US008336772B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`US 8,336,772 B2
`(10) Patent N0.:
`Racz et al.
`
`(45) Date of Patent: *Dec. 25, 2012
`
`(54)
`
`(75)
`
`DATA STORAGE AND ACCESS SYSTEMS
`
`Inventors: Patrick Racz, Saint Heller (JE);
`Hermen—ard Hulst, Amsterdam (NL)
`
`(73)
`
`Assignee: Smartflash Technologies Limited, Road
`Town, Tortola (VG)
`
`(*)
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis-
`claimer.
`
`(21)
`
`Appl. No.: 13/212,047
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Aug. 17, 2011
`
`(65)
`
`(63)
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`(58)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2011/0302054 A1
`
`Dec. 8,2011
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`Continuation of application No. 12/943,872, filed on
`Nov. 10, 2010, now Pat. No. 8,118,221, which is a
`continuation of application No. 12/014,558, filed on
`Jan. 15, 2008, now Pat. No. 7,942,317, which is a
`continuation of application No. 11/336,758, filed on
`Jan. 19, 2006, now Pat. No. 7,334,720, which is a
`continuation of application No. 10/111,716, filed on
`Sep. 17, 2002, now abandoned.
`
`Int. Cl.
`
`(2006.01)
`G06K 5/00
`U.S. Cl.
`........................................ 235/380; 235/492
`Field of Classification Search .................. 235/380,
`235/382, 492, 451, 486, 487
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
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`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner 7 Thien M Le
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm iKilpatrick Townsend &
`Stockton LLP
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`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 con-
`
`trol data and supplementary data such as hot links to web sites
`and/or advertising data. A complementary data access termi-
`nal, 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 unau-
`thorized access to data such as compressed music and video
`data, especially over the lntemet.
`
`36 Claims, 17 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`
`, 2L
`
`’tlw‘sn
`
`
`_. _ teak.--
`-..
`:23;
`
`
`
`
`
`Apple Exhibit 1034
`
`Page 00001
`
`Apple Exhibit 1034
` Page 00001
`
`

`

`US 8,336,772 B2
`
`Page 2
`
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`t
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`”9” Earn” i1
`5/1999 s ere”?
`1
`@999 Bunetgt
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`eyreteta~
`8/1999 S°hn?°ketal~
`“999 HOShm" et 31'
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`,
`,
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`6,442,570 B1
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`”006 $611:
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`8/2006 McGee etal.
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`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`W0
`W0
`W0
`
`0713198 A2
`0 823 694 A1
`0 542 298
`0 843 449 A2
`0914 001 A1
`10469291 A
`11-53184 A
`11-212785 A
`11413010 A
`11-272762 A
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`
`5/1996
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`2/1999
`8/1999
`8/1999
`10/1999
`5/1998
`7/1998
`8/1998
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Page 00002
`
`Page 00002
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 25, 2012
`
`Sheet 1 of 17
`
`US 8,336,772 B2
`
`
`
`18
`
`
`
`Page 00003
`
`Page 00003
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 25, 2012
`
`Sheet 2 of 17
`
`US 8,336,772 B2
`
`
`
`Fig. 3
`
`A
`
`40
`
`42
`
`30
`46\ MI
`1.1.
