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United States Patent6112181
Shear , ; et al.August 29, 2000
Title
Systems and methods for matching, selecting, narrowcasting, and/or classifying based on rights management and/or other information
Abstract
Rights management information is used at least in part in a matching, narrowcasting, classifying and/or selecting process. A matching and classification utility system comprising a kind of Commerce Utility System is used to perform the matching, narrowcasting, classifying and/or selecting. The matching and classification utility system may match, narrowcast, classify and/or select people and/or things, non-limiting examples of which include software objects. The Matching and Classification Utility system may use any pre-existing classification schemes, including at least some rights management information and/or other qualitative and/or parameter data indicating and/or defining classes, classification systems, class hierarchies, category schemes, class assignments, category assignments, and/or class membership. The Matching and Classification Utility may also use at least some rights management information together with any artificial intelligence, expert system, statistical, computational, manual, or any other means to define new classes, class hierarchies, classification systems, category schemes, and/or assign persons, things, and/or groups of persons and/or things to at least one class.
Inventors:Shear; Victor H. (Bethesda, MD), Van Wie; David M.  (Sunnyvale, CA), Weber; Robert P.  (Menlo Park, CA)
Assignee:InterTrust Technologies Corporation (Santa Clara, CA)
Appl. No.:965185
Filed:November 6, 1997
Current U.S. Class:705/1 
Field of Search:705/1,10,14,40,400 707/9,10 380/4
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Primary Examiner: Voeltz; Emanuel Todd
Assistant Examiner: Dixon; Thomas A
Attorney, Agent or Firm:Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, L.L.P.
Claims

We claim:
1. A method for narrowcasting selected digital information involving a plurality of first appliances and a second appliance, the plurality of first appliances each being located remotely from the second appliance, the second appliance and at least one of the first appliances including a secure node used to process rights management information, including:
(a) at the second appliance, securely receiving from plural of the first appliances user rights management information associated with plural users and processing the received user rights management information in the second appliance's secure node;
(b) using the received user rights management information in a process of creating a user class hierarchy;
(c) assigning a user to a user class defined by the user class hierarchy, the assignment based at least in part on the received user rights management information;
(d) associating digital rights management information with digital information;
(e) defining a digital information class hierarchy at least in part based on the digital rights management information;
(f) assigning the digital information to a digital information class defined by the digital information class hierarchy, the assignment based at least in part on the digital rights management information;
(g) matching the digital information class with the user class, the matching based at least in part on rights management information;
(h) selecting the digital information;
(i) selecting the user; and
(j) sending the digital information and associated rights management information to the user.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the user rights management information is received in at least one secure container and the step of sending the digital information and associated rights management information to the user further includes storing the digital information and associated rights management information in at least one secure container and sending the at least one secure container to the user.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital information and associated rights management information are sent to the user in the same secure container.

4. The method of claim 1 including the further step of at least one user appliance having a secure node receiving the digital information and associated rights management information, and the further step of using said digital information, the use governed by the secure node in accordance with the received associated rights management information.

5. The method of claim 1 including the further step of the secure node processing the secure container and using the received digital information, the use governed by the secure node in accordance with the received associated rights management information.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said received user rights management information includes payment rules and controls information.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said received user rights management information includes usage audit information.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said received user rights management information includes membership card information.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said received user rights management information includes digital certificate information.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said sending to the user step the digital information is at least in part transaction information.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said sending to the user step the digital information is at least in part event information.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said sending to the user step the digital information is at least in part hard goods purchase information.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said sending to the user step the digital information is at least in part entertainment information.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said entertainment information is at least in part music information.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said sending to the user step the digital information is at least in part executable software.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said associated rights management information includes audit record information.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein said associated rights management information at least in part governs saving the digital information outside the secure environment.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein said associated rights management information at least in part governs modification of the digital information.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein said associated rights management information at least in part governs creation of an excerpt of the digital information.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein said associated rights management information at least in part governs reformatting the digital information.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein said associated rights management information at least in part governs using the digital information in the creation of at least one derivative work that incorporates at least a part of the digital information.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein said sending to the user step the associated rights management information includes at least some rules and controls governing use of the digital information in at least one specified sovereignty.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein said sending to the user step the associated rights management information at least in part governs at least one value chain right.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein said sending to the user step the associated rights management information at least in part governs at least one right in a chain of handling and control.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein said sending to the user step the associated rights management information at least in part uses digital certificate information.

26. The method of claim 1 wherein said sending to the user step the associated rights management information at least in part uses membership card information.

27. The method of claim 1 wherein said sending to the user step the associated rights management information at least in part uses user attribute information.

