System and method for providing a flexible licensing system for digital content

Abstract

A system and method for providing a flexible licensing system for digital content is described. In some cases, the system utilizes tokens or other valuations to facilitate the purchase or exchange of content.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A method in a computing system of providing a user with rights to use digital content in a plurality of discrete user work-stations, the method comprising:
 electronically providing a license to a user, wherein the license authorizes use of an item of digital content based on receipt of one or more tokens, wherein the item of digital content is an executable software program;   associating a number of tokens with the user;   receiving a single request for multiple copies of the item of digital content from a first user work-station, wherein the single request for multiple copies of the item of digital content at least contains information identifying the user and information identifying the item of digital content;   identifying the number of tokens associated with the user, each of the number of tokens having a predetermined value;   automatically comparing, using the computing system, a collective value for the number of tokens associated with the user to a value of tokens associated with the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content;   automatically electronically authorizing the first user work-station to receive the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content based at least in part on determining that the collective value satisfies a threshold value of tokens associated with the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content and determining that the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content are compatible with system resources and configuration of the plurality of discrete user work-stations based at least in part on comparing information regarding the item of digital content to at least one of hardware configuration for the plurality of discrete user work-stations and software configuration for the plurality of discrete user work-stations;   electronically sending to the first user work-station the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content, wherein the multiple copies of the digital content are authorized for use on the plurality of discrete user work-stations; and   storing in a license key a list of items of digital content associated with the user, wherein   the license key includes a distinct field corresponding to each item of digital content associated with the user, each field includes information identifying at least a first token type, a second token type, a first number of tokens, and a second number of tokens,   the first number of tokens indicates a number of tokens of the first token type required to obtain temporary use of the item of digital content and the second number of tokens indicates a number of tokens of the second token type required to obtain use of the item of digital content, different from the temporary use; and   receiving a request to exchange the digital content for one or more token;   determining a value of the digital content to be exchanged based at least in part on consulting the license key, and based at least in part on a time period that the digital content was used; and   providing the tokens in exchange for the digital content to the user based on the value of the digital content.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 transmitting the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content to the user; and 
 deducting a group of tokens from the tokens associated with the user that equal the value of tokens associated with the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 determining that the user is an authorized user of the item of digital content based on the information identifying the user; 
 transmitting the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content to the user; and 
 removing a group of tokens from the tokens associated with the user that equals the value of tokens associated with the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 determining that the user is an authorized user of the item of digital content based on the information identifying the item of digital content; 
 transmitting the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content to the user; and 
 accepting a group of tokens from the tokens associated with the user that equals the value of tokens associated with the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 based at least upon determining that the collective value does not satisfy the threshold value of tokens associated with the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content, querying the user for purchase of additional tokens; 
 receiving a purchase of additional tokens from the user; 
 transmitting the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content to the user; and 
 redeeming a group of tokens from the tokens associated with the user that equals the value of tokens associated with the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 comparing the tokens of the same type of use of the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content to the value of the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content; and 
 authorizing the user to receive the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content based at least on determining that the collective value of tokens of the same type of use as the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content satisfies the threshold value of tokens associated with the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 transmitting the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content to the user, and 
 removing a group of tokens from tokens located on the reviewed token association table that equal the value of tokens associated with the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising a third type of token, wherein the third type of token relates to any use of the digital content. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the tokens comprise tokens purchased by or on behalf of the user before the request for the digital content is received. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10  wherein user system configuration information is associated with the user. 
     
     
         20 . A tangible computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by a computing system, perform a method of providing a user with rights to use digital content, the method comprising:
 electronically providing a license to a user, wherein the license authorizes use of an item of digital content based on receipt of one or more tokens;   associating a number of tokens with the user;   receiving a single request for multiple copies of the item of digital content from a first user work-station, wherein the single request for multiple copies of the item of digital content at least contains information identifying the user and information identifying the item of digital content;   identifying the number of tokens associated with the user, each of the number of tokens having a predetermined value;   automatically comparing, using the computing system, a collective value for the number of tokens associated with the user to a value of tokens associated with the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content;   automatically electronically authorizing the user to receive the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content based at least in part on determining that the collective value satisfies a threshold value of tokens associated with the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content and determining that the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content are compatible with system resources and configuration of a plurality of discrete user work-stations based at least in part on comparing information regarding the item of digital content to at least one of hardware configuration for the plurality of discrete user work-stations and software configuration for the plurality of discrete user work-stations;   electronically sending to the first user work-station the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content, wherein the multiple copies of the digital content are authorized for use on the plurality of discrete user work-stations;   storing at least one license key representing a list of items of digital content associated with the user, wherein   the license key includes a distinct field corresponding to each item of digital content associated with the user, and each field includes information identifying at least a token type and a token number indicating a number of tokens of the token type required to obtain a corresponding use of the item of digital content, wherein at least one item of digital content is associated with a first token type and a second item of digital content is associated with a second token type;   receiving a request to exchange the digital content for one or more token; and   determining a value of the digital content to be exchanged based at least in part on consulting the license key, and based at least in part on a time period that the digital content was used; and   providing the tokens in exchange for the digital content to the user based on the value of the digital content.   
     
     
         21 . The tangible computer-readable medium of  claim 20  further storing instructions which comprise:
 transmitting the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content to the user; and 
 deducting a group of tokens from the tokens associated with the user that equal the value of tokens associated with the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content. 
 
     
     
         22 . The tangible computer-readable medium of  claim 20  further storing instructions which comprise:
 determining that the user is an authorized user of the item of digital content based on the information identifying the user; 
 transmitting the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content to the user; and 
 removing a group of tokens from the tokens associated with the user that equals the value of tokens associated with the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content. 
 
     
     
         23 . The tangible computer-readable medium of  claim 20  further storing instructions which comprise:
 determining that the user is an authorized user of the item of digital content based on the information identifying the item of digital content; 
 transmitting the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content to the user; and 
 accepting a group of tokens from the tokens associated with the user that equals the value of tokens associated with the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content. 
 
     
     
         24 . The tangible computer-readable medium of  claim 20  further storing instructions which comprise:
 based at least upon determining that the collective value does not satisfy the threshold value of tokens associated with the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content, querying the user for purchase of additional tokens; 
 receiving a purchase of additional tokens from the user; 
 transmitting the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content to the user; and 
 redeeming a group of tokens from the tokens associated with the user that equals the value of tokens associated with the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content. 
 
     
     
         25 . The tangible computer-readable medium of  claim 20  further storing instructions which comprise:
 comparing the tokens of a same type of use of the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content to the value of the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content; and 
 authorizing the user to receive the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content based at least on determining that the collective value of tokens of the same type of use as the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content satisfies the threshold value of tokens associated with the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content. 
 
     
     
         26 . The tangible computer-readable medium of  claim 20  further storing instructions which comprise:
 transmitting the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content to the user, and 
 removing a group of tokens from tokens located on the reviewed token association table that equal the value of tokens associated with the requested multiple copies of the item of digital content. 
 
     
     
         27 . The tangible computer-readable medium of  claim 20  further storing instructions which comprise a third type of token, wherein the third type of token relates to any use of the digital content. 
     
     
         28 . The tangible computer-readable medium of  claim 20  further storing instructions which comprise tokens purchased by or on behalf of the user before the request for the digital content is received. 
     
     
         29 . The tangible computer-readable medium of  claim 20  further storing instructions which associate user system configuration information with the user.