Parallel distribution and fingerprinting of digital content

Abstract

Distributing information, including the steps of watermarking the digital content, distributing the digital content using a multi-source system, and partially fingerprinting digital content at each stage of moving information from a point of origin to the viewer. “Adaptation” of the digital content to the recipient includes maintaining the digital content in encrypted form at each such intermediate device, including decrypting the digital content with a key unique to both the device and the specific movie, selecting a portion of the watermark locations into which to embed information, embedding fingerprinting information into those locations sufficient to identify the recipient, and encrypting the fingerprinted digital content with a new such key.

1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, at a node in a network, watermarked digital content comprising a plurality of identified locations at which fingerprinting information can be embedded, those identified locations being responsive to the digital content;   at that node, selecting a portion of those locations into which to embed fingerprinting information; and   at that node, partially fingerprinting said digital content by embedding fingerprinting information at those selected locations, whereby partially-fingerprinted digital content is generated.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said digital content comprises a representation of a media stream. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said partially-fingerprinted digital content comprises information sufficient to identify at least one designated recipient of said partially-fingerprinted digital content. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 maintaining said partially-fingerprinted content at said node in said network for sending to other nodes in said network either closer to, or substantially the same distance to, a designated recipient.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said watermarked digital content is encrypted. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said step of embedding fingerprinting information comprises:
 decrypting said watermarked digital content;   embedding said fingerprinting information at said selected locations; and   encrypting said partially-fingerprinted digital content.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said decrypting comprises decrypting said watermarked digital content with a first key, and wherein said encrypting comprises encrypting said partially-fingerprinted digital content with a second key. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said first key and said second key are supplied by a key server. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein different portions of said digital content are delivered from said node in said network, to different other nodes and from those other nodes to a designated recipient. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein a plurality of said nodes in that network are disposed in a tiered structure. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein an amount of fingerprinting information added at said node in said network is responsive to a position of said node in said tiered structure. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a point of origin occupies a higher tier, a plurality of intermediate nodes are organized into a series of lower tiers, and a plurality of intended recipients occupy a lowest tier. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said node in said network obtains a copy of said digital content from another node in said network at a same tier or a higher tier as said node in said network, either in response to a request for such content, or in anticipation of such requests. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein playback of said watermarked digital content is responsive to a playback certificate. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said playback certificate is issued by a key server. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said playback certificate is encrypted with a playback certificate key. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein issuance of said playback certificate is responsive to a business rule. 
   
   
       18 . A node in a network, configured to perform a method comprising:
 receiving, at said node in said network, watermarked digital content comprising a plurality of identified locations at which fingerprinting information can be embedded, those identified locations being responsive to the digital content;   at that node, selecting a portion of those locations into which to embed fingerprinting information; and   at that node, partially fingerprinting said digital content by embedding fingerprinting information at those selected locations, whereby partially-fingerprinted digital content is generated capable of carrying out a method described in any previous claim.   
   
   
       19 . The node of  claim 18 , wherein said network comprises a plurality of said nodes disposed in a tiered structure. 
   
   
       20 . A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:
 receiving, at a node in a network, watermarked digital content comprising a plurality of identified locations at which fingerprinting information can be embedded, those identified locations being responsive to the digital content;   at that node, selecting a portion of those locations into which to embed fingerprinting information; and   at that node, partially fingerprinting said digital content by embedding fingerprinting information at those selected locations, whereby partially-fingerprinted digital content is generated.