Systems and methods for the secure transaction management and electronic rights protection

A method comprising:

• receiving a digital file stored on a video disk;
• storing said digital file in a first secure memory of a first device;
• storing budget information associated with said digital file in a secure database stored on said first device, said budget information relating to permitted uses of said digital file and including at least one control, said budget information having been received on a video disk;
• determining whether said digital file may be copied and stored on a second device based on said at least one control;
• if said at least one control allows at least a portion of said digital file to be copied and stored on a second device,
• copying at least a portion of said digital file;
• transferring at least a portion of said digital file to a second device, after checking said budget to determine if said transferring step is authorized;
• including a memory and an audio and/or video output;
• storing said digital file in said memory of said second device;
• and
• rendering said digital file through said output.

A method comprising:

• receiving a digital file;
• storing said digital file in a first secure memory of a first device;
• storing information associated with said digital file in a secure database stored on said first device, said information including a first control;
• determining whether said digital file may be copied and stored on a second device based on said first control, said determining step including identifying said second device and determining whether said first control allows transfer of said copied file to said second device, said determination based at least in part on the features present at the device to which said copied file is to be transferred;
• if said first control allows at least a portion of said digital file to be copied and stored on a second device,
• copying at least a portion of said digital file;
• transferring at least a portion of said digital file to a second device including a memory and an audio and/or video output;
• storing said digital file in said memory of said second device;
• and
• rendering said digital file through said output.

A method comprising:

• receiving a digital file;
• storing said digital file in a first secure memory of a first device;
• storing information associated with said digital file in a secure database stored on said first device, said information including at least one control, said step of storing information being performed during a process of registering said digital file at said first device, said registering process further comprising storing information identifying at least one authorized user of said digital file;
• determining whether said digital file may be copied and stored on a second device based on said at least one control;
• if said at least one control allows at least a portion of said digital file to be copied and stored on a second device,
• copying at least a portion of said digital file;
• transferring at least a portion of said digital file to a second device including a memory and an audio and/or video output;
• storing said digital file in said memory of said second device;
• and
• rendering said digital file through said output.

A method comprising:

• receiving a digital file;
• an authentication step comprising:
• accessing at least one identifier associated with a first device or with a user of said first device;
• and
• determining whether said identifier is associated with a device and/or user authorized to store said digital file;
• storing said digital file in a first secure memory of said first device, but only if said device and/or user is so authorized, but not proceeding with said storing if said device and/or user is not authorized;
• storing information associated with said digital file in a secure database stored on said first device, said information including at least one control;
• determining whether said digital file may be copied and stored on a second device based on said at least one control;
• if said at least one control allows at least a portion of said digital file to be copied and stored on a second device,
• copying at least a portion of said digital file;
• transferring at least a portion of said digital file to a second device including a memory and an audio and/or video output;
• storing said digital file in said memory of said second device;
• and
• rendering said digital file through said output.

A method comprising:

• receiving a digital file;
• storing said digital file in a first secure memory of a first device;
• storing information associated with said digital file in a secure database stored on said first device, said information including at least one control;
• determining whether said digital file may be copied and stored on a second device based on said at least one control;
• if said at least one control allows at least a portion of said digital file to be copied and stored on a second device,
• copying at least a portion of said digital file;
• transferring at least a portion of said digital file to a second device including a memory and an audio and/or video output, the portion of said digital file transferred to said second device representing a version of said digital file which, when rendered at said second device, provides a level of quality lower than the level of quality provided when said digital file is rendered at said first device;
• storing said digital file in said memory of said second device;
• and
• rendering said digital file through said output.

A method comprising:

• receiving a digital file at a first device;
• establishing communication between said first device and a clearinghouse located at a location remote from said first device;
• said first device obtaining authorization information including a key from said clearinghouse;
• said first device using said authorization information to gain access to or make at least one use of said first digital file, including using said key to decrypt at least a portion of said first digital file;
• and
• receiving a first control from said clearinghouse at said first device;
• storing said first digital file in a memory of said first device;
• using said first control to determine whether said first digital file may be copied and stored on a second device;
• if said first control allows at least a portion of said first digital file to be copied and stored on a second device,
• copying at least a portion of said first digital file;
• transferring at least a portion of said first digital file to a second device including a memory and an audio and/or video output;
• storing said first digital file portion in said memory of said second device;
• and
• rendering said first digital file portion through said output.

A method comprising:

• receiving a digital file at a first device;
• establishing communication between said first device and a clearinghouse located at a location remote from said first device;
• said first device obtaining authorization information from said clearinghouse;
• and
• said first device using said authorization information to gain access to or make at least one use of said first digital file;
• storing said first digital file in a memory of said first device;
• using at least a first control to determine whether said first digital file may be copied and stored on a second device, said determination based at least in part on (1) identification information regarding said second device, and (2) the functional attributes of said second device;
• if, based at least in part on said identification information, said first control allows at least a portion of said first digital file to be copied and stored on a second device,
• copying at least a portion of said first digital file;
• transferring at least a portion of said first digital file to a second device including a memory and an audio and/or video output;
• storing said first digital file portion in said memory of said second device;
• and
• rendering said first digital file portion through said output.

A method comprising:

• receiving a first digital file at a first device;
• registering said first digital file at said first device;
• said registering process further comprising storing information identifying. at least one authorized user of said first digital file;
• establishing communication between said first device and a clearinghouse located at a location remote from said first device;
• said first device obtaining authorization information from said clearinghouse;
• and
• said first device using said authorization information to gain access to or make at least one use of said first digital file;
• storing said first digital file in a memory of said first device;
• using at least a first control to determine whether said first digital file may be copied and stored on a second device;
• if said first control allows at least a portion of said first digital file to be copied and stored on a second device,
• copying at least a portion of said first digital file;
• transferring at least a portion of said first digital file to a second device including a memory and an audio and/or video output;
• storing said first digital file portion in said memory of said second device;
• and
• rendering said first digital file portion through said output.

A method comprising:

• receiving a digital file at a first device;
• establishing communication between said first device and a clearinghouse located at a location remote from said first device;
• said first device obtaining authorization information from said clearinghouse;
• and
• said first device using said authorization information to gain access to or make at least one use of said first digital file;
• an authentication step comprising:
• accessing at least one identifier associated with said first device or with a user of said first device;
• determining whether said identifier is associated with a device and/or user authorized to store said first digital file;
• storing said first digital file in a memory of said first device if said device and/or user is so authorized, but not proceeding with said storing if said device and/or user is not authorized;
• using at least a first control to determine whether said first digital file may be copied and stored on a second device;
• if said first control allows at least a portion of said first digital file to be copied and stored on a second device,
• copying at least a portion of said first digital file;
• transferring at least a portion of said first digital file to a second device including a nonvolatile random access memory, a tamper-resistant housing, a battery and an audio and/or video output;
• storing said first digital file portion in said nonvolatile random access memory of said second device;
• and
• rendering said first digital file portion through said output.

A method comprising:

• receiving a digital file at a first device;
• establishing communication between said first device and a clearinghouse located at a location remote from said first device;
• said first device obtaining authorization information from said clearinghouse;
• and
• said first device using said authorization information to gain access to or make at least one use of said first digital file;
• storing said first digital file in a memory of said first device;
• using at least a first control to determine whether said first digital file may be copied and stored on a second device;
• if said first control allows at least a portion of said first digital file to be copied and stored on a second device,
• copying at least a portion of said first dig file;
• transferring at least a portion of said first digital file to a second device including a memory and an audio and/or video output, said transferred portion representing a version of said first digital file which, when rendered at said second device, provides a level of quality lower than the level of quality provided when said first digital file is rendered at said first device;
• storing said first digital file portion in said memory of said second device;
• and
• rendering said first digital file portion through said output.

A method comprising:

• storing a first digital file and a first control in a first secure container, said first secure container being stored on a first portable memory disk, said first control constituting a first budget which allows a single copy to be made of said first digital file or a portion thereof;
• receiving said first portable memory disk including said first secure container at a first device;
• establishing communication between said first device and a first clearinghouse located at a location remote from said first device;
• obtaining information from said first clearinghouse;
• said first device using said information to gain access to or make at least one use of said first digital file;
• removing said first digital file from said first secure container;
• storing said first digital file in a memory of said first device;
• storing a second digital file and a second control in a second secure container,
• said second secure container being stored on a second portable memory disk different from said first portable memory disk, said second control constituting a second budget which allows a single copy to be made of said second digital file or a portion thereof;
• receiving said second portable memory disk including said second secure container at said first device;
• establishing communication between said first device and a second clearinghouse located at a location remote from said first device, said first device obtaining information from said second clearinghouse and said first device using said information to gain access to or make at least one use of said second digital file;
• removing said second digital file from said second secure container;
• storing said second digital file in a memory of said first device;
• using at least a third control to determine whether some or all of said first digital file may be copied and stored on a second device;
• if said third control allows at least a portion of said first digital file to be copied and stored on a second device,
• copying at least a portion of said first digital file;
• storing said first digital file portion in a third secure container, said third secure container including said first digital file portion and at least one control governing at least one aspect of use or access to any file contained within said third secure container
• using at least a fourth control to determine whether some or all of said second digital file may be copied and stored on said second device;
• if said fourth control allows at least a portion of said second digital file to be copied and stored on said second device,
• copying at least a portion of said second digital file;
• storing said second digital file portion in said third secure container;
• transferring said third secure container including said first digital file portion and said second digital file portion to said second device including a memory and an audio and/or video output, at least one of said third secure container controls prohibits a user of said second device from making copies of said first digital file portion and said second digital file portion while said first digital file portion and said second digital file portion are stored in said memory of said second device;
• storing said first digital file portion and said second digital file portion in said memory of said second device while said first digital file portion is also stored in said memory;
• and
• rendering said first or said second digital file portion through said output.

