System and method for unlimited licensing to a fixed number of devices

Abstract

A method and system providing access to electronic content includes receiving a request to access the electronic content from a user device, accessing a unique ID of the user device, and comparing the unique ID to a list of authorized user devices. The unique ID is used to determine if the user device is an authorized user device. If the user device is authorized, access is provided to the electronic content. If the user device is not authorized, determining if a maximum number of authorized user devices is reached. The user device is converted to an authorized user device, if the maximum number is not reached. If the maximum number of authorized user devices is reached, the user can be denied access to the electronic content or the system can request de-authorization of one of the authorized user devices to convert the user device to an authorized user device.

1 . A system for allowing access to electronic content, comprising: 
 a user device rendering the electronic content;    a unique ID uniquely identifying the user device;    a licensing server in communication with the user device and resolving requests for the electronic content; and    an authorization database storing the unique ID;    wherein the licensing server accesses the authorization database to determine if a user device is an authorized user device and permits the fulfillment of the request for electronic content only to the authorized user device.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a cookie storing the unique ID.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the unique ID is encrypted.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a last accessed user device; and    a unique ID of the last accessed user device;    wherein the unique ID of the last accessed user device is the only unique ID stored in the cookie.    
   
   
       5 . A method for allowing access to electronic content comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a request for access to the electronic content from a user device;    accessing a unique ID of the user device;    comparing the unique ID to a list of authorized user devices;    determining if the user device is one of the authorized user devices using the unique ID;    if the user device is not one of the authorized user devices, performing a determination, comprising the steps of: 
 determining if a maximum number of the authorized user devices is reached;  
 if the maximum number is not reached, converting the user device to the authorized user device;  
 if the maximum number is reached, optionally denying the user device access to the electronic content; and  
 if the maximum number is reached, optionally requesting de-authorization of one of the authorized user devices and converting the user device to the authorized user device; and  
   if the user device is the authorized user device, providing access to the electronic content.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising the steps of: 
 determining if the user device has a token;    providing access to the electronic content if the user device has the token;    if the user device does not have the token, determining if the maximum number of authorized user devices is reached;    adding the user device to an authorization database if the maximum number is not reached; and    providing the token to the user device.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising the step of storing the unique ID in a cookie.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of encrypting the unique ID.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of storing only the unique ID of a last accessed user device.  
   
   
       10 . A method for allowing access to electronic content comprising the steps of: 
 storing a unique ID of a user device in a cookie;    receiving a request for the electronic content;    checking the cookie for the unique ID;    if the unique ID is not stored in the cookie, denying access to the electronic content;    if the unique ID is stored in the cookie, determining if the unique ID is on a list of authorized user devices, and if so, providing access to the electronic content;    if the unique ID is not on the list, determining if a number of entries on the list is less than a maximum number; and    if the number of entries is less than the maximum number, adding the user device to the list and permitting access to the electronic content.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the steps of 
 if the number is greater than or equal to the maximum number, optionally denying access to the electronic content; and    if the number is greater than or equal to the maximum number, optionally de-authorizing an authorized user device.