PTO/SB/O5 (O7-O7)
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`UTILITY
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`PATENT APPLICATION
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`TRANSMITTAL
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`(Only for new nonprovisional applications under 37 CFR 1.53(b))
`
`
`Title
`Filed via USPTO
`Website.
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`
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`DATA STORAGE AND ACCESS
`SYSTEMS
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`Commissioner for Patents
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
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`
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`ADDRESS TO:
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`APPLICATION ELEMENTS
`
`See MPEP chapter 600 concerning utility patent application contents.
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`
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` 1. E] Fee Transmittal Form (e.g., PTO/SB/17)
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`
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`9. E] Assignment Papers (cover sheet (PTO-1595) & document(s))
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`(Submit an original and a duplicate for fee processing)
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`2. E Applicant claims small entity status.
`See 37 CFR 1.27.
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`ACCOMPANYING APPLICATION PARTS
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`
`
`]
`3. E Specification [Total Pages (incl cover sheet) 50
`Both the claims and abstract must start on a new page
`(For information on the preferred arrangement, see MPEP 608.01(a))
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`Name of Assignee
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`10. E] 37 CFR 3.73(b) Statement
`(when there is an assignee)
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`E] Power of
`Attorney
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`15. D Certified Copy of Priority Document(s)
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`_
`_
`_
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`(if foreign priority /S claimed)
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` Nonpublication Request under 35 U.S.C. 122 (b)(2)(B)(i).
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`Applicant must attach form PTO/SB/35 or its equivalent.
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` 17. D Other:
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`17
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`]
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`[Total Sheets
`4. [Z Drawing(s) (35 U.S.C.113)
`[Total Sheets
`5. Oath or Declaration
`a. D Newly executed (original or copy)
`b. D A copy from a prior application (37 CFR 1.63 (d))
`(for a continuation/divisional with Box 18 completed)
`i. E] DELETION OF lNVENTOR(S)
`Signed statement attached deleting inventor(s)
`named in the prior application, see 37 CFR
`1.63(d)(2) and 1.33(b).
`
`]
`
`6. X Application Data Sheet. See 37 CFR 1.76
`
`Computer Program (Appendix)
`E] Landscape Table on CD
`8. Nucleotide andlor Amino Acid Sequence Submission
`(if applicable, items a. - c. are required)
`a. D Computer Readable Form (CRF)
`b.
`Specification Sequence Listing on:
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`i. E] CD~ROM or CD-R (2 copies); or
`ii. I] Paper
`
`English Translation Document (if applicable)
`
`Information Disclosure Statement (PTOlS'Bl08 or PTO-1449)
`E] Copies of foreign patent documents,
`publications, & other information
` Preliminary Amendment
` 7. E] CD-ROM or CD-R in duplicate, large table or
`Return Receipt Postcard (MPEP 503)
`
`(Should be specifically itemized)
`
`c. E] Statements verifying identity of above copies
`18. If a CONTINUING APPLICATION, check appropriate box, and supply the requisite information below and in the first sentence of the
`specification following the title, or in an Application Data Sheet under 37 CFR 1.76:
`
`of prior application No: __1_1_l:_3;3_t§L7_§_8_____________ __
`D Continuation-in-part (CIP)
`E No Fee Continuation D Divisional
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` Prior application information: Examiner Steve 5. PAIK Art Unit: 2876
`
`19. CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS
`
`
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`
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`Z-—TePPh°ne —
`IIIWTW
`Inn:
`was_
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`
` January 15, 2008
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`61257843 V1
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`Apple Exhibit 1029
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`Page 00001
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`Apple Exhibit 1029
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`Attorney Docket No.: 080379-0001 10US
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`CONTINUATION PATENT APPLICATION
`
`DATA STORAGE AND ACCESS SYSTEMS
`
`lnventor(s):
`
`Patrick RACZ, a citizen of the United Kingdom, residing at
`19 Royal Square, Saint Heller, Jersey JE1 4WA
`
`Entity:
`
`Small
`
`TOWNSEND and TOWNSEND and CREW LLP
`
`Two Embarcadero Center, Eighth Floor
`San Francisco, California 94111-3834
`Tel: 415-576-0200
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`Attorney Docket No.: 080379-0001 l0US
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`PATENT
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`DATA STORAGE AND ACCESS SYSTEMS
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`CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. Patent Application No. 1 1/33 6,75 8, filed
`
`on January 19, 2006; which is a continuation of U.S. Patent Application No. 10/1 11,716, filed
`
`on September 17, 2002, which application is a national stage application under 35 U.S.C.
`
`371, claiming the priority of international PCT Application No. GB00/04110, filed on
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`October 25, 2000; which claims priority to UK Application No. 9925227.2 filed on October
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`25, 1999, each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`[0002]
`
`This invention is generally concerned with data storage and access systems. More
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`particularly, it relates to a portable data carrier for storing and paying for data and to
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`computer systems for providing access to data to be stored. The invention also includes
`corresponding methods and computer programs. The invention is particularly useful for I
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`managing stored audio and Video data, but may also be applied to storage and access of text
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`and software, including games, as well as other types of data.
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`[0003] One problem associated with the increasingly wide use of the internet is the growing
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`prevalence of so—called data pirates. Such pirates obtain data either by unauthorized or
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`legitimate means and then make this data available essentially world-wide over the internet
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`without authorization. Data can be a very valuable commodity, but once it has been
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`published on the internet it is difficult to police access to and use of it by internet users who
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`may not even realize that it is pirated. This is a particular problem with audio recordings,
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`and, once the bandwidth becomes available, is also likely to be evident with video.
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`[0004] Over the past three or four years compressed audio sources have become
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`increasingly widely available on web pages. One widely used audio data compression format
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`is MP3 (MPEG - Audio Layer 3 of the MPEG1 compression algorithm), which is an
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`internationally defined standard including a definition of compressed audio information such
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`as speech or music.
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`It relies on psycho—acoustic properties of human hearing to achieve very
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`large data compression factors. It is thus feasible to download usefully long passages of
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`music in a practically convenient short time. Pirate data suppliers have not been slow to
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`realize the potential of this, and many unauthorized websites have sprung up offering popular
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`industry considerable concern and there is an urgent need to find a way to address the
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`problem of data piracy.
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0005] According to the present invention there is therefore provided a method of
`
`providing portable data comprising providing a portable data storage device comprising
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`downloaded data storage means and payment validation means; providing a terminal for
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`internet access; coupling the portable data storage device to the terminal; reading payment
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`information from the payment validation means using the terminal; validating the payment
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`information; and downloading data into the portable storage device from a data supplier.
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`[0006]
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`Another aspect of the invention provides a corresponding mobile data retrieval
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`device for retrieving and outputting data such as stored music and/or noise from the data
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`storage device.
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`[0007]
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`The payment validation means is, for example, means to validate payment with an
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`external authority such as a bank or building society. The combination of the payment
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`validation means with the data storage means allows the access to the downloaded data which
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`is to be stored by the data storage means, to be made conditional upon checked and validated
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`payment being made for the data. Binding the data access and payment together allows the
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`legitimate owners of the data to make the data available themselves over the internet without
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`fear of loss of revenue, thus undermining the position of data pirates.
`
`[0008]
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`A further advantage of the system is that it allows users under the age of 18 to make
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`internet purchases. Currently internet users pay for goods and/or services by credit card.
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`Since credit cards cannot legitimately be used by persons under the age of 18 (at least in the
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`UK), a significant fraction of adventurous internet users are excluded from e—commerce, one
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`of the most significant predicted uses of the internet.
`
`In one embodiment of the invention,
`
`however, the payment validation means comprises e—cash; that is, the payment validation
`
`means stores transaction value information on a cash value of transactions validatable by the
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`data storage means.
`
`In simple terms, the data storage means can be a card which is charged
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`up to a desired cash value (if necessary limited to a maximum value) at a suitable terminal.
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`This might be an internet access terminal but could, more simply, be a device to accept the
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`data storage card and to receive and count money deposited by the user to charge the card,
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`writing update cash value information onto the card. More sophisticated ways of updating
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`the cash value on the card are also possible, such as direct bank transfer. Since, with this type
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`of embodiment, the data storage means is, essentially, precharged with cash rather than acting
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`as a credit card, it can be used by young people without the risk of their incurring large debts.
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`[0009]
`
`In one embodiment the data storage means is powered by the retrieval device when
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`it is connected to the device and retains a memory of the downloaded data when it is
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`unpowered. This can be achieved by the use of Flash RAM or, more generally, any form of
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`programmable read-only memory. Alternatively the data storage means may incorporate a
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`rechargeable cell or capacitor and store information in battery backed-up static RAM.
`
`[0010]
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`The downloaded data may be entered into the data storage device by means of an
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`interface such as a magnetically or capacitatively coupled connection or an optical
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`connection, but preferably the interface comprises contacts for direct electrical connection to
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`the storage means. The payment validation means may likewise have one of a variety of
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`interfaces but again preferably comprises a set of electrical contacts. The payment validation
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`means could, however, comprise a magnetic or holographic data-strip such as is known for
`
`use with credit cards and phone cards. The interface to receive the downloaded data may be
`
`separate from the interface to the payment validation means, to facilitate separate and
`
`simultaneous access to both these systems. In other embodiments a single interface may
`
`serve for both data storage and payment. Advantageously the payment validation means
`
`includes a memory storing information to identify the person who is paying for the
`
`downloaded data.
`
`[0011]
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`For additional security the downloaded data may be encrypted.
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`In this case data
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`decryption may be necessary at some stage, either in the data storage means or in the retrieval
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`device or in an information delivering apparatus such as a data access terminal. Alternatively
`
`the data decryption function can be shared amongst one or more of these devices. The skilled
`
`person will be aware of a range of suitable encryption/decryption techniques, including Pretty
`
`Good Privacy (Registered Trade Mark) and PKI (Public Key Infrastructure). Normally when
`
`the downloaded data is encrypted a decryption key must be supplied. This can be generated
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`automatically by the data access terminal or data access service provider or it can be entered
`
`by the user into the data access terminal or into the mobile data retrieval device.
`
`[0012]
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`The data storage means and/or the retrieval device can be provided with access
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`control means to prevent unauthorized access to the downloaded data. Additionally or
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`alternatively, use control means can be provided to stop or provide only limited access of the
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`user to the downloaded data in accordance with the amount paid. These access and use
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`control functions may in some embodiments be combined, permitted use controlling access
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`or permitted access controlling use. Thus, for example, a complete set of data information
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`relating to a particular topic, a particular music track, or a particular software package might
`
`be downloaded, although access to part of the data set might thereafter be controlled by
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`payments made by a user at a later stage.
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`In this way, a user could pay to enable an extra
`
`level on a game or to enable further tracks of an album.
`
`[0013]
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`In embodiments where the access or use control means is responsive to the payment
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`validation means, access or use control information may be stored with the downloaded data
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`or in a separate storage area, for example in the payment validation means. The user’s access
`
`to the downloaded data could advantageously be responsive to the payment validation means,
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`for example, by means of a control line coupling the payment validation means with a
`
`memory access or decryption control element.
`
`[0014]
`
`In one embodiment the data storage means comprises an electronic memory card or
`
`smart card and the mobile data retrieval device is provided with a slot to receive the card.
`
`Preferably the card is a push—f1t within the retrieval device, and retention of the card may be
`
`effected by pressure from electrical interface connections and/or resilience of the housing, or
`
`by using a resilient retaining means.
`
`In a preferred embodiment the retrieval device includes
`
`an audio output and a display, to play a downloaded track and to show information about the
`
`track and/or an accompanying video.
`
`[0015]
`
`To download data onto the data storage means the user can employ a data access
`
`terminal coupled to the internet. The terminal can directly validate payment; for example in
`
`the case of a smart card charged with electronic cash it can deduct a cash value from the card.
`
`Alternatively it can communicate with a bank or other financial services provider to control
`
`payment. In a preferred embodiment, however, the terminal connects to a data access service
`
`provider which provides a portal to other sites and which validates payment and then
`
`forwards data from a data supplier to the user’s local access terminal. The data access service
`
`provider may alternatively forward payment validation information and/or information from
`
`the payment validation authority to the data supplier for control by the supplier of the data
`
`supplied. Thus, access to the payment validation system and/or data for downloading may be
`
`entirely controlled by the data supplier.
`
`[0016] Data held on the data storage means may advantageously include data relating to the
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`user’s or payer’s usage of the system. This information may include, for example,
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`information on a user’s spending pattern, information on data suppliers used and information
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`on the downloaded data. This information may be accessed by the data supplier and/or data
`
`access service provider and can be used for targeted marketing or loyalty-based incentive
`
`schemes such as air miles or the like.
`
`[0017]
`
`The data access terminal may be a conventional computer or, alternatively, it may
`
`be a mobile phone. Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) and i—mode allow mobile phones
`
`to efficiently access the internet and this allows a mobile phone to be used to download data
`
`to the data storage means, advantageously, directly. The data storage means can, if desired,
`
`incorporate the functionality of a mobile phone SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card,
`
`which cards already include a user identification means, to allow user billing through the
`
`phone network operator.
`
`[0018]
`
`In a preferred embodiment the downloaded data is MP3 or other encoded audio
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`data, but the system finds more general application for other data types. For example,
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`download data can include software, and particularly games, share price information, current
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`news information, transport timetable information, weather information and catalog shopping
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`information. The downloaded information may also include Compressed video data. The
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`storage capacity of the data storage means is adaptable to suit the type of data intended to be
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`downloaded; for example, 32 megabytes is sufficient for CD quality music, but for video it is
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`preferable that the data storage means has a capacity of 128 megabytes or greater.
`
`[0019]
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`In another aspect, the invention provides a portable data carrier comprising an
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`interface for reading and writing data from and to the carrier; non—volatile data memory,
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`coupled to the interface, for storing data on the carrier; non—volatile payment data memory,
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`coupled to the interface, for providing payment data to an external device.
`
`[0020]
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`These features allow the data carrier to store both payment data and content data,
`
`thus providing the advantages outlined above. Depending upon the payment system used, the
`
`payment data memory may also store code for validating or confirming a payment to an
`
`external payment system. The payment data will normally be linked to a card or card holder
`
`identification data for payment by the card holder. The non—volatile memory ensures that
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`stored content and payment data is retained in the data carrier when the data carrier is not
`
`receiving power from an external source. Thus "non-volatile" encompasses, for example,
`
`low-power memory whose contents are retained by a battery back—up system. In one
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`embodiment the payment data memory comprises EEPROM and the content data memory
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`comprises Flash memory, but other types of content data memory, such as optical, for
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`example, holographic, data memory can also be used. The data carrier may also be integrated
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`into other apparatus, such as a mobile communications device.
`
`[0021]
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`Preferably, the portable data carrier further comprises a program store for storing
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`code implementable by a processor; and a processor, coupled to the content data memory, the
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`payment data memory, the interface and to the program store for implementing code in the
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`program store, wherein the code comprises code to output payment data from the payment
`
`data memory to the interface and code to provide external access to the data memory.
`
`[0022]
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`Normally, the (content) data memory allows both write and read access for both
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`storing and retrieving data, but in some embodiments the content data memory may be read-
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`only memory (ROM).
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`In such embodiments, content may be pre-loaded onto the carrier and
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`payment may then be made for permission to access the pre-loaded data.
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`[0023]
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`Preferably, the data carrier also stores a record of access made to the content data
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`and updates this in response to external access, preferably read access, made to the data
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`memory. The carrier may also store content use rules pertaining to allowed use of stored data
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`items. These use rules may be linked to payments made from the card to provide payment
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`options such as access to buy content data outright; rental access to content data for a time
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`period or for a specified number of access events; and/or rental/purchase, for example where
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`rental use is provided together with an option to purchase content data at the reduced price
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`after rental access has expired.
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`[0024]
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`Thus where the data carrier stores, for example, music, the purchase outright option
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`may be equivalent to the purchase of a compact disc (CD), preferably with some form of
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`content copy protection such as digital watermarking. In this example, the rental or
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`subscription payment option may be a pay-per—play option, and with this option payment may
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`25
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`either be before or after access to the stored data so that the carrier may operate in either a
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`debit or credit payment mode.
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`[0025]
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`The portability of the data carrier potentially allows it to be used to access content
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`or, in the example, play music without the need to be linked to a communications system or
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`to be on—line to the internet. By providing a use record memory on the data carrier, use of the
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`stored data can be tracked while ff-line and then any necessary payment can be made when
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`the data carrier is next coupled to a communication system. This allows the data carrier to
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`operate in a credit mode. In a debit mode, the additional storage of use rules facilitates the
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`regulation of access to content data stored on the carrier without the need for further
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`exchange of payment/use data with an external system to validate the use.
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`[0026] By combining digital rights management with content data storage using a single
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`carrier, the stored content data becomes mobile and can be accessed anywhere while retaining
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`control over the stored data for the data content provider or data copyright owner. Preferably,
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`the data carrier also stores access control data, such as a user ID and a password, as the stored
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`data may be valuable. The access control data may be combined with access control to the
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`payment data, which is typically by means of a PIN (Personal Identification Number) to
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`simplify access to valued content stored on the carrier.
