United States Patent [19]
`Allen
`
`US006041316A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`6,041,316
`Mar. 21, 2000
`
`[54] METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ENSURING
`ROYALTY PAYMENTS FOR DATA
`DELIVERED OVER A NETWORK
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`0601500 A7
`0614308 A7
`
`6/1994 European Pat. Off. ........ .. G06F 1/00
`9/1994 European Pat. Off. ....... .. H04N 1/44
`
`[75] Inventor: Jonathon Brandon Allen,
`Mountainside, N].
`
`[73] Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc., Murray Hill,
`N'J'
`
`[21] Appl' NO‘: 08/280,039
`[22]
`Filed,
`Jul_ 25’ 1994
`
`Int. (:1.7 ...................................................... ..
`[52] US. Cl. ............................................... .. 705/52; 705/77
`[58] Field of Search ............................ .. 380/4; 705/51—54
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`5,014,234
`
`4,658,093
`4,740,890
`4,817,140
`
`US‘ PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4/1987 Hellman ................................ .. 380/4 X
`4/1988 William ................................. .. 380/4 X
`3/1989 Chandra et al. .
`Shear ........................................ ..
`5/1991 Edwards, Jr. ......................... .. 380/4 X
`$311222‘
`5’265’164 11/1993 Matyas' et a1"
`5:321:520
`6/1994 Inga et al. ............................. .. 358/403
`5,341,429
`8/1994 Stringer
`.... .. 380/23
`5,457,746 10/1995 Dolphin .................................... .. 380/4
`
`Primary Examiner—Gilberto Barron, Jr.
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`
`A method and system for delivering data over a communi
`cation network which ensures proper payment of royalties
`while preserving free access to data for purposes such as
`browsing or research. An exemplary method in accordance
`with the present invention includes the steps of providing a
`partially-degraded version of the data over the network,
`Without payment of a royalty fee, to a Customer at a user
`terminal connected to the network; and providing a higher
`quality version of the data to the Customer Over the network
`if the customer is entitled to receive the higher quality
`version. The determination as to whether the customer is so
`entitled may be made by, for example, determining if a
`royalty fee payment has been received. The partially
`degraded version of the data is substantially recognizable
`when displayed, printed, played, run or otherwise utilized by
`the customer at the user terminal, and may be generated by,
`for example, deleting or encrypting a portion of the unde
`graded data' The higher quality Version may be provided by
`transmitting the complete higher quality version, or trans
`mittingremaining data such as the deleted portion or a
`decrypnon key> to the user termmal
`
`27 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets
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`1 0
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`14
`\ USER
`TERM'NAL
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`24
`‘ \ t
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`14
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`USER
`TERMINAL ‘
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`44
`PARTIALLY
`%
`‘ DEGRADED DATA
`REQUEST
`FOR DATA
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`28
`
`NETWORK
`
`18‘
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`52
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`'
`
`O
`
`,
`
`20%
`
`DIGITAL
`DATA PROCESSOR
`
`22
`\
`
`‘
`
`40
`36 j /
`\ L
`
`INFORMATION
`DATABASE
`
`REQUEST
`DATABASE
`\
`32
`5O“
`KEY
`
`48
`
`14
`\ USER
`TERMINAL ‘
`
`‘
`
`\ PAYMENT
`
`REMAINING DATA
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`‘
`
`46
`'
`TEMPORARY \
`STORAGE ‘
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`54
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`Petitioners Ex. 1006 Page 1
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Mar. 21,2000
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`Sheet 1 of2
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`6,041,316
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`vEO>>PmZ
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`V
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`IwmD
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`IwwD
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`3.
