Method and apparatus for client customization by executing software parts on plural servers

• US 20060167801A1
• Filed: 03/31/2003
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1994
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ContentGuard Holdings, Inc. (Pendrell Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ContentGuard Holdings, Inc. (Pendrell Corporation)
• Inventors: Pirolli, Peter L. T., Stefik, Mark J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,970,709 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/51
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/301 for introducing or steering flexible instruments inserted into the body, e.g. catheters or endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/031 torque limiting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/376 using X-rays, e.g. fluoroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/37 Master-slave robots A61B34/35 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0113 Mechanical advancing means, e.g. catheter dispensers
• 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 2211/007 Encryption, En-/decode, En-/decipher, En-/decypher, Scramble, (De-)compress
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2115 Third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2135 Metering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0185 Product, service or business identity fraud
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 : Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 : Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/184 : Intellectual property management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 : Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1403 : Architecture for metering, charging or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/146 : using digital cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1485 : Tariff-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1496 : involving discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/56 : Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/603 : Digital right managament [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 : applying security measures for digital rights management data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for commerce, e.g. marketing, shopping, billing, auctions or e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 : Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 : Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 : wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0442 : wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply asymmetric encryption, i.e. different keys for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for public-key encryption H04L9/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0464 : using hop-by-hop encryption, i.e. wherein an intermediate entity decrypts the information and re-encrypts it before forwarding it
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0807 : using tickets, e.g. Kerberos cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using tickets or tokens H04L9/3213
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 : using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 : for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 : Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 : Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 : Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/123 : received data contents, e.g. message integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3213 : using tickets or tokens, e.g. Kerberos network architectures or network communication protocols for entities authentication using tickets in a packet data network H04L63/0807
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3297 : involving time stamps, e.g. generation of time stamps
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23412 : for generating or manipulating the scene composition of objects, e.g. MPEG-4 objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 : Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 : Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26613 : for generating or managing keys in general key distribution for secret or secure communication involving central third party, e.g. key distribution center [KDC] or trusted third party [TTP] H04L9/083; network support of key management H04L63/06; key management for network security in communication control or processing H04W12/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 : Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6332 : directed to client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 : directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/835 : Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 : involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/83555 : using a structured language for describing usage rules of the content, e.g. REL
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 : Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 : Privileged access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 : Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A client computer requests plural program parts from various servers. The plural parts are authorized in accordance with usage rights and combined to create a new computer program. The parts can be executed as the new computer program on the servers, on the client, or on both the servers and the client.

Claims

1. In a computer system, a method for configuring software for a client computer coupled to plural servers, said method comprising:

transmitting a request for a first computer program part from the client computer to a first server, the first computer program having first usage rights associated therewith, the first usage rights specifying a particular manner of use for the first computer program part;

authorizing the client computer for the first computer program part in accordance with the first usage rights;

transmitting a request for a second computer program part from the client computer to a second server, the second computer program part having second usage rights associated therewith, the second usage rights specifying a particular manner of use for the second computer program part;

authorizing the client computer for the second computer program part in accordance with the second usage rights;

creating a new computer program for execution by combining the first computer program part and the second computer program part; and

executing the new computer program in accordance with new usage rights specifying a particular manner of use for the new computer program by executing the first computer program part on the first server and executing the second computer program part on the second server.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said authorizing steps further comprise authorizing a first set of next usage rights associated with the first computer program part and authorizing a second set of next usage rights associated with the second computer program part to obtain the new usage rights

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said authorizing steps comprise authorizing the first usage rights associated with the first computer program part and authorizing the second set of usage rights associated with the second computer program part to obtain the new usage rights.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first computer part is part of a first computer program.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein said authorizing step comprises extracting the first computer program part from the first computer program.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the client computer, the first server, and the second server each comprise a repository and wherein said authorizing steps are accomplished by a master repository.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said usage rights are constructed with a usage rights language.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said requesting steps and said authorizing steps comprise transactions between the client computer and the servers.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said a authorizing steps comprise a copy transaction.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said authorizing steps comprise an install transaction.

11. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said authorizing steps comprise an extract transaction.

12. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said creating step comprises an embed transaction.

13. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said authorizing steps comprise a transfer transaction.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising accomplishing financial transactions relating to the authorizing steps and the creating steps.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein said accomplishing step comprises accomplishing the financial transactions with at least one of a credit server and clearinghouse.

16. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first computer program part comprises sub parts having usage rights associated therewith.

17. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first computer program part comprises a security authorization part.

18. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said client computer and said servers each comprise a repository and said method further comprising the step of enforcing security of communications between the repositories.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein said enforcing step comprises passing identification certificates between the repositories.

20. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said usage rights are created using a grammar to express information relating to at least one of conditions, rights, and parameters.

21. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said new computer program comprises educational material.

22. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the new computer program comprises research material.

23. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the manner of use specified by the first usage rights is reuse of at least a portion of the first computer program part.

24. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first usage rights are stored on the same device as the first computer program part.

25. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first usage rights are stored on a different device than the first computer program part.

26. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the transactions comprise session initiation transactions.

27. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the transactions comprise billing transactions.

28. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising accomplishing a billing transaction based on use of the first computer program part.

29. A computer system for configuring software on a client computer coupled to plural servers, said computer system comprising:

first means for transmitting a request for a first computer program part from the client computer to a first server, the first computer program having first usage rights associated therewith, the first usage rights specifying a particular manner of use for the first computer program part;

first means for authorizing the client computer for the first computer program part in accordance with the first usage rights;

second means for transmitting a request for a second computer program part from the client computer to a second server, the second computer program part having second usage rights associated therewith, the second usage rights specifying a particular manner of use for the second computer program part;

second means for authorizing the client computer for the second computer program part in accordance with the second usage rights;

means for creating a new computer program for execution by combining the first computer program part and the second computer program part; and

means for executing the new computer program in accordance with new usage rights specifying a particular manner of use for the new computer program by executing the first computer program part on the first server and executing the second computer program part on the second server.

30. The system as recited in claim 29, wherein said means for authorizing further comprises means for authorizing a first set of next usage rights associated with the first computer program part and for authorizing a second set of next usage rights associated with the second computer program part to obtain the new usage rights

31. The system as recited in claim 29, wherein said means for authorizing comprises means for authorizing the first usage rights associated with the first computer program part and authorizing the second set of usage rights associated with the second computer program part to obtain the new usage rights.

32. The system as recited in claim 29 wherein said first computer program part is part of a first computer program.

33. The system as recited in claim 32, wherein said means for authorizing comprises means for extracting the first computer program part from the first computer program.

34. The system as recited in claim 29, wherein the client computer, the first server, and the second server each comprise a repository and wherein said means for authorizing comprises a master repository.

35. The system as recited in claim 29, wherein said usage rights are constructed with a usage rights language.

36. The system as recited in claim 29, wherein said means for requesting and said means for authorizing comprise means for accomplishing transactions between the client computer and the servers.

37. The system as recited in claim 36, wherein the transactions comprise a copy transaction.

38. The system as recited in claim 36, wherein the transactions comprise an install transaction.

39. The system as recited in claim 36, wherein the transactions comprise an extract transaction.

40. The system as recited in claim 36, wherein said means for creating comprises means for accomplishing an embed transaction.

41. The system as recited in claim 36, wherein said means for authorizing comprise means for accomplishing a transfer transaction.

42. The system as recited in claim 29, further comprising means for accomplishing financial transactions relating to the operation of said means for authorizing and said means for creating steps.

43. The system as recited in claim 42, wherein said means for accomplishing comprises means for accomplishing the financial transactions with at least one of a credit server and clearinghouse.

44. The system as recited in claim 29, wherein said first computer program part comprises sub parts having usage rights associated therewith.

45. The system as recited in claim 29 wherein said first computer program part comprises a security authorization part.

46. The system as recited in claim 29, wherein said client computer and said servers each comprise a repository and said system further comprising means for enforcing security of communications between said repositories.

47. The system as recited in claim 46, wherein said means for enforcing comprises means for passing identification certificates between the repositories.

48. The system as recited in claim 29, wherein said usage rights are created using a grammar to express information relating to at least one of conditions, rights, and parameters.

49. The system as recited in claim 29, wherein said new computer program comprises educational material.

50. The system as recited in claim 29, wherein the new computer program comprises research material.

51. The system as recited in claim 29, wherein the manner of use specified by the first usage rights is reuse of at least a portion of the first computer program part.

52. The system as recited in claim 29, wherein the first usage rights are stored on the same device as the first computer program part.

53. The system as recited in claim 29, wherein the first usage rights are stored on a different device than the first computer program part.

54. The system as recited in claim 36, wherein the transactions comprise session initiation transactions.

55. The system as recited in claim 36, wherein the transactions comprise billing transactions.

56. The system as recited in claim 29, further comprising means for accomplishing a billing transaction based on use of the first computer program part.

57. In a computer system, a method for configuring software for a client computer coupled to plural servers, said method comprising:

transmitting a request for a first computer program part from the client computer to a first server, the first computer program having first usage rights associated therewith, the first usage rights specifying a particular manner of use for the first computer program part;

authorizing the client computer for the first computer program part in accordance with the first usage rights;

transmitting a request for a second computer program part from the client computer to a second server, the second computer program part having second usage rights associated therewith, the second usage rights specifying a particular manner of use for the second computer program part;

authorizing the client computer for the second computer program part in accordance with the second usage rights;

creating a new computer program for execution by combining the first computer program part and the second computer program part; and

executing the new computer program with an execution engine in accordance with new usage rights specifying a particular manner of use for the new computer program.

58. The method as recited in claim 57, wherein said first authorizing step comprises transferring the first computer program part to the client computer and said second authorizing step comprises transferring the second computer program part to the client computer, and wherein said executing step comprises executing the new computer program with an execution engine of the client computer.

59. The method as recited in claim 57, wherein said first authorizing step comprises transferring the first computer program part to a device separate from the client computer and said second authorizing step comprises transferring the second computer program part to the device separate from the client computer, and wherein said executing step comprises executing the new computer program with an execution engine of the device separate from the client computer.

60. The method as recited in claim 57, wherein said second authorizing step comprises transferring the second computer program part to the client computer, and wherein said executing step comprises executing the first computer program part on the first server and the second computer program part on the client computer.

61. The method as recited in claim 57, wherein said authorizing steps further comprise authorizing a first set of next usage rights associated with the first computer program part and authorizing a second set of next usage rights associated with the second computer program part to obtain the new usage rights

62. The method as recited in claim 57, wherein said authorizing steps comprise authorizing the first usage rights associated with the first computer program part and authorizing the second set of usage rights associated with the second computer program part to obtain the new usage rights.

63. The method as recited in claim 57, wherein said first computer part is part of a first computer program.

64. The method as recited in claim 61, wherein said authorizing step comprises extracting the first computer program part from the first computer program.

65. The method as recited in claim 57, wherein the client computer, the first server, and the second server each comprise a repository and wherein said authorizing steps are accomplished by a master repository.

66. The method as recited in claim 57, wherein said usage rights are constructed with a usage rights language.

67. The method as recited in claim 57, wherein said requesting steps and said authorizing steps comprise transactions between the client computer and the servers.

68. The method as recited in claim 67, wherein said a authorizing steps comprise a copy transaction.

69. The method as recited in claim 67, wherein said authorizing steps comprise an install transaction.

70. The method as recited in claim 67, wherein said authorizing steps comprise an extract transaction.

71. The method as recited in claim 67, wherein said creating step comprises an embed transaction.

72. The method as recited in claim 67, wherein said authorizing steps comprise a transfer transaction.

73. The method as recited in claim 57, further comprising accomplishing financial transactions relating to the authorizing steps and the creating steps.

74. The method as recited in claim 73, wherein said accomplishing step comprises accomplishing the financial transactions with at least one of a credit server and clearinghouse.

75. The method as recited in claim 57, wherein said first computer program part comprises sub parts having usage rights associated therewith.

76. The method as recited in claim 57, wherein said first computer program part comprises a security authorization part.

77. The method as recited in claim 57, wherein said client computer and said servers each comprise a repository and said method further comprising the step of enforcing security of communications between the repositories.

78. The method as recited in claim 74, wherein said enforcing step comprises passing identification certificates between the repositories.

79. The method as recited in claim 57, wherein said usage rights are created using a grammar to express information relating to at least one of conditions, rights, and parameters.

80. The method as recited in claim 57, wherein said new computer program comprises educational material.

81. The method as recited in claim 57, wherein the new computer program comprises research material.

82. The method as recited in claim 57, wherein the manner of use specified by the first usage rights is reuse of at least a portion of the first computer program part.

83. The method as recited in claim 57, wherein the first usage rights are stored on the same device as the first computer program part.

84. The method as recited in claim 57, wherein the first usage rights are stored on a different device than the first computer program part.

85. The method as recited in claim 67, wherein the transactions comprise session initiation transactions.

86. The method as recited in claim 67, wherein the transactions comprise billing transactions.

87. The method as recited in claim 67, further comprising accomplishing a billing transaction based on use of the first computer program part.

88. A computer system for configuring software for a client computer coupled to plural servers, said method comprising:

first means for transmitting a request for a first computer program part from the client computer to a first server, the first computer program having first usage rights associated therewith, the first usage rights specifying a particular manner of use for the first computer program part;

first means for authorizing the client computer for the first computer program part in accordance with the first usage rights;

second means for transmitting a request for a second computer program part from the client computer to a second server, the second computer program part having second usage rights associated therewith, the second usage rights specifying a particular manner of use for the second computer program part;

second means for authorizing the client computer for the second computer program part in accordance with the second usage rights;

means for creating a new computer program for execution by combining the first computer program part and the second computer program part; and

means for executing the new computer program in accordance with new usage rights specifying a particular manner of use for the new computer program.

89. The system as recited in claim 88, wherein said first means for authorizing comprises means for transferring the first computer program part to the client computer and said second means for authorizing comprises means for transferring the second computer program part to the client computer, and wherein said means for executing comprises an execution engine of the client computer.

90. The system as recited in claim 88, wherein said first means for authorizing comprises means for transferring the first computer program part to a device separate from the client computer and said second means for authorizing comprises means for transferring the second computer program part to the device separate from the client computer, and wherein said means for executing comprises an execution engine of the device separate from the client computer.

91. The system as recited in claim 88, wherein said second means for authorizing comprises means transferring the second computer program part to the client computer, and wherein said means for executing comprises means for executing the first computer program part on the first server and the second computer program part on the client computer.

92. The system as recited in claim 88, wherein said means for authorizing comprise means for authorizing a first set of next usage rights associated with the first computer program part and authorizing a second set of next usage rights associated with the second computer program part to obtain the new usage rights

93. The system as recited in claim 88, wherein said means for authorizing comprise means for authorizing the first usage rights associated with the first computer program part and authorizing the second set of usage rights associated with the second computer program part to obtain the new usage rights.

94. The system as recited in claim 88, wherein said first computer part is part of a first computer program.

95. The system as recited in claim 94, wherein said first means for authorizing comprises means for extracting the first computer program part from the first computer program.

96. The system as recited in claim 88, wherein the client computer, the first server, and the second server each comprise a repository and wherein said means for authorizing comprises a master repository.

97. The system as recited in claim 88, wherein the usage rights are constructed with a usage rights language.

98. The system as recited in claim 88, wherein said means for requesting and said means for authorizing comprise means for accomplishing transactions between the client computer and the servers.

99. The system as recited in claim 98, wherein said means for authorizing comprise means for accomplishing a copy transaction.

100. The system as recited in claim 98, wherein said means for authorizing comprise means for accomplishing an install transaction.

101. The system as recited in claim 98, wherein said means for authorizing comprise means for accomplishing an extract transaction.

102. The system as recited in claim 98, wherein said means for creating comprises means for accomplishing an embed transaction.

103. The system as recited in claim 98, wherein said means for authorizing means for accomplishing comprise a transfer transaction.

104. The system as recited in claim 88, further comprising means for accomplishing financial transactions relating to the operation of said means for authorizing and the operation of said means for creating steps.

105. The system as recited in claim 104, wherein said means for accomplishing comprises means for accomplishing the financial transactions with at least one of a credit server and clearinghouse.

106. The system as recited in claim 88, wherein said first computer program part comprises sub parts having usage rights associated therewith.

107. The system as recited in claim 88, wherein said first computer program part comprises a security authorization part.

108. The system as recited in claim 88, wherein said client computer and said servers each comprise a repository and said system further comprises means for enforcing security of communications between the repositories.

109. The system as recited in claim 108, wherein said means for enforcing comprises means for passing identification certificates between the repositories.

110. The system as recited in claim 88, wherein said usage rights are created using a grammar to express information relating to at least one of conditions, rights, and parameters.

111. The system as recited in claim 88, wherein said new computer program comprises educational material.

112. The system as recited in claim 88, wherein the new computer program comprises research material.

113. The system as recited in claim 88, wherein the manner of use specified by the first usage rights is reuse of at least a portion of the first computer program part.

114. The system as recited in claim 88, wherein the first usage rights are stored on the same device as the first computer program part.

115. The system as recited in claim 88, wherein the first usage rights are stored on a different device than the first computer program part.

116. The system as recited in claim 98, wherein the transactions comprise session initiation transactions.

117. The system as recited in claim 98, wherein the transactions comprise billing transactions.

118. The system as recited in claim 98, further comprising means for accomplishing a billing transaction based on use of the first computer program part.

119. The system as recited in claim 98, wherein the first server and the second server are the same device.

120. In a computer system, a method for configuring software for a client computer having an existing computer program part, said client computer being coupled to at least one server, said method comprising:

transmitting a request for a first computer program part from the client computer to a server, the first computer program having first usage rights associated therewith, the first usage rights specifying a particular manner of use for the first computer program part;

authorizing the client computer for the first computer program part in accordance with the first usage rights;

creating a new computer program for execution by combining the first computer program part and the existing computer program part; and

executing the new computer program in accordance with new usage rights specifying a particular manner of use for the new computer program.

121. The method as recited in claim 120, wherein said authorizing step further comprises authorizing a first set of next usage rights associated with the first computer program part and authorizing a second set of next usage rights associated with the existing computer program part to obtain the new usage rights

122. The method as recited in claim 120, wherein said authorizing step comprises authorizing the first usage rights associated with the first computer program part and authorizing the second set of usage rights associated with the existing computer program part to obtain the new usage rights.

123. The method as recited in claim 120, wherein said first computer part is part of a first computer program.

124. The method as recited in claim 123, wherein said authorizing step comprises extracting the first computer program part from the first computer program.

125. The method as recited in claim 120, wherein the client computer and the server each comprise a repository and wherein said authorizing step is accomplished by a master repository.

126. The method as recited in claim 120, wherein said usage rights are constructed with a usage rights language.

127. The method as recited in claim 120, wherein said requesting step and said authorizing step comprise transactions between the client computer and the server.

128. The method as recited in claim 127, wherein said a authorizing step comprises a copy transaction.

129. The method as recited in claim 127, wherein said authorizing step comprises an install transaction.

130. The method as recited in claim 127, wherein said authorizing step comprises an extract transaction.

131. The method as recited in claim 127, wherein said creating step comprises an embed transaction.

132. The method as recited in claim 127, wherein said authorizing step comprises a transfer transaction.

133. The method as recited in claim 120, further comprising accomplishing financial transactions relating to the authorizing step and the creating step.

134. The method as recited in claim 133, wherein said accomplishing step comprises accomplishing the financial transactions with at least one of a credit server and clearinghouse.

135. The method as recited in claim 120, wherein said first computer program part comprises sub parts having usage rights associated therewith.

136. The method as recited in claim 120, wherein said first computer program part comprises a security authorization part.

137. The method as recited in claim 120, wherein the client computer and the server each comprise a repository and said method further comprising the step of enforcing security of communications between the repositories.

138. The method as recited in claim 137, wherein said enforcing step comprises passing identification certificates between the repositories.

139. The method as recited in claim 120, wherein said usage rights are created using a grammar to express information relating to at least one of conditions, rights, and parameters.

140. The method as recited in claim 120, wherein said new computer program comprises educational material.

141. The method as recited in claim 120, wherein the new computer program comprises research material.

142. The method as recited in claim 120, wherein the manner of use specified by the first usage rights is reuse of at least a portion of the first computer program part.

143. The method as recited in claim 120, wherein the first usage rights are stored on the same device as the first computer program part.

144. The method as recited in claim 120, wherein the first usage rights are stored on a different device than the first computer program part.

