Method for tracking software lineages

• US 20050149444A1
• Filed: 12/30/2004
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1992
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SL Patent Holdings LLC (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SL Patent Holdings LLC (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schull, Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 7,249,103 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/51
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 13/02 Viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2213/025 Sightline detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/109 by using specially-adapted hardware at the client
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/16 Program or content traceability, e.g. by watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/007 Encryption, En-/decode, En-/decipher, En-/decypher, Scramble, (De-)compress
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2117 User registration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

Software lineages arise through purchase and reproduction. Lineages are tracked by storing lineage-relevant information in variable regions of software instances and/or in a central database according to methods disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for allowing access to digital information, the digital information including code, at least a portion of the code being effective to facilitate performance of a function on a digital product, the method comprising:

receiving a request to access the digital information;

receiving a lineage of the digital information;

analyzing the lineage; and

allowing access to the digital information based on the analyzing.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the request is sent by another code distinct from the code of digital information.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the request is sent through a chronically networked system.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the request is received from a customer, and the method further comprises

receiving another request to access the digital information from the customer; and

offering a discount for access to the digital information to the customer.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, furthering comprising sending a password to the digital product in response to the request.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the code is a first code and the method further comprises:

generating a second code in response to the lineage;

wherein

the first code includes at least one setting, the setting being not fixed; and

the second code includes the setting, the setting in the second code being fixed.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the setting relates to a period of time in which the code operates in a demo mode.

8. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the setting relates to a parameter, the parameter relating to promoting a purchase.

9. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the request includes information about an entity using the digital product.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the request is received from a customer from a first computer, and the method further comprises

receiving another request to access the digital information from the customer from a second computer distinct from the first computer; and

offering a discount for access to the digital information to the customer.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising

altering the code based on the analyzing to affect the utility of the digital product.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the altering relates to determining an optimal value for a feature of the digital product.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the code is a first code and the method further comprises:

generating a second code in response to the lineage;

wherein

the first code includes at least one setting, the setting being not fixed; and

the second code is related to the first code and includes the setting, the setting in the second code being fixed.

14. A device for allowing access to digital information, the digital information including code, at least a portion of the code being effective to facilitate performance of a function on a digital product, the device comprising:

a first receiver which receives a request to access the digital information;

a second receiver which receives a lineage of the digital information;

an analyzer which analyzes the lineage; and

a processor which allows access to the digital information based on the analyzing.

15. The device as recited in claim 14, furthering comprising a transmitter which sends a password to the digital product in response to the request.

16. The device as recited in claim 14, wherein the code is a first code and the device further comprises:

a generator which generates a second code in response to the lineage;

wherein

the first code includes at least one setting, the setting being not fixed; and

the second code includes the setting, the setting in the second code being fixed.

17. The device as recited in claim 16, wherein the setting relates to a period of time in which the code operates in a demo mode.

18. The device as recited in claim 16, wherein the setting relates to a parameter, the parameter relating to promoting a purchase.

19. The device as recited in claim 14, further comprising another processor which alters the code based on the analyzing to affect the utility of the digital product.

20. The device as recited in claim 14, wherein the altering relates to determining an optimal value for a feature of the digital product.