Location-specific or range-based licensing system

Abstract

A system and method are provided for providing content to a user terminal based on the location of the user terminal within a specific range. If the user is proximate the boundary of the range, the user is prompted to make a decision concerning purchase or authorized use of the content. User options can be, before leaving the range, to purchase the content, to end the current session or leave the range with less than full functionality of the content, and to return to operating the user terminal within the range.

1 . A range-based system for licensing protected content in a communication network, comprising:
 an access point device for providing internet access to a location having a selected range in which authorized use of protected content is provided; and   a site-specific licensing application having a server side and client side operable, respectively, on the internet access point device and at least one guest computing device;   wherein the guest computing device is programmed via the client side to obtain selected protected content for use within the range; and   wherein the access point device is programmed via the server side to determine when the at least one guest computing device has left or is about to leave the range, and to generate a prompt to indicate when the guest computing device has left or is about to leave the range.   
     
     
         2 . A range-based system for licensing protected content as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a license server connected to the communication network and programmed to manage a distribution of authorizations to use protected content to at least one guest computing device operating within the range of authorized operation. 
     
     
         3 . A range-based system for licensing protected content as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the authorizations can comprise a license, the terms of the license can vary between a provider of the access point and the license server. 
     
     
         4 . A range-based system for licensing protected content as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the license comprises a timing operation that restricts use of selected content at the location. 
     
     
         5 . A range-based system for licensing protected content as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the protected content comprises one or more pieces of content selected from the group consisting of a software application, text, graphics, audio, video, a software executable file, a multimedia file, a digital file, and a video game. 
     
     
         6 . A range-based system for licensing protected content as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the prompt is an indication prompting a user to select from a plurality of options comprising acquiring a license for the protected content for authorized use outside the range, purchasing a license for the protected content for authorized use outside the range, registration for authorized use of the protected content outside the range, terminating a current session with a license server operating to make the protected content accessible within the range, leaving the range with less than full functionality of the protected content, and returning to operating the at least one guest computing device within the range. 
     
     
         7 . A range-based system for licensing protected content as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the access point device is programmed to determine range based on at least one of signal strength between the guest computing device and the access point device, and the geographic position of the guest computing device relative to the location. 
     
     
         8 - 33 . (canceled)