US7200575B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Managing access to digital content
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
•
Filing: 2001-02-27
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Granted: 2007-04-03
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Expires: 2021-02-27
Abstract
Abstract Systems and methods of managing access to digital content are described. In one aspect, a novel digital content access management system enables users to register previously owned digital content and, subsequently, allows users to access the registered content using any electronic device that is connected to the system. Digital content may be pushed or pulled from any electronic system that is connected to a network—no matter where it is located—to any other electronic system that is connected to a network. A novel business model, as well as a system and a method for implementing this model, also are described. In accordance with this business model, payments are made to content providers upon registration of the previously owned digital content. In this way, the monetary interests of content providers may be protected (even when a user registers borrowed digital content, for example), while enhancing the ability of users to interact with their licensed digital content.
Inventors
- 👤 Mathieu C. HANS
- 👤 Gary D. Sasaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 12:03
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99943; Y10S707/99944
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
A system for managing access to digital content, comprising: a rights manager residing on a server computer and configured to maintain for a user residing at a network node remote from the server computer a user profile containing selected user information, including a user license index identifying digital content licensed by the user, wherein the rights manager is configured to enable a user to register a license for digital content previously purchased by the user.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
75 words
A system for managing access to digital content, comprising: a rights manager residing on a server computer and configured to maintain for a user residing at a network node remote from the server computer a user profile containing selected user information, including a user license index identifying digital content licensed by the user, wherein the rights manager is configured to enable a user to register a license for digital content previously purchased by the user.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the license is registered based upon a content identifier associated with the purchased digital content.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 2 , wherein the content identifier is obtained from a recording medium on which the purchased digital content is stored.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the rights manager is configured to maintain content usage information in the user profile.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1 , further comprising an access manager configured to manage user access to digital content identified in the user license index.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 5 , wherein the access manager is configured to provide access to digital content stored on a network node remote from the server computer and the user network node.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 6 , wherein the access manager is configured to provide access to remote digital content based upon a digital content index identifying remote network node addresses at which the remote digital content is stored.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 5 , wherein the access manager is configured to enable formatting of digital content in accordance with a format designation received from the user.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein the access manager is configured to enable transmission of the digital content as a complete file or in a streaming file format.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
105 words
A system for managing access to digital content. comprising: a rights manager residing on a server computer and configured to maintain for a user residing at a network node remote from the server computer a user profile containing selected user information, including a user license index identifying digital content licensed by the user; and an access manager configured to manage user access to digital content identified in the user license index, wherein the access manager is configured to enable transmission of digital content to a network node address different from the user network node in accordance with a destination node address received from the user.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
105 words
A system for managing access to digital content. comprising: a rights manager residing on a server computer and configured to maintain for a user residing at a network node remote from the server computer a user profile containing selected user information, including a user license index identifying digital content licensed by the user; and an access manager configured to manage user access to digital content identified in the user license index, wherein the access manager is configured to enable transmission of digital content to a network node address different from the user network node in accordance with a destination node address received from the user.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a royalty manager configured to authorize payment to a digital content provider.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
88 words
A system for managing access to digital content, comprising: a rights manager residing on a server computer and configured to maintain for a user residing at a network node remote from the server computer a user profile containing selected user information, including a user license index identifying digital content licensed by the user; and a royalty manager configured to authorize payment to a digital content provider, wherein the royalty manager is configured to authorize payment in response to a digital content registration confirmation received from the rights manager.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
88 words
A system for managing access to digital content, comprising: a rights manager residing on a server computer and configured to maintain for a user residing at a network node remote from the server computer a user profile containing selected user information, including a user license index identifying digital content licensed by the user; and a royalty manager configured to authorize payment to a digital content provider, wherein the royalty manager is configured to authorize payment in response to a digital content registration confirmation received from the rights manager.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 12 , wherein the authorized payment corresponds to a prescribed royalty fee schedule.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of managing access to digital content, comprising: maintaining on a server computer a user profile for a user residing at a network node remote from the server computer, the user profile containing selected user information, including a user license index identifying digital content licensed by the user; and enabling a user to register a license for digital content previously purchased by the user.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of managing access to digital content, comprising: maintaining on a server computer a user profile for a user residing at a network node remote from the server computer, the user profile containing selected user information, including a user license index identifying digital content licensed by the user; and enabling a user to register a license for digital content previously purchased by the user.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the license is registered based upon a content identifier associated with the purchased digital content.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 14 , further comprising authorizing payment to a digital content provider.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein the payment is authorized upon registration of digital content.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein the authorized payment corresponds to a prescribed royalty fee schedule.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the rights manager is configured to receive content identifiers uploaded from a user device connected to the remote network node.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 19 , wherein each content identifier corresponds to an album key assigned to a respective music compact disk.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 2 , wherein each content identifier is an album key assigned to a respective music compact disk.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 11 , wherein the royalty manager is configured to determine if a royalty fee is required for each digital content identified in the user license index.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 14 , further comprising receiving content identifiers uploaded from a user device connected to the remote network node.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein each content identifier is an album key assigned to a respective music compact disk.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein each content identifier corresponds to an album key assigned to a respective music compact disk.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 14 , further comprising formatting digital content in accordance with a format designation received from the user.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of managing access to digital content, comprising: maintaining on a server computer a user profile for a user residing at a network node remote from the server computer, the user profile containing selected user information, including a user license index identifying digital content licensed by the user; and transmitting digital content to a network node address different from the user network node in accordance with a destination node address received from the user.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of managing access to digital content, comprising: maintaining on a server computer a user profile for a user residing at a network node remote from the server computer, the user profile containing selected user information, including a user license index identifying digital content licensed by the user; and transmitting digital content to a network node address different from the user network node in accordance with a destination node address received from the user.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2010-04-02 | 2010-10-02 | 2011-04-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2014-04-02 | 2014-10-02 | 2015-04-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2018-04-02 | 2018-10-02 | 2019-04-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |