Method and apparatus for the distribution of digitized information on demand

Abstract

In a method and apparatus for the electronic distribution of digitized information on demand, remote and/or local mass data stores are used to store digitized information for use in the generation of products such as software media. Available products and related information can be searched, browsed and requested at a local fulfillment unit; or requests can be made remotely. The products generated and associated packaging, certificates of authenticity, instruction manuals and license numbers may optionally include customer specific information, and customer given personalization. Additional security features include storing essential parts of the digitized information remotely so that products cannot be generated using only locally stored information; and recording the digitized information on the at least final segments of longer than standard format CDs preventing complete copies onto CDs of standard format.

1 . A process for manufacturing on-demand at a local site a selected digital information product on physical media, the selected digital information product being requested by a customer on the basis of the product's digital content, the process comprising:
 storing electronically in a local mass data store located at the local site a first portion of the digital content representing the selected digital information product;   storing electronically in a remote mass data store located at a site remote from the local site a second portion of the digital content representing the selected digital information product, each of the first portion and the second portion forming an incomplete part of a full version of the digital content without the other, wherein the first portion comprises a majority of the digital content, and the second portion must be recorded with the first portion on the physical media to produce the full version;   receiving by a point of sale unit at the local site a request from the customer to manufacture on-demand at the local site the selected digital information product;   either before or after receipt of the request, having on-demand manufacturing at the local site of the digital content representing the selected digital information product authorized by a licensing control center;   when authorized, having the second portion of the digital content representing the selected digital information product transmitted automatically by the remote mass data store to a media generator at the local site;   having the media generator record automatically on the physical media both the first portion of the digital content provided from the local mass data store and the second portion of the digital content provided from the remote mass data store such that the full version of the digital content is ready to fully run as recorded on the physical media;   having a package generator at the local site produce automatically packaging material for the physical media; and   supplying the customer with the physical media recorded with the full version of digital content representing the selected digital information product in the packaging material.   
     
     
         2 . A process as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising running the digital content from the physical media and providing a visual indication when the second portion has been omitted from the recording on the physical media. 
     
     
         3 . A process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the full version of the digital content comprises a data file, and in which the second portion comprises a portion of that data file. 
     
     
         4 . A process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the full version of the digital content comprises a computer program and in which the second portion comprises a portion of that program without which the program will not run either at all or as expected. 
     
     
         5 . A process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the full version of the digital content comprises a computer program and in which the second portion is an executable of the program. 
     
     
         6 . A process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the full version of the digital content comprises a computer program and in which the second portion is a graphic of the program. 
     
     
         7 . A process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the full version of the digital content comprises a computer program and in which the second portion is a first graphic of the program and wherein, without the second portion, the program executes with a second graphic which indicates that the program is not approved. 
     
     
         8 . A process as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising overwriting the second graphic with the first graphic when the second portion is recorded with the first portion on the physical media. 
     
     
         9 . Apparatus for the manufacture on-demand at a local site of a selected digital information product on physical media, the digital information product being requested by a customer on the basis of the product's digital content, the apparatus comprising:
 a local mass data store located at the local site which stores a first portion of the digital content representing the selected digital information product;   a remote mass data store located remotely from the local site which stores a second portion of the digital content representing the selected digital information product, wherein each of the first portion and the second portion forms an incomplete part of a full version of the digital content without the other, and wherein the first portion comprises a majority of the digital content, and the second portion must be recorded with the first portion on the physical media to produce the full version;   a point of sale unit located at the local site which receives the request from the customer to manufacture on-demand at the local site the selected digital information product;   a licensing control center in communication with the point of sale unit, the licensing control center authorizes on-demand manufacturing at the local site of the digital content representing the selected digital information product upon receiving the request from the point of sale unit and transmits the second portion of the digital content from the remote mass data store;   a local media generator which records on the physical media both the first portion of the digital content provided from the local mass data storage device and the second portion of the digital content transmitted from the remote mass data store such that the full version of the digital content is ready to fully run as recorded on the physical media; and   a packaging generator which produces packaging material to supply the physical media recorded with the full version of the digital content representing the selected digital information product in packaged form to the customer.   
     
     
         10 . An on-demand manufacturing process providing to a customer at a local site a selected digital information product on physical media, the process comprising:
 providing at the local site a point of sale unit, a media generator, a packaging generator, and a local mass data store which is connected operably to the media generator;   providing a licensing control center which is connected operably to the point of sale unit, the media generator, and a remote mass data store which is located remotely from the local site;   having storage of a major portion of digital content representing the selected digital information product along with major portions of other digital content representing a plurality of different digital information products facilitated by the local mass data store;   having storage of a remaining portion of the digital content representing the selected digital information product along with remaining portions of the other digital content representing the plurality of different digital information products facilitated by the remote mass data store, wherein the remaining portion must be recorded with the major portion on the physical media to produce a full version of the digital content representing the selected digital information product and wherein each of the major and remaining portions forms an incomplete part of the full version of the digital content;   receiving by the point of sale unit a request from the customer to manufacture on demand at the local site the selected digital information product to the physical media, the selected digital information product being requested by the customer on the basis of receiving a full version of the digital content representing the selected digital information product that is expected to fully run as provided on the physical media;   having the received request sent by the point of sale unit to the licensing control center;   authorizing on-demand manufacturing of the selected digital information product by the licensing control center having the minor portion of the digital content transmitted from the remote mass storage device to the media generator after receiving the request;   having both the major and the minor portions of the digital content representing the selected digital information product recorded on the physical media by the media generator at the local site such that the full version is fully ready for use as recorded on the physical media;   having packaging material for the physical media produced by the packaging generator at the local site; and   supplying the customer with the physical media recorded with the full version of the digital content representing the selected digital information product in the packaging material.   
     
     
         11 . A process as claimed in  claim 10  further comprising running the digital content from the physical media and providing a visual indication if not all of the second portion has been recorded on the physical media. 
     
     
         12 . A process as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the full version of the digital content comprises a data file, and in which the second portion comprises a portion of that data file. 
     
     
         13 . A process as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the full version of the digital content comprises a computer program and in which the second portion comprises a portion of that program without which the program will not run either at all or as expected. 
     
     
         14 . A process as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the full version of the digital content comprises a computer program and in which the second portion is an executable of the program. 
     
     
         15 . A process as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the full version of the digital content comprises a computer program and in which the second portion is a graphic of the program. 
     
     
         16 . A process as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the full version of the digital content comprises a computer program and in which the second portion is a first graphic of the program, and wherein if without all of the second portion, the program executes with a second graphic which indicates that the program is not approved. 
     
     
         17 . A process as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the full version of the digital content comprises a computer program and in which the second portion is a first graphic of the program, and said method further comprising overwriting the second graphic with the first graphic when the second portion is recorded with the first portion on the physical media.