28. The method of claim 1 wherein said sending to the user step the associated rights management information at least in part governs usage audit record creation.

29. The method of claim 1 wherein said sending to the user step the associated rights management information at least in part governs payment record creation.

30. The method of claim 1 wherein said sending to the user step the associated rights management information specifies at least one clearinghouse acceptable to rightsholders.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein said at least one acceptable clearinghouse is a financial clearinghouse.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein said at least one acceptable clearinghouse is a usage clearinghouse.

33. The method of claim 30 wherein said at least one acceptable clearinghouse is a rights and permissions clearinghouse.

34. The method of claim 30 wherein said at least one acceptable clearinghouse is a secure directory service.

35. The method of claim 30 wherein said at least one acceptable clearinghouse is a transaction authority clearinghouse.

36. The method of claim 30 wherein said at least one acceptable clearinghouse is a certificate authority clearinghouse.

37. The method of claim 1 wherein the user or digital information class hierarchy is determined at least in part using at least one statistical technique identifying at least one cluster of instances sharing similar profiles or features.

38. The method of claim 1 wherein the user or digital information class hierarchy is determined at least in part using numerical taxonomy techniques.

39. The method of claim 1 wherein the user or digital information class hierarchy is determined at least in part using at least one of cluster analysis, factor analysis, components analysis, and other similar data reduction or classification techniques.

40. The method of claim 1 wherein the user or digital information class hierarchy is determined at least in part using at least one pattern classification technique, including components analysis and neural approaches.

41. The method of claim 1 wherein the user or digital information class hierarchy is determined at least in part using at least one statistical technique that identifies at least one underlying dimension of qualities, traits, features, and characteristics, and assigning parameter data indicating the extent to which a given instance has, possesses, or may be characterized by the underlying dimension, factor, class, or result in the definition of at least one class or the assignment of at least one instance to at least one class.

42. The method of claim 1 wherein the user or digital information class hierarchy is determined at least in part using at least one statistical method employing fuzzy logic and fuzzy measurement or whose assignment to at least one class entails probabilities different from 1 or zero.

43. The method of claim 1 wherein the user or digital information class hierarchy is determined at least in part using at least one Baysian statistical classification techniques that uses an estimate of prior probabilities in determining class definitions or the assignment of at least one instance to at least one class.

44. The method of claim 1 wherein the user or digital information class hierarchy is determined at least in part using at least one statistical or graphical classification or data reduction method that uses rotation of reference axes, regardless of whether orthogonal or oblique rotations are used.

45. The method of claim 1 wherein the user or digital information class hierarchy is determined at least in part using at least one statistical method for two and three way multidimensional scaling.

46. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one first appliance is a personal computer.

47. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one first appliance is a consumer electronics appliance.

48. A method for narrowcasting selected digital information to specified recipients, including:
(a) at a receiving appliance, receiving selected digital information from a sending appliance remote from the receiving appliance, the receiving appliance having a secure node and being associated with a specified recipient;
(i) the digital information having been selected at least in part based on the digital information's membership in a first class, wherein the first class membership was determined at least in part using rights management information; and
(ii) the specified recipient having been selected at least in part based on membership in a second class, wherein the second class membership was determined at least in part on the basis of information derived from the specified recipient's creation, use of, or interaction with rights management information; and
(b) the specified recipient using the receiving appliance to access the received selected digital information in accordance with rules and controls, associated with the selected digital information, the rules and controls being enforced by the receiving appliance secure node.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein the first or second class membership is determined at least in part using rights management information that includes payment rules and controls information.

50. The method of claim 48 wherein the first or second class membership is determined at least in part using rights management information that includes audit record information.

51. The method of claim 48 wherein the first or second class membership is determined at least in part using rights management information that governs saving the associated digital information outside a protected environment.

52. The method of claim 48 wherein the first or second class membership is determined at least in part using rights management information that governs modifying the associated digital information.

53. The method of claim 48 wherein the first or second class membership is determined at least in part using rights management information that governs creating an excerpt of the associated digital information.

54. The method of claim 48 wherein the first or second class membership is determined at least in part using rights management information that governs using the associated digital information in the creation of at least one derivative work that incorporates at least part of the digital information.

55. The method of claim 48 wherein the first or second class membership is determined at least in part using rights management information that includes usage audit information.

56. The method of claim 48 wherein the first or second class membership is determined at least in part using rights management information that includes membership card information.

57. The method of claim 48 wherein the first or second class membership is determined at least in part using rights management information that includes digital certificate information.

58. The method of claim 48 wherein said received selected digital information is at least in part transaction information.

59. The method of claim 48 wherein said received selected digital information is at least in part event information.

60. The method of claim 48 wherein said received selected digital information is at least in part hard goods purchase information.

61. The method of claim 48 wherein said received selected digital information is at least in part entertainment information.

62. The method of claim 61 wherein said entertainment information is at least in part music information.

63. The method of claim 48 wherein said received selected digital information is at least in part executable software.

64. The method of claim 48 wherein said rules and controls at least in part govern use in at least one specified sovereignty.

65. The method of claim 48 wherein said rules and controls include at least one value chain rule and control.

66. The method of claim 48 wherein said rules and controls include governing at least one right in a chain of handling and control.

67. The method of claim 48 wherein said rules and controls at least in part use digital certificate information.

68. The method of claim 48 wherein said rules and controls at least in part use membership card information.

69. The method of claim 48 wherein said rules and controls at least in part use user attribute information.

70. The method of claim 48 wherein said rules and controls at least in part govern usage audit record creation.

71. The method of claim 48 wherein said rules and controls that at least in part govern payment record creation.

72. The method of claim 48 wherein said rules and controls in part specifying at least one clearinghouse acceptable to rightsholders.

73. The method of claim 72 wherein said at least one acceptable clearinghouse is a financial clearinghouse.

74. The method of claim 72 wherein said at least one acceptable clearinghouse is a usage clearinghouse.

75. The method of claim 72 wherein said at least one acceptable clearinghouse is a rights and permissions clearinghouse.

76. The method of claim 72 wherein said at least one acceptable clearinghouse is a secure directory service.

77. The method of claim 72 wherein said at least one acceptable clearinghouse is a transaction authority clearinghouse.

78. The method of claim 72 wherein said at least one acceptable clearinghouse is a VDE administration clearinghouse.

79. The method of claim 72 wherein said at least one acceptable clearinghouse is a certificate authority clearinghouse.

80. The method of claim 48 wherein the first or second class membership is determined at least in part using at least one statistical technique identifying at least one cluster of instances sharing similar profiles or features.

81. The method of claim 48 wherein the first or second class membership is determined at least in part using numerical taxonomy techniques.

82. The method of claim 48 wherein the first or second class membership is determined at least in part using at least one of cluster analysis, factor analysis, components analysis, and other similar data reduction or classification techniques.

83. The method of claim 48 wherein the first or second class membership is determined at least in part using at least one pattern classification technique, including components analysis and neural approaches.

84. The method of claim 48 wherein the first or second class membership is determined at least in part using at least one statistical technique that identifies at least one underlying dimension of qualities, traits, features, or characteristics, and assigning parameter data indicating the extent to which a given instance has, possesses, or may be characterized by the underlying dimension, factor, class, or result in the definition of at least one class or the assignment of at least one instance to at least one class.

85. The method of claim 48 wherein the first or second class membership is determined at least in part using at least one statistical method employing fuzzy logic or fuzzy measurement or whose assignment to at least one class entails probabilities different from 100 or zero.

86. The method of claim 48 wherein the first or second class membership is determined at least in part using at least one Baysian statistical classification techniques that uses an estimate of prior probabilities in determining class definitions or the assignment of at least one instance to at least one class.

87. The method of claim 48 wherein is determined at least in part using at least one statistical or graphical classification or data reduction method that uses rotation of reference axes, regardless of whether orthogonal or oblique rotations are used.

88. The method of claim 48 wherein the first or second class membership is determined at least in part using at least one statistical method for two and three way multidimensional scaling.

89. The method of claim 48 wherein said receiving appliance is a personal computer.

90. The method of claim 48 wherein said receiving appliance is a consumer electronics appliance.

91. A method for securely narrowcasting selected digital information to specified recipients including:
(a) receiving selected digital information in a secure container at a receiving appliance remote from a sending appliance, the receiving appliance having a secure node, the receiving appliance being associated with a receiving entity;
(i) the digital information having been selected at least in part based on the digital information's membership in a first class,
(ii) the first class membership having been determined at least in part using rights management information;
(b) the receiving entity having been selected at least in part based on said receiving entity's membership in a second class,
(i) the second class membership having been determined at least in part on the basis of information derived from the recipient entity's creation, use of, or interaction with rights management information;
(c) receiving at the receiving appliance rules and controls in a secure container,
(i) the rules and controls having been associated with the selected digital information; and
(d) using at the receiving appliance the selected digital information in accordance with the rules and controls,
(i) the rules and controls being enforced by the receiving appliance secure node.

92. The method of claim 91 wherein the first or second class membership is determined at least in part using rights management information that includes payment rules and controls information.

93. The method of claim 91 wherein the first or second class membership is determined at least in part using rights management information that includes audit record information.

94. The method of claim 91 wherein the first or second class membership is determined at least in part using that includes controls for saving associated digital information outside the secure environment.

95. The method of claim 91 wherein the first or second class membership is determined at least in part using rights management information that includes controls for modifying the associated digital information.

96. The method of claim 91 wherein the first or second class membership is determined at least in part using rights management information that includes controls for creating an excerpt of the associated digital information.

97. The method of claim 91 wherein the first or second class membership is determined at least in part using rights management information that includes controls for using the associated digital information in the creation of at least one derivative work that incorporates at least part of the associated digital information.

98. The method of claim 91 wherein the first or second class membership is determined at least in part using rights management information that includes usage audit information.

99. The method of claim 91 wherein the first or second class membership is determined at least in part using rights management information that includes membership card information.
100. The method of claim 91 wherein the first or second class membership is determined at least in part using rights management information that includes digital certificate information.
101. The method of claim 91 wherein said received selected digital information includes transaction information.
102. The method of claim 91 wherein said received selected digital information includes event information.
103. The method of claim 91 wherein said received selected digital information includes hard goods purchase information.
104. The method of claim 91 wherein said received selected digital information includes entertainment information.
105. The method of claim 91 wherein said received selected digital information includes executable software.
106. The method of claim 91 wherein said rules and controls at least in part govern use in at least one specified sovereignty.
107. The method of claim 91 wherein said rules and controls govern at least one value chain right.
108. The method of claim 91 wherein said rules and controls at least in part govern at least one right in a chain of handling and control.
109. The method of claim 91 wherein said rules and controls at least in part use digital certificate information.
110. The method of claim 91 wherein said rules and controls at least in part use membership card information.
111. The method of claim 91 wherein said rules and controls at least in part use user attribute information.
112. The method of claim 91 wherein said rules and controls at least in part govern usage audit record creation.
113. The method of claim 91 wherein said rules and controls at least in part govern payment record creation.
114. The method of claim 91 wherein said rules and controls specify at least one clearinghouse acceptable to rightsholders.
115. The method of claim 114 wherein said at least one acceptable clearinghouse is a financial clearinghouse.
116. The method of claim 114 wherein said at least one acceptable clearinghouse is a usage clearinghouse.
117. The method of claim 114 wherein said at least one acceptable clearinghouse is a rights and permissions clearinghouse.
118. The method of claim 114 wherein said at least one acceptable clearinghouse is a secure directory service.
119. The method of claim 114 wherein said at least one acceptable clearinghouse is a transaction authority clearinghouse.
120. The method of claim 114 wherein said at least one acceptable clearinghouse is a VDE administration clearinghouse.
121. The method of claim 114 wherein said at least one acceptable clearinghouse is a certificate authority clearinghouse.
122. The method of claim 91 wherein the first or second class membership is determined at least in part using at least one statistical technique identifying at least one cluster of instances sharing similar profiles or features.
123. The method of claim 91 wherein the first or second class membership is determined at least in part using numerical taxonomy techniques.
124. The method of claim 91 wherein the first or second class membership is determined at least in part using at least one of cluster analysis, factor analysis, components analysis, and other similar data reduction or classification techniques.
125. The method of claim 91 wherein the first or second class membership is determined at least in part using at least one pattern classification technique, including components analysis and neural approaches.
126. The method of claim 91 wherein the first or second class membership is determined at least in part using at least one statistical technique that identifies at least one underlying dimension of qualities, traits, features, or characteristics, and assigning parameter data indicating the extent to which a given instance has, possesses, or may be characterized by the underlying dimension, factor, class, or result in the definition of at least one class or the assignment of at least one instance to at least one class.
127. The method of claim 91 wherein the first or second class membership is determined at least in part using at least one statistical method employing fuzzy logic or fuzzy measurement or whose assignment to at least one class entails probabilities different from 200 or zero.
128. The method of claim 91 wherein the first or second class membership is determined at least in part using at least one Baysian statistical classification techniques that uses an estimate of prior probabilities in determining class definitions or the assignment of at least one instance to at least one class.
129. The method of claim 91 wherein the first or second class membership is determined at least in part using at least one statistical or graphical classification or data reduction method that uses rotation of reference axes, regardless of whether orthogonal or oblique rotations are used.
130. The method of claim 91 wherein the first or second class membership is determined at least in part using at least one statistical method for two and three way multidimensional scaling.
131. The method of claim 91 wherein said receiving appliance is a personal computer.
132. The method of claim 91 wherein said receiving appliance is a consumer electronics appliance.
133. A method for operating a subject switching system including:
(a) at the subject switch, receiving information identifying a class hierarchy made up of one or more digital information classes from a remote source,
(i) the class hierarchy having been defined at least in part using rights management information associated with digital information,
(ii) the class hierarchy having been used to classify the digital information, classification based at least in part on the rights management information;
(b) the subject switch publishing the class hierarchy to a user located remotely from the subject switch, the user having a user appliance containing a secure node;
(c) the user subscribing to one of the digital information classes;
(d) the user appliance monitoring received messages for digital information in the subscribed digital information class;
(e) the user appliance identifying one such received message;
(f) receiving at the user appliance rights management information associated with the identified digital information; and
(g) using at the user appliance the identified digital information in accordance with the received rights management information, the use governed by the user appliance secure node.
