`
`[19]
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`4,528,643
`
`Freeny, Jr.
`
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`Jul. 9, 1985
`
`[54]
`
`sysnzm iron Rgpnonucxiszc
`INFORMATION IN MATERIAL OBJECTS
`AT A POINT OF SALE LOCATION
`
`Inventor:
`
`Charles C. Freeny, Jr., Fort Worth.
`Tex.
`
`.
`8/1980 Freeny.Jr.
`4.217.533
`9/1980 Hamano E1 at -
`4220-991
`4.232.3|7 ll/i980 Freeny. Jr.
`.
`4.265.317!
`5/I981 Desaiet al.
`.
`4,270,182
`5/1981 Asija .
`4.328.544
`5/l9B2 Baldwin etal.
`
`.
`
`FPDC, Inc., Oklahoma City, Okla.
`Assignee:
`App]. No; 456,730
`Filed:
`Jan. 10, 1983
`
`1
`I?" C1" """""""""""""""""""""""" “ GMF 1/00
`LS‘ C1‘
`'
`'
`' ‘‘ ' ' ‘ ' ‘ '
`‘ ' ' ‘ ‘ ‘ ' " 364/900
`Field of Search
`364/200 MS Fug’ 900 MS File
`References Cited
`U S PATENT DOCUMENTS
`'
`'
`<
`3/1974 FfE'=fl)'--V|'-
`3-339-333
`3-91 L397 10/1975
`F‘'Ee“Y~ 3“ '
`3'924‘0(’5 us/1975 Freew‘ Jr‘
`‘
`.
`3.945.220 3/l976 Brobeck et al.
`.
`3.970.992
`7/1976 Boothroyd etal.
`4.071.911
`1/1973 Mazur ............................... .. 364/900
`4.ll2.42l
`9/l978 Freeny. Jr.
`.
`4.209.787
`1./1980 Freeny. Jr.
`.
`
`I
`Primary Examincr—l{aulfe B. Zache
`Attorney, Agent, or FIrm—Dunlap & Codding
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`The present invention contemplates a system for repro-
`ducing information in material objects at a point of sale
`location wherein the information to be reproduced is
`provided at the point of sale location from a location
`remote with respect to the point of sale location. an
`owner authorization code is provided to the point of
`sale location in reponse to receiving a request code from
`the point of sale location requesting to reproducing
`predetermined information in a material object and the
`redetermined information is re roduced in airnaterial
`T’
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`0b_]8CX at the point of sale location in response to receiv-
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`Jul. 9, 1985
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`1
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`4,528,643
`
`SYSTEM FOR REPRODUCING INFORMATION IN
`MATERIAL OBJECTS AT A POINT OF SALE
`LOCATION
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates generally to a system
`for reproducing information in a material object at a
`point of sale location.
`In the past, owners of information such as the infor-
`mation embodied in recordings (phonograph records
`and tapes), video games. motion pictures. software,
`books,
`handheld
`calculators,
`handheld
`electronic
`games, greeting cards. maps, sheet music and the like,
`for example.
`typically have created such information,
`embodied the information in material objects and dis-
`tributed the material objects to various retail outlets
`(point of sale locations) for ultimate sale to the con-
`sumer. This system thus required manufacturing facili-
`ties for reproducing the information in material objects
`and a distribution network for distributing the material
`objects to the various point of sale locations for sale to
`the consumer. The manufacturing facilities and the
`distribution networks represent substantial costs to the
`owner of the information, which expenses ultimately
`have resulted in increased costs to the consumer.
`For example, assuming the information was a record-
`ing of the artist‘s performances of particular musical
`compositions,
`the master recording initially was pro-
`duced. Then. the master recording was utilized to em-
`body the information contained therein in material ob-
`jects or. in other words, the master recording was uti-
`lized to manufacture phonograph records, cassette
`tapes, 8-track tapes and various other configurations of
`material objects. The material objects (the phonograph
`records, cassette tapes, 8-track trapes and the like) then
`were distributed to various retail outlets (point of sale
`locations) for sale to the consumer.
`In the recording example, the owner of the inforrna-
`tion embodied in the master recording initially had to
`determine how many phonograph records. cassette
`tapes, 8—tracl< tapes and the like were to be manufac-
`tured. After manufacturing. the owner of the informa-
`tion then faced the problem of how to distribute such
`phonograph records and tapes to the various retail out-
`lets and, once distributed, the owner of the information
`then faced the problem of collecting the monies due in
`connection with the sale of such phonograph records
`and tapes. If the phonograph records and tapes did not
`sell for any one ofa number of reasons, the owner of the
`information then typically faced the problem of receiv-
`ing returns of the previously distributed phonograph
`records and tapes. Thus, such an owner of information
`might distribute a large number of phonograph records
`and tapes. receive a relatively high percentage of such
`distributed phonograph records and tapes as returns,
`not collect a relatively high percentage of the monies
`due in connection with the sale of such phonograph
`records and tapes and. thus, the final result might be
`that
`the owner of such information merely ended up
`with a large inventory of phonograph records and tapes
`and not enough money collected even to cover the
`initial investment.
`Thus. the owner of the information embodied in re-
`cordings faced the configuration problem (how many
`phonograph records are to be manufactured, how many
`8-track tapes are to be manufactured and how many
`reel-to-reel tapes are to be manufactured). and then the
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`2
`owner of such recording information faced the prob-
`lems ofdistributing such material objects to retail out-
`lets and attempting to collect for the sale of such mate-
`rial objects.
`When the owner ofinformation embodied in record-
`ings initially advertised and otherwise initially commer-
`cially exploited a particular recording. there were no
`assurances that material objects embodying such partic-
`ular recording would be available at a relatively large
`percentage ofpoint of sale locations at a time coinciding
`with the time of the owner’s initial advertising cam-
`paign. This, of course, resulted in lost potential sales.
`The retailers at the various point of sale locations also
`faced problems with respect to information embodied in
`recordings. Initially, such retailers faced the problem of
`determining which recordings were to be stocked and,
`then, attempting to determine which configurations of
`such recordings and how many of each such configura-
`tion. Inventory represented a substantial investment to
`such retailers and such retailers also have faced pilfer~
`age problems which has resulted in lost revenues. All of
`these problems of the retailers translated to a large ex-
`tent to an increased product (material object) cost to the
`consumer.
`
`One attempt to circumvent some of the problems
`referred to above relating to the information embodied
`in recordings has been to market recordings by direct
`mail, such as accomplished in a record club approach,
`for example. With the record club approach, the owner
`of the information attempted to market recordings di-
`rect to the consumer in a manner which would tend to
`reduce the number of recordings sold for which the
`owner of such information was not compensated. How-
`ever, this approach still required the owner of the infor-
`mation to manufacture and inventory the material ob-
`jects (phonograph records and tapes) and thus all ofthe
`manufacturing and inventory problems and the costs
`associated therewith still remained with the record club
`approach.
`One other attempt to circumvent some of the prob-
`lems referred to above relating to the information em-
`bodied in recordings has been for the owner of such
`information to advertise the recordings on television for
`direct sale to the consumer. The television advertising
`direct sale approach had the advantage of almost virtu-
`ally assuring that the owner of such information would
`receive compensation for the sale of a particular record-
`ing and, to some extent, the television advertising direct
`sale approach presented an opportunity for the owner
`of such information to reduce excess inventory prob-
`lems. However, the cost of such television advertising
`has been relatively high and the owner of the informa-
`tion has been required to invest this cost without any
`assurance that a sufficient number of recordings would
`be sold to permit the owner of such information even to
`recoup the initial investment in the television advertis-
`ing. Also,
`the number of recordings which could be
`marketed in a single television advertising direct sale
`campaign has been limited to a single recording in most
`instances.
`Because of economic considerations, it has not been
`practical for a retailer (point of sale location) to main-
`tain all of the available recordings in inventory at any
`given time. Thus, a consumer having a desire to pur-
`chase a particular recording might not be able to locate
`a retail outlet (point of sale location) which carried such
`recording in inventory and this potential sale simply
`
`Page 00006
`
`
`
`3
`would be lost. This type of a lost sale represented lost
`revenues to the owner of the information and the owner
`of the point of sale location.
`All of the problems mentioned above with respect to
`information embodied in recordings has resulted in a
`substantial increase in the price of material objects (pho-
`nograph records and tapes) to the consumer. Since the
`actual cost of manufacture has been relatively low com-
`pared with the retail selling price of the material objects
`(phonograph records and tapes), this large money dif-
`ference has attracted unscrupulous individuals and enti-
`ties to pirate recordings (reproduce without the owner’s
`permission). A majority of the attempts to solve the
`piracy problems have been directed to legislative solu-
`tions. Although helpful, the legislative solutions still
`have not completely solved the piracy problems. If the
`retail price of the recordings could be reduced while
`simultaneously virtually assuring the same compensa-
`tion to the information owner, this substantially would
`reduce the economic incentive to pirate recordings.
`Further, if the problems of manufacturing and distribut-
`ing information could be solved, this likely would result
`in a lower retail price to the consumer while maintain-
`ing or increasing the compensation to the information
`owner.
`
`In summary, the problem which has not been solved
`by the owners of information embodied in recordings
`has been how to manufacture and distribute material
`objects embodying the information in an economical
`and efficient manner and in a manner which virtually
`assures that
`the owners of such information will be
`compensated in connection with the sale of such mate-
`rial objects.
`The various problems referred to before with respect
`to information embodied in recordings also exist with
`respect
`to motion picture type information. Motion
`picture type information has been available to some
`extent in at least four different configurations: § inch
`tape cassettes. VHS tape cassettes; Beta-Max tape cas-
`settes; and video discs. Thus,
`the owners of motion 40
`picture type information and the retailers (owners of
`point of sale locations) distributing material objects
`embodying motion picture type information have to
`face configuration. manufacturing, inventory, distribu-
`tion. collection and piracy problems very similar to the
`problems faced with respect to information embodied in
`recordings, discussed generally before.
`Also, the manufacturing, distribution, inventory and
`collection problems generally discussed before with
`respect to motion picture and recording type informa-
`tion have existed in varying degrees with respect to the
`owners and retailers of various other types of informa-
`tion. such as software, books. handheld calculators.
`handheld electronic games. greeting cards. maps. sheet
`music and the like. for example.
`Of course, in the past there have been vending ma-
`chines capable of dispensing material objects at a point
`of sale location in response to receiving a deposit of a
`predetermined amount of money. With these vending
`machines,
`the material objects still are manufactured
`and shipped or transported to the point of sale locations.
`Also. in recent years, pay, cable or subscription tele-
`vision has become a popular means for distributing
`television type information. In some of these systems.
`the television type information only was delivered to
`the consumer at
`the consumer‘s home (point of sale
`location) in response to the consumer requesting such
`information and paying an appropriate amount to the
`
`4,528,643
`
`4
`owner of such information. The television type infor-
`mation distributed in this manner was transitory in na-
`ture (existed only for transitory period of time at the
`point ofsale location). These systems still did not permit
`a material object embodying the owner‘s information to
`be produced or manufactured at
`the point of sale in
`response to the owner's authorization.
`The present invention provides a means for reproduc-
`ing or manufacturing material objects at point of sale
`locations only with the permission of the owner of the
`information,
`thereby assuring that
`the owner of the
`information will be compensated in connection with
`such reproduction. The system of the present invention
`solves the problems associated with manufacturing.
`inventory, configuration distribution and collection
`previously discussed and permits sale of material ob-
`jects embodying information in a more efficient. eco-
`nomical and profitable manner.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the point of sale
`information manufacturing system of the present inven-
`tion.
`FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the information control
`machine portion of the point of sale information manu-
`facturing system shown in FIG. 1.
`FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the information
`manufaturing machine portion of the point of sale infor-
`mation manufacturing system shown in FIG. 1.
`FIG. 4 is a schematic view ofa modified information
`manufacturing machine.
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`
`The term “material object" as used herein means 21
`medium or device in which information can be embod-
`ied or fixed and from which the information embodied
`therein can be perceived. reproduced. used or other-
`wise communicated, either directly or with the aid of
`another machine or device. For example. a cassette tape
`is a material object in which information (sounds of an
`artist’s performances of musical compositions) can be
`embodied or fixed and, using the cassette tape with the
`aid of cassette player, the information can be communi-
`cated or heard. By way of another example, a floppy
`disk is a material object in which information in the
`form of programs can be fixed and the program so em-
`bodied in the floppy disk can be used with a machine or
`computer adapted to accept the floppy disk input and
`use the program (information) embodied therein. Other
`examples of material objects include phonograph re-
`cords, 8-track tapes.
`reel-to-reel
`tapes. video discs.
`handheld calculators. handheld electronic games. greet-
`ing cards, maps and sheet music. Still other examples of
`material objects will be apparent to those skilled in the
`art
`in view of the foregoing definition when read in
`conjunction with the description of the preferred em-
`bodiment of the invention _contained herein.
`Shown in FIG. 1 is a point of sale information manu-
`facturing system IO which is constructed in accordance
`with the present invention. In general. the point of sale
`information manufacturing system 10 includes at least
`one information control machine 12 and a plurality of
`information manufacturing machines 14. only one infor-
`mation control machine 12 and only one information
`manufacturing machine 14 are shown in the drawings
`for clarity.
`
`Page 00007
`
`
`
`5
`the information control machine 12 is
`In general,
`constructed to receive information via an input line 16,
`encode the received information, store the encoded
`information.
`receive request
`reproduction codes re-
`questing to reproduce certain preselected information at
`a particular information manufacturing machine 14 via
`a communication link 18, provide authorization codes
`authorizing the reproduction of certain preselected
`information at a particular information manufacturing
`machine 14 via the communication link 18. receive file
`reproduce codes via an input
`line 19 requesting the
`reproduction of the information stored in the informa-
`tion control machine 12, provide the information stored
`therein for communication to particular information
`manufacturing machines 14 via a communication link
`20. receive file transmit codes via the input line 19 re-
`questing the reproduction of the information stored in
`the information control machine 12, and provide the
`information stored therein for communication to partic-
`ular information manufacturing machines 14 via the
`communication link 18. Each information manufactur-
`ing machine 14 is constructed to receive encoded infor-
`mation via the communication link 18 or the communi-
`cation link 20, store received encoded information,
`receive request reproduction codes via an input line 21,
`provide request reproduction codes via the communica-
`tion link 20, decode preselected information in response
`to receiving an authorization code and provide certain
`preselected decoded information via an output line 22 to
`a reproduction unit 24 which is adapted to reproduce
`received information in a material object.
`Each of the information manufacturing machines 14
`is located at a point of sale location and each point of
`sale location is located remotely with respect to the
`other point of sale locations in the system 10. The infor-
`mation control machine 12 is located at a remote loca-
`tion with respect to each of the point of sale locations
`and with respect to the information manufacturing ma-
`chines 14. In those instances where the system 10 in-
`cludes more than one information control machine 12,
`which may be desired in some applications. each of the
`information control machines 12 could be in a central
`location or in a location remote with respect to the
`location of the other information control machines 12.
`In any event, each information control machine 12 is
`located at a remote location with respect to each of the
`point of sale locations. The point of sale location is a
`location where a consumer goes to purchase material
`objects embodying predetermined or preselected infor-
`mation.
`In general, information is inputted into the informa-
`tion control machine 12, via the input line 16 and the
`inputted information is encoded and stored in the infor-
`mation control machine 12. The encoded information
`stored in the information control machines 12 is com-
`municated to the information manufacturing machine
`14 via the communication link 18 or the communication
`link 20 and the received encoded information is stored
`in each of the information manufacturing machines 14.
`When a request is made at a point of sale location for
`a material object embodying certain selected informa-
`tion. such request is inputted into the information manu-
`facturing machine 14 in the form of a request reproduc-
`tion code via the input line 21 and, in response to such
`a request, the information manufacturing machine 14
`provides a request reproduction code requesting to
`reproduce the certain selected information in a material
`object which is outputted over the communication link
`
`35
`
`4,528,643
`
`6
`20. The request reproduction code is received by the
`information control machine 12 on the communication
`link 20 and, in response to receiving the request code.
`the information control machine 12, if approved, pro-
`vides an authorization code on the communication link
`20 which is received by the information manufacturing
`machine 14. In response to receiving the authorization
`code,
`the information manufacturing machine 14 de-
`codes the preselected information stored in the informa-
`tion manufacturing machine 14 and provides the de-
`coded information on the ouput line 22. The reproduc-
`tion unit 24 is constructed and adapted to receive the
`decoded information provided on the output line 22 and
`to reproduce the preselected information in a material
`object. Thus, the information manufacturing units 14
`are constructed to reproduce preselected information in
`material objects only in response to receiving an autho-
`rization code and, thus, preselected information is em-
`bodied or reproduced in a material object at a point of
`sale location substantially only with the permission of
`the owner of the information, such permission being
`indicated by the authorization code provided by infor-
`mation control machine 12.
