Method and System for Providing Digital Media Rental

Abstract

There is provided a method and system for allocating access to digital media content. In one embodiment, the system may comprise a media server accessible over a communications network, a processor of the media server being configured to encrypt the digital media content to produce a secondary license for the digital media content, and to provide a temporary license key allowing a user to access at least a first portion of the digital media content during an activation usage interval of the secondary license for that portion of the digital media content assigned to the user. The media server further comprises an assignment database configured to store an assignment status of the license. Such a system is configured to permit the user to access the assigned portion of the digital media content during the usage interval.

1 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A method for use by a media server having a number of secondary licenses for allocating access to a digital media content, the method comprising:
 receiving a first request for access to the digital media content from a first user;   determining whether any secondary license of the number of secondary licenses is available to be granted to the first user for the digital media content;   assigning a first secondary license for at least a first portion of the digital media content to the first user;   decrementing the number of secondary licenses for the at least the first portion of the digital media content by one; and   incrementing the number of secondary licenses for the at least the first portion of the digital media content by one after a predetermined period of time.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  further comprising:
 prohibiting assignment of the first secondary license for the at least the first portion of the digital media content to a user other than the first user during the predetermined period of time. 
 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34  further comprising:
 expiring the first secondary license for the at least the first portion of the digital media content to the first after the predetermined period of time. 
 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34  further comprising:
 sending a copy of the at least the first portion of the digital media content to the first user. 
 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 34  further comprising:
 streaming the at least the first portion of the digital media content to the first user. 
 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 34  further comprising:
 providing a license key to the first user for accessing the at least the first portion of the digital media content. 
 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the digital media content includes an audio-visual content. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the digital media content includes a music content. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the digital media content includes a gaming content. 
     
     
         43 . A media server having a number of secondary licenses for allocating access to a digital media content, the media server comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 receive a first request for access to the digital media content from a first user; 
 determine whether any secondary license of the number of secondary licenses is available to be granted to the first user for the digital media content; 
 assign a first secondary license for at least a first portion of the digital media content to the first user; 
 decrement the number of secondary licenses for the at least the first portion of the digital media content by one; and 
 increment the number of secondary licenses for the at least the first portion of the digital media content by one after a predetermined period of time. 
   
     
     
         44 . The media server of  claim 43 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 prohibit assignment of the first secondary license for the at least the first portion of the digital media content to a user other than the first user during the predetermined period of time.   
     
     
         45 . The media server of  claim 43 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 expire the first secondary license for the at least the first portion of the digital media content to the first after the predetermined period of time.   
     
     
         46 . The media server of  claim 43 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 send a copy of the at least the first portion of the digital media content to the first user.   
     
     
         47 . The media server of  claim 43 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 stream the at least the first portion of the digital media content to the first user.   
     
     
         48 . The media server of  claim 43 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 provide a license key to the first user for accessing the at least the first portion of the digital media content.   
     
     
         49 . The media server of  claim 43 , wherein the digital media content includes an audio-visual content. 
     
     
         50 . The media server of  claim 43 , wherein the digital media content includes a music content. 
     
     
         51 . The media server of  claim 43 , wherein the digital media content includes a gaming content.