System and method for software anti-piracy licensing and distribution
First Claim
1. A method and system for preventing unauthorized use of a software product on a host computer system or any other process based hardware in association with a licensing system comprising the steps of:
- at the beginning of installation or execution of a software product at a host computer system;
dynamically encrypting a portion of the unique serial number assigned to the software product and transmitting it along with a proper action request to the licensing system;
at the licensing system;
dynamically decrypting the received portion of the serial number and identifying the action requested;
comparing the dynamically decrypted portion of the received serial number with the stored serial number;
if the received portion matches with the stored portion, dynamically encrypting the same or another portion of the stored serial number of the software product along with an action response and transmitting it back to the host computer system;
if the received portion does not match with the stored portion, transmitting an error status message or code back to the host computer system;
at the host computer system;
dynamically decrypting the received portion of the serial number;
comparing the received portion with the stored portion of the serial number;
if the received portion matches with the stored portion, enable execution or proceed with the installation of the software product;
if the received portion does not match with the stored portion, disable the execution or installation of the software product; and
if an error status message or code received, inform the user by displaying the error message.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a new and novel system and method for protecting a computer software product from its unauthorized use. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a computer system or any other processor based hardware must ‘download’ a credit from an authorized licensing system in order to operate a software product. The invention also provides a novel way of utilizing dynamic encryption techniques that are used to exchange credits. The dynamic encryption techniques ensure that the licensing credits exchange taking place between the computer system and licensing system in the form of binary bit segments appear to be ‘random’ in nature. The credits are transferable from one form of licensing system to another licensing system adapted in a different embodiment. The licensing system also provides a convenient way to add or subtract the number of available credits in it. In the event a hard drive containing a software program fails to operate then the licensing system has the ability to ‘recover’ the installation credit from the failed hard drive available for the use of another software product installation.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method and system for preventing unauthorized use of a software product on a host computer system or any other process based hardware in association with a licensing system comprising the steps of:
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at the beginning of installation or execution of a software product at a host computer system;
dynamically encrypting a portion of the unique serial number assigned to the software product and transmitting it along with a proper action request to the licensing system;
at the licensing system;
dynamically decrypting the received portion of the serial number and identifying the action requested;
comparing the dynamically decrypted portion of the received serial number with the stored serial number;
if the received portion matches with the stored portion, dynamically encrypting the same or another portion of the stored serial number of the software product along with an action response and transmitting it back to the host computer system;
if the received portion does not match with the stored portion, transmitting an error status message or code back to the host computer system;
at the host computer system;
dynamically decrypting the received portion of the serial number;
comparing the received portion with the stored portion of the serial number;
if the received portion matches with the stored portion, enable execution or proceed with the installation of the software product;
if the received portion does not match with the stored portion, disable the execution or installation of the software product; and
if an error status message or code received, inform the user by displaying the error message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method and system for distributing credits through a licensing system to a host computer system or any other process based hardware, comprising;
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requiring the host computer system to obtain a credit from the licensing system before operating a software product;
requiring the licensing system to decrement the credit availability in any manner after delivering a credit to the host computer system. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for running a software product on a computer or any other process based hardware, the method comprising the following steps:
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transmitting credit request for execution of a software product through using dynamic encryption to a licensing system;
determining if a credit should be released for the execution of the software product by the licensing system;
if yes, releasing the credit through dynamic encryption by the licensing system to the said computer system;
if not, transmitting an error message or code back to the said computer system;
at the host computer system;
executing the software product if a credit is received;
disabling the software product if no credit is received.
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Specification