SHARING USAGE RIGHTS
First Claim
1. A method for operating a first user terminal comprising:
- receiving media content and usage rights that control access to the media content;
storing the media content and the usage rights at the first user terminal;
receiving a first request from a second user terminal; and
in response to the first request, sending from the first user terminal at least a first portion of the usage rights to the second user terminal, wherein the second user terminal is able to use the at least a first portion of the usage rights to access the media content.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A rights management technique allows user terminals to share usage rights that are necessary for accessing associated media content, while ensuring that the media content is not accessed in violation of the usage rights. A content provider may deliver the media content and the associated usage rights to a first user terminal. The usage rights may be sharable as well as divisible. The first user terminal will account for all or that portion of the usage rights that are subsequently transferred, and may retain any remaining usage rights. The first user terminal may transfer all or a portion of any usage rights at the first user terminal to a second user terminal, wherein the transferred usage rights allow the second user terminal to access the media content. The second user terminal may also transfer the usage rights, and perhaps the media content, to other user terminals.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for operating a first user terminal comprising:
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receiving media content and usage rights that control access to the media content; storing the media content and the usage rights at the first user terminal; receiving a first request from a second user terminal; and in response to the first request, sending from the first user terminal at least a first portion of the usage rights to the second user terminal, wherein the second user terminal is able to use the at least a first portion of the usage rights to access the media content. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A user terminal comprising:
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a user interface; a network interface; and a control system associated with the user interface and the network interface and adapted to; receive media content and usage rights that control access to the media content; storing the media content and the usage rights; receive a first request from a second user terminal; and in response to the first request, send at least a first portion of the usage rights to the second user terminal, wherein the second user terminal is able to use the at least a first portion of the usage rights to access the media content. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for operating a first user terminal comprising:
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receiving media content and usage rights that control access to the media content from a content provider; storing the media content and the usage rights at the first user terminal; receiving a first request from a second user terminal; and in response to the first request, sending to the content provider instructions to send at least a first portion of the usage rights to the second user terminal, wherein the second user terminal is able to use the at least a first portion of the usage rights to access the media content.
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Specification