134. The method of claim 133 wherein said using step the identified digital information is at least in part transaction information.
135. The method of claim 133 wherein said using step the identified digital information is at least in part event information.
136. The method of claim 133 wherein said using step the identified digital information is at least in part hard goods purchase information.
137. The method of claim 133 wherein said using step the identified digital information is at least in part entertainment information.
138. The method of claim 133 wherein said using step the identified digital information is at least in part executable software.
139. The method of claim 133 wherein said class hierarchy defining step said rights management information includes audit record information.
140. The method of claim 133 wherein said class hierarchy defining step, said rights management information includes at least some rules and controls information.
141. The method of claim 133 wherein said rules and controls at least in part govern saving associated digital information out of the protected environment.
142. The method of claim 133 wherein said rules and controls at least in part govern modification of the associated digital information.
143. The method of claim 133 wherein said rules and controls at least in part govern creation of an excerpt of the associated digital information.
144. The method of claim 133 wherein said rules and controls at least in part govern reformatting the associated digital information.
145. The method of claim 133 wherein said rules and controls at least in part govern creation of at least one derivative work that incorporates at least a part of the associated digital information.
146. The method of claim 133 wherein said receiving at the subject switch step includes receiving class hierarchy information in a secure container.
147. The method of claim 133 wherein said monitoring step includes monitoring messages that are received at least in part in a secure container.
148. The method of claim 133 wherein said receiving at the user appliance step include receiving rules and controls in a secure container.
149. The method of claim 133 wherein said receiving at the user appliance step includes receiving identified digital information and associated rules and controls in the same secure container.
150. The method of claim 133 wherein said receiving at the user appliance step said rights management information includes rules and controls governing use in at least one specified sovereignty.
151. The method of claim 133 wherein said receiving at the user appliance step said rights management information includes rules and controls governing at least one value chain right.
152. The method of claim 133 wherein said receiving at the user appliance step said rights management information includes rules and controls governing at least one right in a chain of handling and control.
153. The method of claim 133 wherein said receiving at the user appliance step said rights management information includes rules and controls that use digital certificate information.
154. The method of claim 133 wherein said receiving at the user appliance step said rights management information includes rules and controls that use membership card information.
155. The method of claim 133 wherein said receiving at the user appliance step said rights management information includes rules and controls that use user attribute information.
156. The method of claim 133 wherein said receiving at the user appliance step said rights management information includes rules and controls that govern usage audit record creation.
157. The method of claim 133 wherein said receiving at the user appliance step said rights management information includes rules and controls specifying at least one clearinghouse acceptable to rightsholders.
158. The method of claim 157 wherein said at least one acceptable clearinghouse is a financial clearinghouse.
159. The method of claim 157 wherein said at least one acceptable clearinghouse is a usage clearinghouse.
160. The method of claim 157 wherein said at least one acceptable clearinghouse is a rights and permissions clearinghouse.
161. The method of claim 157 wherein said at least one acceptable clearinghouse is a secure directory service.
162. The method of claim 157 wherein said at least one acceptable clearinghouse is a transaction authority clearinghouse.
163. The method of claim 157 wherein said at least one acceptable clearinghouse is a VDE administration clearinghouse.
164. The method of claim 157 wherein said at least one acceptable clearinghouse is a certificate authority clearinghouse.
165. The method of claim 133 wherein said class hierarchy is determined at least in part using at least one statistical technique identifying at least one cluster of instances sharing similar profiles or features.
166. The method of claim 133 wherein said class hierarchy is determined at least in part using numerical taxonomy techniques.
167. The method of claim 133 wherein said class hierarchy is determined at least in part using at least one of cluster analysis, factor analysis, components analysis, and other similar data reduction or classification techniques.
168. The method of claim 133 wherein said class hierarchy is determined at least in part using at least one of cluster analysis, factor analysis, components analysis, and other similar data reduction or classification techniques.
169. The method of claim 133 wherein said class hierarchy is determined at least in part using at least one pattern classification technique, including components analysis and neural approaches.
170. The method of claim 133 wherein said class hierarchy is determined at least in part using at least one statistical technique that identifies at least one underlying dimension of qualities, traits, features, or characteristics, and assigning parameter data indicating the extent to which a given instance has, possesses, or may be characterized by the underlying dimension, factor, class, or result in the definition of at least one class or the assignment of at least one instance to at least one class.
171. The method of claim 133 wherein said class hierarchy is determined at least in part using at least one statistical method employing fuzzy logic or fuzzy measurement or whose assignment to at least one class entails probabilities different from 1 or zero.
172. The method of claim 133 wherein said class hierarchy is determined at least in part using at least one Baysian statistical classification techniques that uses an estimate of prior probabilities in determining class definitions or the assignment of at least one instance to at least one class.
173. The method of claim 133 wherein said class hierarchy is determined at least in part using at least one statistical or graphical classification or data reduction method that uses rotation of reference axes, regardless of whether orthogonal or oblique rotations are used.
174. The method of claim 133 wherein said class hierarchy is determined at least in part using at least one statistical method for two and three way multidimensional scaling.
175. The method of claim 133 wherein said using step the user appliance is a personal computer.
176. The method of claim 133 wherein said using step the user appliance is a consumer electronics appliance.
177. A method for operating a subject switching system including:
(a) at the subject switch, receiving rights management information associated with digital information from at least one remote source;
(b) creating at the subject switch a class hierarchy made up of one or more digital information classes,
(i) the class hierarchy having been defined at least in part using rights management information associated with digital information,
(ii) the class hierarchy having been used to classify the digital information, classification based at least in part on the rights management information;
(c) the subject switch publishing the class hierarchy to a user located remotely from the subject switch, the user having a user appliance containing a secure node;
(d) the user subscribing to one of the digital information classes;
(e) the user appliance monitoring received messages for digital information in the subscribed digital information class;
(f) the user appliance identifying one such received message;
(g) receiving at the user appliance rights management information associated with the identified digital information; and
(h) using at the user appliance the identified digital information in accordance with the received rights management information, the use governed by the user appliance secure node.
178. The method of claim 177 wherein said using step the identified digital information is at least in part transaction information.
179. The method of claim 177 wherein said using step the identified digital information is at least in part event information.
180. The method of claim 177 wherein said using step the identified digital information is at least in part hard goods purchase information.
181. The method of claim 177 wherein said using step the identified digital information is at least in part entertainment information.
182. The method of claim 177 wherein said using step the identified digital information is at least in part executable software.
183. The method of claim 177 wherein said class hierarchy defining step said rights management information includes audit record information.
184. The method of claim 177 wherein said class hierarchy defining step, said rights management information includes at least some rules and controls.
185. The method of claim 184 wherein said rules and controls at least in part govern saving the associated digital information out of the protected environment.
186. The method of claim 184 wherein said rules and controls at least in part govern modification of the associated digital information.
187. The method of claim 184 wherein said rules and controls at least in part govern creation of an excerpt of the associated digital information.
188. The method of claim 184 wherein said rules and controls at least in part govern reformatting the associated digital information.
189. The method of claim 184 wherein said rules and controls at least in part govern creation of at least one derivative work that incorporates at least part of the associated digital information.
190. The method of claim 177 wherein said receiving at the subject switch step includes receiving class hierarchy information in a secure container.
191. The method of claim 177 wherein said monitoring step includes monitoring messages received at least in part in a secure container.
192. The method of claim 177 wherein said receiving at the user appliance step include receiving rules and controls in a secure container.
193. The method of claim 177 wherein said receiving at the user appliance step includes receiving identified digital information and associated rules and controls in the same secure container.
194. The method of claim 177 wherein said receiving at the user appliance step said rights management information includes rules and controls governing use in at least one specified sovereignty.
195. The method of claim 177 wherein said receiving at the user appliance step said rights management information includes rules and controls governing at least one value chain right.
196. The method of claim 177 wherein said receiving at the user appliance step said rights management information includes rules and controls governing at least one right in a chain of handling and control.
197. The method of claim 177 wherein said receiving at the user appliance step said rights management information includes rules and controls that use digital certificate information.
198. The method of claim 177 wherein said receiving at the user appliance step said rights management information includes rules and controls that use membership card information.
199. The method of claim 177 wherein said receiving at the user appliance step said rights management information includes rules and controls that use user attribute information.
200. The method of claim 177 wherein said receiving at the user appliance step said rights management information includes rules and controls that govern usage audit record creation.
201. The method of claim 177 wherein said receiving at the user appliance step said rights management information includes rules and controls specifying at least one clearinghouse acceptable to rightsholders.
202. The method of claim 201 wherein said at least one acceptable clearinghouse is a financial clearinghouse.
203. The method of claim 201 wherein said at least one acceptable clearinghouse is a usage clearinghouse.
204. The method of claim 201 wherein said at least one acceptable clearinghouse is a rights and permissions clearinghouse.
205. The method of claim 201 wherein said at least one acceptable clearinghouse is a secure directory service.
206. The method of claim 201 wherein said at least one acceptable clearinghouse is a transaction authority clearinghouse.
207. The method of claim 201 wherein said at least one acceptable clearinghouse is a VDE administration clearinghouse.
208. The method of claim 201 wherein said at least one acceptable clearinghouse is a certificate authority clearinghouse.
209. The method of claim 177 wherein said class hierarchy is determined at least in part using at least one statistical technique identifying at least one cluster of instances sharing similar profiles or features.
210. The method of claim 177 wherein said class hierarchy is determined at least in part using numerical taxonomy techniques.
211. The method of claim 177 wherein said class hierarchy is determined at least in part using at least one of cluster analysis, factor analysis,
components analysis, and other similar data reduction or classification techniques.
212. The method of claim 177 wherein said class hierarchy is determined at least in part using at least one of cluster analysis, factor analysis, components analysis, and other similar data reduction or classification techniques.
213. The method of claim 177 wherein said class hierarchy is determined at least in part using at least one pattern classification technique, including components analysis and neural approaches.
214. The method of claim 177 wherein said class hierarchy is determined at least in part using at least one statistical technique that identifies at least one underlying dimension of qualities, traits, features, or characteristics, and assigning parameter data indicating the extent to which a given instance has, possesses, or may be characterized by the underlying dimension, factor, class, or result in the definition of at least one class or the assignment of at least one instance to at least one class.
215. The method of claim 177 wherein said class hierarchy is determined at least in part using at least one statistical method employing fuzzy logic or fuzzy measurement or whose assignment to at least one class entails probabilities different from 1 or zero.
216. The method of claim 177 wherein said class hierarchy is determined at least in part using at least one Baysian statistical classification techniques that uses an estimate of prior probabilities in determining class definitions or the assignment of at least one instance to at least one class.
217. The method of claim 177 wherein said class hierarchy is determined at least in part using at least one statistical or graphical classification or data reduction method that uses rotation of reference axes, regardless of whether orthogonal or oblique rotations are used.
218. The method of claim 177 wherein said class hierarchy is determined at least in part using at least one statistical method for two and three way multidimensional scaling.
219. The method of claim 177 wherein said using step the user appliance is a personal computer.
220. The method of claim 177 wherein said using step the user appliance is a consumer electronics appliance.
Description
FIELDS OF THE INVENTIONS

The inventions relate to electronic rights and transaction management. More particularly, the inventions relate to automated systems, methods and techniques for efficiently matching, selecting, narrowcasting, categorizing and/or classifying in a distributed electronic rights and/or other event and/or transaction management environment. For example, the inventions provide electronic computer based systems, methods and techniques for matching, classifying, narrowcasting, and/or selecting digital information describing people and/or other things. This matching, classifying, narrowcasting, and/or selecting can be based, at least in part, on elements of rights management information and/or one or more other categories of information--wherein such information is used for efficient, trusted event management assuring the execution of one or more controls related to, including, for example, consequences of processing such digital information describing people and/or other things. The present inventions also provide systems and methods for efficiently determining class hierarchies, classification schemes, categories, and/or category schemes and/or the assignment of objects, persons and/or things to said class hierarchies, classification schemes, categories, and/or category schemes using at least some rights management information.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONS

The modern world gives us a tremendous variety and range of options and choices. Cable and satellite television delivers hundreds of different television channels each carrying a different program. The radio dial is crowded with different radio stations offering all kinds of music, news, talk, and anything else one may care to listen to. The corner convenience store carries newspapers from around the country, and a well stocked newsstand allows you to choose between hundreds of magazines and publications about nearly every subject you can think of. Merchandise from all corners of the world is readily available at the shopping mall or by mail order. You can pay by check, in cash, or using any number of different kinds of credit cards and ATM cards.

