The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 10, 2016
Filed:
Mar. 23, 2006
Geoff S. Martin, Overland Park, KS (US);
Jonathan R. Kindred, Gardner, KS (US);
Geoff S. Martin, Overland Park, KS (US);
Jonathan R. Kindred, Gardner, KS (US);
Sprint Spectrum L.P., Overland Park, KS (US);
Abstract
A method and system for conditioning grant of digital rights on receiving and validating content-distribution referrals is provided. A subscriber using a communication device may enter a request to use locked digital content, or request a content-use right. The user may be prompted to enter one or more referrals as potential other recipients of the content. An indication of the one or more referrals may be sent to a network entity, which may determine whether at least a threshold number of the entered referrals are valid. If so, a network entity may transmit to the communication device data that will facilitate use of the digital content. Additionally, a network entity may send a solicitation message to each of at least the threshold number of entered referrals. A network entity may also provide an award in return for the entered referrals.