Flexible Digital Content Licensing via Time-Based Windows
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional video delivery systems face challenges in managing content licenses effectively, particularly in ensuring timely expiration and re-purchasing of video content, as users can view licensed videos multiple times within a specified window before needing to re-order, which complicates revenue models and user experience.
Innovation Solution
A program delivery system that utilizes a content license database to track and manage licenses for each user or account, allowing for tiered licensing, time-based windows, and fractional licensing, enabling precise control over video content usage and expiration, with features like automatic license switching and user authentication to enforce compliance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional video delivery systems allow users to view licensed videos multiple times within a specified window, then user convenience is improved, but revenue model complexity and license management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments video content into discrete licensable units with defined viewing windows. Each video title is associated with specific license parameters (viewing window duration, number of views allowed) that are independently controllable. This segmentation allows the system to track and manage each video's usage separately, simplifying the overall license management while enabling flexible user viewing options within defined parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-configures license parameters including viewing window duration and view limits before content delivery. By establishing these constraints in advance, the system automatically enforces license terms without requiring complex real-time negotiations or manual interventions. The preliminary setup of license conditions resolves the contradiction by providing user convenience through predefined flexible viewing options while maintaining simple, automated license management.
2Reliability
If the system implements strict license expiration controls, then content protection is improved, but user experience and system flexibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic license parameters where viewing windows and access rights can be flexibly configured based on content type, user subscription level, and business requirements. The system adapts license terms dynamically - for example, allowing different viewing window durations for different video categories or adjusting access rights based on user behavior patterns. This dynamic approach maintains strong content protection through automated enforcement while preserving system flexibility to accommodate various business models and user needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes license parameters (viewing window duration, number of allowed views, access timing) based on different content types and user profiles. By varying these parameters rather than applying uniform strict controls, the system achieves both reliable content protection and adaptable user experience. For instance, premium content may have shorter viewing windows while standard content allows longer windows, balancing protection requirements with user convenience.
3Measurement precision
If the system tracks detailed usage information for each license, then revenue accuracy is improved, but data processing complexity and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and isolates key usage metrics (view count, time stamps, license activation) from detailed viewing data. Rather than storing and processing all possible usage information, the system focuses on capturing only the essential parameters needed for revenue calculation and license validation. This extraction approach maintains high measurement precision for billing purposes while significantly reducing data processing complexity and storage requirements by eliminating redundant information.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the system allows fractional licensing and tiered access, then revenue model flexibility is improved, but license management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal license framework that can accommodate multiple licensing models (fractional licensing, tiered access, subscription-based, pay-per-view) through a single standardized system. The license structure uses common parameters (viewing window, access rights, content identifiers) that work across different business models. This universality allows the system to provide revenue model flexibility for various content types and user segments while maintaining relatively simple, consistent license management procedures rather than requiring separate complex systems for each licensing approach.
Data Source
AI summary
According to the invention, a video system for playing licensed video content is disclosed. The video system includes a video, a video selection interface, a video storage device, and a license control process. The video is selected from a plurality of videos stored on the video storage device. There is a plurality of content licenses for the video, where the plurality of content licenses is comprised of at least a first content license and a second content license. The first content license has a first time period where viewing is allowed and the second content license has a second time period where viewing is allowed, where the first time period is different from the second time period. The license control process enforces the content licenses.