System and Method for Providing Access to Streaming Multimedia Content to Devices From Servers

Abstract

A method for delivery of primary media content in digital form is provided. The method includes establishing a communications link between a client computer and a server, where the client computer has storage. The establishing of the communications link includes authorization of user information. The method further includes receiving a request for a media among primary media content accessible to the server. The server associating the request with the user information maintained in a customer database that is accessible to the server. The user information is used to authorize access to specified content from among said primary media content for the user based on the user information in the customer database. The method also determines that the requested media is authorized for use by the user based on the user information. The method then streams the media to the storage of the client computer upon receiving a play request. The media received by streaming is configured for rendering on a display screen. The streaming data is one or more of video data including motion picture content, game data, music data, or combinations of two or more thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for delivery of primary media content in digital form, comprising:
 establishing a communications link between a client computer and a server, said client computer having storage, the establishing of the communications link including authorization of user information;   receiving a request for a media among primary media content accessible to the server, the server associating the request with the user information maintained in a customer database that is accessible to the server, wherein the user information is used to authorize access to specified content from among said primary media content for the user based on the user information in the customer database;   determining that the requested media is authorized for use by the user based on the user information;   sending data, to enable play upon receipt of a play request of said requested media, to said client computer;   streaming the media to the storage of the client computer upon receiving the play request;   recording usage of the media by the client computer during play of the media; and   charging the user for the media when the media is actually used by playing the media at the client computer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the recording of usage saves data that includes one or more of whether the media was viewed, or a duration of viewing, or an indication that the data was not played in its entirety. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the data regarding the recording of usage enables a determination that a revenue bearing event has occurred to enable the charging for the media that is used. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising,
 from time to time, receiving requests for other media at the server from the client computer using the user information; and   sending data to enable play of the requested media;   streaming the media; and   charging for the media that is actually used.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein user behavior is monitored based on the played media over time and the user behavior is associated to the user information. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the behavior includes identification of which programs or content was viewed or played. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein streaming the media is video streaming data. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the video streaming data is for motion picture data, or game data, or music data, or binary program data. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising,
 deleting expired contents that are not used upon an occurrence of a pre-determined event.   
     
     
         10 . The method  9 , wherein the pre-determined event comprises a lapse of a specified period of time. 
     
     
         11 . A method for delivery of primary media content in digital form, comprising:
 establishing a communications link between a client computer and a server, said client computer having storage;   transmitting user identifier data from said client computer to said server with a request for primary media content;   downloading to said client computer said primary media content, wherein the downloaded primary content comprises time sensitive content data, and further comprising deleting expired primary contents that are not used by the user upon the lapse of a specified period of time;   recording usage of primary media content by the client computer of the user; and   charging the user for the primary media content based on portions of the primary media actually used.   
     
     
         12 . The method to  claim 11 , the primary media content comprises one or more data content items associated with a respective payment trigger item, said payment trigger item operable to compile and store usage information of the media content in a customer database. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising,
 from time to time, receiving requests for other media at the server;   downloading the media to the client computer; and   charging for the media that is actually used.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein user behavior is monitored based on the downloaded media over time and the user behavior is associated to the user in a user database. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the behavior includes identification of which programs or content was downloaded, viewed or played. 
     
     
         16 . A method for delivery of primary media content in digital form, comprising:
 establishing a communications link between a client computer and a server, said client computer having storage, the establishing of the communications link including authorization of user information;   receiving a request for a media among primary media content accessible to the server, the server associating the request with the user information maintained in a customer database that is accessible to the server, wherein the user information is used to authorize access to specified content from among said primary media content for the user based on the user information in the customer database;   determining that the requested media is authorized for use by the user based on the user information;   streaming the media to the storage of the client computer upon receiving a play request, the media received by streaming is configured for rendering on a display screen; and   deleting the media when not used after a specified period of time;   wherein the streaming data is video data including motion picture content.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising,
 recording usage of the media at the client computer during play of the media; and   charging the user for the media when the media is actually used by playing the media at the client computer.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the recording of usage saves data that includes one or more of whether the media was viewed, or a duration of viewing, or an indication that the data was not played in its entirety. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the data regarding the recording of usage enables a determination that a revenue bearing event has occurred to enable the charging for the media that is used, and wherein the streaming data is video data including motion picture content. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising,
 from time to time, receiving requests for other media at the server from the client computer using the user information; and   sending data to enable play of the requested media;   streaming the media;   charging for the media that is actually used; and   wherein user behavior is monitored based on the played media over time and the user behavior is associated to the user information.