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.

In a case of a first function of carrying out a cooperative processing in accordance with an instruction from a user of a multifunction peripheral (10), the user is set as an execution user. In a case of a second function of carrying out a cooperative processing in accordance with an instruction from an application, a user instructed by the application is set as an execution user. Further, in a case where an execution user of a cooperative processing carried out using the first function and an execution user of a cooperative processing carried out using the second function are identical, use history information of the execution user is managed as use history information of a single user. This makes it possible to appropriately manage use history information of a cooperative processing.

A computerized process is described for transferring content from a first entity to a second entity including first transferring separately and via a database entity for each content: a content identifier, content rights, a content encryption key, a content initialization vector, a content encryption count, and a first entity identifier. Included with the transferred content is a transfer identifier, which is encrypted. After transferred content is received by the second entity, the transfer identifier is used to retrieve the content rights, content encryption key, content encryption initialization vector, content encryption count, and first entity identifier from the database entity. After receiving the content, both actions taken on the content and disposition of the content at the second entity are controlled according to the content rights by the first entity and the status of the content is reported to the first entity via a database entity.

A printed document client receives a first print stream for a soft copy document, determines whether one or more conditions for adding a graphical symbol to the printed document are satisfied, and when the one or more conditions for adding the graphical symbol to the printed document are satisfied, adds the graphical symbol to the first print stream to generate a second print stream that includes the graphical symbol, and outputs the second print stream to a printer so the graphical symbol is printed on the printed document corresponding to the soft copy document. The printed document can be a hard copy document or a soft copy document generated from the second print stream.

In a case of a first function of carrying out a cooperative processing in accordance with an instruction from a user of a multifunction peripheral (10), the user is set as an execution user. In a case of a second function of carrying out a cooperative processing in accordance with an instruction from an application, a user instructed by the application is set as an execution user. Further, in a case where an execution user of a cooperative processing carried out using the first function and an execution user of a cooperative processing carried out using the second function are identical, use history information of the execution user is managed as use history information of a single user. This makes it possible to appropriately manage use history information of a cooperative processing.

A computerized process is described for transferring content from a first entity to a second entity including first transferring separately and via a database entity for each content: a content identifier, content rights, a content encryption key, a content initialization vector, a content encryption count, and a first entity identifier. Included with the transferred content is a transfer identifier, which is encrypted. After transferred content is received by the second entity, the transfer identifier is used to retrieve the content rights, content encryption key, content encryption initialization vector, content encryption count, and first entity identifier from the database entity. After receiving the content, both actions taken on the content and disposition of the content at the second entity are controlled according to the content rights by the first entity and the status of the content is reported to the first entity via a database entity.

Systems and methods are described that protect intellectual property rights in connection with 3-dimensional printing processes. In certain embodiments, an object a user would like to render with a 3-dimensional printing device may be compared with one or more managed objects having certain associated intellectual property rights. If the object is found to be similar to a managed object (e.g., similar in shape, function, composition, etc.), policy associated with the managed object may be enforced in connection with rendering the object. In this manner, intellectual property rights associated with the managed objects may be enforced.

A printed document manager manages printed documents and is separate from Document Management Systems (DMSs) that manage electronic soft copy documents. One or more DMSs are registered with a postmark server. A client computing device executes a postmark client, detects a print event for a specified document, and queries a postmark server to determine whether the print event for the specified document should include a graphical postmark. In response, the postmark server queries one or more of the registered DMSs to determine whether the specified document matches a document in any of the repositories of the registered DMS(s). When the specified document to be printed matches a document in a registered DMS, the postmark server authorizes the postmark client to add the graphical postmark in a print stream corresponding to the print event for the specified document.

A printed document manager manages printed documents and is separate from Document Management Systems (DMSs) that manage electronic soft copy documents. One or more DMSs are registered with a postmark server. A client computing device executes a postmark client, detects a print event for a specified document, and queries a postmark server to determine whether the print event for the specified document should include a graphical postmark. In response, the postmark server queries one or more of the registered DMSs to determine whether the specified document matches a document in any of the repositories of the registered DMS(s). When the specified document to be printed matches a document in a registered DMS, the postmark server authorizes the postmark client to add the graphical postmark in a print stream corresponding to the print event for the specified document.

An output system includes an output section, a fee calculation section, and a payment code notification section. The output section outputs an image and/or a document. The fee calculation section calculates a fee necessary for outputting the image and/or the document in accordance with a specific standard. The payment code notification section notifies a payment code issued by an online payment service for the fee calculated by the fee calculation section. The output section outputs the image and/or the document when the fee has been paid via the online payment service using the payment code notified by the payment code notification section.