Electronic book secure communication with home subsystem

• US 7,336,788 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2000
• Issued: 02/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Discovery Communications, Inc. (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Discovery Communications, Inc. (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hendricks, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh; Ayaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chai; Longbit
• Application Number:
  US09/722,519
• Time in Patent Office: 2,646 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/200, 715/531, 380200-202, 380/239, 709220-222
• US Class Current: 380/239
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1011 to devices

Abstract

The invention, an electronic book selection and delivery system, is a new way to distribute books and other textual information to bookstores, libraries and consumers. The primary components of the system are a subsystem for placing text in a video signal format and a subsystem for receiving and selecting text that is placed in the video signal format. The system configuration for consumer use contains additional components and optional features that enhance the system, namely: (1) an operation center, (2) a video distribution system, (3) a home subsystem, including reception, selection, viewing, transacting and transmission capabilities, and (4) a billing and collection system. The operation center and/or video distribution points perform the functions of manipulation of text data, security and coding of text, cataloging of books, messaging center, and uplink functions. The home subsystem performs the functions of connecting to a video distribution system, menu selecting text, storing text, and transacting through phone or cable communicating mechanisms. A portable book-shaped viewing device is used for viewing the textual material delivered. The billing and collection system performs the transaction, management, authorization, collection and publisher payments automatically utilizing the telephone system.

Claims

1. A method for processing text data for an electronic book in an electronic book home system comprising an electronic library and a portable electronic viewer, the method comprising:

transmitting a purchase order of an electronic book from the electronic library to a remote operations center;

attaching a unique packet identifier that matches an electronic library identifier associated with the purchaser'"'"'s electronic library to a packet of text data at the remote operations center;

after the unique packet identifier is attached, receiving the packet of text data at the electronic library;

determining, at the electronic library, whether the packet has a unique packet identifier; and

if the packet has a unique packet identifier, determining whether the packet identifier matches the electronic library identifier of the electronic library; and

if the packet identifier matches the electronic library identifier, storing the packet to a data text file of the electronic book in an electronic library storage of the portable electronic viewer, wherein said electronic book comprising a unique key associated therewith and said portable electronic viewer having a unique key associated therewith for data text encryption and decryption;

in the library, comparing the unique key associated with data text of said electronic book to the unique key identifying said portable electronic viewer; and

if the comparing step produces a match, sending the encrypted and compressed data text related to said electronic book from the library to said portable electronic viewer and storing said encrypted and compressed data text in said portable electronic viewer; and

decompressing and decrypting said electronic book page by page only at the moment of viewing and only for the current page (just before a page is displayed on the display of said portable electronic viewer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the packet is transmitted as a digital bit stream from a remote cable headend to the electronic library.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, if the packet does not have a unique packet identifier, storing the packet to an electronic message file.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of storing comprises:

determining whether the data file has been opened, and

if the data file has been not been opened,

opening the data file; and

storing the packet to the data file.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining whether the packet is a final packet received for an electronic book, and

if the packet is the final packet,

closing the data file; and

updating a directory.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the data file to a viewer.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising encrypting and compressing the data file.