Utility model for on-demand digital content

Rapid and converging technological advances in computing, communications, and consumer electronics have caused an explosion in the generation, processing, storage, transmission, and consumption of enormous amounts of digital content. Analysts expect these trends to accelerate in the near future and to have profound effects on content delivery and consumption. The term content generally refers to movies, songs, news, or educational material that spans various application domains, including personal entertainment, business, and education and training. The technology model currently used to supply this content seems inefficient and ineffective today. Newer models must be developed to support the ubiquitous, transparent, and cost-effective on-demand delivery of digital content, as driven by user preferences. We propose a content-utility system model for digital content delivery and consumption that resembles traditional utilities such as electrical power and water supply systems.