Time-based digital content authorization

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for time-based access to digital content are provided. Access to a set of digital content is provided for a predetermined period of time. During the predetermined period of time, a user can access (e.g., download, play) any digital content in the set of digital content. At the end of the predetermined period of time, the user is denied access to the digital content regardless of where the content is stored (e.g., in a digital content library, on a computer system controlled by the user, on a playback device controlled by the user). Simplified access and control of digital content is thereby provided in the form of time-based access.

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 under the control of one or more computing devices,
 granting a playback device access to a group of digital content files from a digital library, said access granted when an identifier identifying the playback device corresponds to a valid identifier in a list of valid identifiers contained in at least one digital content file of the group,
 wherein the identifier identifying the playback device is stored on the playback device, and 
 wherein the identifier identifying the playback device is valid for a predetermined period of time; and 
 
 denying the playback device further access to the group of digital content files when the identifier identifying the playback device is not valid. 
   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising causing the predetermined period of time to be extended. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein said denying access includes disabling the playback device. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising invalidating at least one valid identifier in the list of valid identifiers. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising invalidating the identifier identifying the playback device stored on the playback device; 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising invalidating the identifier identifying the playback device stored on the playback device when the predetermined period of time expires. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein denying the playback device further access comprises preventing the playback device from copying at least some content in the group of content files. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein said access is granted to at least one digital content file stored on the playback device, and wherein the group of digital content files comprises the at least one digital content file. 
     
     
         9 . A playback device comprising:
 a memory; and   a processor in communication with the memory, the processor configured to:
 store in the memory an identifier that is valid for a predetermined period of time and a digital content file downloaded from a digital library; 
 access the digital content file stored in memory, if the stored identifier matches a valid identifier in a list of valid identifiers contained in the digital content file; and 
 deny access to the digital content file stored in memory after the predetermined period of time expires. 
   
     
     
         10 . The playback device of  claim 9 , wherein the predetermined period of time is extendable. 
     
     
         11 . The playback device of  claim 9 , wherein the stored identifier uniquely identifies the playback device. 
     
     
         12 . The playback device of  claim 9 , wherein the stored identifier identifies a group of playback devices. 
     
     
         13 . The playback device of  claim 9 , wherein the playback device is a mobile wireless communications device. 
     
     
         14 . The playback device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause the playback device to download the digital information file from the digital library via a network. 
     
     
         15 . A computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium having instructions stored thereon, that when executed by a processor, cause one or more electronic devices to:
 grant a playback device access to a digital content file stored on the playback device, said access granted when an identifier identifying the playback device corresponds to a valid identifier in a group of valid identifiers contained in the digital content file,
 wherein the identifier identifying the playback device is stored on the playback device, and 
 wherein the identifier identifying the playback device is valid for a predetermined period of time; and 
   deny the playback device further access to the digital content file after the identifier identifying the playback device expires.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the predetermined period of time is extendable. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the identifier identifying the playback device comprises at least one of a temporary identifier and a renewable identifier. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions stored on the computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium, when executed, further cause the one or more electronic devices to grant the playback device access to a group of digital content files from the digital library, said access to the group of digital content files granted when the identifier identifying the playback device corresponds to an identifier contained in at least one digital content file of the group of digital content files. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein said access comprises making a copy of at least a portion of the digital content file. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the digital content file comprises at least a portion of an audio book.