Electronic asset lending library method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A lending library apparatus comprising:
- an electronic asset lending library database containing a plurality of user accounts and at least one license corresponding to an electronic asset provided to the database;
an account manager to maintain the user accounts;
an asset manager to maintain each license, wherein each license includes one or more license restrictions set by the user that assigned the electronic asset;
a loan manager to control the assignment of each license to another user having another one of the plurality of user accounts according to the license restrictions set by the user that assigned the electronic asset; and
processors to find user accounts having electronic assets with an expired license, to request a user having an expired license to return or remove any electronic assets corresponding to the expired license, and to maintain a catalog of unassigned licenses for electronic assets.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A electronic asset lending library method and apparatus enables the electronic management and reassignment of licenses for unused electronic assets installed on computers connected through a communications network. Licensing data for the unused electronic assets is released by the currently assigned owner and made available to one or more communities of users for display by product category, name, or keyword search. Once released, the lending library notifies the currently assigned owner to remove the unused electronic asset from their computer and transfers the licensing data to a library account. Eligible borrowers are permitted to request a re-assignment of an available released license for an unused electronic asset from a lending library account to their own account. Upon re-assignment the electronic asset lending library automatically notifies the borrower with instructions for the download and installation of the unused electronic asset to their computer. A borrower is determined to be eligible if she belongs to the same community as the currently assigned owner of the unused electronic asset and if she is on an access control list previously created for the unused electronic asset. Ineligible borrowers can request exception overrides to enable them to borrow a selected electronic asset. Licenses can be re-assigned at no cost or for a fee negotiated by the currently assigned owner.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A lending library apparatus comprising:
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an electronic asset lending library database containing a plurality of user accounts and at least one license corresponding to an electronic asset provided to the database;
an account manager to maintain the user accounts;
an asset manager to maintain each license, wherein each license includes one or more license restrictions set by the user that assigned the electronic asset;
a loan manager to control the assignment of each license to another user having another one of the plurality of user accounts according to the license restrictions set by the user that assigned the electronic asset; and
processors to find user accounts having electronic assets with an expired license, to request a user having an expired license to return or remove any electronic assets corresponding to the expired license, and to maintain a catalog of unassigned licenses for electronic assets. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 26, 27)
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11. An article of manufacture comprising:
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an electronically accessible medium providing instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to manage a plurality of user accounts;
manage at least one license corresponding to an electronic asset provided by a user having one of the plurality of user accounts, the license including one or more license restrictions set by the user;
control the assignment of the at least one license to another user having another one of the plurality of user accounts according to the license restrictions;
notify the assignee when an assignment to the assignee of the license for the electronic asset is approved;
find user accounts having electronic assets with an expired license;
request a user having an expired license to return or remove any electronic assets corresponding to the expired license; and
maintain a catalog of unassigned licenses for electronic assets. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method comprising:
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managing a plurality of user accounts;
managing licenses for a plurality of electronic assets;
receiving a request from a user of one of the plurality of user accounts to assign an electronic asset to another user of another of the plurality of user accounts;
generating a license and associated license restrictions for the electronic asset according to the restrictions specified by the user requesting the assignment;
adding the license of the electronic asset to the plurality of licenses;
controlling the assignment of each license to an assignee having one of the plurality of user accounts according to the license restrictions specified by the user that assigned the electronic asset;
finding user accounts having electronic assets with an expired license; and
requesting a user having an expired license to return or remove any electronic assets corresponding to the expired license. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A computer implemented method comprising:
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managing a plurality of user accounts;
generating a license and associated license restrictions for an electronic asset on a lending library server, wherein the electronic asset is provided by a user having one of the plurality of user accounts and the license restrictions are set by the user that provided the electronic asset;
displaying to an assignee having another one of the plurality of user accounts the license and associated license restrictions on a lending library client;
receiving an assignee'"'"'s selection for the license and transferring the license to the assignee if eligible in accordance with the associated license restrictions;
transmitting to the assignee instructions for the installation of the electronic asset in compliance with the transferred license on the lending library client;
finding user accounts having electronic assets with an expired license; and
requesting a user having an expired license to return or remove any electronic assets corresponding to the expired license. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification