US5734823A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Systems and apparatus for electronic communication and storage of information
Assignee: Arris Enterprises LLC
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Filing: 1996-07-25
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Granted: 1998-03-31
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Expires: 2016-07-25
Abstract
Abstract An information distribution system, in accordance with one form of the present invention, includes a central information bank and a central transactional data base coupled to point-of-sale delivery systems. Information flows between each point-of-sale delivery system and the central information bank and central transactional data base via a communication network such as the telephone network, a satellite network, or any other network suitable for the transfer of information. The point-of-sale delivery systems may take one of many forms including a point of purchase delivery system, a point of rental delivery system, a "book bank" subsystem, a promotional delivery system, or any combination of such systems.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael M. Saigh
- 👤 Edward H. Chang
- 👤 Douglas B. Brockhouse
- 👤 Hsiao-Shih Chang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 10:41
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/06; G06F; G06F15/00; G06F15/02; G06F15/025; G06F15/0283; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/08; G06Q20/12; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/16; G07F7/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A system for providing information to electronic storage media of system users, said system comprising: a central computer comprising a central information storage bank; at least one local unit communicatively coupled to said central computer, said local unit comprising a memory for storing, in electronic form, information transmitted to said unit from said central computer, and a processor for controlling transfer of information stored in said unit to the electronic storage media of system users, said local unit configured to encrypt the information when the information is to be transferred to the electronic storage media.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
95 words
A system for providing information to electronic storage media of system users, said system comprising: a central computer comprising a central information storage bank; at least one local unit communicatively coupled to said central computer, said local unit comprising a memory for storing, in electronic form, information transmitted to said unit from said central computer, and a processor for controlling transfer of information stored in said unit to the electronic storage media of system users, said local unit configured to encrypt the information when the information is to be transferred to the electronic storage media.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said local unit is configured to transmit, to said central computer, information related to a number of copies of an item of information transferred from said local unit to the electronic storage media.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said local unit further comprises a memory interface configured to interface with the electronic storage media, and said local unit is further configured to utilize information stored on the electronic storage media to encrypt information transferred to the electronic storage media.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system in accordance with claim 3 wherein the information stored on the electronic storage media comprises a personal signature code number and serial number.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said local unit is further configured to transfer to the electronic storage media data which is indicative of a period of time during which access by the user of the information is authorized.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
94 words
Apparatus for providing information from a central computer to a memory unit of a user, said apparatus comprising: a first interface configured to be communicatively coupled to the central computer; a book bank memory for storing, in electronic form, information transmitted to said first interface by the central computer; a second interface configured to receive the user's memory unit; a processor for controlling transfer of information stored in said book bank memory to the user's memory unit; and encryption means for dynamically encrypting information transferred through said second interface to the users' memory units.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
94 words
Apparatus for providing information from a central computer to a memory unit of a user, said apparatus comprising: a first interface configured to be communicatively coupled to the central computer; a book bank memory for storing, in electronic form, information transmitted to said first interface by the central computer; a second interface configured to receive the user's memory unit; a processor for controlling transfer of information stored in said book bank memory to the user's memory unit; and encryption means for dynamically encrypting information transferred through said second interface to the users' memory units.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein the central computer includes a central transactional database and said apparatus further comprises a fileserver for controlling transmission, to the central transactional database, of information related to the number of copies of an item of information transferred through said second interface to the users' memory units.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said fileserver stores data related to the information transferred from said book bank memory to users' memory units in a manner so as to enable identification of each item of information transferred to each user's memory unit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein said processor is further configured to transfer to the user's memory unit data related to a time at which information is transferred from said book bank memory to the user's memory unit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein a personal signature code number and serial number are stored in the user's memory unit and wherein said encryption means is configured to read, through said second interface and from the user's memory unit, the personal signature code number and serial number.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
108 words
A system for transferring information to storage media of system users, said system comprising: a central information bank for storing electronic copies of information; a central transactional database for storing data related to transactions; at least one local unit comprising a first unit communicatively coupled to said central information bank for receiving information transmitted from said central information bank, said first unit further comprising a memory storage for storing information transmitted to said first unit by said central information bank, said local unit further comprising a fileserver coupled to said first unit for transmitting to said central transactional database information related to transactions performed by said first unit.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
108 words
A system for transferring information to storage media of system users, said system comprising: a central information bank for storing electronic copies of information; a central transactional database for storing data related to transactions; at least one local unit comprising a first unit communicatively coupled to said central information bank for receiving information transmitted from said central information bank, said first unit further comprising a memory storage for storing information transmitted to said first unit by said central information bank, said local unit further comprising a fileserver coupled to said first unit for transmitting to said central transactional database information related to transactions performed by said first unit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said local unit is further configured to transfer to the system user storage media data indicative of a period of time during which access by the user to the information is authorized.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said local unit is configured to perform at least some point-of-sale functions including transferring information received from said central information bank to the user storage media.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
60 words
A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said local unit is configured to perform at least some point-of-rental functions including transferring information received from said central information bank to the user storage media and transferring to the system user storage media data indicative of a period of time during which access by the user to the information is authorized.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said local unit is configured to perform at least some subsystem functions including restricting duplication and transmission of data.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said local unit is configured to perform at least some promotional delivery system functions including displaying promotional information.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said local unit further comprises a memory interface configured to interface with the system user's storage media, and said local unit is configured to utilize information stored on said user's storage media to encrypt the information.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system in accordance with claim 17 wherein the information stored on the user's storage media comprises a personal signature code number and serial number.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
111 words
A system for providing information to electronic storage media of system users, said system comprising: a central computer comprising a central information storage bank; at least one local unit communicatively coupled to said central computer, said local unit comprising a memory for storing, in electronic form, information transmitted to said unit from said central computer, and a processor for controlling transfer of information stored in said unit to the electronic storage media of system users, said local unit configured to encrypt the information when the information is to be transferred to the electronic storage media, said local unit configured to encrypt the information utilizing information stored on said user's storage media.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
111 words
A system for providing information to electronic storage media of system users, said system comprising: a central computer comprising a central information storage bank; at least one local unit communicatively coupled to said central computer, said local unit comprising a memory for storing, in electronic form, information transmitted to said unit from said central computer, and a processor for controlling transfer of information stored in said unit to the electronic storage media of system users, said local unit configured to encrypt the information when the information is to be transferred to the electronic storage media, said local unit configured to encrypt the information utilizing information stored on said user's storage media.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system in accordance with claim 19 wherein the information stored on the user's storage media comprises a personal signature code number and serial number.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system in accordance with claim 19 wherein said local unit is configured to perform at least some point-of-sale functions including transferring information received from said central information bank to the user storage media.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
60 words
A system in accordance with claim 19 wherein said local unit is configured to perform at least some point-of-rental functions including transferring information received from said central information bank to the user storage media and transferring to the system user storage media data indicative of a period of time during which access by the user to the information is authorized.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system in accordance with claim 19 wherein said local unit is configured to perform at least some subsystem functions including restricting duplication and transmission of data.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system in accordance with claim 19 wherein said local unit is configured to perform at least some promotional delivery system functions including displaying promotional information.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system in accordance with claim 19 wherein said local unit is configured to transmit, to said central computer, information related to a number of copies of an item of information transferred from said local unit to the electronic storage media.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system in accordance with claim 19 wherein said local unit is further configured to transfer to the electronic storage media data which is indicative of a period of time during which access by the user of the information is authorized.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
160 words
Apparatus for providing transferring information to a memory unit of a user, said apparatus comprising: a book bank memory for storing, in electronic form, information which may be selected by the user for transfer to the user's memory unit; a memory unit interface configured to be coupled to the user's memory unit; a processor for controlling transfer of information stored in said book bank memory to the user's memory unit, said processor programmed to, for a first transaction, transfer information to the user's memory unit and, for a second transaction, transfer to the user's memory unit data indicative of a period of time during which access by the user to the information is authorized; and an encryption unit for dynamically encrypting information transferred through said memory unit interface to the user's memory unit, said encryption unit configured to encrypt the information, utilizing data stored on the user's memory unit, when the information is to be transferred to the memory unit.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
160 words
Apparatus for providing transferring information to a memory unit of a user, said apparatus comprising: a book bank memory for storing, in electronic form, information which may be selected by the user for transfer to the user's memory unit; a memory unit interface configured to be coupled to the user's memory unit; a processor for controlling transfer of information stored in said book bank memory to the user's memory unit, said processor programmed to, for a first transaction, transfer information to the user's memory unit and, for a second transaction, transfer to the user's memory unit data indicative of a period of time during which access by the user to the information is authorized; and an encryption unit for dynamically encrypting information transferred through said memory unit interface to the user's memory unit, said encryption unit configured to encrypt the information, utilizing data stored on the user's memory unit, when the information is to be transferred to the memory unit.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 27 wherein said apparatus is part of a communications network including a central computer, said apparatus communicatively coupled to the central computer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 28 wherein said apparatus is configured to transmit, to the central computer, information related to a number of copies of an item of information transferred from said apparatus to the user's memory unit.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 27 wherein the data stored on the user's memory unit comprises a personal signature code number.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-03-30 | 2001-09-29 | 2002-03-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-03-30 | 2005-09-29 | 2006-03-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-03-30 | 2009-09-29 | 2010-03-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |