Proof-of-purchase watermarks
AssigneeAT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
InventorsThomas Killian, Norman L. Schryer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A third-party watermark is inserted into a file or files uploaded by a client to a storing party such as a file backup server. The third-party watermark may contain information about the upload itself, such as time and date of the upload and the identity of the client. The third-party watermark may also contain authentication information received from the client or elsewhere that establishes that the client is in proper possession of the file, e.g., it is not a bootlegged copy.
Claims20
A method, comprising:
- receiving a file at a backup server that provides a backup service to a client device;
- sending a prompt from the backup server to the client device, the prompt prompting the client device for a proof of purchase for the file;
- receiving an image of a sales receipt sent from the client device to the backup server;
- digitally watermarking the image of the sales receipt into the file to generate a third-party watermarked file that contains the image of the sales receipt establishing that the client device purchased the file;
- receiving at the backup server a request for a restoration copy of the file;
- and
- downloading the third-party-watermarked file to the client device as the restoration copy.
A backup server, comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- memory storing code that when executed causes the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:
- receiving a file for providing a backup service to a client device;
- sending a prompt to the client device for a proof of purchase for the file;
- receiving from the client device an electronic image of a sales receipt;
- digitally watermarking the electronic image of the sales receipt into the file to generate a third-party watermarked file that contains the electronic image of the sales receipt establishing that the client device purchased the file from an on-line store;
- receiving a request for a restoration copy of the file;
- and
- downloading the third-party-watermarked file to the client device as the restoration copy.
A memory storing instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:
- receiving a digital file sent from a client device to a backup server during an upload transaction, the digital file capable of being digitally watermarked, the digital file containing content for which a rights holder holds a copyright right in a content of the digital file, the backup server providing a file backup service to the client device;
- prompting the client device for authentication information that can be used to establish that the digital file was rightly obtained by the client device;
- receiving from the client device an electronic image of a sales receipt identifying a transaction in which the client device purchased the digital file from an on-line store that sells authorized copies of digital files to purchasers;
- transmitting the electronic image of the sales receipt from the backup server to the on-line store;
- digitally watermarking the electronic image of the sales receipt into the digital file to generate a third-party watermarked file that contains the electronic image of the sales receipt establishing that the client device purchased the digital file from the online store;
- storing the third-party watermarked file as a restoration copy;
- receiving a request for the restoration copy;
- and
- downloading the third-party watermarked file to the client device as the restoration copy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.