Patent US6618484B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6618484B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Steganographic techniques for securely delivering electronic digital rights management control information over insecure communication channels
Assignee: Intertrust Technologies Corp
•
Filing: 2002-07-05
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Granted: 2003-09-09
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Expires: 2022-07-05
Abstract
Abstract Electronic steganographic techniques can be used to encode a rights management control signal onto an information signal carried over an insecure communications channel. Steganographic techniques ensure that the digital control information is substantially invisibly and substantially indelibly carried by the information signal. These techniques can provide end-to-end rights management protection of an information signal irrespective of transformations between analog and digital. An electronic appliance can recover the control information and use it for electronic rights management to provide compatibility with a Virtual Distribution Environment. In one example, the system encodes low data rate pointers within high bandwidth time periods of the content signal to improve overall control information read/seek times.
Inventors
- 👤 David M. Van Wie
- 👤 Robert P. Weber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 23:52
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/10; H; H04; H04L; H04L63/00; H04L63/04; H04L63/0428; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/38; G06Q20/382; G06Q20/3821; G11; G11B; G11B20/00; G11B20/00086; G11B20/00137; G11B20/00159; G11B20/00188; G11B20/00195; G11B20/0021; G11B20/00485; G11B20/00557; G11B20/0071; G11B20/00731; G11B20/00746; G11B20/00753; G11B20/00768; G11B20/0084; G11B20/00884; G11B27/00; G11B27/02; G11B27/031; G11B27/10; G11B27/19; G11B27/28; G11B27/32; G11B27/327; G11B27/329; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/40; H04L12/40052; H04L12/40104; H04L12/40117; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/20; H04N21/23; H04N21/234; H04N21/2347; H04N21/25; H04N21/254; H04N21/2541; H04N21/40; H04N21/41; H04N21/426; H04N21/42646; H04N21/43; H04N21/44; H04N21/4405; H04N21/441; H04N21/4415; H04N21/442; H04N21/44204; H04N21/44236; H04N21/45; H04N21/462; H04N21/4627; H04N21/80; H04N21/83; H04N21/835; H04N21/8358; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/91; H04N5/913; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/173; G06F12/00; G06F12/14; G06F12/1458; G06F12/1483; G06F2211/00; G06F2211/007; G11B20/10; G11B2020/10916; G11B2220/00; G11B2220/20; G11B2220/21; G11B2220/215; G11B2220/216; G11B2220/218; G11B2220/25; G11B2220/2537; G11B2220/2562; G11B2220/2575; H04N2005/91307; H04N2005/91321; H04N2005/91328; H04N2005/91335; H04N2005/91357; H04N2005/91364; H04N5/765; H04N5/77; H04N5/772; H04N5/775; H04N5/84; H04N5/85; H04N9/00; H04N9/79; H04N9/80; H04N9/804; H04N9/8042
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A computer-readable medium containing instructions, which when executed by an electronic appliance, are operable to cause the electronic appliance to perform actions including the following: receiving (1) a secure digital container including a file and information steganographically-encoded into the file, and (2) a first control set made up of at least one control; opening the secure digital container to retrieve at least a first portion of the file, the step of opening being at least in part controlled by the first control set; and recording information relating to the opening of the secure digital container, the recording occurring at least in part under control of the first control set.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A computer-readable medium containing instructions, which when executed by an electronic appliance, are operable to cause the electronic appliance to perform actions including the following: receiving (1) a secure digital container including a file and information steganographically-encoded into the file, and (2) a first control set made up of at least one control; opening the secure digital container to retrieve at least a first portion of the file, the step of opening being at least in part controlled by the first control set; and recording information relating to the opening of the secure digital container, the recording occurring at least in part under control of the first control set.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 1 , in which: the recorded information includes usage information relating to the date or time of the opening of the secure digital container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 1 , in which: the recorded information includes usage information relating to the identity of a user of the electronic appliance.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
81 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 1 , in which the file comprises said first portion and a second portion, the computer program package further including instructions that, if executed by the electronic appliance, are operable to cause the electronic appliance to perform actions comprising: receiving a second control set made up of at least one control, the second control set at least in part governing access to or other use of the second portion, but not governing the first portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 4 , further including instructions that, if executed by the electronic appliance, are operable to cause the electronic appliance to perform actions comprising: opening the secure digital container to retrieve at least the second portion of the file, the step of opening being at least in part controlled by the second control set.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 5 , in which: the second portion of the file contains a description of the first portion of the file.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 1 , further including instructions that, if executed by the electronic appliance, are operable to cause the electronic appliance to perform actions comprising: steganographically decoding the file to recover at least a portion of the steganographically-encoded information.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 1 , in which: the steganographically-encoded information includes information relating to the number of times the file may be accessed or used.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 1 , further including instructions that, if executed by the electronic appliance, are operable to cause the electronic appliance to perform actions comprising: transmitting at least a portion of the file to a second apparatus, the transmission being at least in part controlled by the first control set.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
107 words
A computer-readable medium containing instructions, which when executed by an electronic appliance, are operable to cause the electronic appliance to perform actions including the following: receiving (1) a secure digital container including a file and information steganographically-encoded into the file, and (2) a control set made up of at least one control; opening the secure digital container to retrieve at least a portion of the file, the opening being at least in part controlled by the control set; and transmitting information relating to the opening of the secure digital container to a remote site, the transmission occurring at least in part under control of the control set.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
107 words
A computer-readable medium containing instructions, which when executed by an electronic appliance, are operable to cause the electronic appliance to perform actions including the following: receiving (1) a secure digital container including a file and information steganographically-encoded into the file, and (2) a control set made up of at least one control; opening the secure digital container to retrieve at least a portion of the file, the opening being at least in part controlled by the control set; and transmitting information relating to the opening of the secure digital container to a remote site, the transmission occurring at least in part under control of the control set.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 10 , in which: the transmitted information includes usage information relating to the date or time of the opening of the secure digital container.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 10 , in which: the transmitted information includes usage information relating to the identity of a user of the electronic appliance.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 10 , in which: the control set includes a first control governing a first portion of the file and a second control governing a second portion of the file.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 10 , in which: the first file portion contains a description of at least a portion of the second file portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 10 , in which: the transmitted information includes usage information relating to the number of times the file has been accessed or used.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 10 , further including instructions that, if executed by the electronic appliance, are operable to cause the electronic appliance to perform actions comprising: steganographically decoding the file to recover at least a portion of the steganographically-encoded information.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 10 , in which: the steganographically-encoded information includes information relating to the number of times the file may be accessed or used.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
54 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 10 , further including instructions that, if executed by the electronic appliance, are operable to cause the electronic appliance to perform actions comprising: transmitting at least a portion of the file to a second electronic appliance, the transmission being at least in part controlled by the control set.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 18 , in which: the transmitted file portion includes at least a portion of the steganographically-encoded information.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
141 words
A computer-readable medium containing instructions, which when executed by an electronic appliance, are operable to cause the electronic appliance to perform actions including the following: receiving a first secure digital container including a file and information steganographically-encoded into the file, receiving a first control set made up of at least one control; and performing the following steps at least in part under the control of the first control set: (a) locating at least a portion of the steganographically-encoded information; (b) retrieving at least a portion of the steganographically-encoded information; (c) evaluating at least a portion of the retrieved information; (d) based at least in part on the evaluation, determining whether a user of the first apparatus may access or otherwise use at least a portion of the file; and (e) based on the determination, authorizing or blocking use of the file.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
141 words
A computer-readable medium containing instructions, which when executed by an electronic appliance, are operable to cause the electronic appliance to perform actions including the following: receiving a first secure digital container including a file and information steganographically-encoded into the file, receiving a first control set made up of at least one control; and performing the following steps at least in part under the control of the first control set: (a) locating at least a portion of the steganographically-encoded information; (b) retrieving at least a portion of the steganographically-encoded information; (c) evaluating at least a portion of the retrieved information; (d) based at least in part on the evaluation, determining whether a user of the first apparatus may access or otherwise use at least a portion of the file; and (e) based on the determination, authorizing or blocking use of the file.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
50 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 20 , further including instructions that, if executed by the electronic appliance, are operable to cause the electronic appliance to perform actions comprising: (f) if use of the file is authorized, transmitting at least a portion of the file to a second electronic appliance.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
49 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 20 , further including instructions that, if executed by the electronic appliance, are operable to cause the electronic appliance to perform actions comprising: (f) if use of the file is authorized, converting at least a portion of the file to a different format.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
50 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 20 , further including instructions that, if executed by the electronic appliance, are operable to cause the electronic appliance to perform actions comprising: (f) if use of the file is authorized, transmitting information relating to the use of the file to a remote location.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 23 , in which: the transmitted information includes usage information.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 24 , in which: the usage information includes information relating to relating to a user of the first apparatus.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 25 , in which: the usage information includes information relating to the date or time of the opening of the secure digital container.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 26 , in which: the steganographically-encoded information includes information relating to the number of times the file may be accessed or used.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
55 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 20 , further including instructions that, if executed by the electronic appliance, are operable to cause the electronic appliance to perform actions comprising: transmitting at least a portion of the file to a second electronic appliance, the transmission being at least in part controlled by the first control set.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 20 , in which: the steganographically-encoded information includes a second control set made up of at least one control.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
85 words
A computer-readable medium containing instructions, which when executed by an electronic appliance, are operable to cause the electronic appliance to perform actions including the following: receiving a signal including governed information and a steganographically-encoded first rule; steganographically decoding the signal to recover the first rule; receiving a second rule in a communication with a second electronic appliance; and using the first rule or the second rule to govern an aspect of access to or other use of at least a portion of the governed information.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
85 words
A computer-readable medium containing instructions, which when executed by an electronic appliance, are operable to cause the electronic appliance to perform actions including the following: receiving a signal including governed information and a steganographically-encoded first rule; steganographically decoding the signal to recover the first rule; receiving a second rule in a communication with a second electronic appliance; and using the first rule or the second rule to govern an aspect of access to or other use of at least a portion of the governed information.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 30 , in which: the first rule specifies a first payment amount; and the second rule specifies a second payment amount.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 30 , in which: the first rule, includes a requirement related to a digital certificate; and the second rule relates to a payment method.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 32 , in which: the digital certificate includes information relating to the capabilities of a device.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 30 , in which: the first rule and the second rule each relate to the number of times at least a portion of the governed information may be used.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
41 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 30 , in which: the first rule relates to a payment; and the second rule relates to permission for a user or class of users to use at least a portion of the governed information.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
40 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 30 , in which: the governed information includes a first portion and a second portion; the first rule governs use of the first portion; and the second rule governs use of the second portion.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 36 , in which: the first rule relates to the number of times the first portion may be used.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 36 , in which: the first rule relates to transmission of the first portion to a third electronic appliance.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 36 , in which: the first rule relates to conversion of the first portion from a first format to a second format.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
97 words
A computer-readable medium containing instructions, which when executed by an electronic appliance, are operable to cause the electronic appliance to perform actions including the following: receiving a signal including governed information and a steganographically-encoded first rule, the first rule requiring payment to a remote site prior to an access to or other use of at least a portion of the governed information; initiating an attempt to access at least a portion of the governed information; and communicating payment information to a remote second electronic appliance, the payment information relating to the access to the governed information portion.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
97 words
A computer-readable medium containing instructions, which when executed by an electronic appliance, are operable to cause the electronic appliance to perform actions including the following: receiving a signal including governed information and a steganographically-encoded first rule, the first rule requiring payment to a remote site prior to an access to or other use of at least a portion of the governed information; initiating an attempt to access at least a portion of the governed information; and communicating payment information to a remote second electronic appliance, the payment information relating to the access to the governed information portion.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
65 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 40 , further including instructions that, if executed by the electronic appliance, are operable to cause the electronic appliance to perform actions comprising: making an analog copy of at least a portion of the governed information; and steganographically incorporating a second rule into the analog copy, the second rule at least in part governing use of the analog copy.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
17 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 40 , in which: the signal also includes a steganographically-encoded watermark.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 42 , in which: the watermark includes information relating to the identity of a user of the governed information.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 40 , in which: the signal also includes a steganographically-encoded copy indicator.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
51 words
The computer-readable medium as in claim 40 , in which: the governed information includes a first portion and a second portion; the first rule governs use of the first portion but not the second portion; and the attempt to access and the payment both relate to use of the first portion.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-09-08 | 2007-03-10 | 2007-09-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-09-08 | 2011-03-10 | 2011-09-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-09-08 | 2015-03-10 | 2015-09-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |