METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING USE OF DIGITAL CONTENT USING SLIDING TIME INTERVALS
Digital work adapted to be distributed within a system for controlling at least one of the distribution and use of digital works. The digital work includes digital content representing a portion of a digital work suitable for being rendered by a rendering device and usage rights associated with the digital content. The usage rights specify a manner of use indicating one or more stated purposes for which the digital work can be at least one of used and distributed by an authorized party.
1 . A computer-implemented method for controlling use of digital content, in accordance with usage rights information associated with the digital content, the method comprising:
storing, by at least one of one or more first computing devices, user account information, the user account information being unique to a user as one of multiple users;
authorizing, by at least one of the one or more first computing devices, one or more second computing devices on behalf of the user, at least one of the one or more second computing devices being associated with the user, the authorizing including participating in an authorization transaction using an identification of at least one of the one or more second computing devices;
recording, by at least one of the one or more first computing devices, a billing transaction, based on the user account information, for digital content on behalf of the user, the billing transaction including adjusting a monetary value of a user account associated with the user;
receiving, by at least one of the one or more first computing devices, a play request for playing of specified digital content by at least one of the one or more second computing devices, the play request being initiated through a user interface of at least of the one or more second computing devices, wherein the specified digital content has usage rights information associated therewith, the usage rights information specifying a sliding time interval value representing a continuous time interval beginning at the time of first playing and over which playing of the digital content is permitted;
determining whether the sliding time interval has elapsed; and
granting the play request for playing of the specified digital content only when at least one of the one or more second computing devices is authorized and only if it is determined that the sliding time interval has not elapsed.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting the specified digital content to at least one of the one or more second computing devices after the granting.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the steps of determining and granting are executed by at least one of the one or more first computing devices.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the steps of determining and granting are executed by at least one of the one or more second computing devices.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the usage rights information further specifies a fixed time interval value, wherein the determining further comprises determining whether the fixed time interval has elapsed, and the granting comprises granting the play request only if it is determined that the sliding time interval and the fixed time interval have not elapsed.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the usage rights information further specifies another sliding time interval value, the another sliding time interval value representing a continuous time interval beginning at the time of the billing transaction, wherein the determining further comprises determining whether the another sliding time interval has elapsed, and the granting comprises granting the play request only if it is determined that the sliding time interval and the another sliding time interval have not elapsed.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the usage rights information further specifies a fixed time interval value and another sliding time interval value, the another sliding time interval value representing a continuous time interval beginning at the time of the billing transaction, wherein the determining further comprises determining whether the fixed time interval and the another sliding time interval have elapsed, and the granting comprises granting the play request only if it is determined that the sliding time interval, the another sliding time interval, and the fixed time interval have not elapsed.
8 . A computer-implemented method for controlling use of digital content, in accordance with usage rights information associated with the digital content, the method comprising:
receiving, by at least one of one or more first computing devices, authorization of at least one of the one or more first computing devices on behalf of a user, at least one of the one or more first computing devices being associated with the user, the authorization being based on an identification of at least one of the one or more first computing devices;
transmitting, by at least one of the one or more first computing devices, information related to a billing transaction, based on user account information stored in at least one of one or more second computing devices, for digital content on behalf of the user, the user account information being unique to the user as one of multiple users, the billing transaction including adjusting a monetary value of a user account associated with the user;
sending, by at least one of the one or more first computing devices, to at least one of the one or more second computing devices, a play request for playing of specified digital content, the play request being initiated through a user interface of at least one of the one or more first computing devices, wherein the specified digital content has usage rights information associated therewith, the usage rights information specifying a sliding time interval value representing a continuous time interval beginning at the time of first playing and over which playing of the digital content is permitted;
receiving, by at least one of the one or more first computing devices, an indicator that the play request has been granted only when at least one of the one or more first computing devices has been authorized and only when the sliding time interval has not elapsed; and
playing, by at least one of the one or more first computing devices, the specified digital content only if the indicator has been received.
9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising receiving, by at least one of the one or more first computing devices, the specified digital content after the step of receiving an indicator
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the usage rights information further specifies a fixed time interval value, and receiving an indicator that the play request has been granted comprises receiving an indicator that the play request has been granted only when the sliding time interval and the fixed time interval have not elapsed.
11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the usage rights information further specifies another sliding time interval value, the another sliding time interval value representing a continuous time interval beginning at the time of the billing transaction, and receiving an indicator that the play request has been granted comprises receiving an indicator that the play request has been granted only when the sliding time interval and the another sliding time interval have not elapsed.
12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the usage rights information further specifies a fixed time interval value and another sliding time interval value, the another sliding time interval value representing a continuous time interval beginning at the time of the billing transaction, and receiving an indicator that the play request has been granted comprises receiving an indicator that the play request has been granted only when the sliding time interval, the another sliding time interval, and the fixed time interval have not elapsed.
13 . An apparatus for controlling use of digital content, in accordance with usage rights information associated with the digital content, the apparatus comprising:
one or more processors; and
one or more memory devices of one or more first computing devices operatively coupled to at least one of the one or more processors and having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause at least one of the one or more processors to:
store user account information in at least one of the one or more memory devices, the user account information being unique to a user as one of multiple users;
authorize one or more second computing devices on behalf of the user, at least one of the one or more second computing devices being associated with the user, the authorizing including participating in an authorization transaction using an identification of at least one of the one or more second computing devices;
record a billing transaction, based on the user account information, for digital content on behalf of the user, the billing transaction including adjusting a monetary value of a user account associated with the user;
receive a play request for playing of specified digital content by at least one of the one or more second computing devices, the play request being initiated through a user interface of at least one of the one or more second computing devices, wherein the specified digital content has usage rights information associated therewith, the usage rights information specifying a sliding time interval value representing a continuous time interval beginning at the time of first playing and over which playing of the digital content is permitted;
determine whether the sliding time interval has elapsed; and
grant the play request for playing of the specified digital content only when at least one of the one or more second computing devices is authorized and only if it is determined that the sliding time interval has not elapsed.
14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the one or more memory devices has further instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause at least one of the one or more processors to enable the transmission of the specified digital content to at least one of the one or more second computing devices after the granting.
15 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the usage rights information further specifies a fixed time interval value, wherein the determining further comprises determining whether the fixed time interval has elapsed, and granting the comprises granting the play request only if it is determined that the sliding time interval and the fixed time interval have not elapsed.
16 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the usage rights information further specifies another sliding time interval value, the another sliding time interval value representing a continuous time interval beginning at the time of the billing transaction, wherein the determining further comprises determining whether the another sliding time interval has elapsed, and the granting comprises granting the play request only if it is determined that the sliding time interval and the another sliding time interval have not elapsed.
17 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the usage rights information further specifies a fixed time interval value and another sliding time interval value, the another sliding time interval value representing a continuous time interval beginning at the time of the billing transaction, wherein the determining further comprises determining whether the fixed time interval and the another sliding time interval have elapsed, and the granting comprises granting the play request only if it is determined that the sliding time interval, the another sliding time interval, and the fixed time interval have not elapsed.
18 . An apparatus for controlling use of digital content, in accordance with usage rights information associated with the digital content, the apparatus comprising:
one or more processors; and
one or more memory devices of one or more first computing devices operatively coupled to at least one of the one or more processors and having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause at least one of the one or more processors to:
receive authorization of at least one of the one or more first computing devices on behalf of a user, the authorization being based on an identification of at least one of the one or more first computing devices;
transmit information related to a billing transaction, based on user account information stored in at least one of one or more second computing devices, for digital content on behalf of the user, the user account information being unique to the user as one of multiple users, the billing transaction including adjusting a monetary value of a user account associated with the user;
send, to at least one of the one or more second computing devices, a play request for playing of specified digital content, the play request being initiated through a user interface of at least one of the one or more first computing devices, wherein the specified digital content has usage rights information associated therewith, the usage rights information specifying a sliding time interval value representing a continuous time interval beginning at the time of first playing and over which playing of the digital content is permitted;
receive an indicator that the play request has been granted only when at least one of the one or more first computing devices has been authorized and only when the sliding time interval has not elapsed; and
play the specified digital content only if the indicator has been received.
19 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein at least one of the one or more memory devices has further instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause at least one of the one or more processors to enable the receipt, by at least one of the one or more first computing devices, of the specified digital content after receiving an indicator.
20 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the usage rights information further specifies a fixed time interval value, and receiving an indicator that the play request has been granted further comprises receiving an indicator that the play request has been granted only when the sliding time interval and the fixed time interval have not elapsed.
21 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the usage rights information further specifies another sliding time interval value, the another sliding time interval value representing a continuous time interval beginning at the time of the billing transaction, and receiving an indicator that the play request has been granted further comprises receiving an indicator that the play request has been granted only when the sliding time interval and the another time interval have not elapsed.
22 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the usage rights information further specifies a fixed time interval value and another sliding time interval value, the another sliding time interval value representing a continuous time interval beginning at the time of the billing transaction, and receiving an indicator that the play request has been granted comprises receiving an indicator that the play request has been granted only when the sliding time interval, the another sliding time interval and the fixed time interval have not elapsed.