Pay by time system for content delivery to media playback systems

摘要

A system is described for allowing "pay by time" purchasing of digital video programming. The system provides for a variable or metered approach. A user can purchase a fraction of a program for a price different from that required for purchasing the entire program. Records of the user's viewing can be created to record, e.g., when a user started receiving a program, how long the user received a program, and when the user stopped receiving a program.