US5970143A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Remote-auditing of computer generated outcomes, authenticated billing and access control, and software metering system using cryptographic and other protocols
Assignee: Inventor Holdings LLC
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Filing: 1996-07-10
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Granted: 1999-10-19
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Expires: 2016-07-10
Abstract
Abstract A computer device and method for encoding a message corresponding to an outcome of a computer game, and a computer device and method for decoding the message to detect a fraudulent outcome. The computer device used to generate the encoded message includes (1) a memory device containing encoding control code and (2) a processor configured to process the encoding control code in conjunction with a computer game outcome to generate an encoded message containing the computer game outcome and to transmit the encoded message to a human-readable output device, such as a display device. The computer device includes various tamper resistant or tamper evidence features. A secure module containing the processor and memory is used to plug into an existing personal computer or dedicated game device. The device also includes a system for metering use of a computer game. The method for encoding the message includes the steps of executing a computer game program to generate a computer game outcome, encoding the computer game outcome to generate an encoded message, and providing the encoded message to a user, who may then transmit the encoded message to a device configured for decoding the encoded message to reveal the computer game outcome. A second central or host computer device is used to decode the encoded message. The second computer device has (a) a memory device containing decoding control code and an encoded message corresponding to a computer game outcome and (b) a processor configured to process the code to decode the encoded message to reveal the computer game outcome.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce Schneier
- 👤 Jay S. Walker
- 👤 James Jorasch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 23:36
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F13/00; A63F13/70; A63F13/71; A63F13/75; G; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/32; G07F17/3202; G07F17/3216; G07F17/3218; A63F13/20; A63F13/21; A63F13/216; A63F13/45; A63F13/49; A63F13/493; A63F13/79; A63F13/792; A63F13/798; A63F13/80; A63F13/803; A63F2300/00; A63F2300/40; A63F2300/401; A63F2300/50; A63F2300/51; A63F2300/513; A63F2300/53; A63F2300/532; A63F2300/535; A63F2300/55; A63F2300/5513; A63F2300/5546; A63F2300/558; A63F2300/80; A63F2300/8064
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 51
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
A method, comprising the steps of: executing a computer game program by a first processor to generate a computer game outcome; encoding the computer game outcome by a second processor to generate an encoded message; providing said encoded message to a user; and providing by said user said encoded message to a device configured for decoding said encoded message.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
59 words
A method, comprising the steps of: executing a computer game program by a first processor to generate a computer game outcome; encoding the computer game outcome by a second processor to generate an encoded message; providing said encoded message to a user; and providing by said user said encoded message to a device configured for decoding said encoded message.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said encoded message contains information selected from the group consisting of (a) a random number generated by a central computer, (b) a number corresponding to a time at which said outcome was generated, (c) a number which is incremented upon each successive outcome of said computer game and (d) an end parameter received from a central computer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said encoding step occurs in a device selected from the group consisting of (a) a secure processor, (b) a dongle, (c) a separate cryptographic processor and (d) a plug-in module.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
44 words
A method, comprising the steps of: receiving from a user an encoded message corresponding to an outcome of a computer game; decoding said encoded message to retrieve said outcome; storing for further use said decoded message; and metering time use of said computer game.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
44 words
A method, comprising the steps of: receiving from a user an encoded message corresponding to an outcome of a computer game; decoding said encoded message to retrieve said outcome; storing for further use said decoded message; and metering time use of said computer game.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said decoding step comprises the step of decrypting said encoded message using an algorithm selected from the group consisting of (a) a symmetric key algorithm, (b) a public key algorithm and (c) a hashing algorithm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said encoded message includes information selected from the group consisting of (a) tamper evident information, (b) unique digital signature information and (c) end parameter information.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of transmitting an end parameter to said computer game for inclusion in said encoded message.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 4 further comprising the steps of transmitting an input parameter to said computer game and receiving an output parameter, corresponding to said input parameter, from said computer game.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
A computer device comprising: means for executing a computer game program to generate a computer game outcome; means for metering an amount of time of use of said computer game program; means for encoding the computer game outcome to generate an encoded message; and means for providing said encoded message to a user.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
A computer device comprising: means for executing a computer game program to generate a computer game outcome; means for metering an amount of time of use of said computer game program; means for encoding the computer game outcome to generate an encoded message; and means for providing said encoded message to a user.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
107 words
The computer device of claim 9 wherein said means for encoding generates said encoded message by using information selected from the group consisting of (a) tamper-evidence information, (b) user identity information, (c) unique digital signature information, (d) global positioning information regarding a global position of said computer device, (e) a random number generated by a central computer, (t) a number corresponding to a time at which said outcome was generated, (g) a number which is incremented upon each successive outcome ot said computer game program, (h) an end parameter received from a central computer, (i) symmetric key information, (j) public key information, and (k) hashing algorithm information.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
A computer device, comprising: means for receiving from a user an encoded message corresponding to an outcome of a computer game; means for decoding said encoded message to retrieve said outcome; means for storing the decoded message; and means for metering an amount of time of use of said computer game.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
51 words
A computer device, comprising: means for receiving from a user an encoded message corresponding to an outcome of a computer game; means for decoding said encoded message to retrieve said outcome; means for storing the decoded message; and means for metering an amount of time of use of said computer game.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
The computer device of claim 11 wherein said means for decoding performs an additional function of decrypting said encoded message using information selected from the group consisting of (a) a symmetric key algorithm, (b) a public key algorithm, (c) a hashing algorithm and (d) a cryptographic protocol.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
The computer device of claim 11 wherein said means for decoding performs an additional function of decoding said encoded message to retrieve information selected from the group consisting of (a) tamper evidence information, (b) unique digital signature information and (c) end parameter information.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
72 words
A computer device comprising: a computer readable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein, said computer readable program code means comprising encoding means for causing said computer device to generate an encoded message representing an outcome of a computer game, code means for causing said computer device to provide said encoded message to a user and metering means for metering an amount of time of use of said computer game.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
72 words
A computer device comprising: a computer readable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein, said computer readable program code means comprising encoding means for causing said computer device to generate an encoded message representing an outcome of a computer game, code means for causing said computer device to provide said encoded message to a user and metering means for metering an amount of time of use of said computer game.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
115 words
The computer device of claim 14 wherein said encoding means performs an additional function of causing said computer device to generate said encoded message including information selected from the group consisting of (a) tamper-evidence information, (b) user identity information, (c) unique digital signature information, (d) global positioning information regarding a global position of said computer device, (e) a random number generated by a central computer, (f) a number corresponding to a time at which said outcome was generated, (g) a number which is incremented upon each successive outcome of said computer game, (h) an end parameter received from a central computer, (i) symmetric key information, (j) public key information, and (k) hashing algorithm in formation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
73 words
A computer device comprising: a computer readable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein, said computer readable program code means comprising decoding means for causing said computer device to decode an encoded message corresponding to an outcome of a computer game, fraud-detection code means for causing said computer device to determine whether said outcome is fraudulent, and metering means for metering an amount of time of use of said computer game.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
73 words
A computer device comprising: a computer readable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein, said computer readable program code means comprising decoding means for causing said computer device to decode an encoded message corresponding to an outcome of a computer game, fraud-detection code means for causing said computer device to determine whether said outcome is fraudulent, and metering means for metering an amount of time of use of said computer game.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
64 words
The computer device of claim 16 wherein said decoding means performs the function of causing said computer device to decrypt said encoded message using information selected from the group consisting of (a) a symmetric key algorithm, (b) a public key algorithm, (c) a hashing algorithm and (d) a cryptographic protocol, (e) tamper evidence information, (f) unique digital signature information and (g) end parameter information.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
52 words
A method, comprising the steps of: executing a computer game program to generate a computer game outcome; metering time use of said computer program to generate metered time information; encoding the computer game outcome and said metered time information to generate an encoded message; and providing said encoded message to a user.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
52 words
A method, comprising the steps of: executing a computer game program to generate a computer game outcome; metering time use of said computer program to generate metered time information; encoding the computer game outcome and said metered time information to generate an encoded message; and providing said encoded message to a user.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of: providing by said user said encoded message to a device configured for decoding said encoded message.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said encoded message contains information selected from the group consisting of (a) a random number generated by a central computer, (b) a number corresponding to a time at which said outcome was generated, (c) a number which is incremented upon each successive outcome of said computer game and (d) an end parameter received from a central computer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said encoding step comprises encoding the computer game outcome by a first processor, and wherein said executing step comprises executing said computer game program on a second processor.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 18 wherein at least a portion of said encoding step occurs in a device selected from the group consisting of (a) a secure processor, (b) a dongle, (c) a separate cryptographic processor and (d) a plug-in module.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
51 words
A method, comprising the steps of: receiving from a user an encoded message corresponding to an outcome of a computer game and metered time use information of said computer game; decoding said encoded message to retrieve said outcome and said metered use information; and storing for further use said decoded message.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
51 words
A method, comprising the steps of: receiving from a user an encoded message corresponding to an outcome of a computer game and metered time use information of said computer game; decoding said encoded message to retrieve said outcome and said metered use information; and storing for further use said decoded message.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said decoding step comprises the step of decrypting said encoded message using an algorithm selected from the group consisting of (a) a symmetric key algorithm, (b) a public key algorithm and (e) a hashing algorithm.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said encoded message includes information selected from the group consisting of (a) tamper evident information, (b) unique digital signature information and (c) end parameter information.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of transmitting an end parameter to said computer game for inclusion in said encoded message.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 23 further comprising the steps of transmitting an input parameter to said computer game and receiving an output parameter, corresponding to said input parameter, from said computer game.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
52 words
A computer device, comprising: means for receiving from a user an encoded message corresponding to an outcome of a computer game and metered time use information of said computer game; means for decoding said encoded message to retrieve said outcome and said metered use information; and means for storing the decoded message.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
52 words
A computer device, comprising: means for receiving from a user an encoded message corresponding to an outcome of a computer game and metered time use information of said computer game; means for decoding said encoded message to retrieve said outcome and said metered use information; and means for storing the decoded message.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
47 words
The computer device of claim 28 wherein said means for decoding performs an additional function of decrypting said encoded message using information selected from the group consisting of (a) a symmetric key algorithm, (b) a public key algorithm, (c) a hashing algorithm and (d) a cryptographic protocol.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
43 words
The computer device of claim 28 wherein said means for decoding performs an additional function of decoding said encoded message to retrieve information selected from the group consisting of (a) tamper evidence information, (b) unique digital signature information and (c) end parameter information.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
68 words
A computer device comprising: a computer readable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein, said computer readable program code means comprising (a) encoding means for causing said computer device to generate an encoded message representing an outcome of a computer game and metered time use of said computer game, and (b) code means for causing said computer device to provide said encoded message to a user.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
68 words
A computer device comprising: a computer readable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein, said computer readable program code means comprising (a) encoding means for causing said computer device to generate an encoded message representing an outcome of a computer game and metered time use of said computer game, and (b) code means for causing said computer device to provide said encoded message to a user.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
114 words
The computer device of claim 31 wherein said encoding means performs an additional function of causing said computer device to generate said encoded message including information selected from the group consisting of (a) tamper-evidence information, (b) user identity information, (c) unique digital signature information, (d) global positioning information regarding a global position of said computer device, (e) a random number generated by a central computer, (f) a number corresponding to a time at which said outcome was generated, (g) a number which is incremented upon each successive outcome of said computer game, (h) an end parameter received from a central computer, (i) symmetric key information, (j) public key information, and (k) hashing algorithm information.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
65 words
A computer device comprising: a computer readable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein, said computer readable program code means comprising (a) decoding means for causing said computer device to decode an encoded message corresponding to an outcome and metered time use of a computer game and (b) fraud-detection code means for causing said computer device to determine whether said outcome is fraudulent.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
65 words
A computer device comprising: a computer readable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein, said computer readable program code means comprising (a) decoding means for causing said computer device to decode an encoded message corresponding to an outcome and metered time use of a computer game and (b) fraud-detection code means for causing said computer device to determine whether said outcome is fraudulent.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
64 words
The computer device of claim 33 wherein said decoding means performs the function of causing said computer device to decrypt said encoded message using information selected from the group consisting of (a) a symmetric key algorithm, (b) a public key algorithm, (c) a hashing algorithm and (d) a cryptographic protocol, (e) tamper evidence information, (f) unique digital signature information and (g) end parameter information.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
64 words
A computer device comprising: a memory device configured to store a computer game program; and a processor configured to: execute a computer game program to generate a computer game outcome; meter use of said computer program to generate metered time information; encode the computer game outcome and said metered time information to generate an encoded message; and provide said encoded message to a user.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
64 words
A computer device comprising: a memory device configured to store a computer game program; and a processor configured to: execute a computer game program to generate a computer game outcome; meter use of said computer program to generate metered time information; encode the computer game outcome and said metered time information to generate an encoded message; and provide said encoded message to a user.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
67 words
A computer device, comprising: a processor adapted to: receive from a user an encoded message corresponding to an outcome of a computer game and metered time use information of said computer game; decode said encoded message to retrieve said outcome and said metered time use information; and store for further use said decoded message; and a memory device configured to store said decoded message for further use.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
67 words
A computer device, comprising: a processor adapted to: receive from a user an encoded message corresponding to an outcome of a computer game and metered time use information of said computer game; decode said encoded message to retrieve said outcome and said metered time use information; and store for further use said decoded message; and a memory device configured to store said decoded message for further use.
Claim 50
Independent Claim
54 words
A method, comprising the steps of: executing a computer game program by a first processor to generate a computer game outcome; encoding the computer game outcome by a second processor to generate an encoded message; providing said encoded message to a user for transmission to a remote device configured for decoding said encoded message.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
54 words
A method, comprising the steps of: executing a computer game program by a first processor to generate a computer game outcome; encoding the computer game outcome by a second processor to generate an encoded message; providing said encoded message to a user for transmission to a remote device configured for decoding said encoded message.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-10-18 | 2003-04-19 | 2003-10-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-10-18 | 2007-04-19 | 2007-10-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-10-18 | 2011-04-19 | 2011-10-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |