WO2016130008A1 - Content distribution system and method for distributing content - Google Patents

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a content distribution system for distributing content for at least a first communication device and a second communication. The content distribution system contains a server system, remote from a physical product, that is configured to receive a first request for the content from the first communication device and a second request for the content. The content comprises a main content part and a selected content part, wherein the selected content part is selected on the basis of values of selection parameters.

Description

Content distribution system and method for distributing content

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a content distribution system and a method for distributing content. More specifically, the invention relates to a content distribution system and method using a physical product comprising a storage device storing a resource identifier.

BACKGROUND

Over the past decade content distribution, such as distribution of music, text and video, has developed from distribution of physical carriers (e.g. compact discs, video tapes, digital video discs, books, magazines) to virtual, online, content distribution (e.g. downloading and streaming) to distribution via omnipresent communication devices. At the same time and because of this development, piracy concerns have grown because the digital nature of the content enables easy and good quality copies to be made of the content and the internet enables large scale illegal content distribution. The piracy concerns have triggered content distributors to apply heavy protection measures.

Yet, the virtual and abstract distribution of content makes it more difficult for people (fans, supporters) to relate with e.g. an artist, an author, an organisation etc. One way to bridge this gap is to again offer physical objects to these people. These physical objects may comprise physical carriers (e.g. compact discs, video tapes, digital video discs, books, magazines), but also objects that are linked to a certain artist, organization, club, band, etc., i.e. merchandise.

The physical objects should enable people possessing the object to obtain digital content (e.g. an album, a video, a text (e.g. a book)) associated with the artist. However, it is not always a viable approach to store the content in the physical object, because there are many economical, commercial and technical advantages in online content distribution.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a content distribution system combining physical objects and online content provision, while addressing piracy concerns.

To that end, a content distribution system for distributing content to at least a first communication device and a second communication device is disclosed. The content distribution system may include a plurality of communication devices. The content may comprise video, audio, still images, text, etc.

The content distribution system comprises a physical object and a server system. The server system may comprise one or more servers.

The physical object comprises at least one storage device storing at least one server address, a storage device identifier and data. In one embodiment, the storage device comprises a short-range wireless communication chip, also referred to as tag (e.g. a near field communication (NFC) tag), comprising at least one server address identifying the server system to which a request for content should be directed when the storage device is read by the communication device. The storage device is configured for short-range communication, i.e. less than 1 meter. The storage device may, alternatively, be read in another manner, e.g. optically. In such an embodiment, the communication device may sense or read the stored resource identifier from the storage device in any suitable manner, e.g. optically by means of a camera in the communication device.

The storage device also stores a storage device identifier identifying the storage device. The storage device identifier is uniquely determined, e.g. hard-coded, by the manufacturer of the storage device and cannot be manipulated. In one example, the storage device identifier is the UID of the NFC tag . The storage device also stores data. The data is e.g. a random string of characters, in contrast to the storage device identifier which is a serial number.

The physical object may comprise any object held suitable by the content distributor, the content owner or another party for distributing the content.

In one embodiment, the physical object comprises a sticker, button or card containing the storage device, wherein the sticker is attached to and/or the card is contained in another product, e.g. a magazine, a media product, a voucher etc. Examples of media products include a box of a content carrier, e.g. a cd or dvd box or a vinyl record sleeve. The physical object may contain multiple tags with different

resource identifiers.

The first communication device and the second communication device are configured to read the data from the storage device, e.g. by triggering and receiving an NFC- formatted response, comprising the server address, the storage device identifier and the data. The communication devices may include smartphones, tablet computers, laptop computers, smart glasses, smartwatches , (possibly cooperating with other

communication devices) .

The server system is located remote from the physical object and is accessible using the server address stored on the storage device. The server system also stores (a copy of) the storage device identifier and the data stored on the storage device. The server system also has access to one or more values of one or more selection parameters associated with at least the storage device identifier (and possibly the data (e.g. the random character string) stored on the storage device) .

The server system is configured to receive a first request for the content from the first communication device, wherein the first request contains at least the storage device identifier and the data, read from the storage device of the physical object by the first communication device. The server system may receive a similar, second request from the second communication device. The first and second request may contain further parameters, e.g. user parameters or communication device-parameters .

The first and second request comprise a URL-type of request. The URL comprises at least the storage device

identifier and the data (e.g. the random string of characters) or derivatives of the information stored on the storage device. One example of a derivative is the replacement of the server address stored on the storage device by another server address determined in the communication device, e.g. by a particular application linking the server address obtained from the storage device to application server address. Another example of a derivative is the application of a function, e.g. a hash

function, to the information read from the storage device, wherein the hashed information is sent in the first and second request.

The server address in combination with the storage device identifier is a resource identifier identifying a part of the content, viz. the main content part. The main content part is selected by the server system on the basis of at least the storage device identifier (e.g. the UID) . It should be noted that the server system may link groups of storage device

identifiers of different storage devices to one and the same main content, e.g. to an album of an artist. Two communication devices reading the same storage device will therefore get the same main content part.

The server system is also configured to select a first selected content part for the first communication device on the basis of one or more first values of one or more selection parameters associated with the storage device identifier.

Similarly, the server system is configured to select a second selected content part for the second communication device on the basis of one or more second values of the one or more selection parameters. Hence, when different values of a selection

parameter are selected in response to receiving the first request and the second request, the first selected content part and the second selected content part are different. The server system may e.g. be configured to select a first value or a second value on the basis of further data (e.g. parameter values) contained in the requests (or in previous requests) or on the basis of fulfilment of a condition at the server system (e.g. the time window wherein a request is received or the weather at the moment of receiving the request) .

The server system is configured to enable access for the first communication device and the second communication device to resp. first content comprising the main content part and the first selected content part (and not the second selected content part) for the first communication device and to second content comprising the same main content part and the second selected content part (and not the first selected content part) for the second communication device. To this effect, the server system may assemble or provide an instruction to assemble the content from the main content part and the first selected content part resp. the main content part and the second selected content part. The first content and/or the second content may be distributed from an external server system. The content may either be pushed towards or pulled from the first communication device resp. the second communication device in a manner known as such to the skilled person. Access to the first content and the second content is only provided when the data received in the first request resp. the second request matches the data stored in the server system in combination with the storage device identifier.

The disclosed content distribution system facilitates distribution of physical objects through which content can be enjoyed by enabling online access to the content via a

communication device capable of reading the information stored on the storage device. In one embodiment, the communication device has short range communication capabilities with a wireless communication chip associated with the physical object. The content distribution is tied to the physical object by means of the information stored on the storage device provided with the physical object. The physical object may have any shape and may be made of any material because the physical object does not access the online content itself but only has to contain the information. Hence the physical object can be tailor-made to create a strong relation between the owner of the physical object and the artist, organisation, club or other party

providing the content. The content itself can also be

personalised in accordance with values of selection parameters (e.g. tag data, personal data, context information) available to the server system. The selected content parts may be played prior to, during or after the main content part.

The selection of the selected content parts results in a personalized and/or contextualized experience for the user of the communication device. Hence, in the remainder of the disclosure, the selection parameters will also be referred to as context parameters or personalisation parameters and the selected content parts will also be referred to as

contextualized content parts or personalised content parts.

The disclosure also relates to a method for distribution of the content, to a computer program or suite of computer programs, to a computer product, to a server system of the content distribution system and to a physical product for use in the content distribution system.

In one embodiment, the physical object is incapable of communicating the information stored on the storage device directly to the server system, but only via a communication device .

It should be appreciated that the main content part to which the storage device identifier relates may change as well. In one example, the main content part is context related.

Examples of context related content parts include a context part that varies with time (e.g. day/night) or with location. Said variation is provided at the server side of the system; the information received with the request from the communication devices do not change necessarily. Moreover, the format of the main content part may vary, e.g. a high resolution stream vs. a low resolution stream of the same content. Selection parameters obtained from the user device may influence the format.

It should be noted that enabling access to the first and second communication devices does not require that the content is also rendered by or in the communication device itself. In one embodiment, the content may be played via a system external to the communication device, such as a sound system or a video system.

The server system has access to a database containing data stored on the storage device associated with the physical object and is configured to authenticate the first request resp. the second request by analysing data of the storage device contained in the first request resp. the second request obtained by reading the storage device with the first communication device resp. the second communication device against the data of the storage device associated with the physical object stored in the database. In this manner, requests containing non- registered storage device data will not result in enabling access to the content. Hence, access to the first content and the second content is made conditional on relation between the data stored in the storage device and received in the request vs. the data stored in the server system. This is beneficial since this data may be provided as random data in contrast to the storage device identifiers that are generally defined and standardized as serial numbers. When a storage device

identifier becomes known, it is likely that other storage identifiers that are stored for the content distribution system can be easily guessed. Verification of the received data against the stored data provides for additional authentication of the requests.

It should also be appreciated that values of the selection parameters are not only considered as different by the server system when numerical values are different, but may also be different because of alphanumerical differences and other differences, such as the lack of information versus the

availability of information.

In one embodiment, the values of the selection parameters are contained in a database accessible by the server system .

The values of selection parameters available in the database may be based on information obtained from or derived from previous requests for content, information obtained from third parties (e.g. trackers), information obtained when the product was sold etc. Examples of such selection parameters include location, purchase data, customer data, customer

preferences, social media data, tag state data etc.

If e.g. a purchase data parameter refers to the shop where the product was sold, the personalized content part may include an advertisement of the shop when the content is accessed by the communication device by reading the storage device identifier from the storage device provided with the physical object.

Another use case involves the use of the location of the communication device as a selection (context) parameter associated with a storage device identifier. The location may be obtained from the request and/or from the database (obtained from a previous request or from a tracker, for example) . A user of the first communication device may read a server address and storage device identifier pointing to a music song or part thereof on the server system from an NFC chip contained in a physical object. The communication device transmits the storage device identifier to the server system and the server system identifies the music song associated with the storage device identifier as the main content part to which access should be enabled for the first communication device. On the basis of the (approximate) location of the communication device at the time of reading the storage device from the physical object, the first selected content part is selected by the server system. The first selected content part may e.g. be an advertisement related to the current location (the first value of the context parameter "location") of the first communication device or an introduction by the artist to the music song in the language of the country wherein the physical object and the first

communication device are located. If the user of the first communication device hands over the physical object to another person who e.g. travels to another country (or takes the

physical object to the other country himself) and reads the storage device there with his (second) communication device to request the content, the server system will find that the value of the selection parameter "location" associated with the storage device identifier has changed to a second value.

Accordingly, the server system will select the same music song or part thereof as the main content part but includes a second selected content part, different from the first selected content part, in the second content made available to the second

communication device. The second selected content part may be another advertisement related to the current location of the second communication device or an introduction by the artist to the music song in the language of country where the second communication device is located when reading the storage device.

In one embodiment, the server system is configured to authenticate the first request resp. the second request on the basis of at least one of:

i) one or more of the values of one or more of the

selection parameters e.g. in a database accessible by the server system;

ii) user data received from the first communication

device resp. the second communication device; and iii) user input resulting from a challenge-response interaction between the server system and the communication device in response to transmitting the first request resp. the second request.

In this manner, adequate protection of the content can be obtained without posing heavy requirements to the communication device .

The challenge-response interaction may also be used for other purposes than authentication. If the first request is a request that is made for the first time, the request may be used to pair the storage device associated with the physical object with at least one of the user and the main content part. This process may be implemented using cookies. In one

embodiment, the user may be requested to enter a code (that may e.g. be obtained from a web page, the physical object, a manual, a document, etc.) and this code is used to pair the storage device identifier of the storage device with a particular main content part associated with the code. Hence, the storage device may be provisioned with a default resource identifier.

In addition, the first request in time may be used by the server system to obtain further information about the user in a challenge-response method. The selection parameters (e.g. the values thereof) may be used as a layer of protection for the content. For example, the server system may be configured to disable access to the content if certain criteria regarding one or more values of the selection parameters are not met.

For example, since the content distribution is tied to a physical object containing the storage device with the storage device identifier, subsequent requests within a particular short time interval with the same identifier of the storage device are unlikely to be made from locations far apart from each other. Hence, a request for content may be denied when the locations from which the request is sent is too far apart from a previous request within the time interval. This may be implemented using time intervals and distance thresholds in the server system.

In one embodiment, the first request contains data identifying the user of the first communication device and the second request contains data identifying the user of the second communication device. The server system is configured to

correlate the first request with one or more values of the one or more selection parameters using the data identifying the user of the first device and to correlate the second request with one or more values of the one or more selection parameters using the data identifying the user of the second device. The user

identification data may e.g. comprise an account name, e-mail address or another identifier, enabling the server system to accurately identify the value of the selection parameter (s) to be used (for selection of the personalized content part and/or for the authentication) for handling the content request. The user identification data may e.g. be obtained by an (automatic) injection of this data from the operating system of the

communication device into the request for content. If this data is not available via the operating system, in one embodiment, the server system is configured to provide an application (e.g. an app) for the first communication device resp. the second communication device in response to receiving a request for content preceding the first request resp. the second request, wherein the application is configured to obtain the data

identifying the user of resp. the first communication device and the second communication device and to include the data identifying the user of the first communication device resp. the second communication device in the first request resp. the second request.

In one embodiment, the server system is configured to receive one or more of the first and second selection parameter values from a third-party system (e.g. a tracker) on the basis of an address of the first communication device resp. the second communication device or user data of users of the first

communication device resp. the second communication device.

In one further embodiment, the storage device comprises a wireless communication chip, e.g. an NFC chip, containing a counter enabled to maintain a counter value indicating the number of attempts to access the resource identifier. The server system is configured to receive the counter value of the counter with the first request from the first communication device and to verify the counter value of the counter with a counter value stored in a database accessible to the server system to obtain a first analysis result. The server system may enable access to the first content for the first communication device in

dependence of the first analysis result.

A certain verification algorithm may perform the analysis in the server system. One simple algorithm is to verify whether the counter value is monotonously increasing or decreasing and, if not, block access to the content.

Receiving and analysing a counter value provides a level of protection for the content.

It should be noted that, in one embodiment, the counter value may be used as a value of a selection parameter to select the first resp. second content part at the server system. E.g. the selected content part may comprise an additional piece of content, e.g. a bonus track of an album, when the counter value exceeds a particular counter value threshold. In another embodiment, a link for downloading an application is provided for the communication device in response to a request when the counter value has or exceeds a predetermined value.

In one embodiment, the server system is configured to provide a management interface for content owners, content providers, advertisers, etc. to control selection of the first selected content part and the second selected content part by setting values (conditions) for one or more of the first

selection parameters resp. one or more of the second selection parameters. Accordingly, the content owners, content providers, content creators, content managers, advertisers may control under which circumstances the server system selects which selected content part in addition to the main content part as content to be made accessible to the communication device.

In one embodiment, the main content part is provided from an external server system and the server system is

configured to designate the external server system from which access is enabled to obtain the content. Accordingly, content owners or content creators can determine from which system content is provided.

It is noted that the invention relates to all possible combinations of features recited in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects of the invention will be explained in greater detail by reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a physical object containing a wireless communication chip according to a disclosed embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a content distribution system containing a first physical object and a second physical object and a server system according to a disclosed embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates some steps of content distribution methods according to a disclosed embodiment;

FIG. 4A is a schematic illustration of a database system available to the server system of the content

distribution system of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram illustrating a communication device reading different storage devices; and FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a general system, such as a server system of the content distribution system . DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a physical object 1, in this case a pear, containing a storage device 2. Whereas storage devices may comprise all forms of storage that enable stored data to be read by a communication device, it will be assumed in the remainder of the description that the storage device 2 comprises a wireless communication chip 2 (also

referred to as tag) having storage capabilities.

The wireless communication chip 2 may e.g. comprise a near-field communication (NFC) chip. Other short-range active or passive communication chips may also be applied.

As shown in the expanded portion of FIG. 1, the

wireless communication chip 2 contains information to retrieve content CO to a communication device (not shown in FIG. 1) . In one example, the wireless communication chip 2 contains a server address, a storage device identifier and data, e.g. a random character string. The server address and the storage device identifier form a resource identifier pointing to the main content part MC of the content CO and pre-stored on the chip 2 and associated (e.g. attached to or contained in) with the physical product 1.

In some embodiments, the wireless communication chip 2 contains a counter CTR. The wireless communication chip 2 is programmed to vary a counter value, e.g. to increase or decrease the counter value, upon detecting that the communication chip 2 is triggered to transmit the resource identifier or transmits the resource identifier.

A content provider or other party may buy wireless communication chips 2 from a manufacturer. The manufacturer pre-provisions the wireless communication chip 2 with the unique storage device identifier. The content provider or other party may then write the server address and the data to the storage device 2. The wireless communication chip 2 may be lockable, disabling the possibility to write further data to the

communication chip. Accordingly, changing the server address or the data may e.g. be disabled. The wireless communication chip 2 may contain a password or other access identifier AI to enable writing of data to the wireless communication chip 2 by

unlocking the wireless communication chip 2.

FIG. 2 is a schematical illustration of a content distribution system 10 for distributing content CO to at least a first communication device UE_1 and a second communication device TAB_2. In FIG. 2, the first communication device is a smart phone and the second communication device comprises a tablet computer. Other communication devices or combinations of communication devices are allowed.

The content distribution system 10 comprises a physical object 1 provided with the short-range wireless communication chip 2 storing information as mentioned above. It should be noted that, typically, the content distribution system will comprise multiple physical objects. The object 1 does not contain the actual content CO. The physical object 1 may

comprise a product that is linked to a certain artist,

organization, club, band, etc. Examples include stickers, buttons, boxes of media products, etc. The wireless

communication chip 2 may be attached to or contained in the physical object 1.

The content distribution system 10 contains a server system 11, located remote from the physical object 1 and the first and second communication devices UE_1 and TAB_2. The server system 11 is configured to receive a first request for the content CO from the first communication device UE_1 and a second request for the content CO from the second communication device TAB_2. The requests contains the storage device

identifier and the data (e.g. a random character string) stored on the wireless communication chip 2, or derivatives thereof. The requests are, for example, received at the server system 11 via a telecommunication network TELCO_A resp. a local network WIFI_B and a network 12 containing the server system 11, such as the internet. The server system 11 may contain one or more servers running on one or more hardware systems that may be distributed over the network 12.

