Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090178070 | Content Rental System - A content rental system includes one data store for storing rental content. The content rental system also includes a content server for transferring content to one viewing device based upon a received request. The content server is further configured to authorize the transfer of the content from the viewing device to another viewing device. | 07-09-2009 |
20090178093 | Content Rental System - A content rental system includes one data store for storing rental content. The content rental system also includes a content server for transferring content to one viewing device based upon a received request. The content server is further configured to authorize the transfer of the content from the viewing device to another viewing device. | 07-09-2009 |
20090183151 | Obtaining Software for a Handheld Device - Techniques for improved installation of software on handheld devices. In one embodiment, a handheld device is coupled with a computer that has a client software application. The client software application can support installing software applications onto the handheld device. The client software application can determine if the handheld device is in need of, or already has, one or more particular software applications installed on the handheld device. The client application software can then obtain the particular software applications from a remote server and then transfer the particular software applications to the handheld device. Advantageously, a user can automatically be made aware of the particular software applications that it may need. In one implementation, a user of the handheld device or the computer can purchase the particular software applications. | 07-16-2009 |
20100185655 | Re-Download Management of Previously Acquired Digital Media Assets - Improved techniques that enable users to download digital media assets are disclosed. According to one aspect, digital media assets that a user has acquired from a remote media repository can be authorized for download multiple times. This, for example, allows a user to subsequently re-downloaded digital media assets that the user previously acquired. In one embodiment, digital media assets that a user previously downloaded to a user client device from a remote media repository can be made available to the user for subsequent re-download. Advantageously, a remote media repository can, in effect, provide users with a remote backup for previously acquired digital media assets. | 07-22-2010 |
20100235254 | Application Products with In-Application Subsequent Feature Access Using Network-Based Distribution System - An improved system, device and method for accessing locked (secured) features of digital products with assistance from a product distribution site are disclosed. In one embodiment, a digital product can be submitted to a product distribution site for network-based distribution. The digital product can be initially provided such that it provides base functionality but contains one or more locked features that, if unlocked, can supplement the base functionality. If the digital product that has been submitted is approved, the digital product becomes available at the product distribution site such that users can search, browse and purchase the digital product. Once the digital product has been purchased, download and installed on a user's computing device, the user is able to utilize the digital product. However, since the digital product itself includes one or more locked features, the user is not able to utilize such features until a subsequent purchase is performed. Advantageously, the subsequent purchase can be invoked from the digital product. In doing so, the digital product interacts (directly or indirectly) with a remote server (e.g., the product distribution site) to purchase access or usage for one or more of the locked features within the digital product. Once access or usage for the one or more locked features has been purchased, the one or more locked features within the digital product can be unlocked and thereafter utilized. | 09-16-2010 |
20100235889 | APPLICATION PRODUCTS WITH IN-APPLICATION SUBSEQUENT FEATURE ACCESS USING NETWORK-BASED DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM - An improved system, device and method for accessing features of digital products with assistance from a product distribution site are disclosed. In one embodiment, a user of a client device may have previously acquired rights or permissions to access one or more supplemental features of one or more digital products (e.g., application programs). Typically, a user would purchase an application program and then sometime later also purchase supplemental features for use with the application program. In one implementation the supplemental features can be purchased using the application program with the assistance of a remotely located product distribution server. Sometime thereafter, in some cases, the user desires to make use of such previously acquired one or more supplemental features on another client device. For example, the user may wish or need to transfer from a former client device to a new client device. As another example, the user may wish to utilized (e.g., share) such previously acquired one or more supplemental features with another client device associated with the user, such as another client device within user's account. | 09-16-2010 |
20120137376 | RE-DOWNLOAD MANAGEMENT OF PREVIOUSLY ACQUIRED DIGITAL MEDIA ASSETS - Improved techniques that enable users to download digital media assets are disclosed. According to one aspect, digital media assets that a user has acquired from a remote media repository can be authorized for download multiple times. This, for example, allows a user to subsequently re-downloaded digital media assets that the user previously acquired. In one embodiment, digital media assets that a user previously downloaded to a user client device from a remote media repository can be made available to the user for subsequent re-download. Advantageously, a remote media repository can, in effect, provide users with a remote backup for previously acquired digital media assets. | 05-31-2012 |
20140215510 | Content Rental System - A content rental system includes one data store for storing rental content. The content rental system also includes a content server for transferring content to one viewing device based upon a received request. The content server is further configured to authorize the transfer of the content from the viewing device to another viewing device. | 07-31-2014 |
20140298376 | Method And Apparatus For On Demand Video and Other Content Rental - A video on demand system in the context of the Internet, for video rentals. A user accesses an on-line store to rent a video program or movie. The rental is for a limited time (such as 30 days) and within that thirty days, the video program or movie can only be viewed for a 24 hour time window. The time limits are enforced by the on-line store which maintains a database of each rental transaction and allows supply of the needed keys for decrypting the (encrypted) video or movie only if within the time limits. | 10-02-2014 |