Method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content

• US 20050091164A1
• Filed: 10/22/2004
• Published: 04/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas Bryan Varble
• Original Assignee: Thomas Bryan Varble
• Inventors: Varble, Thomas Bryan
• Granted Patent: US 7,444,306 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/52
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2347 involving video stream encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/441 Acquiring end-user identification , e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method for the rental or sale, and distribution of digital content via the Internet. This method ensures enforcement of copyrights and end-use licensing. The invention consists of one or more databases, for the storage of digital content, and also for storage of customer profile and billing information. These databases are housed in multiple networked computers, sharing a private connection to an Internet firewall, gateway computer. This computer hosts an electronic commerce web site for customer purchase transactions and encryption of digital content prior to customer download. The invention also includes a software client application for decrypting and using the digital content. The invention also provides for computer software to manage the digital content inventory of each customer.

Claims

1. A method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content for supplying a reliable, traceable, and auditable mechanism of digital content use rights and ownership comprising:

means for storing, accessing, and manipulating digital content;

means for supplying customers with a web-site interface or a business transaction portal interface for the purchase, rental, or manipulation of digital content;

means for supplying connectivity between the digital content online store and a plurality of computers or player devices belonging to digital content purchasers or renters;

means for supplying customer service and client interfaces and applications for interaction with the digital content online store;

means for conducting electronic business transactions for the purchase or rental of digital content;

means for storing customer information related to the sale or rental of digital content, electronically connected to said means for conducting electronic business transactions for the purchase or rental of digital content;

means for storing the digital content inventory of the online content store;

means for searching and managing a digital content database, electronically connected to said means for storing the digital content inventory of the online content store, and electronically connected to said means for conducting electronic business transactions for the purchase or rental of digital content;

means for encrypting digital content, electronically connected to said means for storing the digital content inventory of the online content store, and electronically connected to said means for conducting electronic business transactions for the purchase or rental of digital content;

means for restricting network access to all but legitimate and authorized users, electronically connected to said means for conducting electronic business transactions for the purchase or rental of digital content;

means for supplying a web-site interface to digital online store customers, electronically connected to said means for restricting network access to all but legitimate and authorized users;

means for interacting with an online digital content store for download, local management, and decryption of digital content, electronically connected to said means for supplying a web-site interface to digital online store customers;

means for supplying a wholesale inventory transaction interface to retail stores or web-sites, electronically connected to said means for restricting network access to all but legitimate and authorized users;

means for starting the digital online shopping process;

means for selecting the online digital content store, sequentially coupled to said means for starting the digital online shopping process;

means for serching and identifying digital content for purchase or rental, sequentially coupled to said means for selecting the online digital content store;

means for controlling and securing the online store for authorized customers, sequentially coupled to said means for serching and identifying digital content for purchase or rental;

means for confirming a currently registered online digital content store customer, selectively coupled to said means for controlling and securing the online store for authorized customers;

means for creating a new, or renewing an expired user account, sequentially coupled to said means for confirming a currently registered online digital content store customer;

means for logging into a secure online shopping session, sequentially coupled to said means for creating a new, or renewing an expired user account, and selectively coupled to said means for controlling and securing the online store for authorized customers;

means for validating customer identity, sequentially coupled to said means for logging into a secure online shopping session;

means for notifying the customer of an invalid log-in attempt, selectively coupled to said means for validating customer identity;

means for purchasing or renting digital content, sequentially coupled to said means for validating customer identity;

means for managing a customer'"'"'s library of owned or rented content, sequentially coupled to said means for purchasing or renting digital content;

means for starting the retail shopping process;

means for selecting retail content identifier for purchase, sequentially coupled to said means for starting the retail shopping process;

means for entering the unique content identifier into the retail point-of-sale system;

means for transferring a purchase request via an electronic retail portal, selectively coupled to said means for entering the unique content identifier into the retail point-of-sale system;

means for confirming retailer authorization and generating unique customer content identifier, sequentially coupled to said means for transferring a purchase request via an electronic retail portal;

means for returning a unique content identifier to a retail point-of-sale system, sequentially coupled to said means for confirming retailer authorization and generating unique customer content identifier;

means for purchasing of content unique identifier from retailer, sequentially coupled to said means for returning a unique content identifier to a retail point-of-sale system;

means for serching and identifying digital purchased content, sequentially coupled to said means for purchasing of content unique identifier from retailer;

means for controlling and securing the online store for authorized customers, sequentially coupled to said means for serching and identifying digital purchased content;

means for confirming a currently registered online digital content store customer, selectively coupled to said means for controlling and securing the online store for authorized customers;

means for entering unique identifier of purchased content, sequentially coupled to said means for confirming a currently registered online digital content store customer, and selectively coupled to said means for controlling and securing the online store for authorized customers;

means for validating unique content identifier, sequentially coupled to said means for entering unique identifier of purchased content;

means for notifying the customer of an invalid identifier, selectively coupled to said means for validating unique content identifier;

means for adding retail purchased content to customer library, sequentially coupled to said means for validating unique content identifier;

means for starting the retail shopping process;

means for selecting retail content identifier for rental, sequentially coupled to said means for starting the retail shopping process;

means for entering the unique content identifier into the retail point-of-sale system;

means for transferring a purchase request via an electronic retail portal, selectively coupled to said means for entering the unique content identifier into the retail point-of-sale system;

means for confirming retailer authorization and generating unique customer content identifier, sequentially coupled to said means for transferring a purchase request via an electronic retail portal;

means for returning a unique content identifier to a retail point-of-sale system, sequentially coupled to said means for confirming retailer authorization and generating unique customer content identifier;

means for renting of content unique identifier from retailer, sequentially coupled to said means for returning a unique content identifier to a retail point-of-sale system;

means for searching and identifying digital rental content, sequentially coupled to said means for renting of content unique identifier from retailer;

means for controlling and securing the online store for authorized customers, sequentially coupled to said means for searching and identifying digital rental content;

means for confirming a currently registered online digital content store customer, selectively coupled to said means for controlling and securing the online store for authorized customers;

means for entering unique identifier of purchased content, sequentially coupled to said means for confirming a currently registered online digital content store customer, and selectively coupled to said means for controlling and securing the online store for authorized customers;

means for validating unique content identifier, sequentially coupled to said means for entering unique identifier of purchased content;

means for notifying the customer of an invalid identifier, selectively coupled to said means for validating unique content identifier;

means for adding retail rental content to customer library, sequentially coupled to said means for validating unique content identifier;

means for starting the content use process;

means for identifying digital content for use, sequentially coupled to said means for starting the content use process;

means for locating owned or rented content, sequentially coupled to said means for identifying digital content for use;

means for contacting the online store to request download of owned or rented content, selectively coupled to said means for locating owned or rented content;

means for arbitrating a unique encryption key and encrypting the digital content corresponding to that key, sequentially coupled to said means for contacting the online store to request download of owned or rented content;

means for downloading the digital content, sequentially coupled to said means for arbitrating a unique encryption key and encrypting the digital content corresponding to that key;

means for storing the content on the local device, sequentially coupled to said means for downloading the digital content;

means for validating the usage rights of the digital content, sequentially coupled to said means for storing the content on the local device, and selectively coupled to said means for locating owned or rented content;

means for decrypting the content and streaming it to a content player, sequentially coupled to said means for validating the usage rights of the digital content;

means for managing local storage of digital content, sequentially coupled to said means for decrypting the content and streaming it to a content player;

means for checking in content from the local device storage back into the customer content library, selectively coupled to said means for managing local storage of digital content;

means for deleting checked-in digital content from a local device, sequentially coupled to said means for checking in content from the local device storage back into the customer content library; and

means for maintaining downloaded content within storage on the local device, selectively coupled to said means for managing local storage of digital content.

2. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for storing, accessing, and manipulating digital content comprises a database for storage of digital content, software application mechansim to encrypt digital content, software application to search and organize digital content database server.

3. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for supplying customers with a web-site interface or a business transaction portal interface for the purchase, rental, or manipulation of digital content comprises an internet web-site interface, customer billing software application, internet security firewall software application, customer database software application, customer authentication software application, digital content encryption and key-generation software application gateway server.

4. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for supplying connectivity between the digital content online store and a plurality of computers or player devices belonging to digital content purchasers or renters comprises a connection between the online digital content store and customer computers, private network or a public network like the internet computer network.

5. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for supplying customer service and client interfaces and applications for interaction with the digital content online store comprises a connection to an access network link, client interface to a digital content online store, client software application for the generation of cryptographic keys based on unique attributes of the device, client software application for cryptographic key exchange and decryption of digital content, client software application for accessing and managing local digital content, plurality of software applications for the playing and experience of digital content customer device.

6. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for conducting electronic business transactions for the purchase or rental of digital content comprises a means for online electronic business transactions, means for unique identification of customers, interface with a customer database software application, interface with a secure gateway firewall application, interface with a digital content encryption software application, interface with a digital content inventory application transaction software application.

7. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for storing customer information related to the sale or rental of digital content comprises a repository for customer account information, means to search and access customer account information, data store of customer transaction histories, data store of customer puchase or rentail records, data store of customer inventory status containing information on owned, rented, checked-in, or checked-out content customer database.

8. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for storing the digital content inventory of the online content store comprises a plurality of digital content for sale or rental content database.

9. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for searching and managing a digital content database comprises a means for searching a digital content database, means for identification and selection of digital content for purchase or rental inventory application.

10. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for encrypting digital content comprises a means for encrypting and decrypting digital content, means for exchange of cryptographic keys with customer client software applications, means of per-customer unique encryption of didigtal content encryption application.

11. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for restricting network access to all but legitimate and authorized users comprises a means for restricting network communication, means for authenticating network communications, means for defeating unauthorized network communication, means for resisting malicious communication attempts gateway application.

12. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for supplying a web-site interface to digital online store customers comprises a web-site interface, means for internet customer interaction with online store, means for secure, online transactions web interface application.

13. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for interacting with an online digital content store for download, local management, and decryption of digital content comprises a means for secure communication with an online digital content store, means for cryptographic key generation, means for cryptographic key exchange with an online digital content store, means for downloading digital content from an online digital content store, means for storing and accessing digital content on a local device, means for validating user identification and authorization, means for decrypting stored digital content means for interfacing to local software or hardware for the experience of decrypted digital content, mechanism for managing the local inventory of downloaded digital content content management application.

14. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for supplying a wholesale inventory transaction interface to retail stores or web-sites comprises a means for electronic business transactions, interface for retail purchasing systems, interface for retail inventory management systems, interface for retail billing systems, means for unique identifaction of purchased or rented content, means for exchanging inventory and unique identification information retail transaction portal.

15. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for serching and identifying digital content for purchase or rental comprises a means for customer access to available content, means for structured searching of available content, means to store one or more content items in a queue for purchase or rental browsing step.

16. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for controlling and securing the online store for authorized customers comprises a means for logging in to a secure transaction web interface, means for validating customer identity authentication step.

17. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for confirming a currently registered online digital content store customer comprises a means for checking customer identifier, means for validating customer identity membership step.

18. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for creating a new, or renewing an expired user account comprises a means for creating a new user account, means for creating a user identifier, means for creating a security authentication identifier, means for renewing an expired account new account step.

19. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for logging into a secure online shopping session comprises a means for starting a secure transaction, means for validating security identifier log-in step.

20. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for validating customer identity comprises a means for validating a customer identifier, means for validating a security identifier validation step.

21. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for notifying the customer of an invalid log-in attempt comprises a means to display authorization rejection log-in failure step.

22. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for purchasing or renting digital content comprises a means for searching content store inventory, means for identifying content for purchase or rental, means for online purchase transactions, means for tracking purchased or rented content, means for receipting purchased or rented content purchase step.

23. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for managing a customer'"'"'s library of owned or rented content comprises a means to display new content in customer library, means to search and organize all customer content, means to identify content for customer download, means to display remaining duration on rented content, means to present customer with rental terms and conditions, means to check-out content from the customer library, means to check-in content back into the customer library library addition step.

24. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for selecting retail content identifier for purchase comprises a means to uniquely identify content title, means to convey that identity to retail store purchase system purchase content selection step.

25. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for entering the unique content identifier into the retail point-of-sale system comprises a means to represent a unique identifier, means to convey an identifier in machine-readable form, means to convey an identifier in human-readable form purchase identifier entry step.

26. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for transferring a purchase request via an electronic retail portal comprises a means to contact an electronic retail portal, means to convey a unique content identifier to a retail portal, means to conduct a purchase transaction via a retail portal purchase authorization step.

27. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for confirming retailer authorization and generating unique customer content identifier comprises a means to identify a retailer, means to validate retailer for transactions, means to search content inventory for requested content, means to generate a unique content identifier for later customer use, means to conduct a credit or electronic banking transaction with retail point-of-sale system retail purchase transaction step.

28. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for returning a unique content identifier to a retail point-of-sale system comprises a means to indicate a successful transaction, means to convey unique content identifier, means to indicate a transaction failure purchase transaction response step.

29. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for purchasing of content unique identifier from retailer comprises a means to convey a unique content identifier to retail customer, means to convey unique content identifier in human-readable form content purchase step.

30. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for serching and identifying digital purchased content comprises a means for customer access to available content, means for entering unique content identifier contact store purchase step.

31. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for controlling and securing the online store for authorized customers comprises a means for logging in to a secure transaction web interface, means for validating customer identity, means for validating security identifier, means for starting a secure transaction retail purchase authentication step.

32. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for confirming a currently registered online digital content store customer comprises a means for checking customer identifier, means for validating customer identity, means to display authorization rejection retail purchase membership step.

33. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for entering unique identifier of purchased content comprises a means for entering unique content identifier purchase identifier selection step.

34. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for validating unique content identifier comprises a means to validate a content identifier purchase identifier validation step.

35. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for notifying the customer of an invalid identifier comprises a means to convey identifier failure to customer, means to track invalid identifier submission purchase identifier rejection step.

36. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for adding retail purchased content to customer library comprises a means to add purchased content to customer library, means to update customer inventory, means to track transaction and retail source retail purchase library step.

37. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for selecting retail content identifier for rental comprises a means to uniquely identify content title, means to convey that identity to retail store purchase system rental content selection step.

38. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for entering the unique content identifier into the retail point-of-sale system comprises a means to represent a unique identifier, means to convey an identifier in machine-readable form, means to convey an identifier in human-readable form rental identifier entry step.

39. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for transferring a purchase request via an electronic retail portal comprises a means to contact an electronic retail portal, means to convey a unique content identifier to a retail portal, means to conduct a purchase transaction via a retail portal rental authorization step.

40. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for confirming retailer authorization and generating unique customer content identifier comprises a means to identify a retailer, means to validate retailer for transactions, means to search content inventory for requested content, means to generate a unique content identifier for later customer use, means to conduct a credit or electronic banking transaction with retail point-of-sale system retail rental transaction step.

41. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for returning a unique content identifier to a retail point-of-sale system comprises a means to indicate a successful transaction, means to convey unique content identifier, means to indicate a transaction failure rental transaction response step.

42. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for renting of content unique identifier from retailer comprises a means to convey a unique content identifier to retail customer, means to convey unique content identifier in human-readable form content rental step.

43. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for searching and identifying digital rental content comprises a means for customer access to available content, means for entering unique content identifier contact store rental step.

44. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for controlling and securing the online store for authorized customers comprises a means for logging in to a secure transaction web interface, means for validating customer identity, means for validating security identifier, means for starting a secure transaction retail rental authentication step.

45. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for confirming a currently registered online digital content store customer comprises a means for checking customer identifier, means for validating customer identity, means to display authorization rejection retail rental membership step.

46. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for entering unique identifier of purchased content comprises a means for entering unique content identifier rental identifier selection step.

47. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for validating unique content identifier comprises a means to validate a content identifier rental identifier validation step.

48. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for notifying the customer of an invalid identifier comprises a means to convey identifier failure to customer, means to track invalid identifier submission rental identifier rejection step.

49. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for adding retail rental content to customer library comprises a means to add rented content to customer library, means to validate rental terms and conditions, means to enforce rental terms and conditions, means to update customer inventory, means to track transaction and retail source retail rental library step.

50. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for identifying digital content for use comprises a means for storing titles of owned or rented content, means for seaching content titles content search step.

51. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for locating owned or rented content comprises a means for identifying downloaded and non-downloaded content content localizer step.

52. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for contacting the online store to request download of owned or rented content comprises a means to log-in to online content store, means to identify content for download, means to establish a secure connection to online store, means to request download download request step.

53. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for arbitrating a unique encryption key and encrypting the digital content corresponding to that key comprises a means to uniquely identify customer'"'"'s local device, means to associate unique device to customer identity, means to communicate unique device identifier with content store encryption software application, means to arbitrate a cryptographic key and algorithm based on device unique identifier, means to encrypt the requested content with said key and algorithm key generation step.

54. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for downloading the digital content comprises a means to download digital content from the content store to the local device, means to establish a secure connection for download download step.

55. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for storing the content on the local device comprises a means to store content on the local device, means to identify the content for later retrieval, means to store partial cryptographic key data for use in decryption local storage step.

56. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for validating the usage rights of the digital content comprises a means to verify digital integrity of digital content, means to identify and enforce usage rights terms and conditions, means to verify key and cryptographic validity content validity step.

57. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for decrypting the content and streaming it to a content player comprises a means to experience the digital content, means to interface to a content player, means to decrypt content, means to prevent unauthorized access to decrypted digital image of content content experience step.

58. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for managing local storage of digital content comprises a means to interface with the local user, means to enable the user to determine local storage, means to enable the user to check-in the content to their online store library local content storage step.

59. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for checking in content from the local device storage back into the customer content library comprises a means to contact the online store, means to establish a secure connection with the online store, means to identify content stored locally, means to check-in local content, means to display customer library of available, checked-in, and checked-out content, means to display newly checkled-in content as available for check-out, means to show locally stored content as checked-out content check-in step.

60. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for deleting checked-in digital content from a local device comprises a means to delete local copy of digital contnet upon library check-in checked-in content deletion step.

61. The method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for maintaining downloaded content within storage on the local device comprises a local content step.

62. A method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content for supplying a reliable, traceable, and auditable mechanism of digital content use rights and ownership comprising:

a database for storage of digital content, software application mechansim to encrypt digital content, software application to search and organize digital content database server, for storing, accessing, and manipulating digital content;

an internet web-site interface, customer billing software application, internet security firewall software application, customer database software application, customer authentication software application, digital content encryption and key-generation software application gateway server, for supplying customers with a web-site interface or a business transaction portal interface for the purchase, rental, or manipulation of digital content;

a connection between the online digital content store and customer computers, private network or a public network like the internet computer network, for supplying connectivity between the digital content online store and a plurality of computers or player devices belonging to digital content purchasers or renters;

a connection to an access network link, client interface to a digital content online store, client software application for the generation of cryptographic keys based on unique attributes of the device, client software application for cryptographic key exchange and decryption of digital content, client software application for accessing and managing local digital content, plurality of software applications for the playing and experience of digital content customer device, for supplying customer service and client interfaces and applications for interaction with the digital content online store;

a means for online electronic business transactions, means for unique identification of customers, interface with a customer database software application, interface with a secure gateway firewall application, interface with a digital content encryption software application, interface with a digital content inventory application transaction software application, for conducting electronic business transactions for the purchase or rental of digital content;

a repository for customer account information, means to search and access customer account information, data store of customer transaction histories, data store of customer puchase or rentail records, data store of customer inventory status containing information on owned, rented, checked-in, or checked-out content customer database, for storing customer information related to the sale or rental of digital content, electronically connected to said transaction software application;

a plurality of digital content for sale or rental content database, for storing the digital content inventory of the online content store;

a means for searching a digital content database, means for identification and selection of digital content for purchase or rental inventory application, for searching and managing a digital content database, electronically connected to said content database, and electronically connected to said transaction software application;

a means for encrypting and decrypting digital content, means for exchange of cryptographic keys with customer client software applications, means of per-customer unique encryption of didigtal content encryption application, for encrypting digital content, electronically connected to said content database, and electronically connected to said transaction software application;

a means for restricting network communication, means for authenticating network communications, means for defeating unauthorized network communication, means for resisting malicious communication attempts gateway application, for restricting network access to all but legitimate and authorized users, electronically connected to said transaction software application;

a web-site interface, means for internet customer interaction with online store, means for secure, online transactions web interface application, for supplying a web-site interface to digital online store customers, electronically connected to said gateway application;

a means for secure communication with an online digital content store, means for cryptographic key generation, means for cryptographic key exchange with an online digital content store, means for downloading digital content from an online digital content store, means for storing and accessing digital content on a local device, means for validating user identification and authorization, means for decrypting stored digital content, means for interfacing to local software or hardware for the experience of decrypted digital content, mechanism for managing the local inventory of downloaded digital content content management application, for interacting with an online digital content store for download, local management, and decryption of digital content, electronically connected to said web interface application;

a means for electronic business transactions, interface for retail purchasing systems, interface for retail inventory management systems, interface for retail billing systems, means for unique identifaction of purchased or rented content, means for exchanging inventory and unique identification information retail transaction portal, for supplying a wholesale inventory transaction interface to retail stores or web-sites, electronically connected to said gateway application;

a shopping step, for starting the digital online shopping process;

a select store step, for selecting the online digital content store, sequentially coupled to said shopping step;

a means for customer access to available content, means for structured searching of available content, means to store one or more content items in a queue for purchase or rental browsing step, for serching and identifying digital content for purchase or rental, sequentially coupled to said select store step;

