WO2001020604A1

WO2001020604A1 - Data storage apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2001020604A1
Application number: PCT/GB2000/003494
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martyn Eric Levett
Original assignee: Martyn Eric Levett
Priority date: 1999-09-14
Filing date: 2000-09-11
Publication date: 2001-03-22
Also published as: GB9921723D0; AU7028900A; GB2354348A

Abstract

Multipurpose data storage apparatus (10) comprising: a portable substrate (12) and a plurality of data storage media (20, 24) each associated with a respective region (18, 22) of said substrate (12); wherein data for a different purpose is recorded on each of said data storage media (20, 24).

Description

DATA STORAGE APPARATUS

This invention relates to portable data storage apparatus, and in one preferred embodiment to non-circular portable data storage apparatus for example a phonecard.

There are currently a large number of different types of portable data storage apparatus available that enable data to be recorded thereon for any one of a variety of given purposes. One apparatus commonly available comprises a substrate, for example a phonecard or bank card, upon which data relating to a given purpose is recorded. Such bank cards, for example, may have data recorded thereon relating to an associated bank account.

These cards, and other equivalent substrates, provide a convenient and easy way for persons to carry all of the information for the purpose associated with that substrate. For example, the above mentioned bank card obviates a person from having to carry details of their bank account number, bank address and even means for identifying themselves to the bank as all of this information may typically be recorded on the card. Similarly, a phonecard avoids the person having to carry or remember credit unit and authorisation information, which may vary.

However, a technical problem has arisen associated with the sheer number of substrates that any one person has to carry around with them. The large number of substrates that any one person has to carry causes inconvenience to the person carrying them (simply because they must have somewhere safe and secure to receive them all), and often to others when that person is trying to find a single substrate out of a large number they have on their person. It is an object of the present invention to alleviate this technical problem, and any other technical problems associated with the prior art.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, there is provided multipurpose data storage apparatus comprising: a portable substrate and a plurality of data storage media associated with respective regions of said substrate; wherein data for a different purpose is recorded in said data storage media. This aspect of the invention alleviates the above-mentioned technical problems by enabling data for a multiplicity of different purposes to be associated with a single substrate. In this way it is possible to reduce the number of such substrates that any one person is required to carry around with them at any time.

Preferably at least one of said media is formed on the substrate. Preferably at least one of said media is affixable to said substrate.

Preferably the substrate comprises first and second data storage media associated with respective regions of the substrate. Preferably said first data storage medium is formed on the substrate, and said second data storage medium is affixable to said substrate.

Preferably the substrate is non-circular, and more preferably generally rectangular, but it should be noted that the description given herein (unless the contrary is specifically stated) should not be interpreted to exclude substrates of any other shape.

Preferably said data storage media differ from one another in type and/or format.

Preferably one of said data storage media comprises a read-only optical data medium (for example a compact disc (CD) or digital versatile disc (DVD)) from which recorded data may be replayed. Preferably one of said data storage media comprises a read/write optical data medium (for example a recordable compact disc (CD-R) or optomagnetic disc or recordable DVD) onto which data may be recorded and may be replayed. Preferably data recorded on said optical data storage medium includes audio data.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method of providing multipurpose data storage apparatus comprising the steps of: providing a substrate having a plurality of data storage media each associated with a respective region of said substrate. Preferably, the method includes recording data for a different purpose on each of said data storage media.

Preferably, at least one of said data storage media is formed on said substrate. Preferably, one data storage media is formed on one side of the substrate, and the method comprises the further step of stamping or cutting from said substrate a smaller substrate whilst maintaining the utility of said data storage media formed thereon.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of distributing audio data, comprising the following steps in any order: providing a substrate having information recorded thereon in a first region of the substrate that enables said substrate to be used as a phonecard; forming a data storage medium in a second region of the substrate distinct from said first region; recording audio onto said data storage medium; and distributing said substrates whereby persons obtaining a said substrate may use said substrate as a phonecard and, in association with appropriate recording/reproducing means, may listen to said audio data recorded on said data storage medium. Preferably the substrate is one such as is elsewhere described in detail in this application.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, there is provided an audio data distribution device comprising: a substrate having information recorded thereon in a first region of the substrate that enables said substrate to be used as a phone card; a data storage medium associated with a second region of the substrate distinct from said first region, said data storage medium having audio data recorded thereon; and whereby persons obtaining a said substrate may use said substrate as a phonecard and, in association with appropriate recording/reproducing means, may listen to said audio data recorded on said data storage medium.

A further aspect of the invention provides a phonecard comprising a non-circular substrate, first means for presenting revealable concealed phonecard information to a user of the phonecard, second means for carrying optically readable data for enabling the phonecard to be used in an optical disc reader, and an aperture in the substrate for enabling the substrate to cooperate with a rotatable support of the optical disc reader. Preferably, the aperture is approximately 20mm in diameter. Preferably, the substrate is generally rectangular.

