Supervised license acquisition in a digital rights management system on a computing device

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 comprising causing the browser to navigate to a license server based on information received by the rendering application from the DRM system.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 comprising receiving information necessary to acquire the license including a site identifier identifying a license server and causing the browser to navigate to the license server based on the site identifier.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 comprising hosting a browser having pre-defined specifications, and receiving information from the license server designed in accordance with such specifications.

Claim 6

The method of claim 4 comprising hosting a browser having pre-defined view width and view height, and receiving information from the license server designed in accordance with such view width and view height.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 comprising receiving the license from the license server directly to the DRM system.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 further comprising storing the received license in a license store of the DRM system.

Claim 9

The method of claim 1 comprising shutting down the hosted browser upon a user actuation.

Claim 10

The method of claim 1 comprising shutting down the hosted browser upon receiving notification that the license has been received.

Claim 11

The method of claim 9 comprising shutting down the hosted browser upon receiving notification from the DRM system that the license has been received.

Claim 12

The method of claim 1 further comprising proceeding, by the rendering application, to render the content based on the received license.

Claim 13

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions thereon for performing the method of claim 1 .

Claim 16

The method of claim 13 comprising: determining, by the DRM system, during the attempted silently license acquisition, that the DRM system does not have available thereto all information required by the license server; and allowing the user to attempt to acquire the license from a license server by way of a browser hosted by the rendering application.

Claim 17

The method of claim 13 comprising: determining, by the DRM system, during the attempted silently license acquisition, that the license server does not permit silent license acquisition; and allowing the user to attempt to acquire the license from a license server by way of a browser hosted by the rendering application.

Claim 18

The method of claim 13 comprising: determining that the user does not permit silent license acquisition; and allowing the user to attempt to acquire the license from a license server by way of a browser hosted by the rendering application.

Claim 19

The method of claim 13 comprising: attempting, by the DRM system, to silently acquire the license from a license server by way of a first site identifier therefor; and if the attempt to silently acquire the license fails, allowing a user to attempt to acquire the license from a license server by way of a second identifier therefor different from the first identifier.

Claim 20

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions thereon for performing the method of claim 13 .

Claim 23

The method of claim 19 comprising displaying the received status information in the status display portion of the rendering application in at least one of a written and a pictorial form.

Claim 24

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions thereon for performing the method of claim 19 .

Claim 25

A computing device having operating thereon a rendering application for rendering digital content and a digital rights management (DRM) system for authorizing such rendering based on a corresponding digital license, the rendering application and the DRM system for effectuating acquisition of such digital license upon the rendering application requesting the DRM system for authorization for such rendering based on such digital license and upon the DRM system notifying the rendering application that such digital license is not available on the computing device, the rendering application hosting a browser that is initiated by the rendering application, under the control of such rendering application, and viewed within the context of the rendering application, and causing the browser to navigate to a license server to allow a user to communicate with the license server by way of the hosted browser to acquire the digital license, the rendering application shutting down the hosted browser upon receiving the digital license from the license server.

Claim 26

A computing device having operating thereon a rendering application for rendering digital content and a digital rights management (DRM) system for authorizing such rendering based on a corresponding digital license, the rendering application and the DRM system for effectuating acquisition of such digital license upon the rendering application requesting the DRM system for authorization for such rendering based on such digital license and upon the DRM system notifying the rendering application that such digital license is not available on the computing device, the rendering application hosting a browser that is initiated by the rendering application, under the control of such rendering application, and viewed within the context of the rendering application, and causing the browser to navigate to a license server to allow a user to communicate with the license server by way of the hosted browser to acquire the digital license, the rendering application shutting down the hosted browser upon receiving the digital license from the license server.

Claim 27

The computing device of claim 22 wherein the rendering application causes the browser to navigate to a license server based on information received by the rendering application from the DRM system.

Claim 28

The computing device of claim 22 wherein the rendering application receives information necessary to acquire the license including a site identifier identifying a license server, and causes the browser to navigate to the license server based on the site identifier.

Claim 29

The computing device of claim 22 wherein the rendering application hosts a browser having pre-defined specifications and receives information from the license server designed in accordance with such specifications.

Claim 30

The computing device of claim 25 wherein the rendering application hosts a browser having pre-defined view width and view height, and receives information from the license server designed in accordance with such view width and view height.

Claim 31

The computing device of claim 22 wherein the DRM system receives the license from the license server directly.

Claim 32

The computing device of claim 27 wherein the DRM system stores the received license in a license store of the DRM system.

Claim 33

The computing device of claim 22 wherein the rendering application shuts down the hosted browser upon a user actuation.

Claim 34

The computing device of claim 22 wherein the rendering application shuts down the hosted browser upon receiving notification that the license has been received.

