Computer architecture for managing courseware in a shared use operating environment
First Claim
1. A multi-level computer architecture for managing content in a shared use operating environment, the architecture including:
- a registration server level including at least one registration server, each registration server comprising a remote registration manager and a registration database for new user registration, and each registration server being further characterized in that it is free of content managed by the architecture;
a content server level including at least one content server, each content server linked for network communications with a registration server, each content server containing content managed by the architecture, and each content server being further characterized in that it serves such content only for presentation to registered users, namely, users who have previously been registered with a registration server; and
a client level including at least one client workstation, each client workstation connectable to a content server by a client-server network communications link, and each client workstation being further characterized in that it presents to at least one registered user content which is served over the client-server network communications link by the content server.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, devices, and systems are provided in a multi-level computer architecture which provides improved capabilities for managing courseware and other content in a shared use operating environment such as a computer network. In particular, the invention provides a commercial networked instruction content delivery method and system which does not exclude synchronous sharing but is focused on asynchronous sharing. Security means in the architecture provide content property holders with the ability to know how many minutes of use an individual made of licensed material and with increased certainty that their material cannot be used, copied, or sold in usable form unless and until a user site is connected or reconnected to a minute-by-minute counter which is located off the premises of the user. This security link helps protect software and other works which are being sold or licensed to an individual, organization, or entity, and creates income opportunities for owners of such content.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A multi-level computer architecture for managing content in a shared use operating environment, the architecture including:
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a registration server level including at least one registration server, each registration server comprising a remote registration manager and a registration database for new user registration, and each registration server being further characterized in that it is free of content managed by the architecture;
a content server level including at least one content server, each content server linked for network communications with a registration server, each content server containing content managed by the architecture, and each content server being further characterized in that it serves such content only for presentation to registered users, namely, users who have previously been registered with a registration server; and
a client level including at least one client workstation, each client workstation connectable to a content server by a client-server network communications link, and each client workstation being further characterized in that it presents to at least one registered user content which is served over the client-server network communications link by the content server. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for managing content in a shared use operating environment, the shared use operating environment including a registration server, a content server connectable by a network link to the registration server, and a client workstation connectable by a client-server network communications link to the content server, the method comprising the steps of:
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registering a user at the registration server, thereby characterizing the user as a registered user;
receiving at the content server a request by the registered user for access to content which contains at least one previously treated critical portion;
authenticating the request;
serving at least the critical portion over the client-server network communications link for presentation to the registered user at the client workstation; and
metering usage of the content by the registered user. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A computer storage medium having a configuration that represents data and instructions which will cause at least a portion of a multi-level computer system to perform method steps for managing courseware in a shared use operating environment, the shared use operating environment including a server and a client connectable by a network communications link to the server, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving at the server a request by a registered user for access to courseware which contains at least one previously treated critical portion;
serving at least the critical portion over the network communications link for presentation to the registered user at the client; and
monitoring the network communications link to prevent unauthorized use of the courseware. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification