Patent · US Expired

Methods and apparatus supporting access to stored data

US7293066B1 · kind B1 · utility

42Cited by
12References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 21, 2004
Grant dateNov 6, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 20, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06Q30/0603
  • WIPO fieldIT methods for management
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A data processing device, such as a television set top box, receives user-selected content data from a remote source over a network in response to user initiated content selection information. The data processing device stores the user-selected content data (e.g., readable or playable content data such as movies, text, audio, etc.) in an appropriate storage location of the data processing device. The data processing device enables a user to access only a portion of the user-selected content data stored therein. If the user forgoes a right to selectively retrieve certain content data, the data processing device enables user access to other user-selected content data in the storage location. Thus, if a user experiences a “change in heart,” the user may forgo a right to play back certain content data for a right to selectively retrieve different portions of user-selected content data in the data processing device.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.