Method of and system for authentication downloading

• US 20050060578A1
• Filed: 09/17/2003
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Xue, Xin
• Application Number:
  US10/666,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20050060578A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/4
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/78 to assure secure storage of data address-based protection against unauthorised use of memory G06F12/14; record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/108 when the policy decisions are valid for a limited amount of time
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/35 Protecting application or service provisioning, e.g. securing SIM application provisioning

Abstract

A method of and system for authorization and authentication downloading utilizes a removable memory having a set of authentication data. A user accesses a server with a handheld electronic device via a wireless Internet connection. The removable memory includes the set of authentication data. The handheld electronic device includes an interface to connect to the Internet when the removable memory is inserted into the handheld electronic device and a connection is formed with a server, using the set of authentication data, the server is able to authenticate the removable memory automatically without the user interfacing personally with the server. The server authenticates downloading to the removable memory in the handheld electronic device by reading the set of authentication data on the removable memory, and downloading the desired content to the removable memory.

Claims

1. A method of downloading content from a server to an electronic device, comprising:

storing authentication data on a removable memory, wherein the authentication data includes a predetermined level of content access;

accessing the server with the electronic device;

authenticating the removable memory by reading the authentication data from the removable memory; and

downloading the content from the server to the removable memory according to the predetermined level of content access.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the authenticating is performed by the server.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the removable memory is a semiconductor memory.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising time stamping the authentication data, such that the predetermined level of content access is available for a predetermined amount of time.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the server is accessed through a wired internet connection, further wherein the wired internet connection includes a conduit and a personal computer.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the server is accessed through a wireless connection.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein the wireless connection includes an internet connection.

8. The method according to claim 6 wherein the wireless connection includes a local area network.

9. The method according to claim 6 wherein the wireless connection includes a wide area network.

10. A system for downloading content from a server to an electronic device, comprising:

means for storing authentication data on a removable memory, wherein the authentication data includes a predetermined level of content access;

means for receiving the removable memory in the electronic device;

means for accessing the server with the electronic device;

means for authenticating the removable memory by reading the authentication data from the removable memory; and

means for downloading the content from the server to the removable memory according to the predetermined level of content access.

11. The system according to claim 10 wherein the means for authenticating is included within the server.

12. The system according to claim 10 wherein the removable memory is a semiconductor memory.

13. The system according to claim 10 wherein the authentication data also includes a time stamp, such that the predetermined level of content access is available for a predetermined amount of time.

14. The system according to claim 10 wherein the means for accessing accesses the server through a wired internet connection, further wherein the wired internet connection includes a conduit and a personal computer.

15. The system according to claim 10 wherein the means for accessing accesses the server through a wireless connection.

16. The system according to claim 15 wherein the wireless connection includes an internet connection.

17. The system according to claim 15 wherein the wireless connection includes a local area network.

18. The system according to claim 15 wherein the wireless connection includes a wide area network.

19. A system for downloading content, comprising:

a removable memory, the removable memory including authentication data, the authentication data including a predetermined level of content access;

an electronic device configured to receive the removable memory; and

a server, wherein when the electronic device accesses the server, the removable memory is authenticated by reading the authentication data from the removable memory, and further

wherein once authenticated, content according to the predetermined level of content access is downloaded from the server to the electronic device.

20. The system according to claim 19 wherein the server performs the authentication of the removable memory.

21. The system according to claim 19 wherein the removable memory is a semiconductor memory.

22. The system according to claim 19 wherein the authentication data is time stamped, such that the predetermined level of content access is available for a predetermined amount of time.

23. The system according to claim 19 wherein the server is accessed through a wired internet connection, further wherein the wired internet connection includes a conduit and a personal computer.

24. The system according to claim 19 wherein the server is accessed through a wireless connection.

25. The system according to claim 24 wherein the wireless connection includes an internet connection.

26. The system according to claim 24 wherein the wireless connection includes a local area network.

27. The system according to claim 24 wherein the wireless connection includes a wide area network.

28. An electronic device for downloading, comprising:

a memory slot configured to receive a removable memory, wherein the removable memory includes authentication data, the authentication data including a predetermined level of content access; and

a communications interface configured for coupling to a server, wherein when the electronic device accesses the server through the communications interface, the removable memory is authenticated by reading the authentication data from the removable memory,

further wherein content according to the predetermined level of content access is downloaded.

29. The electronic device according to claim 28 wherein the server performs the authentication of the removable memory.

30. The electronic device according to claim 28 wherein the removable memory is a semiconductor memory.

31. The electronic device according to claim 28 wherein the authentication data is time stamped, such that the predetermined level of content access is available for a predetermined amount of time.

32. The electronic device according to claim 28 wherein the communications interface is a wired internet connection, further wherein the wired internet connection includes a conduit and a personal computer.

33. The electronic device according to claim 28 wherein the communications interface is a wireless connection, the wireless connection including an internet connection.

34. The electronic device according to claim 33 wherein the wireless connection includes a local area network.

35. The electronic device according to claim 33 wherein the wireless connection includes a wide area network.

36. A removable memory for downloading, comprising:

authentication data, the authentication data including a predetermined level of content access; and

a communications interface configured for coupling to a server, wherein when an electronic device accesses the server through the communications interface, the removable memory is authenticated by reading the authentication data from the removable memory, further wherein the electronic device includes a memory slot configured to receive the removable memory, and further

wherein content according to the predetermined level of content access is downloaded.

37. The removable memory according to claim 36 wherein the server performs the authentication of the removable memory.

38. The removable memory according to claim 36 wherein the removable memory is a semiconductor memory.

39. The removable memory according to claim 36 wherein the authentication data is time stamped, such that the predetermined level of content access is available for a predetermined amount of time.

40. The removable memory according to claim 36 wherein the communications interface is a wired internet connection, further wherein the wired internet connection includes a conduit and a personal computer.

41. The removable memory according to claim 36 wherein the communications interface is a wireless connection, the wireless connection including an internet connection.

42. The removable memory according to claim 41 wherein the wireless connection includes a local area network.

43. The removable memory according to claim 41 wherein the wireless connection includes a wide area network.