Secure software rental system using continuous asynchronous password verification
First Claim
1. A method of asynchronously verifying a continuous connection between first and second computers while a rental application software executes on said first computer, said rental application comprising a header, said first and second computers electronically connected by a communications path, comprising the steps of:
- transferring a transfer time of said rental application to said first computer from said second computer;
(a) computing a time difference between a system time of said first computer and said transfer time using said header;
(b) generating a first password dependent on said time difference using said header;
(c) transmitting a password verification request comprising said system time to said second computer;
(d) checking a communication manager by said rental application for a password verification response generated by said second computer, said header terminating said rental application when a password verification response is not received;
(e) comparing a received password of said password verification response with said first password stored using said header, said received password generated by said second computer using said password verification request, said header terminating said rental application when said received password and said stored password do not match;
(f) allowing a first time interval to elapse;
repeating steps (a)-(f).
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system is disclosed for providing secure access and execution of application software stored on a first computer by a second computer using a communication device while a communication link is maintained between the first and second computers. More specifically, a secure software rental system is disclosed. The system enables a user in a remote location using a personal computer and a modem to connect to a central rental facility, transfer application software from the central rental facility to the remote computer, and execute the application software on the remote computer while electronically connected to the central rental facility. When the communication link between the central rental facility and the remote computer is interrupted or terminated, the application software no longer executes on the remote computer. This is accomplished by integrating header software with the application software. The application software stored on the central rental facility is integrated with the header software to provide a security feature. The use of header software allows the user to execute the application software only while the user is electronically connected to the central rental facility continuously. This prevents the user from copying the application software to a storage device of the remote computer, and subsequently executing the application software after interrupting or terminating the communications link between the central rental facility and the remote computer.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of asynchronously verifying a continuous connection between first and second computers while a rental application software executes on said first computer, said rental application comprising a header, said first and second computers electronically connected by a communications path, comprising the steps of:
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transferring a transfer time of said rental application to said first computer from said second computer; (a) computing a time difference between a system time of said first computer and said transfer time using said header; (b) generating a first password dependent on said time difference using said header; (c) transmitting a password verification request comprising said system time to said second computer; (d) checking a communication manager by said rental application for a password verification response generated by said second computer, said header terminating said rental application when a password verification response is not received; (e) comparing a received password of said password verification response with said first password stored using said header, said received password generated by said second computer using said password verification request, said header terminating said rental application when said received password and said stored password do not match; (f) allowing a first time interval to elapse;
repeating steps (a)-(f). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification