US5825876A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Time based availability to content of a storage medium
Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC
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Filing: 1996-02-12
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Granted: 1998-10-20
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Expires: 2016-02-12
Abstract
Abstract A service methodology for time based availability to content, such as, movies, music, games, information and the like, provisioned on a storage medium whereby revenue may be generated for premier and pay-per-use access to the content. The service is manifested by the combination of a video disk reader, controller and authorization center. A service provider, for instance, locks up a movie on a video disk for which a premier event viewing date and time may be defined and which the provider may then directly distribute, in advance of the premier event, to potential consumers. Each consumer may purchase the right to view the movie once for a certain fee, for example $5.00, through online access from the controller to the authorization center, but the single viewing will only be allowed by the controller on or after the premier event. Thereafter, the consumer pays for viewing of the movie on a pay-per-use basis or over a defined window of time, perhaps for reduced fee, such as $1.00. Moreover, the online authorization process makes it possible to track consumer preferences at the authorization center, and as an alternative to the online payment processing, smart cards may be utilized for such.
Inventors
- 👤 Mendel Lazear Peterson, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 12:48
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/08; G06Q20/12; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/10; G06F21/70; G06F21/71; G06F21/72; G06F21/725; G06Q20/14; G06Q20/145; G06F2211/00; G06F2211/007; G06F2221/00; G06F2221/21; G06F2221/2109; G06F2221/2137
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 72
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of controlling access to a data content of a storage medium, comprising the steps of: defining a start point in time prior to which access to the data content is to be inhibited; receiving a master clock signal from an authorization center for determining when the start point has been reached; updating date and time within a clock responsive to receiving the master clock signal; determining time by the clock; and enabling, responsive to the determined time effectively reaching the start point, access to the data content.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of controlling access to a data content of a storage medium, comprising the steps of: defining a start point in time prior to which access to the data content is to be inhibited; receiving a master clock signal from an authorization center for determining when the start point has been reached; updating date and time within a clock responsive to receiving the master clock signal; determining time by the clock; and enabling, responsive to the determined time effectively reaching the start point, access to the data content.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data content is encrypted and enabling access to the data content includes enabling decryption to the encrypted data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the steps of: requesting access to the encrypted data from the authorization center; and receiving authorization which includes a key for the decryption of the encrypted data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the step of defining the start point includes providing an indication of the start point with the authorization.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the step of defining the start point includes providing an indication of the start point on the storage medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the step of determining time includes providing a local secure clock for determining the time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising the step of setting the local secure clock by the authorization center.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the local secure clock is password protected.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising the step of providing a secure device having a time clock for determining the time and a memory in which a key for decryption of the encrypted data is stored.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the secure device is any of a smart card or a PCMCIA card.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of defining the start point includes providing an indication of the start point on the storage medium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of: defining an expiration point in time; and inhibiting, responsive to the determined time effectively reaching the expiration point, access to the data content.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the data content is encrypted, enabling access to the data content includes enabling decryption of the encrypted data, and inhibiting access to the data content includes inhibiting the decryption of the encrypted data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising the steps of: requesting access to the encrypted data from the authorization center; and receiving authorization which includes a key for the decryption of the encrypted data.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the steps of defining the start point and defining the expiration point includes providing an indication of the start point and an indication of the expiration point with the authorization.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the steps of defining the start point and defining the expiration point includes providing an indication of the start point and an indication of the expiration point on the storage medium.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the steps of defining the start point and defining the expiration point includes providing an indication of the start point and an indication of the expiration point on the storage medium.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising the steps of: defining a usage limit; metering usage of the data content; and inhibiting, responsive to the metered usage reaching the usage limit, access to the data content.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the data content is encrypted, and wherein enabling access to the data content includes enabling decryption of the encrypted data, and wherein inhibiting access to the data content includes inhibiting the decryption of the encrypted data.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as claimed in claim 19, further comprising the steps of: requesting access to the encrypted data from an authorization center; and receiving authorization which includes a key for the decryption of the encrypted data.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the steps of defining the start point, defining the expiration point and defining the usage limit include providing an indication of the start point, an indication of the expiration point and an indication of the usage limit with the authorization.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the steps of defining the start point, defining the expiration point and defining the usage limit include providing an indication of the start point, an indication of the expiration point and an indication of the usage limit on the storage medium.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the steps of defining the start point, defining the expiration point and defining the usage limit include providing an indication of the start point, an indication of the expiration point and an indication of the usage limit on the storage medium.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
81 words
A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the data content comprises multiple portions of data which are associated with respective start points and expiration points in time, enabling access to a particular portion of the data content is in response to the determined time effectively reaching the respective start point for that portion and inhibiting access to the particular portion of the data content is in response to the determined time effectively reaching the respective expiration point for that portion.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of determining time includes providing a local secure clock for determining the time.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the local secure clock is password protected.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data content comprises multiple portions of data which are associated with respective start points in time, and enabling access to a particular portion of the data content is in response to the determined time effectively reaching the respective start point for that portion.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the storage medium is any of a compact disk, CD-ROM, cartridge and digital video disk.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
98 words
An apparatus for controlling access by a user to content of a storage medium, the medium being readable by a corresponding medium reader from which the apparatus is adapted to receive the content, comprising; means for defining a start point in time prior to which access to the data content is to be inhibited; means for receiving a master clock signal from an authorization center; means for determining time and for determining when the start point has been reached; and means for enabling, responsive to the determined time effectively reaching the start point, access to the data content.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
98 words
An apparatus for controlling access by a user to content of a storage medium, the medium being readable by a corresponding medium reader from which the apparatus is adapted to receive the content, comprising; means for defining a start point in time prior to which access to the data content is to be inhibited; means for receiving a master clock signal from an authorization center; means for determining time and for determining when the start point has been reached; and means for enabling, responsive to the determined time effectively reaching the start point, access to the data content.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein the data content is encrypted and the means for enabling access includes means for enabling decryption of the encrypted data.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 30, further comprising: means for requesting access to the encrypted data from the authorization center; and means for receiving authorization which includes a key for the decryption of the encrypted data.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein an indication of the start point is provided with the authorization and the means for defining the start point includes means for retrieving the start point indication from the authorization.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein an indication of the start point is provided on the storage medium and the means for defining the start point includes means for retrieving the start point indication from the storage medium.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein the means for determining time includes a local secure clock.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 34, further comprising means for setting the local secure clock by the authorization center.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as claimed in claim 34, wherein the local secure clock is password protected.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 31, further comprising a secure device having a time clock for determining the time and a memory in which a key for decryption of the encrypted data is stored.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 37, wherein the secure device is any of a smart card or a PCMCIA card.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein an indication of the start point is provided on the storage medium and the means for defining the start point includes means for retrieving the start point indication from the storage medium.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 29, further comprising: means for defining an expiration point in time; and means for inhibiting, responsive to the measured time effectively reaching the expiration point, access to the data content.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as claimed in claim 40, wherein the data content is encrypted, and wherein enabling access to the data content includes enabling decryption of the encrypted data, and wherein inhibiting access to the data content includes inhibiting the decryption of the encrypted data.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 41, further comprising: means for requesting access to the encrypted data from the authorization center; and means for receiving authorization which includes a key for the decryption of the encrypted data.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 42, wherein an indication of the start point and an indication of the expiration point are provided with the authorization, the means for defining the start point includes means for retrieving the start point indication from the authorization, and the means for defining the expiration point includes means for retrieving the expiration point indication from the authorization.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
66 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 42, wherein an indication of the start point and an indication of the expiration point are provided on the storage medium, the means for defining the start point includes means for retrieving the start point indication from the storage medium, and the means for defining the expiration point includes means for retrieving the expiration point indication from the storage medium.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
66 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 40, wherein an indication of the start point and an indication of the expiration point are provided on the storage medium, the means for defining the start point includes means for retrieving the start point indication from the storage medium, and the means for defining the expiration point includes means for retrieving the expiration point indication from the storage medium.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 40, further comprising: means for defining a usage limit; means for metering usage of the data content; and means for inhibiting, responsive to the metered usage reaching the usage limit, access to the data content.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 46, wherein the data content is encrypted, the means for enabling access includes means for enabling decryption of the encrypted data, and the means for inhibiting access includes means for inhibiting the decryption of the encrypted data.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 47, further comprising: means for requesting access to the encrypted data from the authorization center; and means for receiving authorization which includes a key for the decryption of the encrypted data.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
87 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 48, wherein an indication of the start point, an indication of the expiration point and an indication of the usage limit are provided with the authorization; the means for defining the start point includes means for retrieving the start point indication from the authorization; the means for defining the expiration point includes means for retrieving the expiration point indication from the authorization; and the means for defining the usage limit includes means for retrieving the expiration point indication from the authorization.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
91 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 48, wherein an indication of the start point, an indication of the expiration point and an indication of the usage limit are provided on the storage medium; the means for defining the start point includes means for retrieving the start point indication from the storage medium; the means for defining the expiration point includes means for retrieving the expiration point indication from the storage medium; and the means for defining the usage limit includes means for retrieving the expiration point indication from the storage medium.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
91 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 46, wherein an indication of the start point, an indication of the expiration point and an indication of the usage limit are provided on the storage medium; the means for defining the start point includes means for retrieving the start point indication from the storage medium; the means for defining the expiration point includes means for retrieving the expiration point indication from the storage medium; and the means for defining the usage limit includes means for retrieving the expiration point indication from the storage medium.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
91 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 40, wherein the data content of the storage medium comprises multiple portions of data which are associated with respective start points and expiration points in time, the means for enabling access operates on a particular portion of the data content in response to the measured time effectively reaching the respective start point for that portion, and the means for inhibiting access operates on the particular portion of the data content in response to the measured time effectively reaching the respective expiration point for that portion.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein the means for determining time includes a local secure clock.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as claimed in claim 53, wherein the local secure clock is password protected.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
59 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein the data content of the storage medium comprises multiple portions of data which are associated with respective start points in time, and the means for enabling access operates on a particular portion of the data content in response to the determined time effectively reaching the respective start point for that portion.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein the storage medium is any of a compact disk, CD-ROM, cartridge and digital video disk.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 29, further comprising: means for storing authorization records, wherein the means for storing is adapted to be accessed only by an authorization center.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 57, wherein the means for storing is adapted to prevent a user of the apparatus from gaining access to the authorization records within the means for storing.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 58, wherein the means for storing authorization records includes means for encrypting the authorization records to create an additional layer of security.
Claim 62
Independent Claim
99 words
An apparatus for controlling access by a user to contents of a storage medium, comprising: a medium reader for reading the contents of the storage medium; logic circuitry connected to the medium reader for controlling the medium reader; and a local secure clock connected to receive time information and an access code from an external source and connected to the logic circuitry to provide time information thereto, wherein the local secure clock does not update its time information according to the received time information unless a valid access code is received with the time information from the external source.
Claim 63
Independent Claim
99 words
An apparatus for controlling access by a user to contents of a storage medium, comprising: a medium reader for reading the contents of the storage medium; logic circuitry connected to the medium reader for controlling the medium reader; and a local secure clock connected to receive time information and an access code from an external source and connected to the logic circuitry to provide time information thereto, wherein the local secure clock does not update its time information according to the received time information unless a valid access code is received with the time information from the external source.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 60, further comprising: a store for storing cost and usage information, the store being connected to the logic circuitry to receive usage information therefrom and being connected to receive cost information from the external source, the store also for providing usage information to the external source.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the store for storing cost stores a plurality of different costs according to different types of specified usage conditions.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 62, wherein a first type of specified usage condition is the time of usage.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 63, wherein a second type of specified usage condition is the number of times of previous usage.
Claim 68
Independent Claim
58 words
An apparatus for controlling access by a user to contents of a storage medium, comprising: a medium reader for reading the contents of the storage medium; logic circuitry connected to the medium reader for controlling the medium reader; and a store for storing authorization records, wherein the store is adapted to be accessed only by an authorization center.
Claim 69
Independent Claim
58 words
An apparatus for controlling access by a user to contents of a storage medium, comprising: a medium reader for reading the contents of the storage medium; logic circuitry connected to the medium reader for controlling the medium reader; and a store for storing authorization records, wherein the store is adapted to be accessed only by an authorization center.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 65, wherein the store is adapted to prevent a user of the apparatus from gaining access to the authorization records within the store.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 66, wherein the store includes means for encrypting the authorization records to create an additional layer of security.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
69 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 67, further comprising: a local secure clock connected to receive time information and an access code from an external source and connected to the logic circuitry to provide time information thereto, wherein the local secure clock does not update its time information according to the received time information unless a valid access code is received with the time information from the external source.
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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) | 2001-10-19 | 2002-04-20 | 2002-10-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-10-19 | 2006-04-20 | 2006-10-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-10-19 | 2010-04-20 | 2010-10-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |