Method and System for Providing and Maintaining Limited-Subscriptions to Digital Media Assets

A computer-implemented method for storing and updating media items to a hand-held electronic device, said method comprising:

• (a) registering for access to a media asset group, the media asset group being defined by one or more user-specified characteristics;
• (b) determining a plurality of media assets that are within the media asset group based on the one or more user-specified characteristics;
• (c) delivering at least a subset of the determined media assets that are within the media asset group to the hand-held electronic device;
• and
• (d) storing the subset of the determined media assets that are within the media asset group to the hand-held electronic device, whereby the hand-held electronic device is configured to present the media assets.

A method for providing limited-subscription privileges to an online media repository, said method comprising:

• (a) purchasing, by a purchaser, a limited subscription to an online media repository;
• (b) identifying a media asset group as the limited subscription, the media asset group having a plurality of characteristics;
• (c) determining media assets from the online media repository that are to be included in the media asset group;
• (d) rendering the determined media assets available for download to the purchaser without additional charge;
• and
• (e) subsequently downloading the determined media assets to the purchaser.

A computer readable medium including at least executable computer program code stored thereon for providing limited-subscription privileges to an online media repository, said computer readable medium comprising:

• computer program code for facilitating purchase, by a purchaser, of a limited subscription to an online media repository;
• computer program code for identifying a media asset group as the limited subscription;
• computer program code for determining media assets from the online media repository that are to be included in the media asset group;
• computer program code for rendering the determined media assets available for download to the purchaser without additional charge;
• and
• computer program code for downloading the determined media assets to the purchaser.

A media update system, comprising:

• a media library configured to store a plurality of digital media assets;
• and
• a media update manager operatively connected to said media library, said media update manager being configured to manage identification and delivery of the digital media assets that are within one or more media asset groups to one or more requestors,
• wherein each of the one or more media asset groups is defined by a group criteria, the group criteria being used to determine those of the digital media assets within said media library that are to be included in the respective media asset groups,
• wherein said media update manager prepares and sends an initial media package to the requestor for the media assets within the media asset group, and
• wherein said media update manager prepares and sends a media update package to the requestor when the media assets within the media asset group have changed.