Licensing the use of software to a particular user

• US 20060048236A1
• Filed: 09/01/2004
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Multerer, Boyd Cannon, Chen, Ling Tony
• Application Number:
  US10/931,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20060048236A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/121 Restricting unauthorised execution of programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2109 Game systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2135 Metering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data

Abstract

The use of software is licensed to a particular user, regardless of the computing device on which the software has been launched. A computing device is logged onto a central service. The central service either directly approves the launching of the software or it provides a code to the computing device, which in turn, unlocks the appropriate software (or features of software) residing on, or being used in conjunction with, the computing device. The approval or unlocking code may be provided after payment or another condition is satisfied. The software is usable on any computing device that is logged onto a central server, via a user'"'"'s valid account. The central service may unlock the software for the entire time a user is logged in to the central service, or there may be a time limit that the user is able to access the software. Authorization to use the software on any computing device may be granted while the user has a valid account or subscription to the service, or may be limited to a predetermined time period (e.g., a rental period of 30 days).

Claims

1. A method for providing access to an application, comprising:

launching an application on a computing device;

receiving an activation code for the application at the computing device from a central service; and

activating the application on the computing device based on the activation code.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising connecting the computing device to the central service.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving user identification information at the computing device and authenticating the user prior to receiving the activation code.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising transmitting the user identification information to the central service, and generating the activation code at the central service based upon the user identification information.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising determining if a first activation code for the application corresponding to the user identification information has already been generated at the central service, prior to generating the activation code at the central service.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising disconnecting a first computing device running the application pursuant to the first activation code, and then generating the activation code at the central service for the computing device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the activation code comprises a length of time that the application may be run on the computing device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing payment for the activation code prior to receiving the activation code.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining if the application has already been activated on the computing device prior to receiving the activation code, and only receiving the activation code in the absence of the application having already been activated on the computing device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the activation code is based on at least one of a unique identifier of a user, a unique identifier of the computing device, and an application identifier associated with the application.

11. A method for providing access to an application, comprising:

determining an activation code at a central service based on at least one of a unique user identifier, a unique identifier of a computing device on which the application is to be run, and an application identifier associated with the application;

providing the activation code to the computing device; and

activating the application on the computing device responsive to the activation code.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining if the application has already been activated on the computing device prior to determining the activation code, and only determining the activation code in the absence of the application having already been activated on the computing device.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising collecting payment for the application prior to determining the activation code.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising launching the application on the computing device prior to determining the activation code.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising requesting the activation code at the computing device prior to determining the activation code.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving user identification information at the computing device and transmitting the user identification information to the central service, and generating the activation code at the central service based upon the user identification information.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising determining if a first activation code for the application corresponding to the user identification information has already been generated at the central service, prior to generating the activation code at the central service.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising disconnecting a first computing device running the application pursuant to the first activation code, and then generating the activation code at the central service for the computing device.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the activation code comprises a length of time that the application may be run on the computing device.

20. An activation control system, comprising:

a central service comprising;

an activation handler for receiving a request from a computing device for an activation code for an application to run on the computing device; and

a character code generator for determining the activation code based on at least one of a unique user identifier, a unique identifier of the computing device on which the application is to be run, and an application identifier associated with the application.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the character code generator provides the activation code to the computing device.

22. The system of claim 20, further comprising a payment system for collecting payment for the application.

23. The system of claim 20, further comprising a storage device for storing subscriber information comprising at least a user identifier and an application associated with the user identifier.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the subscriber information further comprises a time period for usage associated with the application.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein the activation code comprises a length of time that the application may be run on the computing device.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein the central service is adapted to receive user identification information from the computing device and generate the activation code based upon the user identification information.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the central service is adapted to determine if a first activation code for the application has already been generated corresponding to the received user identification information, prior to generating the activation code.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the central service is adapted to disconnect a first computing device running the application pursuant to the first activation code, and then generate the activation code for the computing device.

29. A computing device comprising a central processing unit (CPU) for launching an application on the computing device, requesting and receiving an activation code for the application from a central service, and activating the application on the computing device based on the activation code.

30. The computing device of claim 29, wherein the CPU is adapted to receive payment instructions from an input device, and provide payment to a remote payment system.

31. The computing device of claim 29, wherein the CPU is adapted to determine if the application has already been activated on the computing device prior to requesting the activation code, and only requesting the activation code in the absence of the application having already been activated on the computing device.

32. The computing device of claim 29, wherein the activation code is based on at least one of a unique user identifier, a unique identifier of the computing device, and an application identifier associated with the application.

33. The computing device of claim 29, wherein the activation code comprises a length of time that the application may be run on the computing device.

34. The computing device of claim 29, wherein the CPU is prevented from activating the application if a central service determines that another activation code for the application has already been generated for a received unique user identifier, prior to generating the activation code for the computing device.

35. An activation control system, comprising:

a central service comprising;

an activation verifier for receiving a request from a computing device for an activation code for an application to run on the computing device; and

a mutual authentication service for mutually authenticating the computing device to the central service.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the activation code comprises a yes/no approval for running the application on the computing device.

37. The system of claim 35, further comprising a payment system for collecting payment for the application.

38. The system of claim 35, further comprising a storage device for storing subscriber information comprising at least a user identifier and an application associated with the user identifier.

39. The system of claim 35, wherein the subscriber information further comprises a time period for usage associated with the application.

40. The system of claim 35, wherein the central service is adapted to receive user identification information from the computing device and generate the activation code based upon the user identification information.