User notification for digital content access systems per mutable or fixed selection criteria

A method performed by a computer program executing on an electronic device associated with a user, the method comprising:

• receiving input that is representative of a selection of a digital content item;
• recording, in a memory of the electronic device,
• (i) an identifier of the digital content item,
• (ii) a characteristic of the digital content item, and
• (iii) a criterion for notifying the user of changes to the characteristic, the criterion being representative of (a) availability of the digital content item from any of multiple services, (b) availability of the digital content item from a particular one of the multiple services, (c) a drop in price of the digital content item, (d) availability of the digital content item for rent rather than, or in addition to, for purchase, or vice versa, (e) availability of the digital content item at a particular resolution, or (f) some other criterion that is specified by the user and that is satisfied by the digital content item;
• querying a server for information related to the characteristic of the digital content item,
• wherein the information available at the server is updated through periodic querying of a plurality of sources for information related to characteristics of different digital content items, including the digital content item;
• determining that the digital content item has an updated characteristic based on an analysis of the information;
• and
• in response to said determining,
• replacing, in the memory of the electronic device, the characteristic of the digital content item with the updated characteristic of the digital content item;
• confirming that the criterion is satisfied;
• and
• generating a notification regarding a change of the characteristic to the updated characteristic, such that the user is notified asynchronously of the change of the characteristic to the updated characteristic without the need to perform a search.

A method performed by an electronic device that is associated with a user, the method comprising:

• recording, in a memory of the electronic device,
• (i) a specification of an interest list item, specified by the user, and accompanying metadata that specifies a characteristic of the interest list item, and
• (ii) a specification of a criterion, specified by the user, for notification of a change of the characteristic of the interest list item;
• querying a source for information related to the characteristic of the interest list item,
• wherein the information available at the source is updated through periodic querying of a plurality of sources for information related to characteristics of different items, including the interest list item;
• receiving, in response to said querying, updated metadata that specifies an updated characteristic of the interest list item;
• comparing the updated metadata with (i) the recorded specification of the interest list item and the metadata and (ii) the recorded specification of the criterion;
• determining that the criterion is satisfied by the updated metadata;
• and
• in response to said determining,
• notifying the user of the change of the characteristic to the updated characteristic, such that the user is notified asynchronously without the need to perform a search;
• and
• replacing, in the memory of the electronic device, the characteristic of the interest list item with the updated characteristic of the interest list item.