US 5,530,235 AGranted

Interactive contents revealing storage device

AssigneeXerox Corporation

InventorsMark J. Stefik, Daniel G. Bobrow, Stuart K. Card, Michalene M. Casey, Richard J. Goldstein, Michael G. Lamming, Jock D. Mackinlay, Roy Want, George G. Robertson, Mark D. Weiser, Daniel M. Russell

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Abstract

A Document Card (DocuCard) for storing documents and which is content revealing. The DocuCard is a transportable unit having a nonvolatile storage means for storing information in a digital form, a control processor for processing user initiated functions; an I/O port for interfacing to external devices for reading and writing digital information, and a user interface for allowing a user to directly interact with the DocuCard. The user interface on the DocuCard includes a display for displaying lists of functions and documents and information responsive to user invoked functions and a user input portion for allowing a user to traverse the lists of functions and documents, as well as information generated responsive to an invoked function. The control processor of the present invention include features for controlling access to documents stored therein.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A transportable storage device for storing digital documents, said transportable storage device for exchanging documents with a repository, said repository storing documents having attached usage rights, said transportable storage device comprising:

a rigid enclosure having a top surface and a bottom surface, said top surface defining a first aperture;
a storage means positioned within said rigid enclosure, said storage means for storing documents having attached usage rights;
a power source for providing power to enable standalone operation of said transportable storage device;
an external interface extending through said rigid enclosure, said external interface for coupling to another repository;
a controller module positioned within said rigid enclosure, said controller module comprising:
access control means for controlling access to documents stored in said storage means;
function processing means for performing functions responsive to user selections entered on a user interface;
and
registration means for creating a trusted session with said repository through said external interface;
and
said user interface comprising:
a display means positioned in said first aperture of said top surface, said display means for displaying a function list and a document list identifying documents stored in said storage means;
selection means coupled to said controller means, said selection means for enabling a user to find and select functions from said function list and documents from said document list.

10 more elements

A method for accessing documents stored in a repository from a DocuCard, said documents stored in said repository having one or more usage rights attached thereto, said usage rights indicating a particular manner by which said document may be used, said DocuCard comprised of a display, a plurality of traversal keys and a select key, said method comprising the steps of:

a) a user coupling said DocuCard to said repository;
b) displaying on said display of said DocuCard a list of functions for accessing a document stored on said repository, each of said functions representing an instance of how a selected document is used, each of said functions corresponding to an instance of a usage right;
c) said user selecting a function from said displayed list of functions;
d) displaying on said display of said DocuCard a list of the contents of said repository;
e) said user selecting a desired document from said list of contents of said repository;
f) said repository determining if said desired document has said instance of a usage right corresponding to said selected function;
g) if said desired document has attached thereto said usage right corresponding to said selected function, said repository granting access to said document;
and
h) if said desired document does not have attached thereto said usage right corresponding to said selected function, said repository denying access to said document.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/389,670Filed 16 Feb 1995
Granted: 25 Jun 1996
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification20 codes

G07F 7/1008
Together with a coded signal , e.g. in the form of personal identification information, like personal identification number [PIN] or biometric…
G06F 21/6218
Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules: to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file…
G06F 21/629
Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules: to features or functions of an application
G06F 21/71
Protecting specific internal or peripheral components, in which the protection of a component leads to protection of the entire computer: to…