Method and apparatus for the distribution of digitised information on demand

• US 20060064389A1
• Filed: 09/22/2005
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daniel Doll-Steinberg
• Original Assignee: Daniel Doll-Steinberg
• Inventors: Doll-Steinberg, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 7,487,129 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/59
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

In a method and apparatus for the electronic distribution of digitised information on demand, remote and/or local mass data stores are used to store digitised information for use in the generation of products such as software media. Available products and related information can be searched, browsed and requested at a local fulfilment unit; or requests can be made remotely. The products generated and associated packaging, certificates of authenticity, instruction manuals and licence numbers may optionally include customer specific information, and customer given personalisation. Additional security features include storing essential parts of the digitised information remotely so that products can not be generated using only locally stored information; and recording the digitised information on the at least final segments of longer than standard format CDs preventing complete copies onto CDs of standard format.

Claims

1. A method of processing returns of physical media from customers, the physical media storing customer-selected information, the method comprising:

(a) accepting at a local site a returned media from a customer;

(b) reading from the returned media an electronic licence code which is stored upon it;

(c) reporting the licence code to a central site; and

(d) electronically invalidating the returned media at the local site.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the licence code is checked for validity before the return is authorised.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the licence code is checked to ensure that a media having such a code has not previously been accepted for return before the return is authorised.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the physical media is electronically invalidated by writing invalid information to the physical media.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, the method further comprising the step of reporting a successful return of the physical media to the central site.

6. Apparatus for processing returns of physical media from customers, the physical media storing customer-selected information, comprising:

′

(a) a local unit for receiving a returned media from customer, for reading from the media an electronic licence code, and for generating a licence code report;

(b) a central unit for receiving the licence code report; and

(c) means for electronically invalidating the returned media.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which the central unit is arranged to check the licence code for validity before authorizing the return.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which the central unit is arranged to check the licence code to ensure that a media having such a code has not previously been accepted for return before the return is authorised.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which the means for electronically invalidating the media is arranged to write invalid information to the media.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which the local unit is arranged to report a successful return of the physical media to the central unit.