U.S. patent application number 09/797516 was filed with the patent office on 2002-09-05 for method and system for restricted biometric access to content of packaged media.
Invention is credited to Abram, Philip Michael, Beckwitt, Marc, Gudorf, Gregory D., Iso, Kazuaki, Raymond, Brian, Siegel, Brian, Tobin, Christopher M..
Application Number | 20020124190 09/797516 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25171051 |
Filed Date | 2002-09-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020124190 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Siegel, Brian ; et
al. |
September 5, 2002 |
Method and system for restricted biometric access to content of
packaged media
Abstract
A system, method, and user device for restricting access to the
content of media over a network. Biometric information is collected
and compared against pre-stored biometric information of a user to
authenticate the identity of the user. The user then requests
access to the content of a medium. Access is permitted to the
requested content if the content is identified as content, or
indicia identifying the content, that the user previously uploaded
to the server. Access is denied to the requested content if the
content is not identified as content, or indicia identifying the
content, that the user previously uploaded to the server.
Inventors: |
Siegel, Brian;
(Washingtonville, NY) ; Abram, Philip Michael;
(Warwick, NY) ; Beckwitt, Marc; (San Clemente,
CA) ; Gudorf, Gregory D.; (San Diego, CA) ;
Iso, Kazuaki; (Oradell, NJ) ; Raymond, Brian;
(San Diego, CA) ; Tobin, Christopher M.; (Central
Valley, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LERNER, DAVID, LITTENBERG,
KRUMHOLZ & MENTLIK
600 SOUTH AVENUE WEST
WESTFIELD
NJ
07090
US
|
Family ID: |
25171051 |
Appl. No.: |
09/797516 |
Filed: |
March 1, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
726/3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 63/0861
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
713/202 |
International
Class: |
H04L 009/32 |
Claims
1. A system for restricting access to the content of media stored
on a computer connected to a network, comprising: at least one user
device; a biometric device associated with said at least one user
device that measures biometric information of a user; a content
access managing module associated with the at least one user
device; and a server which communicates with said content access
managing module to biometrically authenticate said user and
authorize said user's access to media whose content, or indicia
identifying said content, said at least one user device previously
transmitted to said server for storage on said server.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein said content access managing
module associated with said at least one user device comprises: a
biometric authentication module for authenticating the identity of
said user; a content recognition module for identifying said at
least one medium; and a server storage module which communicates
with said server to identify said content of said at least one
medium.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein said server comprises: a
registration database for storing information about biometrically
authenticated users; a content database for storing the content of
said at least one medium to be accessed by said user; a content
access managing module having a biometric authentication sequence
module for authenticating the identity of said user; and a content
indexing module for communicating with said registration database
and storing pointers to content stored in said content
database.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein said biometric device is a
fingerprint recognition device.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein said biometric device is a voice
pattern recognition device.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one user device is
a personal computer.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one user device is
a portable device.
8. A system for restricting access to the content of media stored
on a computer connected to a network, comprising: at least one user
device; a biometric device associated with said at least one user
device that measures biometric information of a user; a portable
storage medium having a content access managing module for
biometrically authenticating said user associated with said at
least one user device; and a server which communicates with said
content access managing module to biometrically authenticate said
user and authorize said user's access to media whose content, or
indicia identifying said content, said at least one user device
previously transmitted to said server for storage on said
server.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein said biometric device is a
fingerprint recognition device.
10. The system of claim 8, wherein said biometric sensor is a voice
pattern recognition device.
11. The system of claim 8, wherein said at least one user device is
a personal computer.
12. The system of claim 8, wherein said at least one user device is
a portable device.
13. A method for restricting access to the content of media stored
on a computer connected to a network, comprising the steps of:
obtaining biometric information of a user with a biometric device
associated with at least one user device; uploading to a server the
content, or indicia identifying said content, of at least one
medium; and managing said user's access to said content of said at
least one medium using said biometric information and the identity
of the content of said at least one medium.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein said biometric information is
fingerprint data.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein said biometric information is
voice pattern data.
16. A method of obtaining restricted access to the content of media
stored on a computer connected to a network, comprising the steps
of: accessing a server; transmitting to said server biometric
information of a user from a biometric device associated with at
least one user device; authenticating said user based on comparing
said biometric information against pre-stored biometric information
of said user; requesting access to the content of at least one
medium stored on said server; providing said user access to said
content if said content is identified as content or indicia of
content that said user previously uploaded to said server; and
denying said user access to said content if said content is not
identified as content or indicia of content that said user
previously uploaded to said server.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein said biometric information is
fingerprint data.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein said biometric information is
voice pattern data.
19. A user device for restricting access to the content of media
stored on a computer connected to a network, comprising: a
biometric device for authenticating the identity of a user; a
biometric authentication module for communicating with a server
connected to said network to authenticate the identity of said
user; a content recognition module for identifying at least one
medium inserted in said user device; and a server storage module
for communicating with said content recognition module and with
said server to upload to said server content, or indicia
identifying said content, of said at least one medium.
20. The user device of claim 19, wherein said biometric device is a
fingerprint recognition device.
21. The user device of claim 19, wherein said biometric device is a
voice pattern recognition device.
22. A user device for restricting access to the content of media
stored on a computer connected to a network, comprising: a
biometric device for authenticating the identity of a user; a
biometric authentication module for communicating with a server
connected to said network to authenticate the identity of said
user; and a content access managing module for communicating with
said server to manage said user's access to the content of media
whose content, or indicia identifying said content, was previously
transmitted to said server for storage on said server.
23. The user device of claim 22, wherein said biometric device is a
fingerprint recognition device.
24. The user device of claim 22, wherein said biometric sensor is a
voice pattern recognition device.
25. A method for creating an index of the content of media
available to a user for restricted access and distribution on a
network, comprising the steps of: determining the identity of the
content of media located in a user device; transmitting said
identity to a server on said network; adding said identity to an
index of the content of media available for restricted access and
distribution for said user; providing notification to said user
device of whether said content previously was stored on said
server; and uploading to said server from said user device said
content if said content was not previously stored on said server.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a system and method for
storing and distributing the content of packaged media. In
particular, the present invention relates to a system and method
for storing and distributing the content of packaged media over a
network in a restricted manner.
[0002] Many consumers today have CD, DVD, MD or VHS packaged media.
In order for consumers to access the content on their media, the
consumers need to have the media immediately accessible to them.
This requires that consumers wishing to enjoy their media from any
place other than where the media is located must make a choice as
to which media to take with them as they move about.
[0003] Alternatives to date have been for the consumer to upload
the content of the media, in particular media in the CD audio
format, for storage in an unsecured Internet accessible server. The
consumer can then access the content through a network connection
using portable devices. As a result, some copyright holders have
had a problem with these alternatives since the alternatives offer
the opportunity for people who do not own the media to easily
access the content of the media from the server storage. For
example, a consumer could purchase a CD and, using a personal
computer (PC), upload the content stored on the CD into the storage
of an unsecured server. This would then allow many other people who
do not own the CD to use a network connection to access the content
of the CD from the server storage.
[0004] There is thus a need for a system and method for allowing a
user secure access to his or her personally owned packaged media
from any location.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention provides a system, method and a user
device for restricting access to the content of media over a
network. Biometric information of the user verifies the identity of
the user, and allows a biometrically authenticated user to access
the content of media that the user previously stored or identified
on a server on a network.
[0006] To accomplish this, biometric information of the user is
obtained with a biometric device associated with a user device.
This biometric information is compared against pre-stored biometric
information of the user to authenticate the identity of the user.
The user requests access to the content of a medium stored on a
server on the network. The user is provided access to the requested
content if the content is identified as content, or indicia
identifying the content, that the user device previously uploaded
to the server. The user is denied access to the content if the
content is not identified as content, or indicia identifying the
content, that the user device previously uploaded to the
server.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a system in accordance
with the present invention;
[0008] FIG. 2 illustrates a diagram of a personal computer
configured in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0009] FIG. 3 illustrates a server configured in accordance with
one embodiment of the present invention; and
[0010] FIG. 4 illustrates a portable user device configured in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] The present invention provides a system for restricting
access to the content of packaged media over a network to
biometrically authenticated users who previously uploaded the
content of packaged media, or indicia identifying the content of
packaged media, to a server on the network. In a preferred
embodiment of the present invention, this restricted access is
provided through a biometric registration, a subsequent biometric
authentication, and identification of the content requested by the
user as corresponding to the content, or indicia identifying the
content, of packaged media that the user previously uploaded to the
server.
[0012] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a distributed computer network system
10 in accordance with the present invention. System 10 includes a
network server, for example, content storage and management server
15, connected via network 20, for example, the Internet, to a
client computer, for example, user PC 25. User PC 25 includes
components normally found in a personal computer such as, for
example, a memory, an operating system, a browser, and a content
playing module. In accordance with the present invention, user PC
25 also has a content access managing module, referred to herein as
a PC module. This module is discussed in greater detail below.
[0013] User PC 25 also preferably has a biometric device 27 for
measuring a unique human characteristic of a user referred to
herein as biometric information. Preferably, the biometric
information will be a fingerprint or a voice pattern. Conventional
fingerprint recognition and/or voice recognition technology may be
used to collect and analyze the biometric information. Although
these are the preferred types of biometric information, the present
invention is not so limited, and other types of biometric
information may include retina pattern, iris pattern, scent
pattern, voice pattern, DNA pattern, heat pattern, facial image or
any other human characteristic uniquely identifying a particular
individual. Biometric device 27 may be built into user PC 25 or may
be an external device connected to PC 25 through a cable or a
wireless connection. Biometric device 27 may be a device that
collects the biometric information of the user and then transmits
the biometric information to a server 15, or another server on the
network connected to server 15, for biometric authentication of the
user. Alternatively, biometric device 27 may be a device that both
collects the biometric information of a user, biometrically
authenticates the user and then provides an authorization signal to
server 15 or another server on the network connected to server
15.
[0014] Server 15 contains hardware and software for sending and
receiving information over the network, such as web pages or files
over the World Wide Web. Server 15 may be a typical web server or
any other computer network server or automated system capable of
communicating with other computers over a network, including the
Internet, wide area networks or local area networks. In accordance
with the present invention, server 15 includes components normally
found in a network server, including, for example, a memory and an
operating system. Server 15 also preferably includes a registration
database, a content database, and a content access managing module,
referred to herein as a network module. These databases and module
are discussed in greater detail below.
[0015] Also connected to network 20 via wireless LAN 30 is a user
personal digital assistant (PDA) 35. PDA 35 is a portable user
device having wireless capability. PDA 35 includes components
normally found in a PDA, including, for example, a memory, an
operating system, a browser, and a content playing module. In
accordance with the present invention, PDA 35 also preferably has a
biometric device 37 for measuring biometric information of the
user. Like user biometric device 27, biometric device 37 may be
built in to PDA 35 biometric device or an external device connected
to PDA 35 through a cable or wireless connection. Additionally,
like user PC 25, biometric device 37 may be a device for collecting
biometric information with biometric authentication occurring at
server 15, or another server in communication with server 15, or
may be a device that both collects the biometric information and
biometrically authenticates the user.
[0016] In accordance with the present invention, PDA 35 also
preferably includes a content access managing module, referred to
herein as a PDA module. This module is discussed in greater detail
below. Alternatively, a portable memory device, such as a CD,
floppy disk, memory stick, etc. containing the PDA module may be
inserted or plugged into PDA 35.
[0017] Although user PC 25 and PDA 35 are shown by way of example
in FIG. 1 for interacting with server 15, it should be understood
that in lieu of, or in addition to user PC 25 and PDA 35, other
computer devices, such as set-top boxes, digital televisions,
Internet appliances, portable computers, cellular telephones, MP3
players, etc., may be used for this purpose. It also should be
appreciated that although only two user devices are depicted in
FIG. 1, server 15 is typically connected to many such user
devices.
[0018] FIG. 2 provides a further description of the PC module. As
discussed above, user PC 25 has components normally found in a
personal computer, such as, for example, memory 40, operating
system 45, browser 50 and content playing module 60. Content
playing module 60 includes compression/decompression (CODEC) module
62. In accordance with the present invention, PC module 65 includes
biometric authentication module 70, content recognition module 75,
and server storage module 80.
[0019] If biometric device 27 only collects a user's biometric
information, but does not biometrically authenticate the user,
biometric authentication module 70, referred to hereinafter as
biometric module 70, collects the user's biometric information.
Biometric module 70 then transmits this biometric information to
server 15, and server 15 biometrically authenticates the user.
Alternatively, if biometric device 27 both collects the user's
biometric information and biometrically authenticates the user,
then biometric module 70 receives a biometric authentication signal
from biometric device 27. Biometric module 70 then transmits this
authentication signal to server 15.
[0020] Content recognition module 75, referred to hereinafter as
recognition module 75, (i) recognizes the content of a CD (or other
media) from a unique code or identifier read from the CD, (ii)
transmits the unique code or identifier to server 15, (iii)
receives responsive identification of the content from the server,
and (iv) displays the responsive identification to the user. In the
alternative, rather than recognition module 75 reading a unique
code or identifier from the CD identifying the CD's content, the
entire content of the CD can be uploaded to server 15 by server
storage module 80.
[0021] For example, recognition module 75 can read a conventional
digital fingerprint or identification code on a CD that uniquely
identifies the content stored on the CD such as, for example, the
bit pattern of the table of contents (TOC)portion of the CD.
Recognition module 75 transmits the CD fingerprint or
identification code to a database on server 15. If the content of
the CD was previously stored on server 15, the CD's content does
not require uploading to server 15.
[0022] Following identification of the CD, server storage module
80, referred to hereinafter as storage module 80, transmits the
user's instruction to add the CD's content to an access rights
portfolio of the user. The user's access rights portfolio may be
located on user PC 25, a combination of user PC 25 and server 15,
or preferably solely on server 15.
[0023] Alternatively, when the content of a CD is not already
stored on server 15, storage module 80 uploads the content of the
CD to server 15. The identity of such content similarly is included
in the user's access rights portfolio.
[0024] FIG. 3 provides a further description of the registration
database, content database and network module of server 15. As
discussed above, server 15 includes components normally found in a
network server, including, for example, memory 85 and operating
system 90. In accordance with the present invention, server 15 also
includes registration database 95, content database 100, and
network module 105. Registration database 95 stores biometric
information of registered users. This information is compared
against biometric information transmitted by users seeking access
to media content to authenticate these users. Content database 100
stores the actual content of packaged media to be accessed by
authenticated users.
[0025] Network module 105 includes biometric authentication
sequence module 110, referred to hereinafter as biometric module
110, and content indexing module 115, referred to hereinafter as
indexing module 115. Biometric module 110 includes software for
registering users, initiating access rights to identified content,
and granting access to previously identified content. Indexing
module 115 indexes the content of media stored in content database
100. For example, indexing module 115 indexes the song titles and
track numbers of a CD, or the picture names and chapter numbers of
a DVD. Indexing module 115 also stores, for each registered user,
pointers to the content stored in content database 100 for which
the user is permitted access. This scheme avoids redundant storage
of content to which many users have access rights.
[0026] FIG. 4 further illustrates PDA 35. As discussed above, PDA
35 includes components normally found in a PDA, including, for
example, memory 120, operating system 125, browser 130 and content
playing module 135. Content playing module 135 includes
compression/decompression (CODEC) module 137. In accordance with
the present invention, PDA 35 also includes content access managing
module 140, referred to hereinafter as PDA module 140. PDA module
140 may be included in memory 120. Alternatively, PDA 35 may
include means for receiving a portable memory device, such as, a
CD, a floppy disk, a removable FLASH memory (preferably a Sony
Memory Stick) etc., containing PDA module 140.
[0027] PDA module 140 includes biometric authentication module 145,
referred to hereinafter as biometric module 145. If biometric
device 37 only collects a user's biometric information, but does
not biometrically authenticate the user, biometric module 145
collects the user's biometric information. Biometric module 145
then transmits this biometric information to server 15, and server
15 biometrically authenticates the user. Alternatively, if
biometric device 37 both collects the user's biometric information
and biometrically authenticates the user, biometric device 37
transmits a biometric authentication signal to biometric module
145. Biometric module 145 then transmits this authentication signal
to server 15.
[0028] Alternatively, if a portable memory device, such as, a
removable FLASH memory contains PDA module 140 inserting the
removable FLASH memory into a portable device, such as, PDA 35
migrates to PDA 35 the biometric authentication functionality of
PDA module 140, including biometric authentication module 145. In
accordance with the present invention, PDA 35 then also has
biometric device 37 for measuring biometric information of the
user. Biometric device 37 may be built into PDA 35 or may be an
external device connected to PDA 35 through a cable or wireless
connection. Additionally, biometric device 37 may be a device for
collecting biometric information with biometric authentication
occurring at server 15, or another server in communication with
server 15, or may be a device that both collects the biometric
information and biometrically authenticates the user.
[0029] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, in a preferred embodiment,
user PC 25 communicates with server 15 via network connection 20.
The user originally accesses server 15 through notification of the
URL. The user then registers for a service to authenticate the
identity of the user to permit secured access to the content of a
packaged medium owned by the user, for example, the content of a CD
in audio format. This registration involves providing, e.g., the
user's name, address, phone number, email address, biometric
information, etc.
[0030] As part of this registration, the user activates biometric
device 27 to measure biometric information of the user. Biometric
module 70 of user PC 25 collects the biometric information of the
user from the biometric device 27. User PC 25 transmits the
biometric information from biometric module 70 to registration
database 95 of server 15. Registration database 95 stores the
biometric information of the user. Upon storage of the user's
biometric information in registration database 95, the registration
is complete.
[0031] Alternatively, as described in connection with FIG. 2, if
biometric device 27 is a device that both collects the biometric
information and authenticates the user's identity, the user
activates biometric device 27 to measure the biometric information
of the user. Biometric device 27 stores this biometric information
in biometric device 27, and also transmits a signal to biometric
module 70 of user PC 25 indicating that this biometric information
was collected and stored. Biometric module 70 then transmits this
signal to server 15, and the registration is complete.
[0032] After registration, the user can access server 15 using,
e.g., conventional browser 50 of PC 25 or browser 130 of PDA 35.
The initial access is accomplished in a conventional manner.
However, after initial access is affected, server 15 activates
biometric module 110 for the purpose of recognizing and
authenticating the identity of the user. For example, if the user
is using PC 25 to access server 15, the user will be prompted to
provide the biometric information of the user to biometric device
27 of PC 25. In that case, biometric module 70 collects the
biometric information, and transmits the biometric information to
biometric module 110 of server 15. Biometric module 110 compares
the biometric information received from biometric module 70 against
the previously stored copy of the biometric information of the user
stored in registration database 95 for the purpose of
authenticating the identity of the user. If the biometric
information received from biometric module 70 matches the biometric
information stored in registration database 95 for the user, a
verification code is generated and access is granted to the user to
appropriate content. If the biometric information received from
biometric module 70 does not match the biometric information stored
in registration database 95, a denial code is generated and access
is denied to the user for any content.
[0033] Alternatively, if biometric device 27 is used to
biometrically authenticate the user (not simply collect the
biometric information for authentication by server 15), after
registration, the user accesses server 15 using browser 50. The
user activates biometric device 27 to collect the user's biometric
information. Biometric device 27 compares the biometric information
against the previously stored copy of the biometric information
stored in biometric device 27 (or PC 25) for the purpose of
authenticating the identity of the user. If the biometric
information matches the previously stored biometric information, an
authentication signal is generated. If the biometric information
does not match the previously stored biometric information, a
denial code is generated. If biometric device 27 generates an
authentication signal, biometric device 27 transmits the
authentication signal to biometric module 110 of server 15.
[0034] After a user accesses server 15 and his or her identity is
authenticated, e.g., as part of the registration process or during
any access to server 15 following registration, the user may wish
to add media content to his or her access rights portfolio. To do
so, the user inserts media, e.g., a CD into, e.g., the disc drive
of user PC 25. Recognition module 75 of user PC 25 reads a
conventional digital fingerprint or identification code of the CD
that uniquely identifies the content stored on the CD. For example,
recognition module 75 may read the bit pattern of the TOC portion
of the CD to uniquely identify the content stored on the CD.
