Method for purchasing a software license over a public network

• US 20060085356A1
• Filed: 12/07/2005
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1996
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GraphOn Corporation
• Original Assignee: GraphOn Corporation
• Inventors: Coley, Christopher D., Wesinger, Ralph E. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US11/297,208
• Publication Number:
  US 20060085356A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/59
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/105 Arrangements for software license management or administration, e.g. for managing licenses at corporate level
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/121 Restricting unauthorised execution of programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/602 Providing cryptographic facilities or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2135 Metering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/56 Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 applying security measures for digital rights management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/062 for key distribution, e.g. centrally by trusted party cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving a central third party H04L9/0819
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0838 Key agreement, i.e. key establishment technique in which a shared key is derived by parties as a function of information contributed by, or associated with, each of these network architectures or network communication protocols for key exchange in a packet data network H04L63/061
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/12 Transmitting and receiving encryption devices synchronised or initially set up in a particular manner
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3297 involving time stamps, e.g. generation of time stamps

Abstract

Method and apparatus are disclosed for facilitating the purchase of a software license over a public network. In one disclosed embodiment, a license server may receive a license validity inquiry request from a client module over public network. The inquiry request may contain information regarding a client software application associated with the client module. Responsive to the inquiry request, the license server may initiate a license purchase session to facilitate the purchase of a license for the client software application. The server may then process credit card information received from the user for the purchase of a license. The server may then form a response message containing an indication therein enabling the client software application for use responsive to a successful license purchase session. The response message may then be sent to the client module over public network.

Claims

1. A method for purchasing a software license over a public network comprising:

receiving a license validity inquiry request from a client module over public network, the inquiry request containing information regarding a client software application associated with the client module;

initiating a license purchase session to facilitate the purchase of a license for the client software application;

processing credit card information received from the user;

responsive to a successful license purchase session, forming a response message containing an indication therein enabling said client software application for use; and

sending said response message to said client module over said public network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the act of alternatively forming a response message containing an indication therein not enabling said client software application for use if said license purchase session fails.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the act of adjusting the price of said license according to the features desired to be enabled.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the act of updating a database to indicate that a valid license has been purchased.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the act of updating said database to include the IP address of the machine upon which purchased client software application is operating.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the act of utilizing said IP address to facilitate the determination of whether a valid license exists.

7. An apparatus for determining whether a client software application is licensed comprising:

means for receiving a license validity inquiry request from a client module over public network, the inquiry request containing information regarding a client software application associated with the client module;

means for initiating a license purchase session to facilitate the purchase of a license for the client software application;

means for processing credit card information received from the user;

means for forming a response message containing an indication therein enabling said client software application for use responsive to a successful license purchase session; and

means for sending said response message to said client module over said public network.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising means for alternatively forming a response message containing an indication therein not enabling said client software application for use if said license purchase session fails.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising means for adjusting the price of said client software application according to the features desired to be enabled.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising means for updating said database to indicate that a valid license has been purchased.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising means for updating said database to include the IP address of the machine upon which purchased client software application is operating.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising means for utilizing said IP address to facilitate the determination of whether a valid license exists.

13. A computer-readable device containing a set of instructions for causing a computer to perform a method for purchasing a software license over a public network, the method comprising:

receiving a license validity inquiry request from a client module over public network, the inquiry request containing information regarding a client software application associated with the client module;

initiating a license purchase session to facilitate the purchase of a license for the client software application;

processing credit card information received from the user;

responsive to a successful license purchase session, forming a response message containing an indication therein enabling said client software application for use; and

sending said response message to said client module over said public network.

14. The device of claim 13, the method further comprising the act of alternatively forming a response message containing an indication therein not enabling said client software application for use if said license purchase session fails.

15. The device of claim 13, the method further comprising the act of adjusting the price of said license according to the features desired to be enabled.

16. The device of claim 15, the method further comprising the act of updating a database to indicate that a valid license has been purchased.

17. The device of claim 16, the method further comprising the act of updating said database to include the IP address of the machine upon which purchased client software application is operating.

18. The device of claim 17, the method further comprising the act of utilizing said IP address to facilitate the determination of whether a valid license exists.