FR2922039A1 - External storage medium i.e. universal serial bus key, for use with mobile/fixed computing equipment, has memory for storing identifier, and computing application for updating content from browser by downloading via Internet - Google Patents

Abstract

The medium (1) has a memory for storing an identifier, where a body and displays of the medium are personalizable. A specific computing application is embarked in the medium. The application facilitates exploitation of the content of the medium by a browser that facilitates reading of a file such as audio file, video file, text and photo. The application updates the content from the browser by downloading via an Internet (2).

Description

1

The present invention relates to the field of external storage media with thematic contents and the updating of these contents by internet.

The present invention relates more particularly to the field of external storage media customizable by visuals and hulls themes, distributed in limited series, which embark on a computer application to update their content via the Internet.

Internet access is carried out by browsers drawn on the same themes and presenting the same visuals as the hulls of these external storage media.

USB sticks containing musical works, even audiovisual works and sold instead of compact discs (CDs) or CD-ROMs, exist.

In addition, internet sites aggregating thematic content, interactive or otherwise, also exist.

In particular, music publishers market USB sticks containing musical recordings, or even photos of an artist.

Companies offer as gifts to their customers or partners, USB sticks containing their commercial presentations or even their product catalogs.

Moreover, websites give free information on the news of this subject, others, with the payment of a fixed subscription or the cost of a punctual access, disseminate updated information on topics of interest. is shared by a targeted population. In all cases known from the prior art, there is no direct relationship between the content of the information stored in an external storage medium and a browser dedicated to reading this content and updating it over the Internet.

The present invention intends to remedy this deficiency of the prior art by providing the possibility to the holder of an external storage medium of the USB type with a personalized hull and visual, embedding a specific computer application, which would have received it for free or would have bought it, not only 15 25 2

to use classically the content using a browser that facilitates the playback of audio, video, text, photos, but to update this content from the browser, for download, via the Internet.

This is the introduction of the external storage medium (embedding the already mentioned computer application) in a mobile or fixed computing device, which allows the user to retrieve the content of the medium and access additional content via Internet.

An authentication and management platform, hosted on a remote computer server, controls several thematic contents corresponding to as many themes of external storage media in circulation, each embedding the computer application.

If necessary, the reading of the pre-loaded content in the external storage medium, then the communication session with the server, will be conditioned to the prior automatic recognition of an identifier loaded in the memory of the external storage medium. The session for reading pre-loaded content, then communication with the remote server, can be done from a fixed or mobile computer equipment by low speed or broadband connection wired, Wi-Fi or Wimax access (or depending the most usual standards at the time of implementation of the invention), and in the following steps: Introduction of the external storage medium into the computer equipment. Launch of the embedded computer application in the support. ^ Launch of the browser for reading offline the contents of the external storage media, possibly after validation of an identifier. 25 ^ Generating an access request to the platform. ^ Recovery via internet by said platform of a list of contents corresponding to the theme of the support. ^ These contents can be downloaded to the external storage media or viewed online.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the figures described below, given solely by way of example and in a nonlimiting manner. 15

3

FIG. 1 illustrates the traditional use of external storage media (1) such as USB keys, which until now only have a storage function (3) and have no direct link to the Internet (2).

FIG. 2 illustrates the method linking (5) the personalized external storage medium (1) to a remote server (6), via the Internet, according to the invention.

Illustrated in Figure 1, and as already explained, the user of a USB key exploits its content without interactivity and without a particular browser.

Before the invention, to benefit, on the Internet, from specific content and for example to update the content of its key, the user must search by appropriate engines or type a specific URL that leads to a free site or paying.

If the site is paid, after completing the necessary administrative formalities, it will be issued a password and a login to benefit from a one-time connection or a subscription.

This manipulation is tedious for the user, even expensive.

According to the invention, the user no longer needs to search himself on the Internet for information on the same content as that of the personalized external storage medium he holds.

For this, as shown in Figure 2, the user connects its external storage medium to a fixed or mobile computer equipment having an internet connection.

Using the embedded computer application, it consults the new content stored on a remote server, via the Internet, possibly after recognition of its identifier by the authentication platform.

The presentation and visual of the browser, in all respects the theme of the shell and the contents of the external storage media.

The platform includes classic cryptographic authentication protocols. 20

4

One of the innovative aspects of the present invention lies in the fact that each personalized external storage medium embedding the application, identifies itself with the management platform, in order to increment its content by enriching it with other own files. to its theme.

Indeed, the management platform includes a database of contents that are associated with the external storage media.

These contents stored on the remote server, allow to update those which are loaded in the external storage medium. These are either video files, audio, images, text, or flash type animations, commercials or any other type of files according to the most usual standards at the time of implementation of the invention.

The advantage of the present invention will be clearly understood since, for the first time, there is interactivity between a personalized external storage medium and a dedicated server, whose representation, visuals and contents are in harmony.

Although the invention has been described by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures, it is understood that many modifications may come to the mind of those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, any connection to the Internet via the procedure described above, may provide access to content complementary to the theme of that of the external storage medium and its shell.

Claims (5)

1. An external storage medium of the type USB flash drive with customized shell and visual, embedding a specific computer application, characterized in that, not only does it exploit its content by means of a browser facilitating the reading of files such as audio files, video, text and photo, but also updates the content from the browser by downloading via the Internet. 2. Storage medium according to claim 1, characterized in that it accesses via the Internet to several thematic contents corresponding to as many themes of external storage media in circulation, each boarding said computer application, and an authentication platform and management, hosted on a remote computer server, controls said several thematic content. 3. Storage medium according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it allows a user, through said embedded computer application, to view new content stored on a remote server, via the Internet, possibly after recognition of its identifier by the authentication platform. 4. Storage medium according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it identifies itself with the management platform, in order to increment its content by enriching it with other files specific to its thematic. 5. Storage medium according to claim 1, characterized in that the updating of said content loaded therein from a remote server allows interactivity between said personalized external storage medium 25 and a dedicated server, whose representation, the visuals and the contents are in harmony.