Topic: Patent - Tracking usage behavior in computer systems - Big Brother watches  (Read 5782 times)

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Offline Nemesis

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Abstract

A system and process for tracking users' usage of content in computer systems. The tracking and accumulation of content usage information allows content providers to understand more about their user base. In a computer system having numerous users, it is advantageous to provide relevant customized content in addition to any specifically requested content. By storing and processing content usage information for users in a computer system, customized content may be provided to a user based on the user's previous usage of similar content. In operation, a computer system hosting various content creates a unique identifier, having data storage space, for a given user of the computer system. When a user sends a request for content to the computer system, a unique identifier is created and/or updated with information relevant to a user's content request. The identifier is passed back to the user with the specifically desired content. When processing subsequent requests for content, the computer system updates the unique identifier with most recent usage information. In addition, the computer system processes the unique identifier for previous usage information in an effort to provide customized relevant content, in addition to the specifically desired content.

Assignee:    Microsoft Corporation  (Redmond, WA)



One more reason not to use Windows.  What I do should not be tracked without my permission or a court order based on suspicion (with evidence) of wrong doing by me.  This is MY COMPUTER not Microsofts computer.
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Offline Javora

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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a computer system having at least one server computer, hosting varying content, and at least one client computer, usage information about the client computer's usage of the content in the computer system is processed and stored. This information is stored in a cookie having an encoded data format. The small sized cookie may be shared by all of the content hosted by the computer system.

In a typical scenario, a client computer requests specific content from the server computer. In response to the content request a cookie is created and/or updated to have information relevant to the request for content. The cookie is then transferred back to the client computer for future use. When additional content is requested by client computer from the server computers, the cookie is included in the subsequent request for content. Accordingly, the cookie is processed for and updated with content usage information. Further, employing the usage information, customized content may be created, in addition to the specifically requested content, and transferred to the requesting client computer. Other features of the present invention are described below.

So let me get this right, Microsoft is trying to patent Spyware??!?

Offline Nemesis

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So let me get this right, Microsoft is trying to patent Spyware??!?

Essentially.

It shows that the actual purchaser and user of their software is no longer the actual customer.  Data gathering and data sales are now their target market.

I'm a private person.  I avoid most ways of tracking my behaviour.  Microsoft is becoming more and more something I have to avoid to maintain that privacy.
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Offline Bonk

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Um, isn't that pretty much what cookies do?

Sounds like a lot of hype for already existing harmless but useful technologies (which could be abused, yes, if you have not done a proper background check on your corporate IT staff...).

Take a look at security audit logs on a windows domain server... much more useful info on a corporate network. This stuff is nothing new, just a new PR spin on it.  (and I can make samba on *nix do the same - so don't give me that big scary MS hoopla) Webserver log analysis is nothing new either, and is not restricted to windows servers...

Better yet, take a look a the specs of 21 CFR Part 11 and implementations such as http://www.nugenesis.com/  This is useful technology people. Yes it can be abused, like any other technology, but does that mean we should abandon it? No.

http://www.fda.gov/ora/compliance_ref/part11/
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_02/21cfr11_02.html

Sheesh, the security/privacy paranoia is beginning to reach frenzied levels. (And I'm the suspicious type!) No wonder I'm having such a hard time fighting software firewalls (that can't be trusted to do their intended job anyway...)

 ::)

Offline Bonk

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It is well past the point of; if you do not want your activites monitored, you should not be on the internet.

Take a look at these pages:
http://www.google.ca/search?q=justice+canada+lawful+access

I understand the US is drafting similar legislation.

Offline Nemesis

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You can turn off cookies.  I have cookies accepted for some sites but not most on a case by case basis.  You can do  a lot of other things to avoid monitoring.  If it is built into the OS there is nothing you can do everything that goes through it will be monitored.  You can even set up the account with false information.  Neither of my ISPs (for dialup) ever asked for proof of anything (I pay a year in advance - cash).  So things need not trace back to you if you don't want them to, or at least not easily.

As I understand it this is about a system to monitor all your media uses.  How many times do you play that movie?  How long between purchases of new stuff?  Is that CD registered to you or not?  (Might be a gift or a loan). 

How does it help Punisher if Disney knows he watches Bambi meets Godzilla 50 times a week?  (Sings the Spam song)  Even if it did help him shouldn't he have the choice? 
Do unto others as Frey has done unto you.
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Offline Bonk

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Its just the way the world is.

In a corporate setting I see no problem with it at all. On Windows networks I have administered, if you disable security and auditing measures you will not be able to work and find yourself out of a job pretty quick.

If you do not want anyone monitoring your personal internet use, then use an SSL enabled anonymous proxy. Howver all your other traffic can be monitored (IM apps, P2P apps...).

