USB connecting system and method

Abstract

A system including a plug device, configured to be reversibly operationally plugged into a socket of a standard configuration, and a socket device, configured with at least one restriction structure that prevents a plug that is configured according to the standard configuration from being operationally plugged into the socket device. The plug device is configured with a respective accommodating structure to be reversibly operationally plugged into the socket device despite the restriction structure. The scope of the invention also includes a method of digital rights management by configuring a media player with the socket device of the present invention to connect to a media carrier configured with the plug device of the present invention, thereby allowing only the media carrier configured with the plug of the present invention to download data to this media player.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention with regard to the embodiment thereof, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals designate corresponding sections or elements throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1A shows a front view of a prior art USB socket;

FIG. 1B shows a front view of a USB socket of the present invention;

FIG. 1C shows a cross-section of the USB socket of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 2A shows a top view of a prior art USB plug;

FIG. 2B shows a top view of a USB plug of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows the way in which the USB plug of FIG. 2B is plugged into the USB socket of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 4A shows, in side cross sectional view, the way in which the USB socket of the present invention is designed to selectively prevent plugging an unauthorized prior art plug into the USB socket.

FIG. 4B shows a top view of the way in which the USB socket of the present invention is designed to selectively prevent plugging an unauthorized prior art plug into the USB socket.

FIG. 4C shows, in side cross sectional view, the way in which the USB plug of the present invention is plugged into the USB socket of the present invention; and

FIG. 4D shows a top view of the way in which the USB plug of the present invention is plugged into the USB socket of the present invention.

Claims

1. A system comprising: (a) a plug device configured to be reversibly operationally plugged into a socket that is configured according to a standard; and(b) a socket device configured with at least one restriction structure that prevents a plug that is configured according to said standard from being operationally plugged into said socket device; wherein said plug device is configured with a respective at least one accommodating structure to be reversibly operationally plugged into said socket device despite said restriction structure.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one restriction structure of said socket device includes at least one protrusion.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said socket device includes: (i) a socket housing; and(ii) a plurality of socket pins, such that said at least one restriction structure of said socket device is configured on a surface of said socket housing that is opposite said plurality of socket pins.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said socket device includes: (i) a socket housing; and(ii) a plurality of socket pins, such that said at least one restriction structure of said socket device is configured on a surface of said socket housing that is adjacent said plurality of socket pins.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one restriction structure includes a structure configured on a side surface of a housing of said socket device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one restriction structure includes at least two structures configured on a housing of said socket device, at at least two locations selected from the group consisting of: a surface of said housing that is opposite pins of said socket device, a surface of said housing that is adjacent said pins of said socket device, and a side surface of said housing.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one restriction structure of said socket device includes a material attached to said socket device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one restriction structure includes a dent extending inwards within a housing of said socket device.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising: (c) two electric conductors embedded within said socket device, wherein said plug device providing an electrically conductive path between said two electric conductors when said plug device is plugged into said socket device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one accommodating structure of said plug device includes at least one recess.

11. The system of claim 3, wherein said plug device includes: (iii) a plug housing; and(iv) a plurality of plug pins, wherein at least one said accommodating structure of said plug device is configured on a surface of said plug housing that is opposite said plurality of plug pins.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said plug device includes: (iii) a plug housing; and(iv) a plurality of plug pins, wherein at least one said accommodating structure of said plug device is configured on a surface of said plug housing that is adjacent to said plurality of plug pins.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said standard is a USB standard.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said standard is a Firewire standard.

15. The system of claim 1 further comprising: (c) a media player, for playing digital media, operationally connected to said socket device.

16. The system of claim 1 further comprising: (c) a media carrier, including a non-volatile memory for storing digital information, that is operationally connected to said plug device.

17. A system comprising: (a) a socket device configured to be reversibly operationally plugged into a plug that is configured according to a standard; and(b) a plug device configured with at least one restriction structure that prevents a socket that is configured according to said standard to be operationally plugged into said plug device; wherein said socket device is configured with a respective at least one accommodating structure for being reversibly operationally plugged into said plug device despite said restriction structure.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising: (c) a media player, for playing digital media, operationally connected to said plug device.

19. The system of claim 17 further comprising: (c) a media carrier, including a non-volatile memory for storing digital information, that is operationally connected to said socket device.

20. A method of digital rights management comprising the steps of: (a) configuring a media player with a socket device, having at least one restriction structure, to prevent a plug that is configured according to a standard from being operationally plugged into said socket device;(b) storing digital information in at least one media carrier; and(c) configuring said at least one media carrier with a plug device to be reversibly operationally plugged into a socket that is configured according to said standard, wherein said plug device is configured with a respective at least one accommodating structure to be reversibly operationally plugged into said socket device despite said at least one restriction structure, whereby allowing said at least one media carrier, of which its plug device includes said at least one accommodating structure, to download said digital information to said media player.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein only said at least one media carrier, of which its plug device includes said at least one accommodating structure, is allowed to download said digital information to said media player.,

22. A method of digital rights management comprising the steps of: (a) configuring a media player with a plug device, having at least one restriction structure, to prevent a socket that is configured according to a standard from being operationally plugged into said plug device;(b) storing digital information in at least one media carrier; and(c) configuring said at least one media carrier with a socket device for being reversibly operationally plugged into a plug that is configured according to said standard, wherein said socket device is configured with a respective at least one accommodating structure for being reversibly operationally plugged into said plug device despite said at least one restriction structure, whereby allowing said at least one media carrier, of which its socket device includes said at least one accommodating structure, to download said digital information to said media player.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein only said at least one media carrier, of which its socket device includes said at least one accommodating structure, is allowed to download said digital information to said media player.