Method of managing software by transmitted data on network

• US 5,938,730 A
• Filed: 01/09/1997
• Issued: 08/17/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hudson Soft Co., Ltd. (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hudson Soft Co., Ltd. (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Tobita, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrell, Robert B.
• Application Number:
  US08/780,924
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 364/DIG. 1 MS File, 364/DIG. 2 MS File, 395/182.16, 395/186, 395/200.54, 395/200.59, 395/652, 395/653, 395/712, 705/1, 705/22, 705/26, 705/32, 705/500, 714/18, 713/200, 713/2, 713/100, 709/224, 709/229
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/401 Secure communication, e.g. using encryption or authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/63 for controlling the execution of the game in time
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• 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: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing

Abstract

An user buys a software having a product code stored in a CD-ROM. An use-charge of the software is paid. The use-charge is determined by the user in correspondence with an use frequency of the software before the software is used. When the use-charge of the software is paid, the key code management table in a host computer are updated. The user'"'"'s computer is connected with the host computer on a network, then the user gets an usable time and a key code of the software. Thus, the user can use the software within the usable time corresponding with the use-charge. Therefore, the use-charge and a public network fee can be collected reliably.

Claims

1. A method of managing a software by transmitted data on a network between a host computer and one or more personal computers, comprising the steps of:

connecting a recording medium to said personal computer, said recording medium storing a software which includes a main program, and a time managing program for managing an usable time of said main program;

loading said main program and said time managing program from said recording medium to said personal computer;

requesting a key code from said personal computer via said network to said host computer, said key code making possible for said personal computer to use said main program for said usable time;

receiving said key code at said personal computer via said network from said host computer; and

using said main program at said personal computer in accordance with said key code received for a time duration less than or equal to said usable time managed by said time managing program.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said using step, comprises the steps of:

calculating a remainder of said usable time; and

displaying said remainder of said usable time.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said managing step further comprises the steps of:

if said remainder of said usable time is less than zero, saving data of said main program in a storage; and

deleting said key code of said main program in said personal computer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said loading step, comprises the steps of:

selecting one main program from a plurality of main programs stored in said recording medium connected to said personal computer; and

loading said one main program from said recording medium to said personal computer.