Digital Kiosk Content Update via Secure Portable Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital download kiosks face high costs and inefficiencies in updating multi-media content due to the need for expensive high bandwidth connections and physical transfer of data, which can be time-consuming and prone to mechanical failures.
Innovation Solution
A method where a secure portable storage device is used to upload multi-media content directly to a digital download kiosk, allowing for updating without a high bandwidth connection, involving steps like receiving, authenticating, and uploading content, and managing storage space by deleting less frequently used content if necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a high bandwidth communication channel is used to transfer movies from the content server to the remote authorization database, then the content update speed is improved, but the communication cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses portable storage devices as temporary copies to transfer content. Instead of directly copying content over high bandwidth channels, the system creates intermediate copies on portable storage devices that can be physically transported and later transferred to the kiosk, eliminating the need for expensive continuous high bandwidth connections.
2Productivity
If a service engineer is dispatched with a disk drive to update content when high bandwidth channels are unavailable, then the content update can proceed, but the process becomes time-consuming and prone to mechanical failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical disk drives with portable storage devices that have no moving parts. This substitution eliminates mechanical failures while maintaining the ability to physically transport content. The solid-state nature of these devices also reduces update time and increases reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a large catalogue of movies is made available at the kiosk, then customer choice is improved, but the storage space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic content loading where the kiosk can load different movie content based on customer demand and available storage space. Content is transferred from portable storage devices only when needed, allowing the system to adapt its catalogue dynamically rather than requiring permanent storage of all possible content.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of updating multi-media content at a digital download kiosk is described. The method comprises receiving a secure portable storage device into a portable device reader/writer in the kiosk; reading the secure portable storage device to ascertain if authorized multi-media content is stored thereon; uploading the multi-media content from the secure portable storage device to a data store accessible by the kiosk; and indicating when the multi-media content has been uploaded. The portable storage device may have been received by mail from a supplier, and the method may further comprise removing the portable storage device from the portable storage device reader/writer, and returning the removed portable storage device to the supplier by mail.