Method and apparatus for remotely controlling and monitoring the use of computer software

• US 5,613,089 A
• Filed: 02/22/1996
• Issued: 03/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Softex Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Softex Incorporated
• Inventors: Hornbuckle, Gary D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrell, Robert B.
• Application Number:
  US08/605,397
• Time in Patent Office: 390 Days
• Field of Search: 364/DIG. 1 MS File, 364/DIG. 2 MS File, 380/4, 395/401, 395/410, 395/411, 395/406, 395/49.1, 395/800
• US Class Current: 711/164
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/10 Adding special bits or symbols to the coded information, e.g. parity check, casting out 9's or 11's
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3419 by assessing time
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3438 monitoring of user actions tracking the activity of the user H04L67/535
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1077 Recurrent authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/109 by using specially-adapted hardware at the client
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/865 Monitoring of software
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/007 Encryption, En-/decode, En-/decipher, En-/decypher, Scramble, (De-)compress
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2135 Metering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/145 Payments according to the detected use or quantity
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00

Abstract

Remote control for the use of computer data and video game software is described in a system for renting computer software which derives use and billing information, prevents unauthorized use, maintains integrity of the software and controls related intercomputer communications. A user at a target game computer "downloads" programs or data, via a telephone line and remote control modules, from a central host computer. Usage of the video game software or data by the game computer or other accounting data are recorded and stored and, at predetermined times, the host computer "uploads" the usage data for processing. Other features include: (1) software and usage security for rental software programs; (2) a polynomial generator/checker for generating block check characters for assuring integrity of data transmitted and received; (3) a voice-data switch for switching between data communication and normal telephone communication; and (4) an audio amplifier and speaker for monitoring of activity on the communication line during data transfers.

Claims

1. Apparatus for remotely controlling and monitoring the use of a computer game program comprising:

first and second computers, said first computer having storage memory for storing computer game programs, and having communication circuits for communicating with said second computer for downloading said computer game programs to said second computer and for monitoring the use of said computer game programs by said second computer, said first computer remotely controlling said second computer to transmit at predetermined times data indicating elapsed time of use of said downloaded computer game programs;

said communication circuits including a first transmitter and receiver at said first computer, and a second transmitter and receiver at said second computer;

said first transmitter and receiver and said second transmitter and receiver including a microprocessor for control thereof, a program memory for storage of a program executed by said microprocessor, a read/write memory, a real time clock for enabling measurement of elapsed time of use of said downloaded computer game programs, and a modem for sending and receiving data;

an interface device coupled between said second computer and said second transmitter and receiver for adapting said second transmitter and receiver to said second computer, said second computer being provided with a slot for receiving computer game cartridges, said interface device formed as a plug-in adapter that mates with said slot provided in said second computer;

an encryption device coupled to said first computer and to said first transmitter and receiver for encrypting at least one preselected portion of downloaded computer game programs to be transmitted from said first transmitter and receiver to form an encrypted information module, said encryption device including a first encryption key for encrypting said encrypted information module, said preselected portion including at least one portion of a computer program essential to the correct execution thereof;

a decryption device coupled to said second transmitter and receiver for decrypting said encrypted information module to form a decrypted information module, said decryption device including a copy of said first encryption key for decrypting said encrypted information module; and

a transfer circuit for transferring said decrypted information module to said second computer for execution by said second computer and for deleting said decrypted information module from said second computer when execution by said second computer of the received program and program information is entirely completed.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said first and second transmitter and receiver are coupled to each other via a public communication network.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said first and second transmitter and receiver each include connection circuits for connecting said first and second transmitter and receiver, respectively, to said public communication network.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 further including a telephone coupled to said connection circuits associated with said second transmitter and receiver, said connection circuits including circuits for connecting said telephone to said public communication network when said transmitter and receiver is not receiving the downloaded computer game program and said transmitter is not transmitting said time accounting information.

5. Apparatus as in claim 1 further including a monitor coupled to said transfer circuit for recording time accounting information from the time said decrypted information module is transferred to said second computer, until said decrypted information module is deleted from said second computer by said transfer circuit.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5 further including:

a time accounting memory coupled to said monitor for storing said time accounting information, said second transmitter and receiver being responsive to a command from said first computer for transmitting said time accounting information to said first computer;

an error detector coupled to said first transmitter and receiver for detecting the presence of an error in said time accounting information transmitted by said second transmitter and receiver and for producing an error signal; and

a retransmitter coupled to said error detector and responsive to said error signal for producing a signal representing a request for retransmission of said time accounting information, said second transmitter and receiver responsive to said request for retransmission for retransmitting said time accounting information.

7. Apparatus as in claim 1 further including:

a second encryption key included in said encryption device for encrypting said first encryption key to form an encrypted first encryption key; and

a copy of said second encryption key included in said decryption device for decrypting said encrypted first encryption key.

8. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein:

said decryption device in said second transmitter and receiver comprises circuits for decrypting the encrypted information module in response to request of a user of said second computer to use the downloaded computer game program, said second transmitter and receiver thereupon transmits the decrypted information module to said second computer.

9. Apparatus as in claim 1 further including:

an error detector coupled to said second transmitter and receiver for detecting the presence of an error in the downloaded computer game program transmitted by said first transmitter and receiver and for producing an error signal; and

a retransmitter coupled to said error detector and responsive to said error signal for producing a signal representing a request for retransmission of the downloaded computer game program transmitted by said first computer, said first transmitter and receiver being responsive to said request for retransmission for retransmitting the downloaded computer game program.

10. In a system having a central game memory for storage of computer game programs, and having communicating circuits for communicating with a game computer for downloading said computer game programs to said game computer and for monitoring the use of said computer game programs by said game computer, said game computer being controlled to transmit data indicating elapsed time of use of downloaded computer game programs, a remote control device for controlling and monitoring the use of said downloaded computer game programs, said remote control device comprising:

a microprocessor for control thereof, a program memory for storage of a program executed by said microprocessor in control of said remote control device, a read/write memory, a real time clock for enabling said remote control device to provide elapsed time of use of said downloaded computer game programs, and a modem for sending and receiving data;

first coupling means including an adapter device coupling said remote control device to said computer for transferring preselected portions of said computer programs that include encrypted portions between said remote control device and said game computer;

said adapter device coupled between said remote control device and said game computer for adapting said remote control device to said game computer, said game computer being provided with a slot for receiving computer game cartridges, said adapter device being formed as a plug-in cartridge adapted for use with said slot provided in said game computer;

a monitor coupled to said first coupling means for monitoring usage of said computer game programs in said game computer and for developing time accounting data relative to said usage; and

decryption means coupled to said first coupling means for decrypting preselected encrypted portions of said computer game programs, said decryption means including a first encryption key for use by the decryption means in decrypting said preselected encrypted portions of said computer game programs, said first coupling means transferring said preselected encrypted portions of said computer game programs from said game computer to said decryption means when said computer game programs are loaded into said game computer, said decryption means decrypting said preselected encrypted portions of said computer game programs, said first coupling means transferring said decrypted preselected portions of said computer game programs from said decryption means to said game computer for execution, said monitor monitoring the usage of said computer game programs.

11. A remote control device as in claim 10 further comprising:

second coupling means coupling said remote control device to a host computer via a communications link; and

a transmitter and receiver coupled between said first and second coupling means and to said monitor for receiving preselected computer programs transmitted from said host computer for further transfer to said game computer, said transmitter and receiver responsive in conjunction with said monitor to a first command transmitted by said host computer to transmit said time accounting data relative to said usage from said monitor to said host computer.

12. A remote control device as in claim 11 wherein said monitor includes realtime clock means for providing timing information and generating a signal for use in said remote control device.

13. A remote control device as in claim 12 wherein said monitor further includes memory means for storing said time accounting data, said transmitter responsive at preprogrammed times to said signal to transmit said time accounting data to said host computer.

14. A remote control device as in claim 11 wherein said decryption means further includes a second encryption key for use by said decryption means in decrypting said first encryption key, said first encryption key transmitted from said host computer in an encrypted format.

15. A remote control device as in claim 11 further comprising an error detector for detecting the presence of an error in block of said preselected computer programs transmitted from said host computer and for generating an error signal when an error is so detected.

16. A remote control device as in claim 15 wherein said error detector includes error correction means for generating error-correction signals to correct any errors so detected in said preselected computer programs.

17. A remote control device as in claim 15 wherein said error detector includes retransmission means responsive to said error-correction signals to generate a retransmission request signal, said host computer responsive to said retransmission request signal for retransmitting said blocks of computer programs containing errors.

18. A remote control device as in claim 11 wherein said transmitter and receiver comprises a modem and said communications link comprises a public network.

19. A remote control device as in claim 10 wherein said decryption means includes a second encryption key for use by said decryption means in decrypting said first encryption key.

20. A method of providing computer game programs to authorized users on a rental basis, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing a connection between a host computer having computer game programs stored therein and said game computer by way of an interface device formed as a plug-in adapter that mates with a game cartridge slot provided in said game computer;

selecting a computer game program to be used on a rental basis at said game computer;

selecting a key module of said selected computer game program that is essential to the operation of said selected computer game program, said selected computer game program not operable without said key module;

encrypting said key module in said host remote control module with a first encryption key;

encrypting said first encryption key and transmitting said first encryption key to said game computer separately;

downloading said selected game computer program, including said encrypted key module, to said game computer remote control module along with an operating system modification routine;

modifying the operating system of said game computer utilizing said operating system modification routine, said operating system modification routine including a procedure for initiating the decryption of said key module;

decrypting said first decryption key at said game computer;

fetching said encrypted key module of said game computer program;

sending said encrypted key module of said computer game program to a decryption means associated with said game computer;

decrypting said encrypted key module under the control of said operating system modification routine to form a decrypted key module, utilizing said first encryption key in said decryption means associated with said game computer;

transferring said decrypted key module from said decryption means to said game computer for execution as part of said game computer program; and

deleting said decrypted key module from said game computer when execution of said game computer program is complete, said operating system modification routine initiating said deletion of said decrypted key module.