Time based availability to content of a storage medium
First Claim
1. A method of controlling access to a data content of a storage medium, comprising the steps of:
- defining a start point in time prior to which access to the data content is to be inhibited;
receiving a master clock signal from an authorization center for determining when the start point has been reached;
updating date and time within a clock responsive to receiving the master clock signal;
determining time by the clock; and
enabling, responsive to the determined time effectively reaching the start point, access to the data content.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A service methodology for time based availability to content, such as, movies, music, games, information and the like, provisioned on a storage medium whereby revenue may be generated for premier and pay-per-use access to the content. The service is manifested by the combination of a video disk reader, controller and authorization center. A service provider, for instance, locks up a movie on a video disk for which a premier event viewing date and time may be defined and which the provider may then directly distribute, in advance of the premier event, to potential consumers. Each consumer may purchase the right to view the movie once for a certain fee, for example $5.00, through online access from the controller to the authorization center, but the single viewing will only be allowed by the controller on or after the premier event. Thereafter, the consumer pays for viewing of the movie on a pay-per-use basis or over a defined window of time, perhaps for reduced fee, such as $1.00. Moreover, the online authorization process makes it possible to track consumer preferences at the authorization center, and as an alternative to the online payment processing, smart cards may be utilized for such.
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Citations
68 Claims
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1. A method of controlling access to a data content of a storage medium, comprising the steps of:
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defining a start point in time prior to which access to the data content is to be inhibited; receiving a master clock signal from an authorization center for determining when the start point has been reached; updating date and time within a clock responsive to receiving the master clock signal; determining time by the clock; and enabling, responsive to the determined time effectively reaching the start point, access to the data content. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An apparatus for controlling access by a user to content of a storage medium, the medium being readable by a corresponding medium reader from which the apparatus is adapted to receive the content, comprising;
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means for defining a start point in time prior to which access to the data content is to be inhibited; means for receiving a master clock signal from an authorization center; means for determining time and for determining when the start point has been reached; and means for enabling, responsive to the determined time effectively reaching the start point, access to the data content. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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60. An apparatus for controlling access by a user to contents of a storage medium, comprising:
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a medium reader for reading the contents of the storage medium; logic circuitry connected to the medium reader for controlling the medium reader; and a local secure clock connected to receive time information and an access code from an external source and connected to the logic circuitry to provide time information thereto, wherein the local secure clock does not update its time information according to the received time information unless a valid access code is received with the time information from the external source. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64)
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65. An apparatus for controlling access by a user to contents of a storage medium, comprising:
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a medium reader for reading the contents of the storage medium; logic circuitry connected to the medium reader for controlling the medium reader; and a store for storing authorization records, wherein the store is adapted to be accessed only by an authorization center. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68)
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Specification