Memory tag, method for providing information and enabling the release of stored content, and apparatus therefor

• US 20060282904A1
• Filed: 06/13/2006
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Lawrence, Richard Anthony, Dickin, Fraser John
• Granted Patent: US 8,970,375 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices

Abstract

A method of providing information, the method comprising interrogating a memory tag; receiving content from the memory tag by wireless electromagnetic communication in response to the interrogation, the memory tag comprising a memory and a transponder to enable the wireless electromagnetic communication; storing the content; sending a release request to an authoriser; receiving a release confirmation from the authoriser in response to the release request; and releasing the stored content in response to receipt of the release confirmation. The memory tag may contain encrypted content. A plurality of said release requests may be sent, each release request having an associated cost. An aggregate cost can then be calculated in accordance with the sum of the associated costs.

Claims

1. A method of providing information, the method comprising interrogating a memory tag;

receiving content from the memory tag by wireless electromagnetic communication in response to the interrogation, the memory tag comprising a memory and a transponder to enable the wireless electromagnetic communication;

storing the content;

sending a release request to an authoriser;

receiving a release confirmation from the authoriser in response to the release request; and

releasing the stored content in response to receipt of the release confirmation.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the stored content is encrypted, the release request comprises a decryption key, and the step of releasing the stored content comprises decrypting the stored content using the decryption key.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of releasing the stored content comprises outputting the stored content to a user interface.

4. A method according to claim 1 further comprising receiving a summary of the content from the memory tag by wireless electromagnetic communication, and outputting the summary to a user.

5. A method according to claim 1 further comprising receiving an authoriser address from the memory tag by wireless electromagnetic communication, and sending the release request to the authoriser address.

6. A method according to claim 1 further comprising receiving a cost indication from the memory tag by wireless communication, and outputting the cost indication to a user.

7. A method according to claim 6 further comprising receiving user input in response to the output of the cost indication, and sending the release request in response to the user input.

8. A method according to claim 6 further comprising receiving user input in response to the output of the cost indication, and deleting the stored content in response to the user input.

9. A method according to claim 1 further comprising powering the memory tag as a result of the wireless electromagnetic communication by inductive coupling.

10. A method according to claim 1 further comprising sending a plurality of said release requests to said authoriser, each release request having an associated cost;

receiving a plurality of said release confirmations from said authoriser, each release confirmation being responsive to a respective release request; and

receiving an aggregate cost in accordance with the sum of the associated costs.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein said release request is sent as a Short Message Service (SMS) message.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein said release confirmation is received as a Short Message Service (SMS) message.

13. A method of enabling the release of stored content, the method comprising receiving a release request from a client;

and sending a release confirmation to the client in response to the release request, the release confirmation enabling stored content received from a memory tag by wireless communication to be released, the memory tag comprising a memory and a transponder to enable the wireless communication.

14. A method according to claim 13 further comprising receiving a plurality of said release requests from said client, each release request having an associated cost;

sending a plurality of said release confirmations to said client, each release confirmation being sent in response to a respective release request;

summing the associated costs to generate an aggregate cost; and

outputting the aggregate cost.

15. A method according to claim 13 further comprising receiving a user identifier associated with the release request;

checking the user identifier; and

sending the release request only if the user identifier satisfies predetermined criteria.

16. A method according to claim 14 further comprising receiving a user identifier associated with the release request;

forwarding the user identifier to a service provider; and

sending the release request only if the service provider does not object within a set time.

17. Apparatus for providing information, the apparatus comprising a reader adapted to interrogate a memory tag and receive content from the memory tag by wireless electromagnetic communication in response to the interrogation, the memory tag comprising a memory and a transponder to enable the wireless electromagnetic communication;

a store for storing the content;

means for sending a release request to an authoriser;

means for receiving a release confirmation from the authoriser which is responsive to the release request; and

means for releasing the stored content in response to receipt of the release confirmation.