Claim 35

The computing device of claim 30 wherein the rendering application shuts down the hosted browser upon receiving notification from the DRM system that the license has been received.

Claim 36

The computing device of claim 22 wherein the rendering application proceeds to render the content based on the received license.

Claim 37

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions thereon for performing the method of claim 22 .

Claim 38

A computing device having operating thereon a rendering application for rendering digital content and a digital rights management (DRM) system for authorizing such rendering based on a corresponding digital license, the rendering application and the DRM system for effectuating acquisition of such digital license upon the rendering application requesting the DRM system for authorization for such rendering based on such digital license and upon the DRM system determining that such digital license is not available on the computing device, the DRM system attempting to silently acquire the digital license from a license server without the intervention of a user, and, if the attempt to silently acquire the digital license fails, the rendering application hosting a browser and allowing a user to attempt to acquire the digital license from a license server by way of the hosted browser, the rendering application allows a user to attempt to acquire the digital license from a license server by hosting a browser that is initiated by the rendering application, under the control of such rendering application, and viewed within the context of the rendering application, causing the browser to navigate to a license server, allowing a user to communicate with the license server by way of the hosted browser to acquire the digital license, and shutting down the hosted browser upon receiving the digital license from the license server.

Claim 39

A computing device having operating thereon a rendering application for rendering digital content and a digital rights management (DRM) system for authorizing such rendering based on a corresponding digital license, the rendering application and the DRM system for effectuating acquisition of such digital license upon the rendering application requesting the DRM system for authorization for such rendering based on such digital license and upon the DRM system determining that such digital license is not available on the computing device, the DRM system attempting to silently acquire the digital license from a license server without the intervention of a user, and, if the attempt to silently acquire the digital license fails, the rendering application hosting a browser and allowing a user to attempt to acquire the digital license from a license server by way of the hosted browser, the rendering application allows a user to attempt to acquire the digital license from a license server by hosting a browser that is initiated by the rendering application, under the control of such rendering application, and viewed within the context of the rendering application, causing the browser to navigate to a license server, allowing a user to communicate with the license server by way of the hosted browser to acquire the digital license, and shutting down the hosted browser upon receiving the digital license from the license server.

Claim 40

The computing device of claim 34 wherein the DRM system determines during the attempted silently license acquisition that the DRM system does not have available thereto all information required by the license server; and the rendering application thereafter allows the user to attempt to acquire the license from a license server by way of a browser hosted by the rendering application.

Claim 41

The computing device of claim 34 wherein the DRM system determines during the attempted silently license acquisition that the license server does not permit silent license acquisition, and the rendering application thereafter allows the user to attempt to acquire the license from a license server by way of a browser hosted by the rendering application.

Claim 42

The computing device of claim 34 wherein the DRM system determines during the attempted silently license acquisition that the user does not permit silent license acquisition, and the rendering application thereafter allows the user to attempt to acquire the license from a license server by way of a browser hosted by the rendering application.

Claim 43

The computing device of claim 34 wherein the DRM system attempts to silently acquire the license from a license server by way of a first site identifier therefor, and if the attempt to silently acquire the license fails, the rendering application allows a user to attempt to acquire the license from a license server by way of a second identifier therefor different from the first identifier.

Claim 44

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions thereon for performing the method of claim 34 .

Claim 45

A computing device having operating thereon a rendering application for rendering digital content and a digital rights management (DRM) system for authorizing such rendering based on a corresponding digital license, the rendering application and the DRM system for effectuating acquisition of such digital license upon the rendering application requesting the DRM system for authorization for such rendering based on such digital license and upon the DRM system determining that such digital license is not available on the computing device, the DRM system attempting to silently acquire the digital license from a license server without the intervention of a user, the rendering application receiving from the DRM system status information relating to the attempted license acquisition by the DRM system and displaying the received status information in a status display portion of the rendering application, wherein if the attempt to silently acquire the digital license fails, the rendering application allows a user to attempt to acquire the digital license from a license server by way of a browser hosted by the rendering application that is initiated by the rendering application, under the control of such rendering application, and viewed within the context of the rendering application.

Claim 46

A computing device having operating thereon a rendering application for rendering digital content and a digital rights management (DRM) system for authorizing such rendering based on a corresponding digital license, the rendering application and the DRM system for effectuating acquisition of such digital license upon the rendering application requesting the DRM system for authorization for such rendering based on such digital license and upon the DRM system determining that such digital license is not available on the computing device, the DRM system attempting to silently acquire the digital license from a license server without the intervention of a user, the rendering application receiving from the DRM system status information relating to the attempted license acquisition by the DRM system and displaying the received status information in a status display portion of the rendering application, wherein if the attempt to silently acquire the digital license fails, the rendering application allows a user to attempt to acquire the digital license from a license server by way of a browser hosted by the rendering application that is initiated by the rendering application, under the control of such rendering application, and viewed within the context of the rendering application.