Preferably, the substrate has a first dimension of up to about 9cms and a second perpendicular dimension of up to about 6cms. More preferably, the substrate has a first dimension of 8.5cms and a second perpendicular dimension of 5.8cms.

Preferably, the phonecard information is visual information. Preferably, the first means comprises a sticker adhered or adherable to the substrate.

Preferably, the second means comprises means for presenting digitally encoded audio and/or video data.

A further aspect of the invention provides a recordable data carrier comprising a generally rectangular substrate, an aperture in the substrate for enabling the substrate to cooperate with a rotatable support, and a recordable optically readable medium in a region circumscribing the aperture for enabling machine readable data (i.e. data that is not readable by the naked human eye) to be recorded in said region.

One advantageous implementation of the invention is associated with the entertainment industry. In this industry it is commonplace for agents to be retained to promote the activities of the artists with whom they are associated. This promotion may take a number of different forms, but in the music industry it consists to a large degree of trying to persuade commercial radio stations, for example, to play music originating from the artists with whom the agent is associated. It is necessary to persuade the radio stations to play the music in order to enable it to be heard by the general public. Radio stations typically receive a large number of such requests and thus it can be very difficult indeed to persuade them to play the music originating from the artists with whom the agent is associated.

The present invention helps alleviate this problem by enabling the music to be bundled with other services and distributed directly to the general public. For example, the music could be recorded onto an optically readable data storage medium formed on one side of a phonecard. In this way, the public buying the phonecard would, in addition to being able to use the phonecard, be able to listen to the music recorded thereon. In addition, recording music onto such cards would provide an incentive to the public to buy one manufacturers cards in preference to those of another who is selling cards without included music. The following description will concentrate on just such an example where audio data is recorded onto a phonecard, but it will be appreciated that the invention also has great utility in any one of a number of other fields. Accordingly, whilst the specific description provided below will relate to a phonecard with audio data recorded thereon, it should be remembered that the invention is not limited to this example and that it includes within its scope any combination of data storage media associated with a substrate, so long as those media have recorded thereon data for differing purposes.

As an example of an alternative use. the optically readable data storage medium could comprise a digital versatile disc with several gigabytes of information recorded thereon. That information could include, for example, pages from a telephone manufacturer =s website so that a purchaser of the phonecard could insert the card into their computer to access information concerning products offered by the manufacturer. As a further alternative, the optically readable data storage medium could comprise a CD-ROM (or CD-R) with approximately 40MB of information recorded thereon. Other forms of data (such as audio data) could also be provided so that a mix of data types is recorded on the medium.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a front side of data storage apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of a rear side of the apparatus of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the apparatus of Figure 1; As mentioned above, it should be noted that whilst it is preferred that the substrate is generally rectangular and conforming in size to credit cards and bank cards for example (i.e. approximately 8.5 cms in length and 5.8 cms in width), the substrate could be of any size and/or shape. It should therefore be noted that cards (unless otherwise indicated) as mentioned herein refer to any substantially planar substrate regardless of its size and/or shape.

Referring now to Figure 1, the multipurpose data storage apparatus 10 according to this preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a substrate 12 of which a front side 14 is visible.

The front side 14 has a hole 16 formed therethrough to enable the substrate to be used in conjunction with recording/reproducing means in a manner to be later described.

It will be understood that the hole 16 need not necessarily be provided. For example, if the substrate does not need to be rotated by an associated recording/reproducing means then the hole 16 need not be provided. The hole 16 of this embodiment effectively comprises a chucking aperture that can be engaged by a rotatable chuck of a recording/reproducing apparatus.

Between the hole 16 and the substrate=s periphery lies usable space 18 that comprises one or more regions for association with one or more data storage media. As mentioned above, in this embodiment, the usable space 18 includes a single region 20 that enables, in conjunction with appropriate data storage media and in a manner to be later described, the substrate to be used as a phonecard.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a rear side 22 of the substrate 10. The rear side 22 includes a single region that extends across substantially all of the rear side of the substrate. The substrate of this embodiment has various layers formed on the region to allow the substrate to be used as a read-only optical data storage medium 24 similar to a CD. The data storage medium 24 has data (which in this example is audio data) recorded thereon, the data being reproducible by suitable recording/reproducing means. The data storage medium of this embodiment can store in the region of five minutes or so of audio data. Preferably, the hole is approximately 20mm in diameter. In this embodiment, a plurality of projections 11 are formed in the substrate 10. The projections are capable of engaging with a complementary formation typically provided in loading trays of recording/reproducing apparatus so that the substrate does not move with respect to the tray when the tray moves in and out of the apparatus to load and eject the substrate. Each projection in this embodiment is approximately 4cms from the centre of the substrate 10.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the region 20 on the front side 14 of the substrate 10. The region 20 includes a data storage medium 26 that enables the substrate 10 to be used as a phonecard. The data storage medium 26 includes a first strip 28 and a second strip 30 formed on the substrate 10. The first strip 28 is printed with a first serial number, and the second strip 30 is covered by a scratch-off layer which hides a second serial number thereunder.

