Systems and methods for temporary assignment and exchange of digital access rights

• US 9,009,794 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2011
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Dykeman, Kim R., Grab, Eric W., Korbecki, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zand, Kambiz
• Assistant Examiner(s): WYSZYNSKI, AUBREY H
• Application Number:
  US13/341,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20130174223A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 726/4
• US Class Current: 726/4
• 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]

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for assignment and exchange of temporary access rights based on proximity of user devices. A first user device may receive a temporary access right that enables a second user device to access a content asset which the first user device is not authorized to access. In response to receiving the temporary access right, the first user device may access the content asset. Access to the content asset may be maintained after the first user device leaves the proximity of the second user device until the content asset is played back in its entirety. The proximity may be based on physical location or virtual connections through online services. The temporary access right may be requested by or assigned to the first user device from the second user device and may limit the number of times that the content asset is accessed on the first user device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting a second user device within a proximity of a first user device, the first user device associated with a first user, and the second user device associated with a second user;

receiving input from a first one of the first and second users, with a first one of the first and second devices, that initiates a transfer of content authorization information to a second one of the first and second devices, associated with a second one of the first and second users;

responsive to detecting the second user device and receiving input, receiving at the first user device content authorization information, wherein the content authorization information enables access to a content asset on the second user device which the first user device is not authorized to access;

enabling access to the content asset on the first user device;

determining that the first user device leaves the proximity of the second user device;

in response to determining that the first user device leaves the proximity, maintaining access to the content asset on the first user device for an amount of time determined based on a length of the content asset.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined amount of time is a user specified duration or a duration of time required to play back the content asset, and further comprising:

terminating, in response to determining that the predetermined time has elapsed, access to the content asset on the first user device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the proximity is based on a first physical location of the first user device and a second physical location of the second user device determined by a global position system (GPS), cell tower triangulation or a wireless detection range of the first and second user device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the proximity is based on connection of the first user device and second user device to an active session of an online social network service.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying on the first user device, a selectable list of users, including the first user and the second user,

wherein the input is a request from the first user to assign a temporary access right to the second user; and

in response to the input from the first user, generating the temporary access right.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying on the first user device, a selectable list of users, including the first user and the second user,

wherein the input is a request from the first user to receive a temporary access right from the second user,

wherein the receiving the content authorization information at the first user device is performed in response to the input from the first user.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the content authorization information comprises access rights, metadata, user profile information, operation limit information or a hash code.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving from the second user device a request to disable a temporary access right corresponding to the content asset; and

in response to receiving the request from the second user device, terminating access to the content asset.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein access to content asset comprises a play back, fast forward, rewind or pause operation.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein a number of times the content asset may be accessed is limited by a temporary access right.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising playing the content asset on the first device, wherein the content asset is a video, and wherein the amount of time for which access is maintained corresponds to a difference between (1) the length of the content asset and (2) an elapsed amount of time from when playing of the content asset started and when the first user device left the proximity of the second device.

12. A system comprising:

control circuitry configured to;

detect a second user device within a proximity of a first user device, the first user device associated with a first user, and the second user device associated with a second user;

receive input from a first one of the first and second users, with a first one of the first and second devices, that initiates a transfer of content authorization information to a second one of the first and second devices, associated with a second one of the first and second users;

responsive to detecting the second user device and receiving input, receive at the first user device content authorization information, wherein the content authorization information enables access to a content asset on the second user device which the first user device is not authorized to access;

enable access to the content asset on the first user device;

determine that the first user device leaves the proximity of the second user device;

in response to determining that the first user device leaves the proximity, maintain access to the content asset on the first user device for an amount of time determined based on a length of the content asset.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the predetermined amount of time is a user specified duration or a duration of time required to play back the content asset, and wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

terminate, in response to determining that the predetermined time has elapsed, access to the content asset on the first user device.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the proximity is based on a first physical location of the first user device and a second physical location of the second user device determined by a global position system (GPS), cell tower triangulation or a wireless detection range of the first and second user device.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the proximity is based on connection of the first user device and second user device to an active session of an online social network service.

16. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a display device;

a user input interface;

wherein the control circuitry is further configured to;

display on the display device, a selectable list of users, including the first user and the second user,

wherein the input is a request from the first user, using the user input interface, to assign a temporary access right to the second user; and

in response to the input from the first user, generate the temporary access right.

17. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a display device;

a user input interface;

wherein the control circuitry is further configured to;

display on the display device, a selectable list of users, including the first user and the second user,

wherein the input is a request from the first user, using the user input interface, to receive a temporary access right from the second user; and

in response to the input from the first user, receive the content authorization information at the first user device.

18. The system of claim 12 wherein the content authorization information comprises access rights, metadata, user profile information, operation limit information or a hash code.

19. The system of claim 12 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive from the second user device a request to disable a temporary access right corresponding to the content asset; and

in response to receiving the request from the second user device, terminate access to the content asset.

20. The system of claim 12 wherein access to the content asset comprises a play back, fast forward, rewind or pause operation.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein a number of times the content asset may be accessed is limited by a temporary access right.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to play the content asset on the first device, wherein the content asset is a video, and wherein the amount of time for which access is maintained corresponds to a difference between (1) the length of the content asset and (2) an elapsed amount of time from when playing of the content asset started and when the first user device left the proximity of the second device.