Data storage and access systems
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A method of controlling access to content data on a data carrier, the data carrier comprising non-volatile data memory storing content memory and non-volatile parameter memory storing use status data and use rules, the method comprising:
- receiving a data access request from a user for at least one content item of the content data stored in the non-volatile data memory;
reading the use status data and use rules from the parameter memory that pertain to use of the at least one requested content item;
evaluating the use status data using the use rules to determine whether access to the at least one requested content item stored in the content memory is permitted; and
displaying to the user whether access is permitted for each of the at least one requested content item stored in the non-volatile data memory.
3 Assignments
Litigations
9 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Data storage and access systems are described for 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, non-volatile data memory for storing received content data and non-volatile 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. Preferred 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, in preferred embodiments, use rule data, helps reduce the risk of unauthorized access to data such as compressed music and video data, especially over the Internet.
72 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A method of controlling access to content data on a data carrier, the data carrier comprising non-volatile data memory storing content memory and non-volatile parameter memory storing use status data and use rules, the method comprising:
-
receiving a data access request from a user for at least one content item of the content data stored in the non-volatile data memory; reading the use status data and use rules from the parameter memory that pertain to use of the at least one requested content item; evaluating the use status data using the use rules to determine whether access to the at least one requested content item stored in the content memory is permitted; and displaying to the user whether access is permitted for each of the at least one requested content item stored in the non-volatile data memory. - View Dependent Claims (2)
-
-
3. A data access terminal for retrieving data from a data supplier and providing the retrieved data to a data carrier, the terminal comprising:
-
a first interface for communicating with the data supplier; a data carrier interface for interfacing with the data carrier; a program store storing code; and a processor coupled to the first interface, the data carrier interface, and the program store for implementing the stored code, the code comprising; code to read payment data from the data carrier and to forward the payment data to a payment validation system; code to receive payment validation data from the payment validation system; code responsive to the payment validation data to retrieve data from the data supplier and to write the retrieved data into the data carrier; and code responsive to the payment validation data to receive at least one access rule from the data supplier and to write the at least one access rule into the data carrier, the at least one access rule specifying at least one condition for accessing the retrieved data written into the data carrier, the at least one condition being dependent upon the amount of payment associated with the payment data forwarded to the payment validation system. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A method of providing data from a data supplier to a data carrier, the method comprising:
-
reading payment data from the data carrier; forwarding the payment data to a payment validation system; retrieving data from the data supplier; writing the retrieved data into the data carrier; receiving at least one access rule from the data supplier; and writing the at least one access rule into the data carrier, the at least one access rule specifying at least one condition for accessing the retrieved data written into the data carrier, the at least one condition being dependent upon the amount of payment associated with the payment data forwarded to the payment validation system. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification