System and Methods Providing Secure Delivery of Licenses and Content

Abstract

A computer network having a requesting node and a providing node permits data transfer therebetween when permitted by an authorizing node. Reports generated in response to authorizations and reports generated in response to data transfers are reconciled at a reconciliation node to improve the accuracy of payments collected and paid for use of the data. Such payments include copyright royalties for audio, video, and other works recorded in digital format.

1 . A method for reducing the risk of unauthorized access to an electronic digital data product, the method comprising: 
 conveying a permit from a source to a consumer subsystem without conveying indicia of identification of the source, conveying the permit being in response to a first notice that payment for the permit has been assured by a first provided process, assuring being in response to receiving by the first provided process a request for the permit that originated from the consumer subsystem, the request for the permit being without indicia of the identification of the source; and    conveying a portion of the electronic digital data product from the source to the consumer subsystem without conveying indicia of identification of the source, conveying the portion of the electronic digital data product being in response to a second notice that a request for the electronic digital data product has been received by a second provided process from the consumer subsystem.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the source comprises a multiple subsystem facility.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the indicia of identification of the source identifies the multiple subsystem facility.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the multiple subsystem facility comprises: 
 a first subsystem for conveying the permit;    a second subsystem for conveying the portion of the electronic digital data product; and    a private network coupling the first subsystem to the second subsystem.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the indicia of identification of the source identifies the first subsystem.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the indicia of identification of the source identifies the second subsystem.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a portion of the permit is encrypted.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the request for the electronic digital data product comprises at least a portion of the permit.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the second notice comprises at least a portion of the permit.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the consumer subsystem comprises a consumer substation.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the consumer subsystem comprises a browser that initiates the request for the permit and the request for the electronic digital data product.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the electronic digital data product comprises at least one of a digital work, a file, an audio recording, a video recording, an executable program, a document, a multimedia program, and content.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein conveying the portion of the electronic digital data product comprises downloading the electronic digital data product in entirety.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein conveying the portion of the electronic digital data product comprises streaming the electronic digital data product.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein conveying the permit comprises transferring electronic digital data in a protected transfer.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the protected transfer comprises an anonymous transfer.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein conveying the portion of the electronic digital data product comprises transferring electronic digital data in a protected transfer.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the protected transfer comprises an anonymous transfer.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein conveying the permit comprises: 
 detecting a prerequisite event, the event being at least one of receiving the first notice and determining a network address of the consumer subsystem; and    for conveying electronic digital data across an interface and from a port in accordance with a protocol that denies entry into a state for transferring electronic digital data of the permit unless the event is detected.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein conveying the portion of the electronic digital data product comprises: 
 detecting a prerequisite event, the event being at least one of receiving the second notice, receiving at least a portion of the permit, receiving a key for encrypting the portion of the electronic digital data product, and determining a network address of the consumer subsystem; and    conveying electronic digital data across an interface and from a port in accordance with a protocol that denies entry into a state for transferring electronic digital data of the product unless the event is detected.    
     
     
         21 . A system for reducing the risk of unauthorized access to an electronic digital data product, the system comprising: 
 means for conveying a permit from a source to a consumer subsystem without conveying indicia of identification of the source, conveying the permit being in response to a first notice that payment for the permit has been assured by a first provided process, assuring being in response to receiving by the first provided process a request for the permit that originated from the consumer subsystem, the request for the permit being without indicia of the identification of the source;    means for receiving at least two reports of a plurality of reports during a time period, wherein the plurality of reports include a permit request report, a permit delivery report, a product delivery request report, a product delivery commencement report, and a product delivery completion report; and    means for conveying a portion of the electronic digital data product from the source to the consumer subsystem without conveying indicia of identification of the source, conveying the portion of the electronic digital data product being in response to a second notice that a request for the electronic digital data product has been received by a second provided process from the consumer subsystem.    
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the source comprises a multiple subsystem facility.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the indicia of identity of the source comprises indicia of identity of the multiple subsystem facility.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the multiple subsystem facility comprises: 
 a first subsystem for conveying the permit;    a second subsystem for conveying the portion of the electronic digital data product; and    a private network coupling the first subsystem to the second subsystem.    
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the indicia of identification of the source identifies the first subsystem.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the indicia of identification of the source identifies the second subsystem.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein a portion of the permit is encrypted.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the request for the electronic digital data product comprises at least a portion of the permit.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the second notice comprises at least a portion of the permit.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the consumer subsystem comprises a consumer substation.  
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the consumer subsystem comprises a browser that initiates the request for the permit and the request for the electronic digital data product.  
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the electronic digital data product comprises at least one of a digital work, a file, an audio recording, a video recording, an executable program, a document, a multimedia program, and content.  
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the means for conveying the portion of the electronic digital data product comprises means for downloading the electronic digital data product in entirety.  
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the means for conveying the portion of the electronic digital data product comprises means for streaming the electronic digital data product.  
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the means for conveying the permit comprises means for transferring electronic digital data in a protected transfer.  
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the protected transfer comprises an anonymous transfer.  
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the means for conveying the portion of the electronic digital data product comprises means for transferring electronic digital data in a protected transfer.  
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the protected transfer comprises an anonymous transfer.  
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the means for conveying the permit comprises: 
 means for detecting a prerequisite event, the event being at least one of receiving the first notice and determining a network address of the consumer subsystem; and    means for conveying electronic digital data across an interface and from a port in accordance with a protocol that denies entry into a state for transferring electronic digital data of the permit unless the event is detected.    
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the means for conveying the portion of the electronic digital data product comprises: 
 means for detecting a prerequisite event, the event being at least one of receiving the second notice, receiving at least a portion of the permit, receiving a key for encrypting the portion of the electronic digital data product, and determining a network address of the consumer subsystem; and    means for conveying electronic digital data across an interface and from a port in accordance with a protocol that denies entry into a state for transferring electronic digital data of the product unless the event is detected.