Software rental system and method

• US 20080004886A1
• Filed: 06/28/2006
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Business Software Centre Limited
• Original Assignee: The Business Software Centre Limited
• Inventors: Thornewill, John, Hames, Phil
• Application Number:
  US11/476,217
• Publication Number:
  US 20080004886A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1077 Recurrent authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions

Abstract

A software rental system is described for controlling the use of rented software on a user'"'"'s computer. On the user'"'"'s computer a control module uses stored access control parameters obtained from a server over a network to control software programs. The access control parameters are obtained and periodically updated from the server.

Claims

1. A software rental system for controlling the use of rented software on a computer, the system comprising:

control means for storing access control parameters, said control means being adapted to obtain and periodically update said access control parameters from a server over a network according to user payment parameters at said server, for each of a plurality of software programs;

wherein said control means is adapted to interact with each said software program to control each said software program in accordance with respective said access control parameters.

2. A software rental system according to claim 1, wherein said access control parameters include an expiry date based on a most recent user payment for each said computer program, and said control means is adapted to detect when a current date has passed any said expiry date but not a grace period and generate a warning to said user.

3. A software rental system according to claim 2, wherein said control means is adapted to, when the current date has passed any said expiry date and exceeded said grace period, deactivate any of said software program for which the expiry date and grace period has passed, and generate a warning to said user to reactivate said any software program.

4. A software rental system according to claim 1, wherein said control means is adapted to download said software programs from said server in accordance with said user payment parameters.

5. A software rental system according to claim 4, wherein said control means is adapted to detect updated versions of said software programs at said server and to automatically download said updated versions.

6. A software rental system according to claim 4, including a user interface adapted to allow a user to select to install said software programs downloaded by said control means.

7. A software rental system according to claim 6, wherein said user interface is adapted to allow a user to select any said software program for which rental payments have been made according to said access control parameters, to detect whether a selected software program is installed on said computer, and to run said selected software program if it is installed, or install said software program if it is not installed.

8. A software rental system according to claim 6, wherein said user interface is adapted to allow a user to access said server to modify said user payment parameters.

9. A software rental system according to claim 6, wherein said user interface is adapted to allow a user to access said server to request additional software programs to be downloaded to said computer.

10. A software rental system according to claim 1, wherein said control means comprises a control module and interface code for interfacing to said software programs.

11. A software rental system according to claim 10, wherein said control module comprises control hardware.

12. A software rental system according to claim 10, wherein said control module comprises control software.

13. A software rental system according to claim 10, wherein said interface code comprises interface code specific to each said software program.

14. A software rental system according to claim 13, wherein said interface code comprises code for execution in place of and before each said software program.

15. A software rental system according to claim 10, wherein interface code comprises code for monitoring all said software applications and for killing any said software program when said access control parameters indicate that a user does not have permission to use said software program.

16. A software rental system according to claim 1, including monitoring means for monitoring usage of said software programs and for storing usage data, wherein said control means is adapted to communicate said usage data to said server.

17. A software rental method for controlling the use of rented software on a computer, the method comprising:

obtain and periodically update access control parameters from a server over a network according to user payment parameters at said server, for each of a plurality of software programs; and

interacting with each said software program to control each said software program in accordance with respective said access control parameters.

18. A software rental method according to claim 17, wherein said access control parameters include an expiry date based on a most recent user payment for each said computer program, detecting when a current date has passed any said expiry date but not a grace period, and generating a warning to said user.

19. A software rental method according to claim 18, wherein, when the current date has passed any said expiry date and exceeded said grace period, any of said software program for which the expiry date and grace period has passed are deactivated, and a warning is generated to said user to reactivate said any software program.

20. A software rental method according to claim 17, including download said software programs from said server in accordance with said user payment parameters.

21. A software rental method according to claim 20, including detecting updated versions of said software programs at said server and automatically downloading said updated versions.

22. A software rental method according to claim 20, including receiving a user selection to install said software programs downloaded by said control means.

23. A software rental method according to claim 22, including receiving a user selection of any said software program for which rental payments have been made according to said access control parameters, detecting whether a selected software program is installed on said computer, and running said selected software program if it is installed, or installing said software program if it is not installed.

24. A software rental method according to claim 22, including receiving a user request to access said server to modify said user payment parameters, and transmitting said request to said server.

25. A software rental method according to claim 22, including receiving a user request to access said server to request additional software programs to be downloaded to said computer, and transmitting said request to said server.

26. A software rental method according to claim 17, including monitoring usage of said software programs, storing usage data, and communicating said usage data to said server.

27. A carrier medium carrying computer readable code for controlling a computer to carry out the method of claim 17.

29. A software rental system according to claim 27, including control program storage means for storing a control program for controlling said selected software programs on said user'"'"'s computer in dependence upon said user payment parameters, wherein said communication means is adapted to transmit said control program to said user'"'"'s computer a first time the user inputs user payment information.

31. A software rental system according to claim 27, including payment update means for updating said user payment parameters based on user payment history, and said communication means is adapted to communicate said user payment parameters to said user'"'"'s computer in response to periodic requests from said user'"'"'s computer.

28. A software rental system for allowing a user to rent software for use on a computer, the system comprising:

selection means for selecting a plurality of software programs for rental from a library of software programs;

software storage means for storing said software programs;

input means for inputting user payment information for said selected software programs;

parameter storage means for storing said user payment information as user payment parameters;

communication means for communicating with a user'"'"'s computer to transmit said selected software programs and said user payment parameters to said user'"'"'s computer for the control of said selected software programs.

30. A software rental system according to claim 28, wherein said control program storage means is adapted to store an updated version of said control program and said communication means is adapted to transmit said updated version of said control program to said user'"'"'s computer.

32. A software rental method for allowing a user to rent software for use on a computer, the method comprising:

receiving a user selection of a plurality software programs for rental from a library of software programs;

receiving a user input user payment information for said selected software programs;

storing said user payment information as user payment parameters;

communicating with a user'"'"'s computer to transmit said selected software programs and said user payment parameters to said user'"'"'s computer for the control of said selected software applications.

33. A software rental method according to claim 32, including storing a control program for controlling said selected software programs on said user'"'"'s computer in dependence upon said user payment parameters, and transmitting said control program to said user'"'"'s computer a first time the user inputs user payment information.

34. A software rental method according to claim 33, including storing an updated version of said control program and to transmitting said updated version of said control program to said user'"'"'s computer.

35. A software rental method according to claim 32, including updating said user payment parameters based on user payment history, and communicating said user payment parameters to said user'"'"'s computer in response to periodic requests from said user'"'"'s computer.

36. A carrier medium carrying computer readable code for controlling a computer to carry out the method of claim 32.

37. A method of renting software comprising:

receiving a rental request;

providing software to a user;

receiving regular payments for the rented software; and

if payment is not received at any regular point in time, deactivating said provided software.

38. A method according to 37, including automatically providing updated version of said software to said user while regular payments are received.

39. A method of renting software comprising:

receiving a rental request;

providing software to a user;

monitoring use of said software;

comparing use of said software with said rental request; and

if the monitored use exceeds said rental request, deactivating said software.

40. A method according to claim 39, including informing the user that their rental request has been exceeded before said deactivation step, and if an additional rental payment is received, updating said rental request, re-comparing use of said software with said updated rental request, and only deactivating said software if the monitored use exceeds said updated rental request.