System and method for distributing digital content

Abstract

A method for distributing digital content is disclosed. The method includes receiving, at an operator of a wireless communications network, a request for digital content from a first mobile device. The method further includes determining, at the operator, that a second mobile device has the digital content. The method further includes receiving the digital content from the second mobile device at the operator of the wireless communications network and sending a message including a pointer related to the digital content to the first mobile device

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, at an operator of a wireless communications network, a request for digital content from a first mobile device;   determining, at the operator, that a second mobile device has the digital content;   receiving the digital content from the second mobile device at the operator of the wireless communications network; and   sending a message including a pointer related to the digital content to the first mobile device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining that the second mobile device has the digital content comprises determining that the second mobile device is connected to the wireless communications network when the request for digital content is received. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining that the second mobile device has the digital content includes conducting a search for the digital content. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pointer comprises a uniform resource locator (URL) to a rights package associated with the digital content. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sending the digital content over the wireless communications network to the first mobile device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising compensating the operator for distributing the digital content. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the message includes a rights package associated with the digital content. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the rights package includes permissions associated with the digital content. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the rights package includes a cipher key associated with the digital content. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the rights package includes rights issuer information associated with the digital content. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 receiving a request for digital content from a first mobile subscriber;   identifying a second mobile subscriber that has access to the digital content;   determining whether the second mobile subscriber is connected to a network when the request for digital content is received;   receiving the digital content at an operator from the second mobile subscriber on behalf of the first mobile subscriber;   communicating a link associated with the digital content to the first mobile subscriber;   delivering the digital content to the first mobile subscriber; and   sending access rights to the first mobile subscriber so that the first mobile subscriber can use the delivered digital content.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the link is an updated uniform resource locator (URL). 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the operator is a mobile network operator and wherein the digital content is sent from the mobile network operator to the first mobile subscriber. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the access rights include a local key generated by the second mobile subscriber. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the access rights include:
 permissions associated with the digital content;   a cipher key;   rights issuer information; and   a pointer to the digital content.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the cipher key is an updated cipher key. 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 receiving a request for digital content at a mobile network operator from a first mobile device;   identifying a second mobile device that has access to the digital content;   receiving the digital content at the mobile network operator from the second mobile device;   updating a link to a rights package associated with the digital content;   communicating the link to the rights package to the first mobile device;   delivering the digital content to the first mobile device from the mobile network operator;   sending a request to a content source for the rights package associated with the requested digital content; and   sending the rights package to the first mobile device, to enable the first mobile device to use the delivered digital content.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising compensating the mobile network operator and the content source. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the rights package associated with the digital content includes:
 permissions associated with the digital content;   a cipher key;   rights issuer information; and   a pointer to the digital content.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the rights package includes a key generated by the second mobile device.