Patent ID: 6789188
Filing Date: 2004-09-07
Classification: G06F,G06Q

Abstract:
A method of distributing content from a content provider to a content consumer, the method comprising the steps of:requesting registration of the content by the content provider with a trusted registration authority, the registration of the content with the trusted registration authority being based, at least in part, on a certificate obtained by the content provider from a certification authority; receiving registration information by the content provider from the trusted registration authority; and distributing, by the content provider, at least a portion of the registration information to the content consumer in conjunction with the content, wherein the content provider generates a hash value H for specific content M, encrypts H using its private key KPrvG to generate an encrypted hash value Hâ€², and then generates a pair Q as follows: Q=(Hâ€², CertX(IG, KPubG)), â€ƒwhere CertX(IG, KPubG) is the certificate obtained from the certificate authority, and sends Q to the trusted registration authority for registration, wherein the trusted registration authority determines if the certificate CertX(IG, KPubG) for the content provider is valid, denies the registration if it is not valid, and, if it is valid, stores the encrypted hash value Hâ€² together with IG and time and date of receipt, and extracts the hash value H from Q as follows: H=D{KPubG}[Hâ€²], â€ƒand then generates the registration information in the form of a registration stub Qâ€² as follows: Qâ€²=E{KPrvTRA}[H], â€ƒwherein the content provider receives Qâ€² from the trusted registration authority, and determines if: D{KPubTRA}[Qâ€²]=hash(M), â€ƒand if it is, stores Qâ€² and M for subsequent distribution to the content consumer, wherein the content consumer, upon receipt of Qâ€² and M from the content provider, determines if: â€ƒD{KPubTRA}[Qâ€²]=hash(M),â€ƒand if it is, utilizes the content M, and wherein, if content M is determined to be illegal, the source of content M is identifiable by the trusted registration authority.