Abstract:
A method for the rental or sale, and distribution of digital content via the Internet. This method ensures enforcement of copyrights and end-use licensing. The invention consists of one or more databases, for the storage of digital content, and also for storage of customer profile and billing information. These databases are housed in multiple networked computers, sharing a private connection to an Internet firewall, gateway computer. This computer hosts an electronic commerce web site for customer purchase transactions and encryption of digital content prior to customer download. The invention also includes a software client application for decrypting and using the digital content. The invention also provides for computer software to manage the digital content inventory of each customer.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application is a continuation application of U.S. provisional patent application, Ser. No. 60/514,228, filed Oct. 24, 2003, for A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE RENTAL OR SALE, AND DISTRIBUTION OF DIGITAL CONTENT VIA AN ONLINE INTERNET STORE, by T. Bryan Varble, included by reference herein and for which benefit of the priority date is hereby claimed.  
         [0002]     The present application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 6,055,314, issued Apr. 25, 2000, for SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SECURE PURCHASE AND DELIVERY OF VIDEO CONTENT PROGRAMS, by Terence R. Spies, Daniel R. Simon, included by reference herein.  
         [0003]     The present application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 6,609,105, issued Aug. 19, 2003, for SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO ELECTRONIC WORKS, by Alexander T. Van Zoest, Matthew John Dimeo, Brian Mason Degenhardt, Charles Lawerence Sismondo, Brian Callahan, John William DeRose, George Matthew Costello, Tristan Anne Barnum, James Park, Joshua Stephens, Michael Oliphant, David M. Story, John P. Knott, James Martin Moore, included by reference herein.  
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     the present invention relates to a business process and, more particularly, to a set of online business transactions to purchase or rent digital content, as well as manage, download, and use that content  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     Currently, no one has solved the problem how to “own” digital content. That is, once some intellectual property like music or video is digitized; it may be reproduced without degradation many times over. In essence, the problem is applying those qualities of “tangible ownership” to digital works: universal uniqueness; universal identity; uniqueness of instance; transferability of control.  
         [0006]     Current existing mechanisms and methods for digital content purchasing or renting can be broken into two main categories: streaming distributions that require the end-user to maintain a live network connection, or those that link content to non-securable digital distribution media. Examples of the former include the Cable and Wireless, Inc., and Real Networks, Inc. Examples of the latter include: Compact Disc [CD] and Digital Versatile Disc [DVD]. Both of these storage media formats are decodable and reproducible using publicly-available products.  
         [0007]     In the first existing category, the digital content is “streamed.” For example, the Microsoft content store U.S. Pat. No. 6,055,314, is a streaming distribution model using a local hardware device for customer authentication. Here, streaming refers to serialized bit streams transmitted across a digital carrier [network]. These streams are then decoded and presented in human-consumable format to a video display or an audio player. This model is very similar to broadcast TV or Radio in that the data stream is ephemeral—once it is played it is gone. This method is most similar to Video-on-Demand (VOD) services. An alternative variation of this model is the MovieLink, Inc. stream and buffer approach. Here, the content is streamed, but also stored locally on a computer hard drive.  
         [0008]     The second existing, and more prevalent distribution category, is via digital storage media (e.g., DVD, Music CD, etc.). In this model, the consumer owns or rents the digital storage media containing the desired digital content. So, rather than an ephemeral stream that is experienced on a per-use basis; the consumer may access the content in whatever order or schedule they wish. An alternative variation to this model is the MP3.com content store U.S. Pat. No. 6,609,105. In this invention, the content is stored in a central repository, but requires a customer to possess the original digital media in order to access the digital content.  
         [0009]     The drawbacks of the “streamed” model of digital content distribution are: 
        Once the digital content play has started, it is difficult and unwieldy to stop and start again.     The customer is tied to the broadband distribution network. This prevents a streaming solution from being easily portable.     This method is susceptible to network congestion and interruption, which dramatically degrade the quality of playback. Though broadband networks are widely available, network traffic slowdowns and burstiness are notorious problems.     There is no concept of ownership with this model. The content is purchased on a per-use basis.     This model is inappropriate for non-video or non-music content. For example, software application content can not be streamed. By its very nature, it must be present within a computer&#39;s memory and available in its totality.        
 
         [0015]     The disadvantages to the MovieLink.com “stream and buffer” distribution model are: 
        This is a video-only solution.     This is a rental-only model. There is no provision for enforcement of ownership.     This model allows the content to be available in raw digital form, making it susceptible to unauthorized distribution     This model provides no support for rich content upgrades, for example HDTV-format video.        
 
         [0020]     The drawbacks of digital storage media distribution are: 
        Distributable media solutions have proven insecure and easy to pirate and duplicate.     As content reproduction technology advances, customers must re-equip their consumer electronics. Also, standing inventories will be made obsolete and un-sellable.     If the physical media is damaged, access to the content is lost and the content and distribution media must be re-purchased.        
 
         [0024]     The disadvantages of the MP3.com central repository requiring the original digital media are: 
        This content in this model is not uniquely encrypted and is subject to unlawful distribution.     This model allows the content to be available in raw digital form, making it susceptible to unauthorized distribution     This model provides no support for rich content upgrades, for example DVDA-format high-fidelity audio.        
 
         [0028]     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a method and supporting apparatus to define and manage the actual “ownership” of digital content  
         [0029]     It is another object of the invention to provide a set of business methods to enable online and retail-based transactions for the sale and rental of digital content  
         [0030]     It is another object of the invention to provide methods and apparatus for alternative embodiments of digital content purchase and rental transaction models to support third-party and wholesale business models  
         [0031]     It is another object of the invention to provide methods and apparatus for management of owned or rented digital content to improve the customer experience through ease of use and enhanced inventory access and control  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0032]     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for the rental or sale, and distribution of digital content via the Internet. This method ensures enforcement of copyrights and end-use licensing. The invention consists of one or more large databases, for the storage of digital content, and also for storage of customer profile and billing information. These databases are housed in a plurality of networked computers. These computers share a private connection to an Internet firewall, gateway computer. This computer hosts an electronic commerce web site for customer purchase transactions. This plurality of computers also supplies a means for unique encrypting of digital content prior to customer download. The invention also includes a downloadable software client application for decrypting and using the digital content. The invention also provides for computer software to manage the digital content inventory of each customer. This inventory management includes, but is not limited to, allowing the customer to check-in and check-out the digital content they have purchased or rented. This capability allows for content portability and a plurality of customer playback devices.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0033]     A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent, detailed description, in which:  
         [0034]      FIG. 1  is a hardware architecture view of a basic hardware architecture of the invention apparatus. It includes one or more computers housing the software applications comprising a digital content online store;  
         [0035]      FIG. 2  is a software architecture view of a basic software architecture of the invention apparatus. It includes a plurality of software applications used to implement the functionality of a digital content online store;  
         [0036]      FIG. 3  is a process flow view of a basic business method process for online purchasing, and renting of digital content using this invention;  
         [0037]      FIG. 4  is a process flow view of a basic business method for retail purchasing of digital content using this invention;  
         [0038]      FIG. 5  is a process flow view of a basic business method for retail rental of digital content using this invention;  
         [0039]      FIG. 6  is a process flow view of a basic business method for checking out, checking in, and downloading digital content from the content library in this invention;  
         [0040]      FIG. 7   a  is an use-case diagram view of an embodiment of the invention&#39;s business method to support the wholesale of digital content through another online store;  
         [0041]      FIG. 7   b  is an use-case diagram view of an embodiment of the invention&#39;s business method to support the wholesale of online content store services through a web portal provider;  
         [0042]      FIG. 8   a  is an use-case diagram view of an embodiment of the invention&#39;s business method to support the wholesale of digital content and online content store services through an Internet Service Provider (ISP);  
         [0043]      FIG. 8   b  is an use-case diagram view of an embodiment of the invention&#39;s business method to support retail sale of digital content integrated with a bundle service provider&#39;s billing system; and  
         [0044]      FIG. 8   c  is an use-case diagram view of an embodiment of the invention&#39;s business method to support wholesale of digital content through a traditional catalog or mail order retailer. 
     
    
       [0045]     For purposes of clarity and brevity, like elements and components will bear the same designations and numbering throughout the FIGURES.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0046]      FIG. 1  is a hardware architecture view of the invention apparatus. A digital content online store [hardware]  100 , contains a plurality of computers divided between a database server  102  role, and customer gateway server  104  role. Theses computers are linked by a high-capacity private network  106 . Isolation of the database server  102  prevents external access to the master digital content. The gateway server  104  is linked to the Internet public computer network  110 , by a high-capacity link  108 . Software applications executed by said plurality of computers in the digital content online store [hardware]  100 , implement the digital content online store [software]  200 . A customer connects to the digital online content store via an Internet access link  114 . This link allows online connections and transactions between the customer device  112  and the online store.  
