Patent US6795925B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6795925B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computer readable storage medium for providing repeated contact with software end-user
Assignee: Z4 Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 2001-11-05
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Granted: 2004-09-21
•
Expires: 2021-11-05
Abstract
Abstract A computer readable storage medium for providing repeated contact with computer software or a software user to transfer information which may include advertising, promotional, or marketing information includes repeatedly contacting the software manufacturer or third party representative or agent for continued use of the software. The invention provides for automatically obtaining authorization information in addition to marketing, advertising, and/or promotional information prior to expiration of each authorization interval or period. 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.
Inventors
- 👤 David S. Colvin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 18:51
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: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
340 words
For use with computer software installed on a personal computer, a computer readable storage medium having stored data representing instructions executable by the personal computer to provide software anti-piracy protection and repeated contact between an authorized software representative and the computer software or a user of the computer software, the computer readable storage medium comprising: instructions for requiring entry of a first authorization code supplied with the computer software to at least partially enable the computer software on the personal computer for use by the computer software user during an initial authorization period; instructions for requiring the computer software user to manually or automatically contact the representative for retrieval of at least one additional authorization code to repeat the enablement of the computer software on the personal computer for use by the computer software user during a subsequent authorization period after the initial authorization period and allowing the repeat of the enablement of the computer software to be performed prior to the expiration of the initial authorization period so the enablement of the computer software can be continuous from the initial authorization period to the subsequent authorization period, the computer software being enabled during the subsequent authorization period without requiring further communication with the representative following entry of the at least one additional authorization code; instructions for automatically initiating contact from the personal computer or the computer software with the representative based on a computer software usage metric; instructions for transferring information from the computer software or the computer software user to the representative subsequent to the initiation of contact with the representative; instructions for receiving marketing or computer software upgrade information from the representative by the personal computer or the computer software in response to the computer software or the computer software user transferring information to the representative; instructions for selectively displaying at least a portion of the received information on the personal computer for the computer software user to view; and instructions for repeating the steps of automatically initiating contact, transferring information, receiving information, and selectively displaying information.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
340 words
For use with computer software installed on a personal computer, a computer readable storage medium having stored data representing instructions executable by the personal computer to provide software anti-piracy protection and repeated contact between an authorized software representative and the computer software or a user of the computer software, the computer readable storage medium comprising: instructions for requiring entry of a first authorization code supplied with the computer software to at least partially enable the computer software on the personal computer for use by the computer software user during an initial authorization period; instructions for requiring the computer software user to manually or automatically contact the representative for retrieval of at least one additional authorization code to repeat the enablement of the computer software on the personal computer for use by the computer software user during a subsequent authorization period after the initial authorization period and allowing the repeat of the enablement of the computer software to be performed prior to the expiration of the initial authorization period so the enablement of the computer software can be continuous from the initial authorization period to the subsequent authorization period, the computer software being enabled during the subsequent authorization period without requiring further communication with the representative following entry of the at least one additional authorization code; instructions for automatically initiating contact from the personal computer or the computer software with the representative based on a computer software usage metric; instructions for transferring information from the computer software or the computer software user to the representative subsequent to the initiation of contact with the representative; instructions for receiving marketing or computer software upgrade information from the representative by the personal computer or the computer software in response to the computer software or the computer software user transferring information to the representative; instructions for selectively displaying at least a portion of the received information on the personal computer for the computer software user to view; and instructions for repeating the steps of automatically initiating contact, transferring information, receiving information, and selectively displaying information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 wherein the instructions for repeating comprise instructions for repeating at predetermined periods.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 2 wherein the instructions for repeating at predetermined periods include instructions for repeating at a period based on a clock and/or calendar.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 wherein the instructions for automatically initiating contact include instructions for automatically initiating contact based on elapsed execution time of the computer software.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 wherein the instructions for automatically initiating contact include instructions for automatically initiating contact based on a version number associated with the computer software.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 wherein the instructions for automatically initiating contact include instructions for automatically initiating contact at random periods.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 wherein the instructions for automatically initiating contact include instructions for automatically initiating contact based on number of times the computer software is executed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
328 words
For use with computer software installed on a personal computer, a computer readable storage medium having stored data representing instructions executable by the personal computer to provide software anti-piracy protection and repeated contact between an authorized software representative and the computer software or a user of the computer software, the computer readable storage medium comprising: instructions for requiring entry of a first authorization code supplied with the computer software to at least partially enable the computer software on the personal computer for use by the computer software user during an initial authorization period; instructions for requiring the computer software user to manually or automatically contact the representative for retrieval of at least one additional authorization code to repeat the enablement of the computer software on the personal computer for use by the computer software user during a subsequent authorization period after the initial authorization period and allowing the repeat of the enablement of the computer software to be performed prior to the expiration of the initial authorization period so the enablement of the computer software can be continuous from the initial authorization period to the subsequent authorization period, the computer software being enabled during the subsequent authorization period without requiring further communication with the representative following entry of the at least one additional authorization code; instructions for automatically initiating contact from the personal computer or the computer software with the representative based on usage of the computer software; instructions for transferring information from the computer software or the computer software user to the representative subsequent to the initiation of contact with the representative; instructions for receiving software information, software upgrades, marketing information, promotional information, or advertising information by the personal computer or the computer software from the software administrator in response to the computer software or the computer software user transferring information to the representative; instructions for selectively displaying at least a portion of the received information on the personal computer for the computer software user to view.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
328 words
For use with computer software installed on a personal computer, a computer readable storage medium having stored data representing instructions executable by the personal computer to provide software anti-piracy protection and repeated contact between an authorized software representative and the computer software or a user of the computer software, the computer readable storage medium comprising: instructions for requiring entry of a first authorization code supplied with the computer software to at least partially enable the computer software on the personal computer for use by the computer software user during an initial authorization period; instructions for requiring the computer software user to manually or automatically contact the representative for retrieval of at least one additional authorization code to repeat the enablement of the computer software on the personal computer for use by the computer software user during a subsequent authorization period after the initial authorization period and allowing the repeat of the enablement of the computer software to be performed prior to the expiration of the initial authorization period so the enablement of the computer software can be continuous from the initial authorization period to the subsequent authorization period, the computer software being enabled during the subsequent authorization period without requiring further communication with the representative following entry of the at least one additional authorization code; instructions for automatically initiating contact from the personal computer or the computer software with the representative based on usage of the computer software; instructions for transferring information from the computer software or the computer software user to the representative subsequent to the initiation of contact with the representative; instructions for receiving software information, software upgrades, marketing information, promotional information, or advertising information by the personal computer or the computer software from the software administrator in response to the computer software or the computer software user transferring information to the representative; instructions for selectively displaying at least a portion of the received information on the personal computer for the computer software user to view.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 8 further comprising instructions for repeating the steps of automatically initiating contact, receiving information, and selectively displaying received information at predetermined periods.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 9 wherein the instructions for repeating at predetermined periods include instructions for repeating at a period based on a clock and/or calendar.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 9 wherein the instructions for repeating at predetermined periods include instructions for repeating at a period based on elapsed execution time of the computer software.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 9 wherein the instructions for repeating at predetermined periods include instructions for repeating at a period based on a version number associated with the computer software.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 9 wherein the instructions for repeating at predetermined periods include instructions for repeating at a period based on number of times the computer software is executed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein the instructions for repeating include instructions for repeating at random periods.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein the instructions for automatically initiating contact include instructions for automatically initiating contact each time the computer software is used.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein the instructions for automatically initiating contact include instructions for automatically initiating contact based on elapsed execution time of the computer software.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein the instructions for automatically initiating contact include instructions for automatically initiating contact based on a number of executions of the computer software.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
340 words
For use with computer software installed on a personal computer, a computer readable storage medium having stored data representing instructions executable by the personal computer to provide software anti-piracy protection and repeated contact between an administrator and the computer software or a user of the computer software, the computer readable storage medium comprising: instructions for requiring the computer software user to enter a first authorization code supplied with the computer software to at least partially enable the computer software on the personal computer for use by the computer software user during an initial authorization period; instructions for requiring the computer software user to manually or automatically contact the administrator for retrieval of at least one additional authorization code to repeat the enablement of the computer software on the personal computer for use by the computer software user during a subsequent authorization period after the initial authorization period and allowing the repeat of the enablement of the computer software to be preformed prior to the expiration of the initial authorization period so the enablement of the computer software can be continuous from the initial authorization period to the subsequent authorization period, the software being enabled during the subsequent authorization period without requiring further communication with the administrator following entry of the at least one additional authorization code; instructions for automatically initiating contact from the personal computer or the computer software with the administrator; instructions for transferring information from the computer software or the computer software user to the administrator subsequent to the initiation of contact with the administrator during an authorization period; instructions for receiving marketing or computer software upgrade information by the personal computer or the computer software from the administrator in response to the computer software or the computer software user transferring information to the administrator; instructions for selectively displaying at least a portion of the received information on the personal computer for the computer software user to view; and instructions for repeating the step of automatically initiating contact and transferring information and then selectively receiving and displaying information.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
340 words
For use with computer software installed on a personal computer, a computer readable storage medium having stored data representing instructions executable by the personal computer to provide software anti-piracy protection and repeated contact between an administrator and the computer software or a user of the computer software, the computer readable storage medium comprising: instructions for requiring the computer software user to enter a first authorization code supplied with the computer software to at least partially enable the computer software on the personal computer for use by the computer software user during an initial authorization period; instructions for requiring the computer software user to manually or automatically contact the administrator for retrieval of at least one additional authorization code to repeat the enablement of the computer software on the personal computer for use by the computer software user during a subsequent authorization period after the initial authorization period and allowing the repeat of the enablement of the computer software to be preformed prior to the expiration of the initial authorization period so the enablement of the computer software can be continuous from the initial authorization period to the subsequent authorization period, the software being enabled during the subsequent authorization period without requiring further communication with the administrator following entry of the at least one additional authorization code; instructions for automatically initiating contact from the personal computer or the computer software with the administrator; instructions for transferring information from the computer software or the computer software user to the administrator subsequent to the initiation of contact with the administrator during an authorization period; instructions for receiving marketing or computer software upgrade information by the personal computer or the computer software from the administrator in response to the computer software or the computer software user transferring information to the administrator; instructions for selectively displaying at least a portion of the received information on the personal computer for the computer software user to view; and instructions for repeating the step of automatically initiating contact and transferring information and then selectively receiving and displaying information.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer readable storage medium of claim 18 wherein the instructions for automatically initiating contact with the administrator include instructions for automatically initiating contact based on usage of the computer 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) | 2007-09-21 | 2008-03-22 | 2008-09-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-09-21 | 2012-03-22 | 2012-09-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-09-21 | 2016-03-22 | 2016-09-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |