Method and apparatus for dynamic renewability of content

Abstract

A method and apparatus for dynamically and transparently renewing licenses associated with downloaded content. Licensing associated with content can allow the provider to retain control over the content after it has been downloaded on to the user's computer. A license file or similar licensing parameter is the key to retaining control over access to the content after it has been downloaded. The license file may also control copying of the content on to computers other than the original computer used. The dynamic renewal method will transparently renew the license files on a user's computer to allow the associated content to be used without disruption as long as the user's account is in good standing.

1 . A method for dynamic renewability of content comprising the following steps:
 creating a license file having one or more parameters for a content item requested by a user;   transmitting the requested content item from a provider system to the user;   transparently transmitting the license file to the user;   comparing the one or more parameters contained in the license file to corresponding one or more parameters maintained by the provider system to determine whether or not the user is allowed access to the content; and   transparently renewing the parameters in the license file if the parameters in the license file differ from the corresponding parameters maintained by the provider system to allow continued access to the content by the user in accordance with the license file parameters maintained by the provider system.