Electronic book secure communication with home subsystem
The invention, an electronic book selection and delivery system, is a new way to distribute books and other textual information to bookstores, libraries and consumers. The primary components of the system are a subsystem for placing text in a video signal format and a subsystem for receiving and selecting text that is placed in the video signal format. The system configuration for consumer use contains additional components and optional features that enhance the system, namely: (1) an operation center, (2) a video distribution system, (3) a home subsystem, including reception, selection, viewing, transacting and transmission capabilities, and (4) a billing and collection system. The operation center and/or video distribution points perform the functions of manipulation of text data, security and coding of text, cataloging of books, messaging center, and uplink functions. The home subsystem performs the functions of connecting to a video distribution system, menu selecting text, storing text, and transacting through phone or cable communicating mechanisms. A portable book-shaped viewing device is used for viewing the textual material delivered. The billing and collection system performs the transaction, management, authorization, collection and publisher payments automatically utilizing the telephone system.
1 - 26 . (canceled)
27 . A method of communicating between components of a home subsystem comprising: a home library for receiving and storing electronic books, the electronic books comprising data text and a unique key associated therewith, and a portable, electronic viewer for processing and displaying the electronic books, said portable viewer having a unique key associated therewith, the method comprising:
in the library, without user input of an identifier of the user, comparing the unique key associated with the viewer data text of an electronic book to the unique key identifying the electronic viewer;
if the comparing step produces a match, sending the data text related to an electronic book from the library to the viewer; and
storing the data text in the viewer.
28 . The method of claim 27 , further comprising encrypting the data text.
29 . The method of claim 28 , further comprising preventing the electronic viewer from outputting decrypted data text.
30 . The method of claim 28 , further comprising:
displaying the data text on a display portion of the electronic viewer; and
decrypting the data text as the data text is displayed.
31 . The method of claim 27 , farther comprising compressing the data text.
32 . The method of claim 31 , further comprising preventing the electronic viewer from outputting decompressed data text.
33 . The method of claim 31 , further comprising:
displaying the data text on a display portion of the electronic viewer; and
decompressing the data text as the data text is displayed.
34 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the data text is encrypted and compressed when it is received by the electronic viewer, and further comprising decompressing and decrypting a portion of the data text.
35 . The method of claim 27 , further comprising encrypting and compressing the data text before it is sent to the electronic viewer, and further comprising decompressing and decrypting the data text one page at a time, as a current page is displayed on the electronic viewer.
36 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the electronic viewer has a unique key for decrypting the data text, whereby only one electronic viewer can access a particular transmission of data text.
37 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the data text is transmitted as a digital bit stream.
38 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the data text is transmitted from a remote cable headend to the library and bundled into a data file, which data file is sent to the electronic viewer.
39 . A method for processing data text for electronic books in a home system comprising a library and a viewer, the method, comprising
sending a packet of data text, inserted in a video signal, from a remote operations center to the library;
encrypting and compressing the packet;
sending the packet to a viewer communicatively coupled to the library;
storing the packet in a viewer storage;
decompressing and decrypting the packet, comprising decompressing and decrypting an electronic book page by page, just before a page is displayed on a display of the viewer; and
displaying the data text on the display of the viewer.
40 . The method of claim 39 , further comprising storing the packet to a data file in the library, which data file is capable of storing a plurality of packets related to an electronic book.
41 . The method of claim 40 , wherein the step of encrypting and compressing the packet comprises encrypting and compressing the data file, and wherein the step of sending the packet to the viewer comprises sending the data file to the viewer.
42 . The method of claim 39 , wherein the data packet. is sent in a bit stream having a packet identifier, and further comprising comparing a packet identifier with a library identifier, and wherein the step of sending the packet to the library comprises sending the packet to the library if the packet identifier matches the library identifier.
43 . The method of claim 42 ; wherein the step of decompressing and decrypting the data file comprises using a security key unique to the viewer.
44 . The method of claim 39 , wherein the step of decompressing and decrypting comprises decompressing and decrypting a page of an electronic book at a time, as the page is displayed on the display.