[0020] This specification uses 3D-MPROM as an example to illustrate content distribution, and these embodiments can be applied to large-capacity mask-ROMs. The storage capacity of a large-capacity mask-ROM is on the order of gigabytes, or even up to the order of terabytes. In the present invention, the data entry methods of the mask-ROM mainly include photo-lithography and imprint-lithography; the "mask plate" in mask programming can be The data mask can also be a nano-imprint mold or a nano-imprint template used in the imprinting method.
[0021] image 3 A hybrid content distribution system 40 and a communication channel 50 between it and a remote server 100 are shown. The hybrid content distribution system 40 includes a memory card 20 and a player 30 . Memory card 20 may contain a memory package or a memory module. It contains at least one 3D-MPROM chip. Broadly speaking, the memory card 20 contains at least one large-capacity mask-ROM chip. The content stored in the 3D-MPROM chip includes movies, video games, maps, music libraries, book libraries, software, etc.
[0022] The player 30 (in a broad sense, a consumer-grade information processing device) reads and processes data from the memory card 20, such as playing movies, playing electronic games, consulting maps, listening to music, reading e-books, and running software. The player 30 includes a communication means 36 and a rewritable memory (RWM) 48 . The communication means 36 communicates with the remote server 100 through the communication channel 50 . The remote server 100 stores a massive content library. The communication channel 50 includes Internet, WiFi and mobile phone (such as 3G, 4G) signals. RWM is a rewritable non-volatile memory, such as flash memory.
[0023] Figure 4A Indicates a player—the mobile phone 30 . It communicates with the remote server 100 via cell phone signal 50 . The handset 30 also includes a slot 32 . The memory card 20 can be inserted into and removed from the slot 32 . Figure 4B Represent another kind of player—Internet TV (or computer) 30 . It communicates with a remote server 100 via a network connection 50 (either wired or wireless). The IPTV (or computer) 30 also includes a slot 32 . The memory card 20 can be inserted into and removed from the slot 32 .
[0024] The present invention proposes a hybrid content distribution method. It makes full use of the advantage that 3D-MPROM is cheaper than RWM, and tries to store previously published content in 3D-MPROM; at the same time, it also takes advantage of the rewritable advantage of RWM, and tries to store only newly published content in RWM. Figure 5 is a flowchart of the method; Image 6 Indicates the storage space occupied by the RWM at different time points.
[0025] This hybrid content distribution approach includes multiple publishing cycles (such as Cycle 1 and Cycle 2), each of which contains similar steps. In cycle 1 (eg, within the first two months), new content is transmitted 100 to the player 30 by the remote server once it is released. For example, at time t 1 , transfer content C 1 (like movie 1) (step 70 1 ); at time point t 2 , transfer content C 2 (like movie 2) (step 70 2 ), … at time point t n , transfer content C n (like movie n) (step 70 n ). Here, the new content can be transmitted by being downloaded by the player 30 or pushed by the remote server 100 . In cycle 1, the transmitted content is stored in the RWM 48 . This is caused by Image 6 Middle time period t 1 to T 1 The step-shaped curve representation. At this moment, player 30 accesses content C from RWM 48 1 、C 2 ,... C n.
[0026]At the end of period 1, a first content set S is stored in the RWM 48 1 , which is a set of content transmitted in period 1, that is, S 1 =C 1 +C 2 +…+C n. at time point T 1 , the user receives a memory card M 1 (step 76). The memory card M 1 There is a first content set S 1. Afterwards, the first content set S 1 Deleted from RWM 48 (step 84). This is caused by Image 6 Middle time point T 1 The vertical drop of the curve at . Since RWM 48 has been vacated, cycle 2 can begin. After period 1 ends, the player 30 downloads the 1 access content in C 1 、C 2 ,... C n.
[0027] In cycle 2 (the following two-month period), repeat the above steps 70 1 -84. at time point t n+1 , t n+2 ,...t m Transfer content separately C n+1 、C n+2 ,... C m. During this period, the user accesses C from RWM 48 n+1 、C n+2 ,... C m. At the end of cycle 2, a second content set S is stored in the RWM 48 2 , which is a set of content transmitted in period 2, that is, S 2 =C n+1 +C n+2 +…+C m. at time point T 2 , the user receives two memory cards M 2. It stores a second content set S 2. Afterwards, the second content set S 2 Removed from RWM 48. After period 2 ends, the player 30 downloads the 2 access content in C n+1 、C n+2 ,... C m.
[0028] Since the player 30 can communicate with the remote server 100 in real time, the hybrid content distribution method can ensure that the user has instant access to newly published content. Also, since content released in previous publication cycles is stored on memory cards (such as M 1 , M 2 ), the RWM 48 only needs to store the content released in the latest publishing cycle, so this system only needs a small number of RWM 48. Considering that 3D-MPROM is cheaper than RWM, the hybrid content distribution method has a lower storage cost than the prior art method of storing all content in RWM.
[0029] The present invention also proposes a 3D-MPROM memory cartridge suitable for the hybrid content distribution method. Figure 7A-Figure 7B Indicates that at two time points (T 1 , T 2 ) of the storage box 90. It contains a frame 99, and the frame 99 contains a plurality of slots (such as 90B, 90C), and each slot can insert a memory card. at time point T 1 , the user receives a memory card 20A containing two 3D-MPROM chips 10A, 10B stacked on top of each other. The memory card 20A can be inserted into a slot at the lowest end of the storage case 90 . At this time, the slots 90B, 90C are still empty. at time point T 2 , the user receives a memory card 20B containing two 3D-MPROM chips 10C, 10D stacked on top of each other. The memory card 20B can be inserted into the slot 90B of the memory case 90 . Slot 99 provides electrical connections (not shown here) for memory cards 20A, 20B. The player 30 is preferably capable of reading data directly from the memory cartridge 90 . Obviously, the storage box 90 may contain more than three slots. For example, it can contain six slots. Assuming that a memory card is issued every two months, one storage box 90 can hold all the memory cards issued within one year. Storage box 90 makes management of memory cards easier.
[0030] It should be understood that changes may be made in form and detail of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which does not prevent them from applying the spirit of the invention. For example, in addition to 3D-MPROM, the hybrid content distribution system and method proposed by the present invention can also be applied to other mask-ROMs. The invention, therefore, should not be restricted except in accordance with the spirit of the appended claims.
