Umted States Patent
`
`[19]
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`5,646,992
`
`Subler et al.
`
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`Jul. 8, 1997
`
`USO05646992A
`
`[54] ASSEMBLY, DISTRIBUTION, AND USE OF
`DIGITAL INFORMATION
`
`5,276,901
`5,319,705
`5,412,717
`
`1/1994 Ilowell et al.
`.......................... 380/4 X
`6/1994 Halter etal.
`
`5/1995 Fischer ........................................ 380/4
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Ronald J. Subler, Charlestown;
`Thomas Mark Hastings, Lexington,
`both of Mass_
`
`_
`Przmary Examiner——Bernarr E. Gregory
`Attomey, Agent, or Firm—Fish & Richardson RC.
`
`[73] Assignee: Digital Delivery, Inc.. Bedford, Mass.
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 126,217
`.
`'
`Sq)‘ 23’ 1993
`[22] Bled‘
`[51]
`Int. Cl.5 ........................................................ H04L 9/00
`[52] U.S. Cl. ................................... .. 380/4; 330/9; 330/21;
`330/23; 330/25; 330/49; 330/50
`[53] Field of Search .................................... 380/3 4. 5. 9
`21‘
`30‘
`’
`'
`‘
`References Cited
`
`’
`
`’
`
`'
`
`’
`
`[56]
`
`U-S- PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,528,643
`4,905,163
`
`7/1985 Freeny .................................... 364/468
`2/1990 Garber et al.
`............................. 395/63
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`I-Iierarchically organized graphical representations of items
`and groups of the items of digital information which are
`available to be ordered by a user are displayed The user
`interactively explores the representations and selects items
`or groups te be ordered. using ap0inter_- Whi_1e the graphical
`representauons are bemg displayed, a hst of Items or groups
`which have been selected for inclusion in an order is also
`‘hSP1aY°d- 3°f‘W‘“e is C“°"‘cd Whi°h a“‘°m3fi°a11Y deter“
`mines I116 C0l1figl11'3.tl.0Il Of T116 COl'l1pl1tC1', and I1]&tChCS I116
`configuration with the stored configuration information prior
`to the user placing an order. A user may automatically be
`g1ven access to items in a later revision of the medium if the
`user had access to the items in an earlier revision.
`
`21 Claims, 15 Drawing Sheets
`
`46
`
`\ORDER
`TAKER
`
`42
`
`59
`
`
`
`AccQUNTING'
`onoen ENTRY
`MARKETING
`ANALYSIS
`
`SYSTEMS
`
`34
`
`/,
`ORDER TAKING
`
`ORDER
`TAKWG
`SYSTEM
`
`T
`ORDER
`
`ORDER TAKING
`DATABASE
`
`/40
`
`26
`END USER
`SYSYEM
`
`PRE-MASTERING
`DATABASE
`
`/
`
`,3
`
`24
`
`14
`/
`CD-ROM
`
`/*44
`onoen ACCEPTANCE
`
`SYSTEM
`
`PRE-MASTERING
`
`MASTERING G
`svsrem
`I
`I
`PRE-MASTEHED
`L“"-—-'
`DATA \ 22
`PRE-MASTERING
`usen
`
`\12
`
`Q
`
`
`
`FACILITIES
`
`32
`
`36
`END usga
`SYSTEM
`
`as
`END USER
`DATABASE
`
`SYSTEM
`STATE
`INFORMATION
`
`16
`‘END USER
`
`Apple Exhibit 1036
`
`Page 00001
`
`IT
`
`3
`
`28
`EM
` NONVALUED
`
`ITEMS
`
`
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`so
`
`Apple Exhibit 1036
` Page 00001
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`Page 00002
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 1997
`
`Sheet 2 of 15
`
`5,646,992
`
`PRODUCER
`DATABASE
`
`USER CD-ROM
`
`DATABASE\204
`
`GONFIGURED END
`USER SOFTWARE
`M02
`
`PFIE-MASTERING
`USER
`
` MANAGE
`
`PRE-MASTERING
`USER INTERFACE
`
`
`GENERATE CD-ROM
`DATABASE IN TWO
`VERSIONS
`
`
`END USER SYSTEM
`PROCESS END
`
`USER SYSTEM
`SOFTWARE
`
`
`
`SOFTWARE
`25
`
`PRE-MASTERED
`CD-ROM DATA
`
`Page 00003
`
`
`
`
`PRE~MASTER|NG
`DATABASE
`
`MAINTAINS
`PRE-MASTERING
`
`DATABASE
`
`
`
`
`106
`
`FIG. 2
`
`WEMS
`
`112 PROCESSES ITEMS
`
`E.G., COMPESSING,
`ENCRYPTING,
`VERIFICATION
`
`PROCESSED ITEMS
`‘zoo
`
`
`110 GENERATES ENCRYPTION
`KEYS AND KEY FILES
`
`79.06
`KEY HLES
`
`Page 00003
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Ju1.8, 1997
`
`Sheet 3 of 15
`
`5,646,992
`
`164
`1" R 167
`TITLE PREVIEWS
`166 VENDOR
`|NFQ
`
`UPGRADE
`
`150
`
`FTLE HIERARCHY
`
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`TITLES
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`152
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`IDENTIFIER ‘ 130
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`ATTRIBUTE
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`
`Page 00004
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`/
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`143
`
`144
`
`154
`
`156
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`ATTRIBUTES
`
`FIG. 3
`
`142
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`

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`
`Jul. 3, 1997
`
`Sheet 4 of 15
`
`5,646,992
`
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`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 8, 1997
`
`Sheet 5 of 15
`
`5,646,992
`
`304
`
`306
`
`308
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`
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`
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`
`FIG. 8
`
`Page 00006
`
`Page 00006
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 8, 1997
`
`Sheet 6 of 15
`
`5,646,992
`
`32°
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`Page 00007
`
`Page 00007
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 8, 1997
`
`Sheet 7 of 15
`
`5,646,992
`
`
`
`Category} Package Iiewer
`
`Display: Q Qisk cements
`
`_) §earch Results
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`llem Legend
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`Type:
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`State: 12- ordered - Unlocked
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`Page 00008
`
`Page 00008
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 8, 1997
`
`Sheet 3 of 15
`
`5,646,992
`
`Category! Package finer
`
`Display: 0 Qiskcomems
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`Page 00009
`
`Page 00009
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 8, 1997
`
`Sheet 9 of 15
`
`5,646,992
`
`370
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`372
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`374
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`
`Page 00010
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 8, 1997
`
`Sheet 10 of 15
`
`5,646,992
`
`444
`
`,/ 420
`
`{El 500 Agate
`[:1 as Agate
`
`[E 551 Agite Bold
`
`S52 Agate Italic
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`[E 502 Future Thin
`
`® You cannot order Item Groups
`
`FIG. 18
`
`0 You can not order items within Packages
`
`FIG. 19
`
`Page 00011
`
`Page 00011
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 8, 1997
`
`Sheet 11 of 15
`
`5,646,992
`
`Nana
`
`Cuxlonet I E2173083
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`Page 00012
`
`Page 00012
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 1997
`
`Sheet 12 of 15
`
`5,646,992
`
`Select Item: to lnxtall
`
`466
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`I
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`468
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`
`Page 00013
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 8, 1997
`
`Sheet 13 of 15
`
`5,646,992
`
`flhere is it
`
`421
`
`Item lnfu
`
`Item Ereview
`
`add to Order
`
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`Item: S09 Headlining1
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`Appears in the following Packages I Categories:
`
`Package
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`
`423
`
`Go to Package
`
`FIG. 25
`
`Page 00014
`
`Page 00014
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 8, 1997
`
`Sheet 14 of 15
`
`5,646,992
`
`Request No: 4KBAA7SAN95YFC
`
`Disk Title: 5 Pmducl Portfolio Dononsttation
`Disk Descriplion: ED Product Potlfolio Demonstration
`
`Item List:
`
`00500 Agate
`00509 Headlining 1
`
`491
`
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`
`495
`
`496
`
`497
`
`Page 00015
`
`Page 00015
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 8, 1997
`
`Sheet 15 of 15
`
`5,646,992
`
`504
`
` Item Definition
`
`520
`
`Exccutahlv
`
`. 2
`
`
`
`Page 00016
`
`Page 00016
`
`

`
`1
`
`2
`
`5 ,646,992
`
`ASSEMBLY, DISTRIBUTION, AND USE OF
`DIGITAL INFORMATION
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates to assembly, distribution, and use of
`digital information.