A person looking at the substrate 10 would be able to view the first serial number but not the second serial number. Once that person has purchased the substrate, the scratch-off layer can be removed to reveal the second serial number. Before using the phonecard to make calls, the user must firstly call a control centre to check the validity of the phonecard. and to credit the user with the purchased amount of calls.

Typically, upon calling the control centre the user will be asked to first of all input the first visible serial number, probably by depressing keys of the phone keypad. The control centre reviews its records to see if the number inputted by the user is recorded. If the number does not appear in their records, then either the user has entered the number incorrectly or the phonecard is a forgery. When the control centre has confirmed that the number inputted by the user does exist, their records reveal the second hidden serial number and the user is asked to confirm this by scratching off the scratch-off layer and inputting the second serial number, probably via the phone keypad. If the number inputted does not match that appearing in the control centre =s records, then either the user has entered the number incorrectly or the phonecard is a forgery. Once the validity of the phonecard is determined the user is credited with an amount of money for the user to spend by making calls. The amount of money credited corresponds to an amount listed in the control centre records for those serial numbers. In other words, a user purchasing a five-pound phonecard will have a record in the control centre that contains both of the serial numbers and a five-pound credit limit, that credit limit being enabled once the user has correctly identified the card as being genuine.

The substrate described above may be manufactured by either first forming the substrate and then forming the read-only optical medium thereon; or alternatively by forming a blank having a plurality of read-only optical media formed thereon and then stamping from the blank a plurality of substrates as described above each with a portion of a read-only optical medium provided thereon.

The description provided above illustrates one useful manner in which the invention may be employed. It will be understood, and it should be noted, that the invention is not to be limited to the above, and that the substrate may be employed for a variety of different uses.

Furthermore, it will be understood that the embodiments of the invention described herein are given by way of example only and that modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. For example, the substrates may be as described above with the serial numbers formed thereon, or alternatively the serial numbers may be formed on separate self adhesive labels that may be affixed to a substrate once the user has purchased the substrate and associated label. This mechanism would provide an added security feature in that someone stealing the substrates would not be able to use them to obtain phone credits.

Broadly speaking, one embodiment of the invention provides a card-shaped CD and/or DVD disc containing music and/or other data including, but not limited to, internet access software programmes, multimedia devices, and incorporating a personalised identification device (such as a PIN number) and a monetary face value exchangeable for services, merchandise etc.

It is intended that the invention will be distributed and sold throughout all existing telecommunications, internet and music/leisure retail outlets, as well as establishing new distribution possibilities on the internet, etc.. It will be used as an information and/or product carrier to market services and all manner of internet multimedia devices. This will be in addition to the telecom services of low rate phone-calls, dedicated telecom facilities and all other aspects of audiotext services. Each individual card can carry a personal identification number under a scratch panel where applicable, to enable personalised access and data capture and/or research.

Other planned applications include the following: membership cards with rewritable value accreditations; web-site key cards with personal identification information; new album, single, video and movie presentations and promotions with access to web-sites, etc, introductory web-site browsers and new music menus from new and established recording artistes.

A particularly preferred embodiment comprises a computer readable medium, such as a DVD or CDRom on one side of the substrate with "credit validation codes" hidden under one or more scratch-off panels on the other side of the substrate. The computer readable medium has recorded thereon a program or other software means which, when activated, directs a user to a predetermined internet site where the aforementioned credit validation code, once revealed by scratching off the panel, can be used to activate a predetermined number of credits that can be used as a form of electronic money to make purchases from the site, or other sites associated therewith.

Such an arrangement is advantageous since it enables a user to avoid having to provide credit card details, for example, across a potentially insecure medium such as an internet. In other words, instead of a user's financial vulnerability to fraud being limited only by the credit limit of their credit card, it is now limited to the monetary value of the credits activated upon entry of the aforementioned "credit validation codes". Such an arrangement would also limit the attractiveness of such fraud, since someone fraudulently acquiring codes would only be able to "spend" the associated credits by purchasing goods from the site.

The credit validation codes, which could be a serial number or bar code for example, are compared to master records (in a similar manner to that previously described) and credits are only allocated if the validation code is recognised. Typically, each site will require a user to register with the site before purchases can be made, and therefore any unspent credits can easily be credited to the user's registration at the site for use at a later time.

Another particularly preferred embodiment comprises a variation on traditional so-called pay-as-you-go mobile phone cards. In this embodiment, a data storage medium, such as a CDRom or DVD, is provided on one side of a substrate, and validation data for pay-as-you-go mobile phone airtime or charging credits is hidden under scratch-off panels on the other side of the substrate.

Such an arrangement would allow mobile phone airtime vendors, for example, to record additional material, such as a link to an associated website or promotional audio or video material, on the reverse of conventional pay-as-you-go mobile phone cards. This additional material could provide a valuable additional source of advertising revenue.

In any of the aforementioned embodiments, the substrate may be provided with so-called "smart card" functionality which enables data to be read from and recorded onto electronic components mounted on or in the substrate.

Claims

1. Multipurpose data storage apparatus comprising: a portable substrate and a plurality of data storage media each associated with a respective region of said substrate; wherein data for a different purpose is recorded in said data storage media.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein at least one of said media is formed on the substrate.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein at least one of said media is affixable to said substrate.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 2 and 3, wherein said substrate comprises first and second data storage media associated with respective regions of the substrate, said first data storage medium being formed on the substrate in a first region thereof, and said second data storage medium being affixable to said substrate in a second region thereof.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein said substrate is substantially planar, said first region is'located on one side of the substrate and second region is located on the other side of said substrate.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the substrate is non- circular.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein said substrate is generally rectangular.

8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said data storage media differ from one another in type and/or format.

9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein one of said data storage media comprises a read-only optical data medium from which recorded data may be reproduced.

10. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 9, wherein one of said data storage media comprises a read/write optical data medium onto which data may be recorded and from which data may be reproduced.

1 1. Apparatus according to Claim 9 or Claim 10, wherein data recorded on said optical data storage medium includes audio data.

12. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein one of said data storage media comprises means to enable said substrate to be used as a phonecard.

13. Apparatus according to Claim 12, wherein said means comprises first and second serial numbers, and wherein one of said serial numbers is initially hidden from view by a scratch-off layer.

14. Apparatus according to Claim 13, wherein said serial numbers are formed on said substrate.

15. Apparatus according to Claim 13, wherein said serial numbers are formed on a self-adhesive label affixable to said substrate.

16. A method of providing multipurpose data storage apparatus comprising the steps of: providing a substrate and a plurality of data storage media each associated with a respective region of said substrate.

17. A method according to Claim 16 comprising the step of: recording data for a different purpose on each of said data storage media.

18. A method according to Claim 16 or 17, wherein at least one of said data storage media is formed on said substrate.

19. A method according to Claim 16 and 18, wherein one data storage media is formed on one side of the substrate, and the method comprises the further step of stamping or cutting from said substrate a smaller substrate whilst maintaining the utility of said data storage media formed thereon.

20. A method of distributing audio data, comprising the steps of: providing a substrate having information recorded thereon in a first region of the substrate that enables said substrate to be used as a phone card; providing audio data in a second region of the substrate distinct from said first region: and distributing said substrates whereby persons obtaining a said substrate may use said substrate as a phonecard and, in association with appropriate reproducing means, may listen to said audio data recorded on said data storage medium.

21. An audio data distribution device comprising: a substrate having information recorded thereon in a first region of the substrate that enables said substrate to be used as a phone card; a data storage medium associated with a second region of the substrate distinct from said first region, said data storage medium having audio data recorded thereon; and whereby persons obtaining a said substrate may use said substrate as a phonecard and, in association with appropriate reproducing means, may listen to said audio data recorded on said data storage medium.

22. A phonecard comprising a non-circular substrate, first means for presenting revealable concealed phonecard information to a user of the phonecard, second means for carrying optically readable data for enabling the phonecard to be used in an optical disc reader, and an aperture in the substrate for enabling the substrate to cooperate with a rotatable support of the optical disc reader.

23. A phonecard according to Claim 22, wherein the substrate is generally rectangular.

24. A phonecard according to Claim 22 or 23, wherein the substrate has a first dimension of up to about 9cms and a second perpendicular dimension of up to about

5.5cms.

25. A phonecard according to any of claims 22 to 24 , wherein the phonecard information is visual information.

26. A phonecard according to any of claims 22 to 25, wherein the first means comprises a sticker adhered or adherable to the substrate.

27. A phone card according to any of claims 22 to 26, wherein the second means comprises means for presenting digitally encoded audio and/or video data.

28. A recordable data carrier comprising a generally rectangular substrate, an aperture in the substrate for enabling the substrate to cooperate with a rotatable support, and a recordable optically readable medium in a region circumscribing the aperture for enabling machine readable data to be recorded in said region.