Systems and methods for dynamic digital asset resource management

• US 9,009,076 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2006
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Muller, Marcus S., Prahlad, Anand, Kavuri, Srinivas, Madeira, Andre D., Ali-Ali, Muath S., Gokhale, Parag
• Primary Examiner(s): Hewitt, II, Calvin L
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, NANCY LOAN T
• Application Number:
  US11/612,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20070198421A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,039 Days
• Field of Search: 705/37, 705/52
• US Class Current: 705/52
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1014 to tokens
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/184 Intellectual property management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources

Abstract

A system and method for providing a flexible licensing system for digital content is described. In some cases, the system utilizes tokens or other valuations to facilitate the purchase or exchange of content.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating exchange of digital items between a user and a content source, the system comprising:

a first computing system comprising computer hardware having one or more computer processors, the first computing system including a user component, and a user storage component that stores at least a first digital item licensed by a user, wherein the first digital item is licensed software comprising a license key, wherein the license key comprises a configuration identifier and a plurality of tokens;

a second computing system comprising computer hardware having one or more computer processors, the second computing system including a content source component, wherein the content source component stores a second digital item, wherein the second digital item is licensed software;

a request component, configured to receive a request to exchange the first digital item with the second digital item from the first computing system that stores the first digital item;

an exchange component, configured to;

compare the configuration identifier in the license key with the second digital item;

based on the comparison, confirm compatibility of the second digital item with the first computing system;

determine a token value of the first digital item by consulting at least the license key;

dynamically determine based at least on usage of the first digital item, an adjusted token value associated with the exchange of the first digital item with the second digital item;

increase a number of tokens based on the adjusted token value associated with the first digital item;

decrement the number of tokens based on a number of tokens associated with the exchange of the first digital item with the second digital item; and

exchange the first digital item with the second digital item.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first digital item and second digital item are audio files.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first digital item and second digital item are video files.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a valuation component that assigns an adjusted token value for the first digital item after receiving the request from a user to exchange the first digital item with the second digital item.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a valuation component that assigns an adjusted token value for the first digital item before receiving the request from the user to exchange the first digital item for the second digital item.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a valuation component that assigns a token value for the first digital item based on information related to previous token values of the first digital item.

7. A method in a computing system for facilitating an exchange of a digital object for credit towards other digital objects, the method comprising:

at a first computing device comprising computer hardware having one or more computer processors, receiving from a second computing device a request to exchange at least a first digital object for credit towards at least one second digital object, wherein the first digital object is licensed software comprising a license key, wherein the license key comprises a configuration identifier and a plurality of tokens,

wherein the request includes;

information identifying the first digital object, wherein the first digital object has an original token value; and

information identifying a requested exchange value for the first digital object that is different than the original token value;

comparing the configuration identifier in the license key with the at least one second digital object;

based on said comparing, confirming compatibility of the at least one second digital object with the first computing device;

determining the original token value for the first digital object by consulting at least the license key;

dynamically determining based at least on usage of the first digital object, an adjusted token value associated with the exchange of the first digital object with the at least one second digital object;

increasing a number of tokens based on the adjusted token value associated with the first digital object;

decrementing the number of tokens based on a number of tokens associated with the exchange of the first digital object with the at least one second digital object; and

exchanging the first digital object with the at least one second digital object.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the adjusted token value is further related to the requested exchange value for the first digital object.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the adjusted token value is further related to a determined current value for the first digital object.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the adjusted token value for the first digital object comprises determining an age of the first digital object.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the adjusted token value for the first digital object comprises determining content of the first digital object.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the adjusted token value for the first digital object comprises determining a type of the first digital object.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the adjusted token value for the first digital object comprises determining the adjusted token value of the first digital object after receiving a request to exchange the first digital object.

14. A system for transferring digital content from a digital content server computer to a user computer, the system comprising:

a request receipt component comprising computer hardware having one or more computer processors, the request receipt component configured to receive a request to exchange a first digital object with a second digital object under control of the digital content server computer, wherein the first digital object is licensed software comprising a license key, wherein the license key comprises a configuration identifier and a plurality of tokens;

a validation component configured to compare the configuration identifier in the license key with the second digital object and further configured to, based on the comparison, confirm compatibility of the second digital object with the user computer; and

a pricing component located at the digital content server computer, configured to dynamically determine an adjusted token value to the first digital object by consulting at least the license key and a usage of the first digital object; and

an exchange component located at the digital content server computer configured to;

increase a number of tokens based on the adjusted token value associated with the first digital object;

decrement the number of tokens based on a number of tokens associated with the exchange of the first digital object with the second digital object; and

transmit the second digital object over a network from the digital content server to the user computer.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the pricing component determines the adjusted token value for the first digital object by determining a fixed depreciation value from a table listing exchange values.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the pricing component dynamically determines the adjusted token value based at least in part on currency exchange fluctuations, inflation, or currency market factors.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the pricing component dynamically determines the adjusted token value based at least in part on third party data sources, wherein the third party data sources include one or more auction sites or top 40 lists, and wherein data from the third party data sources provide trend or historical data that the pricing component uses in determining value.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the exchange component further comprises receiving a user-set rule to exchange the first digital object when the pricing component indicates that a token value of the first digital object meets a user-set token value.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the pricing component comprises a decay rate that comprises:

assigned value =(original value) / (months after original purchase)^1/2.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the pricing component determines the adjusted token value based at least in part on third party data sources that provide trend or historical data.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the exchange component receives a rule to exchange the second digital object when a token value of the second digital object meets a set token value.