The server system 11 comprises a management interface for enabling parties to control a part of the content CO to be accessed by the communication devices UE_1 and TAB_2. In FIG. 2, such management access is illustrated by means of a

connection with computer system COM.

The server system 11 has access to one or more values of selection parameters PARM associated with the storage device identifier.

The values for the selection parameters may be obtained from various sources, including, but not limited to, information obtained from the communication devices UE_1, TAB_2 (e.g. from previous requests for content CO, i.e. history information), information obtained from sellers of the physical object 1, information obtained from third party systems 14 (e.g.

trackers), information obtained from users of the communication devices UE_1, TAB_2, etc. In certain cases, the value of a selection parameter, may also be obtained from a current request for content CO, such as a current location of the communication device UE_1, TAB_2. It should be appreciated that the selection parameters and/or the values thereof are not necessarily

supplied from one or more of the above identified sources, but may also be derived from information received from these

sources.

A value for a selection parameter may be selected on the basis of at least one of further data in the request from the communication device or the fulfilment of a condition when the request is received at the server system. The values of the selection parameters may be accessible from a database DB, accessible from the server system 11, storing values of these parameters .

As mentioned above, the requests from the communication devices UE_1, TAB_2 at least contain a storage device identifier received from the wireless communication chip 2, e.g. a UID read from an NFC tag 2. The server address and the storage device identifier constitute a resource identifier pointing to a main content part MC . The request may contain data (e.g. a random character string) and further data (e.g. user data and/or communication device data) .

The server system 11 is configured to select a first content part, e.g. personal content part PC_1, on the basis of at least one first value of at least one selection

(personalisation) parameter in response to receiving the first request from the first communication device UE_1 and to select a second content part, e.g. a second personal content part PC_2, on the basis of at least one second value of the same or another selection (personalisation) parameter for the second

communication device TAB_2 in response to receiving the second request. Hence, when the first and second value of a

personalisation parameter on which the selection is based differ, the first personal content part PC_1 and the second personal content part PC_2 are different, while the URI refers to the same main content part MC . As mentioned previously, the main content part MC may vary in dependence of an applicable context as well.

The server system 11 is configured to enable access for the first communication device UE_1 and the second communication device TAB_2 to resp. first content CO comprising the main content part MC and the first personalised content part PC_1 for the first communication device UE_1 and to second content CO comprising the same main content part MC and the second personal content part PC_2 (possibly different from the first

personalised content part) for the second communication device TAB_2 .

Access to the first content CO and the second content CO is made conditional on fulfilling a pre-determined

correspondence between the data (e.g. the random character string) stored in the storage device 2 and received in the request vs. the data (e.g. the corresponding random character string) stored in the server system 11. This is beneficial since this data may be provided as random data in contrast to the storage device identifiers UID that are generally defined and standardized as serial numbers. When a storage device identifier UID becomes known, it is likely that other storage identifiers that are stored for the content distribution system can be easily guessed. Verification of the received data against the stored data provides for additional authentication of the requests and, hence, addresses privacy concerns.

In order to provide the first content CO and the second content CO, the server system 11 may assemble or provide an instruction to assemble the first resp. the second content CO from the available main content part MC and the first

personalised content part PC_1 resp. the available main content part MC and the second personalised content part PC_2. The content CO may be provided from an external server system 13 (as illustrated in FIG. 2) or be provided from server system 11.

The content may either be pushed towards or pulled from the first communication device UE_1 resp. the second communication device TAB_2.

The network 12 may contain further servers or server systems, such as content server 13, storing the actual content parts MC, PC_1, PC_2. Personalised content parts PC_1, PC_2 may be pre-stored or generated in response to a request for content. Whereas the content CO may be stored on the server system 11 itself, the content CO may also be pushed from or requested from content server 13 to the first and/or second communication device UE_1, TAB_2. Hence, in one embodiment, the server system 11 is configured to enable access to the content CO for the first communication device UE_1 and the second communication device TAB_2 by transmitting a contact identifier of the content server 13 containing the content CO to the first communication device UE_1 and the second communication device TAB_2 to enable these devices to retrieve the content CO (pull) or by

instructing the content server 13 containing the content CO to provide the content piece CP to the first communication device UE_1 and the second communication device TAB_2 (push) . The content server or server system 13 may e.g. be hosted by YouTube ®, Spotify ®, Netflix ®, etc. The server providing the actual content may be set in the server system 11, e.g. using

management interface of computer COM in FIG. 2. The output form of the servers may be flexible based on parameters received from or stored in the server system 11 or 13. For example, the format (screen size, resolution) of the content may differ dependent on whether the communication device UE_1 or TAB_2 is used. Similarly, the content may be provided from a Youtube® server if the server system 11 is aware that the user of the communication device 1 does not have a Spotify account.

The disclosed content distribution system 10 facilitates distribution of physical objects 1 through which content CO can be enjoyed by enabling online access to the content CO via a communication device UE_1, TAB_2 having short range communication capabilities with wireless communication chip 2 associated with the physical object 1. The content distribution is tied to the physical object 1 by means of the storage device identifier of the storage device provided with the physical object 1. The physical object 1 may have any shape and may be made of any material because the physical object does not access the online content itself but only has to contain the resource identifier URI . Hence the physical object 1 can be tailor-made to create a strong relation between the owner of the physical object and the artist, organisation, club or other party providing the content CO. The content itself can also be personalised in accordance with personalisation information

(e.g. tag data, personal data, context information) available to the server system 11.

The values of the personalisation parameters and data from the wireless communication chips 2 may be used to select the selected content parts PC_1, PC_2 and/or to authenticate requests for content CO and/or to configure the form in which the main content MC is presented and/or which content server 13 is used for providing the main content MC . Some examples of these different functions of the selection parameters and data from the communication chips will now be explained for the content distribution system 10 of FIG. 2 with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4A.

In steps SI, the first communication device UE_1 transmits a stimulus signal (such as an RF signal) energizing the wireless communication chip 2 in physical object 1,

indicated by 1(2), i.e. an NFC trigger. The second

communication device TAB_2 may do the same in step SI for physical object 1 at the same time, earlier or later than the first communication device UE_A.

In steps S2, the wireless communication chip 2 contained in or attached to physical object 1 responds by transmitting a message containing at least the server address of the server system 11 to determine the server address, the storage device identifier and the data (e.g. the random

character string) .

As shown in FIG. 4A, the server system 11 has access to database DB wherein combinations of the chip identifier UID_x, UID_y, UID_z, UID_k, UID_1 and corresponding random character strings RCHAR are stored for all wireless communication chips 2 in the field (and hence for all physical objects 1 in the field) .

When the wireless communication chip 2 is stimulated to transmit the information stored therein to the communication device, counter CTR in the wireless communication chip 2 may register this event and modify a counter value N (e.g. by increasing the counter value N) . Database DB, available to server system 11, may also contain the counter values N_i for all wireless communication chips 2 in the field. In the

database DB of FIG. 4A, each unique chip identifier UID_i is correlated to a corresponding counter value N_i . The counter value N_i is adapted each time a request for content CO is registered by the server system 11 and the adapted counter value is then stored. The initial counter value may e.g. be set to zero .

In one embodiment, the message from a wireless communication chip 2 triggered by the first communication device UE_1 may contain (server address; UID_x; RCHAR_x; N_x) and is received by the first communication device UE_1. Counter CTR in the wireless communication chip 2 will subsequently modify the counter value N_x to N_x+1. When the physical object 1

containing the wireless communication chip 2 is subsequently triggered by the second communication device TAB_2, the wireless communication device 2 transmits (address; UID_x; RCHAR_x;

N_x+1) . The counter CTR of the wireless communication chip 2 will then modify the value to N_x+2. In steps S3, the communications devices UE_1, TAB_2 process the incoming messages, e.g. by initiating an application in the communications device UE_1, TAB_2 to access the content CO. Such processes are well known to the skilled person.

In process S3, user identification data (e.g. an account name or e-mail address) may become available to be included in the request for content CO to be transmitted to the server system 11. The user identification data may e.g. be obtained by an (automatic) injection of this data from the operating system of the communication device UE_1, TAB_2 into the request for content in step S4.

In another embodiment, the communication device UE_1, TAB_2 may run an application that is configured to obtain the user

identification data and to include this information in the request for content in step S4. The application may have been obtained by the communication device UE_1, TAB_2 from or via the server system 11 during a previous request for content. Making the application available to the communication device UE_1, TAB_2 may be dependent on the counter value N of a wireless communication chip 2 read by the communication device UE_1,

TAB_2. Information may also be collected by server system 11 in a challenge-response interaction between the server system 11 and the communication device (not shown in FIG. 3) . For

example, information may be collected by server system 11 in an interaction between the server system 11 and the communication device by retrieving or storing data (e.g. cookies) on the communication device which can be used to identify the

communication device, the user of the communication device, or the custom preferences of users in a manner known to the skilled person.

In steps S4, the server system 11 receives the first request and the second request from the first communication device UE_1 resp. the second communication device TAB_2. The first request may e.g. contain (UID_x; RCHAR_x; N_x; user id) . The first request may e.g. comprise a URL, such as

http : / /www . server . com/UID_x?RCHAR_x?account , containing

respectively the domain name of the server as the server

address, the unique identifier of the storage device, the random character string and the user data. The domain name is obtained from a domain name server DNS in a manner known to the skilled person. It should be noted that the domain name may be

indirectly related to the server address stored in the storage device. It should be noted that the server address in the URL may include on or more subfields, e.g.

www.server.com/fieldl/field2/... before the other information (i.e. the UID and the data, e.g. the random character string RCHAR. In one embodiment, the communication device UE_1 may run an application mapping the server address stored in the storage device to a different address of the server system 11.

In steps S5, the server system 11 processes the

requests from the communications device UE_1, TAB_2 of step S4. The processing includes at least one of selection of a

personalised content part PC_1, PC_2 (or a contextual content part) of the requested content CO and authentication of the request. The processing applies one or more values of selection parameters stored in database DB or obtained from the data contained in the wireless communication chip 2. In FIG. 4A, the data from the wireless communication chip 2 used in the

selection or authentication process includes the storage device identifier UID, the random character string RCHAR and the counter value.

The selection parameters are associated with at least the storage device identifier UID and/or the random character string RCHAR associated with the UID.

Selection parameters involve parameters relating to the wireless communication chip 2.

An example of a selection parameter includes the selling party SLR of the physical object 1. In the database DB, the mass product objects 1 are sold by company ABC. Premium physical objects 1 containing wireless communication chips 2 with identifiers UID_k and UID_1 are sold by parties XYX and ZXY, resp.

Another example of a selection parameter includes the status of the storage device 2. The default value of the storage device status selection parameter is set to OK. When a broken wireless communication chip 2 is reported, the value of the parameter is changed to e.g. "x". Other examples of

selection parameters associated with the wireless communication chip 2, identified as PARM_ch in FIG. 4 may also be stored and used for the processing in step S5.

Another category of selection parameters PARM_us relates to the user of the communication device UE_1, TAB_2.

One example of such a selection parameter is the

(approximate) location LOC of the person handling the

communication device UE_1, TAB_2. The location may be obtained from a previous request for content, for the current request for content, from a third party server tracer 14, etc. Another example is a social media parameter from which it is derived whether (EV_X=Y) or not (EV_X=N) a person has mentioned on social media that he or she will attend to event X. Another example is a media preference parameter from which it is derived whether or not a person prefers using a specific media format (e.g. high-resoluton video, low-resolution video, mp3-files, flac-files) and/or a specific media service (e.g. YouTube ®, Spotify ®, Netflix ®, Bandcamp ®) .

In step S5, selection of the content part PC_1, PC_2 may be based on a selection parameter associated with the wireless communication chip 2. The selection parameter may be a purchase data parameter, such as selling party parameter SLR. If the user of communication device UE_1 would read the wireless communication chip identified by UID_x, the server system 11 would determine that this wireless communication chip was sold by seller ABC on receipt of the request for content CO in step S4 using UID_A as a key. As a consequence, server system 11 would select personalised content PC_1, e.g. an advertisement of seller ABC, to be made available to the communication device UE_1 in addition to the main content part MC identified by

UID_A. If a user of another communication device, such as TAB_2 , would read the wireless communication chip 2, TAB_2 would receive the same content CO, viz. main content part MC and personalised content part PC_1, since the selection of the personalized content part PC_1 is based on data associated with the wireless communication chip 2. The seller may have selected the advertisement via computer system COM using the management interface of the server system 11 to set the condition that if a request for content in step S4 is received comprising data (e.g. UID_A) from which the database DB tells that the wireless communication chip 2 was sold with the physical product by him (i.e. shop ABC), the selected content part should be the

advertisement in addition to the main content part MC .

Similarly, the selection of the value of the selection parameter could be based on RCHAR_a .

Selection of personalised content may also be based on a selection parameter associated with user of the communication device UE_1, TAB_2. The selection parameter may be a location of the user, a social media parameter, a personal preference parameter, etc.

If the user of communication device UE_1 has e.g.

indicated that he has bought tickets for event EV_X, this information may become available in the database DB of server system 11 (EV_X=Y) . For another user of communication device TAB_2 , this information is not available (EV_X=N) . When a request for content CO comes in in step S4 from UE_1, the identity of the user is determined, e.g. ID_5. The request may have been triggered by scanning wireless communication chip 2 identified by UID_A. Indeed, for ID_5, it is indicated that this user intends to visit the upcoming event EV_X. The

organiser of the event may have selected a news update for the event as personal content part if EV_X=Y. Step S5 then involves enabling access to the main content part MC associated with UID_A received in step S4 in combination with the news update on the event EV_X as PC_1. If a user identified by ID_3 would use his communication device TAB_2 (or communication device UE_1 after having identified himself to the communication device

UE_1 ) , access would be provided to the same main content part MC, but the news update would not be provided. The organiser may have selected an advertorial for the event as personalized content part PC_2 if EV_X=N using computer system COM with the management interface of server system 11.

The chip and/or user-related selection parameters may, instead of or in addition to the selection of the selected content part, be used to authenticate the request for content CO.

For example, in step S4, a request for content CO may come in from user device UE_1 containing UID_1. From the database DB, server system 11 finds out in step S5 that the wireless communication chip 2 has been reported previously as broken (storage device status TS=x) . This could be an

indication that the server address and the UID_1 were not read from the wireless communication chip 2 associated with the physical object 1. Server system 11 may then determine that no access should be given to at least one of the main content part or the selected content part. In one embodiment, access to only the selected content part may be provided, wherein the selected content part may read e.g. "The tag referring to the content you requested has been reported as broken. Please visit your local shop for repair or sent your product to [address]".

Authentication may also be based on the user-related selection parameter, such as location. Location may be

determined from the request in step S4 or be obtained from other sources, such as tracer 14. Authentication may be based on a time-dependent distance threshold. For example, if the user of communication device UE_1 is determined to be located at

location L0C_1 at time tl and the request for content CO is made by reading the tag identified by UID_x, a subsequent request at time t2 from reading this tag can only be made from a location that is at a reasonable distance from LOC_l . It is unlikely that a request associated with the physical product containing the tag with UID_x is repeated within an hour from location e.g. 300 km away from the location of the preceding request from the same tag.

Whereas the previous examples of content selection and authentication were based on data already available at the server system 11, the data read from the wireless communication chip 2 may also be used for content selection and authentication in step S5.

For example, the server system 11 may apply the data of the wireless communication chip 2 pre-stored in database DB for authentication purposes. As mentioned above, the database DB stores combinations of the chip identifier UID and the random character string RCHAR and, optionally, a counter value N.

In one embodiment, the server system 11 has access to database DB containing data stored on the wireless communication chip 2 associated with the physical object 1 and is configured to authenticate the first request resp. the second request of step S4 by verifying tag data contained in the first request resp. the second request obtained by reading data from the wireless communication chip 2 with the first communication device UE_1 resp. the second communication device TAB_2 against the data associated with the physical object stored in the database. In this manner, requests containing non-registered tag data will not result in enabling access to the content CO .

One example includes the case wherein the database DB of the server system 11 stores a combination of a tag identifier UID of the tag and the random character string RCHAR. The server system 11 receives a tag identifier UID_x and the random character string RCHAR_x in step S4. The server system 11 is configured to authenticate the first request by verifying the received tag identifier UID_x and the received random access string RCHAR_x against the combination UID_x- RCHAR_x in the database DB and enables access to the content CO comprising the main content part MC and a selected first personal content part CP_1 for the first communication device UE_1 only when the authentication is successful (which is true in FIGS. 3 and 4) . By verifying the received random access string and storage device identifier UID against a unique known combination of the resource identifier and the storage device identifier, knowledge of only the storage device identifier is insufficient to get access to the content. Hence, a level of protection is obtained for the content CO.

In one further embodiment, the server system 11 is configured to receive the counter value N of the counter CTR with the first request in step S4 from the first communication device UE_1 and to verify the counter value of the counter with a counter value stored in database DB accessible to the server system 11 to obtain a first analysis result. The server system 11 may enable access to the content for the first communication device in dependence of the first analysis result.

A certain verification algorithm may perform the analysis in the server system. One simple algorithm is to verify whether the counter value is monotonously increasing or decreasing and, if not, block access to the content CO.

Receiving and analysing a counter value provides a level of protection for the content.

It should be noted that, in one embodiment, the counter value may be used to select the first resp. second selected content part at the server system 11. E.g. the selected content part may comprise an additional piece of content, e.g. a bonus track of an album, when the counter value exceeds a particular counter threshold. In another embodiment, a link for

downloading an application is provided for the communication device UE_1, TAB_2 in response to a request when the counter value has or exceeds a predetermined value.

If authentication has been successful, steps S6 and S7 distribute the main content part MC and a selected content part PC_1 or PC_2 to the communication devices UE_1, TAB_2. In FIG. 3, the access is given via content distribution system 13.

FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram illustrating a communication device UE_1 reading different storage devices 2 (nog shown) identified in database DB of the server system by respective storage device identifiers UID_x, UID_y, UID_z, UID_k and UID_1. When UE_1 reads each of the different storage devices 2, a request for content is sent to the server system 11 because each of the storage devices stores the address of the server system. A random character string RCHAR is associated with each storage device and contained in each request as well. As shown in FIG. 4B, the main content part MC is identified by the storage device identifier. The values of the applicable selection parameters are associated with the storage device identifiers UID. A particular value may be selected on the basis of the contents of the request (e.g. the location from which the request is made, the user identity contained in the request) or a condition at the server system (e.g. the time of arrival of the request or the weather at the time of the request) . Hence, the communication device UE_1 receives the same main content part when reading each of the storage devices while the selected content part PC may be different for each tag (i.e. the applicable value of a selection parameter is

different ) .

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a general system, such as the server system 11.

As shown in Fig. 5, the data processing system 110 may include at least one processor 111 coupled to memory elements 112 through a system bus 113. As such, the data processing system may store program code within memory elements 112.

Further, the processor 111 may execute the program code accessed from the memory elements 112 via a system bus 113. In one aspect, the data processing system may be implemented as a computer that is suitable for storing and/or executing program code. It should be appreciated, however, that the data

processing system 110 may be implemented in the form of any system including a processor and a memory that is capable of performing the functions described within this specification.

The memory elements 112 may include one or more physical memory devices such as, for example, local memory 114 and one or more bulk storage devices 115. The local memory may refer to random access memory or other non-persistent memory device (s) generally used during actual execution of the program code. A bulk storage device may be implemented as a hard drive or other persistent data storage device. The processing system 110 may also include one or more cache memories (not shown) that provide temporary storage of at least some program code in order to reduce the number of times program code must be retrieved from the bulk storage device 115 during execution.

Input/output (I/O) devices depicted as an input device 116 and an output device 117 optionally can be coupled to the data processing system. Examples of input devices may include, but are not limited to, a keyboard, a pointing device such as a mouse, or the like. Examples of output devices may include, but are not limited to, a monitor or a display, speakers, or the like. Input and/or output devices may be coupled to the data processing system either directly or through intervening I/O controllers .

In an embodiment, the input and the output devices may be implemented as a combined input /output device (illustrated in FIG. 5 with a dashed line surrounding the input device 116 and the output device 117) . An example of such a combined device is a touch sensitive display, also sometimes referred to as a

"touch screen display" or simply "touch screen". In such an embodiment, input to the device may be provided by a movement of a physical object, such as e.g. a stylus or a finger of a user, on or near the touch screen display.

A network adapter 118 may also be coupled to the data processing system to enable it to become coupled to other systems, computer systems, remote network devices, and/or remote storage devices through intervening private or public networks. The network adapter may comprise a data receiver for receiving data that is transmitted by said systems, devices and/or

networks to the data processing system 110, and a data

transmitter for transmitting data from the data processing system 110 to said systems, devices and/or networks. Modems, cable modems, and Ethernet cards are examples of different types of network adapter that may be used with the data processing system 110.

As pictured in FIG. 5, the memory elements 112 may store an application 119. In various embodiments, the

application 119 may be stored in the local memory 114, the one or more bulk storage devices 115, or apart from the local memory and the bulk storage devices. It should be appreciated that the data processing system 110 may further execute an operating system (not shown in FIG. 5) that can facilitate execution of the application 119. The application 119, being implemented in the form of executable program code, can be executed by the data processing system 110, e.g., by the processor 111. Responsive to executing the application, the data processing system 110 may be configured to perform one or more operations or method steps described herein. In one aspect of the present invention, the data processing system 110 may represent server system 11 as shown in FIG. 2.

Various embodiments of the invention may be implemented as a program product for use with a computer system, where the program(s) of the program product define functions of the embodiments (including the methods described herein) . In one embodiment, the program(s) can be contained on a variety of non- transitory computer-readable storage media, where, as used herein, the expression "non-transitory computer readable storage media" comprises all computer-readable media, with the sole exception being a transitory, propagating signal. In another embodiment, the program(s) can be contained on a variety of transitory computer-readable storage media. Illustrative computer-readable storage media include, but are not limited to: (i) non-writable storage media (e.g., read-only memory devices within a computer such as CD-ROM disks readable by a CD-ROM drive, ROM chips or any type of solid-state non-volatile

semiconductor memory) on which information is permanently stored; and (ii) writable storage media (e.g., flash memory, floppy disks within a diskette drive or hard-disk drive or any type of solid-state random-access semiconductor memory) on which alterable information is stored. The computer program may be run on the processor 111 described herein.

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.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of embodiments of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the implementations in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles and some practical applications of the present invention, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the present invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

It is to be understood that any feature described in relation to any one embodiment may be used alone, or in

combination with other features described, and may also be used in combination with one or more features of any other of the embodiments, or any combination of any other of the embodiments. Moreover, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, which may be varied within the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A content distribution system for distributing content to at least a first communication device and a second communication device, the content distribution system

comprising :

- a physical object provided with a storage device storing at least one server address of a server system, a storage device identifier and data;

- wherein the server system is located remote from the physical object and is accessible using the server address stored on the storage device,

- wherein the server system stores at least the storage device identifier and the data stored in the storage device, and

- wherein the server system has access to one or more values of one or more selection parameters associated with at least the storage device identifier, wherein the server system is configured:

- to receive a first request for the content from the first communication device and to receive a second request for the content from the second communication device in response to reading the storage device by the first communication device resp. the second communication device, wherein the first request and the second request contain at least the storage device identifier and the data stored on the storage device;

- to select a main content part for both the first communication device and the second communication device on the basis of at least the storage device identifier;

- to select a first selected content part for the first communication device on the basis of one or more first values of the one or more selection parameters associated with at least the storage device identifier;

- to select a second selected content part for the second communication device on the basis of one or more second values of the one or more selection parameters associated with the at least one storage device identifier; - to enable access to first content comprising the main content part and the first selected content part for the first communication device only when at least the data received in the first request matches the data stored in the server system; and

- to enable access to second content comprising the main content part and the second selected content part for the second communication device only when at least the data received in the second request matches the data stored in the server system .

