Protected viewing of digital files

• US 20070043671A1
• Filed: 08/17/2005
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kurzweil/Intellitools Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Kurzweil Educational Systems Incorporated (Cambium Learning Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dionne, Mark
• Application Number:
  US11/205,481
• Publication Number:
  US 20070043671A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/51
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2103 Challenge-response
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

Unlocking digital content embodied in digital readable form includes generating a test based on the user having physical possession of a printed copy of the digital media, sending the test to the user requesting an answer to test, evaluating the answer supplied by the user; and if the test was answered correctly, unlocking the digital content.

Claims

1. A method, executed by a computing device, for unlocking digital content embodied in digital readable form, the method comprising:

generating a test based on the user having physical possession of a printed copy of the digital media;

sending the test to the user requesting an answer to test;

evaluating the answer supplied by the user; and

if the test was answered correctly, unlocking the digital content.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

selecting the test from a plurality of tests and/or test types to send to the user.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein sending the test comprises:

sending a user interface including a field for the user to enter an answer to the test.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein by unlocking the digital content, the user is given access to a text file.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

selecting the tests at random.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the tests are selected based on the type of user or the use to which the user places the digital content.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein by the test is generated from a specific test.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital content is unlocked to provide a text based searchable file.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital content is a book stored on a digital storage media and the physical copy of the digital media is a printed copy of the book.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital content includes a book stored on a digital storage media and the physical copy of the digital media is a printed copy of the book and the digital content further includes premium features that are not found in the printed copy of the book and which are unlocked by unlocking the digital content.

11. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium for unlocking digital content embodied in digital readable form on a media carrier, the computer program product comprising instructions for causing a processor to:

generate a test based on the user having physical possession of a printed copy of the digital media;

send the test to the user requesting an answer to test;

evaluate the answer supplied by the user; and

if the test was answered correctly, unlock the digital content.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 further comprising instructions to:

select the test from a plurality of tests and/or test types to send to the user.

13. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein instructions to send the test comprises instructions to:

send a user interface including a field for the user to enter an answer to the test.

14. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the tests are selected at random.

15. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the tests are selected based on the type of user or the use to which the user places the digital content.

16. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein by the test is generated from a specific test.

17. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein the digital content is a book stored on a digital storage media and the physical copy of the digital media is a printed copy of the book.

19. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the computer program product further comprises instructions to:

select the test from a plurality of tests and/or test types to send to the user.

20. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the computer program product further comprises instructions to:

send a user interface including a field for the user to enter an answer to the test.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the computer program product further comprises instructions to:

select the tests at random.

22. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the computer program product further comprises instructions to:

select the tests based on the type of user or the use to which the user places the digital content.

18. Apparatus comprises:

a processor; and

a computer readable medium storing a computer program product for unlocking digital content embodied in digital readable form on a media carrier, the computer program product comprising instructions for causing the processor to;

generate a test based on the user having physical possession of a printed copy of the digital media;

send the test to the user requesting an answer to test;

evaluate the answer supplied by the user; and

if the test was answered correctly, unlock the digital content.