Methods, systems and devices for packet watermarking and efficient provisioning of bandwidth
View Patent ↗Disclosed herein are methods and systems for transmitting streams of data. The present invention also relates to generating packet watermarks and packet watermark keys. The present invention also relates to a computerized system for packaging data for transmission to a user. The system may utilize computer code to generate a bandwidth rights certificate that may include: at least one cryptographic credential; routing information for the transmission; and, optionally, a digital signature of a certificate owner; a unique identification code of a certificate owner; a certificate validity period; and pricing information for use of bandwidth. The present invention also relates to an electronic method and system for purchasing good and services by establishing an account whereby a customer is credited with a predetermined amount of bandwidth usage, and then charges are assessed against the account in an amount of bandwidth usage which corresponds to the agreed upon purchase value for the selected item.
1. A computerized system for creating a medium of exchange, the system comprising:
a processor;
at least one data storage medium for storing data in non transient form, wherein data stored in said at least one data storage medium comprises computer code and a bandwidth rights certificate;
wherein said bandwidth rights certificate stores routing information comprising (1) router data, wherein said router data comprises at least authorization indicating authorization for at least one router and priority data indicating priority for at least one router and (2) certificate validity period;
wherein said computerized system is designed to use said computer code to organize data into packets;
wherein said computerized system is designed to use said computer code to combine said bandwidth rights certificate and said packets into a data transmission, for transmission across a network;
a router, wherein said router is configured to use certificate validity period of said bandwidth rights certificate to determine whether to use said router data to determine at least one of whether to route said data transmission and how to prioritize routing said data transmission.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein said bandwidth rights certificate comprises a digital signature of a certificate owner.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein said bandwidth rights certificate comprises a unique identification of a certificate holder.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein said bandwidth rights certificate comprises identity of a cryptographic algorithm.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein said bandwidth rights certificate defines a field for a serial number.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein said bandwidth rights certificate defines a field for a public key of a certificate holder.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein said bandwidth rights certificate defines a field for identification of a certificate holder.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein said bandwidth rights certificate defines a field for identification of a certificate issuer.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein said bandwidth rights certificate defines a field for digital signature of a certificate issuer.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein said bandwidth rights certificate defines a field for identity of digital signature algorithm.
11. The system of claim 1 wherein said packets are watermarked, thereby defining watermarked packets, and further comprising a packet sniffer configured to check authentication of a watermark in packets, and to signal invalid packets.
12. The system of claim 1 further comprising, stored in said at least one data storage medium, data defining a plurality of accounts for a corresponding plurality of certificate holders, wherein said accounts associate certificate identifications with certificate holders.
13. The system of claim 12 further comprising a public key stored in association with each one of said plurality of accounts.
14. The computerized system of claim 1 , wherein said router is configured to use said certificate validity period of said bandwidth rights certificate to determine whether to use said router data to determine at least one of whether to route said data transmission and how to prioritize routing said data transmission.