Abstract: The invention relates to a system (100) for authorizing a user (111) to use a device requiring authorization (140), and a method of authorizing a user to use such a device. The system comprises identification means (130) arranged to identify the user, authorization means (120, 320) arranged to authorize the user to use said device requiring authorization, at least one linking means (110) arranged to establish and monitor a bio-link between the user and the authorization means, and at least one linking means being further arranged to activate said authorization means in response to a valid user identification by the identification means. Said authorization means (120) is active only while said link is valid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and a system for managing digital rights. The invention is based on the idea that a digital voucher (100) is provided with access control information for accessing digital content located on a server (104) of a content provider. A consumer of the digital content reads the voucher (100) by means of a bar code reader, an RF detector (102) or the like. This 104 reading means (102) is connected to some computing means (103) such as a computer, a mobile phone, a PDA, a set-top box etc. The computing means (103) transfers the access control information to a server (104) of a content provider. The server (104) to which the access control information is transferred processes the access control information, and depending on the result of the processing, the computing means (103) is given different levels of access to digital content located on the server (104).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for managing memory space of a persistent-memory device and to a memory management device. The memory management method of the invention comprises a step of allocating (S14) at least one first part of said memory space to a file system (74) upon request from said file system (74) or from an application (70). The method and the device of the present invention enable a dynamical allocation of persistent-memory space to a file system. This way, the memory space of a persistent memory is effectively used also for write-caching. At the same time, write-caching and storing steps can be accelerated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system for identifying an item (1) to which a radio frequency tag is attached by means of a radio frequency tag detector (101), wherein radio frequency contact is established between the tag and the detector (101) and information associated with the item (1) and being stored by the tag is received by the detector (101). The invention is based on the idea that the data stored by the tag is mapped against a unique item identifier. This unique item identifier is then presented for a user of the detector (101). By employing the present invention, it is possible to identify an item (1) by attaching a small tag to it. This is particularly advantageous in the case where the item (1) to which the tag is attached is very small, such that it is practically difficult to write information on the item (1) itself or on the item casing.

Abstract: A disc recording device has a rule based extent allocation strategy. Real-time information like audio is to be reproduced continuously via a rendering system having predefined properties: a buffer, a minimal read-out speed Rdisc, and a maximal seek time Tseek. The information is arranged in files that have a maximal data rate Rfile, and a maximal size of header information Sheaders that precedes and/or follows the real-time information in the file. The information of the files is recorded in contiguous parts of the track at least having the size of Sextent. The device has an allocation unit (35) for determining a minimal size of an extent Sextent that is a continuous recording unit at least taking into account the properties Rdisc, Tseek, Rfile and Sheaders, in particular according to Sextent=((Tseek+Sheaders/Rdisc)*Rfile*Rdisc)/(Rdisc?Rfile).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recordable record carrier having a user area (UA) for storing user data and a management area (MA) for storing management data. The invention further relates to a recording apparatus for recording information on such a record carrier and a corresponding recording method. In some applications it is useful to translate the main file system into an alternative virtual file system. To reduce the mount times and power consumption needed for reconstruction of the virtual file system, it is proposed that the management area (MA) comprises a main file system area (70) for storing main file system data (mFS), a virtual file system area (71) for storing virtual file system data (vFS) in a raw format, and an indicator area (72) for storing an indicator (ID) indicating whether the main system data (mFS) and the virtual file system data (vFS) are mutually consistent.

Abstract: Disclosed is a record carrier, in particular a recordable or rewritable optical disc, having a program memory area for storing administrative data, a lead in area, a program area for storing user data and a lead out area. In order to enable a drive to access digital rights management data which are stored in the program area, comprising e.g. usage rights and cryptographic keys, it is proposed that the record carrier further comprises:—a DRM pointer entry (ALP) comprising the entry point for said digital rights management data is stored in the program area after said digital rights management (DRM) data, —a drive-readable entry comprising an information allowing the drive to find said DRM pointer entry (ALP) and to access said digital rights management (DRM) data is stored in said program area or said program memory area.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for defining entry points for a data stream, in particular a stream of audiovisual information. Entry points in the stream are defined at a predetermined interval. This may be a time interval, a byte interval or any other interval. It is an object of the invention to provide an entry point table having a limited size. This object is achieved by increasing the interval between entry points if the table exceeds a predetermined size. This size may be defined in bytes, in the number of entry points or even in the number of sub-tables. After redefinition of the interval between entry points, entry points are redefined. The invention also relates to an apparatus for defining the entry points and to a record carrier with a data stream incorporating entry points defined by the method according to the invention.