Victor H. Shear

Bio: Victor H. Shear is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Database tuning & Controller (computing). The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 1132 citations.

Database usage metering and protection system and method

Abstract: A "return on investment" digital database usage metering, billing, and security system includes a hardware device which is plugged into a computer system bus (or into a serial or other functionally adequate connector) and a software program system resident in the hardware device. One or more databases are encrypted and stored on a non-volatile mass storage device (e.g., an optical disk). A tamper-proof decrypting device and associated controller decrypts selected portions of the stored database and measures the quantity of information which is decrypted. This measured quantity information is communicated to a remote centralized billing facility and used to charge the user a fee based on database usage. A system may include a "self-destruct" feature which .disables system operation upon occurrence of a predetermined event unless the user implements an "antidote"--instructions for implementing the antidote being given to him by the database owner only if the user pays his bill. Absolute database security and billing based on database usage are thus provided in a system environment wherein all database access tasks are performed at the user's site. Moreover, a free market competitive environment is supported because literary property royalties can be calculated based on actual data use.

Systems and Methods for Secure Transaction Management and Electronic Rights Protection

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem, wherein it is impossible for an electronic content information provider to provide commercially secure and effective method, for a configurable general-purpose electronic commercial transaction/distribution control system. SOLUTION: In this system, having at least one protected processing environment for safely controlling at least one portion of decoding of digital information, a secure content distribution method comprises a process for encapsulating digital information in one or more digital containers; a process for encrypting at least a portion of digital information; a process for associating at least partially secure control information for managing interactions with encrypted digital information and/or digital container; a process for delivering one or more digital containers to a digital information user; and a process for using a protected processing environment, for safely controlling at least a portion of the decoding of the digital information. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Method and system for placing a purchase order via a communications network

Abstract: A method and system for placing an order to purchase an item via the Internet. The order is placed by a purchaser at a client system and received by a server system. The server system receives purchaser information including identification of the purchaser, payment information, and shipment information from the client system. The server system then assigns a client identifier to the client system and associates the assigned client identifier with the received purchaser information. The server system sends to the client system the assigned client identifier and an HTML document identifying the item and including an order button. The client system receives and stores the assigned client identifier and receives and displays the HTML document. In response to the selection of the order button, the client system sends to the server system a request to purchase the identified item. The server system receives the request and combines the purchaser information associated with the client identifier of the client system to generate an order to purchase the item in accordance with the billing and shipment information whereby the purchaser effects the ordering of the product by selection of the order button.

Network sales system

Abstract: A network-based sales system includes at least one buyer computer for operation by a user desiring to buy a product, at least one merchant computer, and at least one payment computer. The buyer computer, the merchant computer, and the payment computer are interconnected by a computer network. The buyer computer is programmed to receive a user request for purchasing a product, and to cause a payment message to be sent to the payment computer that comprises a product identifier identifying the product. The payment computer is programmed to receive the payment message, to cause an access message to be created that comprises the product identifier and an access message authenticator based on a cryptographic key, and to cause the access message to be sent to the merchant computer. The merchant computer is programmed to receive the access message, to verify the access message authenticator to ensure that the access message authenticator was created using the cryptographic key, and to cause the product to be sent to the user desiring to buy the product.

Web browser with dynamic display of information objects during linking

Abstract: A method of browsing the World Wide Web of the Internet using a client machine supporting a graphical user interface and an Internet browser. The method locally stores, retrieves and outputs information objects to reduce the waiting time normally associated with the download of hypertext documents having high resolution graphics. In one embodiment, the method begins as a web page is being displayed on the graphical user interface (70), the web page having a link to a hypertext document preferably located at a remote server. In response to the user clicking on the link, the link is activated by the browser (74) to request downloading the hypertext document from the remote server to the graphical user interface of the client (76). While the client waits for a reply and/or as the hypertext document is being downloaded, the browser displays a previously-cached information object (82).

Method and apparatus for tracking client interaction with a network resource and creating client profiles and resource database

Abstract: A method for monitoring client (12) interaction with a resource downloaded from a server (10) in a computer network includes the steps of using a client (12) to specify an address of a resource located on a first server (10), downloading a file corresponding to the resource from the first server (10) in response to specification of the address, using the client (12) to specify an address of a first executable program located on a second server (10), the address of the first executable program being embedded in the file downloaded from the first server (10), the first executable program including a software timer for monitoring the amount of time the client (12) spends interacting with and displaying the file downloaded from the first server (10), downloading the first executable program from the second server to run on the client (12) so as to determine the amount of time the client (12) interacts with the file downloaded from the first server (10). A server (10) for use in analysis and automatically serving out files assembled according to user interests and preferences.