Method for tracking software lineages

• US 20050149451A1
• 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 7,353,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/59
• 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 determining whether a portion of a digital product has been copied, the method comprising:

calculating a footprint for a digital product to produce a calculated footprint;

determining whether a purchasing event has occurred;

comparing the calculated footprint with a stored footprint; and

determining that the digital product has been copied when the calculated footprint differs from the stored footprint and the purchasing event has not occurred.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising locking at least one feature of the digital product when the digital product has been copied.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising reverting the digital product to a demo mode when the digital product has been copied.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising updating the stored footprint.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising updating the stored footprint after determining whether the purchasing event occurred.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising updating the stored footprint after determining that the digital product has been copied.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the comparing is performed each time the digital product is run.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the calculating is performed each time the digital product is run.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising storing in a central database an indication that the digital product has been copied.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the stored footprint is stored in an auxiliary region of the digital product, the auxiliary region not affecting the functioning of the digital product.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the digital product includes executable software.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the digital product includes non-executable software.

13. A computer readable storage medium including computer executable code for determining whether a portion of a digital product has been copied, the code performing the steps of:

calculating a footprint for a digital product to produce a calculated footprint;

determining whether a purchasing event has occurred;

comparing the calculated footprint with a stored footprint; and

determining that the digital product has been copied when the calculated footprint differs from the stored footprint and the purchasing event has not occurred.

14. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 13, wherein the code further performs the step of locking at least one feature of the digital product when the digital product has been copied.

15. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 13, wherein the code further performs the step of reverting the digital product to a demo mode when the digital product has been copied.

16. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 13, wherein the code further performs the step of updating the stored footprint after determining whether the purchasing event occurred.

17. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 13, wherein the code further performs the step of updating the stored footprint after determining that the digital product has been copied.

18. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 13, wherein the stored footprint is stored in an auxiliary region of the digital product, the auxiliary region not affecting the functioning of the digital product.

19. A computer readable storage medium including computer executable code for locking a feature of a digital product, the code performing the steps of:

enabling a first user to access a first feature of a digital product in a first context;

passing a copy of the digital product to a second user;

determining whether the second user attempts to access the digital product in a second context distinct from the first context; and

if the second user attempts to access the digital product in the second context, locking the feature from the second user.

20. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 19, wherein locking the feature causes the digital product to revert to a demo mode.

21. A method for locking a feature of a digital product, the method comprising:

enabling a first user to access a first feature of a digital product in a first context;

passing a copy of the digital product to a second user;

determining whether the second user attempts to access the digital product in a second context distinct from the first context; and

if the second user attempts to access the digital product in the second context, locking the feature from the second user.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, further comprising causing the digital product to revert to a demo mode.

23. The method as recited in claim 22, further comprising enabling the second user to purchase a password to unlock the feature.

24. A method for controlling access to a digital product, the method comprising:

enabling a first user to access a first feature of a digital product in a first context;

passing a copy of the digital product to a second user;

determining whether the second user attempts to access the digital product in a second context distinct from the first context; and

if the second user attempts to access the digital product in the second context, causing the digital product to revert to a demo mode.

25. A device for determining whether a portion of a digital product has been copied, the device comprising:

a first processor which calculates a footprint for a digital product to produce a calculated footprint;

a second processor which determines whether a purchasing event has occurred;

a comparator which compares the calculated footprint with a stored footprint; and

a third processor which determines that the digital product has been copied when the calculated footprint differs from the stored footprint and the purchasing event has not occurred.

26. The device as recited in claim 25, further comprising a fourth processor which locks at least one feature of the digital product when the digital product has been copied.

27. The device as recited in claim 25, further comprising a fourth processor which reverts the digital product to a demo mode when the digital product has been copied.

28. The device as recited in claim 25, wherein the stored footprint is stored in an auxiliary region of the digital product, the auxiliary region not affecting the functioning of the digital product.

29. The device as recited in claim 25, wherein the digital product includes executable software.

30. The device as recited in claim 25, wherein the digital product includes non-executable software.

31. The device as recited in claim 25, wherein the first, second and third processors are distinct.