Method and system for granting access to system and content

• US 20030221112A1
• Filed: 12/11/2002
• Published: 11/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valve Corporation
• Original Assignee: Valve Corporation
• Inventors: Dunkle, Harold Michael, Jones, Paul David, Newcombe, Christopher Richard, Birum, Derrick Jason, Thompson, Mikel Howard, Ellis, Richard Donald
• Granted Patent: US 8,108,687 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/189
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 applying security measures for digital rights management data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for commerce, e.g. marketing, shopping, billing, auctions or e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0896 Bandwidth or capacity management, i.e. automatically increasing or decreasing capacities flow or congestion control using dynamic resource allocation, e.g. in-call renegotiation, H04L47/76
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/045 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply hybrid encryption, i.e. combination of symmetric and asymmetric encryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements using a plurality of keys or algorithms H04L9/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0807 using tickets, e.g. Kerberos cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using tickets or tokens H04L9/3213
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/289 Intermediate processing functionally located close to the data consumer application, e.g. in same machine, in same home or in same sub-network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests

Abstract

A method and system for granting access to system and content is provided. A key is provided that allows access by a client computer to content that includes a plurality of resources. A server is accessed and the key is provided to the server. Based on the key, access is granted to the content. A program on the client computer requests a resource of the plurality of resources. If the resource is located locally, the resource is provided to the program. Otherwise, the resource is downloaded from the content server and stored locally. A data structure is modified to indicate that the resource is stored locally and the resource is provided to the program.

Claims

1. A method for granting access to a system and content, comprising:

providing a key that is used by a client computer to gain access to an content comprising resources;

providing the key to a server;

based on the key, delivering a ticket to the client computer granting access to at least a portion of the content;

requesting from the client computer a resource associated with an application, the client computer including a process capable of downloading at least one resource that is located on a content server while at least one resource that is stored locally is accessed by the application; and

if the resource is located locally, providing the resource to the client computer;

otherwise;

downloading the resource from the content server, storing the resource locally, modifying a data structure to indicate that the resource is stored locally, and providing the resource to the client computer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the key is encoded onto at least one of a coupon, a computer display, a file on a computer, a file on a disk;

mail, email, a business card, a receipt, a dongle, a USB-style plug, a compact flash memory card, a smart card, and a credit card.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein providing the key, further comprises, encoding the key from at least one of a magnetically encoded, a barcode encoded, and a ink encoded.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the file on the computer is located locally and includes at least one of a cookie, a registry, and a database.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the file on the computer is accessible after logging into the server.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the application includes a computer game.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering the ticket, further comprises storing the ticket locally and providing the ticket to the content server before downloading a resource.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising authenticating the download request.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising notifying the client computer of time remaining before access to the content is terminated.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

associating the key with at least one of a smart card and a credit card; and

retrieving the key upon identification of at least one of the smart card and the credit card.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a user associated with the client computer a purchase option associated with the key, wherein the purchase option includes at least one of a one-time fee;

a rental fee;

a pre-paid fee, and a subscription fee.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the rental fee provides access to particular content for a period of time.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the subscription fee may be based on resources used, a fixed fee, and a recurring fee.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein providing the key, further comprises a vendor providing the key.

15. A system for granting access to a system and content, comprising:

a content server that provides content;

a client computer that employs a key and a ticket to gain access to the content, the client computer including a process capable of downloading at least one resource relating to an application from the content server, while the client computer is executing the application using at least another resource, the client computer performing acts, comprising;

requesting a resource;

if the resource is located locally, providing the resource from a local storage area to the client computer;

otherwise downloading the resource from the content server, storing the resource locally, modifying a data structure to indicate that the resource is stored locally, and providing the resource to the client computer.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the content includes a computer program and data associated with the computer program.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the key is encoded onto at least one of a coupon, a computer display, a file on a computer, mail, email, a business card, a receipt, a dongle, a USB-style plug, a compact flash memory card, a smart card, and a credit card.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the content server performs acts, comprising:

associating the key with a username and password; and

providing the key upon receiving the username and password.

19. A system for granting access to a system and content, comprising:

means for providing content that comprises resources;

means for requesting and utilizing the content, the means for requesting and utilizing the content including means for downloading at least one of the resources that is located on the a content server;

means for providing content while the client computer is using the content, the means for requesting and utilizing content providing actions, comprising;

means for requesting a resource;

if the resource is located locally, providing the resource from a local storage area to the program;

otherwise downloading the resource from the content server, storing the resource locally, modifying a data structure to indicate that the resource is stored locally, and providing the resource to the program.