Media validation and registration system

• US 20060036611A1
• Filed: 10/21/2005
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DigiMedia Tech, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Schust Development LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Rothschild, Leigh M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,318,061 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99938 Concurrency, e.g. lock management in shared database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access

Abstract

A media validation and registration system includes media storage devices which contain a quantity of content thereon, a user computer processor assembly structured to access a select media storage device, a verification module, and a communicative link between the verification module and the user computer processor assembly. Each media storage device includes a unique unit identifier, the verification module identifying the unique unit identifier of the select media storage device and receiving user information associated therewith. The verification module is also structured to apply supplemental content in association with a first user whose user information is associated with the unique unit identifier for the select media storage device, and to allow the user to register the media storage device through a computer network, e.g., the Internet, and also to verify the status of the registration by going to a website of the publisher or distributor of the media storage device.

Claims

1. A media validation system comprising:

a plurality of media storage devices, each of said media storage device structured to contain a quantity of content thereon and a unique unit identifier;

a user computer processor assembly, said user computer processor assembly structured to operatively access a select one of said media storage devices;

a verification module coupled by a communicative link to the user computer processor assembly, said verification module structured to identify said unique unit identifier of said select media storage device to validate said select media storage device;

said verification module further structured to receive user information associated with said select media storage device having said unique unit identifier and to maintain said user information in association with said unique unit identifier for said select media storage device; and

said verification module also structured to give supplemental content in association with a first user to validate said select media storage device.

2. A media validation system as recited in claim 1 wherein said supplemental content is maintained at least partially remote from said select media storage device.

3. A media validation system as recited in claim 1 wherein said supplemental content includes registration of said select media storage device with a remote server so as to identify the user of said select media storage device.

4. A media validation system as recited in claim 3, where the registration of said select media storage device includes the user providing information to a remote server website including the user'"'"'s name, address, phone number e-mail, age, gender, and entertainment preferences.

5. A media validation system as recited in claim 3 wherein after said select media storage device is validated and registered, the remote server website is structured to notify the user of the registration and any other rewards or supplemental content for the registration.

6. A media validation system as recited in claim 3 wherein after said select media storage device is validated and registered, the remote server website is structure to be accessed by the user to check on the registration status of the select media storage device.

7. A media validation system as recited in claim 3 wherein after said select media storage device is validated and registered, the remote server website is structure to be accessed by the user to register other media storage devices.

8. A media validation system as recited in claim 3 wherein said supplemental content includes marketing materials, image galleries, newsletters, official websites, sweepstakes, and solicitation/offers.

9. A media validation system as recited in claim 1 wherein said verification module is structured to validate said select media storage device in association with said user computer processor assembly such that subsequent access to said supplemental content utilizing said user computer assembly does not require re-validation.

10. A media validation system as recited in claim 9 wherein said user computer processor assembly is structured to utilize a cookie for the subsequent access which does not require re-validation.

11. A media validation system as recited in claim 1 wherein said verification module is structured to deny access to said supplemental content in association with said select media storage device upon receipt of user information for a subsequent user in association with said select media storage device.

12. A media validation system as recited in claim 11 wherein said verification module is structured to direct the subsequent user to a remote server for registration of the subsequent user and, upon registration, to provide access to the supplemental content to the subsequent user.

13. A media validation system as recited in claim 12 wherein said supplemental content includes marketing materials, image galleries, newsletters, official websites, sweepstakes, and solicitation/offers.

14. A media validation system as recited in claim 12 wherein the verification module is structured to validate the subsequent user registration.

15. A media validation system comprising:

a plurality of media storage devices, each of said media storage device structured to contain a quantity of content thereon and a unique unit identifier;

a user computer processor assembly, said user computer processor assembly structured to operatively access a select one of said media storage devices, read said unique unit identifier of said select media storage device unit and store said unique unit identifier into a memory of said user computer processor assembly;

a verification module coupled by a communicative link to the user computer processor assembly, said verification module structured to identify said unique unit identifier of said select media storage device to validate said select media storage device;

said verification module further structured to receive user information associated with said select media storage device having said unique unit identifier and to maintain said user information in association with said unique unit identifier for said select media storage device; and

said verification module also structured to give supplemental content in association with a first user to validate said select media storage device.

16. A media validation system as recited in claim 15 wherein said verification module is structured to validate said select media storage device in association with said unique unit identifier stored in said memory of said user computer processor assembly such that subsequent access to said supplemental content utilizing said user computer assembly does not require re-validation.

17. A media validation system as recited in claim 15 wherein said user computer processor assembly is structured to transmit said unique unit identifier to a remote server to register said select media storage device.