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`3
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`mum:
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`E
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`Petitioners Ex. 1006 Page 2
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Mar. 21,2000
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`Sheet 2 of2
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`6,041,316
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`200“ RECEIVE REQUEST FOR DATA
`FROM OusTOMER OvER NETWORK
`
`I
`
`2O4\m STORE REQUEST IN
`REQUEST DATABASE
`
`Y
`
`208“ FORWARD REQUEST TO
`INFORMATION DATABASE
`
`V
`
`212“ TRANSMIT PARTIALLY DEGRADED
`VERSION OF REQUESTED DATA
`TO CUSTOMER OVER NETWORK
`
`216
`
`INDICATE TO CUSTOMER THAT
`REMAINING DATA WILL BE PROVIDED
`AFTER PAYMENT OF FEE
`
`V
`
`STORE REMAINING
`220
`V“ DATA IN TEMPORARY
`STORAGE LOCATION
`
`224
`
`PAYMENT
`RECEIVED?
`
`228“ TRANSMIT REMAINING DATA
`TO CUSTOMER OVER NETWORK
`
`FIG. 2
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`Petitioners Ex. 1006 Page 3
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`

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`1
`METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ENSURING
`ROYALTY PAYMENTS FOR DATA
`DELIVERED OVER A NETWORK
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates generally to improvements
`in communication systems and services. More particularly,
`the present invention relates to techniques for ensuring
`payment of royalties for copyrighted data delivered over a
`communication netWork.
`2. Description of Prior Art
`The recent expansion of Wide area computer communi
`cation netWorks, such as the Internet, as Well as the planned
`development of the so-called information superhighWay,
`promise ready availability of an in?nite array of data to users
`around the World. The data available over the netWork may
`include, for example, text, audio, video and other animation,
`still images and virtual reality sensations. A serious problem
`in implementing the information superhighWay or other
`Wide area communication netWork is the fundamental con
`?ict betWeen ready access to netWork data, and the need for
`the data creators to receive appropriate royalties. Failure to
`provide adequate royalties for creators may limit the amount
`and quality of available data. On the other hand, a strict
`requirement of royalty payments prior to data delivery
`Would place an excessive burden on users, particularly those
`involved in education and research, and limit the effective
`ness of the netWork as a Widely-used communication
`medium.
`A prior art technique presently used to ensure royalty
`payments for data transferred by computer netWork involves
`encrypting the data prior to transfer. After a user has paid an
`appropriate royalty fee, the user receives a decryption key
`Which alloWs the encrypted data to be converted to a usable
`form. Unfortunately, encryption often converts the data to a
`completely unrecogniZable form, such that users unfamiliar
`With the data content Will be unable to determine its use
`fulness Without ?rst paying the royalty. Users are placed at
`a signi?cant disadvantage in conducting research, Which
`often involves examining large amounts of unknoWn data.
`For example, a high school or college student using the
`netWork to research paintings from a particular period or
`artist Will likely Want to broWse through a large number of
`still images, on the order of 100 or more. If a database
`provider charged the student to vieW each and every image,
`the cost Would unduly limit the scope of the research.
`Similar problems are encountered by users interested in
`copyrighted music or lyrics, neWspaper and magaZine
`articles, published court decisions, US. and foreign patents,
`articles in scienti?c and technical journals, and a Wide
`variety of other data. Although these types of data are
`currently available in a number of different databases Which
`users may access over a netWork, prior art techniques
`generally do not alloW users to access any useful portion of
`the data Without ?rst agreeing to pay for the delivered data.
`For example, US. Pat. No. 5,050,213 discloses a prior art
`system Which alloWs users of an encrypted CD-ROM data
`base to broWse through the database on a broWsing Work
`station containing proprietary computer and display com
`ponents. HoWever, the user typically must perform the
`broWsing at the proprietary Workstation, rather than over a
`netWork using a standard personal computer, and generally
`must pay a fee to gain access to data even for broWsing. In
`addition, the user broWses a full quality version of the data
`even though a lesser quality version may be suf?cient to
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`determine suitability of the data. This system is thus inef
`?cient and not conducive to Widespread data access over a
`netWork.
