Software license compliance system and method
First Claim
1. A method of limiting multiple access to a software program comprising the steps of:
- (a) associating license compliance software with a software program to be secured from multiple access, the license compliance software selectively preventing access to the software program or to a part of the software program when installed on a user'"'"'s computer;
(b) upon a user wishing to access the software program, by means of the user'"'"'s computer;
(i) accessing a remotely located database by means of a computer network or other connection to obtain a current unique validation code associated with that specific copy of the software program; and
(ii) comparing the current unique validation code obtained from the database to a unique validation code associated with the user'"'"'s software program on the user'"'"'s computer;
(c) if the current unique validation code obtained from the database corresponds to the current unique validation code associated with the user'"'"'s software program;
(1) permitting the user to use the software program;
(2) generating a new unique validation code associated with the specific copy of the software program; and
(3) updating the database with the new unique validation code and providing the new unique validation code to the user'"'"'s computer to be stored in associated with the user'"'"'s software program, the new unique validation code replacing the current unique validation code, the replaced unique validation code no longer functioning to provide user access to the software program.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A software license compliance system and method limits multiple access to a software program. License compliance software is associated with the software program which selectively prevents access to that software program. Each time a user accesses the software program the license compliance software accesses a remotely located database by means of a computer network or other connection to obtain a current unique validation code unique to that specific copy of the software program. If the code received from the database matches a current unique validation code stored in association with the software license compliance software on the user'"'"'s computer the license compliance software permits the user to access and use the software program. A new unique validation code is generated and stored in the remotely located database as well in association with the license compliance software which replaces the current unique validation code which no longer functions to provide user access to the software program.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A method of limiting multiple access to a software program comprising the steps of:
-
(a) associating license compliance software with a software program to be secured from multiple access, the license compliance software selectively preventing access to the software program or to a part of the software program when installed on a user'"'"'s computer;
(b) upon a user wishing to access the software program, by means of the user'"'"'s computer;
(i) accessing a remotely located database by means of a computer network or other connection to obtain a current unique validation code associated with that specific copy of the software program; and
(ii) comparing the current unique validation code obtained from the database to a unique validation code associated with the user'"'"'s software program on the user'"'"'s computer;
(c) if the current unique validation code obtained from the database corresponds to the current unique validation code associated with the user'"'"'s software program;
(1) permitting the user to use the software program;
(2) generating a new unique validation code associated with the specific copy of the software program; and
(3) updating the database with the new unique validation code and providing the new unique validation code to the user'"'"'s computer to be stored in associated with the user'"'"'s software program, the new unique validation code replacing the current unique validation code, the replaced unique validation code no longer functioning to provide user access to the software program. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. License compliance software for securing a software program from unauthorized use, comprising:
-
(a) means for controlling access to a software program to be secured;
(b) means for determining a unique code element and associating it with the software program;
(c) means for receiving a unique code element stored remotely from the user'"'"'s computer on activation of the software program for use by the user;
(d) means for determining whether the unique code element stored remotely from the user'"'"'s computer matches the unique code element associated with the software;
(e) means for permitting access to the software program by the user if the means for determining determines that the unique code element stored remotely from the user'"'"'s computer matches the unique code element associated with the software;
(f) means for establishing a new unique code element, different from any previous unique code element attributed to the software program, to replace the code element associated with the software and stored remotely from the user'"'"'s computer if the means for determining determines that the unique code element stored remotely from the user'"'"'s computer matches the unique code element associated with the software; and
(g) means for associating the new unique code element with the software program and storing it remotely from the user'"'"'s computer. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification