Digital Asset Distribution System

• US 20080209514A1
• Filed: 02/26/2007
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christopher J. Peiffer, L'Heureux, Israel
• Original Assignee: Christopher J. Peiffer, L'Heureux, Israel
• Inventors: Peiffer, Christopher J., L'Heureux, Israel
• Granted Patent: US 7,996,882 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/3
• 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 21/105 Arrangements for software license management or administration, e.g. for managing licenses at corporate level
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

Digital asset distribution systems and methods are provided. The method may include receiving a digital asset and associated permissions from each of a plurality of publishers, and hosting the digital assets received from each publisher on a digital asset server system. The method may further include receiving a request from a user to access a requested digital asset via the digital asset server system, determining whether the user is authorized to access the requested digital asset according to the permissions for the digital asset. If the user is not authorized, the method may include displaying a substitute to the user. The substitute may include a link to the digital asset server system by which the user may obtain authorization to download the digital asset.

Claims

1. A digital asset distribution method, comprising:

receiving a digital asset and associated permissions from each of a plurality of publishers;

hosting the digital assets received from each publisher on a digital asset server system;

receiving a request from a user to access a requested digital asset via the digital asset server system;

determining whether the user is authorized to access the requested digital asset according to the permissions for the digital asset; and

if the user is not authorized, displaying a substitute to the user, wherein the substitute includes a link to the digital asset server system by which the user may obtain authorization to download the digital asset.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, providing a link to the digital asset on the digital assert server system, which may be embedded in a third party website.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, once the user is authorized, displaying the asset to the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the substitute includes a preview of the asset.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the substitute includes file information of the asset.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the substitute includes purchase statistics for the asset.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the substitute includes user feedback information for the asset.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the substitute includes pricing information for the asset.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the substitute includes user account information.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the user account information includes user account balance.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the substitute includes an indication of whether the asset meets preset selection criteria set by the user.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the substitute includes a link to purchase all assets displayed on a web page.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the substitute is an image of substantially the same size as the original asset.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the asset is downloaded and the substitute is overlayed over the asset to at least partially cover the asset.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the substitute is at least partially translucent.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising, once the user is authorized to view the asset, removing the substitute to reveal the asset.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the publisher is a republisher of the asset who owns the right to republish the asset.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising, receiving payment from the user for access to the digital asset.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising, distributing at least a portion of the payment to the publisher of the digital asset.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the permissions include pricing and redistribution rights.

21. A digital asset distribution method, comprising:

at a digital asset server system, receiving a digital asset from an publisher of the digital asset;

receiving one or more access permissions from the owner of the asset;

storing the digital asset and associated permissions on a database associated with the digital asset server system;

providing a link to be placed in a web page, linking to a mechanism on the digital asset server system for checking the permissions and accessing the asset;

receiving a request to access the digital asset from a user traversing the link;

determining whether the user may access the digital asset;

if the user is authorized, serving the asset to the user; and

if the user is not authorized, serving a substitute to the user, the substitute including a mechanism for obtaining authorization to access the asset.