Abstract: A system for lifecycle relationship management in an electronics device. Lifecycle data is collected, wherein this includes hardware data with respect to operation of hardware units in the device, utilization data with respect to operation of utilization units in the device, and user data present in the device that identifies the user. A cycle message is transmitted to a remote server on a communications network, wherein this cycle message is based on the lifecycle data. An offer message is received from a remote server on the communications network, wherein this offer message includes offer data that is based on the lifecycle data in at least one prior cycle message. An offer is then presented on a display of the electronics device to the user, wherein this offer is based on the offer data, and a user choice is accepted with an input sub-unit based on the offer.

Abstract: A digital content vending machine, DCVM (10), in which a client (12) on a personal computer, PC (14), contains an infrastructure (16) and an inventory (18). The infrastructure (16) and inventory (18) may both be stored in a hard drive (20), or the inventory (18) may instead be stored on a removable media (24), such as a CD (16), DVD (28), or tape (30). The infrastructure (16) presents a graphical user interface on the client (12) which metaphorically resembles a village (46) containing a plurality of stores (44) operated by vendors (42). Customers (40) shop in the stores (44) by selecting assets (22), constituting the inventory (18), and sending money (52) and an identifier (54) to a clearing house (50) via a communications system such as telephone (118), private network (120), or the Internet (122). The clearing house (50) returns a key (58) used to at least partially remove a digital wrapper (60) protecting the asset (22) from unauthorized use.