Apparatus, system and method for managing electronic content licenses

A system comprising:

• at least one electronic-content using apparatus;
• and
• an apparatus for managing an electronic content license comprising:
• a user information storage device which stores therein, for each of a plurality of users having acquired one or more content items, user identification information identifying the user, content identification information indicative of the one or more content items acquired by the user, model information indicating, for each of the one or more content items, models of one or more electronic-content using apparatus having been granted an authorization to use the content item, and apparatus IDs individually identifying the one or more electronic-content using apparatus, in association with one another and as user information of the user;
• and
• a processor unit configured to:
• receive from a user of the at least one electronic-content using apparatus a request requesting an authorization to use a particular content item, the request defining user identification information identifying the requesting user, content identification information indicative of the particular content item, model information indicative of a model of the at least one electronic-content using apparatus where the user wants to use the particular content item and apparatus ID of the at least one electronic-content using apparatus;
• compare the information defined by the request with the user information stored in said user information storage device and thereby identify, from among the user information stored in said user information storage device, particular user information of which the user identification information, the content identification information and the model information matches the request but the apparatus ID does not match the request;
• and
• if a number of the apparatus IDs associated with the identified particular user information is equal to or smaller than a predetermined number, authorize use of the particular content item in the at least one electronic-content using apparatus,
• wherein the at least one electronic-content using apparatus can use the particular content item on condition that an authorization to use the particular content item is granted in response to the request.

A method for managing an electronic content license based on a user information storage device, the user information storage device storing therein, for each of a plurality of users having acquired one or more content items, user identification information identifying the user, content identification information indicative of the one or more content items acquired by the user, model information indicating, for each of the one or more content items, models of one or more electronic-content using apparatus having been granted an authorization to use the content item, and apparatus IDs individually identifying the one or more electronic-content using apparatus, in association with one another and as user information of the user, said method comprising:

• a step of a processor unit receiving from a user a request requesting an authorization to use a particular content item, the request defining user identification information identifying the requesting user, content identification information indicative of the particular content item, model information indicative of a model of a target electronic-content using apparatus where the user wants to use the particular content item and apparatus ID of the target electronic-content using apparatus;
• a step of the processor unit comparing the information defined by the request with the user information stored in the user information storage device and thereby identifying, from among the user information stored in the user information storage device, particular user information of which the user identification information, the content identification information and the model information matches the request but the apparatus ID does not match the request;
• and
• a step of, if a number of the apparatus IDs associated with the identified particular user information is equal to or smaller than a predetermined number, the processor unit authorizing use of the particular content item in the target electronic-content using apparatus.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions executable by a processor unit for performing a method for managing an electronic content license based on a user information storage device, the user information storage device storing therein, for each of a plurality of users having acquired one or more content items, user identification information identifying the user, content identification information indicative of the one or more content items acquired by the user, model information indicating, for each of the one or more content items, models of one or more electronic-content using apparatus having been granted an authorization to use the content item, and apparatus IDs individually identifying the one or more electronic-content using apparatus, in association with one another and as user information of the user, said method comprising:

• a step of receiving from a user a request requesting an authorization to use a particular content item, the request defining user identification information identifying the requesting user, content identification information indicative of the particular content item, model information indicative of a model of a target electronic-content using apparatus where the user wants to use the particular content item and apparatus ID of the target electronic-content using apparatus;
• a step of comparing the information defined by the request with the user information stored in the user information storage device and thereby identifying, from among the user information stored in the user information storage device, particular user information of which the user identification information, the content identification information and the model information matches the request but the apparatus ID does not match the request;
• and
• a step of, if a number of the apparatus IDs associated with the identified particular user information is equal to or smaller than a predetermined number, authorizing use of the particular content item in the target electronic-content using apparatus.