US5883955A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
On-line try before you buy software distribution system
Assignee: Digital River Inc
•
Filing: 1995-06-07
•
Granted: 1999-03-16
•
Expires: 2015-06-07
Abstract
Abstract A computer-based on-line system is provided for demonstrating software programs to a potential purchaser. The system receives from an on-line system a software program to be demonstrated, and maintains the software program in a locked state in order to prevent unauthorized duplication of the software program. The software program is enabled for execution upon selection by a user, and the user is allowed to subsequently operate or sample the software program. The system maintains the software program in the locked state during the sampling in order to prevent unauthorized duplication of the software program. The sampling of the software program is selectively disabled, such as when the user completes the sampling or if the system detects that the user is attempting to copy the sampled application.
Inventors
- 👤 Joel A. Ronning
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:15
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/10; G06F21/12; G06F21/121; G06F21/125; G06F21/106; G06F21/1063; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/06; G06Q30/0601; G06Q30/0609
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
An on-line system for demonstrating software programs to a potential purchaser of the programs, comprising: receive means for receiving from an electronically accessible system a software program to be demonstrated; protection means for maintaining the software program in a locked state in order to prevent unauthorized duplication of the software program, the protection means comprising: an image file loaded in a computer-readable medium and having an internal configuration of a specially formatted disk with the software program being stored therein; and an image driver configured to prevent unauthorized access to the software program in the image file; and sample means for enabling the software program for execution upon selection by a user, for allowing the user to subsequently sample the software program, for maintaining the software program in the locked state during the sampling of the software program in order to prevent unauthorized duplication of the software program, and for selectively disabling the sampling of the software program.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
An on-line system for demonstrating software programs to a potential purchaser of the programs, comprising: receive means for receiving from an electronically accessible system a software program to be demonstrated; protection means for maintaining the software program in a locked state in order to prevent unauthorized duplication of the software program, the protection means comprising: an image file loaded in a computer-readable medium and having an internal configuration of a specially formatted disk with the software program being stored therein; and an image driver configured to prevent unauthorized access to the software program in the image file; and sample means for enabling the software program for execution upon selection by a user, for allowing the user to subsequently sample the software program, for maintaining the software program in the locked state during the sampling of the software program in order to prevent unauthorized duplication of the software program, and for selectively disabling the sampling of the software program.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the sample means further comprises means for preventing the enabling of the software program when the user has already sampled the software program a predetermined number of times.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the sample means further comprises means for detecting if the software program is being copied during the sampling of the software program and for disabling the software program in response to the detecting.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the sample means comprises means for limiting how many times the software program can be sampled and for displaying an indication of a number of samples remaining.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the disable means comprises means for disabling the software program if the user has sampled the software program for a predetermined amount of time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 1 wherein: the receive means comprises means for receiving the software program in an encrypted state; and the sample means comprises means for decrypting the encrypted software program.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 1, further comprising means for generating a code identifying the software program.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the sample means comprises means for displaying an icon which identifies the software program.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
150 words
A computerized on-line method for demonstrating software programs to a potential purchaser of the programs, comprising the steps executed by a computer of: receiving from an electronically accessible system a software program to be demonstrated; maintaining the software program in a locked state in order to prevent unauthorized duplication of the software program, the maintaining step using an image file having an internal configuration of a specially formatted disk with the software program stored therein, the maintaining step using an image driver configured to prevent unauthorized access to the software program in the image file; and enabling the software program for execution upon selection by a user, allowing the user to subsequently sample the software program, maintaining the software program in the locked state during the sampling of the software program in order to prevent unauthorized duplication of the software program, and selectively disabling the sampling of the software program.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
150 words
A computerized on-line method for demonstrating software programs to a potential purchaser of the programs, comprising the steps executed by a computer of: receiving from an electronically accessible system a software program to be demonstrated; maintaining the software program in a locked state in order to prevent unauthorized duplication of the software program, the maintaining step using an image file having an internal configuration of a specially formatted disk with the software program stored therein, the maintaining step using an image driver configured to prevent unauthorized access to the software program in the image file; and enabling the software program for execution upon selection by a user, allowing the user to subsequently sample the software program, maintaining the software program in the locked state during the sampling of the software program in order to prevent unauthorized duplication of the software program, and selectively disabling the sampling of the software program.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the enabling step further comprises the step executed by the computer of preventing the enabling of the software program when the user has already sampled the software program a predetermined number of times.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the disabling step further comprises the steps executed by the computer of detecting if the software program is being copied during the sampling of the software program and disabling the software program in response to the detecting.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the enabling step comprises the steps of limiting how many times the software program can be sampled and displaying an indication of a number of samples remaining.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the disabling step comprises the step of disabling the software program if the user has sampled the software program for a predetermined amount of time.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 9 wherein: the receiving step comprises means the step of receiving the software program in an encrypted state; and the enabling step comprises the step of decrypting the encrypted software program.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 9, further comprising the step executed by the computer of generating a code identifying software program.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the enabling step comprises the step of displaying an icon which identifies the software program.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
190 words
A computer program product, comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing a computer to demonstrate on-line software programs to a potential purchaser of the programs, the computer readable program code means in the computer program product comprising: receive means for causing the computer to receive from an electronically accessible system a software program to be demonstrated; protection means for causing the computer to maintain the software program in a locked state in order to prevent unauthorized duplication of the software program, the protection means comprising: an image file having an internal configuration of a specially formatted disk with the software program stored therein; and an image driver configured to prevent unauthorized access to the software program in the image file; and sample means for causing the computer to enable the software program for execution upon selection by a user, allow the user to subsequently sample the software program, maintain the software program in the locked state during the sampling of the software program in order to prevent unauthorized duplication of the software program, and selectively disable the sampling of the software program.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
190 words
A computer program product, comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing a computer to demonstrate on-line software programs to a potential purchaser of the programs, the computer readable program code means in the computer program product comprising: receive means for causing the computer to receive from an electronically accessible system a software program to be demonstrated; protection means for causing the computer to maintain the software program in a locked state in order to prevent unauthorized duplication of the software program, the protection means comprising: an image file having an internal configuration of a specially formatted disk with the software program stored therein; and an image driver configured to prevent unauthorized access to the software program in the image file; and sample means for causing the computer to enable the software program for execution upon selection by a user, allow the user to subsequently sample the software program, maintain the software program in the locked state during the sampling of the software program in order to prevent unauthorized duplication of the software program, and selectively disable the sampling of the software program.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-03-15 | 2002-09-14 | 2003-03-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-15 | 2006-09-14 | 2007-03-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-15 | 2010-09-14 | 2011-03-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |