Confirming user rights of application program

• US 20070256134A1
• Filed: 04/07/2006
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tanla Oy (Tanla Solutions (UK) Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Tanla Oy (Tanla Solutions (UK) Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lehtonen, Arto, Hakala, Tuomas
• Application Number:
  US11/399,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20070256134A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3552 Downloading or loading of personalisation data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0886 the card reader being portable for interacting with a POS or ECR in realizing a payment transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

A method for confirming a licence for an application program downloadable into a terminal device, a software product implementing the method, and a terminal device. An application program without a confirmed licence is downloaded into a terminal device having a camera operationally connected thereto. In response to the activation of the application program, an application managing application program licences is also activated. On the terminal device display, at least one alternative for making a payment for the licence is presented to the user. When the user selects a payment card, an image file of the card is created. From the image file, payment card identifier data are determined and, in response to a successful determining of the identifier data, a licence is received from licence management functionality to confirm the right to use the application program in the terminal.

Claims

1. A method for confirming a licence for an application program downloadable into a terminal device, in which method at least one application program without a confirmed licence is downloaded into the terminal device, the terminal device, provided with a camera operationally connected thereto, being configured to set up a data transfer connection to a processing unit comprising licence management functionality, wherein

in response to the activation of the application program in the terminal device, an application managing application program licences is activated in the terminal device;

at least one alternative for making the payment for the licence is shown to the user on the display of the terminal device;

in response to the user choosing a payment card as the method of payment, an image file of the card to be used is created in the terminal device;

determining payment card identifier data from the image file; and

in response to a successful determining of the identifier data, the licence is received from the licence management functionality to confirm the right to use the application program in the terminal device.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising

transmitting the image file to the processing unit over said connection.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising

determining the payment card identifier data from the image file in the terminal device;

and

transmitting the identifier data to the processing unit over said connection.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising

transmitting to the processing unit at least one of the following data:

an application program identifier;

an identifier of the terminal device;

a user identifier of a subscriber connection;

a request for a licence.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising

determining the identifier data of the payment card from the image file by means of optical character recognition.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising

downloading the application program into the terminal device;

and

allowing the application program to be activated in response to the payment for the licence fee of the application program having been settled with the payment card.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising

requesting the user of the terminal device to enter the payment card password into the terminal device;

creating a password file from the password; and

transmitting the password file to the processing unit over the connection.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising

requesting the user of the terminal device to enter the password of the payment card into the terminal device;

creating a password file from the password;

determining the identifier data from the image file and password file in the terminal device; and

transmitting the identifier data to the processing unit over said connection.

9. A computer software product for confirming a licence for an application program downloadable into a terminal device, the computer software product being configured to be executed in the terminal device, which has a camera operationally connected thereto, the computer software product comprising a program code for downloading into the terminal device at least one application program without a confirmed licence, which computer software product is configured to set up a data transfer connection to a processing unit comprising licence management functionality,

wherein the computer software product comprises:

a program code for activating the application managing application program licences in the terminal device;

a program code for displaying to the user at least one alternative for making the payment for the licence;

a program code for creating an image file from a payment card to be used; and

a program code for receiving the licence from the licence management functionality, the licence code confirming the right to use the application program in the terminal device.

10. A computer software product according to claim 9,

wherein the computer software product comprises

a program code for transmitting the image file to the processing unit over said connection.

11. A computer software product according to claim 9,

wherein the computer software product comprises

a program code for determining the payment card identifier data from the image file;

and

a program code for transmitting the identifier data to the processing unit over said connection.

12. A computer software product according to claim 9,

wherein the computer software product comprises

a program code for transmitting to the processing unit at least one of the following data:

an application program identifier;

an identifier of the terminal device;

a user identifier of the subscriber connection;

a request for a licence.

13. A computer software product according to claim 9,

wherein the computer software product comprises

a program code for determining the identifier data from the image file by means of optical character recognition.

14. A computer software product according to claim 9,

wherein the computer software product comprises:

a program code for downloading the application program; and

a program code for activating the application program in response to the payment of the application program licence fee by means of the payment card.

15. A terminal device configured to received at least one application program without a confirmed licence, the terminal device having a camera operationally connected thereto and the terminal device being configured to set up a data transfer connection to a processing unit comprising licence management functionality,

wherein the terminal device comprises:

means for activating the application managing application program licences in the terminal;

means for presenting to the user at least one alternative for making the payment for the licence;

means for creating an image file of the payment card to be used; and

means for receiving a licence from the licence management functionality, the licence confirming the right to use the application program in the terminal device.

16. A terminal device according to claim 15,

wherein the terminal device comprises

means for transmitting the image file to the processing unit over the data transfer connection.

17. A terminal device according to claim 15,

wherein the terminal device comprises:

means for determining the payment card identifier data from the image file; and

means for transmitting the identifier data to the processing unit over said connection.

18. A terminal device according to claim 15,

wherein the terminal device comprises:

means for transmitting to the processing unit at least one of the following data;

an application program identifier;

an identifier of the terminal device;

a user identifier of a subscriber connection;

a request for a licence.

19. A terminal device according to claim 15,

wherein the terminal device comprises

means for determining the identifier data from the image file by means of optical character recognition.

20. A terminal device according to claim 15,

wherein the terminal device comprises:

means for downloading the application program; and

means for activating the application program.