Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A method and apparatus for granting privileges for securely and selectively retrieving material such as data and databases, messages and other textual information, graphics, tables, analogs such as maps, facsimiles (FAX) of all manner of transmitted materials, audio such as voice or speech and music, video, images, and photographs, provided on storage media utilizing information encoded in the storage media. The storage media are included in one or more reading devices associated with a computer or computers. A storage retrieval device, such as a smart card, is used in conjunction with the computer to determine whether information retrieval by a particular user to specific storage media is granted. The storage media can be sub-divided into a plurality of logical zones and access to all or a portion of the material on the storage media is granted based upon the logical zones to which the user is allowed information retrieval. Information provided on the storage media would include access/information management control device such as index table listing the security identification code, the logical zones to which a particular user is assigned as well as a personal security key used in conjunction with a personal security key provided in the personal access device such as a smart card. The interaction between the user's personal accessing device and the access/information management control device provided on the storage media determine if information retrieval is granted as well as specific information retrieval privileges accorded to the user. The present invention can be embedded in another device or system, such as a facsimile system which would allow a user access to only those messages specifically directed to him. Furthermore, the invention can be used in local area networks, wide area networks, point-to-point communication networks, as well as store-and-forward systems.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim