Central database system for automatic software program sales
First Claim
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1. A computer-based system for automatic sales of software programs, comprising:
- means for accessing a software program within a computer database and for maintaining the software program in a locked state in order to prevent unauthorized duplication of the software program, the accessing and maintaining means comprising;
an image file having an internal configuration of a specially formatted disk with the computer database stored therein; and
an image driver configured to selectively access the software program within the computer database in the image file;
receive means for receiving a request to purchase the software program;
unlocking means for unlocking a copy of the software program in response to the request to purchase the software program; and
means for distributing the unlocked copy.
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Abstract
A computer-based system is provided for automatic sales of software programs. The system accesses a software program within a computer database and maintains the software program in a locked state in order to prevent unauthorized duplication of the software program. In response to a request to purchase the software program, the system unlocks a copy of the software program and distributes the unlocked copy. The system records how many copies of the software program have been distributed in response to the purchase requests for billing purposes.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A computer-based system for automatic sales of software programs, comprising:
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means for accessing a software program within a computer database and for maintaining the software program in a locked state in order to prevent unauthorized duplication of the software program, the accessing and maintaining means comprising; an image file having an internal configuration of a specially formatted disk with the computer database stored therein; and an image driver configured to selectively access the software program within the computer database in the image file; receive means for receiving a request to purchase the software program; unlocking means for unlocking a copy of the software program in response to the request to purchase the software program; and means for distributing the unlocked copy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computerized method for automatic sales of software programs, comprising the steps executed by a computer of:
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accessing a software program within a computer database, the computer database being stored in an image file having an internal configuration of a specially formatted disk, and maintaining the software program in a locked state in order to prevent unauthorized duplication of the software program, the accessing and maintaining step accessing the software program with an image driver configured to selectively access software programs within the computer database in the image file; receiving a request to purchase the software program; unlocking a copy of the software program in response to the request to purchase the software program; and distributing the unlocked copy. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A computer program product, comprising:
a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing a computer to execute a system for automatic sales of software programs, the computer readable program code means in the computer program product comprising; means for accessing a software program within a computer database and for maintaining the software program in a locked state in order to prevent unauthorized duplication of the software program, the accessing and maintaining means comprising; an image file having an internal configuration of a specially formatted disk with the computer database stored therein; and an image driver configured to selectively access the software program within the computer database in the image file; receive means for causing the computer to receive a request to purchase the software program; unlocking means for causing the computer to unlock a copy of the software program in response to the request to purchase the software program; and means for causing the computer to distribute the unlocked copy. - View Dependent Claims (28)
Specification