US6327707B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method, programmed medium and system for customizing pre-loaded software
Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
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Filing: 1999-06-01
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Granted: 2001-12-04
•
Expires: 2019-06-01
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a method, programmed medium and system for customizing pre-loaded software. A user is prompted to supply user-specific registration information which automatically replaces pre-existing registration information that was provided by a computer manufacturer upon loading of the pre-loaded software.
Inventors
- 👤 James McKeeth
- 👤 John Egan
- 👤 Eric Heupel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 20:07
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/445; G06F9/44505
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
A computer implemented method by which a user customizes registration information predefined by a third party and associated with pre-loaded software, the method comprising the acts of: prompting a user to supply new user registration information; searching at least one stored file containing the third-party predefined registration information; and replacing the third party registration information with the new user supplied user registration information in said file and storing said file containing said new user supplied user registration information.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
78 words
A computer implemented method by which a user customizes registration information predefined by a third party and associated with pre-loaded software, the method comprising the acts of: prompting a user to supply new user registration information; searching at least one stored file containing the third-party predefined registration information; and replacing the third party registration information with the new user supplied user registration information in said file and storing said file containing said new user supplied user registration information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the act of saving the file containing the third party-predefined user registration information to a backup file.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the act of saving includes the act of prompting the user for a storage location and storing the third party-predefined user registration information at a location provided by the user as said backup file.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 3 further comprising the act of providing the user with instructions for restoring the backup file.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 3 further comprising the act of informing the user that the backup file has not been saved when the user fails to provide a storage location.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the new user registration information includes at least the name of the user, which name differs from any name in the third party-predefined registration information.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the new user registration information includes at least a company name.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the act of prompting the user to confirm user supplied new user registration information.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the act of searching at least one file includes the act of conducting a recursive search for files containing the third party-predefined registration information.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the act of searching at least one file includes the act of saving the third party-predefined registration information to a backup file.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 further including the acts of displaying an introduction and prompting the user to agree or disagree with the contents thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 11 further including the act of terminating the method in the event that the user disagrees with the content.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 11 further including the acts of presenting a user input screen for receiving the new user registration information and prompting the user to indicate a desire to make indicated changes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the act of searching at least one file includes forming a list of locations where the third party-predefined registration information occurs and using said list to replace the third party-predefined registration information with the new user registration information at each occurrence in the list.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the act of determining whether any changes were made in the act of replacing said information and, if no changes were made, advising the user that no changes were made.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 15 wherein, if such changes were made, the method further comprises prompting the user for a storage location and storing the third party-predefined registration information at a location provided by the user as a backup file.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the method is automatically initiated the first time the user uses the computer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
88 words
A computer readable storage medium containing a computer readable code for operating a computer to perform a method of changing a computer registry file, the computer registry file including registration information predefined by a third party, the method comprising the acts of: prompting a user to supply new user registration information; receiving new user registration information from the user; searching for a registry file which contains the predefined registration information; and replacing the predefined registration information in said registry file with said new user supplied user registration information.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
88 words
A computer readable storage medium containing a computer readable code for operating a computer to perform a method of changing a computer registry file, the computer registry file including registration information predefined by a third party, the method comprising the acts of: prompting a user to supply new user registration information; receiving new user registration information from the user; searching for a registry file which contains the predefined registration information; and replacing the predefined registration information in said registry file with said new user supplied user registration information.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 18 wherein the method further comprises the act of saving the third party-predefined registration information to a registry backup file.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 19 wherein the act of saving includes the act of prompting the user for a storage location and storing the new user registration information at a location provided by the user.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 20 wherein the act of saving includes the act of providing the user with instructions for restoring the backup file.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 20 wherein the act of saving includes the act of informing the user that the backup file has not been saved in the event that the user fails to provide a storage location.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 18 wherein the act of receiving new user registration information includes the act of prompting the user to verify the received new user registration information.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 18 wherein the act of searching the registry file includes the act of conducting a recursive search of the registry file containing the third party-predefined registration information.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 24 wherein the act of searching the registry file includes the act of saving the third party-predefined registration information to a backup file.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 25 wherein the method further includes the act of terminating the method in the event that the user disagrees.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
47 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 25 wherein the method further includes the acts of presenting a user input screen for receiving the new user registration information and prompting the user to indicate a desire to make indicated changes or to cancel the making of changes.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 18 wherein the method further includes the acts of displaying an introduction and prompting the user to agree or disagree.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
53 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 18 wherein the act of searching at least one file includes forming a list of locations where the third party-predefined registration information occurs and using said list to replace the third party-predefined registration information with the new user registration information at each occurrence in the list.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein the storage medium is accessed automatically to initiate the method the first time the user uses the computer.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
129 words
A system for automatically replacing pre-existing registration information predefined by a third party with user supplied registration information in a registry file of a computer operating system, the system comprising: a memory circuit; a computer readable storage medium containing program instructions for execution by a processor which causes the processor to replace the pre-existing registration information with the new user supplied registration information in a stored registry file; and a processor connected to the memory circuit and the computer readable storage medium, the processor executing the program instructions stored on the computer readable medium to: prompt a user for new user registration information; search for a registry file which contains existing registration information; and replace the pre-existing registration information in said registry file with the new user registration information.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
129 words
A system for automatically replacing pre-existing registration information predefined by a third party with user supplied registration information in a registry file of a computer operating system, the system comprising: a memory circuit; a computer readable storage medium containing program instructions for execution by a processor which causes the processor to replace the pre-existing registration information with the new user supplied registration information in a stored registry file; and a processor connected to the memory circuit and the computer readable storage medium, the processor executing the program instructions stored on the computer readable medium to: prompt a user for new user registration information; search for a registry file which contains existing registration information; and replace the pre-existing registration information in said registry file with the new user registration information.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
149 words
A system for automatically replacing registration information predefined by a third party with user supplied registration information in a registry file of a computer operating system, the system comprising: a memory circuit; a computer readable storage medium containing the third party-predefined registration information and program instructions for execution by a processor which causes the processor to replace the third party-predefined registration information with the new user supplied registration information in a stored registry file; and a processor connected to the memory circuit and the computer readable storage medium, the processor automatically executing the program instructions stored on the computer readable medium the first time the user uses the computer operating system to: prompt a user for new user registration information; search for a registry file which contains the third party-predefined registration information; and replace the third party-predefined registration information in said registry file with the new user registration information.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
149 words
A system for automatically replacing registration information predefined by a third party with user supplied registration information in a registry file of a computer operating system, the system comprising: a memory circuit; a computer readable storage medium containing the third party-predefined registration information and program instructions for execution by a processor which causes the processor to replace the third party-predefined registration information with the new user supplied registration information in a stored registry file; and a processor connected to the memory circuit and the computer readable storage medium, the processor automatically executing the program instructions stored on the computer readable medium the first time the user uses the computer operating system to: prompt a user for new user registration information; search for a registry file which contains the third party-predefined registration information; and replace the third party-predefined registration information in said registry file with the new user registration information.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 32 wherein the act of searching for a registry file includes forming a list of locations where the third party-predefined registration information occurs and using said list to replace the third party-predefined registration information with the new user registration information at each occurrence in the list.
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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) | 2004-12-03 | 2005-06-04 | 2005-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-12-03 | 2009-06-04 | 2009-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-12-03 | 2013-06-04 | 2013-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |