Hybrid Distribution Method for Playable Media
AssigneeMedia Queue, LLC
InventorJohn Nicholas Gross
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hybrid distribution system and method for distributing/temporarily renting playable media items, such as movies in a digital format. The distribution system includes a first option in which a title is delivered in a ranking order identified by the subscriber and based on an allocation priority associated with the subscriber for such title. Alternatively the subscriber can be given a second option to gain access rights to the first title from a third party. In this manner a content provider can manage different types of demand through a combination of dedicated and third party inventory.
Claims6
1-6. (canceled)
A hybrid method of distributing playable media items, the playable media items corresponding to machine readable media readable by an electronic media player, the method comprising:
- (a) defining an inventory of playable media items selectable with a computing system by subscribers to an online media service provider;
- (b) providing temporary access to first playable media items in said inventory in accordance with a first set of distribution rules enforced by the computing system under control of the online media service provider;
- said first set of distribution rules further comprising a predetermined limit on a number of titles which a subscriber can have out at one time;
- (c) providing temporary access to second playable media items in said inventory through a proxy provider in accordance with a second set of distribution rules defined by the proxy provider;
- wherein at least some of said second playable media items are supplied by the online media service provider to said proxy provider;
- said second set of distribution rules further comprising a predetermined time limit by which titles must be returned by a subscriber;
- wherein individual titles in said inventory can be delivered to subscribers through a hybrid distribution system which includes two separate temporary access options.
11-26. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.