DATA STORAGE AND ACCESS SYSTEMS

• US 20130283302A1
• Filed: 06/14/2013
• Published: 10/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hermen-Ard Hulst, Patrick Sandor Racz
• Original Assignee: Hermen-Ard Hulst, Patrick Sandor Racz
• Inventors: Racz, Patrick Sandor, Hulst, Hermen-ard
• Application Number:
  US13/918,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20130283302A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/61 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/109 by using specially-adapted hardware at the client
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2135 Metering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2153 Using hardware token as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/065 for conductive marks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0457 the tickets being sent electronically
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3276 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being read by the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/346 Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/351 Virtual cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 : about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/326 : Game play aspects of gaming systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 : by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 : involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91335 : the copy protection signal being a watermark
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91364 : the video signal being scrambled
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 : Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/913 : for scrambling ; for copy protection

Abstract

Data storage and access systems enable downloading and paying for data such as audio and video data, text, software, games and other types of data. A portable data carrier has an interface for sending and receiving data, data memory for storing received content data, and payment validation memory for providing payment validation data to an external device. The carrier may also store a record of access made to the stored content, and content use rules for controlling access to the stored content. Embodiments store further access control data and supplementary data such as hot links to web sites and/or advertising data. A complementary data access terminal, data supply computer system, and data access device are also described. The combination of payment data and stored content data and use rule data helps reduce the risk of unauthorized access to data such as compressed music and video data, especially over the Internet.

Claims

1. A multimedia terminal comprising:

a network interface configured to interface with a network for accessing a remote computer system;

memory configured to store multimedia content, wherein said multimedia content comprises one or more of music, films, TV programs, text, software, or games software;

a program store storing processor control code;

a processor coupled to said memory, said program store, said network interface and

a user interface to allow a user to select and play said multimedia content;

wherein the processor control code comprises;

code to request identifier data identifying one or more items of multimedia content stored in the memory;

code to receive said identifier data;

code to present to a user on a display coupleable to said multimedia terminal said identified one or more items of multimedia content available from the memory;

code to receive a user selection to select at least one of said one or more of said stored items of multimedia content;

code responsive to said user selection of said at least one selected item of multimedia content to transmit payment data relating to payment for said at least one selected item of multimedia content via said network interface for validation by a payment validation system;

code to receive payment validation data via said network interface defining if said payment validation system has validated payment for said at least one selected item of multimedia content; and

code to control access to said at least one selected item of multimedia content on said terminal responsive to said payment validation data,

wherein said user interface is operable to enable a user to select said at least one item of multimedia content available from said memory; and

wherein said user interface is operable to enable a user to access said at least one selected item of multimedia content responsive to said code to control access permitting access to said at least one selected item of multimedia content.

2. A multimedia terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein said payment data comprises user identification data identifying said user to said payment validation system.

3. A multimedia terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein said payment data comprises a request for payment.

4. A multimedia terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein said network interface comprises a wireless interface.

5. A multimedia terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein said multimedia terminal is a handheld multimedia terminal.

6. A multimedia terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein said multimedia terminal is a home entertainment device and/or a set-top box.

7. A multimedia terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein said memory configured to store multimedia content comprises non-volatile memory.

8. A multimedia terminal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising code to receive additional multimedia content from a remote server.

9. A multimedia terminal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising code to receive supplementary data via said network interface and output said supplementary data to said user using said display.

10. A multimedia terminal as claimed in claim 9, wherein said supplementary data comprises advertising data.

11. A home entertainment system comprising a multimedia terminal according to claim 1, and further comprising a display for displaying said identified one or more items of multimedia content available from the memory.

12. A method of providing access to multimedia content on a multimedia terminal, the multimedia terminal comprising:

a network interface configured to interface with a network for accessing a remote computer system;

memory configured to store multimedia content, wherein said multimedia content comprises one or more of music, films, TV programs, text, software, or games software;

the method comprising;

requesting identifier data identifying one or more items of multimedia content stored in the memory;

presenting to a user on a display coupleable to said multimedia terminal said identified one or more items of multimedia content available from the memory;

receiving a user selection of at least one of said one or more of said stored items of multimedia content;

responsive to said user selection of said at least one selected item of multimedia content, transmitting payment data relating to payment for said at least one selected item of multimedia content via said network interface;

receiving payment validation data via said network interface defining if said payment has been validated for said at least one selected item of multimedia content; and

accessing said at least one selected item of multimedia content on said terminal responsive to said payment validation data.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said payment data comprises user identification data identifying said user to said payment validation system.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said payment data comprises a request for payment.

15. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said network interface comprises a wireless interface.

16. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said multimedia terminal is a handheld multimedia terminal.

17. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said multimedia terminal is a home entertainment device and/or a set-top box.

18. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said memory configured to store multimedia content comprises non-volatile memory.

19. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising code to receive additional multimedia content from a remote server.

20. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising receiving supplementary data and outputting said supplementary data to said user using said display.