Very soon your ISP will be required by law to keep a record of all packets traceable to your person, you will not be able to avoid it without starting a new and physically separate underground internet, the only industries with the resources to do that are porn, but it would not be viable in my opinion.

People are overly concerned about this stuff, most of it is completely harmless.

What I want to see is a physically separate gaming network free from the latency introduced by ridiculous levels of porn, videos and music traffic on the internet.  Me, I still like FM radio and rental VHS tapes... but I'm the old fashioned sort. ;)

I'm not concerned in the least. If the law wanted to take me away and lock me up they'd have done it by now.

Offline Just plain old Punisher

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Someone has some porn he doesn't want the world to know about =)

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Offline Nemesis

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In a corporate setting I see no problem with it at all. On Windows networks I have administered, if you disable security and auditing measures you will not be able to work and find yourself out of a job pretty quick.


The difference here is you are talking of the company who owns the computers installing and controlls the software.  This is talking about the OS creator building it in and controlling it.  Do you really want Microsoft monitoring your corporate network for the benefit of Microsoft and there is no way to reliably turn it off or remove it?  How about your government offices with the monitoring by Microsoft?  That is what I see and oppose. 

You may remember this (I posted it before), Microsoft has been active in creating laws that leave loopholes for Microsoft to embed spyware on your system.

Big Brother is here and his name is William Gates III.
Do unto others as Frey has done unto you.
Seti Team    Free Software
I believe truth and principle do matter. If you have to sacrifice them to get the results you want, then the results aren't worth it.
 FoaS_XC : "Take great pains to distinguish a criticism vs. an attack. A person reading a post should never be able to confuse the two."

Offline Nemesis

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Someone has some porn he doesn't want the world to know about =)
Do unto others as Frey has done unto you.
Seti Team    Free Software
I believe truth and principle do matter. If you have to sacrifice them to get the results you want, then the results aren't worth it.
 FoaS_XC : "Take great pains to distinguish a criticism vs. an attack. A person reading a post should never be able to confuse the two."

Offline Just plain old Punisher

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In a corporate setting I see no problem with it at all. On Windows networks I have administered, if you disable security and auditing measures you will not be able to work and find yourself out of a job pretty quick.


The difference here is you are talking of the company who owns the computers installing and controlls the software.  This is talking about the OS creator building it in and controlling it.  Do you really want Microsoft monitoring your corporate network for the benefit of Microsoft and there is no way to reliably turn it off or remove it?  How about your government offices with the monitoring by Microsoft?  That is what I see and oppose. 

You may remember this (I posted it before), Microsoft has been active in creating laws that leave loopholes for Microsoft to embed spyware on your system.

Big Brother is here and his name is William Gates III.


Bah, you seem to be wasting time here talking about it. Time much better spent sending mail bombs to microsoft.

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Offline GE-Raven

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Unless I am reading it wrong... this content information would only be online if it was online content (like a cookie).

Anything else would be stored by the OS (Just like recent documents is for just about every application on XP now).

I don't really care, as I don't really "do" online content with the expectation of them not knowing.

My IP address and therefore my general location.   Through server logs, they can tell how long, how often, and any patterens my web surfing may produce.

That is the nature of IP networking.  If you go to WWW.DBQ.EDU (my school's web page) I could theoretically track all sorts of info on you... of course that would require HOURS of log viewing and a bunch of sh*t no sane human would go through.

In the end.. the interweb is not private, but it basically is because any individual user is lost amonge the billions of bytes.

GE-Raven

Offline Nemesis

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Unless I am reading it wrong... this content information would only be online if it was online content (like a cookie).

Anything else would be stored by the OS (Just like recent documents is for just about every application on XP now).

GE-Raven

Based on things Microsoft has said in the past that connect with this Microsoft has the eventual goal of being a center through which all media is rented and verified so they get a cut of everything.  This would link in with that.  The idea is that each time you access a program, view a movie listen to a song and so forth the machine used calls Microsoft to verify that you and that machine are paid up on your rights to do so.  Add this "content usage tracking" and you get targeted ads (which Microsoft gets paid for) and E-Mails.  Think XP activation each and everytime you boot XP or log on/off.   

Of course Microsoft then has that content usage information that they can sell as well as being paid on the verification.  It also lets them know what people are really doing so they can target taking over that part of the market.
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Offline GE-Raven

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Unless I am reading it wrong... this content information would only be online if it was online content (like a cookie).

Anything else would be stored by the OS (Just like recent documents is for just about every application on XP now).

GE-Raven

Based on things Microsoft has said in the past that connect with this Microsoft has the eventual goal of being a center through which all media is rented and verified so they get a cut of everything.  This would link in with that.  The idea is that each time you access a program, view a movie listen to a song and so forth the machine used calls Microsoft to verify that you and that machine are paid up on your rights to do so.  Add this "content usage tracking" and you get targeted ads (which Microsoft gets paid for) and E-Mails.  Think XP activation each and everytime you boot XP or log on/off.   

Of course Microsoft then has that content usage information that they can sell as well as being paid on the verification.  It also lets them know what people are really doing so they can target taking over that part of the market.

Well if and when they do that... they will likely alienate their consumer base enough to allow for competition that doesn't increase their users spam.  However, I personally think that in the digital age that content will probably move towards a "pay to play" for music, video, and even text.  Why?  Because the old format of "owning" your music via cd is no longer possible.  To this end, if I were a musician looking to market my music in a profitable fashion, I would be much more likely to support a $.01 per play model (No more "freebies" for radio stations either) than geting a set fee per CD. 

I don't think filesharers really know what they have shown corporate america.  The hurdle will be finding a universal standard and marketing model that can be agreed upon.  Luckily for those who like to "own" the music this hurdle will be a big one.  However I fully expect that within the next 30 years most "Pop" music will be a pay to play basis, I also expect that "free" or commercial supported radio will be on the ropes.

GE-Raven

Offline Nemesis

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Well if and when they do that... they will likely alienate their consumer base enough to allow for competition that doesn't increase their users spam.  However, I personally think that in the digital age that content will probably move towards a "pay to play" for music, video, and even text.  Why?  Because the old format of "owning" your music via cd is no longer possible.  To this end, if I were a musician looking to market my music in a profitable fashion, I would be much more likely to support a $.01 per play model (No more "freebies" for radio stations either) than geting a set fee per CD. 

Pay per play won't work very well in my opinion. 

1/ It means everything has to be connected to the internet all the time.  Including your portables
2/ Credit cards for payment.  Not everyone has them.
3/ Micropayments cost too much per transaction (more than the price of the song).
4/ Its a lot harder to take away what people already have (and like) without alienating your market.
5/ Sources through the internet in other countries that don't follow the RIAA rules.

The radio stations will fight tooth and  nail for survival and I suspect that they will make it.  There are a lot of them and they too are big media companies.

I don't think filesharers really know what they have shown corporate america.  The hurdle will be finding a universal standard and marketing model that can be agreed upon.  Luckily for those who like to "own" the music this hurdle will be a big one.  However I fully expect that within the next 30 years most "Pop" music will be a pay to play basis, I also expect that "free" or commercial supported radio will be on the ropes.

GE-Raven

What the file sharers showed was that with the free networks around the RIAA member company sales went UP.  What the RIAA saw was that other people  were taking some of the pie - it didn't matter that the part pie that was left was bigger than they had to start with.

I think that ultimately this will be the breaking of the RIAA as they try to grip more and more tightly and the "up and coming" new bands embrace the internet for sales make money without becoming the indentured servants of the RIAA members.  Likely this will mean no more "superstars" like Britney (thank goodness) but more real stars that the fans find for themselves.

DRM does not work.  Any such system will be broken.  It happens already.  All I can see to try and stop will be to recreate the DEA (and we know how well that stops drugs) to hold the power of entrenched corporations over a changing market (which because of 5/ above won't work either - plus you can't make the majority criminals and actually enforce it).
Do unto others as Frey has done unto you.
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Offline Nemesis

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Its just the way the world is.

Then change the world.

That phrase is something that really gets me when applied to things that are wrong.  Where would the world be if those who were oppressed always said that instead of trying to change it?   Where would the U.S. be if the founding fathers had accepted that as a truism that couldn't be changed? 

"It was just the way things are" applied to so many things that are no longer part of our nations because people chose to change them.   Such things have been changed before and can be changed again.  But they won't change so long as they are not opposed.
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Offline Just plain old Punisher

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Offline Dash Jones

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Um, isn't that pretty much what cookies do?

Sounds like a lot of hype for already existing harmless but useful technologies (which could be abused, yes, if you have not done a proper background check on your corporate IT staff...).

Take a look at security audit logs on a windows domain server... much more useful info on a corporate network. This stuff is nothing new, just a new PR spin on it.  (and I can make samba on *nix do the same - so don't give me that big scary MS hoopla) Webserver log analysis is nothing new either, and is not restricted to windows servers...

