Patent ID: 8380633
Filing Date: 2013-02-19
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: receiving from an electronic device associated with a user at an e-book lending library comprising a processor, via a communications network, a request to borrow a first e-book for a predetermined loan period; determining by the processor that a lending license for the first e-book is unavailable during the entire predetermined loan period; in response to determining that a lending license for the first e-book is unavailable during the entire predetermined loan period, retrieving by the processor time slicing data from a storage device, the time slicing data including an indication of an available time block during the predetermined loan period, during which time block another user has agreed to relinquish the lending license for the first e-book; providing from the e-book lending library to the electronic device associated with the user, via the communications network, the retrieved time slicing data; displaying to the user via the electronic device the indication of the available time block; in response to the user selecting the available time block via the electronic device, providing from the e-book lending library to the electronic device associated with the user, via the communications network, a lending license for the e-book that is valid only during the selected available time block; and, using the provided lending license, enabling access to the first e-book via the electronic device during the time block.