Methods, systems, signals and media for encouraging users of computer readable content to register

• US 20020091943A1
• Filed: 12/12/2001
• Published: 07/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Lau, James Sheung
• Granted Patent: US 7,512,991 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2117 User registration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2153 Using hardware token as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/027 involving a payment switch or gateway
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0855 involving a third party
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles

Abstract

A method and system for encouraging users of computer readable content to register. The method involves embedding in the computer readable content, instruction codes operable to direct a processor circuit to automatically establish a connection to a server, when the content is in use by the processor circuit, to transmit registration information to the server and operable to control further use of the content by the processor circuit in response to a key received from the server.

Claims

1. A method for encouraging users of computer readable content to register, the method comprising embedding in said computer readable content, instruction codes operable to direct a processor circuit to automatically establish a connection to a server, when said content is in use by said processor circuit, to transmit registration information to said server and operable to control further use of said content by said processor circuit in response to a key received from said server.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing said computer readable content and said embedded instruction codes on a portable memory medium.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing said computer readable content and said embedded instruction codes for use by a user computer.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein embedding comprises embedding a self executing apple in said computer readable content.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising producing said apple such that said apple contains said instruction codes.

6. A method for encouraging users of computer readable content to register, the method comprising providing to a user computer said computer readable content and instruction codes embedded in said computer readable content, said instruction codes being operable to direct a processor circuit of said user computer to automatically establish a connection to a server, when said content is in use by said user computer, to transmit registration information to said server and operable to control further use of said content by said user computer in response to a key received from said server.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein providing comprises transmitting said computer readable content and said embedded instruction codes to said user computer.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein transmitting comprises transmitting said computer readable content and said embedded instruction codes on a communications network.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein transmitting comprises providing a computer readable medium to a user, said computer readable medium having stored thereon said content and said embedded instruction codes.

10. A method for encouraging users of computer readable content to register, the method comprising executing instruction codes embedded in said computer readable content, when said content is in use by a processor circuit, to automatically establish a connection to a server to transmit registration information to said server and to control subsequent use of said content by said processor circuit in response to a key received from said server.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein executing comprises causing said instruction codes to be executed when access is made to said content by said processor circuit.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein executing comprises producing a measure of use of said content by said processor circuit.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein producing said measure of use of said content comprises determining a number of times said content is accessed by said processor circuit.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein producing said measure of use comprises determining memory usage of functional descriptive content in said computer readable content.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein producing said measure of use comprises determining document usage by function descriptive content in said computer readable content.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising establishing said connection to said server when said measure of use exceeds a threshold value.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein establishing said connection comprises establishing an internet protocol connection with said server.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising launching a browse session with a uniform resource locator pointing to a user registration page for permitting a user to enter registration information.

19. The method of claim 10 wherein controlling subsequent use of said content comprises enabling subsequent use of said content when said key is received from said server.

20. The method of claim 10 wherein controlling subsequent use of said content comprises disabling further use of said content when no key is received from said server.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising deleting files produced by functional descriptive content in said computer readable content.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising warning a user of said processor circuit that files are about to be deleted.

23. The method of claim 10 wherein controlling subsequent use of said content comprises maintaining a count of the number of times a warning about deleting files is presented to a user of the processor circuit.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein controlling comprises deleting files produced by functional descriptive content in said computer readable content when said count exceeds a threshold value.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising hosting a uniform resource locator pointing to a user registration page for permitting a user to provide said registration information to register as a user of said computer readable content.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising validating said registration information.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising executing the act of transmitting when said registration information is successfully validated.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 29 wherein said instruction codes are provided in a self executing apple.

25. A method of controlling a use of computer readable content, the method comprising transmitting to a user computer a key operable to cooperate with said user computer to deactivate execution of instruction codes embedded in said computer readable content at said user computer, in response to receipt of registration information from said user computer.

29. A computer readable medium on which is stored computer readable content and instruction codes embedded in said computer readable content, said instruction codes being operable to direct a processor circuit to automatically establish a connection to a server, when said content is in use by the processor circuit, to transmit registration information to the server and operable to control further use of the content by the processor circuit in response to a key received from the server.

30. A data signal comprising a first code segment providing computer readable content and a second code segment embedded in said first code segment such that said second code segment is rendered operational when said first segment is used, said second code segment comprising instructions for directing a processor circuit to automatically establish a connection to a server, when said content is in use by the processor circuit, to transmit registration information to the server and operable to control further use of the content by the processor circuit in response to a key received from the server.

32. A system operable to encourage users of computer readable content to register, the system comprising:

a) a processor circuit;

b) a communications interface in communication with said processor circuit for communicating with a server; and

c) a receiver for receiving computer readable content with instruction codes embedded therein, said instruction codes being operable to cause said processor circuit to automatically cause said communications interface to establish a connection to a server to transmit registration information to the server, and to control subsequent use of said computer readable content by said processor circuit, in response to a key received from the server.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein said receiver includes a media reader.

34. The system of claim 32 wherein said communications interface is operable to establish communications on a network.

35. The system of claim 32 wherein said processor circuit is part of a personal computer.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein said receiver includes a web server operable to host a uniform resource locator pointing to a user registration page for permitting a user to provide registration information to register as a user of said computer readable content.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein said web server is programmed to validate said registration information.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein said web server includes said transmitter.

36. A system for controlling the use of computer readable content, the system comprising:

a) a receiver for receiving registration information from a user computer; and

b) a transmitter for transmitting to a user computer a key operable to cooperate with said user computer to deactivate execution of instruction codes embedded in computer readable content at said user computer, in response to receipt of registration information at said receiver.