Better yet, take a look a the specs of 21 CFR Part 11 and implementations such as http://www.nugenesis.com/  This is useful technology people. Yes it can be abused, like any other technology, but does that mean we should abandon it? No.

http://www.fda.gov/ora/compliance_ref/part11/
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_02/21cfr11_02.html

Sheesh, the security/privacy paranoia is beginning to reach frenzied levels. (And I'm the suspicious type!) No wonder I'm having such a hard time fighting software firewalls (that can't be trusted to do their intended job anyway...)

 ::)


Actually, this would monitor anything that you do on your computer.  If you run MS office, they would know when you reconnected to the internet and it sent it's little message back to Microsoft.  If you ran a movie, if you recorded it's name or the tag was read, it would redirect it to Microsoft or whoever had the program running.  In return, it could analyze when you went to a site, or if you had a pop up allowed, to advertise to you on upcoming releases of that genre of movies, or any number of other uses.

Originally if I recall this was NOT to get advertising information nor to sell it.  It first became idealized by MS when first trying to implement piracy controls into their New OS.  From what I understand that was scratched, NOT because they couldn't do what they wanted, but because they couldn't get people to cooperate with their idea.  Originally their system would analyze what ever you ran on the system and if it determined that the item was illegal, force the system so that it could not run the item.  After it was identified, you would no longer be able to run it on the computer, even if you ran linux.  The idea was that it would be based in the processor, and hence they were trying to strong arm Intel and AMD into integrating windows OS integration into their very processors.  It looked like it was going to work but then one of them started to shirk out(can't remember which one) and then the other shirked, and that was that.

However, MS continued to advance the idea so that on Windows, though I doubt it will be integrated in (if they are really trying to push this however, perhaps there is a hidden agenda still to do it), in this point that of course Windows knows whatever you run on it.  Anytime you run a process the system is aware.  It's only a little matter to make a log that it then can be transformed into communication so that they or someone else can use that information.  In that way they attain that information.  However, to tailor it to the person, they wouldn't phrase it as such, instead they would say that by knowing what you are using, they can better tailor the system to your needs.  You use Windows Media Player and DVD creating software a lot, they can send you newstories to "Your MSN" on those subject, along with the latest advancement, weblinks to where Microsoft actually has programs to improve your speeds and ability to do such (perhaps for a price), and you can download from your home without ever leaving your computer to attain "upgrades" specialized to your needs.  Somewhat like what Windows Update does now, integrated with the XP ability to speed up access to commonly used programs, and the DRM process already in place.

However, from everything I've heard they had no intention of integrating it, at least with the next version of Windows (though they have around seven versions of Vista that they'll be coming out with sooooo.....), however, if they have actually finished up with the ability and the process, I can understand why they might want to patent the process before another company does.  In truth, it's probably better with them than with some other less savory companies (even if you hate MS, there are others that ARE worse).
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Offline Nemesis

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I believe that Dash is speaking of Palladium, Microsofts code word for developing their "trusted computing" platform.  The project is to be implemented in stages only parts were ever intended to be in Vista.

1/ OS modifications to make sure you actually have the rights to use what you are using.  Also known as SPYING on the customer.

2/ CPU modifications to help block hacks that would bypass 1/.  Last I knew Intel and AMD were going along with it.

3/ Chipset modifications, required to allow 2/ to work.  Not done that I know of.

4/ New BIOS replacement that would not allow an unsigned OS to boot.  MS has wet dreams on this one as there could be no non commercial development of Linux or BSD variants without breaking this.  Not done that I know of

5/ Build 3/ & 4/ into motherboards.  Obviously as 3/ and 4/ are not done then neither is 5/.  No one is really in a hurry to be the first manufacturer whose motherboards reject existing operating systems and require support from Microsoft. 

There are problems obviously.  One of which is checking signatures which requires an active internet connection and someone to host the signatures (who gets a lot of power and expense).  It also gives whoever controls the signature check the ability to force upgrades of software.  No unconnected hardware/software, everything must be online.

Who do you trust to handle the signature checks?  Microsoft wants it to be them as the companies whose software is being checked will need to pay them constantly.  It also allows forcing software upgrades by turning off validation of older signatures.  It is also great for the software rental market.  You didn't pay your monthly bill?  The software fails the next signature check.

Windows XP activation may be considered a prototype.  Why do you think I am so opposed to XP and its activation?
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Offline Nemesis

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We have an optimist in sector 2, attention apathy squad, Optimist in sector 2!


Optimist?  No.  Idealist yes.  Sadly few people stand by what they claim to be their ideals.  If they did Hot and Spicey would be much cooler.
Do unto others as Frey has done unto you.
Seti Team    Free Software
I believe truth and principle do matter. If you have to sacrifice them to get the results you want, then the results aren't worth it.
 FoaS_XC : "Take great pains to distinguish a criticism vs. an attack. A person reading a post should never be able to confuse the two."