Method & apparatus for point of sale generated access to remote file

Abstract

This invention provides an apparatus for point of sale generated access to remote files. The method relates to a transaction between a merchant, content provider transaction manager and a customer. A point of sale generated activated identification number allows the customer to remotely download a specific file from a content provider. A package adapted for holding a data encoded card and a disk or cartridge is disclosed. The card generally defines a plane and includes a means to encode data. In the preferred embodiment the package has first and second panels, retaining means for securing the card substantially between the first and second panels, wherein a data encoded stripe is not exposed and means for exposing the data encoded strip, while the card is secured between the panels.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A package adapted for holding a card, the card generally defining a plane, the card having means to encode data; said package including: 
 (a) first and second panels;    (b) retaining means for securing said card substantially between said first and second panels, wherein said means to encode data is not exposed; and    (c) means for exposing said means to encode data, while said card is secured between said panels.    
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said means to encode data is a magnetic stripe.  
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said means to encode data is a computer chip.  
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said means to encode data is a hard drive.  
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said retaining means is a bracket.  
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said card contains holes to receive posts molded into said package.  
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said means for exposing said data encoded strip is a thumb notch.  
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 1  wherein a portion of said card is adhesively affixed to one of said panels.  
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said package further includes means to secure said first and second panels together while package is on display.  
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said means to encode data provides an identification number.  
     
     
         11 . The package  claim 1  wherein an identification number is printed on said card.  
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said package includes bar coded data.  
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 11  wherein said identification number is obscured while on display.  
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 11  wherein said identification number is not obscured while on display.  
     
     
         15 . The package of claim I wherein said package is adapted to contain a disk.  
     
     
         16 . The package of claim I wherein said package is adapted to contain a cartridge.  
     
     
         17 . A package adapted for holding a card, the card generally defining a plane, the card having a data encoded stripe and a content storage means; said package including: 
 (a) first and second panels;    (b) retaining means for securing said card substantially between said first and second panels, wherein said data encoded stripe is not exposed;    (c) means for exposing said data encoded stripe, while said card is secured between said panels; and    (d) means for retaining said content storage mean between said first and second panels.    
     
     
         18 . The package of  claim 17  wherein said data-encoded strip comprises a magnetic strip.  
     
     
         19 . The package of  claim 17  wherein said retaining means is a bracket.  
     
     
         20 . The package of  claim 17  wherein said card contains holes to receive posts molded into said package.  
     
     
         21 . The package of  claim 17  wherein said means for exposing said date encoded strip is a thumb slide.  
     
     
         22 . The package of  claim 17  wherein said means for exposing said data encoded strip is a thumb notch.  
     
     
         23 . The package of  claim 17  wherein a portion of said card is adhesively affixed to said panel.  
     
     
         24 . The package of  claim 17  wherein said data encoded strip provides an identification number.  
     
     
         25 . The package of  claim 17  wherein said package further includes means to secure said first and second panels together while package is on display.  
     
     
         26 . The package  claim 17  wherein an identification number is printed on said card.  
     
     
         27 . The package of  claim 17  wherein said package includes bar coded data.  
     
     
         28 . The package of  claim 27  wherein said identification number is obscured while on display.  
     
     
         29 . The package of  claim 27  wherein said identification number is not observed while on display.  
     
     
         30 . The package of  claim 17  wherein said content storage means is a disk.  
     
     
         31 . The package of  claim 17  wherein said content storage means is a cartridge.  
     
     
         32 . A package adapted for holding a card, the card generally defining a plane, the card having means to encode data; said package including: 
 (a) first and second panels; and    (b) retaining means for securing said card between said first and second panels wherein said means to encode data is not exposed, said retaining means allowing said means to encode data to be oriented towards said first panel when said means to encode data coded is not exposed and allowing said means to encode data to be oriented towards said second panel when said means to encode data is exposed.    
     
     
         33 . The package of  claim 32  wherein said means to encode data is a magnetic strip.  
     
     
         34 . The package of  claim 32  wherein said means to encode data is a computer chip.  
     
     
         35 . The package of  claim 32  wherein said means to encode data is a hard drive.  
     
     
         36 . The package of a  claim 32  wherein a portion of said card is adhesively affixed to one of said panels.  
     
     
         37 . The package of  claim 32  wherein said card is exposed between said first and second panels.  
     
     
         38 . The package of  claim 32  wherein said means to encode data provides an identification number.  
     
     
         39 . The package of  claim 32  wherein said identification number is printed on said card.  
     
     
         40 . The package of  claim 39  wherein said identification number is obscured while on display.  
     
     
         41 . The package of  claim 39  wherein said identification number is not obscured while on display.  
     
     
         42 . The package of  claim 32  wherein said package further includes means to secure said first and second panels together with package is on display.  
     
     
         43 . The package of  claim 32  wherein said package is adapted to contain a disk.  
     
     
         44 . The package of  claim 32  wherein said package is adapted to contain a cartridge.  
     
     
         45 . A package adapted for holding a card, the card generally defining a plane, the card having a data encoded stripe and a content storage means; said package including: 
 (a) first and second panels; and    (b) retaining means for securing said card between said first and second panels wherein said data encoded stripe is not exposed, said retaining means allowing said data encoded stripe to be oriented towards said first panel when said data encoded stripe is not exposed and allowing said strip to be oriented towards said second panel when said encoded stripe is exposed.    
     
     
         46 . The package of  claim 45  wherein said data encoded stripe is magnetic.  
     
     
         47 . The package of a  claim 45  wherein a portion of said card is adhesively affixed to one of said panels.  
     
     
         48 . The package of  claim 45  wherein said card exposed between said first and second panels.  
     
     
         49 . The package  claim 45  where said package further include means to secure said first and second panels while package is on display.  
     
     
         50 . The package of  claim 45  where said date encoded strip provides an identification number.  
     
     
         51 . The package of  claim 45  wherein an identification number is printed on said card.  
     
     
         52 . The package of  claim 51  wherein said identification number is obscured while on display.  
     
     
         53 . The package of  claim 51  wherein said identification number is not observed while on display.  
     
     
         54 . The package of  claim 45  wherein said package includes bar coded data.  
     
     
         55 . The package of  claim 45  wherein said storage means is a cartridge.  
     
     
         56 . The package of  claim 45  wherein said storage means is a disk.