Media Keys for Digital Media Access and Sharing

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a growing need for improved interfaces and techniques to access, distribute, and share digital media data, as many people prefer physical objects over digital information and find them more convenient for handling and accessing.

Innovation Solution

The development of user interfaces for creating and using media keys, which are digital or physical tokens that can access and share media data, allowing users to perform various actions such as scanning, accessing, and generating media keys, and communicating media data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If digital media data is stored and shared using traditional digital formats (disks, files), then accessibility and distribution are enabled, but convenience and ease of handling are reduced due to the need for special readers and applications

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of handling and accessing media dataVSAvoidcomplexity of access requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a simplified copy representation of media data in the form of media keys. These keys are small, portable tokens that contain encoded information about the media data, allowing users to share and access media without needing to handle the actual bulky digital files or specialized reading devices. The media key acts as a lightweight surrogate that preserves access rights while eliminating the complexity of digital file management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The media key serves as an intermediary between the user and the actual media data storage systems. Instead of directly interacting with complex digital file systems, users simply handle and present the media key, which then mediates the access process. The key contains encoded information that enables automatic retrieval and playback of media data, eliminating the need for users to deal with file formats, storage locations, or specialized software applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If physical media keys are created to represent digital media data, then ease of handling is improved, but the ability to store and transmit digital information is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconvenience of handlingVSAvoidamount of digital information
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the digital media information into two distinct components: the media key (a small physical or digital token containing encoded access information) and the actual media data (stored separately in digital repositories). This segmentation allows the key to be easily handled while the bulk of the digital information remains stored efficiently, separating the functions of access authorization from data storage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a two-dimensional digital file system to a three-dimensional solution that incorporates physical tokens. The media key exists in a physical dimension that can be easily manipulated, while still encoding digital information about the media data. This dimensional shift allows users to interact with media through tangible objects while maintaining digital storage efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If media keys are designed to be simple and portable, then ease of sharing is improved, but the security and uniqueness of media access control is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of sharing and distributionVSAvoidsecurity of media access
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite encoding structures within the media key that combine multiple types of information (identification data, access rights, authentication codes) into a single integrated token. This composite structure maintains security through layered encryption and verification mechanisms while preserving the simple, portable form factor. The key can be easily shared physically or digitally while maintaining robust security through its multi-component encoded architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS8689102B2User interface for creating and using media keys
Publication Date: 2014.04.01 RICOH CO LTD
  • US8689102B2 patent drawing
  • US8689102B2 patent drawing
  • US8689102B2 patent drawing

AI summary

User interface for creating and using media keys. A user interface is provided for outputting media data corresponding to one or more media keys. The same user interface may be used to output media data of different types. The user interface provides user selectable options for performing various actions such as scanning one or more media keys, accessing and loading media data corresponding to media keys, performing actions on the media data accessed for the media keys, generating media keys, creating collections and media keys for collections, performing actions on collections, and other actions.