System and method for distributing electronic content utilizing electronic license keys
First Claim
1. A system for distributing electronic content from a content creator to an end-user operating an end-user device, said system comprising:
- a sales mechanism for selling a license token to the end-user and distributing the license token to the end-user device;
a data downloading mechanism for downloading encrypted electronic content to the end-user device;
a protected software portion within the end-user device, wherein the protected software portion includes decryption software for decrypting the encrypted electronic content; and
means within the end-user device for generating a license key utilized to access the decryption software, wherein the license key is generated based on the license token and a content identifier for the downloaded encrypted electronic content, wherein the decryption software decrypts the identified downloaded encrypted electronic content upon access by the license key.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for distributing electronic content from a content creator to an end-user operating an end-user device. The end-user purchases a number of license tokens, which are electronically distributed to the end-user device from a distributor. The license tokens are utilized to access protected software in the end-user device for decrypting encrypted electronic content. The end-user selects a content piece from the distributor'"'"'s menu, which indicates a content identifier and a predefined number of license tokens required for each content piece. The end-user then downloads the selected content piece in encrypted form and the device utilizes the predefined number of license tokens and the content identifier to generate a license key and access decryption software in the end-user device, which is utilized to decrypt the downloaded content piece. The consumed license tokens and decrypted content are reported to the distributor for proper allocation of revenue to those in the distribution chain.
108 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A system for distributing electronic content from a content creator to an end-user operating an end-user device, said system comprising:
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a sales mechanism for selling a license token to the end-user and distributing the license token to the end-user device;
a data downloading mechanism for downloading encrypted electronic content to the end-user device;
a protected software portion within the end-user device, wherein the protected software portion includes decryption software for decrypting the encrypted electronic content; and
means within the end-user device for generating a license key utilized to access the decryption software, wherein the license key is generated based on the license token and a content identifier for the downloaded encrypted electronic content, wherein the decryption software decrypts the identified downloaded encrypted electronic content upon access by the license key. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of distributing electronic content from a content creator to an end-user operating an end-user device that includes a protected software portion, wherein the protected software portion includes decryption software for decrypting encrypted electronic content, said method comprising:
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selling a license token to the end-user;
distributing the license token to the end-user device;
downloading encrypted electronic content to the end-user device, said content having a content identifier;
generating a license key for the downloaded encrypted electronic content based on the license token and the content identifier;
utilizing the license key by the end-user device to access the decryption software; and
decrypting the downloaded encrypted electronic content. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system in an end-user device for receiving from a distributor, electronic content created by a content creator, said system comprising:
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a purchasing mechanism for purchasing a plurality of license tokens from the distributor;
a secure memory associated with the end-user device for storing the plurality of license tokens;
means for receiving from the distributor, a menu comprising a plurality of electronic content pieces;
means for selecting from the menu a desired electronic content piece having a content identifier;
a data downloading mechanism for downloading the selected electronic content piece from the distributor in encrypted form;
a protected software portion that includes decryption software for decrypting the encrypted electronic content; and
means for generating a license key for the selected electronic content piece based on the license token and the content identifier, wherein the license key is utilized to access the decryption software, which decrypts the selected electronic content piece upon access by the license key. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method in an end-user device for receiving from a distributor, electronic content created by a content creator, wherein the end-user device includes a protected software portion that includes decryption software for decrypting encrypted electronic content, said method comprising:
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purchasing a plurality of license tokens from the distributor;
storing the plurality of license tokens in a secure memory associated with the end-user device;
receiving from the distributor, a menu listing a plurality of electronic content pieces;
selecting from the menu, a desired electronic content piece having a content identifier;
downloading the selected electronic content piece from the distributor in encrypted form;
generating a license key for the selected electronic content piece based on a predefined number of license tokens and the content identifier;
accessing the decryption software utilizing the license key; and
decrypting the selected electronic content piece utilizing the decryption software. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification