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GB2454739A - Enabling Download of Digital Content - Google Patents

Enabling Download of Digital Content Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2454739A
GB2454739A GB0722611A GB0722611A GB2454739A GB 2454739 A GB2454739 A GB 2454739A GB 0722611 A GB0722611 A GB 0722611A GB 0722611 A GB0722611 A GB 0722611A GB 2454739 A GB2454739 A GB 2454739A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
digital content
electronic device
portable electronic
model
make
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0722611A
Other versions
GB0722611D0 (en
Inventor
Angus Wood
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Inspired Gaming UK Ltd
Original Assignee
Inspired Gaming UK Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Inspired Gaming UK Ltd filed Critical Inspired Gaming UK Ltd
Priority to GB0722611A priority Critical patent/GB2454739A/en
Publication of GB0722611D0 publication Critical patent/GB0722611D0/en
Publication of GB2454739A publication Critical patent/GB2454739A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
    • G06F16/50—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor of still image data
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/08—Payment architectures
    • G06Q20/12—Payment architectures specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
    • G06F16/40—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data
    • G06F17/30244—
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/08—Payment architectures
    • G06Q20/12—Payment architectures specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
    • G06Q20/123—Shopping for digital content
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/08—Payment architectures
    • G06Q20/18—Payment architectures involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/30—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks
    • G06Q20/32—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks using wireless devices
    • G06Q20/322—Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00—Commerce
    • G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/0014—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
    • G07F17/3225—Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
    • G07F17/323—Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
    • A63F2300/50—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterized by details of game servers
    • A63F2300/55—Details of game data or player data management
    • A63F2300/552—Details of game data or player data management for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Strategic Management (AREA)
  • General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Finance (AREA)
  • Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Data Mining & Analysis (AREA)
  • Development Economics (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Entrepreneurship & Innovation (AREA)
  • Game Theory and Decision Science (AREA)
  • Economics (AREA)
  • Marketing (AREA)
  • Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)

Abstract

In order to allow for the wide variety of file formats utilised by various electronic devices such as digital audio players, digital media players, handheld gaming devices and mobile telephones, dispensing units for delivering digital content such as digital audio files, digital video files, games programs and ring tones, include a format conversion processor to enable the delivery of digital content in a suitable file format for use by the intended electronic device. It is a problem that the user of an electronic device may not be aware of file format used by the intended device thereby preventing use of such dispensing units. An apparatus for the dispensing of digital content is disclosed including a computer vision system 60 for the visual identification of a make and model of a portable electronic device thereby allowing for the provision of digital content from a repository of digital content in the correct file format following the identification of the make and model of a portable electronic device.

Description

Enabling download of digital content The present invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for enabling downloading of digital content to a portable electronic device, in particular, but not exclusively a mobile telephone.
The saic of digital content alongside physical content by a vending machine has been proposcd, for example in US 2006/0190345 (crowley. A dispensing unit for delivering digital content includes a number of interface units for providing alternative local communication channel types to different types of user device. The wireless class of these interface units includes, for example, an infrared interface transceiver, and Bluetooth standard interface transceiver and a WiFi standard interface transceiver. The digital content may include, but is not limited to digital audio files, digital video files, mobile telephone ring tones, mobile telephone games programs, mobile telephone screen icons, palm-top computer programs, handheld gaming device game programs, other computer programs or data files for computer programs. A format conversion processor is provided that enables the conversion of one file type to another to enable the delivery of the digital content in a suitable file format for use by the intended device.
In the case of mobile telephones, new models are issued by individual manufacturers approximately every six months. In the case of so called "smart phones" updates and patches to the operating system are also issued from time to time. In order to ensure that the file format provided is usable by the portable electronic device, it is necessary to determine the make and model of the portable electronic device that will make use of the digital content. This may be achieved by prompting the purchaser, for example on a menu or other touch screen input, to indicate the make and model of the portable electronic device. A controller within the vending machine consults a database and, when required, instructs the format conversion processor to convert a selected file to an appropriate format for use by the specified portable electronic device. However, it is a problem that the user of the portable electronic device may not remember, or even know, which version of a given kind of device they own and will not be sufficiently interested in finding this out for the purposes of purchasing content from a vending machine.
It is an advantage of the present invention, that a solution to this problem is presented.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for the dispensing of digital content comprises an input device to enable selcction of desired digital content, a digital content dispensing facility for providing digital content to a portable electronic device, a computer vision system for the visual identification of a make and model of a portable electronic device, access to a repository of digital content, and a processor for mediating the provision of digital content from the repository of digital content in a file format suitable for usc by the make and model of the portable electronic device following identification of the make and model of a portable electronic device.
Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a conversion processor for converting digital content from the repository of digital content in a first file format to a second file format following identification of the make and model of the portable electronic device, the second file format being suitable for use by the make and model of the portable electronic device.
Preferably, the apparatus further comprises payment means to process payment from a user.
Preferably, the repository of digital content comprises a local database of digital content located within the apparatus. More preferably, the apparatus further comprises a network connection, the repository of digital content additionally comprising a database of digital content remote from the apparatus and accessible over a network by way of the network connection. More preferably, the local database may be updated over the network to refresh the digital content of the local database. This enables popular digital content to be stored within the apparatus, while still providing access by way of the network connection to a larger repository of digital content.
Alternatively, the apparatus is provided with a network connection, the repository of digital content comprising a database of digital content remote from the apparatus and accessible over a network by way of the network connection. This has as an advantage that it is not necessary to update a local database with new content over time.
Preferably, the computer vision system captures an image of the portable electronic device, analyses the image and identifies the make and model of a portable electronic device.
More preferably, the computer vision system analyses the image by applying an algorithm to identify scale invariant features of the image in order to identify the make and model of a portable electronic device.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in a dispensing apparatus a method for determining a suitable format for digital content to be dispensed for use with a make and model of a portable electronic device comprises the steps of the dispensing apparatus visually identifying a make and model of the portable electronic device, determining a suitable file format for digital content to be used with the make and model of the portable electronic device and presenting a user with a selection of digital content suitable for use with the make and model of the portable electronic device.
Preferably, following selection of digital content the dispensing apparatus converts digital content in a first file format to a second file format suitable for use with the make and model of the portable electronic device.
Preferably the step of visually identifying the make and model of the portable electronic device comprises capturing an image of the portable electronic device and analysing the image. More preferably, the image is analysed by applying an algorithm to identify scale invariant features of the image in order to identify the make and model of the portable electronic device.
According to a third aspect of the invention, in a vending machine a method for determining a suitable file fonnat for digital content to be dispensed for use with a make and model of a portable clectronic device comprises the steps of the vending machine visually identifying a nialce and model of a portable electronic device, determining a suitable file format for digital content to bc used with the make and model of the portable electronic device and following selection and purchase of the digital content dispensing the digital content in a file format suitable for use with the portable electronic device.
Preferably, following selection and purchase of digital content the vending machine converts digital content in a first file format to a second file format suitable for use with the make and model of the portable electronic device.
Preferably the step of visually identifying the make and model of the portable electronic device comprises capturing an image of the portable electronic device and analysing the image. More preferably, the image is analysed by applying an algorithm to identify scale invariant features of the image in order to identify the make and model of the portable electronic device.
A fourth embodiment of the present invention comprises a computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions for enabling performance of the method of the second or third embodiment.
The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 shows a schematic block diagram of the functional elements of a vending machine according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 shows an exemplary flowchart for a part of a preferred process in which a make and model of a portable electronic device for which digital content is desired is identified.
In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the present invention. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and mechanical, compositional, structural, electrical, and operational changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the embodiments of the present invention is defined only by the claims of the issued patent.
Some portions of the detailed description which follows are presented in terms of procedures, steps, logic blocks, processing, and othcr symbolic representations of operations on data bits that can be performed on computer memory. Each step may be performed by hardware, software, firmware, or combinations thereof.
There are very many different forms of portable electronic device now available and used by the general public. Many users of these portable electronic devices will wish to update the digital content of these devices. In the case of a digital audio player, new sound files may be desired, in the case of a digital video player new video content, in the case of a mobile telephone new wallpaper, ringtones or games may be desired and in the case of a GPS navigation and mapping device local mapping data may be needed by a user while away from home. The term "portable electronic device" is used herein to describe an electronic device that may readily be carried by a user and that makes use of digital content. Examples of digital content include but are not limited to digital audio files, digital video files, mobile telephone ring tones, mobile telephone games programs, mobile telephone screen icons or wallpaper, palm-top computer programs, handheld gaming device game programs and other computer programs or data files for computer programs.
Referring to Figure 1, a schematic block diagram of the functional elements of a dispensing machine such as a vending machine 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown.
The vending machine 10 includes a physical product dispensing mechanism 12 and a digital content dispensing facility 14. While the illustrated apparatus is adapted to dispense both digital content and physical product, a dispensing machine according to the present invention may instead dispense only digital content. The vending machine 10 is provided with a payment unit 16 which controls and validates payments from one or more payment peripherals 18. Such payment peripheral(s) may include a coin acceptor, note acceptor, credit card or debit card reader or other electronic payment interface, for example to charge the mobile telephone account of the user by connection to a suitable electronic payment system.
The vending machine 10 also includes an input device 20. The input device may for example take the form of a keyboard, touchpad, touch screen or a combination of one or more of these, The vending machine 10 also includes an output device 22 for providing information, such as instructions, to the uscr for cxample a screen display.
Thc output device 22 may additionally comprise one or more speakers for providing information to the user. The information provided in addition to instructions for the uscr may additionally include advertisements or other audio/visual information (for example the user may be provided with a preview of audio/visual digital content that may be purchased).
A controller 30 provides control of, and mediatcs between, the payment unit 16, the input device 20, the output device 22, the physical dispensing mechanism 12 and the digital content dispensing facility 14. The digital content dispensing facility 14 is able to deliver digital content to a portable electronic device located nearby, for example by way of a wireless interface. The wireless interface may utilise available technologies such as infrared, those based on IEEE 802.11 ("WiFi") or IEEE 802.15.1 ("Bluetooth") standards, or any other suitable technology to enable transfer of the selected digital content. In other embodiments, the digital dispensing facility may allow for a wired or electrical contact to write the digital content directly, or via a local processor, to a storage medium in or associated with the portable electronic device.
The vending machine 10 further includes or has access to a repository of digital content in the form of a data storage device. In the preferred arrangement, the vending machine 10 includes a local database 40 providing a first repository of digital content, and a network interface 42 which permits data communication with at least one remote database 44 via a network 46, the remote database 44 providing a second repository of digital content. In the preferred configuration, the network 46 is provided by a telephone network and the internet although any suitable data communication medium will serve, The local database 40 and the remote database 44 together provide a combined repository of a substantial range of digital content for download to a portable electronic device.
In a preferred arrangement, the local database 40 serves as a cache for the most frequently and/or most recently requested digital content, and the remote database 44 may provide a much more comprehensive collection of digital information content.
As there are many different file formats for the digital content available for the wide variety of portable electronic devices in use, the local database 40 and/or the remote database 44 may store multiple copies of digital content in the most popular digital content file formats. For example popular digital audio files (e.g. music) may be stored in each of MP3, WAV and WMA file formats.
However, the local database 40 and/or the remote database 44 will likely not store the digital content in all the required digital content file formats. Tn this case, a format conversion processor 50 is provided that enables the conversion of digital content from a first file format to a second file format. For example, the local database 40 may contain digital audio (e.g. music) content in a high quality, uncompressed WAV format and provide this data for real time conversion to a second file format required by a user device, e.g. MP3.
Conveniently, the conversion processor 50 is located within thc vending machine 10, especially where the digital content is cached locally. However, particularly if the network 46 provides a suitably high bandwidth connection to the remote database 44, thc conversion processor could he located remotely, e.g. at the remote database 44.
In order that thc controller 30 can determine the appropriate file format of the digital content for use with a particular portable electronic device, the vending machine 10 is providcd with a region, such as a recessed area, in which a user can present a portable electronic device to a computer vision system 60. The computer vision system 60 is preferably operable to detect the presence or absence of an object and upon detecting the presence of an object obtain and subsequently process an image of the object in order to identify the object. In a preferred embodiment the computer vision system performs an algorithm to locate and identify scale invariant features of the image.
