Location-based data access control

Equipment including particular functionality for using target data provided on a removable data carrier or in a received data file, the equipment further including a control sub-system for enabling said particular functionality upon at least a first location condition being satisfied, the control sub-system comprising, for testing this condition:

• a location discovery arrangement for obtaining current-location data representing the current location of the equipment;
• a read arrangement for reading from the removable data carrier or received data file authorized-location data representing a predetermined authorised location or locality for operation of said particular functionality of the equipment;
• and
• a comparison arrangement for comparing the current-location data with the authorized-location data whereby to generate a location-match signal upon this comparison indicating that the equipment is currently located in said authorised location or locality.

Equipment including particular functionality for using target data provided on a removable data carrier or in a received data file, the equipment further including a control sub-system for enabling said particular functionality upon at least a first location condition being satisfied, the control sub-system comprising, for testing this condition:

• a location discovery arrangement for obtaining current-location data representing the current location of the equipment;
• a store for storing in association with identity data, authorized-location data representing a predetermined authorized location or locality for operation of said particular functionality of the equipment
• a read arrangement for reading from the removable data carrier or received data file identity information relating to the target data;
• a data retrieval arrangement for using the identity information to access the authorized-location data held in said store in respect of the identity data matching the identity information;
• and
• a comparison arrangement for comparing the current-location data with the accessed authorized-location data whereby to generate a location-match signal upon this comparison indicating that the equipment is currently located in said authorised location or locality.

A service system for determining when an item of equipment is located at a location where particular functionality of the equipment is authorised for use in accessing target data provided on a removable data carrier or in a received data file, the service system comprising:

• a communications sub-system for communicating with said equipment both to receive therefrom identity information concerning said target data, and to return to the equipment enablement signals for enabling said particular functionality for accessing the target data;
• a location discovery arrangement for obtaining current-location data representing the current location of the equipment;
• a store for storing in association with identity data, authorized-location data representing a predetermined authorized location or locality for operation of said particular functionality of the equipment;
• a data retrieval arrangement for using identity information received from the equipment via the communication sub-system to access the authorized-location data held in said store in respect of identity data matches the identity information;
• and
• a comparison arrangement for comparing the current-location data with the accessed authorized-location data whereby to generate a location-match signal upon this comparison indicating that the equipment is currently located in said authorised location or locality.