System for controlling the distribution and use digital works using digital tickets
First Claim
1. In a computer controlled system for the distribution of digital works including content and usage rights associated therewith, the usage rights specifying a manner of use of content of the digital works, the usage right also specifying a digital ticket that indicates a predetermined number of times that said usage right may be exercised, said system including at least one repository for enforcing usage rights, a method for controlling the number of times that a usage right associated with a digital work may be exercised, said method comprising the steps of:
- storing said content, said usage right and said digital ticket in at least one storage;
receiving a request to access said digital work, said request specifying said usage right;
determining if said digital ticket for said usage right indicates that said usage right has been exercised said predetermined number of times;
if said digital ticket indicates that said usage right has been exercised said predetermined number of times, denying access to said digital work; and
if said digital ticket indicates that said usage right has not been exercised said predetermined number of times, granting access to said digital work and punching said digital ticket to indicate an instance of exercising said usage right,wherein said usage rights are separable from said content so that the content and the associated usage rights can be stored in different memory devices.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for controlling the distribution and use of digital works using digital tickets. In the present invention, a “digital ticket” is used to entitle the ticket holder to exercise some usage right with respect to a digital work. Usage rights are used to define how a digital work may be used or distributed. Each usage right may specify a digital ticket which must be present before the right may be exercised. Digital works are stored in repositories which enforce a digital works usage rights. Each repository has a “generic ticket agent” which punches tickets. In some instances only the generic ticket agent is necessary. In other instances, punching by a “special ticket agent” residing on another repository may be needed.
166 Citations
46 Claims
-
1. In a computer controlled system for the distribution of digital works including content and usage rights associated therewith, the usage rights specifying a manner of use of content of the digital works, the usage right also specifying a digital ticket that indicates a predetermined number of times that said usage right may be exercised, said system including at least one repository for enforcing usage rights, a method for controlling the number of times that a usage right associated with a digital work may be exercised, said method comprising the steps of:
-
storing said content, said usage right and said digital ticket in at least one storage; receiving a request to access said digital work, said request specifying said usage right; determining if said digital ticket for said usage right indicates that said usage right has been exercised said predetermined number of times; if said digital ticket indicates that said usage right has been exercised said predetermined number of times, denying access to said digital work; and if said digital ticket indicates that said usage right has not been exercised said predetermined number of times, granting access to said digital work and punching said digital ticket to indicate an instance of exercising said usage right, wherein said usage rights are separable from said content so that the content and the associated usage rights can be stored in different memory devices. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
- 2. The method of 1 wherein said storing step comprises storing said digital content in a first storage and storing said digital ticket in a second storage.
-
21. A computer controlled system for the distribution of digital works including content and usage rights associated therewith, the usage rights specifying a manner of use of content of the digital works, the usage right also specifying a digital ticket that indicates a predetermined number of times that said usage right may be exercised, said system comprising:
-
at least one repository for enforcing usage rights a storage for storing said content, said usage right, and said digital ticket; said at least one repository enforcing said usage rights by receiving a request to access said digital work, said request specifying said usage right, and determining if said digital ticket for said usage right indicates that said usage right has been exercised said predetermined number of times, said repository being operative to deny access to said digital work; and if said digital ticket indicates that said usage right has been exercised said predetermined number of times, said repository being operative to grant access to said digital work and punch said digital ticket to indicate an instance of exercising said usage right if said digital ticket indicates that said usage right has not been exercised said predetermined number of times, wherein said usage rights are separable from said content so that the content and the associated usage rights can be stored in different storage devices. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
-
-
41. Computer readable media for use in a computer controlled system for the distribution of digital works including content and usage rights associated therewith, the usage rights specifying a manner of use of content of the digital works, the usage right also specifying a digital ticket that indicates a predetermined number of times that said usage right may be exercised, said system including at least one repository for enforcing usage rights, a method for controlling the number of times that a usage right associated with a digital work may be exercised, said medium comprising:
-
instructions for receiving a request to access said digital work, said request specifying said usage right; instructions for determining if said digital ticket for said usage right indicates that said usage right has been exercised said predetermined number of times; instructions for denying access to said digital work and if said digital ticket indicates that said usage right has been exercised said predetermined number of times; and instructions for granting access to said digital work and punching said digital ticket to indicate an instance of exercising said usage right if said digital ticket indicates that said usage right has not been exercised said predetermined number of times, wherein said usage rights are separable from said content so that the content and the associated usage rights can be stored in different memory devices. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
-
Specification