System and method for distributing digital content over a network

• US 20060173789A1
• Filed: 02/01/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Cluts, Jonathan C., Heath, Pamela J., Goldthwaite, Flora P., Baumert, David W., Hendrickson, Gregory L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,571,328 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/59
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2153 Using hardware token as a secondary aspect

Abstract

A system and method for distributing digital content over a computer network. A set of digital content is provided in a storage location that is accessible by the network. One or more physical tokens store data related to accessing the set of digital content. When a token is at a remote location, a request for the set of digital content to be presented at the remote location is received. In response to this request, presentation of the digital content is allowed at the remote location.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for distributing digital content over a computer network, the method comprising:

providing a set of digital content in a storage location accessible by one or more computers connected to a computer network;

providing one or more physical tokens that store data related to access rights to one or more pieces of digital content said set of digital content;

receiving a request for at least a portion of said set of digital content to be presented at a remote location, wherein the request is transmitted over said computer network from said remote location when at least one of said physical tokens is at the remote location; and

allowing presentation of at least a portion of said set of digital content at said remote location in response to said request.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising adding content to or removing content from said set of digital content.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said set of content is related to a subscription-based content service.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said physical token is a smartcard.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said physical token utilizes radio-frequency identification.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said data includes authentication information.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising utilizing at least a portion of said data associated with accessing said set of digital content to determine whether said request should be granted.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising detecting the presence of said one or more tokens at said remote location and transmitting said request over said network.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said request includes data from a plurality of said tokens.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein allowing presentation of at least a portion of said set of digital content includes selecting said portion of content allowable for presentation based on the number or type of tokens residing at said remote location.

11. A computer system for distributing digital content over a computer network, the system comprising:

a set of digital content residing in a storage location accessible by one or more computers connected to a computer network;

one or more physical tokens that store data related to said set of digital content, wherein said data includes a reference to said set of digital content;

a token reader device configured to read said data from said one or more tokens;

a presentation device capable of rending at least a portion of said set of digital content; and

a content access device capable of utilizing said data to determine whether said presentation device should be permitted to present at least a portion of said set of digital content.

12. The computer system of claim 11, further comprising an application host residing at a remote location, wherein said application host is configured to communicate said data from said remote location to said content access device.

13. The computer system of claim 12, wherein said application host is configured to access at least a portion of said set of digital content over said network when said content access device permits presentation of at least a portion of said set of digital content.

14. The computer system of claim 11, wherein said set of content is periodically altered.

15. The computer system of claim 11, wherein said set of content includes at least one of audio, video or image content.

16. The computer system of claim 11, wherein said data related to said set of digital content includes licensing information.

17. A computer system for managing access to digital content, the system comprising:

one or more physical tokens that store data related to access rights to one or more pieces of digital content, wherein said one or more pieces of digital content are stored on a storage device accessible by one or more computers;

a token reader device configured to utilize said data from at least one of said physical tokens to generate a request for said one or more pieces of digital content be presented at a remote location;

an interface device capable of transmitting said request and capable of accessing at least a portion of said pieces of digital content when said request is granted; and

a presentation device capable of rending at least a portion of said one or more pieces of digital content when said request is granted.

18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein said data related to said set of digital content includes an indicia that identifies each of said one or more physical tokens.

19. The computer system of claim 17, wherein said data related to said set of digital content restricts the duration of time which said one or more physical tokens may be utilized to gain access to said set of digital content.

20. The computer system of claim 17, wherein said token reader device utilizes radio frequency identification.