DATA STORAGE AND ACCESS SYSTEMS

• US 20110302054A1
• Filed: 08/17/2011
• Published: 12/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smartflash LLC
• Original Assignee: Smartflash Technologies Limited
• Inventors: Hulst, Hermen-ard, RACZ, Patrick Sandor
• Granted Patent: US 8,336,772 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/61 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/0797 using dedicated hardware at the client
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2135 Metering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2153 Using hardware token as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/065 for conductive marks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0457 the tickets being sent electronically
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3276 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being read by the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/346 Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/351 Virtual cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 : Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 : about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/326 : Game play aspects of gaming systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 : by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 : involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91335 : the copy protection signal being a watermark
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91364 : the video signal being scrambled
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 : Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/913 : for scrambling ; for copy protection

Abstract

Data storage and access systems enable downloading and paying for data such as audio and video data, text, software, games and other types of data. A portable data carrier has an interface for sending and receiving data, data memory for storing received content data, and payment validation memory for providing payment validation data to an external device. The carrier may also store a record of access made to the stored content, and content use rules for controlling access to the stored content. Embodiments store further access control data and supplementary data such as hot links to web sites and/or advertising data. A complementary data access terminal, data supply computer system, and data access device are also described. The combination of payment data and stored content data and use rule data helps reduce the risk of unauthorized access to data such as compressed music and video data, especially over the Internet.

Claims

1. A handheld multimedia terminal, comprising:

a wireless interface configured to interface with a wireless network for accessing a remote computer system;

non-volatile memory configured to store multimedia content, wherein said multimedia content comprises one or more of music data, video data and computer game data;

a program store storing processor control code;

a processor coupled to said non-volatile memory, said program store, said wireless interface and

a user interface to allow a user to select and play said multimedia content;

a display for displaying one or both of said played multimedia content and data relating to said played multimedia content;

wherein the processor control code comprises;

code to request identifier data identifying one or more items of multimedia content stored in the non-volatile memory;

code to receive said identifier data;

code to present to a user on said display said identified one or more items of multimedia content available from the non-volatile memory;

code to receive a user selection to select at least one of said one or more of said stored items of multimedia content;

code responsive to said user selection of said at least one selected item of multimedia content to transmit payment data relating to payment for said at least one selected item of multimedia content via said wireless interface for validation by a payment validation system;

code to receive payment validation data via said wireless interface defining if said payment validation system has validated payment for said at least one selected item of multimedia content; and

code to control access to said at least one selected item of multimedia content on said terminal responsive to said payment validation data,

wherein said user interface is operable to enable a user to select said at least one item of multimedia content available from said non-volatile memory; and

wherein said user interface is operable to enable a user to access said at least one selected item of multimedia content responsive to said code to control access permitting access to said at least one selected item of multimedia content.

2. A handheld multimedia terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the code to control access to said at least one selected item of multimedia content on said terminal responsive to said payment validation data comprises code to modify use control data stored in said non-volatile memory to enable access to said at least one selected item of multimedia content.

3. A handheld multimedia terminal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising code to request content cost data via said wireless interface for said identified one or more items of multimedia content, and further comprising code to receive said requested content cost data via said wireless interface for said identified one or more items of multimedia content.

4. A handheld multimedia terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein said code responsive to said user selection of said at least one selected item of multimedia content to transmit payment data relating to payment for said at least one selected item of multimedia content via said wireless interface for validation by a payment validation system comprises transmitting said payment data to a data access service provider.

5. A handheld multimedia terminal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising code to retrieve supplementary data via said wireless interface and output said supplementary data to said user using said display.

6. A handheld multimedia terminal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

code to read use status data and use rules from said non-volatile memory pertaining to said at least one selected item of multimedia content; and

wherein said code to control access to said selected item of multimedia content further comprises code to evaluate said use status data and said use rules to determine whether access is permitted to said at least one selected item of multimedia content.

7. A handheld multimedia terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one selected items of multimedia content comprises additional multimedia content for another stored item of multimedia content.

8. A data access terminal for controlling access to one or more content data items stored on a data carrier, the data access terminal comprising:

a user interface;

a data carrier interface;

a program store storing code implementable by a processor; and

a processor coupled to the user interface, to the data carrier interface and to the program store for implementing the stored code, the code comprising;

code to request identifier data identifying one or more content data items stored on the data carrier;

code to receive said identifier data;

code to present to a user via said user interface said identified one or more content data items available from the data carrier;

code to receive a user selection selecting at least one of said one or more of said stored content data items;

code responsive to said user selection of said selected content data item to transmit payment data relating to payment for said selected content item for validation by a payment validation system;

code to receive payment validation data defining if said payment validation system has validated payment for said content data item; and

code to control access to said selected content data item responsive to the payment validation data.

9. A data access terminal as claimed in claim 8, wherein said data carrier is integrated into the data access terminal, and wherein said data carrier comprises flash memory.

10. A data access terminal as claimed in claim 8, wherein said data access terminal is integrated with a mobile communications device and audio/video player.

11. A data access terminal as claimed in claim 8, wherein said data access terminal is integrated with a set top box.

12. A data access terminal as claimed in claim 8, wherein the content data item comprises additional content data for another stored content data item.

13. A data access terminal as claimed in claim 12, wherein the additional content data comprises a level on a game.

14. A handheld multimedia terminal, comprising:

a wireless interface configured to interface with a wireless network for communicating with a data supplier;

non-volatile memory configured to store multimedia content, wherein said multimedia content comprises one or more of music data, video data and computer game data;

a program store storing processor control code;

a processor coupled to said non-volatile memory, said program store, said wireless interface and a user interface to allow a user to select and play said multimedia content;

a display for displaying one or both of said played multimedia content and data relating to said played multimedia content;

wherein the processor control code comprises;

code to request identifier data identifying one or more items of multimedia content available for retrieving via said wireless interface;

code to receive said identifier data via said wireless interface, said identifier data identifying said one or more items of multimedia content available for retrieving via said wireless interface;

code to request content information via said wireless interface, wherein said content information comprises one or more of description data and cost data pertaining to at least one of said one or more items of multimedia content identified by said identifier data;

code to receive said content information via said wireless interface;

code to present said content information pertaining to said identified one or more items of multimedia content available for retrieving to a user on said display;

code to receive a user selection selecting at least one of said one or more items of multimedia content available for retrieving;

code responsive to said user selection of said selected at least one item of multimedia content to transmit payment data relating to payment for said selected at least one item of multimedia content via said wireless interface for validation by a payment validation system;

code to receive payment validation data via said wireless interface defining if said payment validation system has validated payment for said selected at least one item of multimedia content; and

code responsive to said payment validation data to retrieve said selected at least one item of multimedia content via said wireless interface from a data supplier and to write said retrieved at least one item of multimedia content into said non-volatile memory,

wherein said user interface is operable to enable a user to select said selected at least one item of multimedia content available for retrieving.

15. A handheld multimedia terminal as claimed in claim 14, wherein said code to request content information comprises code to request said content information from a content access web server.

16. A handheld multimedia terminal as claimed in claim 14, wherein said code to receive said content data item comprises code to retrieve said content data item from a content provider.

17. A handheld multimedia terminal as claimed in claim 14, wherein said identifier data is retrieved from a data supplier.

18. A handheld multimedia terminal as claimed in claim 14, further comprising code to transmit at least a portion of said payment validation data to a data supplier or to a destination received from said data supplier.

19. A data access terminal for retrieving a content data item from a data supplier and providing the retrieved data item to a data carrier, the data access terminal comprising:

a first interface for communicating with the data supplier;

a user interface;

a data carrier interface;

a program store storing code implementable by a processor; and

a processor coupled to the user interface, to the data carrier interface and to the program store for implementing the stored code, the code comprising;

code to request identifier data identifying one or more content data items available for retrieving;

code to receive said identifier data identifying said one or more content data items available for retrieving;

code to request content information pertaining to at least one of said one or more content data items identified by said identified data;

code to receive said content information;

code to present said content, information to a user via said user interface pertaining to said identified one or more content data items available for retrieving;

code to receive a user selection selecting at least one of said one or more of said content data items available for retrieving;

code responsive to said user selection of said selected at least one content data item to transmit payment data relating to payment for said selected at least one content item for validation by a payment validation system;

code to receive payment validation data defining if said payment validation system has validated payment for said selected at least one content data item; and

code responsive to the payment validation data to retrieve said selected at least one content data item from a data supplier and to write said retrieved at least one content data item into said data carrier.