21. A handheld multimedia terminal as claimed in claim 20, wherein said supplementary data comprises advertising data.

22. A multimedia terminal comprising:

a network interface configured to interface with a network for communicating with a data supplier;

memory configured to store multimedia content;

a program store storing processor control code;

a processor coupled to said memory, said program store, said network interface and a user interface configured to allow a user to select and access said multimedia content;

wherein the processor control code comprises;

code to request identifier data identifying one or more items of multimedia content available for receiving via said network interface;

code to receive said identifier data via said network interface, said identifier data identifying said one or more items of multimedia content available for receiving via said network interface;

code to receive a user selection, via said user interface, selecting at least one of said one or more items of multimedia content available for receiving;

code responsive to said user selection of said selected at least one item of multimedia content to transmit payment data relating to payment for said selected at least one item of multimedia content via said network interface for validation by a payment validation system;

code to receive payment validation data via said network interface defining if said payment validation system has validated payment for said selected at least one item of multimedia content; and

code responsive to said payment validation data to receive said selected at least one item of multimedia content via said network interface from a data supplier and to write said received at least one item of multimedia content into said memory,

wherein said user interface is operable to enable a user to select said selected at least one item of multimedia content available for receiving.

23. A multimedia terminal as claimed in claim 22, wherein the processor control code further comprises:

code to request content information via said network interface, wherein said content information comprises one or more of description data and cost data pertaining to at least one of said one or more items of multimedia content identified by said identifier data;

code to receive said content information via said network interface; and

code to present said content information pertaining to said identified one or more items of multimedia content available for receiving to a user on a display coupleable to said multimedia terminal.

24. A multimedia terminal as claimed in claim 22, wherein said payment data comprises user identification data identifying said user to said payment validation system.

25. A multimedia terminal as claimed in claim 22, wherein said payment data comprises a request for payment.

26. A multimedia terminal as claimed in claim 22, wherein said network interface comprises a wireless interface.

27. A multimedia terminal as claimed in claim 22, wherein said multimedia content comprises one or more of music, films, TV programs, text, software, or games software.

28. A multimedia terminal as claimed in claim 22, wherein said memory configured to store multimedia content comprises non-volatile memory.

29. A home entertainment system comprising a multimedia terminal according to claim 22;

and

further comprising a display for displaying said one or more items of multimedia content available for receiving via said network interface.

30. A set-top box for accessing multimedia content

the set-top box comprising:

a network interface configured to interface with a network for communicating with a data supplier;

a video output coupleable to a display;

a program store storing processor control code;

a processor coupled to said program store, said network interface and said video output;

wherein the processor control code comprises;

code to request identifier data identifying one or more items of multimedia content available for receiving via said network interface;

code to receive said identifier data via said network interface, said identifier data identifying said one or more items of multimedia content available for receiving via said network interface;

code to receive a user selection selecting at least one of said one or more items of multimedia content available for receiving;

code responsive to said user selection of said selected at least one item of multimedia content to transmit payment data relating to payment for said selected at least one item of multimedia content via said network interface for validation by a payment validation system;

code to receive payment validation data via said network interface indicating if said payment has been validated for said selected at least one item of multimedia content;

code responsive to said payment validation data to receive said selected at least one item of multimedia content via said network interface; and

code to access said selected at least one item of multimedia content received from said data supplier.

31. A set-top box as claimed in claim 30, wherein the processor control code further comprises:

code to request content information via said network interface, wherein said content information comprises one or more of description data and cost data pertaining to at least one of said one or more items of multimedia content identified by said identifier data;

code to receive said content information via said network interface; and

code to present said content information pertaining to said identified one or more items of multimedia content available for receiving to a user on a display coupleable to said set-top box.

32. A set-top box as claimed in claim 30, wherein said payment data comprises user identification data identifying said user to said payment validation system.

33. A set-top box as claimed in claim 30, wherein said payment data comprises a request for payment.

34. A set-top box as claimed in claim 30, wherein the processor control code further comprises code to receive at least one access rule, said at least one access rule specifying at least one condition for accessing the received data.

35. A set-top box as claimed in claim 34, wherein said at least one condition is dependent upon said payment data.

36. A set-top box as claimed in claim 34, wherein said at least one access rule comprises one or more of purchase rules, rental rules and subscription rules for accessing said received at least one item of multimedia content.

37. A set-top box as claimed in claim 34, where the processor control code further comprises:

code to store use status data indicating a use status of said received at least one item of multimedia content in said memory; and

code to evaluate the use status data and said use rules to determine whether access to said at least one item of multimedia content is permitted.

38. A set-top box as claimed in claim 37, where said use status data comprises one or more of data defining a past use, a play or pause state, a status of an interrupted transaction, game status and elapsed play time of said at least one item of multimedia content.

39. A home entertainment system comprising a set-top box according to claim 30, and a display unit coupleable to said video output,

wherein said set-top box is configured to display data defining said one or more items of multimedia content available for receiving on said display unit;

and

wherein said set-top box is configured to display said at least one item of multimedia content on said display unit.

40. A home entertainment system as claimed in claim 39, wherein said set-top box is integrated into said display unit.