Physical Token Digital Content Transfer via Unique Identifiers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital content is not easily transferable in real-time due to its intangible nature, and converting large amounts of digital content into physical form is impractical and cumbersome, especially for content like audio and Web pages with hypertext links.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the association of identifiers with digital content, enabling their representation on a tangible medium as physical tokens, allowing for real-time conveyance and access through unique identifiers and contextual identifiers, which can be read using devices like bar code scanners, and accessed via a network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If digital content is converted to physical form (e.g., printed), then real-time conveyance is enabled, but the result is cumbersome to transport and impractical for large amounts of content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments digital content into discrete units represented by unique identifiers (such as barcodes, QR codes, or other machine-readable symbols). Each identifier represents a specific digital content item or collection, allowing the content to be divided into manageable, conveyable units that can be physically transported without the cumulative burden of printing entire datasets.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces physical tokens (printable identifiers, cards, or objects) as intermediaries between the digital content and the recipient. These tokens serve as mediators that carry reference information (identifiers) rather than the actual digital content, enabling real-time conveyance while maintaining minimal physical bulk. The recipient uses scanning devices to access the actual digital content through these intermediary tokens.
2Productivity
If digital content is sent electronically, then transfer efficiency is high, but real-time conveyance requires network connectivity and appropriate computing devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary encoding of digital content access information into physical tokens before conveyance. The unique identifiers are pre-generated and printed on tangible media, storing reference information that enables later retrieval of digital content. This preliminary action ensures that the physical token contains all necessary information to access the content later, even without network connectivity during the transfer moment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates physical copies (tokens) that represent digital content through unique identifiers. These copies are not full reproductions of the digital content but rather reference tokens that can be physically handled and transferred. The actual digital content remains in digital form on servers or storage devices, while the physical tokens serve as portable access keys that work independently of network availability during conveyance.
3Ease of operation
If unique identifiers are printed on tangible media, then physical conveyance is enabled, but the system complexity increases for managing identifier-address associations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal identifier system where the same format and structure can represent various types of digital content (documents, images, audio, video, web pages). The identifier-generation and management system serves multiple functions: creating unique identifiers, storing address mappings, enabling retrieval, and supporting different content types through a unified approach. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems for different content types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the identifier system to be self-managing through automated processes. The system automatically generates unique identifiers, maintains the association between identifiers and digital content addresses, and resolves identifiers to content when tokens are scanned. This self-service capability reduces manual intervention and complexity in managing the identifier-address associations, as the system handles registration, storage, and resolution automatically.
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary method for conveying access to digital content using a physical token comprises receiving a first identifier, receiving a second identifier, determining whether any of the first and second identifiers is associated with digital content, associating the digital content associated with one of the first and second identifiers with another of the first and second identifiers, and enabling a conveyance of the another of the first and second identifiers as a physical token.