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 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 computer-implemented method includes issuing a transaction on the Automated Clearing House (ACH) electronic network, the transaction including instructions for printing a check, receiving the transaction, and printing the check according to the instructions.

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: A random number generating algorithm is seeded with an unpredictable number. The seed value is computed by subjecting variable data to a Secure Hashing Algorithm, and truncating the right most, or left most, 16 bytes from the message digest generated. The algorithm generates the unpredictable number by using the seed value as a counter value in the random number generator, and performing a data encryption standard operation. In one exemplary embodiment, the unpredictable number is modified to a predetermined maximum unpredictable number value as determined by the sender and receiver of the unpredictable number.

Abstract: A computerized intellectual property trading exchange is disclosed for facilitating the trading of license contracts relating to intellectual property rights or pools of intellectual property rights. The exchange includes at least one intellectual property license contract relating to intellectual property rights or pools of intellectual property rights and a computer-accessible forum configured to allow a plurality of participants to trade the license contract. The plurality of participants includes at least one seller, which may be the owner, having the license contract and desiring to trade the license contract. The plurality of participants also includes at least one buyer desiring to obtain the license contract. The buyer may be an investor, speculator, market maker, or arbitrageur, who purchases the license contract to achieve appreciation. The buyer also may be a licensee, who purchases the license contract to practice the intellectual property rights.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating copyright information for a secondarily processed content obtained by performing secondary processing on an original content, includes a secondary processed substance acquiring unit, a default license information generating unit, and a license information editing unit. The secondary processed substance acquiring unit acquires operation substances of the secondary processing performed on the original content. The default license information generating unit obtains rights expressions for the operation substances acquired by the secondary processed substance acquiring unit to generate default license information including the rights expressions as an initial value. The license information editing unit accepts selection of a desired rights expression by a user from the rights expressions of the default license information generated by the default license information generating unit to generate license information of the secondary processed content from the selected rights expression.

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: Methods are provided for collecting fees for managing and optimizing the profitability of a plurality of physicians in a healthcare practice participating in an insurance network. The methods include establishing a relationship between a healthcare consultation group and the healthcare practice participating in the insurance network to increase the physician's profitability by reducing a risk of not receiving a predetermined reimbursement amount for ancillary medical costs from the insurance network. The methods also include distributing predetermined percentages of savings attributed to the physicians' modified ancillary medical cost management behavior.