the transfer of the content from the viewing device to another viewing device.

Abstract: A system for identifying digital content related to a portion of a block of text receives, automatically or via input by a user, an indication of one or more words included in the block of text. The system searches a database of digital content based on the one or more words and retrieves from the database one or more digital content items or identifiers of digital content items that are related to the one or more words. The system provides the retrieved digital content items or identifiers to the user, and receives a selection of one or more of the provided items or identifiers from the user. The system associates for display or replay the one or more selected digital content items with the one or more words in the block of text. Other embodiments of the system are also disclosed.

Abstract: An information retrieval system uses phrases to index, retrieve, organize and describe documents, analyzing documents and storing the results of the analysis as phrase data. Phrases are identified that predict the presence of other phrases in documents. Documents are the indexed according to their included phrases. Related phrases and phrase extensions are also identified. Changes to existing phrase data about a document collection submitted by a user is captured and analyzed, and the existing phrase data is updated to reflect the additional knowledge gained through the analysis.

Abstract: A system for physical distribution of secure content to customers and physical collection of secure billing information. A plurality of content storage devices may be provided to a customer, each content storage device including secure content. A billing storage device may also be provided to the customer, the billing storage device including decryption information, which may be used by a media player for decrypting the secure content of the content storage devices to exhibit the secure content to the customer. The content and billing storage devices may be provided to the customer via physical delivery and without electronic data transmission occurring to or from the physical location of the customer. After each billing period, the billing storage device may be received from the customer via physical delivery. The billing storage device includes secure billing information stored in a writeable area, which is associated with the exhibition of secure content to the customer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for protecting digital assets associated with a computing device are described herein. An example of a method according to the disclosure includes assigning at least one asset worth value to respective digital assets associated with a device, computing at least one device worth value using the at least one asset worth value assigned to the digital assets associated with the device, identifying at least one device worth value threshold, performing a comparison of the at least one device worth value to the at least one worth value threshold, and initiating at least one action with respect to the digital assets associated with the device based on the comparison.

Abstract: A system and method for managing sponsorships by a sponsor, in which the party requesting the sponsorship requests to use content owned and protected by the sponsor, such as trademarks, logos, and copyrighted material. An embodiment of the method involves receiving, at a computer network site, a request for sponsorship from a requestor and responding to the request by sending either an approval or a rejection. If an approval is sent, the method further involves providing the requestor with access to content of the sponsor through the site. As part of providing this access, the method can involve requiring the requestor to accept an agreement posted on the site. The method can also include monitoring the requestor's actual use of the content.

Abstract: An instance of an application hierarchy can be stored on a client computer to facilitate enforcement of software licensing by a software license component of a software protection system. The application hierarchy is a tree structure (e.g., unordered) that includes a top node, one or more product offering group(s), and, one or more selling unit(s). A computer-implemented software protection system can facilitate enforcement of software licensing on a client computer. The software protection system includes a software license component that can store and enforce software licensing rule(s). The software license component can further manipulate state data of an instance of the application hierarchy stored in a licensing data store via application program interface(s) (APIs). State data and/or property(ies) of a particular node of the instance of the application hierarchy can be accessed through the API via an assigned identifier.

Abstract: An encrypted content and its encryption key under a copy right use condition of prohibiting a copy by the device having received a content are stored, and the encrypted content is copy-transferred with another device through the network, and at the same time, the encryption key is transferred through the network, so that it is stored in either one of the devices. Even when a high definition television broadcast signal received with a copy-once taken as a copy right use condition is recorded, an access flag that controls the presence or absence of the reproduction of the broadcast content for each broadcast content is provided. When an original broadcast content is transcoded into a low resolution, and is transfer to another device, its access flag is turned on, thereby making the reproduction possible.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for electronically managing content. In one embodiment, information identifying content items found on a page is received from a client system through code embedded on the page. Systems and methods for associating advertisement data with content items are also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and computer program products are disclosed that present a delegated-right to a delegation system by a service-application provisioned with the delegation system. The delegated-right enables the service-application to perform an operation/access on behalf of a delegator-user. The method then attempts to perform the operation/access.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for managing limited-use software on a host computer having an operating system is disclosed. A software application can be installed in the operating system as a virtualized application using light weight virtualization technology. Rights usage information for the software application is received, the rights usage information comprising a rule describing permitted use of the software application on the host computer. A determination is made whether to enable the virtualized application based at least in part on the rights usage information. Responsive to the determination, the virtualized application is enabled to be executed on the host computer.

Abstract: Distinguishing the background musical soundtrack from a secondary musical soundtrack of a licensed musical recording; mapping a sequential pattern of background musical fingerprints for the background musical soundtrack of the licensed recording; mapping a sequential pattern of secondary musical fingerprints for the secondary musical soundtrack of the licensed recording; and storing the background musical fingerprint patterns and the secondary musical fingerprint patterns in a database of licensed musical recordings.

Abstract: A system and method for selling software products over a network. The system includes a server computer with access to software products. The system is configured to allow a user to purchase a subscription for the periodic acquisition of selected software products. In one embodiment, as part of the subscription, the user pays an amount during selected billing intervals. In return, the system issues to the user a number of credits for downloading at no additional charge at least one of the software products during a credit interval, which may be equal in length to the billing interval. In one embodiment, the system debits a number of credits in response to fulfilling a user's purchase request. The system may be also configured to deduct credits that are not used within selected credit intervals.

Abstract: A system and method for managing use of items having usage rights associated therewith. The system includes an activation device adapted to issue a software package having a public and private key pair, the public key being associated with a user, a license device adapted to issue a license, a usage device adapted to receive the software package, receive the license and allow the user to access the item in accordance with the license, and a subscription managing device adapted to maintain a subscription list including the public key associated with the user. License's is issued by the license device upon verifying presence of the public key in the subscription list corresponding to requested content.

Abstract: The invention provides an end-to-end automated streaming workflow process which enables real-time or batch processing to grant licenses and to acquire licenses for 3rd party copyrighted content. Using a computer, the invention automates the permissions transaction process of procuring and processing licenses real-time or by batch, reducing lead-times from many weeks or months to hours, automatically transforming and translating requests and responses for global e-commerce among multi-vendor systems and non-standard rights semantics and languages, eliminating or reducing manual labor effort, negotiating licensing fees to conform with specifications, protecting rights-holders' intellectual property rights and assuring rights-holders they are fairly compensated and paid for their work, identifying “public domain” and/or “fair use” works, saving companies time and money, while providing a competitive advantage for publishers and the enterprise.

Abstract: A group licensing scheme for validating groups of virtual objects within a distributed virtual world is provided. Each of a number of distributed virtual world servers hosts a cell, or virtual space, of the virtual world. In operation, a first virtual world server categorizes virtual objects into a number of groups. Either before or after creating the groups, the first virtual world server validates each virtual object individually. Once the virtual objects are validated and the groups are formed, the first virtual world server generates a group license for each of the groups. When a group of virtual objects or an avatar associated with one or more groups of virtual objects moves to a virtual space hosted by a second virtual world server, the corresponding group licenses are provided to the second virtual world server, which validates the one or more groups of virtual objects based on the group licenses.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for securely delivering media data. A requestor is directed to a secure streaming portal after being authenticated. A requesting application contacts the secure streaming portal and requests media data. A configuration header having a key for decrypting the media data is sent to the requesting application using secure communications. The media data is dynamically encrypted using the key and streamed to the requesting application. The requesting application uses the key and decrypts the encrypted media data for consumption.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for controlling the activation of computer games. In one embodiment, the technique may involve receiving a combination of a game identifier for the game and a device identifier for the device. The technique may further involve accessing a database of known game identifiers, each known game identifier being associated with a device count corresponding to a total number of known devices on which a known game was previously played or activated, and obtaining a usage policy for the game.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for placing a time stamp in a remotely applied watermark is disclosed. The method permits a time stamp of high resolution to be added remotely while minimizing the number of bits necessary in the time stamp.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for facilitating online storage of files (e.g., audio tracks, video, etc.) for playback/access or sale/exchange by the owners of the files without violating copyrights that copyright holders have in the files. For example, by providing a playback service that does not store additional versions of an audio file when the file is transmitted to, and immediately played on, a user device without buffering, the present invention avoids violating copyright laws by not making copies of the file. Numerous other aspects are disclosed.

Abstract: Usage rights for a digital work are established prior to creation of the corresponding content. The rights can be associated with the content after the content is created. A content creation, such as a video recorder or a still camera, device can store labels of the rights and can associate usage rights with content in real time as the content is created.

Abstract: A method for providing protected content, wherein content usage rights information and/or usage state information is embedded into obtained primary data that serves as a basis for a content item to be provided thereby providing the primary data with the embedded content usage rights information and/or usage state information as the content item.

Abstract: A license handling information handling system receives an electronic message from a first computer system utilized by a first user. The first user's message requests a license to a licensed product that has previously been purchased by the organization. The license handling information handling system identifies a second user in the organization that currently has a license to the licensed product, and requests that the second user relinquish the license to the licensed product. The second user indicates that the second user's license will be relinquished for a temporary time period. The licensing handling information handling system sends an electronic message, including the temporary time period, to the first user. In response to the first user accepting the temporary time period, the second user's license to the licensed product is revoked, and the first user is granted a license to the licensed product.

Abstract: A method for sharing electronic books may include receiving a request to borrow an electronic book. The request may be received from a borrowing user's electronic book reader. The method may also include generating a borrowing user's license for the electronic book. The method may also include transmitting a copy of the electronic book to the borrowing user's electronic book reader. The method may also include transmitting the borrowing user's license to the borrowing user's electronic book reader.

Abstract: A portable device may be roamed from one host to another. In one example, the portable device stores software that is to be executed by a host. The host may maintain a policy that governs which software may be executed on the host. When the portable device is connected to a host, the host checks the software version installed on the guest to determine whether that software version is compatible with the host's policy. If the guest's software does not comply with the host's policy, then the host installs a compatible version. If the guest's version complies with the policy and is newer than the host's version, then the host copies the guest's version to the host and propagates it to other guests. In this way, newer versions of software propagate between hosts and guests, while also respecting specific execution policies of the various hosts.

Abstract: A method for accessing a service on a network, via a user terminal (30), includes a subscription phase wherein: a container is generated, including a first set of authentication data for accessing the service and a second set of useful data relating to access rights to the service the first and second sets of data being encrypted, the container is transmitted securely from the user terminal, and an access phase wherein: the container is transmitted securely from the terminal to a management server connected to the network, during a request for access, after decryption of the constituent data of the container, the server verifies the validity of the first set of data and, in the event that verification is successful, authorizes access to the service for its execution, based on the access rights.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for facilitating online storage of files (e.g., audio tracks, video, etc.) for playback/access or sale/exchange by the owners of the files without violating copyrights that copyright holders have in the files. For example, by providing a playback service that does not store additional versions of an audio file when the file is transmitted to, and immediately played on, a user device without buffering, the present invention avoids violating copyright laws by not making copies of the file. Numerous other aspects are disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for brokering media content or segments created by media creators for use by licensees on a website or webpage of the licensees. The media creators upload their media to a hosting database via an account, and potential licensees bid for the right to be a licensee and to use the media on their webpage. The highest bidding licensee receives a permission authorizing the delivery and display of the media on their webpage, via the database recording the actual page views and deliveries for calculating a license fee to be paid to the host and to the media creators for use of the media thereon.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide methods, apparatuses, and systems to distribute content over a network. Some embodiments provide methods to distribute content within a local media network. These methods receive a request for a first content to be transferred to a sink device, request from the source an access criteria for a first content that is protected according to a first digital rights management (DRM), forward the access criteria to the sink device, receive an evaluation of the access criteria from the sink device regarding at least whether the sink device can interpret the first DRM, determine according to the evaluation received from the sink device whether the sink device can utilize the first content that is protected according to the first DRM, and initiate a transfer of the first content from the source device to the sink device when the sink device can utilize the first content.

Abstract: A digital Rights Management (DRM), and particularly an apparatus and method of authentication between DRM agents for moving Rights Object (RO) is provided, whereby RO and contents can be moved between DRM agents after a simple authentication therebetween using specific authentication information received from a Rights Issuer (RI), in case where the RO is moved in a user domain or among a plurality of DRM agents.

Abstract: An information service system works to record or print out, at a fee, information contents downloaded from Web servers, information received from facsimiles and information carried on portable storage mediums. The system includes a recording part which records, duplicates and prints out the image of digitized information, an information accumulating part which accumulates information by making relation with users, a user authenticating part which receives user authentication information and authenticates the legitimacy of the user, a fee calculating part which calculates the fee for information recording, a payment reception part which receives the payment of fee by the user, and a management part which manages the charging data and payment data. The recording part records the supplied information only after authentication of user legitimacy and payment of fee by the user.

Abstract: Interoperability of protected content items between computing devices is facilitated by providing content items having a standard representation, and media players having support for the content item representations. The representation of the content item may be limited by a profile as to the elements it contains. The elements allowed in the content item may also be limited.

Abstract: A system, method and carrier medium for modeling a Financial Service Organization (FSO) business in a computer software program and for storing the model of the FSO business in a database. An object-oriented business model representing the FSO may be created and stored in a business model database. The one or more business objects included in the business model may be configured to describe various products, methods, functions and properties associated with an FSO. A process map business object may describe a process workflow. The process workflow may identify a sequence of tasks to be performed by an FSO production system to process an FSO transaction. The sequence of tasks associated with an FSO transaction may be consistent with pre-defined business logic for the transaction. Selecting a task object from a plurality of task objects and transferring the task object to a process map display representing the process map business object may create the process workflow.