SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A FLEXIBLE LICENSING SYSTEM FOR DIGITAL CONTENT
First Claim
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1. A method of providing a user with rights to use digital content, the method comprising:
- receiving a request for multiple copies of an item of digital content from the user, wherein the request for multiple copies of the item of digital content at least contains information identifying the user and information identifying the requested item of digital content;
identifying rights for the user that indicate a number of tokens associated with the user, each of the tokens having a certain value;
comparing a collective value for the number of tokens associated with the user to a value of tokens associated with the multiple copies of the item of requested digital content; and
authorizing the user to receive the requested multiples copies of the item of digital content when the comparison determines that the collective value equals or exceeds a threshold value of tokens associated with the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content.
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Abstract
A system and method for providing a flexible licensing system for digital content is described. In some cases, the system utilizes tokens or other valuations to facilitate the purchase or exchange of content.
205 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of providing a user with rights to use digital content, the method comprising:
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receiving a request for multiple copies of an item of digital content from the user, wherein the request for multiple copies of the item of digital content at least contains information identifying the user and information identifying the requested item of digital content;
identifying rights for the user that indicate a number of tokens associated with the user, each of the tokens having a certain value;
comparing a collective value for the number of tokens associated with the user to a value of tokens associated with the multiple copies of the item of requested digital content; and
authorizing the user to receive the requested multiples copies of the item of digital content when the comparison determines that the collective value equals or exceeds a threshold value of tokens associated with the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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- 9. A computer memory containing a data structure representing a list of tokens associated with a selected user, the data structure comprising fields for a plurality of digital objects available to the selected user, each field including information identifying digital content of the digital object and information indicating a value of the digital content, the value of the digital content being a value of the digital content in token, the tokens representing an increment of assignable rights to the selected user for the digital content.
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11. A method of providing a digital object to a user in a token-based digital rights management system, the method comprising:
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receiving a request from the user to obtain the digital object, wherein the request contains information identifying the user and information identifying the digital object;
identifying one or more tokens associated with the user that apply to the requested digital object;
determining that there are a sufficient number of tokens associated with the user that apply to the requested digital content; and
providing the digital content to the user in exchange for a number of tokens that apply to the requested digital content when the number of tokens that apply to the requested digital content equals or exceeds a value in tokens of the requested digital object. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A digital rights management system, comprising:
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means for receiving a request from a user to obtain a digital object, wherein the request contains information identifying the user and information identifying the digital object;
means for identifying one or more tokens associated with the user that apply to the requested digital object;
means for determining that there are a sufficient number of tokens associated with the user that apply to the requested digital content; and
means for providing the digital content to the user in exchange for a number of tokens that apply to the requested digital content when the number of tokens that apply to the requested digital content equals or exceeds a value in tokens of the requested digital object.
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Specification