Methods and apparatus for title protocol, authentication, and sharing

Abstract

A title management apparatus resident on a first computer including a memory for storing a control program and data, and a processor for executing the control program and for managing the data. The apparatus includes a title object resident in the memory including a title structure, the title structure further comprising a content element, a set of attributes, and a set of title object security indicia. The apparatus further includes an authorization structure configured to selectively redeem the content element based at least in part on the user security indicia, and further configured to use a set of protocols. The apparatus also includes a title management structure configured to associate a user with the title object based at least in part on the user data and the title attributes.

1 . A rights-based network, comprising:
 one or more data stores for storing a plurality of title objects associated with a plurality of entities, each title object being a digital bearer instrument expressing a plurality of rights which may be redeemed by presentation of the title object to one or more title-enabled processes in the network, each title object identifying one or more resources associated with the plurality of rights, the one or more resources being at least partially determinative of how the one or more title-enabled processes facilitate redemption of the rights, each of selected ones of the title objects having a state associated therewith;   one or more state processes which include an entry for each selected title object which indicates validity of the corresponding selected title object when the entry is synchronized with the state of the corresponding title object;   one or more title protocols deployed in the network and configured to facilitate communication and transfer of the title objects among the entities;   a title manager deployed in the network and associated with a first one of the entities, the title manager being operable in conjunction with the one or more title protocols to facilitate management by the first entity of first ones of the title objects associated with the first entity; and   a title resolver deployed in the network, the title resolver being operable in conjunction with the one or more title protocols and the one or more state processes to determine whether the selected title objects presented in the network are valid with reference to the states associated with the selected title objects and the corresponding entries associated with the one or more state processes.