Relicensing of electronically purchased software
First Claim
1. Using relicensing manager software running on a user machine, a method of relicensing a software product for which an electronic license certificate has previously been received, comprising the steps of:
- storing both current and prior versions of software products in a software product archive at a repository site;
storing a count of licensed installations for a plurality of different licenses at a license clearinghouse;
connecting to the license clearinghouse, identifying a specific license, and requesting relicensing;
software at the license clearinghouse authorizing or refusing relicensing based on a count corresponding to the specific license and specified policies;
if relicensing is authorized, connecting to the repository and downloading a copy of the software product; and
reinstalling the software product.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention, generally speaking, provides a mechanism for use in conjunction with Electronic Software Distribution (ESD) that provides purchase documentation and that allows for convenient re-download and relicensing of soft-ware, including old software versions. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a relicensing manager software utility installed on an end user'"'"'s machine interacts with one or more of a remote publisher site, a license clearing house and a merchant site to relicense, transfer, or obtain a refund for a software product. The term "software product" is used to refer to both executable software programs and to electronic content (e.g, pictures, recordings, etc.) The role of the publisher site is to archive both current and old versions of software products. The role of the license clearinghouse is to keep a count of licensed installations and to grant or deny permission to relicense based on the count. The role of the product server is to effect a credit transaction and, according to the terms of the end-user license, to refund the purchase price of a recently purchased software product for which the customer has requested license revocation. The relicensing manager refers to a license certificate stored on the end user'"'"'s machine during installation and, preferably, backed-up on floppy disk or some other permanent storage medium. The license certificate describes license policies and server locations which are then followed by the relicensing manager.
524 Citations
19 Claims
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1. Using relicensing manager software running on a user machine, a method of relicensing a software product for which an electronic license certificate has previously been received, comprising the steps of:
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storing both current and prior versions of software products in a software product archive at a repository site; storing a count of licensed installations for a plurality of different licenses at a license clearinghouse; connecting to the license clearinghouse, identifying a specific license, and requesting relicensing; software at the license clearinghouse authorizing or refusing relicensing based on a count corresponding to the specific license and specified policies; if relicensing is authorized, connecting to the repository and downloading a copy of the software product; and reinstalling the software product. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. Using relicensing manager software, a method of transferring a licensed software product for which an electronic license certificate has previously been received from a first machine to a second machine, comprising the steps of:
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storing a count of licensed installations for a plurality of different licenses at a license clearinghouse; rendering the software product inoperative on the first machine; marking the license as being in transit; connecting to the license clearinghouse, identifying a specific license, and requesting transfer; software at the license clearinghouse decrementing a count corresponding to the specific license; installing the relicensing manager and the license certificate on the second machine; and relicensing the software product from the second machine. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. Using relicensing manager software running on a user machine, a method of relicensing a software product for which an electronic license certificate has previously been received, comprising the steps of:
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using the relicensing manager, printing a receipt bearing an identifier; and using the identifier as proof of purchase of the software product. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. Using relicensing manager software, a method comprising the steps of:
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storing license information for a plurality of different licenses at a license clearinghouse; connecting to a merchant site and requesting a refund; software at the merchant site effecting a refund; software at the merchant site connecting to the license clearinghouse and communicating occurrence of the refund; and at the license clearinghouse, marking the license as belonging to a product for which the purchase price has been refunded.
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Specification