`The prior art data delivery systems also fail to recogniZe
`that a liberal access policy can be in the best interests of
`information creators. If people are not exposed to high
`quality information, people Will not come to depend on it
`and seek it out. Providing Widespread access to information
`can thus be considered a form of advertising or investment
`for creators. As noted above, hoWever, the access should be
`provided in a Way Which enables the creators to recover the
`royalties they deserve. Prior art netWork data delivery tech
`niques have failed to resolve this con?ict satisfactorily and
`are generally incompatible With the liberal and Widespread
`access goals of the much-publiciZed information superhigh
`Way.
`As is apparent from the above, a need exists for a method
`and system Which ensure payment of royalties for high
`quality data delivered over a communication netWork, With
`out unduly restricting Widespread access to the data for
`broWsing, education and other purposes.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention provides a method and system for
`ensuring payment of royalties for data delivered over a
`communication netWork. The present invention resolves the
`con?ict betWeen free access and payment of royalties by
`providing liberal access to partially-degraded data suitable
`for broWsing or research, and charging users a royalty to
`receive a higher quality version of the data suitable for
`purposes such as entertainment.
`In accordance With one aspect of the present invention, a
`method of delivering data to a user terminal over a com
`munication netWork is provided. The exemplary method
`includes the steps of providing a partially-degraded version
`of the data over the netWork, Without payment of a royalty
`fee, to a customer at the user terminal; and providing a
`higher quality version of the data to the customer over the
`netWork if the customer is entitled to receive the higher
`quality version. The determination as to Whether the cus
`tomer is so entitled may be made by, for example, deter
`mining if a royalty fee payment has been received. The
`partially-degraded version of the data is substantially rec
`ogniZable When displayed, printed, played, run or otherWise
`utiliZed at the user terminal, and may be generated by, for
`example, deleting or encrypting a portion of the undegraded
`data. The higher quality version may be provided by trans
`mitting the complete higher quality version, or transmitting
`remaining data such as the deleted portion or a decryption
`key, to the user terminal.
`In accordance With another aspect of the present
`invention, a data delivery method is provided Which
`includes the steps of receiving a request for the data from a
`customer at one of the user terminals; retrieving the
`requested data from the information database; partially
`degrading the data such that after the partial degradation the
`data remains substantially recogniZable When utiliZed by the
`customer; transmitting the partially-degraded data to the
`customer over the communication netWork; determining
`Whether the customer is entitled to receive a higher quality
`version of the data; and providing the higher quality version
`to the customer if the customer is entitled to receive it.
`In accordance With another aspect of the present
`invention, a system for delivering data over a netWork is
`provided. The system includes a provider database contain
`ing the data; and a digital data processor connected to the
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1006 Page 4
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`3
`provider database, for processing a request for the data from
`a customer at the user terminal, such that a partially
`degraded version of the data is provided to the customer over
`the network, Without payment of a royalty fee, and a higher
`quality version of the data is provided to the customer over
`the network, for example, upon payment of the royalty fee.
`Again, the partially-degraded version, When displayed or
`otherWise utiliZed at the user terminal, is substantially rec
`ogniZable to the customer and suitable for limited usage.
`In accordance With a further aspect of the present
`invention, a customer may be provided With an option of
`selecting a version of the desired data at one of a number of
`different data quality levels, and the amount of royalty
`payment required to receive a given version may vary
`depending on the quality level selected. In this manner, users
`need not pay for a higher quality version of the data than
`necessary for a given application.
`The present invention ensures payment of royalties for
`data received over a communication netWork in part because
`delivered data generally remains partially-degraded until an
`appropriate royalty is paid. At the same time, netWork users
`are provided With substantially free access to a Wide array of
`data Which is readily recogniZable and usable for limited
`purposes such as research. The users can therefore broWse
`through a variety of available data to decide Which data to
`purchase in a higher quality or undegraded form.
`Additional features and advantages of the present inven
`tion Will become readily apparent by reference to the fol
`loWing detailed description and the accompanying draWings.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary system for
`delivering data over a netWork in accordance With the
`present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a How diagram illustrating an exemplary method
`of delivering data over a netWork in accordance With the
`present invention.
`
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary system 10 for
`delivering data in accordance With the present invention.
`The system 10 includes a number of user terminals 14, a
`netWork 18, a digital data processor 20 and a provider
`database 22. The user terminals 14 may be, for example,
`personal computer terminals, and are connected in a manner
`Well-knoWn in the art to communicate over netWork 18 With
`other user terminals and the provider database 22. The
`netWork 18 may be a local-area netWork (LAN), a Wide
`area-netWork (WAN), a local or long-distance telephone
`sWitching netWork, or any of a number of other communi
`cation netWorks. The line 24 provides a bidirectional com
`munication link betWeen user terminal 14 and netWork 18
`and may represent, for example, a telephone line or a high
`rate data line.
`The provider database 22 may be, for example, one of
`many databases Which maintain a link With netWork 18 over
`telephone lines, high rate data lines, and the like. Although
`the provider database 22 is shoWn in FIG. 1 as including
`several distinct lines interconnecting the database 22 With
`netWork 18, those skilled in the art Will recogniZe that all
`communications betWeen netWork 18 and provider database
`22 may take place over a single line, such as a single
`telephone line or high rate data line. The digital data
`processor 20 directs the operations of provider database 22,
`and may be, for example, a microcomputer, a mainframe
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`computer, or a group of netWorked computers. The data
`processor 20 and provider database 22 are generally main
`tained by a provider Which charges users to deliver copy
`righted data. A Wide variety of data is currently available
`from such providers, including text, video and still images.
`Additional types of data are projected to become available
`With the continued development of communication net
`Works such as the Internet. The provider database 22 may be
`accessed from user terminal 14 in a conventional manner,
`such as by dialing a number using a modem in the user
`terminal. A connection is then established betWeen a par
`ticular user terminal 14 and provider database 22 through the
`netWork 18. For illustrative purposes, FIG. 1 shoWs direct
`connections betWeen provider database 22 and netWork 44,
`although it should be understood that the connection lines
`generally pass through and are controlled by digital data
`processor 20.
`A customer makes a request from his or her user terminal
`14 to vieW data Which is stored in provider database 22. The
`request for data is transmitted through the netWork 18 over
`line 28 and directed by digital data processor 20 to a request
`database 32. The request database 32 stores the customer
`request in order to track the interaction betWeen the cus
`tomer and the database 22. The request database also pro
`vides the request to an information database 40 Which
`contains the desired data. The information database 40
`provides a partially-degraded version of the desired data
`over line 44 to the netWork 18 and thereby to the customer
`at user terminal 14. A partially-degraded version is de?ned
`herein as a version Which, When displayed, printed, played,
`run or otherWise utiliZed at the user terminal, is substantially
`recogniZable to the customer as a particular type of data and
`is therefore suitable for use in broWsing and/or research or
`for other purposes Which do not require full resolution
`undegraded data. In one embodiment of the invention, the
`partially-degraded version, also referred to herein as
`partially-degraded data, is a subset of the complete unde
`graded data. The customer may use the partially-degraded
`version of the data to determine if the data is of sufficient
`importance or desirability to justify the payment of a royalty
`to obtain a higher quality or undegraded version.
`The information database 40 may be directed by digital
`data processor 20 to provide, for example, a complete
`undegraded version of the requested data over a line 46 to a
`temporary storage 48. The temporary storage may be a
`group of memory locations Within database 22 Which are set
`aside for temporary storage of data previously delivered to
`customers in a partially-degraded form. The temporary
`storage 48 facilitates the transfer of remaining data, or
`transfer of a higher quality or undegraded version of the
`data, to the customer upon payment of a fee.
`In one embodiment of the present invention, the data is
`provided in its undegraded form from information database
`40 to temporary storage 48. The temporary storage 48
`receives a payment or payment authoriZation over a line 52
`indicating that the customer previously provided With the
`partially-degraded data has paid or promised to pay the
`required royalty and is entitled to receive the data in its
`undegraded form. The temporary storage then releases the
`remaining data over a line 54 onto the netWork 18 and
`thereby to the user terminal 14. Because the partially
`degraded version of the data has already been transferred to
`the user terminal, it is not necessary to doWnload the
`complete set of requested data to the user upon payment of
`the fee. The present invention thus provides efficient transfer
`of data from provider database 22 to the user terminal 14.
`In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the
`partially-degraded version of the data provided to the user
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`terminal 14 over line 44 may also include a portion of the
`complete data in an encrypted form. Any number of different
`encryption techniques could be used to encrypt a portion of
`the data, and these techniques are generally Well knoWn in
`the art and Will therefore not be further described herein. In
`order to provide the customer at user terminal 14 With an
`undegraded version of the complete data upon payment of
`the royalty fee, the request database 32 provides a decryp
`tion key for the encrypted portion of the data to temporary
`storage 48 over line 50. The temporary storage 48 Will then
`provide the key over line 54 to the netWork 18 and user
`terminal 14 such that the user terminal 14 can decrypt the
`encrypted portion of the data and thereby reconstruct an
`undegraded version of the data. As another alternative, the
`information database 40 could provide the partially
`degraded version of the data to temporary storage 48 and the
`temporary storage 48 could use the decryption key from
`request database 32 to regenerate an undegraded version of
`the data to be sent over line 54 to the user terminal upon
`payment of the appropriate fee. Those skilled in the art Will
`recogniZe that the data requests, the payment information,
`and/or the remaining data could also be exchanged directly
`betWeen the information database 40 and user terminals 14
`via the netWork 18. In addition, the decryption key could be
`provided from elseWhere in the provider database 22 or data
`processor 20, instead of from request database 32.
`In other embodiments, a customer may be provided With
`an option to select one of a number of different quality levels
`in Which to receive a higher quality version of the requested
`data. The amount of royalty fee payment required may vary
`depending on the quality level selected. For example, still
`image data could be provided at one of ?ve different
`resolution levels. The loWest level of resolution corresponds
`to a partially-degraded version of the data and is provided
`Without payment of a royalty fee. The four higher resolution
`levels correspond to increasingly higher quality versions of
`the requested data, and each version may have a different
`royalty fee associated thereWith. After the customer makes
`a royalty fee payment, the higher quality version is provided
`at the quality level commensurate With the amount of royalty
`fee paid. Acustomer is therefore not required to pay the full
`royalty fee for an undegraded version to obtain a quality
`level above that of the partially-degraded version.
`The information database 40 may store partially
`degraded, higher quality, and/or undegraded versions of the
`requested data. These various versions may be individually
`predetermined and pre-stored such that, in response to a
`request for data, the provider database 22 need not partially
`degrade the data, but can instead directly transmit the
`appropriate version of the data to the customer. In one such
`embodiment, in response to a request for data, a determi
`nation could be made as to Whether the customer is entitled
`to receive a higher quality version. If the customer is not
`entitled to the higher quality version, they are still entitled to
`the partially-degraded version. The appropriate version
`could then be retrieved from the information database 40
`and transmitted to the customer.
`The information database 40 could also individually pre
`store both a partially-degraded version and remaining data,
`such that, again, a separate partial degradation step is
`unnecessary. In such an embodiment, the provider database
`22, in conjunction With digital data processor 20, could
`retrieve the partially-degraded version from information
`database 40, and transmit the partially-degraded version to
`the customer. A determination as to Whether the customer is
`entitled to a higher quality or undegraded version of the data
`is then made. This determination may involve, for example,
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`determining if the appropriate royalty fee has been paid. If
`the customer is so entitled, the remaining data could be
`retrieved from the information database 40, and transmitted
`to the customer.
`Although shoWn as a separate element in FIG. 1, the
`provider database 22 may be part of digital data processor
`20. For example, the information database 40, request data
`base 32 and temporary storage 48 may be preallocated
`memory locations of an electronic or magnetic memory
`Within the digital data processor 20. The partial degradation
`of the requested data, the processing of customer requests
`and payment information, the display of appropriate mes
`sages to the customers at user terminals 14, the transfer of
`data, and other operations of the provider database 22 may
`be implemented by programming the digital data processor
`20 Which operates the database 22 using appropriate
`softWare, ?rmWare, and/or hardWare in a manner Well
`knoWn in the art.
`FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method
`of delivering data over a netWork in accordance With the
`present invention. In operation block 200, a customer
`request for a particular piece of data is received in provider
`database 22 from a particular user terminal 14 via netWork
`18 and line 28. The digital data processor 20 stores the
`request in the request database 32, as indicated in operation
`block 204. Block 208 indicates that the data processor 20
`then directs request database 32 to forWard the data request
`to the information database 40. The information database 40
`then transmits a partially-degraded version of the requested
`data to the customer over the netWork 18. The partially
`degraded version of the requested data may be, for example,
`a subset of the complete data, or the complete data With a
`portion thereof encrypted such that the overall data quality
`is reduced. In any case, hoWever, the partially-degraded
`version of the data remains in a substantially recogniZable
`form, such that the customer may make limited use thereof
`for broWsing, research, evaluation as to suitability or
`desirability, and the like.
`The data processor 20 then directs provider database 22 to
`indicate to the customer receiving the partially-degraded
`data that the complete undegraded data Will be provided
`upon the payment of an appropriate royalty fee, as shoWn in
`block 216. Alternatively, a royalty fee schedule could be
`provided to the customers at or before their initial access to
`provider database 22. The system 10 then need not supply an
`indication that a royalty fee is required for higher quality
`data in response to each customer request. As used herein,
`the term “royalty fee” refers to a charge Which is generally
`greater than a nominal service charge, if any, for use of a
`given database, and is sufficient to provide adequate com
`pensation to the data creator for use of a particular piece of
`data. A payment of the royalty fee may include actual
`payment, payment authoriZation via a credit card number or
`preestablished account number, a promise to pay, or any of
`a number of other types of payment. It should also be
`understood that indications other than receipt of a royalty fee
`payment may be used herein to determine if a customer is
`entitled to receive a higher quality or undegraded version of
`the data.
`The remaining data, Which may include a decryption key
`suitable for decrypting any portion of the data Which Was
`encrypted prior to being supplied to the user terminal 14, is
`then stored in temporary storage 48, as shoWn in block 220.
`The decryption key may be transferred to temporary storage
`48 from request database 32, as shoWn in FIG. 1, or the key
`may be transferred to temporary storage 48 from, for
`example, information database 40 or digital data processor
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`20. As noted above, in alternative embodiments, the remain
`ing data may be provided directly from information database
`40 to netWork 18 in response to evidence of payment. As
`used herein, the term “remaining data” refers to any addi
`tional data Which, taken together With the partially-degraded
`data, includes suf?cient information to provide the customer
`at user terminal 14 With a higher quality or undegraded
`version of the requested data. A decryption key, even though
`not part of the complete requested data, is therefore consid
`ered remaining data for purposes of the present invention.
`Decision block 224 indicates that the data processor 20
`and provider database 22 monitor the connection With the
`customer through netWork 18 in order to determine if the
`customer has paid a predetermined royalty fee entitling the
`customer to receive a higher quality or undegraded version
`of the requested data. If the customer has authoriZed or
`otherWise ensured payment, block 228 indicates that the
`provider database 22 then provides a higher quality or
`undegraded version by, for example, transmitting the
`remaining data to the customer via netWork 18. In other
`embodiments, the provider database 22 may provide a
`higher quality or undegraded version of the requested data
`by transmitting the entire higher quality or undegraded
`version, respectively, including any previously-transmitted
`data. If the royalty payment has not been received, the
`provider database 22 may Wait a predetermined time and
`again provide an indication to the customer regarding pay
`ment of a royalty fee to receive an undegraded version of the
`data. Alternatively, a message may be continually displayed
`to the customer via user terminal 14 setting forth the royalty
`payment policy.
