# US 9,002,989 B2 · Method and system for providing watermark to subscribers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,002,989 B2 - Document ID: US9002989B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/936,875 - Filed: 2013-07-08 - Published: 2013-11-07 - Granted: 2015-04-07 - Earliest claimed: 2008-02-08 - Assignees: Perftech, Inc. - Applicants: Perftech, Inc. - Inventors: Lewis T. Donzis; Henry M. Donzis; Peter W. Baron; John A. Murphy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9002989B2 ## CPC - H04L 67/02: based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP] - H04L 67/306: User profiles - H04L 67/563: Data redirection of data network streams - H04N 1/00209: {Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax} - H04N 1/00217: {only involving computer data transmission protocols, e.g. SMTP, WAP or HTTP (communication protocol aspects and techniques in packet data networks H04L69/00; network-specific arrangements or communication protocols supporting networked applications H04L67/00)} - H04N 1/00244: {with a server, e.g. an internet server (fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324)} - H04N 1/00344: {with a management, maintenance, service or repair apparatus (monitoring H04N1/00002)} - H04N 1/00464: {using browsers, i.e. interfaces based on mark-up languages} - H04N 1/32144: {embedded in the image data, i.e. enclosed or integrated in the image, e.g. watermark, super-imposed logo or stamp} - H04N 1/32352: {Controlling detectability or arrangements to facilitate detection or retrieval of the embedded information, e.g. using markers (for decoding, detection or retrieval operations H04N1/32149 and subgroups take precedence)} - H04N 2201/3233: of authentication information, e.g. digital signature, watermark - H04N 2201/3249: data relating to a linked page or object, e.g. hyperlink - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A method for providing watermark to subscribers is provided. The method comprises observing a request for a first content from a subscriber, determining if the subscriber can receive a watermark, generating a second content comprising the watermark if the subscriber can receive a watermark, causing the subscriber to fetch the first content, and causing the subscriber to fetch the second content comprising the watermark overlaying the first content. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: determining if a subscriber can receive a watermark based on a policy associated with an Internet Protocol address associated with the subscriber, the policy being retrieved from an addressing database based on the Internet Protocol address; if the subscriber can receive the watermark based on the policy and the Internet Protocol address associated with the subscriber, then examining the subscriber's upstream traffic to determine whether a webpage redirect can be issued to the subscriber's web browser; generating a content comprising the watermark in a second frame if the subscriber can receive a watermark; causing the subscriber to fetch content comprising an originally requested webpage in a first frame if the webpage redirect can be issued to the subscriber's web browser; and causing the subscriber to fetch the content comprising the watermark in the second frame overlaying the first content in the first frame. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 comprising observing a request for the content comprising the originally requested webpage from the subscriber. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein generating the content comprising the watermark comprises adding the watermark to the content comprising the originally requested webpage. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein adding the watermark to the content comprising the originally requested webpage comprises merging the watermark into a same frame as the content comprising the originally requested webpage. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the watermark is transparent and wherein the content comprising an originally requested webpage is displayed through the watermark in the content comprising the watermark. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the watermark comprises a hyperlink redirecting the subscriber to another content upon the subscriber clicking on the hyperlink. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the watermark is positioned at a portion of the content comprising the watermark, wherein the portion is one of a top, bottom, left, right, and center portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the watermark remains in a same position between the content comprising the originally requested webpage and the content comprising the watermark. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the content comprising the originally requested webpage becomes active in the content comprising the watermark upon the subscriber clicking on the watermark. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the watermark comprises a hyperlink being displayed in a manner that takes precedent over another displayed hyperlink in the content comprising the originally requested webpage. ### Claim 11 A method, comprising: determining if a subscriber can receive a watermark based on a policy associated with an Internet Protocol address associated with the subscriber, the policy being retrieved from an addressing database based on the Internet Protocol address; if the subscriber can receive the watermark based on the policy and the Internet Protocol address associated with the subscriber, then examining the subscriber's upstream traffic to determine whether a webpage redirect can be issued to the subscriber's web browser; connecting to a destination server comprising the first content; retrieving the first content from the destination server, the first content comprising an originally requested webpage in a first frame if the webpage redirect can be issued to the subscriber's web browser; and adding a watermark to the first content to form a second content overlaying the first content, the second content comprising the watermark in the second frame overlaying the first content in the first frame. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the first content is a Webpage and the second content is a watermarked Webpage comprising a watermark and the Webpage. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein adding a watermark to the first content to form a second content comprises: building the watermarked Webpage comprising the watermark and the Webpage; and substituting the Webpage with the watermarked Webpage. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 comprising receiving a request for the first content from the subscriber. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein connecting to a destination server comprising the first content comprises connecting to the destination server via an Internet Protocol. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 comprising generating the second content comprising the watermark in the second frame if the subscriber can receive the watermark. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 comprising sending the second content to the subscriber. ### Claim 18 A system, comprising: a data processing system comprising a Web browser for initiating a request for a first content; and an Internet Service Provider comprising a router and a redirecting device, the Internet Service Provider communicably coupled to the data processing system; wherein the router is operable to observe a request for a first content from a subscriber; wherein the redirecting device is operable to: determine if the subscriber can receive a watermark based on a policy associated with an Internet Protocol address associated with the subscriber, the policy being retrieved from an addressing database based on the Internet Protocol address; if the subscriber can receive the watermark based on the policy and the Internet Protocol address associated with the subscriber, examine the subscriber's upstream traffic to determine whether a webpage redirect can be issued to the subscriber's web browser; generate a second content comprising the watermark in a second frame if the subscriber can receive a watermark; cause the subscriber to fetch the first content comprising an originally requested webpage in a first frame if the webpage redirect can be issued to the subscriber's web browser; and cause the subscriber to fetch the second content comprising the watermark in the second frame overlaying the first content in the first frame from the data processing system via the router. ### Claim 19 A system, comprising: a data processing system utilized by a subscriber of Internet service, the data processing system comprises a Web browser for initiating a request for a Webpage; and a proxy server communicably coupled to the data processing system, the proxy server comprising a composite Webpage comprising a watermark and the Webpage, wherein the proxy server is operable to: determine if the subscriber can receive a watermark based on a policy associated with an Internet protocol address associated with the subscriber, the policy being retrieved from an addressing database based on the Internet protocol address; if the subscriber can receive the watermark based on the policy and the Internet protocol address associated with the subscriber, then examine the subscriber's upstream traffic to determine whether a webpage redirect can be issued to the subscriber's web browser; retrieve a first content, the first content comprising an originally requested webpage in a first frame if the webpage redirect can be issued to the subscriber's web browser; and add a watermark overlaying the first content to form a second content the second content comprising the watermark in the second frame overlaying the first content in the first frame. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19 wherein the proxy server is operable to retrieve the first content from a destination server.