Method and system for limiting multi-user play of video game cartridges

• US 5,592,651 A
• Filed: 01/09/1995
• Issued: 01/07/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Chi Development Mgmt Ltd XXVI LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Michael I. Rackman
• Inventors: Rackman, Michael I.
• Primary Examiner(s): McElheny, Jr., Donald E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tkacs, Stephen R.
• Application Number:
  US08/370,348
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.31, 340/825.32, 340/825.34, 340/825.35, 380/3, 380/4, 235/380, 235/375, 235/382, 360/60, 395/490, 395/491
• US Class Current: 711/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/123 by using dedicated hardware, e.g. dongles, smart cards, cryptographic processors, global positioning systems [GPS] devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2109 Game systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2121 Chip on media, e.g. a disk or tape with a chip embedded in its case
• 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 20/00188 involving measures which result in a restriction to authorised devices recording or reproducing contents to/from a record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00804 wherein the usage restriction limits the number of users or devices that are allowed to access a given content
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00876 wherein physical copy protection means are attached to the medium, e.g. holograms, sensors, or additional semiconductor circuitry

Abstract

A system for limiting the number of different video game machines on which a cartridge may be played so as to effectively inhibit the conduct of a cartridge rental business. Every machine has a serial number. Every cartridge records the serial number of any machine on which it is played, up to a maximum number (e.g., ten) of such serial numbers. A machine will not play an inserted cartridge if its serial number is not recorded in the cartridge and if there is no room left to record it.

Claims

1. A method for limiting the number of different machines on which a compatible software medium may be played, said software medium and each of said machines transferring information therebetween, comprising the steps of associating with each machine one of a number of different machine identification codes, providing for storage in said software medium of up to at least ten machine identification codes associated with machines on which said software medium has been played, said number of different machine identification codes being substantially larger than the number of machine identification codes for which storage is provided in said software medium, storing in said software medium the identification code of any machine on which said software medium is played if said identification code is not already stored in said software medium and there is storage available in said software medium for at least one more machine identification code, and aborting play of said software medium by a machine if the identification code of the machine is not stored in the software medium and there is no more storage available for identification codes in said software medium.