Accessory based data distribution

• US 8,832,815 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2010
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Small, Andrea, Chou, Joyce S., Giardini, Anthony, Lee, Jae Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tabor, Amare F
• Application Number:
  US12/764,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20110058516A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,602 Days
• Field of Search: 726/9, 370/328, 455/412, 709/228
• US Class Current: 726/9
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/08 between user and terminal device

Abstract

In some aspects, a telecommunications device obtains an identifier from an accessory token. The telecommunications device may transmit the identifier to a server to request content associated with the identifier. The telecommunications device may receive the content from the server when the identifier is valid and/or the content is available. In various aspects, the accessory token is communicatively coupled to the telecommunications device, which enables the telecommunications device to obtain the identifier.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a server to associate secure data storage with a unique data identifier (UDI), the server to provide access to the secure data storage by a remote device in response to receipt of a request and while the remote device is physically coupled to a physical accessory token that contains the UDI;

a telecommunications device to act as the remote device to exchange data with the server, the telecommunications device configured to;

determine that the physical accessory token is physically coupled to the telecommunications device,

extract the UDI from the physical accessory token,

determine an association of the UDI to the secure data storage and the server;

transmit the UDI to the server, and

access data from the secure data storage in response to the UDI being determined to be valid by the server and the physical accessory token being determined to be physically coupled to the telecommunications device; and

the physical accessory token configured to physically couple to the telecommunications device and to communicate with the telecommunications device when the physical accessory token is physically coupled to the telecommunications device, the accessory token to store the UDI that is associated with secure data storage made accessible by the server, which when extracted by the telecommunications device is transmitted to the server.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the physical accessory token includes the UDI stored as static data on the physical accessory token, which is extractable by the telecommunications device by a wired or wireless communication.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the physical accessory token includes the UDI as a graphical design that is readable by an optical reader of the telecommunications device.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the server provides access to the secure data storage and the data in the secure data storage when the physical accessory token is in communication with the telecommunications device, and the server prevents access to the secure data storage and the data upon receipt, from the telecommunications device, of a notification of disengagement of the physical accessory token.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the server imposes a restriction of access to data in the secure data storage by having the user perform an acceptance of a license agreement prior to gaining access to the data.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the secure data storage of the server enables uploading of data from the telecommunications device to the server for secure storage in the secure data storage.

18. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the telecommunications device:

detects disengagement of the physical accessory token from the telecommunications device; and

transmits the notification to the server in response to detection that the physical accessory token is disengaged from the telecommunications device.

19. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the telecommunications device extracts the UDI form the physical accessory token a plurality of times during the access of the secure data storage to verify that the physical accessory token remains coupled to the telecommunications device during the access.

20. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the telecommunications device is a first telecommunications device, and wherein the first telecommunications device is further configured to store content on the secure data storage through use of the UDI;

and

further comprising a second telecommunications device configured to;

determine that the physical accessory token is physically coupled to the second telecommunications device,

extract the UDI from the physical accessory token,

determine the association of the UDI to the secure data storage and the server;

transmit the UDI to the server, and

access the content from the secure data storage in response to the UDI being determined to be valid by the server and the physical accessory token being determined to be physically coupled to the second telecommunications device.

7. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed on one or more processors, perform acts comprising:

receiving a unique data identifier (UDI) from a physical accessory token that is physically coupled to a telecommunications device and is in communication with the telecommunications device, the UDI associated with secure data storage provided by a server;

transmitting, via a wireless network, at least the UDI to the server to access the secure data storage that is only accessible while the physical accessory token is in communication with the telecommunications device;

receiving data stored in the secure data storage from the server while the physical accessory token is coupled to the telecommunications device and is in communication with the telecommunications device;

detecting decoupling of the physical accessory token from the telecommunications device; and

transmitting a notification to the server in response to detection that the physical accessory token is disengaged from the telecommunications device, the notification to terminate access to the secure data storage.

8. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 7, wherein the secure data storage includes preloaded data that is accessible by the telecommunications device upon receipt of the UDI, the preloaded data including at least one of a music file or a video file.

9. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 7, wherein the transmitting further includes transmitting a license agreement prior to the receiving the data stored in the secure data storage.

10. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 7, wherein the receiving the UDI initiates the transmitting of the UDI to the server and the receiving the data stored in the secure data storage without receipt of user input by the telecommunications device.

11. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 7, wherein the receiving the data stored in the secure data storage includes receiving streaming data from the server.

12. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 7, further comprising uploading data to the secure data storage using the UDI while the physical accessory token is in communication with the telecommunications device.

13. A method comprising:

receiving a unique data identifier (UDI) in response to physical coupling of a physical accessory token to a telecommunications device, the physical accessory token being in communication with the telecommunications device in response to the physical coupling, the UDI to provide access to data stored on a server;

transmitting at least the UDI to a server; and

receiving the data from the server in response to the physical accessory token being physically coupled to the telecommunications;

detecting decoupling of the physical accessory token from the telecommunications device; and

transmitting a notification to the server in response to detection that the physical accessory token is disengaged from the telecommunications device, the notification to terminate access to the data.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising transmitting at least one of device information or user information to the server with the UDI.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving a license agreement request from the server prior to receiving the data, wherein a receipt of the data is contingent upon an acceptance of the license agreement request.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein further comprising uploading data to the server to securely store the data on the server in association with the UDI and for later retrieval by a telecommunications device when in communication with the physical accessory token.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving the physical accessory token by the telecommunications device as at least one of a replaceable shell, a replaceable tile a skin or a fob.