Method for providing repeated contact with software end-user using authorized administrator

• US 6,484,264 B1
• Filed: 05/18/2000
• Issued: 11/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: z4 Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: z4 Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Colvin, David S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barron, Jr., Gilberto
• Assistant Examiner(s): Revak, Christopher A.
• Application Number:
  US09/573,771
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 713/200, 713/201, 713/202, 705/51, 705/52, 705/53, 705/55, 705/57, 705/59, 705/14, 709/229
• US Class Current: 726/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/121 Restricting unauthorised execution of programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements

Abstract

A method for providing repeated contact with computer software or a software user to transfer information which may include advertising, promotional, and/or marketing information includes repeatedly contacting the software manufacturer or third party representative or agent for continued use of the software. The invention provides for automatically obtaining authorization information in addition to marketing, advertising, and/or promotional information prior to expiration of each authorization interval or period. The user and/or software contacts an authorized representative of the software to obtain authorization information which may be downloaded directly to the software or provided to the user for entry. Authorization intervals may vary depending upon the particular application. For example, in one embodiment, the present invention provides authorization information which allows continued use of the software for a period based on value of the software. The value of the software may be based on price or the availability of a subsequent version of the software. Authorization intervals of decreasing length may be supplied for software of increasing value. As the value of the software decreases, for example when one or more subsequent versions are released, the authorization intervals may increase accordingly.

Claims

1. A method for providing repeated contact between an administrator and a user computer, computer software, or a computer software user, the method comprising:

automatically receiving information from the computer software by the administrator;

transferring a password from the administrator to the user computer, the computer software, or the user to authorize continued use of the computer software such that the computer software is useable without requiring continuous communication between the administrator and the user computer, the computer software, or the user; and

repeating the steps of automatically receiving and transferring at predetermined periods without requiring continuous communication between the administrator and the user computer, the computer software, or the user during periods other than the predetermined periods.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of transferring a password is performed only after obtaining valid registration information.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein obtaining valid registration information comprises comparing registration information with registration information obtained during first use of the computer software.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined periods include a period based on a clock and/or calendar.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined periods include a period based on elapsed execution time of the computer software.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined periods include a period based on a version number associated with the computer software.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined periods include random periods.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined periods include a period based on number of times the computer software is executed.

9. A method for providing repeated contact between an administrator and a user computer, computer software, or a software user, the method comprising:

automatically receiving information from the computer software by the administrator;

transferring a password from the administrator to the user computer, the computer software, or the user to authorize continued use of the computer software such that the computer software is useable without requiring continuous communication between the administrator and the user computer, the computer software, or the user;

transferring software information, software upgrades, marketing, promotional, or advertising information from the administrator to the user computer, the computer software, or the user with the transferred password; and

repeating the steps of automatically receiving, transferring a password, and transferring software information, software upgrades, marketing, promotional, or advertising information at specified periods without requiring continuous communication between the administrator and the user computer, the computer software, or the user during periods other than the predetermined periods.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of transferring software information is performed only after obtaining valid registration information.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein obtaining valid registration information comprises comparing registration information with registration information obtained during first use of the computer software.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising transferring an authorization code from the administrator to the user computer, the computer software, or the user to authorize continued use of the computer software for an authorization interval.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the authorization interval is equal to one of the specified periods.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the specified periods and/or the authorization interval are based on a new version of the computer software being released such that the authorization interval increases based on a member of subsequently released versions of the computer software.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the specified periods include a period based on a clock and/or calendar.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the specified periods include a period based on elapsed execution time of the computer software.

17. The method of claim 9 wherein the specified periods include a period based on a version number associated with the computer software.

18. The method of claim 9 wherein the specified periods include random periods.

19. The method of claim 9 wherein the specified periods include a period based on number of times the computer software is executed.

20. The method of claim 9 wherein the specified periods include regular but unequal periods.