System and method for censoring randomly generated character strings

• US 20060265278A1
• Filed: 05/18/2005
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Moon Glow, Series 82 of Allied Security Trust I (Allied Security Trust)
• Original Assignee: Napster LLC (MelodyVR Group Plc)
• Inventors: DiMeo, Matthew J.
• Application Number:
  US11/132,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20060265278A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.350
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date

Abstract

A method for generating a random string of characters can include the steps of determining a full character set. A full character set can include letters (both upper and lower case), digits, and other characters. Embodiments of a full character set are: the alphabet of one language, adding digits, and multiple alphabets. The method can reduce the full character set to a reduced character set. Reducing the full character set can include one or a number of steps, including removing at least one vowel from the full character set, removing at least one digit from the full character set, removing at least one letter from the full character set based on frequency of use, removing at least one digraph and/or. The random string of characters can be generated using the reduced character set. The random string of characters can be converted to a promotional code.

Claims

1. A method for generating a random string of characters, comprising the steps of:

determining a full character set;

reducing the full character set to a reduced character set; and

generating a random string of characters using the reduced character set.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the reducing steps comprises at least one of the steps of:

removing at least one vowel from the full character set;

removing at least one digit from the full character set;

removing at least one letter from the full character set based on frequency of use of the letter in a language based on the full character set;

removing at least one digraph from the full character set; and

removing at least one trigraph from the full character set.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the reducing step comprises the steps of:

removing all vowels from the full character set; and

removing at least one digit from the full character set.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the at least one digit is “

0” and

“

1”

.

5. A method for generating a promotional code, comprising the steps of:

receiving a request from a user for the promotional code;

generating a random string of characters using a reduced character set;

converting the random string of characters to the promotional code; and

providing the promotional code to the user.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of creating the reduced character set, comprising the steps of:

determining a full character set; and

reducing the full character set to the reduced character set by at least one of the steps of;

removing at least one vowel from the full character set;

removing at least one digit from the full character set;

removing at least one letter from the full character set based on frequency of use of the letter in a language based on the full character set;

removing at least one digraph from the full character set; and

removing at least one trigraph from the full character set.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of creating the reduced character set, comprising the steps of:

determining a full character set; and

reducing the full character set to the reduced character set by at least one of the steps of;

removing all vowels from the full character set; and

removing at least one digit from the full character set.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the at least one digit is “

0” and

“

1”

.

9. A method to set promotional code expiration, comprising the steps of:

generating a promotional code at a generation date;

setting a promotional expiration date for the promotional code;

tracking a use of the promotional code having a use expiration date; and

converting the use expiration date to the promotional expiration date.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the setting step comprises at least one of:

adding a fixed time to the generation date;

receiving an inputted time and adding the inputted time to the generation date; and

receiving the promotional expiration date from the user.