US2013212403A1PendingUtilityA1

Electronic content rights with and-or expression

48
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Sep 5, 2000Filed: Jun 20, 2006Published: Aug 15, 2013
Est. expirySep 5, 2020(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Richard L. SitesJames D. Pravetz
G06F 21/10G06F 2221/2111G06F 21/6209G06F 21/602
48
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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Claims

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for creating a license defining permissions to use electronic content. The methods include selecting a plurality of habitat types, each an aspect of a user environment to which a license can be bound; determining one or more habitat values and relations for each selected type; and creating a license to use the electronic content, the license including an and or logic expression of habitat terms, each term containing one of the selected types and its set of corresponding values and relations.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 selecting a plurality of habitat types, wherein each habitat type is an aspect of a user environment to which a license can be bound;   determining a set of one or more habitat values and relations for each of the selected habitat types; and   creating a license to permit use of electronic content, the license including an and-or logic expression of habitat terms, each habitat term containing one of the selected habitat types and its set of corresponding habitat values and relations, wherein the and-or logic expression includes at least a set of first habitat terms that are logically connected by logical conjunction, and at least a second habitat term that is logically connected to the set of first habitat terms by logical disjunction.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the selection is based on input received through a selection dialog on a graphical user interface, the selection dialog including a plurality of habitat types.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the set of habitat values and relations is determined based on input from a retail customer.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the set of habitat values and relations is determined based on input received through a preferences dialog on a graphical user interface, the preferences dialog providing multiple fields in which the retail customer enters habitat values for the selected habitat types.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the license first and second habitat terms further comprises:
 a plurality of and-or logic expressions of habitat terms that are nested to multiple levels.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic content is an encrypted document and wherein each habitat term further comprises:
 a key for use in decrypting the encrypted document; and   wherein the expression is evaluated in a deterministic order and the key is extracted from the last habitat term in the and-or logic expression that is evaluated to render the entire and-or logic expression true.   
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each habitat term further comprises:
 a set of access permissions for use in restricting access to the electronic content.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the expression is evaluated in a deterministic order and the set of access permissions is extracted from the last habitat term in the and-or logic expression that is evaluated to render the and-or logic expression true. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein each habitat term has a different set of access permissions applicable to the electronic content. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting a plurality of habitat types further comprises selecting habitat types based on input from a provider of the electronic content. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the and-or logic expression of habitat terms is defined based on input from a retail customer. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the and-or logic expression of habitat terms is defined based on input from a provider of the electronic content. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the and-or logic expression of habitat terms is defined based on input from a third party distributor. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each habitat type is a type of computer component, a type of computer peripheral device, a type of user information, a type of biometric information, a time, or a geographic location. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selecting comprises selecting habitat types from a group comprising central processing unit, hard disk, removable medium, and login name, based on received input. 
     
     
         18 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving electronic content;   receiving a license file permitting use of the electronic content, the license file including an and-or logic expression of habitat terms, each habitat term containing a set of access permissions;   extracting the set of access permissions from an evaluation of the expression that renders the expression true; and   allowing access to the electronic content according to the extracted set of access permissions applicable to the electronic content.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the set of access permissions is extracted from the last habitat term in the expression that is evaluated to render the expression true. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the electronic content includes a universal set of access permissions applicable to the electronic content, the method further comprising:
 defining access to the electronic content using both the universal set of access permissions and the extracted set of access permissions.   
     
     
         24 . A computer program product stored on a machine readable medium, the product comprising instructions operable to cause a programmable processor to:
 select a plurality of habitat types, wherein each habitat type is an aspect of a user environment to which a license can be bound;   determine a set of one or more habitat values and relations for each of the selected habitat types; and   create a license to permit use of electronic content, the license including an and-or logic expression of habitat terms, each habitat term containing one of the selected habitat types and its set of corresponding habitat values and relations, wherein the and-or logic expression includes at least a set of first habitat terms that are logically connected by logical conjunction, and at least a second habitat term that is logically connected to the set of first habitat terms by logical disjunction.   
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The product of  claim 24 , wherein:
 the input is received through a selection dialog on a graphical user interface, the selection dialog including a plurality of habitat types.   
     
