Computer readable storage medium for providing repeated contact with software end-user

• US 6,502,195 B1
• Filed: 05/18/2000
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• 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): Hayes, Gail
• Assistant Examiner(s): Revak, Christopher A.
• Application Number:
  US09/573,659
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 713/200, 713/201, 713/202, 705/51, 705/52, 705/53, 705/14, 705/55, 705/57, 705/59, 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 computer readable storage medium for providing repeated contact with computer software or a software user to transfer information which may include advertising, promotional, 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 computer readable storage medium having stored data representing instructions executable by a computer to provide repeated contact with a user computer, computer software, or a software user, the computer readable storage medium comprising:

instructions for automatically attempting to contact an administrator;

instructions for receiving a password from the administrator 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 software user; and

instructions for repeating the steps of automatically contacting and receiving a password.

2. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 wherein the instructions for receiving a password are operative only after obtaining valid registration information.

3. The computer readable storage medium of claim 2 further comprising instructions for comparing registration information with registration information obtained during first use of the computer software.

4. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 wherein the instructions for repeating include instructions for repeating at predetermined periods.

5. The computer readable storage medium of claim 4 wherein the instructions for repeating at predetermined periods include instructions for repeating at a period based on a clock and/or calendar.

6. The computer readable storage medium of claim 4 wherein the instructions for repeating at predetermined periods include instructions for repeating at a period based on elapsed execution time of the computer software.

7. The computer readable storage medium of claim 4 wherein the instructions for repeating at predetermined periods include instructions for repeating at a period based on a version number associated with the computer software.

8. The computer readable storage medium of claim 4 wherein the instructions for repeating at predetermined periods include instructions for repeating at random periods.

9. The computer readable storage medium of claim 4 wherein the instructions for repeating at predetermined periods include instructions for repeating at a period based on number of times the computer software is executed.

10. A computer readable storage medium having stored data representing instructions executable by a computer to provide repeated contact with a user computer, computer software, or a software user, the computer readable storage medium comprising:

instructions for automatically attempting to contact an administrator;

instructions for receiving a password from the administrator 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 software user;

instructions for receiving software information, software upgrades, marketing, promotional, or advertising information from the administrator; and

instructions for repeating the steps of automatically attempting to contact and receiving software information.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10 wherein the instructions for receiving software information are operative only after obtaining valid registration information.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11 further comprising instructions for comparing registration information with registration information obtained during first use of the computer software to determine if the registration information is valid.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10 wherein the instructions for repeating include instructions for repeating at predetermined periods.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 further comprising instructions for transferring an authorization code to authorize continued use of the computer software for an authorization interval.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein the authorization interval is equal to one of the predetermined periods.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein the predetermined period and/or the authorization interval is based on a new version of the computer software being released such that the authorization interval increases based on a number of subsequently released versions of the computer software.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein the instructions for repeating at predetermined periods include instructions for repeating at a period based on a clock and/or calendar.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein the instructions for repeating at predetermined periods include instructions for repeating at a period based on elapsed execution time of the computer software.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein the instructions for repeating at predetermined periods include instructions for repeating at a period based on a version number associated with the computer software.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein the instructions for repeating at predetermined periods include instructions for repeating at random periods.

21. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein the instructions for repeating at predetermined periods include instructions for repeating at a period based on number of times the computer software is executed.

22. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein the instructions for repeating at predetermined periods include instructions for repeating at regular but unequal periods.