CONTENT OWNER VERIFICATION AND DIGITAL RIGHTS MANAGEMENT FOR AUTOMATED DISTRIBUTION AND BILLING PLATFORMS

摘要

Software application providers can connect to a common platform in order to offer access to and use of their applications and/or content to a global community of mobile device users through a variety of different media. The users are automatically charged via the user's billing account with the wireless network carrier to which the user subscribes. The platform can also use billing mechanisms to bill the user other than the user's wireless network carrier, such as credit cards, bank accounts, prepaid cards, web-based payment services, etc. The application provider need not have contractual agreements with any of the wireless network carriers, as billing is automatically performed by the platform through the wireless network carriers his or her behalf.