Systems and Methods for Matching, Selecting, Narrowcasting, and/or Classifying Based on Rights Management and/or Other Information

Abstract

Rights management information is used at least in part in a matching, narrowcasting, classifying and/or selecting process. A matching and classification utility system comprising a kind of Commerce Utility System is used to perform the matching, narrowcasting, classifying and/or selecting. The matching and classification utility system may match, narrowcast, classify and/or select people and/or things, non-limiting examples of which include software objects. The Matching and Classification Utility system may use any pre-existing classification schemes, including at least some rights management information and/or other qualitative and/or parameter data indicating and/or defining classes, classification systems, class hierarchies, category schemes, class assignments, category assignments, and/or class membership. The Matching and Classification Utility may also use at least some rights management information together with any artificial intelligence, expert system, statistical, computational, manual, or any other means to define new classes, class hierarchies, classification systems, category schemes, and/or assign persons, things, and/or groups of persons and/or things to at least one class.

1 - 3 . (canceled)  
     
     
         4 . A method comprising: 
 receiving a first content object and metadata from a first user;    using the metadata to assign the first content object to a first class;    receiving a subscription request from a second user, the subscription request including information identifying one or more classes of content in which the second user is interested;    assigning the second user to a second class based at least in part on the subscription request;    selecting at least one content object from the first class;    incorporating the at least one content object into a secure electronic container;    associating one or more controls with the secure electronic container, the controls being configured to govern at least one aspect of access to or other use of the at least one content object; and    sending the secure electronic container to a remote electronic appliance.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , in which the remote electronic appliance includes a protected processing environment and is operated by the second user.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , in which the metadata includes rights management information for use, at least in part, in determining a class of users that may access or otherwise use the first content object.