Copy-Protected Data Reproduction via Server-Mediated Tag Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems do not effectively prevent unauthorized sharing and simultaneous use of tags by multiple users while allowing legitimate sharing and single-user usage.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a client reading a tag's unique identifier, transmitting it to a server, which looks up and transmits a web address to a playback device, ensuring only authorized users can access the data, using unique identifiers and security features to manage tag usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a tag is made accessible to multiple users for sharing, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to unauthorized sharing and simultaneous use by multiple users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary between the tag and playback devices. The server receives the unique identifier from the tag, looks up the associated web address, and controls data transmission to authorized playback devices. This intermediary mechanism enables legitimate sharing while preventing unauthorized access, as the server acts as a gatekeeper that verifies and manages access rights.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback through the server continuously monitoring and tracking which playback devices are authorized to access the tag's data. The server maintains control by receiving requests, verifying authorization status, and selectively transmitting data or web addresses based on current authorization states. This feedback loop ensures that only currently authorized devices can access the content.
2Adaptability or versatility
If data is made accessible to multiple playback devices, then adaptability is improved, but security deteriorates due to unauthorized copying and use
Solution Approach 1:
The server serves as a security intermediary that controls data distribution to multiple playback devices. Instead of allowing direct access from the tag to any device, the server mediates all data requests, verifying authorization for each playback device before transmitting data or web addresses. This enables legitimate multi-device playback while preventing unauthorized copying.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically manages authorization status for different playback devices. The server can update which devices are authorized to access the tag's data, allowing flexible adaptation to changing user needs while maintaining security. The authorization state is not static but can be modified based on current legitimate usage requirements.
3Reliability
If a server-mediated access system is implemented, then reliability is improved through authorized access control, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex authorization and data management functions from the local playback devices and concentrates them in a centralized server. The playback devices themselves remain relatively simple, as they only need to communicate with the server and play back received data. The server handles the complexity of tracking authorization, managing web addresses, and controlling data distribution to multiple devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The server performs multiple functions within a single system component: it receives unique identifiers from tags, looks up associated web addresses, manages authorization for multiple playback devices, controls data transmission, and prevents unauthorized access. By consolidating these diverse functions in a universal server platform, the overall system complexity is managed more efficiently than distributing complex logic across multiple devices.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention disclosed herein relates to methods comprising: reading, by a client, a tag containing a unique identifier; transmitting the tag's unique identifier to a server; looking up, by the server, a web address based on the tag's unique identifier; transmitting the web address to the client; transmitting the web address, by the client, to a player; requesting, by the player, data associated with the web address from the server; and transmitting the data from the server to the player. The invention also relates to computer-readable media having instructions stored thereon for carrying out the aforementioned methods.