Open market content distribution

Abstract

A content distribution system for one or more user devices, including: an open market coordinator (OMC) configured to manage a user domain, wherein the one or more user devices are members of the user domain and have access to content associated with the user domain, and wherein an individual user device has access according to predetermined privileges, the access being valid while the individual user device is a member of the user domain and has an active status with the user domain; and a plurality of domain service providers (DSPs) in communication with the OMC, wherein the DSPs are configured to enforce the predetermined privileges applied to the one or more user devices, and wherein the OMC is configured to support the enforcement of the predetermined privileges among the DSPs.

1 .- 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A content distribution system for one or more user devices, comprising:
 an open market coordinator (OMC) configured to manage a user domain,   wherein the one or more user devices are members of the user domain and have access to content associated with the user domain, and   wherein an individual user device has access according to predetermined privileges, the access being valid while the individual user device is a member of the user domain and has an active status with the user domain; and   a plurality of domain service providers (DSPs) in communication with the OMC,   wherein the DSPs are configured to enforce the predetermined privileges applied to the one or more user devices, and   wherein the OMC is configured to support the enforcement of the predetermined privileges among the DSPs.   
     
     
         10 . The content distribution system of  claim 9 , wherein the individual user device is allowed membership to a single user domain at a time. 
     
     
         11 . The content distribution system of  claim 9 , wherein at least one domain service provider (DSP) maintains one or more user accounts associated with the user domain, each user account maintained by the at least one DSP being uniquely associated with a store using that DSP, the user account maintaining rights to content acquired at the store. 
     
     
         12 . The content distribution system of  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined privileges applied to the one or more user devices are derived from rights maintained in the one or more user accounts. 
     
     
         13 . The content distribution system of  claim 12 , wherein a license is used to enforce the predetermined privileges derived from one user account and applied to the individual user device. 
     
     
         14 . The content distribution system of  claim 11 , wherein a user account is associated with a single user domain at a time. 
     
     
         15 . The content distribution system of  claim 9 , wherein the DSPs are configured to enforce the user domain memberships of the one or more user devices. 
     
     
         16 . The content distribution system of  claim 15 , wherein a native domain maintained by one DSP is used to enforce the user domain membership of at least one user device. 
     
     
         17 . The content distribution system of  claim 9 , wherein the OMC allows the enforcement of the predetermined privileges among a first DSP and a second DSP by providing the second DSP with information about the privileges of a first user device enforced at the first DSP when the first user device acquires content at a store using the second DSP. 
     
     
         18 . The content distribution system of  claim 9 , wherein the predetermined privileges include playing and copying content. 
     
     
         19 . The content distribution system of  claim 9 , wherein the OMC authenticates a consumer with an open market identification uniquely associating the consumer with a user domain. 
     
     
         20 . The content distribution system of  claim 19 , wherein the active status of a user device is refreshed at the OMC upon a contact between the user device and the content distribution system. 
     
     
         21 . The content distribution system of  claim 20 , wherein the active status changes to an inactive status following a predetermined period of no contact. 
     
     
         22 . The content distribution system of  claim 19 , wherein the number of user devices allowed as members of the user domain is limited to a predetermined maximum.