Billing system for computer software
First Claim
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1. A billing system for billing users on a usage basis for an enciphered application software program for a computer comprising:
- a hardware security module attached to the computer, the security module carrying therein a fixed computer-readable numeric internal code and also carrying a billing module interface;
a removable, portable billing module electrically connected to the security module and electrically connecting to the billing module interface therein, the billing module having fixed and alterable memory therein with a fixed computer-readable numeric external code in the fixed memory and billing information stored in the alterable memory, anda storage medium for the computer carrying an enciphered application program thereon and also carrying thereon security program means for (1) causing the computer to read the internal code and the external code, (2) using the internal and external codes to generate a decipher key which is used in a predetermined algorithm to decipher the application program for use by the user, and (3) writing usage billing information in the alterable memory in the billing module.
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Abstract
A computer software security and billing system is disclosed in which the application program is enciphered in accordance with an algorithm driven by a numeric key. The user'"'"'s computer is provided with a hardware security module and a removable billing module, both of which carry unique codes. A security program accesses the application program and also writes information about billing into the billing module. The billing module is periodically replaced so the user can be charged based on amount of usage of the software.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A billing system for billing users on a usage basis for an enciphered application software program for a computer comprising:
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a hardware security module attached to the computer, the security module carrying therein a fixed computer-readable numeric internal code and also carrying a billing module interface; a removable, portable billing module electrically connected to the security module and electrically connecting to the billing module interface therein, the billing module having fixed and alterable memory therein with a fixed computer-readable numeric external code in the fixed memory and billing information stored in the alterable memory, and a storage medium for the computer carrying an enciphered application program thereon and also carrying thereon security program means for (1) causing the computer to read the internal code and the external code, (2) using the internal and external codes to generate a decipher key which is used in a predetermined algorithm to decipher the application program for use by the user, and (3) writing usage billing information in the alterable memory in the billing module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of operating a billing and security system for distributing enciphered application programs on a pay-per-usage basis to users who have a personal computer with a hardware security module attached to it and a billing module removably received in the security module, the security module carrying an internal code therein and the billing module carrying an extenal code therein and having an alterable memory into which billing information may be entered, the method comprising the steps of
(a) reading the internal code form the security module and the external code form the billing module; -
(b) generating a decipher key form the internal and external codes; (c) using the decipher key to decipher the enciphered application program; (d) executing the application program in the personal computer; and (e) during execution of the application program, periodically storing usage information into the alterable memory of the billing module so that the user can be charged for usage of the application program based on the information in the billing module. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification