Controlling use of a computer program installed on a computer

• US 20030191958A1
• Filed: 04/04/2002
• Published: 10/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: McAfee, LLC
• Original Assignee: McAfee, Inc. (McAfee, LLC)
• Inventors: Gartside, Paul Nicholas, Harris, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,656,502 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/121 Restricting unauthorised execution of programs

Abstract

A product update is used to add a licensing control mechanism to an installed computer program. The computer program is preferably a malware scanner or other program which requires regular product updating in order to remain effective in its normal functionality.

Claims

1. A computer program product for controlling use of a computer program installed on a computer, said computer program product comprising:

a product update for installation at said computer;

wherein said product update serves to add a licensing control mechanism to said computer program installed on said computer, said licensing control mechanism being responsive to license key data to indicate that said computer program is licensed.

2. A computer program product as claimed in claim 1, wherein said computer program is a malware scanning computer program.

3. A computer program product as claimed in claim 2, wherein said malware scanning computer program scans for at least one of:

computer viruses

worms;

Trojans;

banned files;

banned words; and

banned images.

4. A computer program product as claimed in claim 2, wherein said malware scanning mechanisms of said malware scanning computer program are also modified by said product update.

5. A computer program product as claimed in claim 4, wherein said malware scanning computer program includes a scanner engine computer program operable to compare computer files to be scanned with malware definition data, at least one of said malware definition data and said scanner engine computer program being modified by said product update.

6. A computer program product as claimed in claim 1, wherein said product update also modifies operation of said computer program in at least one way independent of said licensing control mechanism and required for continued effective provision of existing functionality of said computer program.

7. A computer program product as claimed in claim 1, wherein said product update is received via a network connection.

8. A computer program product as claimed in claim 6, wherein said product update is downloaded via an internet connection from a provider of said computer program.

9. A computer program product as claimed in claim 1, wherein said licensing control mechanism is operable to request a license key to be entered each time said computer program is started until said license key is entered.

10. A computer program product as claimed in claim 1, wherein said licensing control mechanism is operable to disable said computer program if a license key is not entered within a predetermined period.

11. A method of controlling use of a computer program installed on a computer, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a product update at said computer; and

installing said product update on said computer to modify said computer program;

wherein said product update serves to add a licensing control mechanism to said computer program installed on said computer, said licensing control mechanism being responsive to license key data to indicate that said computer program is licensed.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said computer program is a malware scanning computer program.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said malware scanning computer program scans for at least one of:

computer viruses

worms;

Trojans;

banned files;

banned words; and

banned images.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said malware scanning mechanisms of said malware scanning computer program are also modified by said product update.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said malware scanning computer program includes a scanner engine computer program operable to compare computer files to be scanned with malware definition data, at least one of said malware definition data and said scanner engine computer program being modified by said product update.

16. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said product update also modifies operation of said computer program in at least one way independent of said licensing control mechanism and required for continued effective provision of existing functionality of said computer program.

17. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said product update is received via a network connection.

18. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said product update is downloaded via an internet connection from a provider of said computer program.

19. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said licensing control mechanism is operable to request a license key to be entered each time said computer program is started until said license key is entered.

20. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said licensing control mechanism is operable to disable said computer program if a license key is not entered within a predetermined period.

21. Apparatus controlling use of a computer program installed on a computer, said apparatus comprising:

receiving logic operable to receive a product update at said computer; and

installation logic operable to install said product update on said computer to modify said computer program;

wherein said product update serves to add a licensing control mechanism to said computer program installed on said computer, said licensing control mechanism being responsive to license key data to indicate that said computer program is licensed.

22. Apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said computer program is a malware scanning computer program.

23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein said malware scanning computer program scans for at least one of:

computer viruses

worms;

Trojans;

banned files;

banned words; and

banned images.

24. Apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein said malware scanning mechanisms of said malware scanning computer program are also modified by said product update.

25. Apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein said malware scanning computer program includes a scanner engine computer program operable to compare computer files to be scanned with malware definition data, at least one of said malware definition data and said scanner engine computer program being modified by said product update.

26. Apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said product update also modifies operation of said computer program in at least one way independent of said licensing control mechanism and required for continued effective provision of existing functionality of said computer program.

27. Apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said product update is received via a network connection.

28. Apparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein said product update is downloaded via an internet connection from a provider of said computer program.

29. Apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said licensing control mechanism is operable to request a license key to be entered each time said computer program is started until said license key is entered.

30. Apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said licensing control mechanism is operable to disable said computer program if a license key is not entered within a predetermined period.