Methods, systems and devices for packet watermarking and efficient provisioning of bandwidth

15) A system for transmitting a stream of data, comprising:

• a processor to receive a stream of data and to organize the stream of data into a plurality of packets;
• a generator to generate a packet watermark associated with the stream of data;
• a packager to combine the packet watermark with each of the plurality of packets to form watermarked packets;
• and
• a transmitter to transmit at least one of the watermarked packets across a network.

21) A method for packaging data for transmission, comprising:

• receiving content data;
• organizing the content data into at least two packets;
• generating at least a portion of a packet watermark associated with at least one of the packets of data;
• generating a bandwidth rights certificate comprising:
• at least one cryptographic credential;
• and
• routing information selected from the group consisting of authorization data to authorize use of at least one particular router and priority data to prioritize use of at least one particular router;
• and
• combining the bandwidth rights certificate, the at least one portion of a packet watermark, and the at least one packet of data, for transmission across a network comprising a plurality of routers.

22) A computerized system for packaging data for transmission to a user, comprising:

• a receiver to receive content data;
• computer code to organize the data into at least two packets;
• computer code to generate a packet watermark associated with at least one of the packets of data;
• computer code to generate a bandwidth rights certificate comprising:
• at least one cryptographic credential;
• and
• routing information selected from the group consisting of authorization data to authorize use of at least one particular router and priority data to prioritize use of at least one particular router;
• and
• computer code to combine the bandwidth rights certificate, the packet watermark, and the at least one packet, for transmission across a network comprising a plurality of routers.

28) An electronic method for purchasing good and/or services, comprising:

• establishing an account whereby a customer is credited with a predetermined amount of bandwidth usage;
• establishing a communication link with a vending system;
• selecting an item to be purchased;
• agreeing to a purchase value for the selected item;
• communicating to the vending system a request to purchase the selected item;
• and
• causing a debit to the account in an amount of bandwidth usage which corresponds to the agreed upon purchase value for the selected item.

33) An electronic method for selling good and/or services, and for collecting payments from a purchaser's account, which account has a predetermined amount of bandwidth usage, said method comprising:

• establishing a communication link between a vending system and a purchasing system;
• receiving a request to purchase a selected item;
• determining a purchase value for the selected item;
• causing a debit to the purchaser's account in an amount of bandwidth usage which corresponds to the agreed upon purchase value for the selected item;
• and
• sending an instruction to deliver the selected item.

42) An exchange system for selling good and/or services, and for collecting payments from a purchaser's account, which account has a predetermined amount of bandwidth usage, said system comprising:

• a communicator to establish a communication link between the exchange system and a purchasing system, whereby said two-way communication system can receive a request to purchase a selected item;
• a display for advertising, for sale, good and/or services;
• a transaction module for determining a purchase value for a selected item;
• a debit module for causing a debit to the purchaser's account in an amount of bandwidth usage that corresponds to the sum of:
• i) the purchase value for the selected item;
• and ii) a transactional charge;
• and
• a delivery module for sending an instruction to deliver the selected item.

49) A system for the transmission of data, comprising:

• a receiver to receive content data;
• a processor to organize the content data into a plurality of packets;
• a watermark generator to generate at least a portion of a packet watermark associated with at least one packet of data;
• a certificate generator to generate a bandwidth rights certificate associated with at least one packet of data, said certificate comprising:
• routing information selected from the group consisting of authorization data to authorize use of at least one particular router and priority data to prioritize use of at least one particular router;
• and
• a transmitter to transmit at least one of the plurality of data packets, its associated watermark, and its associated bandwidth rights certificate across a network.