2. The content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the storage device is a wireless communication chip.

3. The content distribution system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first and second values of the one or more selection parameters are contained in a database accessible by the server system, e.g. values for at least one of purchase data, product return data, product distribution data, customer data, customer preferences, social media data, storage device state etc.

4. The content distribution system according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the server system is configured to select the first value or the second value of a selection parameter on the basis of at least one of :

- further data contained in the first request resp. the second request;

- fulfilment of a condition stored in the server system .

5. The content distribution system according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the server system is configured to further authenticate the first request resp. the second request on the basis of at least one of:

(i) one or more values of the one or more selection parameters; and (ii) user data received from the first communication device resp. the second communication device;

(iii) user input resulting from a challenge-response interaction between the server system and the communication device in response to transmitting the first request resp. the second request.

6. The content distribution system according to claim 5, wherein the first request contains data identifying the user of the first communication device and the second request

contains data identifying the user of the second communication device, wherein the server system is configured to correlate the first request with one or more of the first values of a

selection parameter using the data identifying the user of the first device and to correlate the second request with one or more of the second values of a selection parameter using the data identifying the user of the second device.

7. The content distribution system according to claim 6, wherein the server system is configured to provide an

application for the first communication device resp. the second communication device in response to receiving a request for content preceding the first request resp. the second request, wherein the application is configured to obtain the data

identifying the user of resp. the first communication device and the second communication device and to include the data

identifying the user of the first communication device resp. the second communication device in the first request resp. the second request.

8. The content distribution system according to one or more of the preceding claims 5-7, wherein the server system is configured to receive and/or derive one or more of the selection parameters, or values thereof, from a third-party system on the basis of an address of the first communication device resp. the second communication device or user data of users of the first communication device resp. the second communication device.

9. The content distribution system according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the storage device is a wireless communication chip, e.g. an NFC chip, and contains a counter enabled to maintain a counter value indicating the number of attempts to read the wireless communication chip, wherein the server system is configured:

- to receive the counter value of the counter with the first request from the first communication device;

- to verify the counter value of the counter with a counter value stored in a database accessible to the sever system to obtain a first analysis result; and

- to enable access to the content for the first communication device in dependence of the first analysis result.

10. The content distribution system according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the server system is configured to provide a management interface for content owners, content providers, advertisers, etc. to control selection of the first selected content part and the second selected content part by setting conditions for one or more of the values of one or more of the selection parameters.

11. The content distribution system according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the physical object is incapable of transmitting data of the wireless communication chip directly to the server system.

12. The content distribution system according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein at least the main content part is provided from an external server system and the server system is configured to designate the external server system from which access is enabled to obtain the content.

13. A content distribution system for distributing content to a communication device, the system comprising a first storage device and a second storage device associated with at least one physical object and a server system, wherein:

- the first storage device contains a server address associated with the server system, a first storage device identifier and first data;

- the second storage device contains the server address associated with the server system, a second storage device identifier, different from the first storage device identifier and second data, different from the first data;

- wherein the server system is located remote from the physical object and is accessible using the server address stored on the first storage device and the second storage device,

- wherein the server system stores at least the first storage device identifier in combination with the first data and the second storage device identifier in combination with the second data, and

- wherein the server system has access to one or more values of one or more selection parameters associated with at least the first storage device identifier and the second storage device identifier, wherein the server system is

configured :

- to receive a request from the communication device, wherein the request comprises the first storage device identifier and the first data;

- to receive a further request from the

communication device, wherein the further request comprises the second storage device identifier and the second data;

- to select a main content part in response to receiving the request and in response to receiving the further request on the basis of the first storage device identifier resp. the second storage device identifier;

- to select a first selected content part on the basis of one or more first values of one or more selection parameters associated with the first storage device identifier; to select a second selected content part on the basis of one or more second values of the one or more selection parameters ;

- to enable access to first content comprising the main content part and the first selected content part only when the first data received in the request matches the first data stored in the server system in combination with the first storage device identifier; and

- to enable access to second content comprising the main content part and the second selected content part only when the second data received in the request matches the second data stored in the server system in combination with the second storage device identifier

14. A method in a server system for distributing content to at least a first communication device and a second communication device, wherein the first communication device and the second communication device are configured for reading a storage device provided with physical object, wherein the storage device stores at least one server address of the server system, a storage device identifier and data, the method

comprising :

- receiving a first request for the content from the first communication device at the server system associated with the server address in response to reading the storage device by the first communication device and receiving a second request for the content from the second communication device at the server system associated with the server address in response to reading the storage device by the second communication device, wherein the first request and the second request contain the storage device identifier and the data stored in the storage device ;

- selecting a main content part for both the first communication device and the second communication device on the basis of at least the storage device identifier;

- selecting a first selected content part for the first communication device on the basis of one or more first values one or more selection parameters associated with the at least one storage device identifier;

- selecting a second selected content part for the second communication device on the basis of one or more second values of one or more of the one or more selection parameters associated with the at least one storage device identifier;

- enabling access to first content comprising the main content part and the first selected content part for the first communication device only if at least the data received in the first request matches data stored in the server system; and enabling access to second content comprising the main content part and the second selected content part for the second communication device only if at least the data contained in the second request matches the data stored in the server system .

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the steps executed by the server system according to one or more of the claims 2- 12.

16. A method for distributing content in a content distribution system according to claim 13.

17. A computer program or a suite of computer programs comprising at least one software code portion or a computer program product storing at least one software code portion, the at least one software code portion, when run on a computer system, being configured for executing the method according to claim 14, 15 or 16.

18. A server system for use in the content

distributing system according to one or more of the claims 1-13.

19. A physical object comprising a storage device, e.g. a wireless communication chip, such as an NFC chip, for use as a physical object in the content distribution system

according to one or more of the claims 1-13.

20. The physical object according to claim 19, wherein the storage device comprises a wireless communication chip protected from writing data on the chip and is configured to receive an access code enabling data to be written on the chip.