Method and apparatus for licensing computer programs using a DSA signature
First Claim
1. A method, implemented in a computer system, for licensing software for electronic distributions in said computer system, comprising the steps of:
- generating a pair of keys compatible for use with a digital signature algorithm for a license for a selected electronic distribution in said computer system at a licensor machine;
generating a digital signature for said license using one of said pair of keys for data and all information related to said license using said digital signature algorithm at said licensor machine;
transmitting said digital signature directly from said licensor machine to a user for said selected electronic distribution; and
verifying said license by said user using said digital signature algorithm on said digital signature, data for said license and a different one of said pair of keys without any further transmissions with said licensor machine.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for using a Digital Signature Algorithm (DSA) for providing licensing of software. Three steps are required to allow setting up a license, issuing a license and for customer update of the license. An initialization step generates a public and private key pair. A license generation step follows the initialization step and involves feeding the private key and data for the license terms through the DSA to create a digital signature. The digital signature hash value is distributed to the customer as a valid license. The customer performs license verification by running the signature, public key and data for the license through the DSA on the customer'"'"'s machine.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A method, implemented in a computer system, for licensing software for electronic distributions in said computer system, comprising the steps of:
-
generating a pair of keys compatible for use with a digital signature algorithm for a license for a selected electronic distribution in said computer system at a licensor machine; generating a digital signature for said license using one of said pair of keys for data and all information related to said license using said digital signature algorithm at said licensor machine; transmitting said digital signature directly from said licensor machine to a user for said selected electronic distribution; and verifying said license by said user using said digital signature algorithm on said digital signature, data for said license and a different one of said pair of keys without any further transmissions with said licensor machine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. An apparatus for licensing software for electronic distributions in a computer system, comprising:
-
means for generating a pair of keys compatible for use with a digital signature algorithm for a license for a selected electronic distribution in said computer system; means for generating a digital signature for said license using one of said pair of keys for data and all information related to said license using said digital signature algorithm at a licensor machine; means for transmitting said digital signature directly from said licensor machine to a user for said selected electronic distribution; and means for verifying said license by said user using said digital signature algorithm on said digital signature, data for said license and a different one of said pair of keys without further transmissions to said licensor machine. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A computer program product having a computer readable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for licensing software for electronic distributions in a computer system, comprising:
-
computer readable means for generating a pair of keys compatible for use with a digital signature algorithm for a license for a selected electronic distribution in said computer system at a licensor machine; computer readable means for generating a digital signature for said license using one of said pair of keys for data and all information related to said license using said digital signature algorithm at said licensor machine; computer readable means for transmitting said digital signature directly from said licensor machine to a user for said selected electronic distribution; and computer readable means for verifying said license by said user using said digital signature algorithm on said digital signature, data for said license and a different one of said pair of keys without further transmissions to said licensor machine. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification