User-Configurable Pre-Recorded Memory

• US 20060085615A1
• Filed: 11/15/2005
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guobiao Zhang
• Original Assignee: Guobiao Zhang
• Inventors: Zhang, Guobiao
• Granted Patent: US 7,386,652 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/14 Protection against unauthorised use of memory or access to memory
• 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: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/78 to assure secure storage of data address-based protection against unauthorised use of memory G06F12/14; record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2141 Access rights, e.g. capability lists, access control lists, access tables, access matrices
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 17/06 using diode elements G11C17/14 takes precedence

Abstract

In a user-configurable pre-recorded memory (UC-PM), a user can select contents he is interested in, and pay copyright fees accordingly. With large capacity, low cost and great integratibility, 3D-M, more particularly 3D-MPM, is suitable for UC-PM. It provides excellent access control and impenetrable copyright protection. UC-PM will enable a copyright distribution model fair to both copyright holders and users. On the other hand, the 3D-MPM scaling should be the fastest among all memory types.

Claims

1. A user-configurable pre-recorded memory (UC-PM), comprising:

a pre-recorded memory for storing a plurality of pre-recorded files; and

an access-control block for controlling access to each of said pre-recorded files.

2. The user-configurable pre-recorded memory according to claim 1, wherein said access-control block further comprises a chip ID for uniquely identifying said UC-PM.

3. The user-configurable pre-recorded memory according to claim 1, wherein said access-control block further comprises a tag block containing accessibility information for each of said pre-recorded files.

4. The user-configurable pre-recorded memory according to claim 3, wherein said accessibility information contains an accessibility bit or the number of remaining accesses.

5. The user-configurable pre-recorded memory according to claim 3, wherein said access-control block further comprises a tag-configuration block, wherein said tag-configuration block configures said tag block.

6. The user-configurable pre-recorded memory according to claim 5, wherein said tag-configuration block further comprises a code-conversion table having a plurality of entries with access codes, file indices and accessibilities.

7. The user-configurable pre-recorded memory according to claim 5, wherein said tag-configuration block further comprises a code-converter for generating file index and accessibility.

8. The user-configurable pre-recorded memory according to claim 1, further comprising:

a three-dimensional memory (3D-M) for storing said pre-recorded files; and

a substrate circuit underneath said 3D-M.

9. The user-configurable pre-recorded memory according to claim 8, wherein said 3D-M is a three-dimensional mask-programmable memory (3D-MPM).

10. The user-configurable pre-recorded memory according to claim 8, wherein said substrate circuit comprises at least one circuit block selected from a group consisting of access-control block, decryptor, decoder and digital-to-analog converter.

11. The user-configurable pre-recorded memory according to claim 1, further comprising a write-once memory and/or a write-many-times memory.

12. The user-configurable pre-recorded memory according to claim 1, being a portion of a content-memory, wherein said content-memory further comprises a user-memory.

13. The user-configurable pre-recorded memory according to claim 12, wherein said user-memory is a flash memory or a hard-disk drive.

14. A copyright-distribution model, comprising the steps of:

1) a user obtains a user-configurable pre-recorded memory (UC-PM) for a price lower than the hardware cost;

2) said user purchases access to at least a file in said UC-PM for a fee;

3) the hardware manufacturer of said UC-PM recoups a portion of the hardware cost from said fee.

15. The copyright-distribution model from claim 14, wherein said user pays said fee before gaining access to said file.

16. The copyright-distribution model from claim 14, wherein said user pays said fee after gaining access to said file.

17. The copyright-distribution model from claim 14, further comprising the step of downloading another file into a user-memory, wherein said user-memory and said UC-PM are portions of a content-memory.

18. The copyright-distribution model from claim 14, wherein said UC-PM is a 3D-M-based UC-PM.

19. The copyright-distribution model from claim 18, wherein said 3D-M-based UC-PM is a 3D-MPM-based UC-PM.

20. A three-dimensional mask-programmable memory, comprising:

a substrate having a transistor-based memory; and

a diode-based memory stacked on top of said substrate;

wherein the minimum line pitch of said transistor-based memory is larger than said diode-based memory.