ESCROW SERVICE FOR PROVIDING LICENSED DIGITAL CONTENT

• US 20090070122A1
• Filed: 09/12/2007
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Culbert, Michael, Hauck, Jerry
• Application Number:
  US11/854,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20090070122A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/313
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1079 Return
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate

Abstract

Physical media containing digital content can be exchanged for a license to download an electronic copy of the digital content. In an implementation, the physical media is received at a kiosk and secured such that it is not accessible to the user after the license is granted. The license provides the user with rights to download the digital content to a personal computer, set-top box, gaming device, portable video player or portable image viewer having digital rights enforcement.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving physical media including first content;

identifying the first content on the physical media;

receiving input specifying second content;

providing a license defining user rights for accessing the second content; and

preventing access to the physical media.

2. The method of claim 1, where preventing access to the physical media further comprises:

destroying the physical media.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

punching a hole in the physical media.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

overwriting a predetermined portion of the physical media.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

abrading a surface of the physical media.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

verifying destruction of the physical media.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the user rights of the license in accordance with rights associated with the first content.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

expiring the license after a predetermined period of time.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising:

receiving an e-mail address; and

communicating the license to the e-mail address.

10. The method of claim 8, comprising:

receiving user account information associated with a media service; and

providing the license to the user account.

11. The method of claim 1, comprising:

downloading the license to removable media.

12. The method of claim 1, comprising:

communicating a portion of the first content to a media service; and

determining a title of the first content based on a response provided by the media service.

13. The method of claim 1, comprising:

storing the physical media in a container.

14. The method of claim 1,

wherein the physical media is one of optical media, magnetic media, or flash media.

15. The method of claim 1,

wherein the first content and second content are one of movies, music, television shows, or videos.

16. The method of claim 1, comprising:

providing a confirmation of the license.

17. A system, comprising:

a receiver to receive physical media;

a media reader to read first content stored to the physical media;

a display;

an input device to receive user inputs; and

a secure inventory storage unit to store the physical media,

wherein a license to the second content stored on the physical media is provided in exchange for the physical media received by the system.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

a destruction module to destroy the physical media.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

a verification module to verify the destruction of the physical media.

20. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving user account information associated with a media service; and

providing the license to the user account.

21. The system of claim 17,

wherein a portion of the first content is communicated to a media service, and wherein a title of the first content is determined based on a response provided by the media service.

22. The system of claim 17,

wherein the physical media is one of optical media, magnetic media, or flash media.

23. The system of claim 17,

wherein the first content and second content are one of movies, music, television shows, or videos.

24. The system of claim 17,

wherein a confirmation of the license is provided.

25. A method, comprising:

receiving first digital content on physical media;

ascertaining rights associated with the first digital content;

securing the physical media; and

granting a license to second digital content in accordance with the first digital content and the securing of the physical media.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

receiving input associated with an account holder and a selection of the second digital content; and

communicating the license to the account holder.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

destroying the physical media.

28. The method of claim 25,

wherein the first digital content and second digital content are one of movies, music, television shows, or videos.