Abstract:
A method and system that permits the purchase of a license to make a limited number of copies of a book. At the time of purchase, the purchaser or user is given a key that contains the ability to obtain the limited number of copies on demand. The key contains a web address that can be used to obtain the authorized copies. In some embodiments, the key is a label in a machine readable form that is readable by a label reader, such as a bar code reader or a magnetic reader. In other embodiments, the key is merely a web address that the user may contact. At the point of sale, the key or record is formed, affixed to the book and also sent to copy tracker. The copy tracker then keeps track of the copies as made and processes each request to make a copy. If permitted, a database is enabled to send an electronic image of the requested copy to the user.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to methods and systems for the copying of books, pages, pictures and the like. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   The procurement of a book protected by copyright involves a purchase from the copyright proprietor or his or her agent. If the purchaser needs to have a copy of the book, a page thereof or a picture contained therein, the copy or a right to make the copy must be procured. Sometimes, a reprint may be available from the publisher. However, a right to make a copy must be obtained from the publisher or its agent. In the past, copies have been authorized from the book itself via a copy machine. This procedure can be very time consuming if the number of pages to be copied is large. 
   Another possible solution to giving a right to make a copy is to provide an electronic image of the book or a part thereof for reproduction to the person requesting the copy. However, copyright proprietors are reluctant to put an electronic image in the hands of someone who wants to make a copy without secure safeguards that will prevent access to others and limit the number of copies that can be made. 
   What is needed is a process that makes a right or license to make copies available that permits a user to make human readable copies from of an electronic image of the copyrighted material with proper safeguards to the copyright proprietor. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention satisfies this need with a method and system that permits the purchase of a right to make a limited number of copies of a book. At the time of purchase, the purchaser or user is given a key that contains the ability to obtain the limited number of copies on demand. The key contains a web address that can be used to obtain the authorized copies. In some embodiments, the key is a label in a machine readable form that is readable by a label reader, such as a bar code reader or a magnetic reader. In other embodiments, the key is merely a web address that the user may contact. 
   The present invention provides a smart book that has a record or key affixed to the book. The record includes two or more of the following data items: a title of said book, a web address of a copy tracker for said book, an identity of said order, a first number of copies of said entire book that are permitted to be made, a second number of copies of pages of said book that are permitted to be made and a third number of copies of pictures of said book that are permitted to be made. 
   In one aspect of the invention, a semiconductor device is affixed to the book and the record is stored in a memory of the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device also includes a controller and a communication module that enables communication with a device that can communicate with the world wide web, such as a personal computer, telephone, personal organizer, and the like. 
   The present invention further provides a method and/or system at the point of sale. The method encodes the label with a record that identifies the book, the right to make copies, the number of authorized copies and the web address of a copy tracker. The record is sent to the copy tracker and the label is given to the purchaser. In some embodiments, the label is applied to the book that is also purchased by the user. In other embodiments, the key or label is given to the user either electronically, or in hard copy form that is machine readable as a bar code or a magnetic stripe or is in human readable form. 
   The present invention further provides a method and system for keeping track of the right to make and the copies that have been made. This method maintains the record and responds to a request to make a copy by comparing the request to the record to determine if a copy is permitted. If so, the method enables the presentation of an electronic image of the book to the user. In some embodiments, the copy is contained in a database and the database is enabled to present the electronic image to the user via the world wide web. The method then adjusts a count process contained in the record of copies authorized by the right to make and copies already made. 
   The invention further provides a method of obtaining a copy that is authorized by the right to make. This method determines a web address of a copy tracker for the right to make copies of the book. A request to make a copy of the book is then sent to the copy tracker. The request identifies the book, the right to make and the pages to be copies. An electronic image of the pages is obtained from the copy tracker and a human readable image is prepared for display or for a hard copy reproduction. 
   In one embodiment, the user procures a book with a chip or semiconductor device that contains the copy tracking ability for the right to make copies. The chip is responsive to requests received from an input device, for example, a personal computer to make a copy of one or more pages. The copy tracker compares the request to the number of authorized copies and the number of copies already made to determine if the requested copy is permitted. If so, the chip provides the user&#39;s personal computer with the web address to obtain an electronic image from which to make copies. If not, the chip does not provide the web address. 
   In some embodiments, the chip itself contains a copy of the book. In these embodiments, if the copy tracker determines that a requested copy is permitted, an electronic image thereof is provided to the user&#39;s personal computer. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     Other and further objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters denote like elements of structure and: 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of the system of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view and block diagram of a printer copy station of the  FIG. 1  system; 
       FIG. 3  depicts a record of a copyright right; 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram, in part and a flow diagram, in part, of a number decode utility for a copy station of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a flow diagram of the order procedure of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a flow diagram of a copy procedure of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a block diagram of an alternate embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 8  is a flow diagram of a copy tracking procedure of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a smart book  100  is shown with a shop  115 , a copy tracker  111 , a database  105  and a plurality of copy stations shown as a computer  101  and a printer  107 . When a purchaser or user procures smart book  100  at shop  115 , a right or license to make a limited number of copies is also procured. A label  109  that contains license data that identifies copy tracker  111  (e.g., a web address) and the specific license is affixed to smart book  100 . The license data can be encoded on label  109  in any suitable machine readable form, such as a bar code, a magnetic medium, a watermark and the like. The license data in human readable form may also be placed on a label  108  that may be affixed to smart book  100 . Label  109  is affixed to a cover or binder of smart book  100  or to one or more pages thereof, as shown on a page  102  of smart book  100 . When affixed to a specific page  102 , the license data will also identify the specific page. 
   When the user wants to make a copy of one or more pages of smart book  100 , label  109  is read by one of the copy stations, say computer  101 , which then establishes a connection via a network  104  with copy tracker  111 . Copy tracker  111  verifies the specific license and determines if the copy being requested is permitted. If so, copy tracker  111  enables an electronic image of the requested copy to be presented by database  105  to the user via network  104  to computer  101 . Database  105  contains copies of a plurality of books, including smart book  100 . Database  105  may be located at the same or a different web address than that of copy tracker  111 . Network  104  may be any suitable communication network, such as the Internet or World Wide Web. 
   Shop  115  may be a brick and mortar shop that is visited personally, a virtual shop that is visited via network  104  or a combination of both. Shop  115  has a transaction processor  117  that includes a processing unit  116 , an order process program  121 , a record  120 , a label maker  124 , an input unit  126  and a communication unit  122 . Order process program  121  controls processing unit  116  to make record  120  of a right to make copies being procured for smart book  100 . The right to make data may be entered via input unit  126 . Alternatively, record  120  may contain standardized terms and be one of a plurality of records  120  that differ from one another only in license identification, such as an agreement number. 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , record  120  includes a general license agreement data  300 , a title  301  of smart book  100 , a web address  302  of copy tracker  111 , a book count number  303 , a picture count number  304 , a page count number  305  and a user or license identity  306 . 
   Referring again to  FIG. 1 , when record  120  is complete, it is affixed to smart book  100  for delivery to the purchaser. Also, record  120  is then sent to copy tracker  111  via network  104  or any other suitable communication network, such as plain old telephone service. 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , order process program  121  begins at step  500  with entry of an order for the right or license to make copies. Step  501  obtains and enters the data of record  120  for the desired book. Step  501 , for example obtains web address  302  from a directory or by searching the web. Step  503  forms and prints label  109  for record  120 . Step  505  sends record  120  to copy tracker  111 . 
   Referring again to  FIG. 1 , to make a copy of smart book  100 , or a picture or page thereof, label  109  is read by a reader, such as bar code reader  112  that communicates with computer  101  via a wired or a wireless link. Web address  302  is used by computer  101  to send a request for copy to copy tracker  111 . The request for copy may be for the entire book, a page or a picture. If for the entire book, the label is read from the cover or binder. If for a particular page, the label is read from that page. If for a picture, the label is read from the area of the picture. In each case, the record contains an identity of the book, the page, or the picture, as the case may be. For the case where the label is watermark, a suitable watermark reader must be provided. For example, a watermark reader is described in pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/436,163, filed on Nov. 9, 1999, and assigned to the assignee of this application. 
   Copy tracker  111  determines if the requested copy is permitted and, if so, enables database  105  to present an electronic image of the requested copy to computer  101 . As shown, computer  101  has a processing unit  113 , a display  128  a copy program  140 . The user can then view the requested copy on display  128 . That is, computer  101  is a view only copy station. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that computer  101  can be connected with a printer that enables printing a hard copy of the electronic image of the requested copy. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , when label  109  is read by bar code reader  112 , an encoded number  403  is obtained that represents web address  302 . Encoded number  403  is decoded by a number mapper  404  to derive web address to obtain web address  302  that is used by computer  101  to communicate with copy tracker  111 . Number mapper  404  is a utility included in or used by copy program  140  of computer  101 .  FIG. 4  also shows the case where a tagged or labeled page  401  is read by bar code reader  112 . The tag or label may be formed of a bar code or a pixel and affixed to page  401  by stamping adhesive label and the like. 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , copy program  140  begins with step  600  which scans label  109  or tagged page  401 . Step  602  determines a web address contained in label  109  or the tag of tagged page  401 . Step  604  sends the request for copy to copy tracker  111 . Step  606  receives an electronic image of the requested copy from copy tracker  111  or database  105 . Step  608  forms a human readable image of the requested copy for viewing on display  128 . 
   Referring again to  FIG. 1 , copy tracker  111  includes a processing unit  130 , a communication unit  132  and a memory  134 . A copy tracking process or program  136  and a count record  138  is stored in memory  134 . Count record  138  includes record  120  and a record of how many copies have been made. Referring to  FIG. 8 , copy tracking process  136  begins at step  800  with a receipt of record  120  for a book from shop  115 . Step  802  maintains a count process and record  138  to keep track of the number of copies made. The next step  804  processes a new request for copy. Step  806  compares the new request with record  138 . Step  808  determines if the current count of copies made permits the requested copy to be made. If so, step  810  enables database  105  to present an electronic image of the requested copy to the user and record  138  is updated to reflect a new copy count. If the requested copy is not permitted, step  812  prevents database  105  from presenting the electronic image of the requested copy. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , printer  107  is an alternative copy station with a capability of reading label  109 , communicating with copy tracker  111  and printing a human readable image of a requested copy. To this end, printer  107  has a bar code reader  114 , a watermark reader  145 , a processing unit  116 , an input unit  205 , a communications module  210 , a digital reproduction means  207 , a cache  206  and a paper load  210 . Input unit  205  includes a plurality of input keys or buttons  203  and a display  212 . The user can enter via keys  203  a request to copy all of book  100 , a page or a range of pages or a picture. This entered request data is presented on display  212 . The use of entered page or picture data at the copy station eliminates the need to put individual labels on each page  102  of book  100 . 
   A managing process or program  208  controls processing unit  116  to process data read by bar code reader  114  from label  109  and to form a request to copy. Managing program  208  also communicates the request to copy tracker  111  via communication module  201  and controls the printing of the human readable image of the requested copy. If the requested copy is permitted by copy tracker  111 , the electronic image thereof presented by database  105  is stored in cache  206 . Managing program  208  then operates paper load  210  and digital reproduction unit  207  to print the requested copy in human readable form. When a new request for a copy is subsequently received and the copy is in cache  206 , managing program  208  communicates this to copy tracker  111 . If the copy is permitted, copy tracker  111  sends printer  107  a message that enables copy managing program  208  to use the copy in cache  206  to make the requested copy. This avoids a download of the requested copy from database  105 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , an alternative embodiment of the present invention is a smart book  700  that includes a semiconductor device or chip  701  affixed thereto. Chip  701  includes a record  703  of the right or license to make copies of smart book  700 . Record  703  includes a counts data  704  and a web address  705  of copy tracker  111 . Record  703  also includes other identifying data of the license and/or user necessary for copy tracker  111  to match a copy request with its record that corresponds to the license right. Chip  702  includes a controller  711  that communicates either by a wired or a wireless link with a copy station such as printer  107  or computer  101 . To request a copy of smart book  700 , or a part thereof, the user enters the request in printer  107  or computer  101 , as the case may be, which then communicates with chip  701  via communication modules  709  or  710  to obtain from chip  701  the data contained in record  703 . The copy station then forms and sends the request to copy tracker  111  for processing as described herein for the embodiments of  FIGS. 1 through 6  and  8 . 
   An alternate embodiment of chip  701  includes a content  706  of smart book  700 . This allows the user to obtain the requested copy from content  706  if copy tracker  111  approves the requested copy. In still other embodiments, controller  701  could have its own copy tracking program, which will avoid the need to communicate with copy tracker  111 . When the user has made all of the permitted copies, controller  701  will prevent other copies from being made. 
   The present invention having been thus described with particular reference to the preferred forms thereof, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.