# US 2014/0331316 A1 · Functionality Watermarking and Management > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0331316 A1 - Document ID: US20140331316A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/270,231 - Filed: 2014-05-05 - Published: 2014-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-07-03 - Assignees: Sky Socket, LLC - Applicants: Sky Socket, LLC - Inventors: John Marshall; Erich Stuntebeck - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140331316A1 ## CPC - G06F 21/00: Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity - G06F 21/629: {to features or functions of an application} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A method, system and non-transitory computer-readable medium product are provided for functionality watermarking and management. In the context of a method, a method is provided that includes identifying a request to establish an association between a watermark template and a function of at least one user device and determining whether the request to establish the association between the watermark template and the function of the at least one user device is authorized. The method further includes authorizing the request to establish the association between the watermark template and the function of the at least one user device in response to a determination that the request to establish the association between the watermark template and the function of the at least one user device is authorized. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: identifying a request to establish an association between a watermark template and a function of at least one user device; determining whether the request to establish the association between the watermark template and the function of the at least one user device is authorized; and, responsive to a determination that the request to establish the association between the watermark template with the function of the at least one user device is authorized, authorizing the request to establish the association between the watermark template and the function of the at least one user device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein authorizing the request to establish the association between the watermark template and the function of the at least one user device comprises: establishing the association between the watermark template and the function of the at least one user device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein authorizing the request to establish the association between the watermark template and the function of the at least one user device comprises: identifying at least one watermark template element; compiling the watermark template from the identified at least one watermark template element; and, establishing the association between the watermark template and the function of the at least one user device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one watermark template element comprises at least one descriptive data element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one watermark template element comprises at least one naming convention element. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one watermark template element comprises at least one storage structure convention element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein identifying the at least one watermark template element comprises requesting input of the at least one watermark template element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein requesting input of the at least one watermark template element comprises requesting input of the at least one watermark template from at least one of the following: a user of the at least one user device, or an administrator of the at least one user device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein identifying the at least one watermark template element comprises identifying at least one watermark template element stored in a memory. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the memory comprises at least one of the following: a memory of the at least one user device, or a memory of a server communicatively coupled to the at least one user device. ### Claim 11 An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and, at least one memory having program code instructions embodied therein, the at least one memory and program code instructions being configured to, with the at least one processor, direct the apparatus to at least: identify a request to establish an association between a watermark template and a function of at least one user device; determine whether the request to establish the association between the watermark template and the function of the at least one user device is authorized; and, responsive to a determination that the request to establish the association between the watermark template with the function of the at least one user device is authorized, authorize the request to establish the association between the watermark template and the function of the at least one user device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the request to establish the association between the watermark template and the function of the at least one user device is identified by the at least one user device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the request to establish the association between the watermark template and the function of the at least one user device is identified by a server communicatively coupled to the at least one user device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the determination of whether the request to establish the association between the watermark template and the function of the at least one user device is authorized is made based at least in part on whether at least one compliance rule is satisfied. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the determination of whether the at least one compliance rule is satisfied is made based at least in part on at least one of the following: a user of the at least one user device, and the at least one user device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the determination of whether the at least one compliance rule is satisfied is made based at least in part on at least one of the following: an administrator of the at least one user device, or a server communicatively coupled to the at least one user device. ### Claim 17 A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having program code portions embodied therein, the program code portions being configured to, upon execution, direct an apparatus to at least: identify a request to establish an association between a watermark template and a function of at least one user device; determine whether the request to establish the association between the watermark template and the function of the at least one user device is authorized; and, responsive to a determination that the request to establish the association between the watermark template with the function of the at least one user device is authorized, authorize the request to establish the association between the watermark template and the function of the at least one user device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is further directed to at least: apply the watermark template established as associated with the function of the at least one user device to the function of the at least one user device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is further directed to at least: identify a request to perform the function of the at least one user device; apply the watermark template established as associated with the function of the at least one user device to the function of the at least one user device; and, authorize the request to perform the function of the at least one user device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the function of the at least one user device comprises at least one resource accessible to the function of the at least one user device.