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 . A method comprising:
 using profile information to identify a first class of users associated with a first user;   retrieving directory information from a directory of users, the directory information identifying one or more members of the first class;   requesting usage information from a clearinghouse, the usage information identifying electronic content previously used by one or more members of the first class;   receiving the usage information;   creating a second class comprising one or more electronic content objects, membership in the second class being at least in part determined by the usage information;   selecting an electronic content item from the second class;   sending the electronic content item in a first secure container to a first electronic appliance operated by the first user, the first electronic appliance comprising a protected processing environment; and   sending control information associated with contents of the first secure container to the first electronic appliance, the control information being configured for use by the protected processing environment to govern access to or other use of the electronic content item.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the step of retrieving directory information comprises:
 sending a request for directory information to a secure directory service at a second electronic appliance located remotely from the first appliance, and   receiving the directory information from the second electronic appliance.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 retrieving rights management information associated with the first user and/or the first electronic appliance; and   using the rights management information to prepare the control information.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a request for information from the first electronic appliance.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , in which the request is initiated by the first user.