`As shown in FIG. 1, the information control machine
`12 includes an information transform unit 26, an infor-
`mation file unit 28 and an information access unit 30.
`The information manufacturing machine 14 includes a
`master file unit 32, a manufacturing control unit 34,
`information manufacturing unit 36 and the reproduction
`unit 24A
`The information transform unit 26 is constructed to
`receive information inputted on the input line 16. The
`information received on the input line 16 may be in an
`analog format or in a digital format. If the information
`on line 16 is in an analog format, the information trans-
`form unit 26 initially converts the received information
`from the analog format to a digital format.
`The information transform unit 26 has stored therein
`a plurality of encipher programs. Each of the encipher
`programs is adapted to encode information in accor-
`dance with a predetermined pattern established by the
`encipher program and each encipher program is
`uniquely identifiable and locateable via a predetermined
`select code. The information transform unit 26 is
`adapted to receive on a signal path 38 select codes
`uniquely identifying preselected encipher programs and
`to encode the received information in accordance with
`a particular encipher program identified by a select
`code received on the signal path 38. The information
`transform unit 26 also is constructed and adapted to
`provide the encoded information in a digital format on
`the signal path 40.
`the information trans-
`In a preferred embodiment,
`form unit 26 also has stored therein a plurality of deci-
`pher programs and each decipher program is uniquely
`adapted to decode or decipher information which has
`been encoded or enciphered with one of the encipher
`programs.
`the select codes uniquely identifying the
`encipher programs and the corresponding decipher
`programs. The encipher programs are adapted to en-
`code a decipher program in the information being en-
`coded so that each encoded information has encoded
`therein a decipher program corresponding to the partic-
`ular encipher program utilized to encode the informa-
`tion and the decipher program encoded therein, and this
`encoded information is provided on the signal path 40.
`The information transform unit 26 also is constructed
`and adapted to receive an owner code uniquely identi-
`
`Page 00008
`
`
`
`4,528,643
`
`7
`fying the owner of the information being inputted on
`the input line 16 and a catalog code uniquely identifying
`the particular information being inputted on the input
`line 16. The owner code and the catalog code are pro-
`vided by the information transform unit 26 on the signal
`path 40 along with the encoded information which
`includes the decipher program.
`The information file unit 28 is constructed and
`adapted to receive on a signal path 40 the encoded
`information along with the catalog code uniquely iden-
`tifying the encoded information and the owner code
`uniquely identifying the owner of the encoded infonna-
`tion and to store the received encoded information and
`corresponding catalog code and owner code. Each set
`of information stored in the information file unit 28 is
`encoded in accordance with one, preselected encipher
`program and, thus, it is conceivable and it is contem-
`plated by the present invention that each set of informa-
`tion stored in the information file unit 28 will be en-
`coded in accordance with a different encipher program.
`The information file unit 28 has a plurality of file
`encipher programs stored therein and each file encipher
`program is uniquely identifiable via a file select code.
`The information file unit 28 also has stored therein a
`plurality of file decipher programs and each file deci-
`pher program is uniquely adapted to decipher or de-
`code information which has been encoded in accor-
`dance with one of the file encipher programs, the file
`select codes uniquely identifying the file encipher pro-
`grams and the corresponding file decipher programs.
`The file encipher programs are adapted to encode a file
`decipher program in the information being encoded so
`that each encoded information has encoded therein a
`file decipher program corresponding to the particular
`file encipher program utilized to encode the information
`and the file decipher program encoded therein. The
`information file unit 28 also has stored therein a plural-
`ity of catalog decipher programs, each of the catalog
`decipher programs is adapted to decode the decipher
`program and the file decipher program encoded in the
`encoded information stored in the information manufac-
`turing machines 14. In addition. the information file unit
`28 has stored therein a plurality of authorization enci-
`pher programs, for reasons to be made more apparent
`below.
`The information file unit 28 also is constructed to
`receive file reproduce commands.
`file transmit com-
`mands and catalog transmit commands on a signal path
`42.
`In response to receiving a file reproduce command
`along with a file select code and an lMM code which
`uniquely identifies one particular information manufac-
`turing machine 14, the information file unit 28 is con-
`structed and adapted to encode the encoded informa-
`tion stored therein in accordance with the file encipher
`program uniquely identified by the received file select
`code and, simultaneously,
`to encode therein the file
`decipher program identified by the received file select
`code for deciphering the encoded information, and to
`provide this encoded information along with the IMM
`code on the communication link 20 for communication
`to the information manufacturing machine 14 uniquely
`identified by the received IMM code. Thus.
`the en-
`coded information provided on the communication link
`20 in response to a received file reproduce command
`includes all of the information stored in the information
`file unit 28 and this information has been encoded using
`one selected encipher program before being stored in
`
`8
`the information file unit 28 and has been encoded again
`using one selected file encipher program before being
`provided on the communication link 20. The encoded
`information provided on the communication link 20 in
`response to a received file reproduce command is dou-
`ble encoded or encoded twice and includes the decipher
`program and the file decipher program encoded
`therein.
`In response to receiving a file transmit command
`along with a file select code and an IMM code.
`the
`information file unit 28 is constructed and adapted to
`encode the encoded information stored therein in accor-
`dance with the file encipher program uniquely identi-
`fied by the received file select code and, simultaneously,
`to encode therein the particular file decipher program
`identified by the received file select code for decipher-
`ing the encoded information, and to provide the en-
`coded information along with the IMM code on a signal
`path 44. The information provided on the signal path 44
`in response to a received file transmit command thus is
`double encoded in a manner like that described before
`with respect to the file reproduce command. The infor-
`mation access unit 30 is constructed and adapted to
`receive the encoded information provided on the signal
`path 44 in response to the file transmit command along
`with the lMM code and to provide the received en-
`coded information along with the IMM code on the
`communication link 18.
`The information file unit 28 stores the file select codes
`along with the associated [MM codes after communi-
`cating the encoded information stored therein in re-
`sponse to a file reproduce command or a file transmit
`command. It is contemplated that the information com-
`municated to each information manufacturing machine
`14 will be encoded in accordance with a different file
`encipher program. Thus.
`the encoded information
`stored in one information manufacturing machine 14
`will not be useable in another information manufactur-
`ing machine 14. as an additional security measure.
`As described before, the information file unit 28 is
`adapted to communicate all of the information stored
`therein in response to receiving a file reproduce com-
`mand or a file transmit command. It will be apparent to
`those skilled in the art that the information file unit 28
`also could be adapted to communicate only selected
`information stored therein in response to receiving a file
`reproduce command or a file transmit command if de-
`sired in a particular application.
`In response to receiving a catalog transmit command
`along with a catalog code and an IMM code on the
`signal path 42, the information file unit 28 is constructed
`and adapted to determine the particular decipher pro-
`gram and the particular file decipher program which
`correspond respectively to the particular encipher pro-
`gram and the particular file encipher program which is
`utilized to encode the information communicated to the
`particular
`information manufacturing machine
`14
`uniquely identified by the received lMM code. After
`determining the particular decipher program and the
`particular file decipher program,
`the information file
`unit 28 then determines the catalog decipher program
`for decoding the decipher program and the file decipher
`program encoded in the encoded information identified
`by the received catalog code and stored in the particu-
`lar information manufacturing machine 14 identified by
`the received IMM code. and the information file unit 28
`encodes the catalog decipher program and the Catalog
`code in accordance with one predetermined authoriza-
`
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`4,528,643
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`9
`tion encipher program. the encoded catalog decipher
`program. the encoded catalog code and the IMM code
`comprising the authorization code. The information file
`unit 28 provides the authorization code (the encoded
`Catalog decipher program and the encoded IMM code)
`on the signal path 44. The information access unit 28
`receives the authorization code. and communicates the
`authorization code on the communication link 18.
`The information access unit 30 is constructed and
`adapted to receive on the input line 19 owner codes.
`catalog codes and select codes and to provide the
`owner codes. the catalog codes and the select codes on
`the signal path 38 for encoding and storing information
`being received on the input line 16. The information
`access unit 30 also is constructed and adapted to receive
`on the input line 19 file select codes, IMM codes, cata-
`log reproduce codes and catalog transmit codes and to
`provide the received file select codes. IMM codes, cata-
`log reproduce commands and catalog transmit com-
`mands on the signal path 42 for reception by the infor-
`mation file unit 28. The information access unit 30 is
`constructed and adapted to receive IMM codes, catalog
`codes. encoded information and file transmit commands
`on the signal path 44 for communication ofthe encoded
`information stored in the information control machine
`12 to information manufacturing machines 14 over the
`communication li