The appearance of many portable electronic devices is subject to various kinds of legal protection. As such there is clear incentive for different manufacturers to create visually distinct designs. In addition, many portable electronic devices, such as mobile telephones, are considered as fashion items and as such there is an incentive for manufacturers to produce visually distinct models for the marketplace.
Accordingly for a particular make and model of a portable electronic device, there will be many features that are fixed in size and location (as such "scale invariant features") that may be used to distinguish the make and model of one portable electronic device from the make and model of other portable clectronic devices.
By relating the characteristic scale invariant features determined from the image to a database of characteristic scale invariant features for known devices, the make and model of the portable electronic device presented to the computer vision system 60 may be determined. Once this is known the appropriate file format for the digital content to enable the use of the digital content on or by the presented portable electronic device can also be determined by the controller 30. The database of characteristic scale invariant features for known devices may be held locally within the vending machine 10 or accessible remotely over the network 46. It is preferred that this database is provided as an additional remote database available over the network 46 since it is likely that this database will require regular updating as new portable electronic devices are made available and are required to be identified.
Alternatively, this database may be stored locally within the vending machine 10 and updated at scheduled intervals over the network 46.
Various computer vision systems are known. Ideally such a system should enable the determination of the presence or absence of an object in an image in a variety of lighting conditions and the identification of the object when the object may be presented in a variety of orientations. An example of a suitable method and apparatus for implementing this aspect of the invention may be found in US 6 711 293 (Lowe), the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
A user can obtain digital content from the vending machine 10 in a number of ways.
The digital content may be provided free of charge as a promotional item when a physical product is purchased or a suitable promotional code entered through the input device 20. The digital content may be selected from a directory of digital content appropriate for a particular make and model of portable electronic device and then payment made prior to delivery of the digital content. Alternatively, digital content may be set ccted from a dircctory of digital content suitable for a particular portable clcctronic device or set of portable electronic devices (for example in the case of a mobile telephones those utilising the SymbianTM operating system), following which payment is made and the digital content delivered. Alternatively, the user may make a payment and then select from a directory of content available fbr the payment made.
Preferably, the portable electronic device is also identified enabling selection from a directory of appropriate content available for the payment made.
In each case, at some point in order to deliver the digital content in a suitable file fonnat the user will he prompted to identify the portable electronic device. The user prompt may take the form of a series of menu options such that the user may be invited to provide such information as is known. For example many users will know the type of device that is to be indentified such as mobile telephone, music player, personal digital assistant (PDA) or navigation device and the make of the portable electronic device even if they are unaware of the exact model. If the type of device and the manufacturer have been selected, a subset of the database of characteristic scale invariant features for known devices of a certain type relating only to such devices available from this particular manufacturer need be interrogated.
For example the user may be prompted to select from menus showing first a choice of types of device (step 100 in Figure 2) and then a selection of manufacturers (step 102) (or to select from a manufacturer and then choose a type of device). The user will then be presented with a number of model identifiers appropriate to the previous user responses (step 104). In a preferred embodiment, when the model identifier has been confirmed, the user is presented (step 200) with a directory of available content from which to browse and select the desired digital content. In each case, if the user does not know the information for which they have been prompted, the option to indicate that the information requested is not known will be given. If this option is taken at any stage, the user will then be prompted (step 110) by the output device 22 to present the portable electronic device to the computer vision system 60 of the vending machine 10.
In response to this prompt, the user will place or hold the portable electronic device in position. While ideally, the computer vision system wil] automatically detect the presence of the portable electronic device, preferably, the user can confirm that the portable electronic device is in position (step 112), causing the processor to signal to the computer vision system that an image may be taken and processed. In this way, the quality of the image and the resulting speed of the analysis may be enhanced. The controller 30 then mediates the results of the image analysis with the database of characteristic scale invariant features for known devices to determine the make and model of the presented portable electronic device. The user may then be presented (step 200) with a selection or directory of available content from which to browse and select the desired digital content.
In the event that the computer vision system is unable to identify the make and model of the portable electronic device the user may once again be prompted to present the device to the computer vision system 60 in order that another attempt to identify the make and model of the portable electronic device may be made. In a preferred embodiment, the user will also be presented with the opportunity to cancel this process.
A database of appropriate file formats for each device or each application for a device in the case of devices having more than one application may be maintained and queued once thc make and model of the presented portable electronic device has been identified. This file format database may be provided locally in the vending machine 10, or alternatively provided remotely and accessible over the network 46. It is preferred that this file format database is provided remotely over the network 4 since it is likely that this database will require regular updating as new devices are made available. Alternatively, this database may be provided locally and updated at scheduled intervals over the network 46.
Once the user has selected digital content, the controller 30 will determine if the digital content is available in a suitable file format and if so the digital content will be made available to the user by way of the digital content dispensing facility 14. If the digita] content is not in an appropriate file fonnat, the controller 30 will process the digital content through the file conversion processor 50 prior to the digital content being made available to the user by way of the digital content dispensing facility 14.

Claims (18)

1 An apparatus for the dispensing of digital content comprising an input device to enable selection of desired digital content, a digital content dispensing facility for providing digital content to a portable electronic device, a computer vision system for thc visual identification of a make and model of a portable electronic device, access to a repository of digital content, and a proccssor for mediating the provision of digital content from the repository of digital content in a file format suitable for use by thc make and model of the portable electronic device following identification of the make and model of a portable electronic device.
2 Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that it further comprises a coAversion processor for converfing digital content from the repository of digital content in a first file format to a second file format following identification of the make and model of the portable electronic device, the second file format being suitable for use by the make and model of the portable electronic device.
3 Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that it further comprises payment means to process payment from a user.
4 Apparatus according to any of claims I to 3, characterised in that the repository of digital content comprises a local database of digital content located within the apparatus.
Apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that it further comprises a network connection, the repository of digital content additionally comprising a database of digital content remote from the apparatus and accessible over a network by way of the network connection.
6 Apparatus according to claim 5, characterised in that the local database may be updated over the network to refresh the digital content of the local database.
7 Apparatus according to any of claims I to 3, characterised in that it is further provided with a network connection, the repository of digital content comprising a database of digital content remote from the apparatus and accessible over a network by way of the network connection.
8 Apparatus according to any previous claim, characterised in that the computer vision system captures an image of the portable electronic device, analyses the image and identifies the make and model of a portable electronic device.
9 Apparatus according to claim 8, characterised in that the computer vision system analyses die image by applying an algorithm to identify scale invariant features of the image in order to identify the make and model of a portable electronic device.
A method in a dispensing apparatus for determining a suitable format for digital content to be dispensed for use with a make and model of a portable electronic device comprises the steps of the dispensing apparatus visually identifying a make and model of the portable electronic device, determining a suitable file fonnat for digital content to be used with the make and model of the portable electronic device and presenting a user with a selection of digital content suitable for use with the make and model of the portable electronic device.
11 A method according to claim 10, characterised in that Following selection of digital content the dispensing apparatus converts digital content in a first file format to a second file format suitable for use with the make and model of the portable electronic device.
12 A method according to claim 10 or claim 11, characterised in that the step of visually identifying the make and model of the portable electronic device comprises capturing an image of the portable electronic device and analysing the image.
13 A method according to claim 12, in which the image is analysed by applying an algorithm to identify scale invariant features of the image in order to identify the make and model of the portable electronic device.
14 A method in a vending machine for determining a suitable file format for digital content to be dispensed for use with a make and model of a portable electronic device comprises the steps of the vending machine visually identifying a make and model of a portable electronic device, detennining a suitable file format for digital content to be used with the make and model of the portable electronic device and following selection and purchase of the digital content dispensing the digital content in a file format suitable for use with the portable electronic device.
A method according to claim 14, charactcriscd in that following sclcction and purchase of digital content the vending machine converts digital content in a first file format to a second file format suitable for use with the make and model of the portable electronic device.
16 A method according to claim 14 or 15, characterised in that the step of visually idcntifying the make and model of the portable electronic device comprises capturing an image of the portable electronic device and analysing the image.
17 A method according to claim 16, characterised in that the image is analysed by applying an algorithm to identify scale invariant features of the image in order to identify the make and model of the portable electronic device.
18 A computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions for enabling performance of the method of any of claims 10 to 17.
GB0722611A 2007-11-19 2007-11-19 Enabling Download of Digital Content Withdrawn GB2454739A (en)

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0722611A GB2454739A (en) 2007-11-19 2007-11-19 Enabling Download of Digital Content

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GB0722611D0 GB0722611D0 (en) 2008-12-17
GB2454739A true GB2454739A (en) 2009-05-20

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Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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WO2003042939A2 (en) * 2001-11-15 2003-05-22 Budai Balazs Device for selling information for mobile phones
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JP2008217046A (en) * 2007-02-28 2008-09-18 Oki Electric Ind Co Ltd Automatic transaction device, automatic transaction system

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2001020844A1 (en) * 1999-09-16 2001-03-22 Nokia Corporation Supply of electronic data
US20020161476A1 (en) * 2001-04-05 2002-10-31 David Panofsky System for vending and dispensing digital files
WO2003042939A2 (en) * 2001-11-15 2003-05-22 Budai Balazs Device for selling information for mobile phones
US20060190345A1 (en) * 2004-12-30 2006-08-24 Inspired Broadcast Networks Limited Vending equipment
JP2008217046A (en) * 2007-02-28 2008-09-18 Oki Electric Ind Co Ltd Automatic transaction device, automatic transaction system

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