145. The method as recited in claim 127, wherein the transactions comprise session initiation transactions.

146. The method as recited in claim 127, wherein the transactions comprise billing transactions.

147. The method as recited in claim 120, further comprising accomplishing a billing transaction based on use of the first computer program part.

148. A computer system for configuring software on a client computer having an existing computer program part, said client computer being coupled to plural servers, said computer system comprising:

means for transmitting a request for a first computer program part from the client computer to a server, the first computer program having first usage rights associated therewith, the first usage rights specifying a particular manner of use for the first computer program part;

means for authorizing the client computer for the first computer program part in accordance with the first usage rights;

means for creating a new computer program for execution by combining the first computer program part and the existing computer program part; and

means for executing the new computer program in accordance with new usage rights specifying a particular manner of use for the new computer program.

149. The system as recited in claim 148, wherein said means for authorizing further comprises means for authorizing a first set of next usage rights associated with the first computer program part and for authorizing a second set of next usage rights associated with the existing computer program part to obtain the new usage rights

150. The system as recited in claim 148, wherein said means for authorizing comprises means for authorizing the first usage rights associated with the first computer program part and authorizing the second set of usage rights associated with the existing computer program part to obtain the new usage rights.

151. The system as recited in claim 148 wherein said first computer program part is part of a first computer program.

152. The system as recited in claim 151, wherein said means for authorizing comprises means for extracting the first computer program part from the first computer program.

153. The system as recited in claim 148, wherein the client computer and the server each comprise a repository and wherein said means for authorizing comprises a master repository.

154. The system as recited in claim 148, wherein said usage rights are constructed with a usage rights language.

155. The system as recited in claim 148, wherein said means for requesting and said means for authorizing comprise means for accomplishing transactions between the client computer and the server.

156. The system as recited in claim 155, wherein the transactions comprise a copy transaction.

157. The system as recited in claim 155, wherein the transactions comprise an install transaction.

158. The system as recited in claim 155, wherein the transactions comprise an extract transaction.

159. The system as recited in claim 155, wherein said means for creating comprises means for accomplishing an embed transaction.

160. The system as recited in claim 148, wherein said means for authorizing comprise means for accomplishing a transfer transaction.

161. The system as recited in claim 148, further comprising means for accomplishing financial transactions relating to the operation of said means for authorizing and said means for creating steps.

162. The system as recited in claim 161, wherein said means for accomplishing comprises means for accomplishing the financial transactions with at least one of a credit server and clearinghouse.

163. The system as recited in claim 148, wherein said first computer program part comprises sub parts having usage rights associated therewith.

164. The system as recited in claim 148 wherein said first computer program part comprises a security authorization part.

165. The system as recited in claim 148, wherein said client computer and said server each comprise a repository and said system further comprising means for enforcing security of communications between said repositories.

166. The system as recited in claim 165, wherein said means for enforcing comprises means for passing identification certificates between the repositories.

167. The system as recited in claim 148, wherein said usage rights are created using a grammar to express information relating to at least one of conditions, rights, and parameters.

168. The system as recited in claim 148, wherein said new computer program comprises educational material.

169. The system as recited in claim 148, wherein the new computer program comprises research material.

170. The system as recited in claim 148, wherein the manner of use specified by the first usage rights is reuse of at least a portion of the first computer program part.

171. The system as recited in claim 148, wherein the first usage rights are stored on the same device as the first computer program part.

172. The system as recited in claim 148, wherein the first usage rights are stored on a different device than the first computer program part.

173. The system as recited in claim 155, wherein the transactions comprise session initiation transactions.

174. The system as recited in claim 155, wherein the transactions comprise billing transactions.

175. The system as recited in claim 148, further comprising means for accomplishing a billing transaction based on use of the first computer program part.

176. A computer system for configuring software on a client computer, said client computer being coupled to plural servers, said computer system comprising:

means for transmitting a request for a first computer program part from the client computer to a server, the first computer program having first usage rights associated therewith, the first usage rights specifying a particular manner of use for the first computer program part;

means for authorizing the client computer for the first computer program part in accordance with the first usage rights;

means for creating a new computer program for execution by combining the first computer program part with another computer program part; and

means for executing the new computer program in accordance with new usage rights specifying a particular manner of use for the new computer program.