US6446211B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for monitoring software using encryption
Assignee: Z4 Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 2000-11-10
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Granted: 2002-09-03
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Expires: 2020-11-10
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for securing software to reduce unauthorized use and provide repeated contact with a software user to transfer information which may include advertising, promotional, or marketing information include repeatedly contacting the software manufacturer or third party representative or agent for an authorization code for continued use of the software. Authorization codes and registration information may be used with encryption to transfer information from the authorized representative to resist tampering by unauthorized users. The user and/or software contacts an authorized representative of the software to obtain authorization information which may be downloaded directly to the software or provided to the user for entry. Authorization intervals may vary depending upon the particular application. For example, in one embodiment, the present invention provides authorization information which allows continued use of the software for a period based on value of the software. The value of the software may be based on price or the availability of a subsequent version of the software. Authorization intervals of decreasing length may be supplied for software of increasing value. As the value of the software decreases, for example when one or more subsequent versions are released, the authorization intervals may increase accordingly.
Inventors
- 👤 David Colvin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 14:16
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/10; G06F21/12; G06F21/121; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; G06Q30/0207; G06Q30/0241
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 58
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for securing software to reduce unauthorized use of the software, the method comprising: associating a series of authorization codes with the software; repeatedly requiring the user to obtain a new authorization code from an administrator to continue using the software; encrypting information exchanged with the user, and transferring an authorization code for continued use of the software from the administrator such that the software is useable without requiring continuous communication with the administrator.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for securing software to reduce unauthorized use of the software, the method comprising: associating a series of authorization codes with the software; repeatedly requiring the user to obtain a new authorization code from an administrator to continue using the software; encrypting information exchanged with the user, and transferring an authorization code for continued use of the software from the administrator such that the software is useable without requiring continuous communication with the administrator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of encrypting comprises encrypting at least a portion of user registration information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of encrypting includes encrypting at least a portion of computer specific information of a computer of the user running the software.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the computer specific information includes at least a portion of an electronic serial number which uniquely characterizes the hardware configuration of the computer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the computer specific information includes at least a portion of an electronic serial number which uniquely characterizes the hardware configuration of the computer based on information stored in non-volatile memory of the computer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the computer specific information includes at least a portion of a motherboard serial number of the computer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the computer specific information includes at least a portion of the information stored in a registry associated with the computer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of encrypting includes encrypting at least a portion of the authorization code.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the authorization code is encoded as an alphanumeric string which appears to the user to be randomly generated.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the authorization code comprises a hexadecimal string.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the authorization code comprises a binary string.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of encrypting includes encrypting at least a portion of registration information of the user, the method further comprising: comparing registration information to previously obtained registration information to determine if the registration information is valid prior to providing the authorization code to the user.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 12 wherein obtaining valid registration information comprises comparing registration information with registration information obtained during first use of the software.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the authorization code authorizes continued use of the software for a period based on value of the software.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the period is a calendar period of time.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the period is a period of elapsed execution time of the software.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the period is based on a number of times the software has been executed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the period is based on a version number associated with the software.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the period is based on a new version of the software being released such that the period for authorized use of the user's version increases based on a number of subsequently released versions of the software.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for providing continuing contact with a software user to repeatedly transfer information to the user, the method comprising: receiving registration information from the user; encrypting authorization information based on the registration information from the user; transferring the encrypted authorization information from an administrator to authorize continued use of the software beyond a current authorization interval such that the software is useable without requiring continuous communication with the administrator; and selectively transferring marketing, promotional, or advertising information when the user or software requests authorization for continued use beyond the current authorization interval.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for providing continuing contact with a software user to repeatedly transfer information to the user, the method comprising: receiving registration information from the user; encrypting authorization information based on the registration information from the user; transferring the encrypted authorization information from an administrator to authorize continued use of the software beyond a current authorization interval such that the software is useable without requiring continuous communication with the administrator; and selectively transferring marketing, promotional, or advertising information when the user or software requests authorization for continued use beyond the current authorization interval.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the authorization information authorizes continued use of the software for a period based on a subsequent version of the software being currently available.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the authorization information authorizes continued use of the software for a period based on value of the software with increasing values associated with decreasing periods.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising: comparing at least a portion of the registration information with previously received registration information; and transferring authorization information which authorizes continued use of the software only if the registration information is substantially similar to the previously received information.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
89 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising: comparing the registration information with previously received registration information to determine whether the user is an authorized user; transferring authorization information which authorizes continued use of the software if the registration information indicates that the user is an authorized user; transferring information which disables continued operation of the software if the registration information indicates that the user is an unauthorized user; and transferring the marketing, promotional, or advertising information regardless of whether the registration information indicates the user is authorized or unauthorized.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for securing software to reduce unauthorized use of the software while providing repeated contact with a software user, the method comprising; providing computer-specific information to an authorized representative; based at least partially on the computer-specific information, transferring encrypted information including an authorization code for the software authorizing continued use of the software such that the software is useable without requiring continuous communication with the authorized representative; and subsequently requiring another authorization code to continue using the software.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for securing software to reduce unauthorized use of the software while providing repeated contact with a software user, the method comprising; providing computer-specific information to an authorized representative; based at least partially on the computer-specific information, transferring encrypted information including an authorization code for the software authorizing continued use of the software such that the software is useable without requiring continuous communication with the authorized representative; and subsequently requiring another authorization code to continue using the software.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the step of subsequently requiring is performed at regular intervals.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the step of subsequently requiring is performed at random intervals.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the step of subsequently requiring is performed at scheduled intervals.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the step of subsequently requiring is performed at predetermined intervals based on release dates of subsequent versions of the software.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 25 further comprising: requiring entry of registration information prior to receiving another authorization code to continue using the software.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
88 words
A computer readable storage medium having stored data which is directly or indirectly readable by a computer, representing instructions executable by a computer to secure software and reduce unauthorized use of the software, the computer readable storage medium comprising: instructions for repeatedly requiring the user to obtain a new authorization code to continue using the software; and instructions for processing an encrypted authorization code received from an administrator to authorize continued use of the software such that the software is usable without requiring continuous communication with the administrator.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
88 words
A computer readable storage medium having stored data which is directly or indirectly readable by a computer, representing instructions executable by a computer to secure software and reduce unauthorized use of the software, the computer readable storage medium comprising: instructions for repeatedly requiring the user to obtain a new authorization code to continue using the software; and instructions for processing an encrypted authorization code received from an administrator to authorize continued use of the software such that the software is usable without requiring continuous communication with the administrator.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 31 further comprising: instructions for associating a series of authorization codes with the software.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 31 further comprising: instructions for encrypting information exchanged with an authorized software representative.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 33 wherein the instructions for encrypting include instructions for encrypting at least a portion of registration information of the user.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 33 wherein the instructions for encrypting use at least a portion of computer specific information of a computer of the user running the software.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
26 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 35 wherein the computer specific information includes an electronic serial number which uniquely characterizes hardware configuration of the computer.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 35 wherein the computer specific information includes a motherboard serial number.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 35 wherein the computer specific information includes at least a portion of the information stored in a registry associated with the computer.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 33 wherein the instructions for encrypting include instructions for encrypting at least a portion of the authorization code.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 39 wherein the authorization code is encoded as an alphanumeric string which appears to the user to be randomly generated.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 39 wherein the authorization code comprises a hexadecimal string.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 39 wherein the authorization code comprises a binary string.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 31 further comprising: instructions for comparing registration information to previously obtained registration information to determine if the registration information is valid.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for securing software to reduce unauthorized use of the software, the method comprising: generating authorization codes; repeatedly requiring a user to obtain a new authorization code from an administrator to continue using the software; and encrypting at least a portion of each authorization code before providing the authorization code to the user to authorize continued use of the software such that the software is useable without requiring continuous communication with the administrator.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for securing software to reduce unauthorized use of the software, the method comprising: generating authorization codes; repeatedly requiring a user to obtain a new authorization code from an administrator to continue using the software; and encrypting at least a portion of each authorization code before providing the authorization code to the user to authorize continued use of the software such that the software is useable without requiring continuous communication with the administrator.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 44 wherein the step of encrypting further comprises encrypting registration information.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 44 further comprising: comparing registration information to previously obtained registration information to determine if the registration information is valid prior to providing the authorization code to the user.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 46 wherein determining if the registration information is valid includes comparing at least a portion of the registration information with registration information obtained during first use of the software.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 44 wherein the authorization code authorizes continued use of the software for a period based on value of the software.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 48 wherein the period is a calendar period of time.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 48 wherein the period is a period of elapsed execution time of the software.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 48 wherein the period is based on a number of times the software has been executed.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 48 wherein the period is based on a version number associated with the software.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 48 wherein the period is based on a new version of the software being released such that the period for authorized use of the user's version increases based on a number of subsequently released versions of the software.
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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) | 2005-09-02 | 2006-03-04 | 2006-09-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-09-02 | 2010-03-04 | 2010-09-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-09-02 | 2014-03-04 | 2014-09-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |