Method and system for restricted biometric access to content of packaged media

Abstract

A system, method, and user device for restricting access to the content of media over a network. Biometric information is collected and compared against pre-stored biometric information of a user to authenticate the identity of the user. The user then requests access to the content of a medium. Access is permitted to the requested content if the content is identified as content, or indicia identifying the content, that the user previously uploaded to the server. Access is denied to the requested content if the content is not identified as content, or indicia identifying the content, that the user previously uploaded to the server.

1 . A system for restricting access to the content of media stored on a computer connected to a network, comprising: 
 at least one user device;    a biometric device associated with said at least one user device that measures biometric information of a user;    a content access managing module associated with the at least one user device; and    a server which communicates with said content access managing module to biometrically authenticate said user and authorize said user's access to media whose content, or indicia identifying said content, said at least one user device previously transmitted to said server for storage on said server.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said content access managing module associated with said at least one user device comprises: 
 a biometric authentication module for authenticating the identity of said user;    a content recognition module for identifying said at least one medium; and    a server storage module which communicates with said server to identify said content of said at least one medium.    
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said server comprises: 
 a registration database for storing information about biometrically authenticated users;    a content database for storing the content of said at least one medium to be accessed by said user;    a content access managing module having a biometric authentication sequence module for authenticating the identity of said user; and    a content indexing module for communicating with said registration database and storing pointers to content stored in said content database.    
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said biometric device is a fingerprint recognition device.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said biometric device is a voice pattern recognition device.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one user device is a personal computer.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one user device is a portable device.  
     
     
         8 . A system for restricting access to the content of media stored on a computer connected to a network, comprising: 
 at least one user device;    a biometric device associated with said at least one user device that measures biometric information of a user;    a portable storage medium having a content access managing module for biometrically authenticating said user associated with said at least one user device; and    a server which communicates with said content access managing module to biometrically authenticate said user and authorize said user's access to media whose content, or indicia identifying said content, said at least one user device previously transmitted to said server for storage on said server.    
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said biometric device is a fingerprint recognition device.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said biometric sensor is a voice pattern recognition device.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said at least one user device is a personal computer.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said at least one user device is a portable device.  
     
     
         13 . A method for restricting access to the content of media stored on a computer connected to a network, comprising the steps of: 
 obtaining biometric information of a user with a biometric device associated with at least one user device;    uploading to a server the content, or indicia identifying said content, of at least one medium; and    managing said user's access to said content of said at least one medium using said biometric information and the identity of the content of said at least one medium.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said biometric information is fingerprint data.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said biometric information is voice pattern data.  
     
     
         16 . A method of obtaining restricted access to the content of media stored on a computer connected to a network, comprising the steps of: 
 accessing a server;    transmitting to said server biometric information of a user from a biometric device associated with at least one user device;    authenticating said user based on comparing said biometric information against pre-stored biometric information of said user;    requesting access to the content of at least one medium stored on said server;    providing said user access to said content if said content is identified as content or indicia of content that said user previously uploaded to said server; and    denying said user access to said content if said content is not identified as content or indicia of content that said user previously uploaded to said server.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said biometric information is fingerprint data.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said biometric information is voice pattern data.  
     
     
         19 . A user device for restricting access to the content of media stored on a computer connected to a network, comprising: 
 a biometric device for authenticating the identity of a user;    a biometric authentication module for communicating with a server connected to said network to authenticate the identity of said user;    a content recognition module for identifying at least one medium inserted in said user device; and    a server storage module for communicating with said content recognition module and with said server to upload to said server content, or indicia identifying said content, of said at least one medium.    
     
     
         20 . The user device of  claim 19 , wherein said biometric device is a fingerprint recognition device.  
     
     
         21 . The user device of  claim 19 , wherein said biometric device is a voice pattern recognition device.  
     
     
         22 . A user device for restricting access to the content of media stored on a computer connected to a network, comprising: 
 a biometric device for authenticating the identity of a user;    a biometric authentication module for communicating with a server connected to said network to authenticate the identity of said user; and    a content access managing module for communicating with said server to manage said user's access to the content of media whose content, or indicia identifying said content, was previously transmitted to said server for storage on said server.    
     
     
         23 . The user device of  claim 22 , wherein said biometric device is a fingerprint recognition device.  
     
     
         24 . The user device of  claim 22 , wherein said biometric sensor is a voice pattern recognition device.  
     
     
         25 . A method for creating an index of the content of media available to a user for restricted access and distribution on a network, comprising the steps of: 
 determining the identity of the content of media located in a user device;    transmitting said identity to a server on said network;    adding said identity to an index of the content of media available for restricted access and distribution for said user;    providing notification to said user device of whether said content previously was stored on said server; and    uploading to said server from said user device said content if said content was not previously stored on said server.