Method and apparatus for distributing media in a pay per play architecture with remote playback

A system for rendering media content on a pay-per-play basis comprising:

• a first platform having at least one input device for receiving media content for purchase from a content source, wherein the received content comprises encrypted and encoded information;
• a storage device operatively coupled with the first platform, wherein the storage device retains the received content;
• a second platform operatively coupled with the first platform and the storage device, wherein the second platform comprises an interface for purchasing the right to render the received content;
• and
• wherein the first platform communicates the received content to the second platform, and the second platform renders the received content when purchased.

A system for rendering media content comprising:

• a media server comprising:
• a device for receiving unrenderable media content from one or more content sources;
• a storage device for retaining the media content;
• a content management sub-system that provides for purchase of the right to render the media content at least one time by converting the content to a renderable format, management of the rendering of the media content including enforcing digital rights associated with the media content, and controlling rendering of the media content in correspondence with terms of the purchase;
• and
• a client device that is operatively coupled with, and discoverable by, the media server, wherein the client device comprises:
• a rendering device;
• a decoder for translating the media content from a first format to a second format, wherein the media content is communicated to the rendering device in the second format for playback;
• a discovery sub-system that determines a subset of content playable by the rendering device within the unrenderable content contained on the media server;
• and
• a content guide display that lists the subset of content;
• wherein the media server and the client device cooperatively implement an interface to allow purchase of protected content and rendering of previously purchased content in correspondence with terms of a previous purchase using at least one of the media server and the client device.

A media server comprising:

• a dedicated media storage and serving device for retaining a plurality of units of media content;
• a client platform manager including one or more parameters corresponding with functional attributes of at least one client platform;
• a media communication interface communicatively coupled to at least one media content source and to the client platform;
• and
• a media content manager that provides for the purchase of the right to render the media content.

A media client comprising:

• a media rendering device interface operable to communicate send renderable media to a media rendering device;
• a local discovery service that communicates with a media server to determine availability of media content that may be purchased by a user and made renderable upon completion of a purchase transaction;
• a media communication interface for communicating with the media server;
• and
• a decoder that converts the media content from an encoded format to a format that corresponds with the media rendering device.

A method for rendering media content on a pay-per-play basis comprising:

• receiving media content with a first device, wherein the media content comprises at least one level of content unrenderability;
• storing the media content locally;
• displaying a content guide comprising a listing describing the unrenderable media content;
• receiving a request to purchase a rendering right for the protected media content, the request being generated from the content guide;
• removing a first level of content unrenderability;
• rendering the media content at least one time, wherein at least a part of the media content is rendered on a second device.