Controlling frequency of data transfer

1. A method for controlling frequency of data transfer of an electronic device, said method comprising:

fetching a time stamp over a network connection, wherein said time stamp is not modifiable at said electronic device;

storing said time stamp at said electronic device;

in response to a request to transfer a first digital content, determining whether a predetermined time interval since a most recent transfer of said first digital content has elapsed; and

if said predetermined time interval has not elapsed, blocking said transfer of said first digital content.

2. The method as described in claim 1 wherein said time stamp is comprised within a digital certificate.

3. The method as described in claim 1 wherein said time stamp is comprised within a counter stored in a portion of a memory device of said electronic device that is inaccessible by a user.

4. The method as described in claim 3 wherein said memory device is comprised within a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) microcontroller.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said fetching a time stamp over a network connection comprises:

establishing an Internet connection;

accessing a trusted time stamp generator over said Internet connection; and

retrieving said time stamp from said trusted time stamp generator.

6. The method as described in claim 1 wherein said request is for a transfer to a second electronic device, and wherein said method further comprises:

comparing said time stamp to a second time stamp stored at said second electronic device, wherein said second time stamp is not modifiable at said second electronic device;

if said time stamp is older than said second time stamp, replacing said time stamp with said second time stamp.

7. A data transfer rate reducer for controlling frequency of data transfer of an electronic device, said data transfer rate reducer comprising:

a time stamp fetcher configured to fetch a time stamp over a network connection from a trusted clock, wherein said time stamp is not modifiable at said electronic device;

a time stamp store configured to store said time stamp at said electronic device;

a time interval determiner configured to determine whether a predetermined time interval since a most recent transfer of a first digital content has elapsed, in response to a request to transfer said first digital content; and

a transfer blocker configured to block said transfer of said first digital content if said predetermined time interval has not elapsed.

8. The data transfer rate reducer of claim 7 wherein said time stamp is comprised within a digital certificate.

9. The data transfer rate reducer of claim 7 wherein said time stamp is comprised within a portion of a memory device of said electronic device that is inaccessible by a user.

10. The data transfer rate reducer of claim 9 wherein said memory device is comprised within a TPM microcontroller.

11. The data transfer rate reducer of claim 7 wherein said time stamp fetcher comprises:

an Internet connector configured to establish an Internet connection;

a trusted time stamp generator accessor configured to access a trusted time stamp generator over said Internet connection; and

a time stamp retriever configured to retrieve said time stamp from said trusted time stamp generator.

12. The data transfer rate reducer of claim 7 wherein said data transfer rate reducer further comprises:

a time stamp comparer configured to compare said time stamp to a second time stamp stored at a second electronic device, wherein said request is for a transfer to said second electronic device, wherein said second time stamp is not modifiable at said second electronic device; and

a time stamp replacer configured to replace said time stamp with said second time stamp if said time stamp is older than said second time stamp.

13. A non-transitory computer-usable storage medium having computer readable program code stored thereon for causing a computer system to perform a method for controlling frequency of data transfer of an electronic device, said method comprising:

fetching a time stamp over a network connection, wherein said time stamp is not modifiable at said electronic device;

storing said time stamp at said electronic device; in response to a request to transfer a first digital content, determining whether a predetermined time interval since a most recent transfer of said first digital content has elapsed; and

if said predetermined time interval has not elapsed, blocking said transfer of said first digital content.

14. The computer-usable storage medium as described in claim 13 wherein said time stamp is comprised within a digital certificate.

15. The computer-usable storage medium as described in claim 14 wherein said request is for a transfer to a second electronic device, and wherein said method further comprises:

comparing said time stamp to a second time stamp stored at said second electronic device, wherein said second time stamp is not modifiable at said second electronic device; if said time stamp is older than said second time stamp, replacing said time stamp with said second time stamp.

16. The computer-usable storage medium as described in claim 13 wherein said time stamp is comprised within a counter stored in a portion of a memory device of said electronic device that is inaccessible by a user.

17. The computer-usable storage medium as described in claim 16 wherein said memory device is comprised within a tamper resistant Trusted Platform Module (TPM) microcontroller.

18. The computer-usable storage medium as described in claim 13 wherein said fetching a time

stamp over a network connection comprises: establishing an Internet connection; accessing a trusted time stamp generator over said Internet connection; and retrieving said time stamp from said trusted time stamp generator.