EP2700045A1

EP2700045A1 - Providing access to the data of a single digital book

Info

Publication number: EP2700045A1
Application number: EP12717426.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Nicolas PHILIPPE
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-04-18
Filing date: 2012-04-02
Publication date: 2014-02-26
Also published as: WO2012143637A1; FR2974211A1; US20140040472A1

Abstract

The invention relates to providing access to data of a digital book on a remote server (SER), wherein, in particular, at least one URL address is provided, said URL address pointing to the data of a single digital book. To this end: a) a hardware medium (CA) is provided, said hardware medium comprising a hidden indicator (COD) for a hardware-medium identifier, as well as an indicator for a first portion (URL1) of said URL address; and b) the server correlates the hardware-medium identifier with said data of the single digital book, in order to make the data of said single digital book accessible at a URL address created by the concatenation of said first URL address portion and the hardware-medium identifier.

Description

Provision of data from a single digital liyre

The invention relates to a provision of digital book data, especially at a remote site.

Usually, a terminal, such as, for example, a multimedia tablet (ipad®, ebook®, or other), is equipped with connection means to a remote site allowing a user to access digital book data, for a download (pdf file for example downloaded and stored in memory of the tablet) or for an online consultation of the digital book for example in epub format (type of xml format). A "digital book" is a multimedia document containing text to be read (novels, university courses, conference proceedings, or other), accompanied by images that may possibly be interactive.

More particularly, the user has a right of access to an online bookstore of digital books. Currently, such a right of access is provided by the purchase of a prepaid card, and the user has a choice to access one or more books among the multiplicity of books that includes this library. Such an embodiment then forces the user to browse the remote site to select precisely the book he is looking for, which can be tedious especially when the complete list of books is given in bulk on the site or if a book is not available. is not archived in an expected topic.

The present invention improves the situation.

To this end, it proposes a method for making digital book data available on a remote server, in which at least one URL (for "Uniform Resource Locator") of a server resource providing the data of the server is provided. digital book. Within the meaning of the invention, at least one URL is provided pointing to the data of a single digital book, this approach already opposing that of the prior art known.

In particular, the method comprises the steps:

a) provide a material medium, such as a plastic card for example, with a hidden indication of hardware support identifier, as well as an indication of the first part of the aforementioned URL,

b) mapping the hardware support identifier with the data of the single digital book to the server to make the data of the single digital book available to a URL address that is created by concatenating the first part of URL address and hardware support ID.

Thus, a user with hardware support can enter his terminal (for example by typing on a keyboard type interface):

the first part of the URL,

add at the end of the address a code corresponding to the identifier of the material medium (as it may appear for example under a scratch band provided on a support such as a card or laminated card),

and connect to the site implementing the aforementioned server, at this URL, to access the data of the unique book he is looking for.

Of course, steps a) and b) above can be performed in any order, for example after, or in parallel.

In an exemplary embodiment, the hardware support identifier may be hidden by a band that is erased by scratching a user. In such an embodiment, it may then be planned to implement step b) prior to step a). For example, the URLs created with the first part of address and the card identifier can be generated from the server, and then, or in parallel, the cards can be printed with their own identifier. In this case, the user scrapes the strip of his card to discover his card identifier (typically a series of alphanumeric characters, such as "copy N"), type on his terminal the first part of the URL address (for example "Http: // myliveleunique /") and the remainder of the address given by this identifier ("http: // myliveleunique / copie N") and can then access the unique book corresponding to his card.

Nevertheless, alternative embodiments are possible. For example, the card identifier may remain hidden for the user, at least initially.

In such an embodiment, it can already be provided that step a) is prior to step b). The hardware support then comprises a code corresponding to the aforementioned hardware support identifier. This code (such as a bar code for example, or an RFID tag code) is then intended to be read by decryption means (typically an optical reader available to a cashier of a library). These code decryption means comprise a link to the remote server and are able to command, from the server, the creation of a URL address comprising: the aforementioned first address part,

concatenated with the card identifier read by the decryption means. Once the URL link is thus validly created, the cashier can then give the user the code of the card or email this code to the user.

For example, it can be provided that this reading of the cash register code takes place after the actual purchase of the card by the user.

Of course, to avoid fraudulent replay of the same card by several successive users, it is expected that the data of the digital book is downloaded once the site and the URL address corresponding to this card is permanently erased from the server after a single download (or a finite number of downloads). In such an embodiment, it is advantageous to associate a unique card identifier to a purchased card.

In particular, in the context of the invention, a plurality of addresses are then provided

URL pointing to the data of said unique digital book, and:

in step a), a plurality of hardware supports are provided, each comprising the hidden indication of a specific hardware support identifier,

and in step b), each server hardware identifier is mapped to the data of the single digital book to provide the book data to a respective plurality of URLs each created by the concatenation of the first part of URL address and a specific identifier of hardware support.

It can further be provided that the remote server comprises a database of the provision of digital book data at each URL address, in particular to control the number of downloads for example associated with the same card identifier.

The aforementioned decryption means can also be connected to a memory storing at least data transmission of identifiers to the server, which allows a cross-check between the data of this memory, on the one hand, and the data of the server database, on the other hand.

Thus, the card may include an indication of a URL address, a card code and possibly a scratch zone concealing the secret card code. The validation of the corresponding URL link to the server can be done at the cash desk, after payment, after computer reading of the card code. Then, the user can scratch further his card to discover his card code. Then typing in the browser of his terminal, the URL address mentioned on the card and, after him, his secret code, the server is validly solicited by this URL link to make available the digital file (pdf or xml) pre-purchased card.

As an option, the user may be invited, prior to accessing the digital book, to communicate his email address for example to be kept informed of any update of the book.

The secret code of each card was stored in the database of the contacted server. Activation of the card by the bookseller (information stored in another memory as indicated above) makes it possible to establish overlaps in case of anomalies.

For example, specific rights (number of downloads, validity period, and others) may be designed for cardholders. It is thus possible to personalize the access to a digital book, by means of a dedicated hardware support. It can thus ensure a traceability specific to a user since the act of acquisition of the hardware support until download. For example, each material medium can be marked with the identity of its holder. One can typically assign prior to the manufacture of the hardware support a particular secret code to a given person. The activation of this code for this user with the server generates a unique URL link, to which a file book dedicated to this user is made available and which can be named with a personalized mention on the first page, for example "book specially edited for Sir xxx ".

Such traceability offers many advantages: personalization of the good, protection against illegal downloading, etc.

The server manages and calculates the rights of each card secret code (for example a limitation of the number of downloads). In particular, it manages, in the sense of the invention, the mapping of a card identifier and a generic URL address, to create by concatenation of these two elements, a URL specific to the card and to which the data of the digital book are accessible.

The present invention therefore also aims at such a digital book data server, for the implementation of the method above and including in particular means for creating URLs each unique to a single book.

More specifically, in a particular embodiment, the URL addresses are each unique to a single book, on the one hand, and to a single hardware support, on the other hand.

Of course, a computer program can be implemented for the creation of such URLs. The present invention also aims, in particular, a computer program comprising instructions for the implementation of step b) of the above method, when this program is executed by the processor of a server within the meaning of the invention .

The present invention also aims at a hardware medium as such (such as a card) for the implementation of the invention and comprising at least a first part of URL address and a hidden indication of hardware support identifier.

The invention has many advantages in its practical implementation. The bookseller, for his part, does not have to provide excessive transport and handling costs because of the use of a simple card, nor a large space in his space compared to the paper book. The immaterial version ("electronic") of the book also has much more visibility in a bookseller, than on a particular website. The reader, for his part, can benefit from the bookseller's advice and satisfy a possible impulse.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an exemplary architecture of a system embodying the invention, FIG. 2 is an example of a flowchart illustrating the steps of the method in the sense of the invention.

With reference to FIG. 1, the hardware support in the sense of the invention is in the form of a plasticized card CA (credit card format for example), possibly verticalized to allow the evocation of the cover of a book. . It may for example be glued on a card stock containing for example the name of the author and the title of the book (XXX) and a placard corresponding to the front cover of the book, for example.

The CA card further comprises a first portion of the URL address, referenced URL1, and, in the example described, a COD reference card identifier, hidden by a band BG to scratch by the user after purchase. Optionally, it further comprises, in the example shown, a bar code CB which can be read by decoding means LEC of the card identifier. These decryption means LEC, for example an optical barcode reader available to a library cashier, comprise a connection to the remote server within the meaning of the invention, bearing the reference SER.

The server SER is connected to a memory MEM and a processor to build URL links by concatenating the first part of the aforementioned URL address to the COD identifier of each card placed on the market. The memory MEM can typically store a database for controlling connections to the server and access rights associated with the cards.

Thus, the user having the CA card, after scraping the BG band, discovers the COD code and types, using his TER terminal, in the NAV navigation bar, the full URL address corresponding to the first one. part URL1 followed by the COD identifier of his card. The terminal TER can be any type of electronic support connectable to the internet (tablet, computer or smartphone phone). Advantageously, a local memory MEML connected to the decryption means LEC can be provided to record the card transactions CA and in particular to cross-check the data between the content of this local memory MEML and the general memory MEM of the server SER.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a first step S1 consists in reading the barcode CB in order to deduce the identifier COD from the card and transmit it to the server SER (arrow F1 in FIG. 1). The SER server then associates the identifier COD with the first part of address URL1 to create a complete URL comprising: the first part of address URL1, followed by

the COD ID of the card.

This URL is stored in the MEM database and the data of the digital book corresponding to the CA card then become accessible at this URL.

Thus, in step S2, when the user enters, in the navigation bar NAV, the full URL address corresponding to the first part URL1 followed by the COD identifier of his card, his terminal connects validly ("OK To the SER server (arrow F2 of FIG. 1), since the complete URL has been previously created. In the next step S3, the server SER, depending on the content of the database that stores the memory MEM, validates if necessary the request formed by the terminal TER by making available the data of the digital book ("book" ) corresponding to the CA card (arrow F3 of Figure 1). This provision of data can be made by downloading a pdf file or simply making available in epub format (type of xml or html format).

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above by way of example; it extends to other variants. For example, reading the barcode CB is optional. Indeed, in one variant, the URL addresses for each CA card are pre-created and listed in the memory MEM.

The bar code itself is an example of realization. Alternatively, the card may take the form of an RFID tag and its reading may allow the communication of the COD card identifier to the aforementioned SER server.

Claims

A method of providing digital book data on a remote server (SER), wherein at least one URL of a server resource providing said data is provided,

characterized in that there is at least one URL pointing to the data of a single digital book, and in that the method comprises the steps of:

a) providing a hardware medium (CA) having a hardware support identifier hidden indication (COD) and a first part indication (URL1) of said URL,

b) Mapping, with the server (SER), the hardware support identifier with said data of the single digital book, for making said data of the single digital book available to a URL address created by the concatenation of said first part of the URL address and hardware support ID.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the hardware support identifier is hidden by a band (BG) to be scratched by a user.

3. Method according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that step a) is prior to step b),

in that the material medium comprises a code (CB) corresponding to the hardware support identifier,

and in that said code is intended to be read by decryption means (LEC) comprising a link to the remote server (SER) and able to command, from the server, the creation of the URL address comprising the first part of the concatenated address with the hardware support identifier read.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that there is provided a plurality of URLs pointing to the data of said single digital book, and in that: in step a), a plurality of hardware supports are provided, each comprising the hidden indication of a specific hardware support identifier,

and in step b), each server hardware identifier is mapped to said unique digital book data to provide said data of the single digital book to a respective plurality of URLs each created by concatenating said first part of the URL address and an own hardware support identifier.

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the remote server comprises a database (MEM) making available digital book data to each URL.

6. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the decryption means (LEC) are connected to a memory (MEML) storing at least data transmission of identifiers to the server, which allows a cross-check between data from the memory and data of a database of access rights of the server.

7. A digital book data server, for implementing the method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means (MEM) for creating URLs each unique to a single book.

8. Server according to claim 7, characterized in that the URL addresses are each unique to a single book, on the one hand, and a single hardware support, on the other.

9. Computer program comprising instructions for the implementation of step b) of the method according to one of claims 1 to 6, when the program is executed by the processor of a server.

10. Hardware medium comprising an indication of a first part of URL address (URLl) and a hidden identifier (COD) of media identifier, for the implementation of the method according to one of claims 1 to 6.