Digital rights management flexible continued usage system and method

A tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable medium, storing a client application comprising machine-readable instructions that enforce a DRM scheme when executed by a processor of a first device, the machine-readable instructions comprising instructions to:

• receive, via the processor, a request for creation of a first copy of the digital content on a second device;
• determine, via the processor, a number of non-float licenses of the digital content allowed by the DRM scheme;
• determine, via the processor, a number of active licensed non-float copies of the digital content from a local license registry in the memory of the first device;
• when the number of non-float licenses allowed by the DRM scheme is greater than the number of active licensed non-float copies:
• transfer, via the processor, the digital content to the second device to create the first copy of the digital content on the second device in accordance with the DRM scheme;
• and
• otherwise, when the number of non-float licenses allowed by the DRM scheme is equal to or less than the number of active licensed non-float copies:
• determine a third device comprising a target copy of the active licensed non-float copies of the digital content;
• when the first device is on-line with a license server:
• deny the request until the target copy of the active licensed non-float copies of the digital content is removed or disabled from the target device;
• otherwise, when the first device is not on-line with the license server:
• transfer, via the processor, the digital content to the second device to create the first copy of the digital content on the second device, even though creation of the first copy exceeds the number of non-float licenses allowed by the DRM scheme;
• grant, in the local license registry, a non-float license for the digital content to the second device that is relinquished from the third device;
• and
• grant, in the local license registry, a temporary float license for the digital content to the third device to use until the first device is on-line with the license server;
• and
• remove or disable, via the processor, the target copy of the active licensed non-float copies of the digital content at a point in time when the first device is on-line with the license server after the creation of the first copy of the digital content on the second device.

A computer system for enforcing a DRM scheme, comprising a processor of the computer system executing a client application stored in a memory of the computer system, wherein the computer system is configured to:

• receive, via the processor, a request for creation of a first copy of the digital content on a second device;
• determine, via the processor, a number of non-float licenses of the digital content allowed by a DRM scheme;
• determine, via the processor, a number of active licensed non-float copies of the digital content from a local license registry in the memory of the computer system;
• at a first time, when the number of non-float licenses allowed by the DRM scheme is greater than the number of active licensed non-float copies of the digital content:
• transfer, via the processor, the digital content to the second device to create the first copy of the digital content on the second device in accordance with the DRM scheme;
• at a second time, when the number of non-float licenses allowed by the DRM scheme is equal to or less than the number of active licensed non-float copies and the computer system is on-line with a licensing server:
• deny the request until a target copy of the active licensed non-float copies of the digital content is removed or disabled from a third device;
• and
• at a third time, when the number of non-float licenses allowed by the DRM scheme is equal to or less than the number of active licensed non-float copies of the digital content and the computer system is not on-line with the licensing server:
• transfer, via the processor, the digital content to the second device to create the first copy of the digital content on the second device, even though creation of the first copy exceeds the number of non-float licenses allowed by the DRM scheme;
• grant, in the local license registry, a non-float license for the digital content to the second device that is relinquished from the third device;
• and
• grant, in the local license registry, a temporary float license for the digital content to the third device to use until the computer system is on-line with the license server;
• and
• at a fourth time, when the computer system is on-line with the licensing server after creating the first copy of the digital content on the second device:
• remove or disable the temporary float license in the local license registry.

A system for enforcing a DRM scheme, comprising:

• a processor of a first device;
• and
• a tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable medium, comprising machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• receive a request for creation of a first copy of the digital content on a second device while the first device is not on-line with a license server;
• determine a number of non-float licenses of the digital content allowed by the DRM scheme;
• determine a number of active licensed non-float copies of the digital content from a local license registry in a memory of the first device;
• when the number of non-float licenses allowed by the DRM scheme is greater than the number of active licensed non-float copies:
• transferring, via the processor, the digital content to the second device to create the first copy of the digital content on the second device in accordance with the DRM scheme;
• and
• when the number of non-float licenses allowed by the DRM scheme is equal to or less than the number of active licensed non-float copies:
• determine a third device comprising a target copy of the active licensed non-float copies of the digital content;
• when the first device is on-line with a license server:
• deny the request until the target copy of the active licensed non-float copies of the digital content is removed or disabled from the third device;
• otherwise, when the target device is not on-line with the license server:
• transfer, via the processor, the digital content to the second device to create the first copy of the digital content on the second device, even though creation of the first copy exceeds the number of non-float licenses allowed by the DRM scheme;
• grant, in the local license registry, a non-float license for the digital content to the second device that is relinquished from the third device;
• and
• grant, in the local license registry, a temporary float license for the digital content to the third device to use until the first device is on-line with the license server;
• and
• remove or disable the temporary float license in the local registry when the first device is on-line with the license server after creating the first copy.