Software distribution via a computer network connection
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method distributing a computer program product, said method comprising the steps of:
- obtaining a licence ticket bearing a licence key;
inputting at a user computer a download source computer address of a download source computer of a supplier of said computer program product;
establishing a computer network connection between said user computer and said download source computer;
inputting said licence key at said user computer;
transmitting said licence key from said user computer to said download source computer via said computer network connection;
validating said licence key sent to said download source computer; and
if said licence key is valid, then;
(i) downloading said computer program product to said user computer; and
(ii) installing said computer program product to be resident upon said user computer.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A licence ticket 6 obtained by a user 12, such as by purchase from a retail outlet 4, bears a licence key 12 behind a scratch off panel 10. This licence key when entered into a webpage dialog with a download server 16 is validated by that download server 16 as legitimate and used to trigger download and installation of a computer program product onto the user'"'"'s computer 14.
18 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method distributing a computer program product, said method comprising the steps of:
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obtaining a licence ticket bearing a licence key;
inputting at a user computer a download source computer address of a download source computer of a supplier of said computer program product;
establishing a computer network connection between said user computer and said download source computer;
inputting said licence key at said user computer;
transmitting said licence key from said user computer to said download source computer via said computer network connection;
validating said licence key sent to said download source computer; and
if said licence key is valid, then;
(i) downloading said computer program product to said user computer; and
(ii) installing said computer program product to be resident upon said user computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method installing a computer program product, said method comprising the steps of:
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obtaining a licence ticket bearing a licence key;
inputting at a user computer a download source computer address of a download source computer of a supplier of said computer program product;
establishing a computer network connection between said user computer and said download source computer;
inputting said licence key at said user computer;
transmitting said licence key from said user computer to said download source computer via said computer network connection; and
if said licence key is valid, then;
(i) downloading said computer program product to said user computer; and
(ii) installing said computer program product to be resident upon said user computer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method supplying a computer program product, said method comprising the steps of:
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in response to a connection request from a user computer, establishing a computer network connection between said user computer and a download source computer;
receiving a licence key input by a user at said user computer, said licence key being borne by a licence ticket obtained by a user;
validating said licence key sent to said download source computer; and
if said licence key is valid, then downloading said computer program product to said user computer for installation to be resident upon said user computer. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A software supply controlling computer program operable to control a download source computer to supply a computer program product to a user computer, said software supply controlling computer program comprising:
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connection establishing code operable in response to a connection request from a user computer to establish a computer network connection between said user computer and said download source computer;
licence key receiving code operable to receive a licence key input by a user at said user computer, said licence key being borne by a licence ticket obtained by a user;
licence key validating code operable to validate said licence key sent to said download source computer; and
downloading code operable if said licence key is valid to download said computer program product to said user computer for installation to be resident upon said user computer. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification