Online digital video signal transfer apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A method of delivering content to a network enabled device, the method comprising:
- transferring selected content to the network enabled device;
communicating, over a network, a license associated with the selected content to the network enabled device, the license including access level information defining conditions for controlling the network enabled device to produce a user-perceptible form of the selected content when conditions defined by the access level information are met and to inhibit production of a user-perceptible form of the selected content when conditions defined by the access level information are not met.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention overcomes the problems in the existing art described above by providing an online digital video signal transfer apparatus and method. Rental of the digital video signals occurs within an online environment including one or more client computers and at least one network server connected by a communications link to the one or more client computers. The method includes providing access to an online catalog stored within a memory of a network video server computer. The online catalog includes information regarding digital video signals available for rental from the network server computer. Requests are then received from client computers for rental of digital video signals selected from the online catalog for a specified period of time. The requests include electronic payment based on the selected digital video signal and the specified period of time. Once electronic payment is provided, the digital video signal is transmitted to the client computer via communications link. Once transmitted, the digital video signal is viewable by a user of the client computer during the specified period of time. Advantages of the invention include the ability to rent motion pictures without having to provide additional monies for purchase of the motion pictures. In addition, the present invention provides an interface that simulates the actual rental of motion pictures within a video rental store. Moreover, during the specified period of rental, the user is allowed to view the motion picture as many times as desired, thereby simulating the actual rental of video cassettes or DVDs of feature length motion pictures.
288 Citations
58 Claims
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1. A method of delivering content to a network enabled device, the method comprising:
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transferring selected content to the network enabled device;
communicating, over a network, a license associated with the selected content to the network enabled device, the license including access level information defining conditions for controlling the network enabled device to produce a user-perceptible form of the selected content when conditions defined by the access level information are met and to inhibit production of a user-perceptible form of the selected content when conditions defined by the access level information are not met. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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28. A system for controlling user access on a user network device to content, the system comprising:
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a server network device communicatively coupled to the user network device;
wherein the server network device is programmed to transfer selected content to the user network device, and wherein the server network device is further programmed to communicate, over a network, a license associated with the selected content to the user network device, the license including access level information defining conditions for controlling the user network device to produce a user-perceptible form of the selected content when conditions defined by the access level information are met and to inhibit production of a user-perceptible form of the selected content when conditions defined by the access level information are not met.
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33. A method of acquisition of content by a network enabled device, the method comprising:
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receiving selected content at the network enabled device;
receiving, by communication over a network, a license associated with the selected content, the license including access level information defining conditions for controlling the network enabled device to produce a user-perceptible form of the selected content when conditions defined by the access level information are met and to inhibit production of a user-perceptible form of the selected content when conditions defined by the access level information are not met. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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39. A system for acquiring user access to content controlled by a server network device, the system comprising:
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a user network device communicatively coupled to the server network device;
wherein the user network device is programmed to receive selected content at the user network device, and wherein the user network device is further programmed to receive, by communication over a network, a license associated with the selected content at the user network device, the license including access level information defining conditions for controlling the user network device to produce a user-perceptible form of the selected content when conditions defined by the access level information are met and to inhibit production of a user-perceptible form of the selected content when conditions defined by the access level information are not met.
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44. A business method for controlling distribution of content to a network enabled device, the method comprising:
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transferring selected content to the network enabled device, the selected content being supplied by a content owner;
communicating, over a network, a license associated with the selected content to the network enabled device, the license including access level information defining conditions for controlling the network enabled device to produce a user-perceptible form of the selected content when conditions defined by the access level information are met and to inhibit production of a user-perceptible form of the selected content when conditions defined by the access level information are not met; and
charging a license fee to a user of the network enabled device based on a license access level. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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Specification