`Assembly. distribution. and use of information in digital
`form is fast becoming the norm rather than the exception to
`using “hard” copy. Virtually every kind of information may
`be treated in this way: sounds and music, executable
`programs. databases. pictures, animations, and fonts. The
`devices for embodying the digital information also Vary
`widely. Examples include high-capacity storage media. like
`CD-ROMS. and switched telephone network communica-
`tion.
`
`In the case of CD-ROMs,. publishers often already have
`available bundles of digital information which are being
`distributed in other modes (for example, on low-density
`diskettes). Because of the large capacity of CD-ROMS many
`bundles of digital information may be stored on a single
`disk. The bundles may be related. as in a set of diiferent type
`fonts, or they may be unrelated. The publisher assembles the
`different bundles and creates a master data file which is then
`
`used to produce multiple identical disks for distribution.
`Abundle stored on the CD-ROM may include not only the
`content which interests the end user (e.g.. the text of an
`encyclopedia), but also executable programs which enable
`the user to find and make use of the content.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`In general. in one aspect, the invention features a graphi-
`cal user interface for aiding use of a group of items of digital
`information. Hierarchically organized graphical representa-
`tions of the items and groups of the items which are
`available to be ordered by the user are displayed to the user.
`The user interactively explores the representations and
`selects items or groups to be ordered. using a pointer. While
`the graphical representations are being displayed, a list of
`items or groups which have been selected for inclusion in an
`order is also displayed.
`Embodiments of the invention include the following
`features. The graphical user interface enables a user to
`preview additional detailed information concerning an item
`when a representation of an item is displayed. using a
`pointer. Also displayed are representations of actions which
`may be invoked. using a pointer, to cause an order to be
`efiected and to enable a user to have access to an item that
`has been ordered
`
`In general, in another aspect, the invention features aiding
`a user in placing an order for access at a computer to an item
`of digital information oifered by a distributor. Stored con-
`figuration information which identifies configurations of
`computers sufficient to enable use of the item is distributed
`to the user. Software is executed which automatically deter-
`mines the configuration of the user’s computer. and matches
`the computer configiration with the stored configuration
`information. A signal is issued to the user, prior to the user
`placing the order, if the configuration and the stored con-
`figuration information do not match.
`Embodiments of the invention include the following
`features. The item of digital information is distributed on a
`high-capacity random access storage medium. The configu-
`ration information is also stored on the medium. as is the
`software which automatically determines the configuration
`and matches the computer configuration with the stored
`configuration information.
`
`the invention features
`in another aspect.
`In general,
`enabling a publisher to control ordering of items of digital
`information by a user from among a larger set of items of
`digital information made available by the publisher. The
`publisher is enabled to store packaging information identi-
`fying packages of items which are available for ordering.
`The user is enabled to select packages for ordering and is
`prevented from ordering items in bundles other than pack-
`ages included in the packaging information.
`Embodiments of the invention include the following
`features. The bundles which the user is prevented from
`ordering include individual items and supersets of the pack-
`ages. The items in the larger set are made available to the
`user as recorded information on a high-capacity random
`access storage medium. The packaging information is
`recorded on the same storage medium. At least one of the
`items may belong to more than one of the packages. The
`packaging information also defines packages of packages
`which are available for ordering.
`In general. in another aspect, the invention features con-
`trolling access to a subset of items arbitrarily selected from
`among a larger set of items of digital information. Each of
`the items belonging to the set are encrypted using an
`encryption key which is unique among the items belonging
`to the set. A decryption key is provided which is suflicient
`to permit decryption of the items belonging to the arbitrarily
`selected subset of items.
`
`Embodiments of the invention include the following
`features. The encryption keys are associated with corre-
`sponding decryption keys, which are themselves encrypted
`using a single global encryption key (the decryption key
`mentioned above) that is independent of the composition of
`the arbitrarily selected subset. Arequest by the user (e.g.. an
`order) for access to the items belonging to the subset
`incorporates a request encryption key based on information
`unique to the request. The request encryption key has an
`associated request decryption key. The global decryption
`key is encrypted in accordance with the request encryption
`key and decrypted in accordance with the request decryption
`key. The information unique to the request comprises infor-
`mation associated with the computer. The larger set of items
`is recorded on a high-capacity random access storage
`medium and the decryption keys are also recorded on the
`medium. The decryption keys are encrypted prior to record-
`ing on the medium.
`the invention features
`In general,
`in another aspect,
`restricting use of a decryption key for the purpose of
`decrypting an encrypted item stored on a high-capacity
`storage medium usable with more than one computer. The
`decryption key is encrypted using information which is
`unique to a single computer and later decrypted for use in the
`single computer to decrypt the encrypted item.
`Embodiments of the invention include the following
`features. The information unique to the computer may
`include a network address or a computer serial number. or
`may be based on random information derived from the state
`of the computer system. or may incorporate a serial number
`of the storage medium. The information which is unique to
`a single computer may be delivered, from the computer to a
`location where the encrypting is done. as part of a request for
`access to the encrypted item.
`In general, in another aspect, the invention features aiding
`a publisher in assembling items of digital information for
`mastering on a high-capacity random access storage medium
`by automatically verifying the existence and integrity of
`each of the items prior to assembly for mastering.
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`3
`the invention features
`in another aspect,
`In general,
`enabling a publisher to control access to digital information
`items distributed to users in the form of successive revisions
`
`of a high-capacity random access storage medium. The
`digital information items are in encrypted form on the
`high-capacity random storage medium. A user is given
`access to selected ones of the items by providing decryption
`information suitable for decrypting the selected items, stor-
`ing information indicative of items to which users had been
`given access in earlier revisions of the medium, and enabling
`a user automatically to have access to items in a later
`revision of the medium if the user had access to the items in
`an earlier revision.
`
`Among the advantages of the invention are the following.
`A wide range of benefits are provided by the invention
`both to the user and to the publisher. The publisher is
`provided with powerful tools both for marketing and for
`controlling access to items to be distributed. For marketing
`purposes, the publishers may include, e.g., on a CD-ROM,
`digital information implementing a wide range of marketing
`approaches,
`including previews of items,
`information
`describing the items, disabled versions of the items, and
`icons representing the items.
`Publishers may easily maintain information regarding
`successive revisions of titles being distributed, and may
`arrange for users to have automatic access in later revisions
`to items that they paid for in earlier revisions.
`The publisher can provide a large number and wide
`variety of items to a user, permitting the user to browse and
`preview the items, giving the user the opportrmity to pick
`and pay for only those items of interest. The publisher need
`not fear that other items made available to the user, but not
`paid for, can be used.
`The packaging of items in the system allows publishers to
`create item groupings that are sensible from a marketing or
`other viewpoint, and to present those groupings to the user
`as products. The product groupings can be revised and
`updated as needed.
`The publisher can include the item grouping information
`and software for previewing, browsing, and ordering all on
`a single CD-ROM.
`Prechecking the items during pre-mastering assures that
`the final CD-ROM will include the items intended and that
`they will be usable.
`The user is provided with a powerful, easy-to-use inter-
`face to browse through and analyze the features of a wide
`range of items and product groupings, to pick and choose
`those which it wishes to order, to place the order, and then
`to install the items on his computer. This provides an easy
`and highly effective way to shop, not only for software, and
`databases, but for virtually any product.
`For items which are to be loaded into and used on a local
`computer, the user can be assured, prior to placing an order,
`that the item will operate with the configuration represented
`by the local computer.
`Giving access to multiple items via a single decryption
`key provided to the user when the order is accepted saves
`time and effort.
`
`Other advantages and features will become apparent from
`the following description and from the claims.
`DESCRIPTION
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`We first briefly describe the Figures.
`FIG. 1 is an overall block diagram of a computer-based
`system for assembling, distributing, and using digital infor-
`mation on a CD-ROM.
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`4
`
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a computer-based system for
`pre-mastering a CD-ROM.
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a database structure.
`FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of an encryption/decryption
`process.
`
`FIGS. 5 through 25 are views of displays shown to an end
`user.
`
`FIG. 26 is a View of a display shown to an order taker.
`FIGS. 27 through 30 are views of displays shown to a
`pre-mastering user.
`Referring to FIG. 1, in one example of the invention, a
`system 10 enables a publisher 12 to pre-master and distrib-
`ute digital information on CD-ROMs 14, and an end user 16
`easily to make use of the information.
`Generally, the result of the publisher’s work is a set of
`pre-mastered data 22 which is in fonn to permit mastering
`of multiple CD-ROMs 14 using a conventional mastering
`system 24. The pre-mastered data is set up by a pre-
`mastering system 18 which includes software running on a
`workstation. The inputs to the pre-mastering system 18
`include end user system software 26, bundles of digital
`information 28, 30 (called valued and non-valued items,
`respectively), facilities 32 associated with the end user
`system software, and information entered by the user 12
`using a keyboard or mouse (not shown). Valued items may
`be items which the user may order and pay for, such as
`clipart images. Non-valued items may be items which need
`not be paid for, such as free games, or marketing information
`describing a range of items. Among other things, the pre-
`mastering system checks and verifies the valued items 28
`being included in the pre-mastering data set. The valued
`items are stored on the CD-ROM in encrypted form and are
`unusable by the end user until he has paid for their use. The
`pre-mastering system also maintains a pre-mastering data-
`base 34 which maintains information about the diiferent sets
`of pre-mastered data 22.
`The end user gets access to and makes use of digital
`information stored on the CD-ROM with the aid of end user
`system software 36. End user system software 36 is a
`version of the original end user system software 26 which
`has been configured by the pre-mastering system 18, com-
`bined with selected facilities 32, and stored on the
`CD-ROM. The software 36 is loaded into and runs on the
`
`user’s workstation. Among other things, the end user system
`software creates and maintains an end user database 38, e.g.,
`on the workstation hard disk
`
`The end user system software includes code which allows
`the user to browse through information representing the
`items, to preview certain items, to generate and send a
`purchase order 40 to an order taking system 42, to receive
`back an acknowledgment of the order, to “unlock” the order
`items, and to install them on the workstation.
`The purchase order indicates which of the valued items
`(or groups of valued items) the user wishes to order. The
`order may also include information which is unique to the
`particular workstation being used and assures that
`the
`acknowledgment returned in response to the order will
`permit use of the items only on the particular workstation.
`The order may be delivered to the order taker under program
`control (e.g., via FAXmodem, modem, network packet, or
`cable system) or under user control (e.g., via voice telephone
`call, FAX, or printed matter)
`Information stored on the CD-ROM with respect to a
`valued item includes information about which computers
`and peripheral equipment are suitable for use with the item.
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`Before an order is sent to the order taker, the end user system
`checks the actual configuration of the user’s workstation
`against the stored compatibility information to make sure
`they match.
`Once the order has been accepted, an order acceptance 44
`is returned to the end user system. The order acceptance
`includes decryption information which is based on informa-
`tion previously sent from the end user system and aids in
`decryption of the valued items. The order acceptance also
`may include other information (for example control data for
`controlling the collection of information on user activity).
`The system is configured so that a single item of decryption
`information sent from the order taking system to the end user
`system is enough to allow decryption of whichever valued
`items are chosen by the user even though each valued item
`has been encrypted with a difierent encryption key and even
`though the order may specify an arbitrary selection of Valued
`items.
`
`The order taking system 42 includes software running on
`a workstation. The software provides an environment in
`which an order taker 46 can process the order and cause the
`order acceptance to be returned. The order taking system
`software maintains an order taking database 50. Information
`generated by the order taking system may be passed to
`accounting. order entry, and marketing analysis systems 52.
`The end user system includes code which provides an
`integrated windowed graphical user interface through which
`users may browse, preview, order, unlock. and install valued
`items and other information stored on the CD-ROM.
`
`The pre-mastering system enables the publisher to man-
`age successive revisions of a CD-ROMS to permit. among
`other things, a user to have free access to revised versions of
`valued items which the user paid for via an earlier revision.
`
`Pre-mastering System
`
`As seen in FIG. 2, the pre-mastering system manages the
`pre-mastering user interface 102. It provides a windowed
`graphical user interface which enables the user to guide the
`processing of the items to be included on the CD-ROM on
`an item by item basis.
`Referring to FIG. 27, an Item Definition window 502
`offers the user the ability to define an item for use in
`pre-mastering an item efliciently. The user may enter a name
`for the item in box 504, a title for the item in box 506, and
`a short description in box 508. The software automatically
`provides a revision number in box 512 to maintain a
`sequenced record of item changes.
`To initiate a new item. the user selects the New button on
`the item browser, and selects the type of item (e.g., atomic
`item or group item). The user enters a publisher ID which
`uniquely identifies the item for that title. The system auto-
`matically assigns an internal ID and revision number to the
`item. Other than type, internal ID, revision, number, and
`publisher ID. all other fields will initially have the value
`determined by inheritance as follows. If the field has a value
`in a title which this title is derived from. that value is used.
`Otherwise the value is marked as not specified. From the
`initial set of values, any further modifications to the item’s
`fields may override the inherited values or cause them to be
`used again (to undo an override).
`its status is set to
`When an item is initially created,
`incomplete. Once the item is Validated. if sufficient infor-
`mation has been entered to allow a pressing the status is
`changed to complete. Once a pressing is performed using
`this item. the status is set to locked and no further changes
`are allowed to this revision of the item. A new revision must
`
`be created if edits are required. If a locked item is deleted its
`status is set to obsolete.
`
`The item type box is a field which allows the user to select
`from a restricted list of item classifications used by the end
`user system.
`A set of buttons 520 allows the user to call up other
`windows to provide additional information for an item. The
`files button 522 invokes a window in which the user may
`indicate the source files that will make up an item. The
`keywords button 524 invokes a window 526 (FIG. 28) which
`contains a box 528 that displays available keywords for use
`with the item. A box 530 displays the list of keywords that
`have been selected from box 528 for use with this item. Box
`
`532 provides a place for the user to edit a keyword selected
`in box 530. In general, the keywords applicable to an item
`may already exist; if so they may be imported by the
`pre-mastering system and displayed in box 528 for selection.
`Alternatively new keywords for the item may be keyed in by
`hand in box 532 to build a keyword set for the item.
`If the user selects Attributes button 534 (FIG. 27), he is
`presented with an Attributes window 536 (FIG. 29). Window
`536 includes a box 540 which displays available attributes
`for selection by the user. In general. the attributes applicable
`to an item may already exist; if so they may be imported by
`the pre-mastering system. Alternatively new attributes for
`the item may be keyed in by hand to build an attribute set for
`the item. Box 542 displays the attributes that have been
`selected. Box 544 provides a place for the user to edit or add
`new attributes and box 546 enables the value of the attribute
`to be edited or added.
`
`If the user selects the Facilities button 538 (FIG. 27), he
`is presented with a Facilities window that includes boxes
`enabling the user to select facilities that are to be made
`available for the item being premastered.
`If the user selects the Vendors button 550. he is presented
`with a Vendors window that allows the entry of information
`about the vendor of the item
`
`If the user selects the Thumbnails button 552, the user is
`presented with a Thumbnail window 554 (FIG. 30). A box
`556 allows the selection of setup information for displaying
`the thumbnail associated with the item. The setup informa-
`tion includes a resolution, and a label for the spreadsheet. A
`box 558 enables the user to specify the source path of the file
`or files that make up the item. A box 560 enables the usu to
`specify the destination path on the CD-ROM. The user may
`enter or edit resolution information in box 562, label infor-
`mation in box 564 and label font information in box 566.
`
`In addition to providing a graphical user interface, the
`pre-mastering system processes end user system software
`104 to place it in condition to be recorded on the CD-ROM.
`The pre-mastering system verifies and moves to the
`CD-ROM pre-mastering area all executable, library, and
`data files required by the end user system to be able to
`display, preview, order, decompress, decrypt, and install any
`items on the CD-ROM. The pre-mastering software also
`produces relations which map specific methods for each of
`the above facilities to each item on the CD-ROM. The
`
`pre-mastering software also generates all key tables required
`by the end user system as well as the order taker software.
`The pre-mastering system maintains a pre-mastering data-
`base 106 that contains the following information with
`respect to each revision and pressing of each title:
`date of the revision and pressing
`whether publisher has full rights or must pay royalty to
`manufacturer
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`the title number
`the revision number
`
`In the course of processing items for inclusion on the
`CD-ROM, the pre-mastering system creates a CD-ROM
`database 108 in two versions; one is held by the publisher
`(we shall call it the Publisher’s Database); the other (a subset
`of the publisher’s version) is included in the pre-mastered
`data to be stored on the CD-ROM (the CD-ROM Database).
`CD-ROM Database
`
`As seen in FIG. 3, both versions of the CD-ROM database
`are organized on an item by item basis. An item 130 may be
`an atomic item 132 or a group item 136 which represents a
`collection of items.
`
`Each item is identified by an internal 1]) number, a Vendor
`ID number, a publisher ID number, an original manufacturer
`ID number, a title for the item (for display at the end user’s
`workstation), a description of the item, and a list of prop-
`erties of the item. Properties associated with an item include
`original manufacturer
`licensing rights due to manufacturer
`whether the item is orderable or not
`whether the item is valued or non-valued
`whether the item is visible to the end user or not
`comments
`
`list fields, described below
`Each item has associated with it file information 140 for
`the files which make up the item. For each file, this includes
`where the file came from (its source path), where it is to be
`stored on the CD-ROM (its release path), where it
`is
`suggested that the file be installed on the user’s system, the
`file size, a checksum, and a file type.
`Each item also has associated with it information con-
`
`cerning one or more thumbnails 142 which are representa-
`tive of the content of the item. An example of a thumbnail
`is a graphic of a single letter from an item which contains the
`entire font. Multiple thumbnails may be needed for use with
`diflerent display modes (resolutions). The information con-
`cerning each thumbnail is its source path and its release path
`on the CD-ROM, a short title to appear under the thumbnail
`when displayed, font information for the short title, and
`identification of facilities needed to expose the thumbnail to
`the user.
`
`Each item may also have associated with it one or more
`previews 144. Examples of previews are demonstrations,
`animations, copyright information, and bit maps. They are
`designed to enable a user to learn about an item without
`actually having access to the item. The information which
`both versions of the CD-ROM database hold with respect to
`previews for an item includes the identity of the primary
`preview and alternate pr