Secure document access system

Abstract

A method for downloading a document via a communications medium operatively associated with a communications interface, the method including receiving the document from the communications medium, placing an information storage smart card in removable operative association with the communications interface, and conditionally transmitting the document from the communications interface to the information storage smart card and storing the document in the information storage smart card. Other related methods and apparatus are also provided.

1 . A method for downloading a document via a communications medium operatively associated with a communications interface, the method comprising: 
 receiving the document from the communications medium;    placing an information storage smart card in removable operative association with the communications interface; and    conditionally transmitting the document from the communications interface to the information storage smart card and storing the document in the information storage smart card.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to    claim 1    and wherein the conditionally transmitting step comprises comparing a price associated with the document to a spending limit and transmitting the document only if the price is in accordance with the spending limit.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to    claim 1    and wherein the document comprises at least one of the following: text; graphics; sound; an animated scene; multimedia information; hypertext information; navigation information; a map; a book; a periodical; and a game.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to    claim 1    and also comprising the step of sending a message from the information storage smart card to an information storage facility, wherein the message comprises at least one of the following: a request for information; and status information.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to    claim 4    and wherein the message comprises an encrypted message.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to    claim 5    and wherein the message comprises a signed message.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to    claim 1    and also comprising placing an authorization smart card in removable operative association with the communications interface, 
 wherein the conditionally transmitting step comprises transmitting the document to the information storage smart card only if the authorization smart card is authorized to access the item of information.  
 
     
     
         8 . A method according to    claim 1    and wherein the information storage smart card is paired with the communications interface.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to    claim 1    and also comprising: 
 removing the information storage smart card from operative association with the communications interface;  
 placing the information storage smart card in operative association with an information access device; and  
 utilizing the document stored in the information storage smart card with the information access device.  
 
     
     
         10 . A method according to    claim 9    and wherein the information access device comprises at least one of the following: a document display device; a personal computer; a personal communications device; a personal display device; a television; a radio; a sound system; and a guidance system.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to    claim 9    and wherein the utilizing step comprises conditionally utilizing the document.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to    claim 9    and wherein the utilizing step comprises formatting the document.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to    claim 12    and wherein the formatting step comprises formatting based on formatting information stored in the information storage smart card.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to    claim 13    and wherein the formatting information is comprised in the document.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to    claim 13    and wherein the formatting information comprises decryption information.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to    claim 12    and wherein the formatting step comprises formatting based on formatting information stored in the information access device.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to    claim 16    and also comprising updating the formatting information based on formatting update information stored in the information storage smart card.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to    claim 1    and wherein the conditionally transmitting step comprises transmitting the information to the information storage smart card only if the information storage smart card is authorized for use in the communications interface.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to claim I and wherein the conditionally transmitting step comprises transmitting the document to the information storage smart card only if the information storage smart card is authorized to receive the document.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to    claim 1    and wherein the conditionally transmitting step comprises transmitting the document to the information storage smart card upon external authorization.  
     
     
         21 . A method according to    claim 1    and wherein said document is associated with a geographical region, and 
 the conditionally transmitting step comprises transmitting the document to the information storage smart card if the information storage smart card is associated with the geographical region.  
 
     
     
         22 . A method according to    claim 1    and wherein said document is associated with a geographical region, and 
 the conditionally transmitting step comprises preventing transmission of the document to the information storage smart card if the information storage smart card is associated with the geographical region.  
 
     
     
         23 . A method according to    claim 22    and wherein the document comprises authorization information comprising information indicating whether the information storage smart card is authorized to use the document.  
     
     
         24 . A method according to    claim 23    and wherein the conditionally transmitting step comprises transmitting the information to the information storage smart card only if the information storage smart card is authorized to use the document in accordance with the authorization information.  
     
     
         25 . A method according to    claim 1    and wherein the storing comprises updating previously stored information stored in the information storage smart card.  
     
     
         26 . A method according to    claim 25    and wherein the updating step comprises at least one of the following: replacing the previously stored information; changing the previously stored information; deleting the previously stored information; and supplementing the previously stored information.  
     
     
         27 . A method according to    claim 25    and wherein the formatting step comprises at least one of the following: updating decryption information; and updating general formatting information.  
     
     
         28 . A method according to    claim 2    and also comprising placing an auxiliary card in removable operative association with the information access device.  
     
     
         29 . A method according to    claim 28    and wherein the auxiliary card comprises an authorization card, and 
 the utilizing step comprises utilizing the document in the information storage smart card only if the authorization card is authorized to access the document.  
 
     
     
         30 . A method according to    claim 29    and wherein the document stored in the information storage smart card comprises a plurality of stored documents, and 
 the utilizing step comprises utilizing at least one of the plurality of stored documents only if the authorization card is authorized to access the at least one of the plurality of stored documents.  
 
     
     
         31 . A method according to    claim 30    and wherein the authorization card comprises an authorization smart card.  
     
     
         32 . A method according to    claim 30    and wherein the plurality of stored documents comprises a plurality of versions of a single document.  
     
     
         33 . A method according to    claim 32    and wherein each one of the plurality of versions is encrypted according to at least one encryption parameter which differs for each one of the plurality of versions.  
     
     
         34 . A method according to    claim 28    and wherein the auxiliary card comprises an authorization card, and 
 the utilizing step comprises utilizing the document stored in the information storage smart card only if the authorization card is authorized to access the document.  
 
     
     
         35 . A method according to    claim 1    and wherein the document comprises parental control information, and 
 the conditionally transmitting comprises transmitting only in accordance with the parental control information.  
 
     
     
         36 . A method according to    claim 35    and wherein the parental control information is associated with only a portion of the document, and 
 the conditionally transmitting step comprises transmitting the portion of the document only in accordance with the parental control information.  
 
     
     
         37 . A method for downloading a document via a communications medium attached to a communications interface, the method comprising: 
 receiving the document from the communications medium;    placing an information storage smart card in removable operative association with the communications interface;    placing an auxiliary card in removable operative association with the communications interface;    transmitting the document from the communications interface to the information storage smart card and storing the information in the information storage smart card; and    utilizing the document stored in the information storage smart card.    
     
     
         38 . A method for downloading a document via a communications medium attached to a communications interface, the method comprising: 
 receiving, via a communications network, an authorization to receive the document via the communications medium;    placing an information storage smart card in removable operative association with the communications interface;    receiving the document from the communications medium; and    conditionally transmitting the document, in accordance with the authorization, from the communications interface to the information smart card and storing the information in the information storage smart card.    
     
     
         39 . A method according to    claim 38    and wherein the step of receiving an authorization comprises performing an authentication method.  
     
     
         40 . A method according to    claim 39    and wherein the authentication method comprises a zero-knowledge authentication method.  
     
     
         41 . A method according to    claim 40    and wherein the zero-knowledge authentication method comprises a Fiat-Sharnir authentication method.  
     
     
         42 . A document downloading system for downloading a document via a communications medium operatively associated with a communications interface, the system comprising: 
 document receiving apparatus for receiving the document from the communications medium; and    a document transmission module adapted to receive an information storage smart card in removable operative association therewith and to conditionally transmit the document to the information storage smart card for storage therein.    
     
     
         43 . A document downloading system for downloading a document via a communications medium attached to a communications interface, the system comprising: 
 document receiving apparatus for receiving the document from the communications medium;    a document transmission module adapted to receive an information storage smart card in removable operative association therewith and to transmit the document to the information storage smart card for storage therein;    an auxiliary card module adapted to receive an auxiliary card in, removable operative association therewith; and    utilization apparatus for utilizing the document stored in the information storage smart card.    
     
     
         44 . A document downloading system for downloading a document via a communications medium attached to a communications interface, the system comprising: 
 authorization apparatus for receiving, via a communications network, an authorization to receive the document via the communications medium; and    a document transmission module adapted to receive an information storage smart card in removable operative association therewith and to transmit the document, in accordance with the authorization, to the information storage smart card for storage therein.