Service offering system, management server, server provider, terminal device, storage medium issuing apparatus, server offering method, and storage medium

• US 7,739,299 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2001
• Issued: 06/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kawakami, Takashi, Kii, Manabu
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Wilson
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le; Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/027,194
• Publication Number:
  US 20020099661A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,099 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 3, 707 6- 7, 707 9- 10, 707/100, 707/101, 707/200
• US Class Current: 707/781
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A service offering system is disclosed which includes a recording element for recording a unique identifier to each of a plurality of storage media issued, a database for storing and managing the identifiers, a reading element for reading the recorded identifier from any of the storage media, a checking element for checking the identifier read by the reading element against the identifiers managed in the database and a service offering element for offering a service to the storage medium identified by the checked identifier depending on a result of the check by the checking element.

Claims

1. A service offering system from a server to a terminal device, comprising:

recording means for recording a unique identifier to each of a plurality of storage media issued, wherein the recording means records to each of the storage media access right information that denotes services available to each of the storage media identified by the identifiers, and wherein the access right information comprises a download authorization bit and an upload authorization bit;

a database for storing and managing the identifiers;

reading means for reading the recorded identifier from one of the storage media at the terminal device;

checking means for checking the identifier read by the reading means against the identifiers managed in the database; and

service offering means for offering a service to the terminal device corresponding to the storage medium identified by the checked identifier depending on a result of the check by the checking means and based on the access right information.

2. The service offering system according to claim 1, wherein the database stores, in correspondence with the identifiers, the access right information.

3. The service offering system according to claim 1, wherein the service offering means offers the service to the storage medium in accordance with the access right information.

6. The service offering system according to claim 1, wherein the service offering means allows relevant content data to be uploaded from the storage medium.

7. The service offering system according to claim 1, wherein the access right information further comprises a URL for gaining access to a website,

wherein the download bit indicates a first right to receive a content download service from the website, and

wherein the upload bit indicates a second right to get a content upload service.

8. The service offering system according to claim 1, wherein the storage medium stores a replay program for replaying content data downloaded onto the storage medium.

9. The service offering system according to claim 1, wherein the download authorization bit is set to 0 or 1.

4. The service offering system according to clam 1, further comprising content data storing means for storing a plurality of content data items;

wherein the service offering means allows relevant content data to be downloaded from the content data storing means to the storage medium.

5. The service offering system according to claim 4, wherein the recording means records the unique identifier and the access right information on a radially inner side of the storage medium, and

wherein the content data is stored on a radially outer side of the storage medium.

10. A service offering system from a server to a terminal device, comprising:

storage medium issuing means comprising recording means for recording a unique identifier to each of a plurality of package storage media issued, wherein the recording means records to each of the storage media access right information that denotes services available to each of the storage media identified by the identifiers, and wherein the access right information comprises a download authorization bit and an upload authorization bit;

a management server comprising a database for storing and managing the identifiers recorded to the package storage media;

the terminal device comprising reading means for reading the recorded identifier from any of the package storage media;

checking means for checking the identifier read by the terminal device against the identifiers managed in the database; and

a service provider comprising service offering means for offering a service to the terminal device corresponding to the package storage media depending on a result of the check by the checking means and based on the access right information.

11. A service offering system from a server to a terminal device, comprising:

storage medium issuing means comprising recording means for recording a unique identifier and access right information to each of a plurality of package storage media issued;

the server comprising a database which stores the identifiers and retains, in correspondence with the identifiers, wherein the access right information denotes services available to said package storage media identified by said identifiers, and wherein the access right information comprises a download authorization bit and an upload authorization bit;

the terminal device comprising reading means for reading the recorded identifier from any of said package storage media; and

a service provider comprising service offering means for offering a service to the terminal device corresponding to the package storage media depending on a result of checking the identifier in question against the identifiers managed in the database and according to the access right information.

12. A service offering system according to claim 11, wherein the service provider comprises content data storing means for storing a plurality of content data items;

wherein the service offering means comprises judging means for judging whether the access right information indicates permission to download, the service offering means further reading relevant content data from the content data storing means and transferring the content data to the terminal device in accordance with the judgment made by the judging means; and

wherein the terminal device receives the transferred content data and records the received data to the storage medium.

13. A service offering method for offering a service from a server to a terminal device, the method comprising the steps of:

recording a unique identifier to each of a plurality of package storage media issued;

recording to each of the storage media access right information which denotes services available to each of the storage media identified by the identifiers together with the identifiers, wherein the access right information comprises a download authorization bit and an upload authorization bit;

storing the identifiers into a database;

reading the recorded identifier from any of the package storage media at the terminal device;

checking the identifier read from the package storage medium against the identifiers stored in the database; and

offering a service to the terminal device corresponding to the package storage medium based on the checking and the access right information.