`The present invention may also include the step of par
`tially degrading the requested data to produce a partially
`degraded version thereof. The type of partial degradation
`applied to the data may be determined in each application by
`the data creator. As noted above, the partial degradation
`should preserve the utility of the data for certain preferred
`applications, such as broWsing and research. The partially
`degraded data should therefore remain substantially
`recogniZable, such that a customer is able to ascertain its
`general contents and characteristics. The type of partial
`degradation Which is applied may vary depending upon the
`type of data requested, and any of a number of techniques
`may be used to produce the partially-degraded version of a
`given piece of data. The process of producing a partially
`degraded version of a piece of requested data Will be referred
`to herein as data reduction.
`Exemplary data reduction techniques suitable for gener
`ating a partially-degraded version of a given piece of data
`include the folloWing. Major or key portions of the data
`could be ?ltered out or otherWise deleted Without rendering
`the data unrecogniZable. Different levels and types of noise
`could be added to the data to set a particular quality level.
`One or more portions of the data could be encrypted, While
`the remaining portions are unencrypted and recogniZable. A
`header, trailer and/or other notices could be placed at various
`55
`points in the data indicating that the data has been provided
`to the customer for evaluation purposes only. A short pre
`vieW of the data could be provided. The data could be
`provided in the form of a read-once copy or a copy Which
`self-destructs as it is vieWed, such that the customer Will
`require a neW copy after revieWing the data once. As another
`alternative, the partially-degraded version of the data could
`be a copy Which includes a usage time limitation such that
`the data is destroyed or otherWise rendered unusable after
`elapse of a predetermined time.
`The data of the present invention may be generally
`classi?ed into a number of basic categories including audio,
`
`8
`video, still images, text and softWare. Exemplary data reduc
`tion techniques Well-suited for use With these particular
`types of data Will noW be described. It should be recogniZed,
`hoWever, that each of the techniques described beloW could
`also be used With other types of data.
`In regard to audio data, such as music, a partially
`degraded version could include clicks or other types of
`additive noise interspersed throughout the data. As an
`example, a user accessing an audio database to search for a
`certain type of music or a particular lyric could receive free
`access to versions of recorded audio degraded With additive
`noise or ?ltering. These versions are readily recogniZable
`but generally unsuitable for entertainment purposes, and
`could have an audio quality level at or beloW that produced
`over a standard telephone line. Alternatively, comments
`could be added to the beginning or end of the audio data
`and/or at one or more points Within the data.
`Video data such as television images, movies and the like
`could be partially degraded by deleting color, adding noise,
`or deleting important passages Without destroying the use
`fulness of the data as a Whole. Still image data in the form
`of, for example, graphics ?les could be partially degraded by
`reducing contrast or resolution. For bitmapped still images,
`blotches, blurs or other noise could be added, or contrast
`could be reduced.
`Partially-degraded versions of text data, such as neWspa
`pers and periodicals, published court decisions, U.S. and/or
`foreign patents and trademarks, corporate data and personal
`data, could be generated by deleting or otherWise Withhold
`ing certain portions of the data. For example, neWs headlines
`and/or summaries could be provided free of charge but
`corresponding detailed articles could be provided only after
`payment of a royalty fee, or certain key personal information
`such as addresses or telephone numbers could be Withheld
`until the fee is paid. As another example, a database of US.
`or foreign patents could provide free access via a netWork to
`an abstract and/or any ?gures, While Withholding delivery of
`an entire patent until payment is made. In addition, text data
`in the form of a bitmapped image could be treated as a still
`image, a