     
         27 . The product of  claim 24 , wherein:
 the set of habitat values and relations is determined based on input from a retail customer.   
     
     
         28 . The product of  claim 27 , wherein:
 the set of habitat values and relations is determined based on input received through a preferences dialog on a graphical user interface, the preferences dialog providing multiple fields in which the retail customer enters habitat values for the selected habitat types.   
     
     
         29 . The product of  claim 24 , wherein at least one of the first and second habitat terms further comprises:
 a plurality of and-or logic expressions of habitat terms that are nested within each other.   
     
     
         30 . The product of  claim 24 , wherein the electronic content is an encrypted document and wherein each habitat term further comprises:
 a key for use in decrypting the encrypted document; and   wherein the expression is evaluated in a deterministic order and the key is extracted from the last habitat term in the and-or logic expression that is evaluated to render the entire and-or logic expression true.   
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . The product of  claim 24 , wherein each habitat term further comprises:
 a set of access permissions for use in restricting access to the electronic content.   
     
     
         33 . The product of  claim 32 , wherein the expression is evaluated in a deterministic order and the set of access permissions is extracted from the last habitat term in the and-or logic expression that is evaluated to render the and-or logic expression true. 
     
     
         34 . The product of  claim 32 , wherein each habitat term has a different set of access permissions applicable to the electronic content. 
     
     
         35 . The product of  claim 24 , further comprising instructions operable to cause a programmable processor to:
 select a plurality of habitat types, wherein the selection is based on input from a provider of the electronic content.   
     
     
         36 . The product of  claim 24 , wherein the and- or logic expression of habitat terms is defined based on input from a retail customer. 
     
     
         37 . The product of  claim 24 , wherein the and-or logic expression of habitat terms is defined based on input from a provider of the electronic content. 
     
     
         38 . The product of  claim 24 , wherein the and-or logic expression of habitat terms is defined based on input from a third party distributor. 
     
     
         39 . The product of  claim 24 , wherein each habitat type is a central processing unit (CPU), a hard disk, a removable floppy disk, a CDROM, a removable disk cartridge, a flash memory card, a network drive, a user login name, a fingerprint, a handwritten signature, a smart card, a time or a geographic location. 
     
     
         40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . A computer program product stored on a machine readable medium, the product comprising instructions operable to cause a programmable processor to:
 receive electronic content;   receive a license file permitting use of the electronic content, the license file including an and-or logic expression of habitat terms, each habitat term containing a set of access permissions;   extract the set of access permissions from an evaluation of the expression that renders the expression true; and   allow access to the electronic content according to the extracted set of access permissions applicable to the electronic content.   
     
     
         42 . The product of  claim 41 , wherein the access permissions are extracted from the last habitat term in the and-or expression that is evaluated to render the entire and-or expression true. 
     
     
         43 . The product of  claim 41 , wherein the electronic content includes a universal set of access permissions applicable to the electronic content, the product further comprising instructions operable to cause a programmable processor to:
 define access to the electronic content using both the universal set of access permissions and the extracted set of access permissions.   
     
     
         44 . A system comprising:
 means for selecting a plurality of habitat types, wherein each habitat type is an aspect of a user environment to which a license can be bound;   means for determining a set of one or more habitat values and relations for each of the selected habitat types; and   means for creating a license to permit use of electronic content, the license including an and-or logic expression of habitat terms, each habitat term containing one of the selected habitat types and its set of corresponding habitat values and relations, wherein the and-or logic expression includes at least a set of first habitat terms that are logically connected by logical conjunction, and at least a second habitat term that is logically connected to the set of first habitat terms by logical disjunction.   
     
     
         45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein:
 the selection is based on input received through a selection dialog on a graphical user interface, the selection dialog including a plurality of habitat types.   
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein:
 the set of habitat values and relations is determined based on input from a retail customer.   
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 47 , wherein:
 the set of habitat values and relations is determined based on input received through a preferences dialog on a graphical user interface, the preferences dialog providing multiple fields in which the retail customer enters habitat values for the selected habitat types.   
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein at least one of the first and second habitat terms further comprises:
 a plurality of and-or logic expressions of habitat terms that are nested to multiple levels.   
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the electronic content is an encrypted document and wherein each habitat term further comprises:
 a key for use in decrypting the encrypted document; and   wherein the expression is evaluated in a deterministic order and the key is extracted from the last habitat term in the and-or logic expression that is evaluated to render the entire and-or logic expression true.   
     
     
         51 . (canceled) 
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein each habitat term further comprises:
 a set of access permissions for use in restricting access to the electronic content.   
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 52 , wherein the expression is evaluated in a deterministic order and the set of access permissions is extracted from the last habitat term in the and-or logic expression that is evaluated to render the and-or logic expression true. 
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 52 , wherein each habitat term has a different set of access permissions applicable to the electronic content. 
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the means for selecting a plurality of habitat types further comprises means for selecting habitat types based on input from a provider of the electronic content. 
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the and-or logic expression of habitat terms is defined based on input from a retail customer. 
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the and-or logic expression of habitat terms is defined based on input from a provider of the electronic content. 
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the and-or logic expression of habitat terms is defined based on input from a third party distributor. 
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein each habitat type is a type of computer component, a type of computer peripheral device, a type of user information, a type of biometric information, a time, or a geographic location. 
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the means for selecting comprises means for selecting habitat types from a group comprising central processing unit, hard disk, removable medium, and login name, based on received input. 
     
     
         61 - 62 . (canceled) 
     
     
         63 . A system comprising:
 means for receiving electronic content;   means for receiving a license file permitting use of the electronic content, the license file including an and-or logic expression of habitat terms, each habitat term containing a set of access permissions;   means for extracting the set of access permissions from an evaluation of the expression that renders the expression true; and   means for allowing access to the electronic content according to the extracted set of access permissions applicable to the electronic content.   
     
     
         64 . The system of  claim 63 , wherein the set of access permissions is extracted from the last habitat term in the expression that is evaluated to render the expression true. 
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 63 , wherein the electronic content includes a universal set of access permissions applicable to the electronic content, the system further comprising:
 means for defining access to the electronic content using both the universal set of access permissions and the extracted set of access permissions.   
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining comprises determining relations including greater-than and less-than relations. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selecting, the determining and the creating are performed at least in part using a user program distributed with the electronic content. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selecting and the determining comprise selecting habitat types and values automatically based on an environment provided by a user. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the selection dialog includes new habitat types as the new habitat types become available. 
     
     
         70 . The product of  claim 24 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions operable to cause the programmable processor to determine relations including greater-than and less-than relations. 
     
     
         71 . The product of  claim 24 , wherein the instructions operable to cause the programmable processor to select, determine and create are performed at least in part using a user program distributed with the electronic content. 
     
     
         72 . The product of  claim 24 , wherein the instructions operable to cause the programmable processor to select and determine comprise instructions operable to cause the programmable processor to select habitat types and values automatically based on an environment provided by a user. 
     
     
         73 . The product of  claim 26 , wherein the selection dialog includes new habitat types as the new habitat types become available. 
     
     
         74 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the means for determining comprises means for determining relations including greater-than and less-than relations. 
     
     
         75 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the means for selecting, the means for determining and the means for creating correspond at least in part using a user program distributed with the electronic content. 
     
     
         76 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the means for selecting and the means for determining comprise selecting habitat types and values automatically based on an environment provided by a user. 
     
     
         77 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein the selection dialog includes new habitat types as the new habitat types become available.

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