         [0047]      FIG. 2  is a software architecture view of the invention apparatus. A digital content online store [software]  200  contains a plurality of software applications to embody the functions of an online storefront. Together, these applications perform all functions necessary for secure, online customer business transaction processing.  
         [0048]     Individually, these applications provide: 
        A customer transaction software application  202 . This application provides all basic aspects typical of electronic commerce. This includes, but is not limited to:     Credit card authorization and debit     Customer purchase tracking and billing     Customer inventory management for owned or leased content     Creation, updating, and deletion of customer information profiles and records     Auditing of system status and database contents     Execution of customer search and retrieval requests     Execution of customer library check-in&#39;s and check-out&#39;s     Execution of retail electronic transactions.     A customer database  204 , housing all of the customer specific information for billing, purchasing, and inventory tracking.     A digital content database  206 , housing all of the available content for the store.     A digital content inventory application  208 . This application supplies the customer with the ability to organize, search, and group the available content into logical, human review-able groupings.     A digital encryption application  210 . This application provides per-customer content encryption for the prevention of unauthorized content distribution.     A secure firewall and gateway application  212  through which the customer interface and the retail data portal must communicate with the online content store. This application protects the content store from malicious electronic intrusion.     An online customer web interface application  214  for using the services of the content store.     An online retail transaction portal  222  interface for retail store electronic transactions.        
 
         [0065]     The invention also includes a software application that runs on any device on which the online digital content customer  220 , may play content. This local content management application  216  will decrypt and interact with a content experience application  218 , whether the content is a: 
        Game program executing on a computer or dedicated game console     Music content executing on a computer or a dedicated music player     Video content executing on a computer or a dedicated video player        
 
         [0069]     This content management application  216 , residing local to the content customer; allows the player and its digital content to be portable, and not tied to an online network connection.  
         [0070]     The invention also contains the retailer transaction application  224  to interact with standardized retail electronic systems, via the aforementioned retail transaction portal  222 . This interface allows a retail digital content customer  226  to purchase or rent content from traditional retail outlets.  
         [0071]     The operation of the invention centers on a unique business method and supporting apparatus to purchase or rent digital content. The unique feature of the invention is that it separates the purchase, rental, and inventory management of digital usage rights from the actual use of the respective digital content. This separation breaks the operation of the invention into two components: 
        Digital content purchase or rental;     Digital content download and use.        
 
         [0074]     Architecturally, this simplifies implementation of the invention by separating the apparatus for digital content rights acquisition from the content distribution apparatus. For the acquisition of digital content licensing, the invention supplies three business methods: 
        A digital content license may be purchased or rented via an online electronic commerce web site transaction;     A digital content license may be purchased via a traditional retail store electronic business transaction;     A digital content license may be rented via a traditional retail store electronic business transaction.        
 
         [0078]     The invention supports these three methods by supplying a transaction interface apparatus for online,  214 , and offline retail transactions,  222 , respectively.  
         [0079]      FIG. 3  is a process flow view of the basic business method process flowchart for online purchasing, and renting of digital content using this invention. Here, the process starts with a customer shopping step  300 . An online customer proceeds through a select store step  302  to review the available content in the online store. This browsing step  304  allows the customer to identify digital content for rental or purchase. Once selection is complete, the customer logs into a secure transaction via the customer authentication step  306 . At this point in the process, the customer&#39;s identity will be validated in the membership step  308 . Here, if the customer is not a member of the online store, he or she will be prompted to create a log-in account with a password or personal identification number (PIN). An alternative embodiment of this new account step  310  is to use a subscription-based membership model. In such a model, the customer would be prompted to create or renew an online store membership.  
         [0080]     Once membership is established, the customer is prompted to the log-in step  312 . Here, the customer supplies a unique customer identifier, their log-in; and a unique security identifier, their PIN or password. The next validation step  314  allows the online store to check the authenticity of the log-in/password tuple. If the log-in should prove invalid, the customer will be notified in the log-in failure step  316 . Otherwise, the transaction process will proceed to the purchase step  318 . Here, the customer conducts a traditional online business transaction to purchase or rent their selected digital content (from the browsing step  304 ).  
         [0081]     Finally, in the library addition step  320 , the purchased or rented content is added to the customer&#39;s online content store library. Here, the library is a logical construct for managing a customer&#39;s inventory of digital content titles. Once this step is complete, the purchase or rental business process is complete.  
         [0082]      FIG. 4  is a process flow view of the basic business method process flowchart for retail purchasing of digital content using this invention. Here the process starts with a customer retail purchase shopping step  400 . Next, the customer proceeds to a purchase content selection step  402 . In the ideal embodiment, this would be implemented using a machine and human readable content identifier; specifically a card-stock or plastic card with title, universal product code (UPC), and marketing images. Once identified and selected, the customer would present this content product identifier during the retail purchase check-out step  404 . At check-out, the purchase identifier entry step  406 , the content identifier is entered into the retailer&#39;s point-of-sale system (POS). The POS then contacts the online content store retail transaction portal  222  as part of the purchase authorization step  408 .  
         [0083]     Here the online content store performs the retail purchase transaction step  410 . In this step, the online content store identifies the selected content title, validates the retailer&#39;s account information (e.g., credit and purchase accounts receivables), and generates a unique customer content identifier for return to the customer via the POS. This is the purchase transaction response step  412 . The customer receives this unique content identifier upon completion of their purchase transaction. As part of that transaction, the retail inventory system supplies an item price to the POS via the content purchase price step  414 . Once the sale transaction is completed, the content purchase step  416  is finished and the customer leaves the retailer with a content title unique identifier.  
         [0084]     At his or her convenience, the customer may then login to the online content store to add the purchase to their content library in the contact store purchase step  418 . Here, the online content store performs customer identity validation in the retail purchase authentication step  420 ; checking the customer&#39;s identity and security identifier. As in  308 , if the customer is not a current valid member, he or she is prompted to create or renew a log-in or subscription in the retail purchase membership step  422 . Once, the customer is logged into the online content store, he or she may enter the unique identifier of the content for the purchase identifier selection step  424 .  
         [0085]     At this point in the process, the online content store performs a purchase identifier validation step  426  to confirm the identifier and its use rights authorization. In the event that the identifier is not valid, the purchase identifier rejection step  428  will notify the customer of the invalidation. The online content store will also log the validation failure for notification of the retailer as well as audit purposes. Finally, once validated, the customer proceeds to the retail purchase library step  430 . At this point, the customer now owns the content and is free to check it out for download to a local device. This is the last step in the retail purchase business process.  
         [0086]      FIG. 5  is a process flow view of the basic business method process flowchart for retail rental of digital content using this invention. Here the process starts with a customer retail rental shopping step  500 . Next, the customer proceeds to a rental content selection step  502 . In the ideal embodiment, this would be implemented using a machine and human readable content identifier; specifically a card-stock or plastic card with title, universal product code (UPC), and marketing images. Once identified and selected, the customer would present this content product identifier during retail rental check-out step  504 . At check-out, the rental identifier entry step  506 , the content identifier is entered into the retailer&#39;s point-of-sale system (POS). The POS then contacts the online content store retail transaction portal  222  as part of the rental authorization step  508 .  
         [0087]     Here the online content store performs the retail rental transaction step  510 . In this step, the online content store identifies the selected content title, validates the retailer&#39;s account information (e.g., credit and rental accounts receivables), and generates a unique customer content identifier for return to the customer via the POS. This is the rental transaction response step  512 . The customer receives this unique content identifier upon completion of their rental transaction. As part of that transaction, the retail inventory system supplies an item price to the POS via the content rental price step  514 . Once the sale transaction is completed, the content rental step  516  is finished and the customer leaves the retailer with a content title unique identifier.  
         [0088]     At his or her convenience, the customer may then login to the online content store to add the rental to their content library in the contact store rental step  518 . Here, the online content store performs customer identity validation in the retail rental authentication step  520 ; checking the customer&#39;s identity and security identifier. As in  308 , if the customer is not a current valid member, he or she is prompted to create or renew a log-in or subscription in the retail rental membership step  522 . Once, the customer is logged into the online content store, he or she may enter the unique identifier of the content for the rental identifier selection step  524 .  