A method comprising:

• storing a first digital file and a first control in a first secure container, said first control constituting a first budget which governs the number of copies which may be made of said first digital file or a portion of said first digital file while said first digital file is contained in said first secure container, said first secure container being stored on a first portable memory disk;
• receiving said first portable memory disk including said first secure container at a first device;
• establishing communication between said first device and a first clearinghouse located at a location remote from said first device;
• obtaining information from said first clearinghouse;
• said first device using said information to gain access to or make at least one use of said first digital file;
• removing said first digital file from said first secure container;
• storing said first digital file in a memory of said first device;
• storing a second digital file and a second control in a second secure container, said second control constituting a second budget which controls the number of copies which may be made of said second digital file or a portion of said second digital file while said second digital file is contained in said second secure container, said second secure container being stored on a second portable memory disk different from said first portable memory disk;
• receiving said second portable memory disk including said second secure container at said first device;
• establishing communication between said first device and a second clearinghouse located at a location remote from said first device, said first device obtaining information from said second clearinghouse and said first device using said information to gain access to or make at least one use of said second digital file;
• removing said second digital file from said second secure container;
• storing said second digital file in a memory of said first device;
• using at least a third control to determine whether some or all of said first digital file may be copied and stored on a second device;
• if said third control allows at least a portion of said first digital file to be copied and stored on a second device,
• copying at least a portion of said first digital file;
• storing said first digital file portion in a third secure container, said third secure container including said first digital file portion and at least one control governing at least one aspect of use or access to any file contained within said third secure container;
• using at least a fourth control to determine whether some or all of said second digital file may be copied and stored on a second device including a memory and an audio and/or video output;
• if said fourth control allows at least a portion of said second digital file to be copied and stored on said second device, copying at least a portion of said second digital file;
• storing said second digital file portion in said third secure container;
• transferring said third secure container including said first digital file portion and said second digital file portion to said second device, at least one of said third secure container controls prohibits a user of said second device from making copies of said first digital file portion and said second digital file portion while said first digital file portion and said second digital file portion are stored in said memory of said second device;
• substantially contemporaneously with said step of transferring said first digital file portion to said second device, placing a first encumbrance on said first budget,
• said first encumbrance reducing the number of copies which may be made of said first digital file portion;
• substantially contemporaneously with said step of transferring said second digital file portion to said second device, placing a second encumbrance on said second budget,
• said second encumbrance reducing the number of copies which may be made of said second digital file portion;
• storing said first digital file portion in said memory of said second device;
• storing said second digital file portion in said memory of said second device while said first digital file portion is also stored in said memory;
• and
• rendering said first or said second digital file portion through said output.

A method of operating a portable rights management system, including the steps of:

• providing a protected processing environment in a tamper-resistant, portable, hardware housing arrangement;
• operatively coupling said housing arrangement to an electronic appliance arrangement including a speaker;
• ensuring secure communications between said housing arrangement and said appliance arrangement, including confirming the identity of both arrangements and/or users of such arrangements;
• communicating from said housing arrangement information for use, at least in part, in controlling at least one process operating, at least in part, on said electronic appliance arrangement;
• securely recording, in said housing arrangement, information derived from, at least in part, secure communications between said housing arrangement and said appliance arrangement and/or said at least one operating process;
• storing a first digital file in said protected processing environment;
• storing a first control in said protected processing environment, said first control governing at least one aspect of access to or use of at least a portion of said first digital file;
• storing a first budget in said protected processing environment, said first budget specifying a number of copies which may be made of said first digital file or a portion thereof;
• communicating a copy of at least a portion of said first digital file from said hardware housing arrangement to said electronic appliance arrangement;
• and
• outputting said first digital file at least in part through said speaker.