a means for logging in to a secure transaction web interface, means for validating customer identity authentication step, for controlling and securing the online store for authorized customers, sequentially coupled to said browsing step;

a means for checking customer identifier, means for validating customer identity membership step, for confirming a currently registered online digital content store customer, selectively coupled to said authentication step;

a means for creating a new user account, means for creating a user identifier, means for creating a security authentication identifier, means for renewing an expired account new account step, for creating a new, or renewing an expired user account, sequentially coupled to said membership step;

a means for starting a secure transaction, means for validating security identifier log-in step, for logging into a secure online shopping session, sequentially coupled to said new account step, and selectively coupled to said authentication step;

a means for validating a customer identifier, means for validating a security identifier validation step, for validating customer identity, sequentially coupled to said log-in step;

a means to display authorization rejection log-in failure step, for notifying the customer of an invalid log-in attempt, selectively coupled to said validation step;

a means for searching content store inventory, means for identifying content for purchase or rental, means for online purchase transactions, means for tracking purchased or rented content, means for receipting purchased or rented content purchase step, for purchasing or renting digital content, sequentially coupled to said validation step;

a means to display new content in customer library, means to search and organize all customer content, means to identify content for customer download, means to display remaining duration on rented content, means to present customer with rental terms and conditions, means to check-out content from the customer library, means to check-in content back into the customer library library addition step, for managing a customer'"'"'s library of owned or rented content, sequentially coupled to said purchase step;

a retail purchase shopping step, for starting the retail shopping process;

a means to uniquely identify content title, means to convey that identity to retail store purchase system purchase content selection step, for selecting retail content identifier for purchase, sequentially coupled to said retail purchase shopping step;

a means to represent a unique identifier, means to convey an identifier in machine-readable form, means to convey an identifier in human-readable form purchase identifier entry step, for entering the unique content identifier into the retail point-of-sale system;

a means to contact an electronic retail portal, means to convey a unique content identifier to a retail portal, means to conduct a purchase transaction via a retail portal purchase authorization step, for transferring a purchase request via an electronic retail portal, selectively coupled to said purchase identifier entry step;

a means to identify a retailer, means to validate retailer for transactions, means to search content inventory for requested content, means to generate a unique content identifier for later customer use, means to conduct a credit or electronic banking transaction with retail point-of-sale system retail purchase transaction step, for confirming retailer authorization and generating unique customer content identifier, sequentially coupled to said purchase authorization step;

a means to indicate a successful transaction, means to convey unique content identifier, means to indicate a transaction failure purchase transaction response step, for returning a unique content identifier to a retail point-of-sale system, sequentially coupled to said retail purchase transaction step;

a means to convey a unique content identifier to retail customer, means to convey unique content identifier in human-readable form content purchase step, for purchasing of content unique identifier from retailer, sequentially coupled to said purchase transaction response step;

a means for customer access to available content, means for entering unique content identifier contact store purchase step, for serching and identifying digital purchased content, sequentially coupled to said content purchase step;

a means for logging in to a secure transaction web interface, means for validating customer identity, means for validating security identifier, means for starting a secure transaction retail purchase authentication step, for controlling and securing the online store for authorized customers, sequentially coupled to said contact store purchase step;

a means for checking customer identifier, means for validating customer identity, means to display authorization rejection retail purchase membership step, for confirming a currently registered online digital content store customer, selectively coupled to said retail purchase authentication step;

a means for entering unique content identifier purchase identifier selection step, for entering unique identifier of purchased content, sequentially coupled to said retail purchase membership step, and selectively coupled to said retail purchase authentication step;

a means to validate a content identifier purchase identifier validation step, for validating unique content identifier, sequentially coupled to said purchase identifier selection step;

a means to convey identifier failure to customer, means to track invalid identifier submission purchase identifier rejection step, for notifying the customer of an invalid identifier, selectively coupled to said purchase identifier validation step;

a means to add purchased content to customer library, means to update customer inventory, means to track transaction and retail source retail purchase library step, for adding retail purchased content to customer library, sequentially coupled to said purchase identifier validation step;

a retail rental shopping step, for starting the retail shopping process;

a means to uniquely identify content title, means to convey that identity to retail store purchase system rental content selection step, for selecting retail content identifier for rental, sequentially coupled to said retail rental shopping step;

a means to represent a unique identifier, means to convey an identifier in machine-readable form, means to convey an identifier in human-readable form rental identifier entry step, for entering the unique content identifier into the retail point-of-sale system;

a means to contact an electronic retail portal, means to convey a unique content identifier to a retail portal, means to conduct a purchase transaction via a retail portal rental authorization step, for transferring a purchase request via an electronic retail portal, selectively coupled to said rental identifier entry step;

a means to identify a retailer, means to validate retailer for transactions, means to search content inventory for requested content, means to generate a unique content identifier for later customer use, means to conduct a credit or electronic banking transaction with retail point-of-sale system retail rental transaction step, for confirming retailer authorization and generating unique customer content identifier, sequentially coupled to said rental authorization step;

a means to indicate a successful transaction, means to convey unique content identifier, means to indicate a transaction failure rental transaction response step, for returning a unique content identifier to a retail point-of-sale system, sequentially coupled to said retail rental transaction step;

a means to convey a unique content identifier to retail customer, means to convey unique content identifier in human-readable form content rental step, for renting of content unique identifier from retailer, sequentially coupled to said rental transaction response step;

a means for customer access to available content, means for entering unique content identifier contact store rental step, for searching and identifying digital rental content, sequentially coupled to said content rental step;

a means for logging in to a secure transaction web interface, means for validating customer identity, means for validating security identifier, means for starting a secure transaction retail rental authentication step, for controlling and securing the online store for authorized customers, sequentially coupled to said contact store rental step;

a means for checking customer identifier, means for validating customer identity, means to display authorization rejection retail rental membership step, for confirming a currently registered online digital content store customer, selectively coupled to said retail rental authentication step;

a means for entering unique content identifier rental identifier selection step, for entering unique identifier of purchased content, sequentially coupled to said retail rental membership step, and selectively coupled to said retail rental authentication step;

a means to validate a content identifier rental identifier validation step, for validating unique content identifier, sequentially coupled to said rental identifier selection step;

a means to convey identifier failure to customer, means to track invalid identifier submission rental identifier rejection step, for notifying the customer of an invalid identifier, selectively coupled to said rental identifier validation step;

a means to add rented content to customer library, means to validate rental terms and conditions, means to enforce rental terms and conditions, means to update customer inventory, means to track transaction and retail source retail rental library step, for adding retail rental content to customer library, sequentially coupled to said rental identifier validation step;

a content use step, for starting the content use process;

a means for storing titles of owned or rented content, means for seaching content titles content search step, for identifying digital content for use, sequentially coupled to said content use step;

a means for identifying downloaded and non-downloaded content content localizer step, for locating owned or rented content, sequentially coupled to said content search step;

a means to log-in to online content store, means to identify content for download, means to establish a secure connection to online store, means to request download download request step, for contacting the online store to request download of owned or rented content, selectively coupled to said content localizer step;

a means to uniquely identify customer'"'"'s local device, means to associate unique device to customer identity, means to communicate unique device identifier with content store encryption software application, means to arbitrate a cryptographic key and algorithm based on device unique identifier, means to encrypt the requested content with said key and algorithm key generation step, for arbitrating a unique encryption key and encrypting the digital content corresponding to that key, sequentially coupled to said download request step;

a means to download digital content from the content store to the local device, means to establish a secure connection for download download step, for downloading the digital content, sequentially coupled to said key generation step;

a means to store content on the local device, means to identify the content for later retrieval, means to store partial cryptographic key data for use in decryption local storage step, for storing the content on the local device, sequentially coupled to said download step;

a means to verify digital integrity of digital content, means to identify and enforce usage rights terms and conditions, means to verify key and cryptographic validity content validity step, for validating the usage rights of the digital content, sequentially coupled to said local storage step, and selectively coupled to said content localizer step;

a means to experience the digital content, means to interface to a content player, means to decrypt content, means to prevent unauthorized access to decrypted digital image of content content experience step, for decrypting the content and streaming it to a content player, sequentially coupled to said content validity step;

a means to interface with the local user, means to enable the user to determine local storage, means to enable the user to check-in the content to their online store library local content storage step, for managing local storage of digital content, sequentially coupled to said content experience step;

a means to contact the online store, means to establish a secure connection with the online store, means to identify content stored locally, means to check-in local content, means to display customer library of available, checked-in, and checked-out content, means to display newly checkled-in content as available for check-out, means to show locally stored content as checked-out content check-in step, for checking in content from the local device storage back into the customer content library, selectively coupled to said local content storage step;

a means to delete local copy of digital contnet upon library check-in checked-in content deletion step, for deleting checked-in digital content from a local device, sequentially coupled to said content check-in step; and

a local content step, for maintaining downloaded content within storage on the local device, selectively coupled to said local content storage step.

63. A method and apparatus for the rental or sale, and secure distribution of digital content for supplying a reliable, traceable, and auditable mechanism of digital content use rights and ownership comprising:

a database for storage of digital content, software application mechansim to encrypt digital content, software application to search and organize digital content database server, for storing, accessing, and manipulating digital content;

an internet web-site interface, customer billing software application, internet security firewall software application, customer database software application, customer authentication software application, digital content encryption and key-generation software application gateway server, for supplying customers with a web-site interface or a business transaction portal interface for the purchase, rental, or manipulation of digital content;

a high-capacity network connection between computers in the digital content store private network, for linking a content databse server and a customer interface server, electronically connected to said gateway server, and electronically connected to said database server;

a connection between the online digital content store and customer computers, private network or a public network like the internet computer network, for supplying connectivity between the digital content online store and a plurality of computers or player devices belonging to digital content purchasers or renters;

a connection to an access network link, client interface to a digital content online store, client software application for the generation of cryptographic keys based on unique attributes of the device, client software application for cryptographic key exchange and decryption of digital content, client software application for accessing and managing local digital content, plurality of software applications for the playing and experience of digital content customer device, for supplying customer service and client interfaces and applications for interaction with the digital content online store;

a means for online electronic business transactions, means for unique identification of customers, interface with a customer database software application, interface with a secure gateway firewall application, interface with a digital content encryption software application, interface with a digital content inventory application transaction software application, for conducting electronic business transactions for the purchase or rental of digital content;

a repository for customer account information, means to search and access customer account information, data store of customer transaction histories, data store of customer puchase or rentail records, data store of customer inventory status containing information on owned, rented, checked-in, or checked-out content customer database, for storing customer information related to the sale or rental of digital content, electronically connected to said transaction software application;

a plurality of digital content for sale or rental content database, for storing the digital content inventory of the online content store;

a means for searching a digital content database, means for identification and selection of digital content for purchase or rental inventory application, for searching and managing a digital content database, electronically connected to said content database, and electronically connected to said transaction software application;

a means for encrypting and decrypting digital content, means for exchange of cryptographic keys with customer client software applications, means of per-customer unique encryption of didigtal content encryption application, for encrypting digital content, electronically connected to said content database, and electronically connected to said transaction software application;

a means for restricting network communication, means for authenticating network communications, means for defeating unauthorized network communication, means for resisting malicious communication attempts gateway application, for restricting network access to all but legitimate and authorized users, electronically connected to said transaction software application;

a web-site interface, means for internet customer interaction with online store, means for secure, online transactions web interface application, for supplying a web-site interface to digital online store customers, electronically connected to said gateway application;

a means for secure communication with an online digital content store, means for cryptographic key generation, means for cryptographic key exchange with an online digital content store, means for downloading digital content from an online digital content store, means for storing and accessing digital content on a local device, means for validating user identification and authorization, means for decrypting stored digital content, means for interfacing to local software or hardware for the experience of decrypted digital content, mechanism for managing the local inventory of downloaded digital content content management application, for interacting with an online digital content store for download, local management, and decryption of digital content, electronically connected to said web interface application;

a means for electronic business transactions, interface for retail purchasing systems, interface for retail inventory management systems, interface for retail billing systems, means for unique identifaction of purchased or rented content, means for exchanging inventory and unique identification information retail transaction portal, for supplying a wholesale inventory transaction interface to retail stores or web-sites, electronically connected to said gateway application;

a shopping step, for starting the digital online shopping process;

a select store step, for selecting the online digital content store, sequentially coupled to said shopping step;

a means for customer access to available content, means for structured searching of available content, means to store one or more content items in a queue for purchase or rental browsing step, for serching and identifying digital content for purchase or rental, sequentially coupled to said select store step;

a means for logging in to a secure transaction web interface, means for validating customer identity authentication step, for controlling and securing the online store for authorized customers, sequentially coupled to said browsing step;

a means for checking customer identifier, means for validating customer identity membership step, for confirming a currently registered online digital content store customer, selectively coupled to said authentication step;

a means for creating a new user account, means for creating a user identifier, means for creating a security authentication identifier, means for renewing an expired account new account step, for creating a new, or renewing an expired user account, sequentially coupled to said membership step;

a means for starting a secure transaction, means for validating security identifier log-in step, for logging into a secure online shopping session, sequentially coupled to said new account step, and selectively coupled to said authentication step;

a means for validating a customer identifier, means for validating a security identifier validation step, for validating customer identity, sequentially coupled to said log-in step;

a means to display authorization rejection log-in failure step, for notifying the customer of an invalid log-in attempt, selectively coupled to said validation step;

a means for searching content store inventory, means for identifying content for purchase or rental, means for online purchase transactions, means for tracking purchased or rented content, means for receipting purchased or rented content purchase step, for purchasing or renting digital content, sequentially coupled to said validation step;

a means to display new content in customer library, means to search and organize all customer content, means to identify content for customer download, means to display remaining duration on rented content, means to present customer with rental terms and conditions, means to check-out content from the customer library, means to check-in content back into the customer library library addition step, for managing a customer'"'"'s library of owned or rented content, sequentially coupled to said purchase step;

a retail purchase shopping step, for starting the retail shopping process;

a means to uniquely identify content title, means to convey that identity to retail store purchase system purchase content selection step, for selecting retail content identifier for purchase, sequentially coupled to said retail purchase shopping step;

a purchase check-out step, for beginning the purchase transaction, sequentially coupled to said purchase content selection step;

a means to represent a unique identifier, means to convey an identifier in machine-readable form, means to convey an identifier in human-readable form purchase identifier entry step, for entering the unique content identifier into the retail point-of-sale system, sequentially coupled to said purchase check-out step;

a means to contact an electronic retail portal, means to convey a unique content identifier to a retail portal, means to conduct a purchase transaction via a retail portal purchase authorization step, for transferring a purchase request via an electronic retail portal, selectively coupled to said purchase identifier entry step;

a means to identify a retailer, means to validate retailer for transactions, means to search content inventory for requested content, means to generate a unique content identifier for later customer use, means to conduct a credit or electronic banking transaction with retail point-of-sale system retail purchase transaction step, for confirming retailer authorization and generating unique customer content identifier, sequentially coupled to said purchase authorization step;

a means to indicate a successful transaction, means to convey unique content identifier, means to indicate a transaction failure purchase transaction response step, for returning a unique content identifier to a retail point-of-sale system, sequentially coupled to said retail purchase transaction step;

a means to convey a unique content identifier to retail customer, means to convey unique content identifier in human-readable form content purchase step, for purchasing of content unique identifier from retailer, sequentially coupled to said purchase transaction response step;

a means for customer access to available content, means for entering unique content identifier contact store purchase step, for serching and identifying digital purchased content, sequentially coupled to said content purchase step;

a means for logging in to a secure transaction web interface, means for validating customer identity, means for validating security identifier, means for starting a secure transaction retail purchase authentication step, for controlling and securing the online store for authorized customers, sequentially coupled to said contact store purchase step;

a means for checking customer identifier, means for validating customer identity, means to display authorization rejection retail purchase membership step, for confirming a currently registered online digital content store customer, selectively coupled to said retail purchase authentication step;

a means for entering unique content identifier purchase identifier selection step, for entering unique identifier of purchased content, sequentially coupled to said retail purchase membership step, and selectively coupled to said retail purchase authentication step;

a means to validate a content identifier purchase identifier validation step, for validating unique content identifier, sequentially coupled to said purchase identifier selection step;

a means to convey identifier failure to customer, means to track invalid identifier submission purchase identifier rejection step, for notifying the customer of an invalid identifier, selectively coupled to said purchase identifier validation step;

a means to add purchased content to customer library, means to update customer inventory, means to track transaction and retail source retail purchase library step, for adding retail purchased content to customer library, sequentially coupled to said purchase identifier validation step;

a retail rental shopping step, for starting the retail shopping process;

a means to uniquely identify content title, means to convey that identity to retail store purchase system rental content selection step, for selecting retail content identifier for rental, sequentially coupled to said retail rental shopping step;

a rental check-out step, for beginning the purchase transaction, sequentially coupled to said rental content selection step;

a means to represent a unique identifier, means to convey an identifier in machine-readable form, means to convey an identifier in human-readable form rental identifier entry step, for entering the unique content identifier into the retail point-of-sale system, sequentially coupled to said rental check-out step;

a means to contact an electronic retail portal, means to convey a unique content identifier to a retail portal, means to conduct a purchase transaction via a retail portal rental authorization step, for transferring a purchase request via an electronic retail portal, selectively coupled to said rental identifier entry step;

a means to identify a retailer, means to validate retailer for transactions, means to search content inventory for requested content, means to generate a unique content identifier for later customer use, means to conduct a credit or electronic banking transaction with retail point-of-sale system retail rental transaction step, for confirming retailer authorization and generating unique customer content identifier, sequentially coupled to said rental authorization step;

a means to indicate a successful transaction, means to convey unique content identifier, means to indicate a transaction failure rental transaction response step, for returning a unique content identifier to a retail point-of-sale system, sequentially coupled to said retail rental transaction step;

a means to convey a unique content identifier to retail customer, means to convey unique content identifier in human-readable form content rental step, for renting of content unique identifier from retailer, sequentially coupled to said rental transaction response step;

a means for customer access to available content, means for entering unique content identifier contact store rental step, for searching and identifying digital rental content, sequentially coupled to said content rental step;

a means for logging in to a secure transaction web interface, means for validating customer identity, means for validating security identifier, means for starting a secure transaction retail rental authentication step, for controlling and securing the online store for authorized customers, sequentially coupled to said contact store rental step;

a means for checking customer identifier, means for validating customer identity, means to display authorization rejection retail rental membership step, for confirming a currently registered online digital content store customer, selectively coupled to said retail rental authentication step;

a means for entering unique content identifier rental identifier selection step, for entering unique identifier of purchased content, sequentially coupled to said retail rental membership step, and selectively coupled to said retail rental authentication step;

a means to validate a content identifier rental identifier validation step, for validating unique content identifier, sequentially coupled to said rental identifier selection step;

a means to convey identifier failure to customer, means to track invalid identifier submission rental identifier rejection step, for notifying the customer of an invalid identifier, selectively coupled to said rental identifier validation step;

a means to add rented content to customer library, means to validate rental terms and conditions, means to enforce rental terms and conditions, means to update customer inventory, means to track transaction and retail source retail rental library step, for adding retail rental content to customer library, sequentially coupled to said rental identifier validation step;

a content use step, for starting the content use process;

a means for storing titles of owned or rented content, means for seaching content titles content search step, for identifying digital content for use, sequentially coupled to said content use step;

a means for identifying downloaded and non-downloaded content content localizer step, for locating owned or rented content, sequentially coupled to said content search step;

a means to log-in to online content store, means to identify content for download, means to establish a secure connection to online store, means to request download download request step, for contacting the online store to request download of owned or rented content, selectively coupled to said content localizer step;

a means to uniquely identify customer'"'"'s local device, means to associate unique device to customer identity, means to communicate unique device identifier with content store encryption software application, means to arbitrate a cryptographic key and algorithm based on device unique identifier, means to encrypt the requested content with said key and algorithm key generation step, for arbitrating a unique encryption key and encrypting the digital content corresponding to that key, sequentially coupled to said download request step;

a means to download digital content from the content store to the local device, means to establish a secure connection for download download step, for downloading the digital content, sequentially coupled to said key generation step;

a means to store content on the local device, means to identify the content for later retrieval, means to store partial cryptographic key data for use in decryption local storage step, for storing the content on the local device, sequentially coupled to said download step;

a means to verify digital integrity of digital content, means to identify and enforce usage rights terms and conditions, means to verify key and cryptographic validity content validity step, for validating the usage rights of the digital content, sequentially coupled to said local storage step, and selectively coupled to said content localizer step;

a means to experience the digital content, means to interface to a content player, means to decrypt content, means to prevent unauthorized access to decrypted digital image of content content experience step, for decrypting the content and streaming it to a content player, sequentially coupled to said content validity step;

a means to interface with the local user, means to enable the user to determine local storage, means to enable the user to check-in the content to their online store library local content storage step, for managing local storage of digital content, sequentially coupled to said content experience step;

a means to contact the online store, means to establish a secure connection with the online store, means to identify content stored locally, means to check-in local content, means to display customer library of available, checked-in, and checked-out content, means to display newly checkled-in content as available for check-out, means to show locally stored content as checked-out content check-in step, for checking in content from the local device storage back into the customer content library, selectively coupled to said local content storage step;

a means to delete local copy of digital contnet upon library check-in checked-in content deletion step, for deleting checked-in digital content from a local device, sequentially coupled to said content check-in step; and

a local content step, for maintaining downloaded content within storage on the local device, selectively coupled to said local content storage step.