         [0089]     At this point in the process, the online content store performs a rental identifier validation step  526  to confirm the identifier and its use rights authorization. In the event that the identifier is not valid, the rental identifier rejection step  528  will notify the customer of the invalidation. The online content store will also log the validation failure for notification of the retailer as well as audit purposes. Finally, once validated, the customer proceeds to the retail rental library step  530 . At this point, the customer now owns a rental lease of the content and is free to check it out for download to a local device. This rental lease is specific to the particular terms and conditions of the renting party. This is the last step in the retail rental business process.  
         [0090]      FIG. 6  is a process flow view of the basic business method process flowchart for checking out, checking in, and downloading digital content from the invention&#39;s content library. Here the content use step  600  is the starting point for this process. Once a customer has elected to experience digital content from his or her library, he or she proceeds to the content search step  602 . At this point, the customer searches for the desired title on their local device. The content localizer step  604  is the decision point for the content search. If the desired is not on the local device, the customer proceeds to the download request step  606 . Here the customer must go online to contact the online content store customer database  204  to access their library.  
         [0091]     Once the content is located in the customer library, the download request moves to the key generation step  608 . Here, a series of operations are performed. Although there are numerous effective methods to accomplish these steps, the ideal embodiment will follow this process: 
        The local content management application  216  supplies a unique local device identifier to the online content store encryption application  210 . This identifier should be based on a hardware serial number (e.g., a hard disk serial number);     The encryption application  210  uses this identifier, combined with the customer identifier and security identifier to generate an encryption key;     This key is then used to encrypt the desired digital content;     The encryption may be any standard algorithm previously agreed between the encryption application  210  and the local content management application  216 , (i.e., Advanced Encryption Standard [AES], Data Encryption Standard [DES], Rivest, Shamir, and Aldeman standard [RSA], etc.);        
 
         [0096]     The result is digital content that is uniquely encrypted for each local device. Further, should the content be released into the open; it could not be decoded without BOTH the local device serial number and the customer identifier and security identifier.  
         [0097]     The next point is the download step  610 . Here the online content store establishes a secure network connection using a mechanism like the Secure Sockets Layer [SSL]. Once established, the encrypted content is downloaded to the customer&#39;s local device. This device can be any physical consumer of digital content (i.e., a personal computer, a home entertainment gateway, a cable data storage-enabled set-top box, a satellite storage-enabled set-top box, a streaming storage entertainment console [like TiVo], a portable storage-enabled media player [like ipod], a personal digital assistant [PDA], a storage enabled cell phone or wireless data handset, etc.). Once downloaded, the content is stored on the local device in the local storage step  612 .  
         [0098]     Once the content is on the local device, the content validity step  614  is entered to verify usage rights and authorizations on the local device. This task is performed by the local content management application  216 . This application validates the encryption keys, the terms and conditions if the content is rented, and any usage restrictions that my be linked to the content. If the rental period has expired or the content is restricted in some way, the application may delete the content or prevent decryption of the content.  
         [0099]     If the usage rights and key validity are in proper order, the content experience step  616  is performed to decrypt and play the content through the appropriate media player. For example, if it is a video or audio file; it might be streamed to Microsoft Media Player. An image file might be fed to a jpg viewer, while a document file might be fed to Adobe Acrobat Reader. Depending upon the content and the users configuration, the content will be presented to the appropriate application for the optimum customer experience.  
         [0100]     Once the customer has experienced the content, he or she enters the local content storage step  618 . Here they must decide if they want to keep the content on the local device or check it back into the online library. This is not necessarily a discrete choice; the local content management application  216  may default to one behavior or the other depending upon configuration or implementation.  
         [0101]     If the customer chooses the content check-in step  620 , the online content store library is contacted and updated with the “check-in.” This marks the content title as available for download. At the same time, the local content is deleted from the local device. The purpose of this model is to enforce the “uniqueness of existence” quality of possession. That is, a person who buys (or rents) one copy of a content title may only use that content on one [and only one] device at any given time. This is the checked-in content deletion step  622 .  
         [0102]     If the customer chooses to keep the content title checked-out, the encrypted local content is left in storage on the local device. Due to the device specific encryption used, if the content is copied to another device; it will be indecipherable and unusable. This final step in the download and experience business process is the local content step  624 .  
         [0103]      FIG. 7   a  is an use-case diagram view of a variation of the invention&#39;s business method to support the wholesale of digital content through another online store. Here, the customer does not interact with the digital content online store directly, but rather with a wholesale content store  700  via some other online retail storefront  706  like Amazon.com or walmart.com. In this alternative embodiment, the online wholesale customer  722  using their wholesale customer web browser  720  interacts with the online retail storefront  706  directly via a retail storefront customer connection  718 . In turn, that storefront embeds the wholesale web site  702  within it&#39;s own online retail web site  710  via the online stores web site connection  712 . In this way, the customer is able to make use of the digital content store features across the wholesale Internet network  716  from within their preferred online retailer&#39;s site. Likewise, by wholesaling the features of the online content store; the online retailer need not “re-invent the wheel.” 
         [0104]     When the customer makes content purchases, these are processed by the online retail storefront  706 . Then, the storefront&#39;s online retail store inventory system  708  conducts a retail electronic business transaction (EBT) with the wholesale transaction portal  704  via the online stores electronic portal connection  714   
         [0105]      FIG. 7   b  is an use-case diagram view of a variation of the invention&#39;s business method to support the wholesale of online content store service through a web portal provider. Here, the customer does not interact with the digital content online store directly, but rather with a portal content store  724  via some other online service portal  730  like Yahoo.com or MSN.com. In this alternative embodiment, the online portal customer  742  using their portal customer web browser  740  interacts with the service portal web site  732  directly via a portal service customer connection  738 . In turn, that service portal redirects the web site interaction to the portal web site  726  via the online portal store connection  734 . In this way, the customer is able to make use of the digital portal content store  724  features across the portal Internet network  736  from within their preferred web portal&#39;s site. Likewise, by wholesaling the features of the online content store; the online portal need not host their own online store.  
         [0106]     When the customer makes content purchases, these are processed by the portal content store  724  via the portal web site  726 . In this embodiment, the portal transaction portal  728  does not conduct a retail electronic business transaction (EBT). The entire transaction is handled through the online web interface.  
         [0107]      FIG. 8   a  is an use-case diagram view of a variation of the invention&#39;s business method to support the wholesale of digital content and online content store service through an Internet Service Provider  806  (ISP). Here, the ISP customer  826 , via their ISP web browser  822 , conducts digital content purchase or rental transactions directly with their ISP. As with  FIG. 7   a,  the ISP wholesales content from the ISP content store  800  via the ISP web site connection  812  between the ISP store web site  802  and the ISP web site  810 . Electronic business transactions (EBT) for content purchase and rental are exchanged between the ISP transaction portal  804  and the ISP inventory system  808  via the ISP transaction connection  814 .  
         [0108]     The ISP customer  826  downloads their purchases and rentals across the ISP Internet network  816  via the ISP customer connection  820 . Purchases and rental fees are carried though the ISP service billing mechanism  818  and presented to the ISP customer  826  as part of his or her ISP service bill  824 .  
         [0109]      FIG. 8   b  is an use-case diagram view of a variation of the invention&#39;s business method to support retail sale of digital content integrated with a bundled service provider  834  billing system. Here, the bundled service customer  850 , via their bundled web browser  846 , conducts digital content purchase or rental transactions directly with the bundled store web site  830 . Similar to  FIG. 7   a,  the bundled service provider  834  retails content from the bundled content store  828  via the bundled store web site  830  directly. Electronic business transactions (EBT) for content purchase and rental are exchanged between the bundled transaction portal  832  and the bundled inventory system  836  via the bundled transaction connection  840 .  
         [0110]     The bundled service customer  850  downloads his or her purchases and rentals across the bundled Internet network  842  via the bundled customer connection  838 . Purchases and rental fees are carried though the bundled service billing mechanism  844  and presented to the bundled service customer  850  as part of his or her bundled service bill  848 .  
         [0111]      FIG. 8   c  is an use-case diagram view of a variation of the invention&#39;s business method to support wholesale of digital content through a traditional catalog retailer  858 . Here, the catalog customer  872 , via their catalog order connection  874 , conducts digital content purchase or rental transactions directly with their catalog provider. As with  FIG. 7   a,  the catalog provider wholesales content from the catalog content store  852  via electronic business transactions (EBT) using the catalog transaction connection  864  between the catalog transaction portal  856  and the catalog inventory system  860 .  
         [0112]     The catalog customer  872  downloads his or her purchases and rentals across the catalog Internet network  866  from the catalog store web site  854  via the catalog customer web connection  862  and catalog web browser  870 . Purchases and rental fees are carried though the catalog billing mechanism  868  and presented to the catalog customer  872  as part of his or her catalog service bill  876 .  
         [0113]     Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention.  
         [0114]     Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims.