Digital Media Lending System and Method

Abstract

A digital media lending system and computer implemented method is disclosed. The system includes a usage restriction system operable to apply usage restrictions to digital media items and a user interface arranged to receive a user input by a user requesting loan of a digital media item. The usage restriction system is arranged to apply usage restrictions to the requested digital media item in dependence on historic activities of the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A digital media lending system, comprising:
 a usage restriction system operable to apply usage restrictions to digital media items; and   a user interface arranged to receive a user input by a user via a user input device requesting loan of a digital media item, wherein the usage restriction system is arranged to apply usage restrictions to the requested digital media item in dependence on historic activities of the user.   
     
     
         2 . The digital media lending system of  claim 1 , further comprising a data repository encoding data on historic activities of a user, the usage restriction system being arranged to apply said usage restrictions in dependence on data in said repository on the user. 
     
     
         3 . The digital media lending system of  claim 2 , wherein the data repository comprises a library management system encoding data on a user's physical and digital media loan activities over time. 
     
     
         4 . The digital media lending system of  claim 3 , wherein historic activities of the user include one or more of:
 visiting the library; logging on to the library's website; borrowing physical titles from the library; attending a class at the library; downloading ‘publisher recommended’ eBook titles; entering a publisher-run competition; using a self-service machine/kiosk in the library; using in-library PC facilities; and paying bills using the systems in the library.   
     
     
         5 . The digital media lending system of  claim 1 , wherein at least selected ones of the digital media items are stored remotely of the digital media lending system, the digital media lending system being arranged to cause a requested digital media item that is stored remotely to have said usage restrictions applied and to be communicated to the user. 
     
     
         6 . The digital media lending system of  claim 6 , wherein the digital media lending system is arranged to retrieve a requested remotely stored digital media item for application of the usage restrictions by the usage restriction system prior to communication to the user. 
     
     
         7 . The digital media lending system of  claim 1 , wherein the usage restriction system is arranged to communicate said usage restrictions to a remote source for application to the requested digital media item. 
     
     
         8 . The digital media lending system of  claim 1 , wherein said usage restrictions include one or more selected from a set including:
 requiring direct connection of an e-reader to a terminal of the digital media lending system to download the digital media item; prohibit downloading from outside the premises of a library providing the digital media lending system; expiring loans after a predetermined period; interleaving adverts in the digital media item.   
     
     
         9 . The digital media lending system of  claim 1 , wherein the digital media lending system is arranged to encode the usage restrictions within one of: the digital media item; the content of the digital media item; and a file associated with the digital media item, the file being operable to cause application of the usage restrictions in the user's e-reader device. 
     
     
         10 . The digital media lending system of  claim 1 , wherein the historic activities of the user are used to compute a score, the digital media lending system being arranged to cause the score to decay over time, wherein the usage restriction system is arranged to apply the usage restrictions in dependence on the user's score. 
     
     
         11 . The digital media lending system of  claim 10 , further comprising a user interface arranged to display an illustration of current and possible usage restrictions to the user. 
     
     
         12 . The digital media lending system of  claim 11 , wherein the user interface includes an illustration of a barometer, the user's progression along the barometer reflecting the user's score. 
     
     
         13 . The digital media lending system of  claim 10 , wherein the usage restriction system is arranged to modify the severity of usage restrictions applied in dependence on the user's score. 
     
     
         14 . The digital media lending system of  claim 13 , wherein the usage restrictions include one or more of:
 requiring a direct connection of an e-reader to a terminal of the digital media lending system to download the digital media item, the usage restriction being modified by varying a the frequency of loan items out of overall loaned digital media items for which a direct connection is required;   allowing extension of loans, the usage restriction being modified by varying the number of extensions permitted;   loan period, the usage restriction being modified by varying the loan period;   number of adverts, the usage restriction being modified by varying the number of adverts; and   concurrent loans, the usage restriction being modified by varying the number of concurrent loans.   
     
     
         15 . A self-service kiosk comprising a user interface, a communication interface and a processor configured to execute computer program code to for providing a digital media lending system, the computer program code including:
 computer program code configured to receive a user input by a user via the user interface requesting loan of a digital media item;   computer program code configured to apply a usage restriction to the requested digital media items in dependence on historic activities of the user; and   computer program code to cause communication of the requested digital media item having the usage restriction via the communication interface to the user's e-reader.   
     
     
         16 . A computer implemented method of lending digital media items, comprising:
 monitoring predetermined activity types of users and recording data on said monitored activities in a data repository;   receiving, at a user interface, a user input by a user requesting loan of a digital media item;   prior to lending the digital media item to the user, applying usage restrictions to the digital media item in dependence on historic activities of the user in said data repository.   
     
     
         17 . The computer implemented method of  claim 16 , wherein the data repository comprises a library system encoding data on a user's physical and digital media loan activities over time, the predetermined activity types include one or more of:
 visiting the library; logging on to the library's website; borrowing physical titles from the library; attending a class at the library; downloading ‘publisher recommended’ eBook titles; entering a publisher-run competition; using a self-service machine/kiosk in the library; using in-library PC facilities; and paying bills using the systems in the library.   
     
     
         18 . The computer implemented method of  claim 16 , wherein said usage restrictions include one or more selected from a set including:
 requiring direct connection of an e-reader to a terminal of the digital media lending system to download the digital media item; prohibit downloading from outside the premises of a library providing the digital media lending system; expiring loans after a predetermined period; and interleaving adverts in the digital media item.   
     
     
         19 . The computer implemented method of  claim 18 , further comprising a user interface arranged to display an illustration of current and possible usage restrictions to the user. 
     
     
         20 . The computer implemented method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 computing a score from the historic activities of the user; and   modifying the severity of usage restrictions applied in dependence on the user's score.