WO2002048938A1

WO2002048938A1 - Method and apparatus for providing content online

Info

Publication number: WO2002048938A1
Application number: PCT/SG2001/000262
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hiang Teck John Sim; Kok Siew Tan; Mong Hwa Cheong
Original assignee: Unitedbox Pte Ltd
Priority date: 2000-12-13
Filing date: 2001-12-12
Publication date: 2002-06-20
Also published as: AUPR206200A0

Abstract

The invention provides a method and apparatus for providing content online, the method involving: making the content available at an online site and providing a user with a readable and writeable data storage medium (46), the data storage medium provided with address data corresponding to the online site and application software (30) operable to download (34) or facilitate the downloading of the content; whereby the user can load the data storage medium (46) into a data storage medium reading means forming a part of or connectable to a computing device connectable (32) by a computer network to the online site, download the content by means of an application software (30).

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING CONTENT ONLINE

BACKGROUND OP THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing content online, of particular but by no means exclusive application in the distribution of music or video content online, and in data storage medium format for online content and applications .

In existing techniques for distributing content online (where content includes any information, application or data) , a content provider typically makes the content available to the public on the internet or world wide web, after which a person can download that content and then play, view or edit that content with a suitable software/ application. This approach previously required a sequence of separate actions by the user, such as downloading the content by means of file transfer protocol (FTP) software and saving the file to disk, running the software application required to play or view the content, and opening the content file (or files) from that application. More recently, these steps have been integrated in world wide web browsers, so that - while all these actions still take place - the user need only locate, the content with the browser and open that content; downloading the content and loading it into the correct application should then proceed without further user intervention. An additional step may, however, be required if the content is only provided upon the provision either of payment details, of user identification details, or of both. For example, the user may be required to enter credit card details or a username and password.

In one common scenario, a user equipped with a computer such as a personal computer (PC) may connect, by means of his or her internet service provider, to a music portal web site to obtain music content. Compressed music files in various audio decoding formats may then be downloaded from the site onto the user PC's storage device. Commonly, credit card authorization is requested for online payment, or the user is requested to join as a member before he or she can access the music. The user then employs music management software to create his or her own electronic music environment to arrange and listen to music files. The songs may then be ported to a portable device, provided with - for example - solid state memory storage, which allows the user to listen to songs while away from his or her PC.

However, these techniques require that the user have previously installed the correct application for playing or viewing the content, or do so when prompted by the browser. Further, the user must separately enter the userna e and password or credit card details. Some browsers may obviate the last problem by saving such details from an earlier accessing of the content or of other content on the same site, but a security risk is thereby created as these details remain stored on the user's computer. In addition, if the content is to be transferred to another device from the user's PC, the user must generally save the downloaded content to a hard disk, and then copy the content to - for example - a CD-ROM or other medium readable by the other device, or establish a communications link between the PC and the other device.

Thus, existing approaches are cumbersome, requiring the user to find the necessary site. These techniques are insecure, as user identification - such as credit card number or membership registration - is required when purchasing music. Effecting payment is problematic, as generally purchasing music content or the like will entail a credit card micro-payment; the user may not have a suitable credit card, or be reluctant to provide credit card details for security reasons, and credit card payment is often inappropriate for micro-payment transactions. Compatibility can be a problem, as existing portable devices employing flash memory may not be compatible with PC platforms. Finally, hard disk storage is not inexpensive, yet downloaded content - especially music content - can require large amounts of hard disk storage space.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a method and apparatus for providing content online that reduces some or all of these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides, therefore, a method of providing content online, involving: making said content available at an online site; and providing a user with a readable and writeable data storage medium, said data storage medium provided with address data corresponding to said online site and application software operable to download or facilitate the downloading of said content; whereby said user can load said data storage medium into a data storage medium reading means forming a part of or connectable to a computing device connectable by a computer network to said online site, locate said online site with said address data, download said content by means of said application software.

Preferably said data storage medium is also provided with access data for enabling said user provided with said data storage medium to access said content. The access data may comprise payment information (such as credit card details or a prepaid credit limit) , or user identification information (such as a username and a password, or a single unique user identifier) , or both. Preferably said application software is also operable display said content, play said content, edit said content, manage said content, or any combination of these.

In one embodiment, the method includes selling to said user said data storage medium provided with access data for enabling said user provided with said data storage medium to access said content, said access data comprises a prepaid credit limit. Preferably said access data also includes user identification information.

Preferably said data storage medium includes connection software for establishing or initiating the establishment of a communications connection with said online site by reference to said address data.

Thus, while the user - in some embodiments - may use an existing browser or the like to access to the online site, merely obtaining the address (typically a URL) of that site from the data storage medium, the data storage medium might contain its own software for forming that connection or for controlling the existing browser to form that connection.

