Patent ID: 7747533
Filing Date: 2010-06-29
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method of employing a piece of digital content on a user's computer in a particular manner, the method comprising: the user's computer obtaining a base license corresponding to the content, the base license comprising a first family id attribute, a first parent attribute, and a first set of rules specifying how the content may be employed; the user's computer determining that the first set of rules allows employing the content; the user's computer employing the content according to the first set of rules; the user's computer obtaining a first add-on license, the first add-on license comprising a second family id attribute, a second parent attribute, and a second set of rules specifying how the content may be employed; the user's computer determining that the first family id attribute and the second parent attribute are the same value; the user's computer aggregating the first set of rules and the second set of rules into a first aggregated set of rules; the user's computer determining that the first aggregated set of rules allows employing the content; the user's computer employing the content according to the first aggregated set of rules; the user's computer obtaining a second add-on license comprising a third family id attribute, a third parent attribute, and a third set of rules specifying how the content may be employed; the user's computer determining that the second family id attribute and the third parent attribute have the same value; the user's computer aggregating the third set of rules and the first aggregated set of rules into a second aggregated set of rules; the user's computer determining that the second aggregated set of rules allows employing the content; and the user's computer employing the content according to the second aggregated set of rules.