This tremendous variety is good, but it also presents problems. Sometimes, it is hard or inefficient for us to find what we want and need because there are too many things to evaluate and choose from, and they are often located in too many places. We can waste a lot of time searching for the things we need or want at the right price, with the rights features, and at a particular time.

Sometimes, we never find things that satisfy what we feel we need or want. This happens when we don't know what to look for, how to look for it, or don't have the necessary assistance or tools to search successfully. For example, we may not know the best way of looking for something. Sometimes, we know what we are looking for but can't express or articulate it in ways that help us look. And sometimes, we don't even know what we are looking for. You may know you need something, know its missing, but never really know how to communicate to others what you are looking for. For example, someone who speaks only English may never find resources using Japanese or Spanish. In general, we often don't have the time or resources to look for all the things that would give us the most benefit or make us the most satisfied.

It's Hard To Find Mass Media Things You Want Or Need

FIG. 1A shows, as one example, how frustrating it can be to find anything to watch on the hundreds of television channels that may be available. The man in FIG. 1A spends a lot of time "channel surfing," trying to find something he is interested in watching. He may be moderately interested in golf, but may not like the particular golf tournament or golf players being broadcast at 7 o'clock on a particular channel. After flipping through other channels, he might think an action movie looks interesting only to find out after watching it for a while that he isn't really interested in it after all. A documentary on horses also seems interesting at first, but he finds it boring after watching it awhile because it doesn't give him the kind of information he is interested in. The whole process can be frustrating and he may feel he wasted a lot of time. FIG. 1B shows the man getting so frustrated at the wasted time and energy that he thinks that maybe watching television is just not worth it. What the man really needs is a powerful yet efficient way to find those things that most satisfy his desires--that is, match his needs and/or his interests.

Our Mail Overloads Us With Things We Don't Want or Need

The same thing can happen with information sent to us in the mail. It can be fun to receive some kinds of mail, such as personal letters, or magazines and catalogs on topics of personal interest. Certain other mail, such as bills, may not be fun but are usually important. Unfortunately, our mailboxes are typically overflowing with yet another kind of mail commonly referred to as "junk mail." The person in FIG. 2 finds his mailbox stuffed to the overflowing point with mail he never asked for and has absolutely no interest in. Most of this junk mail ends up unread and in the trash. However, it can take a long time to sort through all this mail to be sure you are only throwing out only the junk mail and not the good mail you are interested in or need. For example, it's sometimes hard to distinguish credit card bills from offers for new credit cards you don't need or want. Wouldn't it be useful if your mail could be automatically "cleaned" of the mail you had no interest in and you received only the mail you wanted or needed?

Sorting through things to identify things you might want, then selecting what you actually want, can be a frustrating and time consuming experience. For example, it wastes the time of the person who receives the junk mail, and it also wastes the time, money and effort of the people who spend their money to send mail to people hoping that they will buy their products.

As frustrating as finding and selecting may be to consumers, they often create even greater problems for businesses and people who want to locate or provide information, goods and services. It is often said, that in the world of business, "Information is Power" and "efficiency is the key to success." To find or sell the most relevant or useful information and to provide the ability to most efficiently allow business to operate at its best, we need easy-to-use tools that can help us navigate, locate, and select what matches our interests. In the modern world, it is often difficult to find out what different people like, and to supply people with the opportunity to select the best or most satisfying choices.

Past attempts outside the computer world to match up people with information, goods and/or services have had limited success. For example, attempts to "target" mass mailings may increase the chance that they will go to people who are interested in them, but the entire process is still very wasteful and inefficient. It is considered a good success rate to match the interests of only a few percent of the recipients of "junk" mail. Telemarketing campaigns that use the telephone to reach potential consumers can be very expensive, very annoying to consumers who are not interested in the products being marketed, and very costly and inefficient. A much more ideal situation for all concerned is enabling businesses to send information only to individual consumers likely to find the information interesting, desirable, convincing, and/or otherwise useful. That way, businesses save time and money and consumers aren't unproductively hassled by information, phone calls, junk mail, junk e-mail and the like. However, right now it is extremely difficult to accomplish this goal, and so businesses continue to annoy consumers while wasting their own time, money, and effort.

Because of the Vast Amount of Information Available, Even Systems that Provide a High Degree of Organization May Be Difficult to Use or Access

You can find yourself wasting a lot of time finding things--even in places where finding things is supposed to be easy. For example, a library is a place where you can find all sorts of useful information but can also waste a lot of time trying to find what you are looking for. Modern libraries can be huge, containing tens or even hundreds of thousands or millions of different books, magazines, newspapers, video tapes, audio tapes, disk