System and Method for Software Activation Through Digital Media Fingerprinting

• US 20100325200A1
• Filed: 06/02/2010
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Uniloc Luxembourg S.à r.l. (f/k/a Uniloc Luxembourg S.A.) (Uniloc Corporation Pty. Limited)
• Original Assignee: Uniloc Luxembourg S.à r.l. (f/k/a Uniloc Luxembourg S.A.) (Uniloc Corporation Pty. Limited)
• Inventors: Etchegoyen, Craig Stephen
• Application Number:
  US12/792,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20100325200A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/101 by binding digital rights to specific entities
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00094 involving measures which result in a restriction to authorised record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00115 wherein the record carrier stores a unique medium identifier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00123 the record carrier being identified by recognising some of its unique characteristics, e.g. a unique defect pattern serving as a physical signature of the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0021 involving encryption or decryption of contents recorded on or reproduced from a record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00862 wherein the remote server can grant the permission to use a content
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00927 wherein said defects or errors are generated on purpose, e.g. intended scratches
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2537 Optical discs

Abstract

A system for activating the use of software on a computing device comprises an activation server configured so that in response to a communication link being available between the activation server and the computing device, the activation server (1) receives from the computing device, via the communication link, an activation request including (a) a software identifier identifying the software, (b) a device identifier identifying the computing device, and (c) a digital media identifier identifying a digital media, wherein the software is delivered to a user on the digital media, (2) accesses a database storing known software identifiers, device identifiers, and digital media identifiers, (3) determines an activation instruction through a comparison between the activation request and known software identifiers, device identifiers, and digital media identifiers, and (4) sends the activation instruction to the computing device. A related method for activating the use of software is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for activating the use of software on a computing device, comprising:

an activation server configured so that, in response to a communication link being available between the activation server and the computing device, the activation server;

receives from the computing device, via the communication link, an activation request including (a) a software identifier identifying the software, (b) a device identifier identifying the computing device, and (c) a digital media identifier identifying a digital media, wherein the software is delivered to a user on the digital media for installation on the computing device;

accesses a database storing known software identifiers, device identifiers, and digital media identifiers;

determines an activation instruction from a comparison between the activation request and known software identifiers, device identifiers, and digital media identifiers; and

sends the activation instruction to the computing device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital media identifier is derived from a damage map of the digital media.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the damage map is derived from, at least in part, intentional damage to the digital media prior to delivery to the user.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the damage map is derived from, at least in part, manufacturing defects in the digital media.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the digital media comprises optical media and wherein the damage map is derived from, at least in part, damage to an external surface of the optical media.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the damage map is derived from, at least in part, damage to a data layer of the optical media.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the damage map is derived from, at least in part, read irregularities resulting from interaction between the digital media and a media reader.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the comparison includes applying a probabilistic model to the known digital media identifiers.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the activation instruction includes an activation allowance.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the activation server is further configured to update the database to reflect the activation request and the resulting activation instruction.

11. A method for activating the use of software on a computing device, the method comprising:

establishing a communication link between an activation server and the computing device;

receiving at the activation server from the computing device, via the communication link, an activation request including (a) a software identifier identifying the software, (b) a device identifier identifying the computing device, and (c) a digital media identifier identifying a digital media, wherein the software is delivered to a user on the digital media for installation on the computing device;

accessing a database storing known software identifiers, device identifiers, and digital media identifiers;

determining an activation instruction from a comparison between the activation request and known software identifiers, device identifiers, and digital media identifiers; and

sending the activation instruction to the computing device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the digital media identifier is derived from a damage map of the digital media.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the damage map is derived from, at least in part, intentional damage to the digital media prior to delivery to the user.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the damage map is derived from, at least in part, manufacturing defects in the digital media.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the digital media comprises optical media and wherein the damage map is derived from, at least in part, damage to an external surface of the optical media.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the damage map is derived from, at least in part, damage to a data layer of the optical media.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the damage map is derived from, at least in part, read irregularities resulting from interaction between the digital media and a media reader.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the comparison includes applying a probabilistic model to the known digital media identifiers.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the activation instruction includes an activation allowance.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the activation server is further configured to update the database to reflect the activation request and the resulting activation instruction.