Secure Physical Billing System for On-Demand Content Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current movie distribution methods, especially PayTV solutions, are subject to studio-imposed release delays and require electronic data transmission for payment, lacking the on-demand convenience of Home Video solutions, which often involve physical delivery but still require electronic unlocking.
Innovation Solution
A secure physical billing system where content storage devices with encrypted content and a billing storage device with decryption information are sent via physical delivery, allowing customers to decrypt and view content without electronic transmission, with billing information stored and processed offline, and returned for payment processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If PayTV solutions are used for movie distribution, then electronic data transmission enables convenient on-demand access, but studio-imposed release delays and restrictions are imposed
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the billing and content delivery processes by separating the decryption information (on a portable billing storage device) from the content itself. This allows the content to be physically delivered via Home Video methods while enabling PayTV-style billing through the portable device that stores decryption keys and billing information, thus avoiding studio-imposed release delays while maintaining on-demand convenience.
2Loss of time
If Home Video solutions are used for movie distribution, then timely releases without studio restrictions are achieved, but on-demand convenience is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The portable billing storage device acts as an intermediary that bridges Home Video physical delivery with PayTV-style on-demand access. It stores decryption information and billing data, enabling the system to function as both a Home Video solution (physical delivery without electronic transmission) and a PayTV solution (on-demand billing and access control), thus achieving timely releases while maintaining on-demand convenience.
3Ease of operation
If electronic data transmission is used for billing and content access, then convenient payment processing is enabled, but security vulnerabilities and studio restrictions are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces electronic data transmission with a physical mechanical system. The portable billing storage device is a physical object that can be securely handled and stored, eliminating the security vulnerabilities associated with electronic transmission. The device contains both decryption information and billing data, allowing secure offline processing while maintaining payment convenience through physical delivery and return cycles.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for physical distribution of secure content to customers and physical collection of secure billing information. A plurality of content storage devices may be provided to a customer, each content storage device including secure content. A billing storage device may also be provided to the customer, the billing storage device including decryption information, which may be used by a media player for decrypting the secure content of the content storage devices to exhibit the secure content to the customer. The content and billing storage devices may be provided to the customer via physical delivery and without electronic data transmission occurring to or from the physical location of the customer. After each billing period, the billing storage device may be received from the customer via physical delivery. The billing storage device includes secure billing information stored in a writeable area, which is associated with the exhibition of secure content to the customer.