DESC:SMART CENTRALIZED MULTI-ACCESS DIGITAL CONTENT DISTRIBUTION AND VIEWING BOX
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] Embodiments are generally related to electronic distribution systems for digital contents, i.e., digitally encoded published materials. Embodiments are further related to multi-access digital content distribution and viewing systems and methods. Embodiments are further related to a digital content distribution system and method which is capable of preventing unauthorized distribution of the digital contents. Embodiments are particularly related to a smart centralized multi-access digital content distribution and viewing box for secure accessing of digital content by multiple users/in a network environment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] With the advent of growing digital communication technologies several business transactions has been facilitated in a number of ways on such digital platforms and environment. One particular area of business transactions is in the electronic digital content management. Users can conduct digital content transactions with entities conveniently and efficiently over such advanced communication networks. One particular area of such electronic digital content management is information retrieval transaction such as, for example, information retrieval transactions with respect to electronic books, personal digital assistants, etc. from a centralized device.
[0003] Systems and methods for facilitating distribution and retrieval of digital content in a network environment are well known. Such systems are required to render secure distribution and viewing of digital contents such as digital audio, digital video, digital text, digital data, digital multimedia, etc.,. Upon being received by the user, such user renders or 'plays' the digital content with the aid of an appropriate rendering device such as a media player on a personal computer, a portable playback device or the like. Typically, a content owner distributing such digital content wishes to restrict what the user can do with such distributed digital content.
[0004] For example, the content owner may wish to restrict the user from copying and re-distributing such content to a second user, or may wish to allow distributed digital content to be accessed in a secure environment with appropriate access controls. However, in several conventional prior art systems, after distribution has occurred, such content owner has very little control over the digital content. Digital transactions involving information retrieval devices (e.g., electronic books) present a number of difficulties. The transaction should be efficient, reliable, confidential, secure, and convenient. From a business standpoint, the transaction should also be profitable and provides mutual benefits for both the user and the digital content operators.
[0005] Furthermore, the conventional content distribution and retrieval systems do not provide any analytical data or synchronization abilities to help both users and the systems to use such analytical data for improving the transaction experience within the environment. Accordingly, it is desirable to have a smart centralized multi-access digital content distribution and viewing system and method for secure accessing of digital content by multiple users/in a network environment.
[0006] Based on the foregoing a need exists for an improved system and method for providing secure distribution of digital content to multiple users in a network environment. A need also exists for a smart centralized multi-access digital content distribution and viewing box for secure accessing of digital content by multiple users/in a network environment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The following summary is provided to facilitate an understanding of some of the innovative features unique to the disclosed embodiment and is not intended to be a full description. A full appreciation of the various aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein can be gained by taking the entire specification, claims, drawings, and abstract as a whole.
[0008] Therefore, one aspect of the disclosed embodiment is to provide a system and method for secure distribution and retrieval of digital content in a network environment.
[0009] Another aspect of the disclosed embodiment is to provide a system and method for capturing and synchronizing analytical data with respect to the distribution and retrieval of digital content by a user.
[0010] Further aspect of the disclosed embodiment is to provide a smart centralized multi-access digital content distribution and viewing box for secure accessing of digital content by multiple users in a network environment.
[0011] The aforementioned aspects and other objectives and advantages can now be achieved as described herein. A smart centralized multi-access digital content distribution and viewing box (a mintbook boxTM) for secure accessing of digital content by multiple users in a network environment, is disclosed herein. A secured digital library for storing and retrieving at least one digital content wherein the digital content can be securely encrypted and securely stored into the digital library using an encryption/decryption tool. The digital content stored into the digital library can be such as, for example, but not limited to, digital audio, digital video, digital text, digital data, digital multimedia, etc.,. A user registration database for storing the access and login credentials of the users of the digital multi-access box wherein the access and login credentials are used to provide access to the encrypted digital content stored in the digital library of the digital multi-access box.
[0012] An analytical and synchronization module for capturing the user analytical data and content retrieval parameters within the network and synchronizing the analytical data with respect to the users to improve the digital content distribution and retrieval experience in the digital multi-access box. A digital content retrieval application configured on a user device for authenticating and providing secure access to the users to the digital content at the digital multi-access box. The digital content retrieval application provides required access information with respect to the user to enable access control from the user registration data base and thereby decrypt the digital content with respect to the users in the network environment.
[0013] The digital multi-access box (Mintbook BoxTM) can be accessed by the user device via a network (e.g., Wi-Fi network) wherein the digital content retrieval application on the user device provides required access to the users upon verification of access rights with respect to the users. The digital content retrieval application also provides a digital library page where the user can view/select the digital contents stored in the digital library of the digital multi-access box. The user credentials with respect to the user can be used to decrypt the digital content and the digital content can be viewed by the user on a digital player within the digital retrieval application of the user device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally-similar elements throughout the separate views and which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, further illustrate the present invention and, together with the detailed description of the invention, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a smart centralized multi-access content distribution and viewing box (Mintbook BoxTM) for secure distribution and retrieval of digital content in a network environment, in accordance with the disclosed embodiments.
