Managing access to digital content

• US 20020120577A1
• Filed: 02/27/2001
• Published: 08/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Sasaki, Gary D., Hans, Mathieu C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,200,575 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/59
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure

Abstract

Systems and methods of managing access to digital content are described. In one aspect, a novel digital content access management system enables users to register previously owned digital content and, subsequently, allows users to access the registered content using any electronic device that is connected to the system. Digital content may be pushed or pulled from any electronic system that is connected to a network—no matter where it is located—to any other electronic system that is connected to a network. A novel business model, as well as a system and a method for implementing this model, also are described. In accordance with this business model, payments are made to content providers upon registration of the previously owned digital content. In this way, the monetary interests of content providers may be protected (even when a user registers borrowed digital content, for example), while enhancing the ability of users to interact with their licensed digital content.

Claims

1. A system for managing access to digital content, comprising:

a rights manager residing on a server computer and configured to maintain for a user residing at a network node remote from the server computer a user profile containing selected user information, including a user license index identifying digital content licensed by the user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the rights manager is configured to enable a user to register a license for digital content previously purchased by the user.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the license is registered based upon a content identifier associated with the purchased digital content.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the content identifier is obtained from a recording medium on which the purchased digital content is stored.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the rights manager is configured to maintain content usage information in the user profile.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising an access manager configured to manage user access to digital content identified in the user license index.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the access manager is configured to provide access to digital content stored on a network node remote from the server computer and the user network node.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the access manager is configured to provide access to remote digital content based upon a digital content index identifying remote network node addresses at which the remote digital content is stored.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the access manager is configured to enable formatting of digital content in accordance with a format designation received from the user.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the access manager is configured to enable transmission of the digital content as a complete file or in a streaming file format.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the access manager is configured to enable transmission of digital content to a network node address different from the user network node in accordance with a destination node address received from the user.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a royalty manager configured to authorize payment to a digital content provider.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the royalty payment manager is configured to authorize payment in response to a digital content registration confirmation received from the rights manager.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the authorized payment corresponds to a prescribed royalty fee schedule.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising enabling a user to register a license for digital content previously purchased by the user.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the license is registered based upon a content identifier associated with the purchased digital content.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising authorizing payment to a digital content provider.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the payment is authorized upon registration of digital content.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the authorized payment corresponds to a prescribed royalty fee schedule.

15. A method of managing access to digital content, comprising:

maintaining on a server computer a user profile for a user residing at a network node remote from the server computer, the user profile containing selected user information, including a user license index identifying digital content licensed by the user.