Methods and apparatus for sharing, transferring and removing previously owned digital media

Abstract

The invention provide systems and methods for management of digital media objects, comprising first and second client digital data processors (e.g., personal (or private) computers, laptops, dedicated music devices, electronic book readers, and so forth) that are in communications coupling with one or more stores (e.g, dedicated disk drives, flash drives, cloud storage, etc.). At least one digital media object (DMO) or copy thereof is stored in one or more of those stores and is accessible by at least one of the first and second client digital data processors.

1 . A system for management of digital media objects, comprising:
 A. first and second client digital data processors,   B. the first and second client digital data processors being in communications coupling with one or more stores,   C. at least one of a digital media object and a copy thereof stored in one or more of the stores and accessible by at least one of the first and second client digital data processors,   D. during a first period of time, the first client digital data processor being substantially free of discouragement from accessing at least one of said digital media object and copy thereof by management logic at least one of executing on and in communications coupling with the first client digital data processor,   E. said management logic selectively discouraging the first client digital data processor from accessing at least one of said digital media object and copy thereof, the management logic performing such selective discouragement during a second period of time that is mutually exclusive of the first period of time, wherein the management logic being in communications coupling with at least the first client digital data processor during at least a second period of time,   F. during the second period of time, the second client digital data processor being substantially free of discouragement from accessing at least one of said digital media object and copy thereof by said management logic.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the digital media object is any of a digital song, a video, a movie, an electronic book, a digital story, a digital article, a digital document, a digital still image, a digital game, or a portion thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the digital media object is a digital file representing any of a digital song, a video, a movie, an electronic book, a digital story, a digital article, a digital document, a digital still image, a digital game, or a portion thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said management logic assigns said digital media object and any said copy thereof a common, unique fingerprint. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein said management logic selectively discouraging the first client digital data processor from accessing any of a said digital media object and copy thereof having said common, unique fingerprint. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein management logic effects such selective discouragement in response to a transfer-ownership event. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , comprising a server digital data processors that is in communication coupling with at least the first client digital data processor and that effects the transfer-ownership event. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first client digital data processor at least assents to a transfer of ownership of the digital media object. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first client digital data processor requests to transfer ownership of the digital media object. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the management logic responds to a said request by confirming that the first client digital data processor owns said digital media object. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first client digital data processor requests to sell the digital media object. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first client digital data processor requests to gift the digital media object. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the second client digital data processor at least assents to a transfer of ownership of the digital media object 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the second client digital data processor requests to buy the digital media object. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the second client digital data processor requests to be gifted the digital media object. 
     
     
         16 . A system for management of digital media objects, comprising:
 A. first and second client digital data processors,   B. the first and second client digital data processors being in communications coupling with one or more stores,   C. at least one of a digital media object and a copy thereof stored in one or more of the stores and accessible by at least one of the first and second digital data processors,   D. during a first period of time, the first client digital data processor being substantially free of discouragement from accessing at least one of said digital media object and copy thereof by management logic at least one of executing on and in communications coupling with the first client digital data processor,   E. said management logic selectively discouraging the first client digital data processor from accessing at least one of said digital media object and copy thereof, the management logic performing such selective discouragement during a second period of time that is mutually exclusive of the first period of time, wherein the management logic being in communications coupling with at least the first client digital data processor during at least a second period of time,   F. during the second period of time, the second client digital data processor being substantially free of discouragement from accessing at least one of said digital media object and copy thereof by said management logic,   G. a server digital data processor that is in communication coupling with at least the first client digital data processor and that executes said management logic, and   H. the management logic effecting selective discouragement in response to a request by the first digital data processor to transfer ownership of the digital media object.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 ,
 A. wherein said management logic effects such selective discouragement in response to a transfer-ownership event, and   B. said server digital data processors effects the transfer-ownership event.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the management logic responds to a said request by confirming that the first client digital data processor owns said digital media object. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said server digital data processor makes at least one of said digital media object and copy thereof accessible to the second client digital data processor on at least one of the stores during said second period of time. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said management logic assigns said digital media object and any said copy thereof a common, unique fingerprint. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein said management logic selectively discouraging the first client digital data processor from accessing any of a said digital media object and copy thereof having said common, unique fingerprint. 
     
     
         22 . A system for management of digital media objects, comprising:
 A. a first set of one or more client digital data processors and a second set of one or more client digital data processors,   B. the first and second sets of client digital data processors being in communications coupling with one or more stores,   C. at least one of a digital media object and a copy thereof stored in one or more of the stores and accessible by at least one of the first and second digital data processors,   D. during a first period of time, the first set of client digital data processor being substantially free of discouragement from accessing at least one of said digital media object and copy thereof by management logic at least one of executing on and in communications coupling with the first set of client digital data processors,   E. said management logic selectively discouraging the first set of client digital data processors from accessing at least one of said digital media object and copy thereof, the management logic performing such selective discouragement during a second period of time that is mutually exclusive of the first period of time, wherein the management logic being in communications coupling with at least the first set of client digital data processors during at least a second period of time,   F. during the second period of time, the second set of client digital data processor being substantially free of discouragement from accessing at least one of said digital media object and copy thereof by said management logic.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said management logic assigns said digital media object and any said copy thereof a common, unique fingerprint. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein said management logic selectively discouraging the first client digital data processor from accessing any of said digital media object and copy thereof having said common, unique fingerprint. 
     
     
         25 . A method for management of digital media objects, comprising:
 A. storing at least one of a digital media object and a copy thereof in one or more stores accessible by at least one of first and second client digital data processors,   B. executing management logic,   C. during a first period of time, freeing the first client digital data processor from discouragement by management logic from accessing at least one of said digital media object and copy thereof,   D. with the management logic, selectively discouraging the first client digital data processor from accessing at least one of said digital media object and copy thereof during a second period of time that is mutually exclusive of the first period of time,   E. during the second period of time, freeing the second client digital data processor from discouragement by management logic from accessing at least one of said digital media object and copy thereof.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , comprising the step of assigning said digital media object and any said copy thereof a common, unique fingerprint. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , comprising the step of selectively discouraging, with said management logic, the first client digital data processor from accessing any of a said digital media object and copy thereof having said common, unique fingerprint. 
     
     
         28 . A method for management of digital media objects, comprising:
 A. storing at least one of a digital media object and a copy thereof in one or more stores accessible by at least one of a first set of client digital data processors and a second set of client digital data processors,   B. executing management logic,   C. during a first period of time, freeing the first set of client digital data processors from discouragement by management logic from accessing at least one of said digital media object and copy thereof,   D. with the management logic, selectively discouraging the first set of client digital data processors from accessing at least one of said digital media object and copy thereof during a second period of time that is mutually exclusive of the first period of time,   E. during the second period of time, freeing the second set of client digital data processors from discouragement by management logic from accessing at least one of said digital media object and copy thereof.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , comprising the step of assigning said digital media object and any said copy thereof a common, unique fingerprint. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , comprising the step of selectively discouraging, with said management logic, the first client digital data processor from accessing any of a said digital media object and copy thereof having said common, unique fingerprint. 
     
     
         31 . A system for management of digital media objects, comprising:
 A. first client digital data processor and one or more second client digital data processors,   B. the first and second client digital data processors being in communications coupling with one or more stores,   C. a set comprising one or more digital media objects and/or copies thereof stored in one or more of the stores and accessible by at least one of the first and second client digital data processors,   D. during a first period of time, the first client digital data processor being substantially free of discouragement from accessing the set of digital media objects and/or copies thereof by management logic at least one of executing on and in communications coupling with the first client digital data processor,   E. said management logic selectively discouraging the first client digital data processor from accessing at least a subset of the set of digital media objects and/or copies thereof, the management logic performing such selective discouragement during a second period of time that is mutually exclusive of the first period of time, wherein the management logic being in communications coupling with at least the first client digital data processor during at least a second period of time,   F. during the second period of time, one or more of the second client digital data processors being substantially free of discouragement from accessing at least the subset of digital media objects and/or copies thereof by said management logic   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein a size of the subset is determined in accord with a size of a central store (“box”) allocated to the first client digital data processor. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein a user of the first digital data processor specifies the digital media objects and/or copies thereof making up the set. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the management logic comprises one or more subsystems that creates one or more of said subsets from the set. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the one or more subsystems create said one or more subsets as a function of a popularity of content represented by the digital media objects and/or copies thereof making up the set. 
     
     
         36 . A system for management of digital media objects, comprising:
 A. first and second client digital data processors,   B. the first and second client digital data processors being in communications coupling with one or more stores,   C. a set comprising one or more digital media objects and/or copies thereof stored in one or more of the stores and accessible by at least one of the first and second client digital data processors,   D. during a first period of time, the first client digital data processor being substantially free of discouragement from accessing the set of digital media objects and/or copies thereof by management logic at least one of executing on and in communications coupling with the first client digital data processor,   E. said management logic selectively discouraging the first client digital data processor from accessing at least a subset of the set of digital media objects and/or copies thereof, the management logic performing such selective discouragement during a second period of time that is mutually exclusive of the first period of time, wherein the management logic being in communications coupling with at least the first client digital data processor during at least a second period of time,   F. during the second period of time, the second client digital data processor being substantially free of discouragement from accessing at least the subset of digital media objects and/or copies thereof by said management logic,   G. wherein the subset is determined in accord with a purchase request by second digital data processor and/or an operator thereof.   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 35 , the management logic includes a subsystem that responds to the purchase request by requesting the first digital data processor and/or an operator thereof if it wishes to sell. 
     
     
         38 . A method for management of digital media objects, comprising:
 A. during a first period of time, freeing a first client digital data processor of discouragement by management logic from accessing a set of digital media objects and/or copies thereof,   B. during a second period of time that is mutually exclusive of the first period of time, using the management logic to selectively discouraging the first client digital data processor from accessing at least a subset of the set of digital media objects and/or copies thereof,   F. during the second period of time, freeing one or more second client digital data processors of discouragement from accessing at least the subset of digital media objects and/or copies thereof.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein a size of the subset is determined in accord with the remaining capacity of a central store (“box”) allocated to the first client digital data processor. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , accepting specification by a user of the first digital data processor of the digital media objects and/or copies thereof making up the set. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39 , creating one or more of said subsets from the set as a function of a popularity of content represented by the digital media objects and/or copies thereof making up the set.