Recognition module 75 transmits the CD fingerprint or
identification code to registration database 95 of server 15.
Registration database 95 communicates with indexing module 115 to
identify the content requested by the user. Indexing module 115
maps the CD fingerprint or identification code to the identity of
the content of the CD. If indexing module 115 identifies the
content of the CD as content already stored in content database
100, recognition module 75 receives responsive identification of
the content from server 15, and displays the responsive
identification of the content to the user. Alternatively, if
indexing module 115 does not identify the content of the CD as
content already stored on server 15, the disc drive of user PC 25
reads the content of the CD, and storage module 80 uploads the
content of the CD to content database 100 of server 15.
[0035] After PC 25 uploads to server 15 either the unique
fingerprint or code from the CD, or the content of the CD, content
indexing module 115 manages and provides an index of this content
as content that the user may access in a user's access rights
portfolio. Alternatively, this index may be maintained by PC module
65 or on a combination of both server 15 and PC module 65.
Preferably, the portfolio is included on server 15 for security and
to accommodate the user's access to the content from different user
devices. Once the content is identified in the user's access rights
portfolio on server 15, the user can subsequently access the
content from any location and from any device having a biometric
device similar to biometric device 27 or biometric device 37.
[0036] For example, after the user registers and establishes the
user's access rights portfolio on server 15, the user can access
the content identified in the access rights portfolio from any
location using PDA 35. Turning to FIGS. 1 and 4, PDA 35 is
connected to server 15 via wireless network connection 30 and
network 20. The user accesses server 15 using browser 130 of PDA
35. To authenticate the user's identity, the user activates
biometric device 37 to measure biometric information of the user.
Biometric module 145 collects the biometric information of the
user, and transmits the biometric information to biometric module
110 of server 15. Biometric module 110 compares the biometric
information received from biometric module 145 against the
previously stored copy of the biometric information of the user
stored in registration database 95. If the biometric information
received from biometric module 145 matches the biometric
information stored in registration database 95 for the user, a
verification code is generated and access is granted to the user to
the content identified in the user's access rights portfolio. If
the biometric information received from biometric module 145 does
not match the biometric information stored in registration database
95, a denial code is generated and access is denied to the user to
any content.
[0037] Alternatively, if biometric device 37 is used to both
collect the biometric information and biometrically authenticate
the user, after registration, the user accesses server 15 using
browser 130. The user activates biometric device 37 to collect the
user's biometric information. Biometric device 37 then compares
this biometric information against the previously stored copy of
the biometric information in biometric device 37 or PDA 35 for the
purpose of authenticating the identity of the user. If the
biometric information matches the previously stored biometric
information, an authentication signal is generated. If the
biometric information does not match the previously stored
biometric information, a denial code is generated. If biometric
device 37 generates an authentication signal, biometric device 37
transmits the authentication signal to biometric module 110 of
server 15.
[0038] After the identity of the user is biometrically
authenticated, the user can access from PDA 35 the user's access
rights portfolio on server 15. From the user's access rights
portfolio, the user can choose the content that the user desires to
have played back on PDA 35. Indexing module 115 is used to easily
display to the user a list of the content for which the user has
access rights. Indexing module 115 assists the user in searching
for available content, e.g., song titles or a playlist. The user
may have previously compiled a playlist with user PC 25, e.g., and
uploaded the playlist to server 15 allowing access to the playlist
through a network connection using a portable device, e.g., PDA 35.
The user chooses the content that the user desires to have played
back on PDA 35 using content playing module 135. Typically, the
content stored on server 15 is stored in MP3 or ATRAC format.
Content database 100 of server 15 transmits the requested content
to PDA 35. The playback can be accomplished using conventional
streaming audio or, alternatively, downloading the content to the
user device, e.g., PDA 35. Preferably, the playback is accomplished
using conventional streaming audio.
[0039] Although the invention herein has been described with
reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that
these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and
applications of the present invention. It is, therefore, to be
understood that numerous modifications may be made to the
illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *