In-store reading system
A system and method for providing digital data content to a wireless device. Although a fee is typically charged for access to the digital data content, e.g., electronic books, the system and the method provides controlled access to this content for free while the wireless device is accessing the content in a specified location, e.g., a retail location. A content control server receives a request from the wireless device requesting access to the digital data content. The request is received over a secure connection, preferably a virtual private network (VPN). The content control server monitors how much of the digital data content has been provided to the wireless device, and/or an amount of time the wireless device has been accessing the digital data content. This content control server uses this monitored data to control, throttle, the provision of the digital data content to the wireless device.
1. A system providing digital data content to a wireless device, the system comprising:
a digital data content control server configured to receive, over a secure connection, a request from the wireless device requesting one or more portions of the digital data content, and to provide, in response to the request, limited access to the digital data content, the digital data content control server comprising:
a data store storing the digital data content;
a web server configured to maintain the secure connection between the wireless device and the digital data content control server;
digital data content provision software operable on the digital data content control server that:
(a) provides, on a portion by portion basis, the requested digital data content to the wireless device;
(b) monitors:
(i) how many portions of the digital data content have been provided to the wireless device, and
(ii) an amount of time the wireless device has been accessing the digital data content;
(c) stopping the provision of the digital data content if more than a predetermined number of portions of the digital data content is provided in a predetermined amount of time.
2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the digital data content is provided to the customer without charge.
3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the digital data content is otherwise provided for a fee.
4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined throttling criteria further includes whether a daily limit for the requested digital data content has been exceeded.
5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the received request includes commands from the wireless device relating to which portion or portions of digital data content is desired by a user of the wireless device.
6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the digital data content control server further comprises a throttling database that stores throttling records specific to particular customers.
7. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the throttling is done with reference to the throttling records in the throttling database.
8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the secure connection is a virtual private network (VPN) connection.
9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the digital data content is an electronic book.
10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the digital data content is audio.
11. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the digital data content is a video.
12. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a wireless access point, wherein the wireless device connects to the digital data content control server through the wireless access point.
13. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the wireless access point is provided in a retail location.
14. A method on a server for providing digital data content to a wireless device, the digital data content being stored in a data store, the method comprising:
receiving, by the server over a secure connection, a request from the wireless device requesting one or more portions of the digital data content;
providing, by the server, on a portion by portion basis, the requested digital data content to the wireless device;
monitoring, by the server:
(i) how many portions of the digital data content have been provided to the wireless device, and
(ii) an amount of time the wireless device has been accessing the digital data content; and
stopping, by the server, the provision of the digital data content if more than a predetermined number of portions of the digital data content is provided in a predetermined amount of time.
15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the digital data content is provided to the customer for free.
16. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the throttling criteria further includes whether a daily limit for the requested digital data content has been exceeded.
17. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the received request includes commands from the wireless device relating to which portion of data is desired by a user of the wireless device.
18. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the throttling is performed with reference to throttling records in a throttling database.
19. A system for providing digital data content, the system comprising:
a wireless device;
a digital data content control server storing the digital data content;
a wireless access point providing a secure connection between the wireless device and the digital data content control server; and
digital data content provision software operable on the digital data content control server that:
(a) provides, on a portion by portion basis, the requested digital data content to the wireless device;
(b) monitors:
(i) how many portions of the digital data content have been provided to the wireless device, and
(ii) an amount of time the wireless device has been accessing the digital data content;
(c) stops the provision of the digital data content if more than a predetermined amount of digital data content is provided in a predetermined amount of time that the wireless device has accessed digital data content on the digital data content control server.
20. The system according to claim 19 wherein the digital data content is provided for a fee except when provided by the system.