Video games on demand with anti-piracy security

Abstract

A method includes receiving, at a media device, a video game from a server via a network. The method includes installing, via the media device, the video game to a storage device associated with the media device. The method includes receiving, at the media device, a request to play the video game. The method includes sending an authorization request to the server from the media device via the network in response to the request. The method includes receiving authorization to execute the video game at the media device. The authorization is based on an identifier of the media device included in the authorization request being associated with rights allowing execution of the video game. The method also includes executing the video game via the media device in response to receiving the authorization.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, at a media device, a video game from a server via a network;   installing, via the media device, the video game to a storage device associated with the media device;   receiving, at the media device, a request to play the video game;   sending an authorization request to the server from the media device via the network in response to the request;   receiving authorization to execute the video game at the media device, wherein the authorization is based on an identifier of the media device included in the authorization request being associated with rights allowing execution of the video game; and   executing the video game via the media device in response to receiving the authorization.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising inhibiting execution of the video game prior to the authorization being received from the server. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein installing the video game comprises storing the video game in a memory of the media device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the storage device is coupled to the media device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the storage device comprises a memory reader and a portable memory device coupled to the memory reader. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 sending a charge notification to a display device associated with the media device, wherein the authorization includes charge information; and   receiving acceptance of a charge identified in the charge notification before executing the video game via the media device.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the request to play the video game includes receiving selection of an entry in a listing of recently played games displayed at a display device associated with the media device, and wherein the entry corresponds to the video game. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the video game is a rented video game or a purchased video game. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the video game cannot be played without a network connection from the media device to the server. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the media device includes a set-top box device. 
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 a processor;   a memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising instructions executable by the processor to perform operations including:
 receiving a video game from a server via a network; 
 installing the video game to a storage device associated with the processor; 
 receiving a request to play the video game; 
 sending an authorization request to the server via the network; 
 receiving authorization to execute the video game, wherein the authorization is based on an identifier in the authorization request being associated with rights allowing execution of the video game, and wherein the identifier identifies a media device associated with the processor; and 
 executing the video game in response to receiving the authorization. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a controller coupled to the processor to enable the processor to receive user input. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the storage device includes the memory. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a controller adapter coupled to the processor; and   a controller coupled to the controller adapter.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the controller adapter provides vibration functions associated with the video game to the controller. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the video game enables multi-player play via the network. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the operations include inhibiting play of the video game after expiration of a rental period. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the operations include inhibiting play of the video game after a predetermined number of play sessions. 
     
     
         19 . A server comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising instructions executable by the processor to perform operations including:
 receiving an authorization request to play a video game on a media device, wherein the authorization request includes data identifying the media device and the video game, and wherein the media device received the video game via a network; 
 accessing an account associated with the media device based on the data; 
 determining whether the account includes rights allowing play of the video game; and 
 upon a determination that the account includes rights allowing play of the video game, sending an indication to the media device to enable the media device to play the video game. 
   
     
     
         20 . The server of  claim 19 , wherein the operations further include:
 receiving a request for the video game from the media device; and   installing the video game to the media device in response to the request.