Digital content distribution and subscription sysem

A computer-implemented method for controlling access to digital content data over a network, the method comprising the following steps implemented with at least one processor:

• receiving, from a client, a request to download digital content data over the network;
• generating, in response to the download request, a download address for the digital content data, the download address being transmitted to the client and including a token or checksum to enable an authentication of the download request;
• authenticating, at a content server, the download request based on the token or checksum in the download address;
• downloading, over the network to the client, the digital content data after the download address is authenticated by the content server;
• receiving, from the client, a request for a license to access and playback the downloaded digital content data, the license request including at least one of a session identifier and a client identifier to enable an authentication of the license request;
• authenticating, at an application server, the license request based on at least one of the session identifier or the client identifier;
• providing, to the client device, the license for the digital content data after the license request is authenticated by the application server, the license enabling the client device to access and playback the digital content data;
• and
• storing, in an administration server, information identifying the digital content data and license to enable royalty tracking and the determination of payments to a rights holder of the digital content data.

A digital content distribution system, comprising:

• an application server, responsive to a receipt of a request to download digital content data from a client device over a network, to generate a download address for the digital content data and transmit the download address to the client device, the download address including a token or checksum to enable an authentication of the download request;
• and
• a content server, responsive to a receipt of the download address from the client device over the network, to authenticate the download request based on the token or checksum in the download address, and download the digital content data after the download address is authenticated,
• wherein, in response to a receipt for a license to access and playback the downloaded digital content data from the client device, the license request including at least one of a session identifier and a client identifier to enable an authentication of the license request, the application server is configured to:
• authenticate the license request based on at least one of the session identifier or the client identifier;
• and
• provide, to the client device, the license for the digital content data after the license request is authenticated, the license enabling the client device to access and playback the digital content data.

A computer-readable medium that stores a set of instructions, the instructions being executable by at least one processor to cause the at least one processor to:

• receive, from a client, a request to download digital content data over a network;
• generate, in response to the download request, a download address for the digital content data, the download address being transmitted to the client and including a token or checksum to enable an authentication of the download request;
• authenticate, at a content server, the download request based on the token or checksum in the download address;
• download, over the network to the client, the digital content data after the download address is authenticated by the content server;
• receive, from the client, a request for a license to access and playback the downloaded digital content data, the license request including at least one of a session identifier and a client identifier to enable an authentication of the license request;
• authenticate, at an application server, the license request based on at least one of the session identifier or the client identifier;
• provide, to the client device, the license for the digital content data after the license request is authenticated by the application server, the license enabling the client device to access and playback the digital content data;
• and
• store, in an administration server, information identifying the digital content data and license to enable royalty tracking and the determination of payments to a rights holder of the digital content data.