[0016] FIG 2 illustrates a flow diagram illustrating logical operating steps in a a smart centralized multi-access content distribution and viewing box (Mintbook BoxTM) for secure distribution and retrieval of digital content in a network environment, in accordance with the disclosed embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] The particular values and configurations discussed in these non-limiting examples can be varied and are cited merely to illustrate at least one embodiment and are not intended to limit the scope thereof.
[0018] The embodiments now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown. The embodiments disclosed herein can be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
[0019] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
[0020] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram 100 of a smart centralized multi-access content distribution and viewing box (Mintbook BoxTM) 110 for secure distribution and retrieval of digital content 120 in a network environment 140, in accordance with the disclosed embodiments. The smart centralized multi-access digital content distribution and viewing box (a mintbook boxTM) 110 can be efficiently used for secure accessing of digital content 120 by multiple users 160 in a network environment 140. The digital multi-access box 110 comprises a secured digital library 130 for storing and retrieving at least one digital content 120 wherein the digital content 120 can be securely encrypted and securely stored into the digital library 130 using an encryption/decryption tool 150.
[0022] The digital content 120 stored into the digital library can be such as, for example, but not limited to, digital audio, digital video, digital text, digital data, digital multimedia, etc.,. Note that the digital content 120 described herein should not be constituted in any limited sense the digital content 120 can be any form of digital information/data that can be stored and retrieved for the purpose of reading, viewing and listening such as any form of digital content that comprises text, images, audio, video etc., Additional, the digital content 120 can be any kind of training material or curriculum for students and office executives. A person skilled in the art can interpret any such data in the digital form stored into the digital library 130 as digital content 120 within the scope of the proposed invention.
[0023] A user registration database 170 for storing the access and login credentials of the users 160 of the digital multi-access box 110 wherein the access and login credentials are used to provide access to the encrypted digital content stored in the digital library 130 of the digital multi-access box 110.
[0024] An analytical and synchronization module 180 for capturing the user analytical data and content retrieval parameters within the network 140 and synchronizing the analytical data with respect to the users 160 to improve the digital content distribution and retrieval experience in the digital multi-access box 110. A digital content retrieval application 185 configured on a user device 190 for authenticating and providing secure access to the users 160 to the digital content 120 at the digital multi-access box 110. The digital content retrieval application 185 provides required access information with respect to the user to enable access control from the user registration database 170 and thereby decrypt the digital content 120 with respect to the users 160 in the network environment 140.
[0025] FIG 2 illustrates a flow diagram 200 illustrating logical operating steps in the smart centralized multi-access content distribution and viewing box (Mintbook BoxTM) 110 for secure distribution and retrieval of digital content 120 in a network environment 140, in accordance with the disclosed embodiments. The digital multi-access box (Mintbook BoxTM) 110 can be accessed by the user device 190 via the network (e.g., Wi-Fi network) 140 wherein the digital content retrieval application 185 on the user device 190 provides required access to the users upon verification of access rights with respect to the users 160. The network 140 can be any internet/intranet or LAN, WAN or any other communication protocol used to connect devices in a secured environment either wired or wireless using a network protocol or a dongle. A person skilled in the art can understand that all the connectivity devices and network protocols can be interchangeably used as network 140 in the context of the proposed invention without losing the scope of the proposed invention.
[0026] The digital content retrieval application 185 also provides a digital library page where the user can view/select the digital contents 120 stored in the digital library 130 of the digital multi-access box 110. The user credentials with respect to the user 160 can be used to decrypt the digital content 120 and the digital content 120 can be viewed by the user 160 on a digital player within the digital retrieval application 185 of the user device 190.
[0027] It will be appreciated that variations of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims. ,CLAIMS:I/WE CLAIM:
1. A smart centralized multi-access digital content distribution and viewing box (a mintbook boxTM), said device comprising:
a secured digital library for storing and retrieving at least one digital content wherein the digital content can be securely encrypted and securely stored into the digital library using an encryption/decryption tool;
a user registration database for storing the access and login credentials of the users of the digital multi-access box wherein the access and login credentials are used to provide access to the encrypted digital content stored in the digital library of the digital multi-access box wherein the devices provides secure access of digital content by multiple users in a network environment.
2. The device as claimed in claim 1 further comprises an analytical and synchronization module for capturing the user analytical data and content retrieval parameters within the network and synchronizing the analytical data with respect to the users to improve the digital content distribution and retrieval experience in the digital multi-access box.
3. The device as claimed in claim 1 further comprises a digital content retrieval application configured on a user device for authenticating and providing secure access to the users to the digital content at the digital multi-access box.
4. The device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the digital content retrieval application provides required access information with respect to the user to enable access control from the user registration data base and thereby decrypt the digital content with respect to the users in the network environment.
5. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the digital multi-access box (Mintbook BoxTM) can be accessed by the user device via a network wherein the digital content retrieval application on the user device provides required access to the users upon verification of access rights with respect to the users.
6. The device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the digital content retrieval application also provides a digital library page where the user can view/select the digital contents stored in the digital library of the digital multi-access box.
7. The device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the digital retrieval application decrypts the digital content based on user credentials and the digital content can be viewed by the user on a digital player within of the user device.
8. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the digital content comprises: digital audio, digital video, digital text, digital data, digital multimedia.