Content distribution systems and methods

Abstract

An electronic device comprises a first interface operable to receive from a user a selection of a first data set and a processor coupled to the first interface. The processor is operable to access the selected first data set, determine if the user is authorized to receive the first data set, and store the first data set on a memory device.

1 . An electronic device, comprising: 
 a first interface operable to receive from a user a selection of a first data set; and    a processor coupled to the first interface and operable to access the selected first data set, the processor further operable to determine if the user is authorized to receive the first data set, the processor further operable to store the first data set on a memory device.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a supply unit operable to store at least one dispensable memory device.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein: 
 the processor is further operable to store the selected data set on the at least one dispensable memory device; and    the supply unit is further operable to dispense to the user the at least one dispensable memory device on which the selected data set is stored.    
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a second interface coupled to the processor and operable to couple to the memory device.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4  wherein the second interface is operable to lock the memory device into a locked position.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5  wherein the second interface is operable to release the memory device into an unlocked position in response to receiving an unlock authorization.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6 , further comprising a key receiver and wherein receiving an unlock authorization comprises receiving a key in the key receiver.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 6  wherein receiving an unlock authorization comprises receiving via the first interface an identification code.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the processor is operable to store the data set on the memory device via a wireless communication signal.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the data set comprises an audio file.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the data set comprises a video file.  
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the first data set is encoded; and    the processor is further operable to store on the memory device a second data set that, when executed, is operable to decode the first data set.    
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the first data set comprises content, the first data set further comprising a third data set, wherein alteration of the third data set causes alteration of the content.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a storage device operable to store the first data set.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the memory device is a flash memory device.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a second interface, and wherein the processor is further operable to generate to the second interface a description of at least one apparatus on which the first data set can be stored.  
   
   
       17 . A method, comprising: 
 receiving from a user a selection of a first data set;    determining that the user is authorized to receive the first data set;    accessing the selected first data set; and    storing the selected first data set on a memory device.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein determining that the user is authorized comprises determining that the user has paid to receive the first data set.  
   
   
       19 . An article of manufacture, comprising: a machine-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to: 
 receive from a user a selection of a first data set;    determine that the user is authorized to receive the first data set;    access the selected first data set; and    store the selected first data set on a memory device.    
   
   
       20 . The article of  claim 19  wherein the medium comprises a modulated carrier signal.  
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a second interface operable to enable the user to pay to receive the first data set.  
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 21  wherein the second interface comprises at least one of a coin slot, currency accepter, credit-card reader, smart-card reader, and radio-frequency-identification device.