Preferably said online site is one of a plurality of online sites and said data storage medium is provided with address data for each respective online site.

The present invention also provides a method for a user to obtain content from an online site, involving: obtaining a readable and writeable data storage medium, said data storage medium provided with address data corresponding to said online site and application software operable to download or to facilitate the downloading of said content; loading said data storage medium into a data storage medium reading means forming a part of or connectable to a computing device connectable by a computer network to said online site; locating said online site with said address data; and downloading said content by means of said application software.

Preferably said, data storage medium is also provided with access data for enabling said user provided with said data storage medium to access said content. The access data may comprise payment information (such as credit card details or a prepaid credit limit) , or user identification information (such as a username and a password, or a single unique user identifier) , or both.

Preferably said application software is also operable display said content, play said content, edit said content, manage said content, or any combination of these.

In one embodiment, the method includes purchasing said data storage medium provided with access data for enabling said user provided with said data storage medium to access said content, said access data comprises a prepaid credit limit. Preferably said access data also includes user identification information.

The present invention still further provides a readable and writeable data storage medium for enabling a user to obtain content from an online site, said data storage medium having : address data corresponding to said online site and application software operable to download or to facilitate the downloading of said content; whereby said online site can be located with said address data and said content can be downloaded by means of said application software.

Preferably said data storage medium is also provided with access data for enabling said user provided with said data storage medium to access said content. The access data may comprise payment information (such as credit card details or a prepaid credit limit) , or user identification information (such as a username and a password, or a single unique user identifier) , or both.

In one embodiment, the data storage medium is provided with access data for enabling said user provided with said data storage medium to access said content, said access data comprises a prepaid credit limit. Preferably said access data also includes user identification information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the invention may be more clearly ascertained, embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a flowchart depicting the principal steps in a method of providing music content online according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a data storage medium for use in the method depicted in figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to a method of providing music content online according to an embodiment of the present invention, a user obtains a data storage medium in the form of an optical card provided with address data corresponding to the URL of the online music portal site, and application software in the form of music management software downloading music content and managing and manipulating that content once downloaded. The optical card comprises essentially a readable and writeable CD-ROM, to be described in greater detail below.

Referring to figure 1, the user places 10 the optical card into a portable music device able to read data on the optical card, write to the optical card, and execute software stored on the device. Alternatively, the portable music device may comprise hardware and software portions of a personal computer (PC) . The user then chooses 12 whether to connect 14 the portable music device to the PC, or - if the user chooses not to connect 16 - locally play music 18 stored previously on the optical card.

If the user instructs the portable music device to connect 14 to the PC, the optical card automatically executes 20 key detection software, which checks 22 whether a valid security key can be found on the optical card. If a valid key is not found 24, the PC will simply enter local operation mode 26; the optical card can be inspected, its content manipulated, etc, but no connection will be formed to the online music portal site.

If, however, a valid security key is found 28 on the optical card, the optical card is deemed secure and its music management software is launched 30. The music management software initiates the logging on 32 to the music portal with a secure and unique optical card identification data, and by reference to the URL data on the optical card.

The user may then download 34 an item of encrypted music content from the music portal to temporary storage on the PC. Once the download is complete, the user is asked 36 if that item was the last item he or she wishes to download; if not 38, a further item of encrypted music content can be downloaded. However, if the last item of encrypted music content is 40 the final download, the downloaded item(s) of encrypted music content can be moved 42 to the portable music device through the USB or other port and stored on the optical card. The optical card is then ejected 44 from the portable music device.

The optical card may include identification information specifying the credit limit of the user and which will generally relate to or determine the purchase price of the optical card. This information is transferred to the music site and, once verified, songs or other music content can be downloaded 34 to the user's PC as described above. Once the optical card has been filled, the user can replace it with a new optical card to start another session.

The optical card itself can conform to any shape readable by the corresponding drive. Thus, it could be in the form of a conventional 80 mm x 56 mm CD. Alternatively, it could be rectangular, of comparable dimensions to a standard business card (88 mm x 51 mm) . However, the optical card will generally be provided in various sizes depending on the required storage capacity (typically at least 80 Mbyte. For example, it is envisaged that optical cards would also be provided of size 66 mm x 80 mm or 70 mm x 80 mm. Figure 2 is a schematic representation of an optical card 46 of 85 Mbyte storage capacity. The optical card 46 is not an equivalent complete disk (indicated by dashed line 48) , but rather has flat sides 50 so that it can be carried much as a business card would. However, the curved sides 52 of the optical card 46 have a centre of curvature 54 at the centre of equivalent disk 48 so that the card 46 can be readily accommodated and read by an optical disk reader.

Electronic payment can be effected on the basis of details stored in an encrypted electronic wallet stored on the optical card, so that the user can make online purchases of music recordings and his or her electronic wallet will be debited accordingly.

The music content provider will only download music content once valid identification and electronic wallet details are provided, increasing the control of the provider over the distribution of that content, and hence assisting in the enforcement of copyright in that content.

This can be augmented by incorporating a unique optical card identification imprint with burst cutting area (BCA) code on the plastic groove of the optical card. This BCA code is readable by an optical pickup head when reading the optical card. This identification can then be transferred to the PC and uploaded to the respective web site for authorization and validation before content will be downloaded. The format of this identification can be defined so that certain first few unique characters/digits will be assigned to different web site address or otherwise. Alternatively, a track management technique can be employed, in which a hard key is implemented by recording a unique serial number or a unique ID number on a protected space that is not directly accessible; this space could be in the inner or outer tracks of the optical card but not in the disc program area.

The music content is encrypted when downloaded 34 and stored on the user's PC, to protect copyright in the content .

The music management software, which is SDMI compliant, validates the optical card identification and invokes the burner writer to transfer the songs from the PC to the optical card.

The optical card is prepared by standard techniques, and then provided with the optical card identification after formatting. This ensures that the optical card is secure, having an identification that is distinct, and that duplication or copying in prevented or rendered more difficult.

The following are the optical card characteristics in this embodiment :

Recording format : Orange book Media: CR Recordable, CD Rewritable Dimension: Credit card size or CD size Security: Unique embedded ID key on optical card Storage Area: Storage size Portable Media dependent

The file structure of the optical card is as follows:

Thus, this method has several advantages, including: ease of use, as the user does not require prior knowledge to connect to internet and music portal sites, making music easy to access; low cost, as it can be implemented with inexpensive optical storage media that can be mass- produced; wide compatibility, as it can be used on essentially any platform, including PCs and Apple Macintoshes, with essentially any digital encoding/decoding format (such as MP3) ; portability, as the user can carry music with the music management software on the one optical card; security, as user identification is not required; and ease of management, as all content providers can manage their own subscriptions and content channels.

Since modification within the spirit and scope of the invention may readily be effected by persons skilled in the art, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described by way of example hereinabove.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A method of providing content online, involving: making said content available at an online site; and providing a user with a readable and writeable data storage medium, said data storage medium provided with address data corresponding to said online site and application software operable to download or facilitate the downloading of said content; whereby said user can load said data storage medium into a data storage medium reading means forming a part of or connectable to a computing device connectable by a computer network to said online site, locate said online site with said address data, download said content by means of said application software.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said data storage medium is also provided with access data for enabling said user provided with said data storage medium to access said content.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said access data comprises payment information, or user identification information, or both.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said payment information comprises either credit card details or a prepaid credit limit and said user identification information comprises either a username and a password or a single unique user identifier.

5. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said application software is also operable to display said content, play said content, edit said content, manage said content, or any combination of these.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, including selling to said user said data storage medium provided with access data for enabling said user provided with said data storage medium to access said content, said access data comprising a prepaid credit limit.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said access data also includes user identification information.

8. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said data storage medium includes connection software for establishing or initiating the establishment of a communications connection with said online site by reference to said address data.

9. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said online site is one of a plurality of online sites and said data storage medium is provided with address data for each respective online site.

10. A method for a user to obtain content from an online site, involving: obtaining a readable and writeable data storage medium, said data storage medium provided with address data corresponding to said online site and application software operable to download or to facilitate the downloading of said content; loading said data storage medium into a data storage medium reading means forming a part of or connectable to a computing device connectable by a computer network to said online site; locating said online site with said address data; and downloading said content by means of said application software.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said data storage medium is also provided with access data for enabling said user provided with said data storage medium to access said content.

12. A method as claimed in either claim 10 or 11, wherein said application software is also operable to display said content, play said content, edit said content, manage said content, or any combination of these.

13. A method as claimed in claim 10, including purchasing said data storage medium provided with access data for enabling said user provided with said data storage medium to access said content, said access data comprising a prepaid credit limit.

14. A readable and writeable data storage medium for enabling a user to obtain content from an online site, said data storage medium having: address data corresponding to said online site and application software operable to download or to facilitate the downloading of said content; whereby said online site can be located with said address data and said content can be downloaded by means of said application software.

15. A data storage medium as claimed in claim 14, wherein said data storage medium is also provided with access data for enabling said user provided with said data storage medium to access said content.

16. A data storage medium as claimed in claim 14, wherein said data storage medium is provided with access data for enabling said user provided with said data storage medium to access said content, said access data comprising a prepaid credit limit.

17. A data storage medium as claimed in claim 16, wherein said access data also includes user identification information.

18. A data storage medium as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein said data storage medium includes connection software for establishing or initiating the establishment of a communications connection with said online site by reference to said address data.

19. A data storage medium as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 18, wherein said online site is one of a plurality of online sites and said data storage medium is provided with address data for each respective online site.