Method and apparatus for packaging and transmitting data
A system and method for communicating a package of information. The system comprises a machine readable medium having information packaging software that generates a computer executable file (FIG. 1, 14 ) comprising a package of information. The packet information comprises the file of data and encryption software. The system communicates the package of information over a network (FIG. 1, 16 ) that is in communication with a machine readable medium. A client computer system (FIG. 1, 17 ) in communication with the network is adapted to receive the package of information and execute the computer executable. The computer system has a client permissions database (FIG. 1, 20 ) and a vault adapted to receive the package of information.
1. A method for packaging information comprising the steps of:
receiving a file of data for packaging;
receiving a permissions database having one or more permissions associated with the file of data, the one or more permissions governing a client's use of the file;
generating a package global unique identifier;
generating a package of data comprising the file, the one or more permissions and the global unique identifier;
encrypting the package; and
generating a computer executable file comprising the encrypted package.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more permissions are selected from the group consisting of: an access count permission, an access time permission, an expiration date permission, an authorization date permission, a clipboard permission, a print permission, an unlimited access permission, an application permission, and a system-events permission.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of setting a password for access to the computer executable file.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the package of data further comprises a recipient global unique identifier and further comprising the step of receiving the recipient global unique identifier after the step of generating a package global unique identifier.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the package of data further comprises a client software.
6. A machine-readable medium having a package of information comprising:
a file of data;
a permissions database having one or more permissions associated with the file of data, the one or more permissions governing a client's use of the file; a package global unique identifier; and
a receiver global unique identifier.
7. The machine readable medium of claim 6 wherein the one or more permissions are selected from the group consisting of: an access count permission, an access time permission, an expiration date permission, an authorization date permission, a clipboard permission, a print permission, an unlimited access permission, an application permission, and a system-events permission.
8. The machine-readable medium of claim 7 further comprising a client software.
9. A method for communicating a package of information comprising:
receiving a file of data for packaging;
receiving a package permissions database having one or more permissions associated with the file of data, the one or more permissions governing a client's use of the file;
generating a package global unique identifier;
generating a package of data comprising the file of data, the one or more permissions, the global unique identifier, and a client software;
encrypting the package;
generating a computer executable file comprising the encrypted package;
receiving the computer executable file at a client computer system having an operating system;
executing the computer executable file at the client computer system comprising the steps of:
determining whether the operating system is a compatible operating system, and if so,
executing a client software on the client computer system, the execution of the client software creating a client permissions database and a vault on the client computer system; and
determining whether the encrypted package is valid, and if so, recording the package global unique identifier in the client permissions database, extracting the file of data and the one or more permissions from the package of data,
storing the file of data in the vault and storing the one or more permissions in the client permissions database, and if not, setting a state in the computer executable file to indicate that the package is installed.
10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of determining whether a second package is loaded on the computer system, and if so, terminating the second package, before the step of executing a client software on the client computer system.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of determining whether the package is valid comprises the steps of searching the client permissions database for the package global unique identifier and, concluding that the package is valid if the package global unique identifier is not in the client permissions database, and concluding that the package is invalid if the package global unique identifier is not in the client permissions database.
12. The method of claim 9 wherein the package further comprises the client software having a version designation and, before the step of executing the client software, determining whether a second version of the client software is installed on the client computer system, and if not, extracting the client software from the package and installing the client software on the client computer system.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein if a second version of the client software is installed on the client computer system, determining whether the version designation of the client software installed on the client computer system is earlier than the second version, and if so, extracting the client software from the package and installing the client software on the client computer system.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein the client software comprises one or more device drivers and the client permissions database and the vault are generated by at least one of the one or more device driver.
15. The method of claim 9 wherein the client software comprises one or more device drivers and the client permissions database and the vault are generated by at least one of the one or more device driver.
16. The method of claim 9 wherein the package further comprises a receiver global unique identifier, and wherein the step of determining whether the encrypted package is valid comprises the steps of searching the client permissions database for a second receiver global unique identifier, and if not found, concluding that the package is invalid, and if found, comparing the receiver global unique identifier to the second receiver global unique identifier, determining whether they match, and if so, concluding that the package is valid, and if not, concluding that the package is invalid.
17. The method of claim 9 wherein the one or more permissions are selected from the group consisting of: an access count permission, an access time permission, an expiration date permission, an authorization date permission, a clipboard permission, a print permission, an unlimited access permission, an application permission, and a system-events permission.
18. The method of claim 9 wherein the computer executable file is password protected.
19. A system that communicates a package of information comprising:
a machine readable medium having information packaging software that generates a computer executable file comprising a package of information, the package of information comprising:
file of data;
a permissions database having one or more permissions associated with the file of data; and
encryption software;
a network in communication with the machine readable medium; and
a client computer system in communication with the network, the computer system adapted to receive the package of information and execute the computer executable file, the computer system having a client permissions database and a vault adapted to receive the package of information.
20. The system of claim 19 wherein the package of information further comprises a package global unique identifier, and the client computer system further comprises a module of computer code adapted to read the package global unique identifier, search the client permissions database for the package global unique identifier, and reject the package if the package global unique identifier is found in the client permissions database.
21. The system of claim 19 wherein the package of information further comprises a recipient global unique identifier, and the client computer system further comprises a module of computer code adapted to read the recipient global unique identifier, search the client permissions database for the recipient global unique identifier, and reject the package if the recipient global unique identifier is not found in the client permissions database.
22. The system of claim 19 wherein the one or more permissions are selected from the group consisting of: an access count permission, an access time permission, an expiration date permission, an authorization date permission, a clipboard permission, a print permission, an unlimited access permission, an application permission, and a system-events permission.