Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for managing usage of an application program by a user on a distributed computer system, said application program being initially stored as a stored version of said application program on a server coupled to said distributed computer system, said method comprising the steps of: recognizing a user request to access said application program; determining whether predetermined access conditions are satisfied; transmitting a transmission version of said application program to a computer associated with said user for receipt and storage only when said access conditions have been satisfied; verifying prior to execution of said program that said user is currently entitled to execute said received application program; and generating an executable version of said application program from said transmission version only if said verification is affirmative.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method in Claim 1, wherein said predetermined conditions comprise ownership of a valid license to an application builder module which performs said verifying and generating steps.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
41 words
The method in Claims 1 or 2, wherein said determining step includes: providing said user with an opportunity to satisfy and accept said predetermined but as yet unsatisfied access conditions; and recognizing explicit acceptance of said access conditions by said user.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method in Claim 3, including providing an opportunity to accept a trial license for said application program.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method in Claim 2, wherein said transmission version of said application program comprises a file that is at least partially encrypted.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method in Claim 5, wherein said step of generating an executable version of said application program from said transmission version comprises decrypting said encrypted portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method in Claim 6, wherein said transmission version of said application program is encrypted with a public key associated with said user, said decryption is performed with a corresponding private key, and said user associated public key and corresponding private key are generated by said application builder module.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
248 words
A program usage management system for managing usage of an application program by a user associated with a client computer on a distributed computer network, said system comprising: a server coupled to said distributed computer system and having memory storage for storing said application program; a controller coupled to said client computer for recognizing a user request to access said application program and for determining whether predetermined program access conditions associated with said application program are satisfied by said client computer; a program file formatter for generating a transmission version of said program file that incorporates identification information associated with said client and a version of said application program that is at least partially encrypted, said program file formatter responsive to said controller to generate said transmission version only when said access conditions are satisfied; a transmitter for transmitting said transmission version of said application program to said client computer associated with said user for receipt and storage only when said access conditions have been satisfied; a license verifier for verifying prior to execution of said application program by said client computer that the user associated with said client computer is currently entitled to execute said application program; and a program decoder coupled to said client computer for generating a decoded machine executable version of said application program from said transmission version of said application program only if said license verifier verifies that the user associated with said client computer is currently entitled to execute said application program.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system in Claim 8, wherein said controller includes an application builder program module installed and executing on said client computer, said application builder program module includes said license verifier and said program decoder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system in Claim 9, wherein said predetermined program access conditions associated with said application program include receipt of an encryption key from a valid copy of said application builder program on said client computer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
The system in Claim 9, wherein said transmission version of said application program is at least partially encrypted with a public key associated with said user, said program decoder decodes said transmission version of said application program with a corresponding private key, and said user associated public key and corresponding private key are generated by said application builder module.