I've posted about some interesting patent applications a couple of times in the past. Below are those patents.
United States Patent Application 20030126445
Wehrenberg, Paul J. July 3, 2003
Method and apparatus for copy protection
Abstract
Copy protection techniques that utilize a watermark and a permission key are disclosed. The copy protection techniques can provide single-copy copy protection in addition to different levels of copy protection. The permission key and the watermark can also permit the invention to yield variable levels of copy protection. In one embodiment, content including a watermark is transmitted to a recipient. The recipient is allowed to read the content but not record the content unless the recipient possesses a permission key.
A computer system is disclosed which may adopt one of many personas, depending upon the role that its owner is currently playing. The computer system includes a central repository of extensible personas available to all applications running on the computer system. Each such persona has associated therewith a suite of parameters, or specific values for parameters, which are appropriate for conducting computer implemented transactions under a particular persona. The computer system further includes a graphical user interface which allows the user to switch from persona to persona by selecting a particular persona from a list of available personas displayed on a display screen of the computer system. By selecting such persona, the user causes the computer system to globally change the entire suite of parameter values so that subsequent transactions conducted with the computer system employ the parameter values of the current persona.
Intelligent interaction between media player and host computer
Abstract
Improved techniques for interaction between a host computer (e.g., personal computer) and a media player are disclosed. According to one aspect, interaction between a host computer and a media player, such as automatic synchronization of media contents stored on a media player with media contents stored on a host computer, can be restricted. According to another aspect, management of media items residing on a media player can be performed at and by a host computer for the media player. According to still another aspect, media content can be played by a media player in accordance with quality settings established for the media content at the host computer.
Method and apparatus for coordination of client/server processes
Abstract
The invention provides for the coordination of client/server processes. One or more embodiments provide a completion object comprised of various states of completion of a client request. The completion object may be manipulated to transition from one state to another by both the client and server. The following states of completion may be provided: idle, ready, active, completing, completed, and acknowledged. In the idle state, the completion object is obtained by the client (by constructing a new object or retrieving an existing object that has been recycled). In the ready state, the request has been initialized but not yet issued to the server or I/O device. In the active state, the server processes the I/O request. In the completing state, the server has completed the I/O operations requested but has not yet stored the results. In the completed state, the server stores the results to be returned to the client and notifies the client. At the acknowledged state, the client examines the results, performs additional operations and frees up the completion object for use by another client request. Depending on the state of the completion object, a request to cancel the I/O operations may require varying actions. The completion object provides the ability to easily and quickly determine where in the completion process an I/O request is. Further, when a client request is canceled, the completion object provides the ability to easily identify the actions necessary to properly cancel the request.
System and method for storing and retrieving filenames and files in computer memory
Abstract
The invention receives a request to store a file having a filename written in a first text encoding, converts the filename into a Unicode filename and stores the Unicode filename and the file into memory. The invention then sets a flag, associated with the memory, indicating that a first text encoding has been used. To retrieve a Unicode filename, the invention receives a request to locate a Unicode filename from memory. Next, the invention uses a predetermined text encoding to convert the filename into Unicode. The invention then searches for the Unicode filename in the memory. If the Unicode filename is not found, the invention uses a next text encoding from the set of text encodings which have been used, to repeat the conversion and searches the memory until the Unicode filename is identified. Lastly, the Unicode file is retrieved.
Method and apparatus for dynamically brokering object messages among object models
Abstract
The present invention dynamically brokers object messages between object models. An mediating component provides a bridge between object models such that messages can be transmitted in either direction between object models. The mediating component can be resident on a client machine, a server machine, or both. The mediating component can be used as a bridge between two instances of the same object model running on different machines. Thus, network communication is made possible for objects of an object model that otherwise lacks a networking capability. The mediating component maps a client object to a server object through proxy objects and stub objects. The proxy object always responds affirmatively when queried by a client object whether a server object can execute a particular method. A client object's message is forwarded to a server object. The mediating component performs any necessary translation of arguments or format of the message. In addition, the mediating component translates a server object's response.
Method and apparatus for updating and synchronizing information between a client and a server
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for integrating applets running on a client with the application logic for applications running on a server. The mechanism of the present invention provides two significant advantages over the prior art: the synchronization of state, and the recognition of user actions in the browser including the invocation of the appropriate application logic in the server. Instead of using the FORM element available in HTML, individual active applets are available and may be created that obtain user input (e.g. a checkbox, textbox, button, etc.). A hidden applet called the Applet Group Controller is created which handles communication between the applets on the browser and the application logic on the server. The Applet Group Controller maintains an association with each applet that maintains the keys and values of any parameters and variables for the applet. In a preferred embodiment, upon the invocation of an event, the association instructs an Action Coordinator to invoke an action. The Action Coordinator obtains and transmits a list of all of the keys and their values to the server. The server invokes the appropriate application logic and transmits the keys and their values (as updated during the execution of the application logic) back to the Action Coordinator. The Action Coordinator then pushes the updated values out to the applets (through their Associations) at which time the browser's display is updated with the new values.
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