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`[0027]
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`In one embodiment the stored content data is encrypted and a unique password or
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`PIN and/or biometric data is required for decryption. The data carrier may be arranged so
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`that the content is erased after a predetermined number of incorrect access attempts.
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`Additionally or alternatively, a permanently stored flag may be set and/or a hardware
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`modification (such as a fusable link) may be made to prevent the data carrier from
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`functioning for further data storage/retrieval. Preferably, however, access to any stored
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`value/payment data is nevertheless retained.
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`[0028]
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`Supplementary data may also be stored on the carrier in association with stored
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`content data. This supplementary data may comprise customer reward management data
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`and/or advertising data. The supplementary data may comprise a pointer to an external data
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`20
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`source from which data is downloaded either to the data carrier or to a data access device or
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`content player, so that advertising or other data can be displayed when reviewing or accessing
`
`the stored content.
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`[0029]
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`Additional data security and/or a mechanism for rewarding operators at different
`
`levels in the data supply chain may be provided using a content synthesis function. The
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`content synthesis function combines partial content information from two or more sources to
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`provide content data items for storage and/or output. Thus, for example, a first percentage of
`
`a content data item could be provided by a content retailer, while a remaining percentage
`
`could be provided by an on—line data supplier. This would provide an incentive for a user to
`
`register with a content retailer or distributor as well as with an on~line system owner and so
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`could encourage the use of existing retailers and could provide a mechanism for paying
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`commission to such retailers. The two portions of data combined to provide a content data
`
`item could comprise encryption data and a key but preferably comprise separate parts of a
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`complete data item, for example, least significant bits and most significant bits or high
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`frequencies and low frequencies (for audio). This arrangement also facilitates customer
`
`reward and loyalty management.
`
`[0030]
`
`In one embodiment the data carrier further comprises memory for storing data for
`
`accessing a mobile communications network, for example to receive content data over the
`
`network. For such an embodiment, the data carrier may replace a SIM (Subscriber Identity
`
`Module) card in a mobile communications device, thus providing a single card for both
`
`network access and valued content retrieval and storage. Additionally or alternatively the
`
`card may also store the web address of a data supplier from whom data may be downloaded
`
`1O
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`onto the carrier.
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`[0031]
`
`The data memory for storing content data may be optic, magnetic or semiconductor
`
`memory, but preferably comprises Flash memory. Preferably, the data memory has a large
`
`capacity for storing large data files such as compressed video data. Preferably, the data
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`memory is partitioned for lock access, that is, for read and/or write access to blocks of, for
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`15
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`example, lK, 4K, l6K or 64K databytes for faster data access, particularly where the stored
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`content data will normally be accessed serially, as is normally the case with audio and video
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`data. Preferably the card is configured as an IC card or smart card and has a credit card—type
`
`format, although other formats such as the "memory stick" format may also be used. This
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`provides a small and convenient portable format and facilitates removable interfacing with a
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`Variety of devices.
`
`[0032]
`
`The invention also provides a related method of controlling access to data on a data
`
`carrier, the data carrier comprising non—volatile data memory and non-volatile parameter
`
`memory storing use status data and use rules, the method comprising receiving a data access
`
`request; reading the use status data and use rules from memory; and evaluating the use status
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`25
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`data using the use rules to determine whether access to the stored data is permitted.
`
`[0033]
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`According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer system
`
`for providing data to a data requester, the system comprising a communication interface; a
`
`data access data store for storing records of data items available from the system, each record
`
`comprising a data item description and a pointer to a data provider for the data item; a
`
`program store storing code implementable by a processor; a processor coupled to the
`
`communications interface, to the data access data store, and to the program store for
`
`implementing the stored code, the code comprising code to receive a request for a data item
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`from the requester; code to receive from the communications interface payment data
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`comprising data relating to payment for the requested data item; code responsive to the
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`request and to the received payment data, to read data for the requested data item from a
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`content provider; and code to transmit the read data to the requester over the communications
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`interface.
`
`[0034]
`
`The computer system is operated by a data supplier or data supply "system owner"
`
`for providing content data to the data carrier described above. The paymentdata received
`
`may either be data relating to an actual payment made to the data supplier, or it may be a
`
`record of a payment made to an e-payment system relating either to a payment to the data
`
`supplier, or to a payment to a third party. The data from the content provider, preferably
`
`without permanent (local) storage of the forwarded data, improves data security as the
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`content provider retains control over a content data item, and the data supplier, a copy of a
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`data item, is unable to supply data for the item without the content provider's assistance. The
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`computer system may provide temporary storage for a requested data item, for example using
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`a disk cache, but preferably the computer system does not store a complete data item, even
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`temporarily.
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`[0035]
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`Preferably, the computer system includes payment distribution information so that
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`when payment is made for a data item, the payment can be distributed for reimbursing
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`royalties and making other payments. Typically a large fraction of the payment for a data
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`item will be transferred to a copyright owner or "content provider" for the item while smaller
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`payments will go to the artist and/or publisher and/or retailer/distributor. Payment may be
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`made directly by the computer system to the computer systems of other relevant parties
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`using, for example, a signature-transporting type e-payment system. Alternatively, the
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`computer system can issue appropriate instructions to a third party e-payment system for
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`making the transfers. The computer system allows automatic distribution of payments either
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`before, during or after content data download, or after content data access by a user.
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`Instructions for distributing the payments may be issued substantially simultaneously, thereby
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`avoiding long delays in the payment of some parties; for example, it can presently take a year
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`or more for an artist generating content to be paid by conventional methods.
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`[0036]
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`Preferably, the computer system also stores content data item access rule data, for
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`downloading in association with a content data item. The rule data may be stored by a
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`content provider but is preferably held by the computer system, and links a content identifier
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`with an access rule, typically based upon a required payment value, as outlined above in the
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`context of the data carrier. Normally, each content data item will have an associated access
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`rule, but a single rule may apply to a large number of data items. The computer system also,
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`preferably, stores requester reward data for customer reward/loyalty management. This data
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`may again comprise one or more rules linking a payment value and/or content data item type
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`to a specified reward, such as a number of air miles or retailer value points. The computer
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`system preferably also keeps a record of an identified user's or data's carriers content item
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`downloads and payments for market research purposes.
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`[0037]
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`The computer system, in one embodiment, also stores access control data, such as
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`an access request identity and password which can be employed, for example, to create an
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`extranet of system users, which again can be linked to stored access record data for marketing
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`purposes. When further linked to content item type data, such an arrangement can be used to
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`construct a club of users of content data items of a particular type, for example country and
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`western or rock and roll music. As described in connection with the portable data carrier, the
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`computer system may also comprise content synthesis code for additional data security and
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`for more secure management of payment distributions.
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`[0038]
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`The invention also provides a related method of providing data to a data requester
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`comprising receiving a request for a data item from the requester; receiving payment data
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`from the requester relating to payment for the requested data; reading the requested data from
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`a content provider responsive to the received payment data; and transmitting the read data to
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`the requester.
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`[0039] According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data
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`access terminal for retrieving data from a data supplier and providing the retrieved data to a
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`data carrier, the terminal comprising a first interface for communicating with the data
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`supplier; a data carrier interface for interfacing with the data carrier; a program store storing
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`code implementable by a processor; and a processor, coupled to the first interface, the data
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`carrier interface and to the program store for implementing the stored code, the code
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`comprising: code to read payment data from the data carrier and to forward the payment data
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`to a payment Validation system; code to receive payment validation data from the payment
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`validation system; code responsive to the payment validation data to retrieve data from the
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`data supplier and to write the retrieved data into the data carrier.
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`[0040]
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`This terminal can be used for retrieving data from the above-described computer
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`system and for downloading the retrieved data to the above—described portable data carrier.
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`As with the data supply computer system, it is preferable that there is no (local) storage of
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`content item data forwarded from the data supplier to the data carrier. The data access
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`terminal is not restricted to use with the above—described status supplier and could, for
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`example, retrieve data for downloading to the data carrier from a local data source, such as a
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`CD (Compact Disc) or DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), or from a third party such as a cable TV
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`company.
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`[0041]
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`The terminal reads payment data from the data carrier and transmits this to a
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`payment validation system for validating the data and authorizing the payment. This may be
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`part of the data supplier's computer system or it may be a separate system such as an e-
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`payment system. Thus, the terminal operates with a data carrier storing payment (validation)
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`data and, in some embodiments, additional payment validation code for validating payment to
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`the payment validation system. Again, the terminal is preferably configured to provide a data
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`item use rule to the carrier in conjunction with a data item. As before, the data item use rule
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`will normally be dependent upon payment value information embodied in the payment data
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`read from the data carrier. The terminal is preferably also configured for user input of access
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`control data. This access control data may be forwarded to the data carrier for access
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`permission verification and/or it may be passed to the data su