`
`10
`
`“T
`30
`
`
`
`Page 00004
`
`Page 00004
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 25, 2012
`
`Sheet 3 of 17
`
`US 8,336,772 B2
`
`
`
`Page 00005
`
`Page 00005
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 25, 2012
`
`Sheet 4 of 17
`
`US 8,336,772 B2
`
`AR'HST
`TERMINAL
`
`
`
`
`1048
`CONTENT
`
`CREATOR
`1°53
`
`
`
`STORED
`
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`CONTENT
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`CONTENT
`PROVIDER
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`108
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`TERMiNAL
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`TERMTNAL
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` CONTENT
`CREATOR
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`
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`103d
`CONTENT
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`PROVIDER
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`101
`
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`
`Page 00006
`
`Page 00006
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 25, 2012
`
`Sheet 5 of 17
`
`US 8,336,772 B2
`
`CONTENT
`ACCESS
`TERMINAL
`
`“ab CONTENT
`ACCESS
`TERM'NAL
`
`BANK
`
`B-PAYMENT
`SYSTEM
`
`1223
`
`121a
`
`m 1221:
`
`128
`
`CONTENT
`ACCESS
`TERMINAL
`
`1180
`
`142
`
`122C
`
`BANK
`
`B'PAYMENT
`SYSTEM
`121-
`
`122a
`
`EANK
`
`124
`
`WEB SERVER
`CODE STORAGE
`
`CONTENT ACCESS
`WEB SERVER
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`
`PAYMENT
`
`ACCESS ONTROL
`
`PROCESSOR
`PROCESSOR
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`
`
`CODE STORAG =
`
`
`
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`
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`
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`DISTRIBUTION
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`PROCESSOR
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`
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`
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`
`136
`
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`
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`
`138
`
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`
`DRM DATA
`
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`
`
`120
`
`Page 00007
`
`Page 00007
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 25, 2012
`
`Sheet 6 of 17
`
`US 8,336,772 B2
`
`148
`
`146
`
`'
`Mobue Comms
`System
`
`MOBILE COMMS
`NETWORK GATEWAY
`
`144
`
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`
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`
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`
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`166a
`
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`
`Fig. 7
`
`Page 00008
`
`Page 00008
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
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`Page 00009
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec 25, 2012
`
`Sheet 8 of 17
`
`US 8,336,772 B2
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`Page 00010
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 25, 2012
`
`Sheet 9 of 17
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`US 8,336,772 B2
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 25, 2012
`
`Sheet 10 of 17
`
`US 8,336,772 B2
`
`S10
`
`SMART FLASH CARD INSERTED
`INTO CONTENT ACCESS
`TERMINAL CARD INTERFACE
`
`S‘II
`
`SCHEME OWNER REGISTRATION
`WEB PAGE LOADED ONTO
`CONTENT ACCESS TERMINAL
`
`S12
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`TERMINAL
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`PAYMENT REQUEST RECEIVED
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`CONTENT ACCESS TERMINAL AND
`TRANSMITTED TO SCHEME OWNER
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`S16
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`BY CONTENT ACCESS TERMINAL
`FROM SCHEME OWNER
`
`
`
`
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`AND WRITTEN ONTO CARD
`
`S18
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`WRITTEN ONTO CARD AND
`OUTPUT TO USER
`
`S 19
`
`CARD AVAILABLE FOR USE
`
`Fig11a
`
`Page 00012
`
`Page 00012
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 25, 2012
`
`Sheet 11 of 17
`
`US 8,336,772 B2
`
`S20
`REQUEST FOR CARD
`
`
`REGISTRATION WEB PAGE
`
`
`RECEIVED FROM CONTENT
`ACCESS DEVICE
`
`
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`
`
`VALUE ACCESS CODE TO
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`
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`
`Fig.11b
`
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`828
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`TO CONTENT ACCESS TERMINAL
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`S29
`
`TRANSACTION COMPLETE
`
`Page 00013
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`Page 00013
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`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 25, 2012
`
`Sheet 12 of 17
`
`US 8,336,772 B2
`
`830
`
`INSERT CARE) IN CONTENT
`ACCESS TERMINAL
`
`S31
`USER ENTERS PASSWORD INTO
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`
`
`
`
`CONTENT ACCESS TERMINAL
`
`TRANSMITS PASSWORD TO CARD
`
`FOR VERIFICATION
`
`
`
`DISPLAY WARNING AND
`
`INCREMENT TERMINAL ACCESS
`
`
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`
`ACCESS PERMITTED?
`
`DENIED COUNT
`
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`
`$36
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`
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`
`
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`
`637
`
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`
`
`
`YES
`
`343
`
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`
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`
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`
`0
`
`Fig. 12a
`
`Page 00014
`
`Page 00014
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 25, 2012
`
`Sheet 13 of 17
`
`US 8,336,772 B2
`
`S45
`
`
`
`CONTENT SEARCH REQUEST
`DATA INPUT AND TRANSMITTED
`TO SCHEME OWNER CONTENT
`DISTREBUTION PROCESSOR
`
`
`
`
`
`
` CONTENT SEARCH RESULTS
`
`RECEIVED FROM CONTENT
`DISTRIBUTION PROCESSOR AND
`DISPLAYED ON CONTENT ACCESS
`TERMINAL
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`S47
`CONTENT lTEM SELECT!ON DATA
`INPUT AND TRANSMITTED TO
`SCHEME OWNER
`
`S48
`
`CONTENT COST DATA. CONTENT
`
`
`USE RULES AND PURCHASE
`OPTIONS DATA RECENED FROM
`
`SCHEME OWNER
`
`EXIT
`
`S49
`PURCHASE OPTION SELECTION
`AND PURCHASE REQUEST INPUT
`OR EXIT TO MENU SELECTED
`
`S50
`CARD VALUE AND CRM DATA
`READ FROM CARE)
`
`Fig.12b
`
`$52
`
`
`
`N0 DISPLAY INSUFFICIENT
`VALUE WARNING
`
`651
`CARD VALUE SUFFICIENT?
`
`
`
`YES
`
`S53
`PAYMENT REQUEST
`TRANSMITTED TO CARD
`
`Page 00015
`
`Page 00015
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 25, 2012
`
`Sheet 14 of 17
`
`US 8,336,772 B2
`
`SS4
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`PAYMENT FOR SCHEME OWNER
`RECEIVED FROM CARD BY
`CONTENT ACCESS TERMINAL AND
`FORWARDED TO e-PAYMENT
`SYSTEM
`
`
`
`355
`
`
`PAYMENT RECORD DATA
`
`
`RECEIVED FROM ewPAYMENT
`SYSTEM BY CONTENT ACCESS
`
`
`TERMINAL AND FORWARDED TO
`
`CARD
`
`$56
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`PAYMENT RECORD DATA.
`PURCHASE REQUEST AND CARD
`REGISTRATION DATA
`TRANSMITTED TO SCHEME
`OWNER
`
`S57
`
`CONTENT AND CONTENT ACCESS
`RULES DOWNLOADED TO CARD
`
`RECEIVE CRM DATA FROM
`CONTENT DISTRIBUTION
`PROCESSOR
`
`$58
`
`$59
`
`WRITE AUDIT TRAIL TO CARD
`AND UPDATE CARD CRM DATA
`
`Fig.12c
`
`Page 00016
`
`Page 00016
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 25, 2012
`
`Sheet 15 of 17
`
`US 8,336,772 B2
`
`860
`
`CONTENT ACCESS WEB PAGE
`REQUESTED AND TRANSMITTED
`TO CONTENT ACCESS TERMINAL
`
`$61
`
`CONTENT SEARCH REQUEST
`RECEIVED FROM CONTENT
`ACCESS TERMINAL
`
`862
`
`
`CONTENT DISTRIBUTION
`PROCESSOR SEARCHES
`
`
`CONTENT ACCESS DATA STORE
`AND TRANSMITS SEARCH
`
`
`RESULTS TO CONTENT ACCESS
`
`TERMINAL
`
`363
`
`CONTENT ITEM SELECTION
`
`RECEIVED FROM CONTENT
`ACCESS TERMINAL
`
`864
`
`CONTENT ITEM PURCHASE DATA
`RETRIEVED FROM CONTENT
`ACCESS DATA STORE
`
`865
`CONTENT PURCHASE DATA
`TRANSMITTED TO CONTENT
`ACCESS TERMINAL
`
`366
`
`
`PAYMENT RECORD DATA.
`PURCHASE REQUEST DATA AND
`
`
`CARD REGISTRATION DATA
`RECEIVED FROM CONTENT
`
`ACCESS TERMINAL
`
`$67
`
`PAYMENT RECORD DATA
`VALIDATED WITH eoPAYMENT
`SYSTEM
`
`0
`
`.
`
`Flg .. 1 2d
`
`Page 00017
`
`Page 00017
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 25, 2012
`
`Sheet 16 of 17
`
`US 8,336,772 B2
`
`0
`
`$68
`
`PAYMENT DISTRIBU ION DATA
`READ FROM CONTENT ACCESS
`DATA STORE
`
`$69
`PAYMENT DISTRIBUTION
`INSTRUCTION TRANSMITTED TO
`«PAYMENT SYSTEM
`
`870
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`CONTENT ACCESS RULES FOR
`PURCHASED LEVEL OF SERVICE.
`CRM DATA AND CONTENT
`PROVIDER ID DATA READ FROM
`CONTENT ACCESS DATA STORE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`S71
`
`CONTENT ACCESS RULES
`TRANSMITTED TO CONTENT
`ACCESS TERMINAL
`
`$72
`
`
`DRM PROCESSOR TRANSMITS
` Fig. 12e
`TRANSACTION REQUEST AND
`
`AUTHENTICATION T0 CONTENT
`
`
`PROVIDER
`
`
`$73
`
`
`CONTENT ACCESS WEB SERVER
`
`RECEIVES PROTECTED CONTENT
`
`FROM CONTENT PROVIDER AND
`TRANSMITS CONTENT TO
`CONTENT ACCESS TERMINAL
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`$74
`
`PURCHASE DATA AND CONTENT
`ACCESS RECORD WRITTEN TO
`PAYMENT RECORD DATA STORE
`
`875
`
`
`
`
`
`USING STORED RULES UPDATED
`CRM DATA WRITTEN TO CONTENT
`ACCESS DATA STORE AND
`TRANSMITTED TO CONTENT
`ACCESS TERMINAL
`
`
`
`
`
`S76
`
`PROCESS ENDS
`
`Page 00018
`
`Page 00018
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 25, 2012
`
`Sheet 17 of 17
`
`US 8,336,772 B2
`
`577
`
`CARD INSERTED INTO PLAYER
`
`$78
`
`USER PASSWORD ENTERED INTO
`PLAYER AND TRANSMITTED TO
`CARD FOR VALIDATION
`CONTENT ACCESS PERMITTED
`
`
`$79
`
`
`STORED CONTENT INDEX LOADED
`
`
`FROM CARD AND DISPLAYED WITH
`
`
`MENU (ACCESS CONTENT: CHECK
`
`
`VALUE; CHECK CRM'. PLAY OPTIONS)
`
`
`880
`SELECTION OF CONTENT ITEMS
`
`FOR ACCESS ENTERED INTO
`
`PLAYER
`
`
`
`
`CONTENT USE STATUS AND
`
`CONTENT USE RULES LOADED
`
`FROM CARD
`
`
`
`
`USE RULES AND USE STATUS
`
`COMPARED AND DISPLAYED WITH
`
`CONTENT PLAY MENU
`
`$81
`
`$82
`
`Fig. 13
`
`
`
` IS CONTENT USE
`
`PERMITTED?
`
`YES
`PLAY
`
`$85
`PAUSE
`$84
`WRITE/READ CARDS
`CONTENT AND SUPPLEMENTARY
`DATA MADE AVAILABLE TO USER — PLAY STATUS DATA
`CONT
`
`
`
`PLAY
`COMPLETE
`
`885
`
`UPDATED CONTENT USE DATA
`WRITTEN TO CARD
`
`$85
`CRM DATA AND CRM REWARD
`RULES LOADED FROM THE CARD
`AND UPDATED
`
`Page 00019
`
`Page 00019
`
`

`

`US 8,336,772 B2
`
`1
`DATA STORAGE AND ACCESS SYSTEMS
`
`CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is a continuation of US. patent applica-
`tion Ser. No. 12/943,872, filed on Nov. 10, 2010; which is a
`continuation of US. patent application Ser. No. 12/014,558,
`filed on Jan. 15, 2008, now issued US. Pat. No. 7,942,317;
`which is a continuation of US. patent application Ser. No.
`11/336,758, filed on Jan. 19, 2006, now issued US. Pat. No.
`7,334,720; which is a continuation of US. patent application
`Ser. No. 10/111,716, filed on Sep. 17, 2002, which applica-
`tion is a national stage application under 35 U.S.C. 371,
`claiming the priority of international PCT Application No.
`GB00104110, filed on Oct. 25, 2000; which claims priority to
`UK Application No. 99252272, filed on Oct. 25, 1999, each
`of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety for all
`purposes.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention is generally concerned with data storage and
`access systems. More particularly, it relates to a portable data
`carrier for storing and paying for data and to computer sys-
`tems for providing access to data to be stored. The invention
`also includes corresponding methods and computer pro-
`grams. The invention is particularly useful for managing
`stored audio and video data, but may also be applied to stor-
`age and access of text and software, including games, as well
`as other types of data.
`One problem associated with the increasingly wide use of
`the internet
`is the growing prevalence of so-called data
`pirates. Such pirates obtain data either by unauthorized or
`legitimate means and then make this data available essentially
`world-wide over the internet without authorization. Data can
`
`be a very valuable commodity, but once it has been published
`on the internet it is difficult to police access to and use of it by
`internet users who may not even realize that it is pirated. This
`is a particular problem with audio recordings, and, once the
`bandwidth becomes available, is also likely to be evident with
`video.
`
`Over the past three or four years compressed audio sources
`have become increasingly widely available on web pages.
`One widely used audio data compression format is MP3
`(MPEGiAudio Layer 3 of the MPEG1 compression algo-
`rithm), which is an internationally defined standard including
`a definition of compressed audio information such as speech
`or music. It relies on psycho-acoustic properties of human
`hearing to achieve very large data compression factors. It is
`thus feasible to download usefully long passages of music in
`a practically convenient short time. Pirate data suppliers have
`not been slow to realize the potential of this, and many unau-
`thorized websites have sprung up offering popular music,
`including recent releases by world-famous bands. This has
`caused the recording industry considerable concern and there
`is an urgent need to find a way to address the problem of data
`piracy.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`According to the present invention there is therefore pro-
`vided a method of providing portable data comprising pro-
`viding a portable data storage device comprising downloaded
`data storage means and payment validation means; providing
`a terminal for internet access; coupling the portable data
`storage device to the terminal; reading payment information
`
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`from the payment validation means using the terminal; vali-
`dating the payment information; and downloading data into
`the portable storage device from a data supplier.
`Another aspect of the invention provides a corresponding
`mobile data retrieval device for retrieving and outputting data
`such as stored music and/or noise from the data storage
`device.
`
`The payment validation means is, for example, means to
`validate payment with an external authority such as a bank or
`building society. The combination of the payment validation
`means with the data storage means allows the access to the
`downloaded data which is to be stored by the data storage
`means, to be made conditional upon checked and validated
`payment being made for the data. Binding the data access and
`payment together allows the legitimate owners of the data to
`make the data available themselves over the internet without
`
`fear of loss of revenue, thus undermining the position of data
`pirates.
`A further advantage of the system is that it allows users
`under the age of 18 to make internet purchases. Currently
`internet users pay for goods and/or services by credit card.
`Since credit cards cannot legitimately be used by persons
`under the age of 18 (at least in the UK), a significant fraction
`of adventurous internet users are excluded from e-commerce,
`one of the most significant predicted uses of the internet. In
`one embodiment ofthe invention, however, the payment vali-
`dation means comprises e-cash; that is, the payment valida-
`tion means stores transaction value information on a cash
`
`value oftransactions validatable by the data storage means. In
`simple terms, the data storage means can be a card which is
`charged up to a desired cash value (if necessary limited to a
`maximum value) at a suitable terminal. This might be an
`internet access terminal but could, more simply, be a device to
`accept the data storage card and to receive and count money
`deposited by the user to charge the card, writing update cash
`value information onto the card. More sophisticated ways of
`updating the cash value on the card are also possible, such as
`direct bank transfer. Since, with this type of embodiment, the
`data storage means is, essentially, precharged with cash rather
`than acting as a credit card, it can be used by young people
`without the risk of their incurring large debts.
`In one embodiment the data storage means is powered by
`the retrieval device when it is connected to the device and
`
`retains a memory of the downloaded data when it is unpow-
`ered. This can be achieved by the use of Flash RAM or, more
`generally, any form of programmable read-only memory.
`Alternatively the data storage means may incorporate a
`rechargeable cell or capacitor and store information in battery
`backed-up static RAM.
`The downloaded data may be entered into the data storage
`device by means of an interface such as a magnetically or
`capacitatively coupled connection or an optical connection,
`but preferably the interface comprises contacts for direct elec-
`trical connection to the storage means. The payment valida-
`tion means may likewise have one of a variety of interfaces
`but again preferably comprises a set of electrical contacts.
`The payment validation 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 simulta-
`neous 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
`memory storing information to identify the person who is
`paying for the downloaded data.
`
`Page 00020
`
`Page 00020
`
`

`

`US 8,336,772 B2
`
`3
`For additional security the downloaded data may be
`encrypted. In this case data decryption may be necessary at
`some stage, either in the data storage means or in the retrieval
`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 (Reg-
`istered Trade Mark) and PKI (Public Key Infrastructure).
`Normally, when the downloaded data is encrypted, a decryp-
`tion key must be supplied. This can be generated automati-
`cally by the data access terminal or data access service pro-
`vider or it can be entered by the user into the data access
`terminal or into the mobile data retrieval device.
`
`The data storage means and/or the retrieval device can be
`provided with access control means to prevent unauthorized
`access to the downloaded data. Additionally or alternatively,
`use control means can be provided to stop or provide only
`limited access of the user to the downloaded data in accor-
`
`dance with the amount paid. These access and use control
`functions may in some embodiments be combined, permitted
`use controlling access or permitted access controlling use.
`Thus, for example, a complete set of data information relating
`to a particular topic, a particular music track, or a particular
`software package might be downloaded, although access to
`part ofthe data set might thereafter be controlled by payments
`made by a user at a later stage. In this way, a user could pay to
`enable an extra level on a game or to enable further tracks of
`an album.
`In embodiments where the access or use control means is
`
`responsive to the payment validation means, access or use
`control information may be stored with the downloaded data
`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 valida-
`tion means, for example, by means of a control line coupling
`the payment validation means with a memory access or
`decryption control element.
`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-fit within the retrieval device,
`and retention of the card may be effected by pressure from
`electrical interface connections and/or resilience of the hous-
`
`ing, 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.
`To download data onto the data storage means the user can
`employ a data access terminal coupled to the inteme. 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.
`Data held on the data storage means may advantageously
`include data relating to the user’s or payer’s usage of the
`system. This information may include, for example, informa-
`
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`
`tion on a user’ s spending pattern, information on data suppli-
`ers used and information on the downloaded data. This infor-
`
`mation may be accessed by the data supplier and/or data
`access service provider and can be used for targeted market-
`ing or loyalty-based incentive schemes such as air miles or the
`like.
`
`The data access terminal may be a conventional computer
`or, alternatively, it may be a mobile phone. Wireless Applica-
`tion Protocol (WAP) and i-mode allow mobile phones to
`efficiently access the intemet and this allows a mobile phone
`to be used to download data to the data storage means, advan-
`tageously, directly. The data storage means can, if desired,
`incorporate the functionality of a mobile phone SIM (Sub-
`scriber Identity Module) card, which cards already include a
`user identification means, to allow user billing through the
`phone network operator.
`In a preferred embodiment the downloaded data is MP3 or
`other encoded audio data, but the system finds more general
`application for other data types. For example, download data
`can include software, and particularly games, share price
`information, current news information, transport timetable
`information, weather information and catalog shopping
`information. The downloaded information may also include
`compressed video data. The storage capacity of the data stor-
`age means is adaptable to suit the type of data intended to be
`downloaded; for example, 32 megabytes is sufficient for CD
`quality music, but for video it is preferable that the data
`storage means has a capacity of 128 megabytes or greater.
`In another aspect, the invention provides 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.
`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 pay-
`ment 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 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 con-
`tents are retained by a battery back-up system. In one embodi-
`ment the payment data memory comprises EEPROM and the
`content data memory comprises Flash memory, but other
`types of content data memory, such as optical, for example,
`holographic, data memory can also be used. The data carrier
`may also be integrated into other apparatus, such as a mobile
`communications device.
`
`Preferably, the portable data carrier further comprises a
`program store for storing code implementable by a processor;
`and a processor, coupled to the content data memory, the
`payment data memory, the interface and to the program store
`for implementing code in the 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.
`Normally, the (content) data memory allows both write and
`read access for both storing and retrieving data, but in some
`embodiments the content data memory may be read-only
`memory (ROM). In such embodiments, content may be pre-
`loaded onto the carrier and payment may then be made for
`permission to access the pre-loaded data.
`
`Page 00021
`
`Page 00021
`
`

`

`US 8,336,772 B2
`
`5
`Preferably, the data carrier also stores a record of access
`made to the content data and updates this in response to
`external access, preferably read access, made to the data
`memory. The carrier may also store content use rules pertain-
`ing to allowed use of stored data items. These use rules may
`be linked to payments made from the card to provide payment
`options such as access to buy content data outright; rental
`access to content data for a time period or for a specified
`number of access events; and/or rental/purchase, for example
`where rental use is provided together with an option to pur-
`chase content data at the reduced price after rental access has
`expired.
`Thus where the data carrier stores, for example, music, the
`purchase outright option may be equivalent to the purchase of
`a compact disc (CD), preferably with some form of content
`copy protection such as digital watermarking.
`In this
`example, the rental or subscription payment option may be a
`pay-per-play option, and with this option payment may either
`be before or after access to the stored data so that the carrier
`
`may operate in either a debit or credit payment mode.
`The portability ofthe data carrier potentially allows it to be
`used to access content or, in the example, play music without
`the need to be linked to a communications system or to be
`on-line to the internet. By providing a use record memory on
`the data carrier, use of the stored data can be tracked while
`off-line and then any necessary payment can be made when
`the data carrier is next coupled to a communication system.
`This allows the data carrier to operate in a credit mode. In a
`debit mode, the additional storage of use rules facilitates the
`regulation of access to content data stored on the carrier
`without the need for further exchange of payment/use data
`with an external system to validate the use.
`By combining digital rights management with content data
`storage using a single carrier, the stored content data becomes
`mobile and can be accessed anywhere while retaining control
`over the stored data for the data content provider or data
`copyright owner. Preferably,
`the data carrier also stores
`access control data, such as a user ID and a password, as the
`stored data may be valuable. The access control data may be
`combined with access control to the payment data, which is
`typically by means ofa PIN (Personal Identification Number)
`to simplify access to valued content stored on the carrier.
`In one embodim