Methods and apparatus to implement electronic book viewers

• US 8,613,061 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2010
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Dvorak, Joseph, Hirsch, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): PARTHASARATHY, PRAMILA
• Application Number:
  US12/873,994
• Publication Number:
  US 20120054822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,203 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 726/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0291 for reading, e.g. e-books constructional details of portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]

Abstract

Example methods and apparatus to implement electronic book viewers are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves presenting content on a display panel removably attachable to a binding element. The binding element is configured to receive one or more other display panels in a removably attached configuration to form an electronic book. The example method also involves enforcing a content protection policy associated with the content presented on the display panel based on an attachment status of the display panel. The attachment status is associated with the removable attachability of the display panel relative to the binding element.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

presenting content on a display panel removably attachable to a binding element, the binding element configured to receive one or more other display panels in a removably attached configuration to form an electronic book; and

enforcing a content protection policy associated with the content presented on the display panel, based on an attachment status of the display panel and comprising obtaining identification information of a user via an input interface, identifying the user based on the identification information and enforcing the policy based on the identified user, the attachment status being associated with the removable attachability of the display panel relative to the binding element, wherein enforcing the content protection policy comprises ceasing presentation of at least a portion of the content on the display panel in response to detecting removal of the display panel from the binding element.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a change in the attachment status of the display panel; and

enforcing the content protection policy associated with the content presented on the display panel based on detecting the change in the attachment status.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

prior to presenting the content on the display panel, receiving the content in the display panel from the binding element and storing the content in a memory of the display panel; and

prior to enforcing the content protection policy, receiving the content protection policy in the display panel from the binding element and storing the content protection policy in the memory of the display panel.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein enforcing the content protection policy comprises, after removal of the display panel from the binding element, continuing to present the content on the display panel for a duration corresponding to the content protection policy, and ceasing presentation of the content on the display panel after expiration of the duration in accordance with the content protection policy.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein enforcing the content protection policy comprises, after removal of the display panel from the binding element, and in response to detecting an attachment of the display panel to another binding element, enforcing a rule of the content protection policy associated with the attachment to the other binding element.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein identifying the user based on the identification information comprises performing a biometric recognition process on the identification information.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the input interface is a sensor on the display panel.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory in communication with the processor having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause the processor to;

present content on a display panel removably attachable to a binding element, the binding element configured to receive one or more other display panels in a removably attached configuration to form an electronic book; and

enforce a content protection policy associated with the content presented on the display panel, based on an attachment status of the display panel and comprising obtaining identification information of a user via an input interface, identifying the user based on the identification information and enforcing the policy based on the identified user, the attachment status being associated with the removable attachability of the display panel relative to the binding element, wherein enforcing the content protection policy comprises ceasing presentation of at least a portion of the content on the display panel in response to detecting removal of the display panel from the binding element.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to:

detect a change in the attachment status of the display panel; and

enforce the content protection policy associated with the content presented on the display panel based on detecting the change in the attachment status.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to:

prior to presenting the content on the display panel, receive the content in the display panel from the binding element and store the content in a memory of the display panel; and

prior to enforcing the content protection policy, receive the content protection policy in the display panel from the binding element and store the content protection policy in the memory of the display panel.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to enforce the content protection policy by, after removal of the display panel from the binding element, continuing to present the content on the display panel for a duration corresponding to the content protection policy, and ceasing presentation of the content on the display panel after expiration of the duration in accordance with the content protection policy.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to enforce the content protection policy by, after removal of the display panel from the binding element, and in response to detecting an attachment of the display panel to another binding element, enforcing a rule of the content protection policy associated with the attachment to the other binding element.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein identifying the user based on the identification information comprises performing a biometric recognition process on the identification information.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the input interface is a sensor on the display panel.

15. A method comprising:

receiving a request at a processor system to provide content for display on an electronic book viewer device having first and second removably attachable display panels, the processor system being a host of the electronic book viewer device and separate from the electronic book viewer device, and the processor system to store content and corresponding content protection policies;

determining, based on a content protection policy of the content, whether the content is protected from display on the electronic book viewer device based on obtaining identification information of a user via an input interface, identifying the user based on the identification information and enforcing the policy based on the identified user; and

when the content is not protected from display on the electronic book viewer device, providing the content and enforcing the content protection policy by ceasing presentation of at least a portion of the content on one of the first or second removably attachable display panels in response to detecting removal of the one of the first or second removably attachable display panels.

16. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein the processor system is a mobile phone.

17. A method as defined in claim 15, further comprising, when only the portion of the content is not protected from display on the electronic book viewer device, providing only the portion of the content.

18. A method as defined in claim 17, wherein the portion of the content is original content and a non-shareable portion of the content is user-authored content associated with the original content.

19. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein determining whether the content is protected from display on the electronic book viewer device comprises verifying that a service provider of the processor system authorizes the electronic book viewer device to display the content.

20. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein determining whether the content is protected from display on the electronic book viewer device further comprises verifying a device identity associated with the electronic book viewer device, and when the device identity satisfies a required credential associated with the content protection policy, determining that the content is not protected from displaying on the electronic book viewer device.

21. An apparatus comprising:

a processor system; and

a memory in communication with the processor system having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause the processor system to;

receive a request to provide content for display on an electronic book viewer device having first and second removably attachable display panels, the processor system being a host of the electronic book viewer device and separate from the electronic book viewer device, and the processor system to store content and corresponding content protection policies;

determine, based on a content protection policy of the content, whether the content is protected from display on the electronic book viewer device based on obtaining identification information of a user via an input interface, identifying the user based on the identification information and enforcing the policy based on the identified user; and

when the content is not protected from display on the electronic book viewer device, provide the content and enforce the content protection policy by ceasing presentation of at least a portion of the content on one of the first or second removably attachable display panels in response to detecting removal of the one of the first or second removably attachable display panels.

22. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the processor system is a mobile phone.

23. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor system to, when only the portion of the content is not protected from display on the electronic book viewer device, provide only the portion of the content.

24. An apparatus as defined in claim 23, wherein the portion of the content is original content and a non-shareable portion of the content is user-authored content associated with the original content.

25. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor system to determine whether the content is protected from display on the electronic book viewer device by verifying that a service provider of the processor system authorizes the electronic book viewer device to display the content.

26. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor system to determine whether the content is protected from display on the electronic book viewer device by verifying a device identity associated with the electronic book viewer device, and when the device identity satisfies a required credential associated with the content protection policy, determine that the content is not protected from displaying on the electronic book viewer device.