Claim 47

The computing device of claim 40 wherein the rendering application displays the received status information in the status display portion of the rendering application in at least one of a written and a pictorial form.

Claim 48

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions thereon for performing the method of claim 40 .

Claim 51

The method of claim 43 comprising causing the browser to navigate to a license server based on information received by the rendering application from the DRM system.

Claim 52

The method of claim 43 comprising receiving information necessary to acquire the license including a site identifier identifying a license server and causing the browser to navigate to the license server based on the site identifier.

Claim 53

The method of claim 43 comprising hosting a browser having pre-defined specifications, and receiving information from the license server designed in accordance with such specifications.

Claim 54

The method of claim 46 comprising hosting a browser having pre-defined view width and view height, and receiving information from the license server designed in accordance with such view width and view height.

Claim 55

The method of claim 43 comprising shutting down the hosted browser upon a user actuation.

Claim 56

The method of claim 43 comprising shutting down the hosted browser upon receiving notification that the license has been received.

Claim 57

The method of claim 49 comprising shutting down the hosted browser upon receiving notification from the DRM system that the license has been received.

Claim 58

The method of claim 43 further comprising proceeding to render the content based on the received license.

Claim 59

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions thereon for performing the method of claim 43 .

Claim 62

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions thereon for performing the method of claim 53 .

Claim 65

The method of claim 55 comprising displaying the received status information in the status display portion of the rendering application in at least one of a written and a pictorial form.

Claim 66

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions thereon for performing the method of claim 55 .

Claim 67

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions thereon for performing a method of acquiring a digital license that authorizes rendering of corresponding digital content, the digital license to be acquired upon a rendering application on a computing device requesting a digital rights management (DRM) system on the computing device for authorization for such rendering based on such digital license, the instructions being organized into modules comprising: a first module for attempting, by the DRM system, to silently acquire the digital license from a license server without the intervention of a user; and a second module for, if the attempt to silently acquire the digital license fails, allowing a user to attempt to acquire the digital license from a license server by way of a browser hosted by the rendering application by including: a first sub-module for hosting, by the rendering application, a browser that is initiated by the rendering application, under the control of such rendering application, and viewed within the context of the rendering application; a second sub-module for causing, by the rendering application, the browser to navigate to a license server; a third sub-module for allowing a user to communicate with the license server by way of the hosted browser to acquire the digital license; a fourth sub-module for receiving the digital license from the license server; and a fifth sub-module for shutting down, by the hosting rendering application, the hosted browser upon receiving the digital license.

Claim 68

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions thereon for performing a method of acquiring a digital license that authorizes rendering of corresponding digital content, the digital license to be acquired upon a rendering application on a computing device requesting a digital rights management (DRM) system on the computing device for authorization for such rendering based on such digital license, the instructions being organized into modules comprising: a first module for attempting, by the DRM system, to silently acquire the digital license from a license server without the intervention of a user; and a second module for, if the attempt to silently acquire the digital license fails, allowing a user to attempt to acquire the digital license from a license server by way of a browser hosted by the rendering application by including: a first sub-module for hosting, by the rendering application, a browser that is initiated by the rendering application, under the control of such rendering application, and viewed within the context of the rendering application; a second sub-module for causing, by the rendering application, the browser to navigate to a license server; a third sub-module for allowing a user to communicate with the license server by way of the hosted browser to acquire the digital license; a fourth sub-module for receiving the digital license from the license server; and a fifth sub-module for shutting down, by the hosting rendering application, the hosted browser upon receiving the digital license.

Claim 69

The medium of claim 58 comprising: a third module for determining, by the DRM system, during the attempted silently license acquisition, that the DRM system does not have available thereto all information required by the license server; and a fourth module for allowing the user to attempt to acquire the license from a license server by way of a browser hosted by the rendering application.

Claim 70

The medium of claim 58 comprising: a third module for determining, by the DRM system, during the attempted silently license acquisition, that the license server does not permit silent license acquisition; and a fourth module for allowing the user to attempt to acquire the license from a license server by way of a browser hosted by the rendering application.

Claim 71

The medium of claim 58 comprising: a third module for determining that the user does not permit silent license acquisition; and a fourth module for allowing the user to attempt to acquire the license from a license server by way of a browser hosted by the rendering application.

Claim 72

The medium of claim 58 comprising: a first module for attempting, by the DRM system, to silently acquire the license from a license server by way of a first site identifier therefor; and a second module for, if the attempt to silently acquire the license fails, allowing a user to attempt to acquire the license from a license server by way of a second identifier therefor different from the first identifier.