Location-specific or range-based licensing system

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A range-based system for licensing protected content in a communication network, comprising:
an access point device at a physical location for providing content that at least one guest computing device can select, download and use within a selected geographical range of the access point device; and a site-specific licensing application having a server side application and client side application operable, respectively, on the access point device and the at least one guest computing device; wherein the guest computing device is programmed via the client side application to download and obtain automated authorization for use of selected protected content while the guest computing device is located within the range; and wherein the access point device is programmed via the server side application to determine when the at least one guest computing device has left or is about to leave the range, provide authorization of use of selected protected content downloaded by the guest computing device and restrict the authorized use to only while the guest computing device is located within the range, and to generate a prompt to indicate when the guest computing device has left or is about to leave the range.