Protected programmable apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Improved apparatus including computer equipment;
- program material including a plurality of instructions, part of which is a prescribed display instruction;
said computer equipment being removably connectable to said program material;
said computer equipment when connected to said program material operating to produce signals in accordance with said instructions;
a display device responsive to said signals and producing displays in accordance therewith;
said prescribed display instruction causing said computer equipment to produce signals which if received by said display device would cause it to produce a particular display;
said computer equipment including means preventing said equipment from operating with program material not containing said prescribed display instruction, and wherein the improvement comprises a prescribed display instruction which produces a particular display including the phrase "This apparatus uses the invention of U.S. patent application entitled Protected Programmable Apparatus filed on Nov. 25, 1981 and any patent issuing thereon."
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus that discourages the use of computer equipment with software that is not approved for such use by the manufacturer of the computer equipment. This apparatus requires software to generate display producing signals but to produce them for a short enough period of time to be imperceptible. The display may be the identification of a patent or patent application.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. Improved apparatus including computer equipment;
- program material including a plurality of instructions, part of which is a prescribed display instruction;
said computer equipment being removably connectable to said program material;
said computer equipment when connected to said program material operating to produce signals in accordance with said instructions;
a display device responsive to said signals and producing displays in accordance therewith;
said prescribed display instruction causing said computer equipment to produce signals which if received by said display device would cause it to produce a particular display;
said computer equipment including means preventing said equipment from operating with program material not containing said prescribed display instruction, and wherein the improvement comprises a prescribed display instruction which produces a particular display including the phrase "This apparatus uses the invention of U.S. patent application entitled Protected Programmable Apparatus filed on Nov. 25, 1981 and any patent issuing thereon." - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
- program material including a plurality of instructions, part of which is a prescribed display instruction;
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5. Improved apparatus including computer equipment;
- program material including a plurality of instructions, part of which is a prescribed display instruction;
said computer equipment being removably connectable to said program material;
said computer equipment when connected to said program material operating to produce signals in accordance with said instructions;
a display device responsive to said signals and producing displays in accordance therewith;
said prescribed display instruction causing said computer equipment to produce signals which if received by said display device would cause it to produce a particular display;
said computer equipment including means preventing said equipment from operating with program material not containing said prescribed display instruction, and wherein the improvement comprises a prescribed display instruction which produces a particular display identifying a U.S. patent application which the apparatus practices the invention of and, if desired, foreign counterparts thereof and/or, if desired, any patents issuing thereon.
- program material including a plurality of instructions, part of which is a prescribed display instruction;
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6. Programming means for use with apparatus including computer equipment and a display;
- said programming means including a plurality of instructions, part of which is a prescribed display instruction;
said programming means being removably connectable to said computer equipment;
said computer equipment when connected to receive said instructions operating to produce signals in accordance therewith;
said display device being responsive to said signals and producing displays;
said prescribed display instruction causing said computer equipment to produce signals which if received by said display device would cause it to produce a particular display;
said computer equipment including means preventing said equipment from operating with programming means not containing said prescribed display instruction; and
wherein the improvement comprises a prescribed display instruction which produces a particularly display identifying a U.S. patent application which the apparatus uses the invention of and, if desired, foreign counterparts thereof and/or, if desired, any patents issuing thereon. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
- said programming means including a plurality of instructions, part of which is a prescribed display instruction;
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10. Programming means for use with apparatus including computer equipment and a display;
- said programming means including a plurality of instructions, part of which is a prescribed display instruction;
said programming means being removably connectable to said computer equipment;
said computer equipment when connected to receive said instructions operating to produce signals in accordance therewith;
said display device being responsive to said signals and producing displays;
said prescribed display instruction causing said computer equipment to produce signals which if received by said display device would cause it to produce a particular display;
said computer equipment including means preventing said equipment from operating with programming means not containing said prescribed display instruction; and
wherein the improvement comprises a prescribed display instruction which produces a particular display including the phrase "This apparatus practices the invention of U.S. patent application entitled Protected Programmable Apparatus filed on Nov. 25, 1981 and any patent issuing thereon";
said prescribed display instruction causing said display device to display said particular display for a period of time which is short enough so that said display is imperceptible to a normal viewer.
- said programming means including a plurality of instructions, part of which is a prescribed display instruction;
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11. Improved apparatus including computer equipment;
- program material including a plurality of instructions, part of which is a prescribed display instruction;
said computer equipment being removably connectable to said program material;
said computer equipment when connected to said program material operating to produce signals in accordance with said instructions;
a display device responsive to said signals and producing displays in accordance therewith;
said prescribed display instruction causing said computer equipment to produce signals which if received by said display device would cause it to produce a particular display;
said computer equipment including means preventing said equipment from operating with program material not containing said prescribed display instruction; and
wherein the improvement comprises a prescribed display instruction which produces a particular display for so short a period of time that it is imperceptible to a normal viewer.
- program material including a plurality of instructions, part of which is a prescribed display instruction;
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12. Programming means for use with apparatus including computer equipment and a display device;
- said programming means including a plurality of instructions;
part of which is a prescribed display instruction;
said programming means being removably connectable to said computer equipment;
said computer equipment when connected to receive said instructions operating to produce signals in accordance therewith;
said display device being responsive to said signals and producing displays;
said prescribed display instruction causing said computer equipment to produce signals which if received by said display device would cause it to produce a particular display;
said computer equipment including means preventing said equipment from operating with programming means not containing said prescribed display instruction; and
wherein the improvement comprises a prescribed display instruction producing a particular display;
said prescribed display instruction causing said display device to display said particular display for so short a period of time that it is imperceptible to a normal viewer. - View Dependent Claims (13)
- said programming means including a plurality of instructions;
Specification