20. A data access terminal as claimed in claim 19, wherein said content information comprises at least one of a content data item description and content cost data.

21. A data access terminal as claimed in claim 19, wherein said data carrier is integrated into said data access terminal, and wherein said data carrier comprises flash memory.

22. A data access terminal as claimed in claim 19, wherein said data access terminal is integrated with a mobile communications device and audio/video player.

23. A data access terminal as claimed in claim 19, wherein said data access terminal is integrated with a set top box.

24. A data access terminal as claimed in claim 19, wherein the content data item comprises one or more of music, films, TV programs, text, software, or games software.

25. A handheld multimedia terminal for retrieving and accessing protected multimedia content, comprising:

a wireless interface configured to interface with a wireless network for communicating with a data supplier;

non-volatile memory configured to store multimedia content, wherein said multimedia content comprises one or more of music data, video data and computer game data;

a program store storing processor control code;

a processor coupled to said non-volatile memory, said program store, said wireless interface and

a user interface to allow a user to select and play said multimedia content;

a display for displaying one or both of said played multimedia content and data relating to said played multimedia content;

wherein the processor control code comprises;

code to request identifier data identifying one or more items of multimedia content available for retrieving via said wireless interface;

code to receive said identifier data via said wireless interface, said identifier data identifying said one or more items of multimedia content available for retrieving via said wireless interface;

code to request content information via said wireless interface, wherein said content information comprises one or more of description data and cost data pertaining to at least one of said one or more items of multimedia content identified by said identifier data;

code to receive said content information via said wireless interface;

code to present said content information pertaining to said identified one or more items of multimedia content available for retrieving to a user on said display;

code to receive a first user selection selecting at least one of said one or more items of multimedia content available for retrieving;

code responsive to said first user selection of said selected at least one item of multimedia content to transmit payment data relating to payment for said selected at least one item of multimedia content via said wireless interface for validation by a payment validation system;

code to receive payment validation data via said wireless interface defining if said payment validation system has validated payment for said selected at least one item of multimedia content; and

code responsive to said payment validation data to retrieve said selected at least one item of multimedia content via said wireless interface from a data supplier and to write said retrieved at least one item of multimedia content into said non-volatile memory,

code to receive a second user selection selecting one or more of said items of retrieved multimedia content to access;

code to read use status data and use rules from said non-volatile memory pertaining to said second selected one or more items of retrieved multimedia content; and

code to evaluate said use status data and use rules to determine whether access is permitted to said second selected one or more items of retrieved multimedia content,

wherein said user interface is operable to enable a user to make said first user selection of said selected at least one item of multimedia content available for retrieving,

wherein said user interface is operable to enable a user to make said second user selection of said one or more items of retrieved multimedia content available for accessing, and

wherein said user interface is operable to enable a user to access said second user selection of said one or more item of retrieved multimedia content responsive to said code to control access permitting access to said second selected one or more items of retrieved multimedia content.

26. A handheld multimedia terminal as claimed in claim 25, further comprising code to present said second selected one or more items of retrieved multimedia content to a user via said display if access is permitted.

27. A handheld multimedia terminal as claimed in claim 25, wherein the rules comprise one or more of purchase rules, rental rules and subscription rules for said second selected one or more items of retrieved multimedia content.

28. A handheld multimedia terminal as claimed in claim 25, further comprising code to write updated use status data to said non volatile memory after user access to the second selected one or more items of retrieved multimedia content.

29. A handheld multimedia as claimed in claim 28, further comprising code to write partial use status data to said non volatile memory when only part of one of said second selected one or more items of retrieved multimedia content has been accessed.

30. A data access terminal for controlling access to one or more content data items stored on a data carrier, the data access terminal comprising:

a user interface;

a data carrier interface;

a program store storing code implementable by a processor; and

a processor coupled to the user interface, to the data carrier interface and to the program store for implementing the stored code, the code comprising;

code to request identifier data identifying one or more content data items available for retrieving;

code to receive said identifier data identifying said one or more content data items available for retrieving;

code to request content information pertaining to at least one of said one or more content data items identified by said identified data;

code to receive said content information;

code to present said content information to a user via said user interface pertaining to said identified one or more content data items available for retrieving;

code to receive a first user selection selecting at least one of said one or more of said content data items available for retrieving;

code responsive to said first user selection of said selected at least one content data item to transmit payment data relating to payment for said selected at least one content item for validation by a payment validation system;

code to receive payment validation data defining if said payment validation system has validated payment for said selected at least one content data item;

code responsive to the payment validation data to retrieve said selected at least one content data item from a data supplier and to write said retrieved at least one content data item into said data carrier;

code to receive a second user selection selecting one of said one or more of said retrieved content data items to access;

code to read use status data and use rules from said data carrier pertaining to said second selected one or more retrieved content data items; and

code to evaluate said use status data and use rules to determine whether access is permitted to said second selected one or more retrieved content data items.

31. A data access terminal as claimed in claim 30, wherein said data carrier is integrated into said data access terminal, and wherein said data carrier comprises flash memory.

32. A data access terminal as claimed in claim 30, wherein said data access terminal is integrated with a mobile communications device and audio/video player.

33. A data access terminal as claimed in claim 30, wherein said data access terminal is integrated with a set top box.

34. A data access terminal as claimed in claim 30, wherein the content data item comprises one or more of music, films, TV programs, text, software, or games software.

35. A data access terminal for retrieving data from a data supplier and providing the retrieved data to a data carrier, the terminal comprising:

a first interface for communicating with the data supplier;

a data carrier interface for interfacing with the data carrier;

a program store storing code; and

a processor coupled to the first interface, the data carrier interface, and the program store for implementing the stored code,

the code comprising;

code to read payment data from the data carrier and to forward the payment data to a payment validation system;

code to receive payment validation data from the payment validation system;

code responsive to the payment validation data to retrieve data from the data supplier and to write the retrieved data into the data carrier;

code responsive to the payment validation data to receive at least one access rule from the data supplier and to write the at least one access rule into the data carrier, the at least one access rule specifying at least one condition for accessing the retrieved data written into the data carrier, the at least one condition being dependent upon the amount of payment associated with the payment data forwarded to the payment validation system;

code to retrieve from the data supplier and output to a user stored data identifier data and associated value data and use rule data for a data item available from the data supplier; and

code to write use rule data for a data item into the data carrier with the associated data item,

wherein the data access terminal is integrated with a mobile communication device, a personal computer, an audio/video player, and/or a set top box.

36. A data access device for retrieving stored data from a data carrier, the device comprising:

a user interface;

a data carrier interface;

a program store storing code implementable by a processor; and

a processor coupled to the user interface, to the data carrier interface and to the program store for implementing the stored code,

the code comprising;

code to retrieve use status data indicating a use status of data stored on the carrier, and use rules data indicating permissible use of data stored on the carrier;

code to evaluate the use status data using the use rules data to determine whether access is permitted to the stored data;

code to access the stored data when access is permitted; and

code to write partial use status data to the data carrier when only part of a stored data item has been accessed,

wherein the data access terminal is integrated with a mobile communication device, a personal computer, an audio/video player, and/or a set top box.

37. A portable data carrier, comprising:

an interface for reading and writing data from and to the carrier;

non-volatile data memory, coupled to the interface, for storing data on the carrier;

non-volatile payment data memory, coupled to the interface, for providing payment

data to an external device; and

non-volatile communications parameter memory for storing data for accessing a communications network to receive data from the communications network for storage in the data memory.

38. A portable data carrier, comprising:

an interface for reading and writing data from and to the carrier;

non-volatile data memory, coupled to the interface, for storing data on the carrier; and

non-volatile payment data memory, coupled to the interface, for providing payment data to an external device,

wherein the data memory is partitioned for access on a block-by-block basis, each block comprising a plurality of data bytes read or written as a set.

39. A portable data carrier, comprising:

an interface for reading and writing data from and to the carrier;

non-volatile data memory, coupled to the interface, for storing data on the carrier; and

non-volatile payment data memory, coupled to the interface, for providing payment data to an external device,

wherein said data memory has a capacity of greater than 1 MByte, more preferably greater than 100 Mbytes, and most preferably greater than 1 GByte.