Online digital content library
First Claim
1. A method of distributing digital content via a digital network, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a request at a server for said digital content from a user via said digital network;
processing said request at said server to determine that said user is permitted to access said digital content; and
providing access for said digital content to said user via said digital network for a limited period of time, wherein said user is denied access to said digital content after said limited period of time has elapsed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
According to various exemplary embodiments, a system for distributing digital content via a digital network suitably includes a database configured to receive the digital content from the input and to store the content in a database, an interface to the digital network, and an application program configured to receive a request for the digital content from a user via the interface and to process the request such that the user is granted access to the digital content for a limited period of time. Other aspects of the invention include methods for distributing online content, methods for operating an online library, and the like.
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Citations
55 Claims
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1. A method of distributing digital content via a digital network, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request at a server for said digital content from a user via said digital network;
processing said request at said server to determine that said user is permitted to access said digital content; and
providing access for said digital content to said user via said digital network for a limited period of time, wherein said user is denied access to said digital content after said limited period of time has elapsed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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6. The method of claim I further comprising the step of providing a preview of said digital content to said user prior to said providing access step.
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25. A system for distributing digital content via a digital network, the system comprising:
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a database configured to receive said digital content and to store said content;
an interface to said digital network; and
an application program configured to receive a request for said digital content from a user via said interface and to process said request such that said user is granted access to said digital content for a limited period of time via said interface. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of operating an online library, the method comprising the steps of:
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maintaining a database comprising digital content and an accounting of a number of acceptable simultaneous consumers of said digital content;
accepting requests from users for access to said digital content; and
granting said users access to said digital content in response to said requests if said number of acceptable simultaneous consumers is not exceeded. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A digital library system comprising:
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an interface to a digital network;
a database comprising a digital content item; and
a server application configured to retrieve said digital content item from said database in response to a request from a user, to encrypt said digital content item, and to provide said digital content item to said user via said interface. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47)
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- 48. A digital library system of clam 45 wherein said server application is further configured to encrypt said digital content item such that an encryption key is based upon an identifying characteristic of said user.
Specification