System and method for monitoring software

Claim 1

A method for generating a plurality of authorization codes for use in monitoring software to reduce unauthorized copying or use of the software, the method comprising: requiring a user of the software to contact an authorized software representative during installation of the software; obtaining registration information from the user during contact with the authorized software representative; obtaining an activation key associated with the software from the user during contact with the authorized software representative, upon entry the activation key enabling use of the software during first authorization interval having a finite period; determining whether the user is an authorized user based on the registration information and the activation key; supplying an authorization code from a plurality of authorization codes corresponding to the activation key based on the determination of whether the user is an authorized user; and repeatedly requiring entry of another authorization code prior to expiration of an associated authorization interval for continued use of the software beyond the associated authorization interval by prompting the user to obtain the authorization code for continued use of the software beyond the associated authorization interval prior to expiration of the associated authorization interval.

Claim 2

A method for generating a plurality of authorization codes for use in monitoring software to reduce unauthorized copying or use of the software, the method comprising: requiring a user of the software to contact an authorized software representative during installation of the software; obtaining registration information from the user during contact with the authorized software representative; obtaining an activation key associated with the software from the user during contact with the authorized software representative, upon entry the activation key enabling use of the software during first authorization interval having a finite period; determining whether the user is an authorized user based on the registration information and the activation key; supplying an authorization code from a plurality of authorization codes corresponding to the activation key based on the determination of whether the user is an authorized user; and repeatedly requiring entry of another authorization code prior to expiration of an associated authorization interval for continued use of the software beyond the associated authorization interval by prompting the user to obtain the authorization code for continued use of the software beyond the associated authorization interval prior to expiration of the associated authorization interval.

Claim 14

A method for generating a plurality of authorization codes for use in monitoring software to reduce unauthorized copying or use of the software, the method comprising: requiring a user of the software to contact an authorized software representative during installation of the software; obtaining registration information from the user during contact with the authorized software representative; obtaining an activation key associated with the software from the user during contact with the authorized software representative, upon entry the activation key enabling use of the software during a first authorization interval having a finite period; determining whether the user is an authorized user based on the registration information and the activation key; supplying an authorization code from a plurality of authorization codes corresponding to the activation key based on the determination of whether the user is an authorized user; wherein the step of supplying includes determining a password code based on the activation key, accessing a look-up table indexed by the password code to identify an algorithm for generating a plurality of passwords associated with a particular copy of the software, selecting one of the plurality of passwords to supply to the user, and repeatedly requiring entry of a different authorization code prior to expiration of an associated authorization interval for continued use of the software beyond the associated authorization interval.

Claim 15

A method for generating a plurality of authorization codes for use in monitoring software to reduce unauthorized copying or use of the software, the method comprising: requiring a user of the software to contact an authorized software representative during installation of the software; obtaining registration information from the user during contact with the authorized software representative; obtaining an activation key associated with the software from the user during contact with the authorized software representative, upon entry the activation key enabling use of the software during a first authorization interval having a finite period; determining whether the user is an authorized user based on the registration information and the activation key; supplying an authorization code from a plurality of authorization codes corresponding to the activation key based on the determination of whether the user is an authorized user; wherein the step of supplying includes determining a password code based on the activation key, accessing a look-up table indexed by the password code to identify an algorithm for generating a plurality of passwords associated with a particular copy of the software, selecting one of the plurality of passwords to supply to the user, and repeatedly requiring entry of a different authorization code prior to expiration of an associated authorization interval for continued use of the software beyond the associated authorization interval.

Claim 18

A method for monitoring software to reduce unauthorized use, the method comprising: associating an authorization code with a copy of the software, the authorization code including a password code associated with a plurality of passwords which must be repeatedly entered prior to expiration of selected intervals for continued use of the software beyond the selected intervals, the authorization code being distributed with the copy of the software and the plurality of passwords being maintained by an authorized software representative; obtaining the authorization code from a user or a user computer; parsing the authorization code to determine the associated password code; selecting one of the plurality of passwords associated with the password code; providing the selected password to the user or the user computer to allow operation of the software for the selected interval; prompting the user to obtain a new password from the plurality of passwords prior to expiration of the selected interval; and automatically and repeatedly contacting the authorized software representative prior to expiration of the selected interval to obtain the new password from the plurality of passwords to authorize continued use of the software for a subsequent interval after the selected interval.

Claim 19

A method for monitoring software to reduce unauthorized use, the method comprising: associating an authorization code with a copy of the software, the authorization code including a password code associated with a plurality of passwords which must be repeatedly entered prior to expiration of selected intervals for continued use of the software beyond the selected intervals, the authorization code being distributed with the copy of the software and the plurality of passwords being maintained by an authorized software representative; obtaining the authorization code from a user or a user computer; parsing the authorization code to determine the associated password code; selecting one of the plurality of passwords associated with the password code; providing the selected password to the user or the user computer to allow operation of the software for the selected interval; prompting the user to obtain a new password from the plurality of passwords prior to expiration of the selected interval; and automatically and repeatedly contacting the authorized software representative prior to expiration of the selected interval to obtain the new password from the plurality of passwords to authorize continued use of the software for a subsequent interval after the selected interval.

Claim 37

A method for monitoring software installed on a plurality of computers in communication with one another or a central computer to form a computer network, the method comprising: associating an activation code with the software for authorizing a predetermined number of copies of the software to be installed on computers associated with the computer network, the activation code having a corresponding plurality of passwords; collecting registration information from each computer associated with the computer network during installation of the software, providing a first password from the plurality of passwords to the computers associated with the computer network for the predetermined number of copies of the software to authorize operation of the software for a first interval; requiring entry of another one of the plurality of passwords prior to expiration of the first interval for each copy of the software to continue operating beyond the first interval and starting a subsequent interval; and prompting each computer user prior to expiration of the first or subsequent intervals to contact an authorized software representative to obtain a subsequent password for continued operation of the software beyond the first or subsequent intervals so that enablement of the software can be continuous from the first interval to a subsequent interval without requiring further communication with the authorized software representative following entry of the subsequent password.

Claim 38

A method for monitoring software installed on a plurality of computers in communication with one another or a central computer to form a computer network, the method comprising: associating an activation code with the software for authorizing a predetermined number of copies of the software to be installed on computers associated with the computer network, the activation code having a corresponding plurality of passwords; collecting registration information from each computer associated with the computer network during installation of the software, providing a first password from the plurality of passwords to the computers associated with the computer network for the predetermined number of copies of the software to authorize operation of the software for a first interval; requiring entry of another one of the plurality of passwords prior to expiration of the first interval for each copy of the software to continue operating beyond the first interval and starting a subsequent interval; and prompting each computer user prior to expiration of the first or subsequent intervals to contact an authorized software representative to obtain a subsequent password for continued operation of the software beyond the first or subsequent intervals so that enablement of the software can be continuous from the first interval to a subsequent interval without requiring further communication with the authorized software representative following entry of the subsequent password.