Software licensing and distribution systems and methods employing biometric sample authentication

• US 6,615,191 B1
• Filed: 07/06/1999
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Seeley E. Addison
• Inventors: Seeley, E. Addison
• Primary Examiner(s): Millin, Vincent
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, JAGDISH
• Application Number:
  US09/349,217
• Time in Patent Office: 1,519 Days
• Field of Search: 705/39, 705/41, 705/54, 713/201, 713/202
• US Class Current: 705/54
• 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 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"

Abstract

Software validation and distribution methods and apparatus are disclosed. These can include storing biometric identification information received from a customer in a customer storage area, receiving a biometric identification signal in response to customer interaction with a biometric interface, and detecting a match between the biometric identification signal and the identification information stored in the customer storage area. The customer can then be permitted to use the software.

Claims

1. A software distribution method, comprising:

offering software to a customer,

presenting a selection of payment choices including at least one choice involving access based on biometric identification and at least one choice involving access without biometric identification,

storing biometric identification information received from the customer in a customer storage area,

receiving a biometric identification signal in response to customer interaction with a biometric interface,

detecting a match between the biometric identification signal and the identification information stored in the customer storage area by the step of storing,

permitting the customer to use the software in response to the step of detecting a match and after the step of offering, and

receiving a payment commitment from the customer before the step of permitting the customer to use the software, wherein the step of receiving a payment commitment is performed after the step of presenting the selection.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the biometric identification information is received electronically through a public network.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the biometric identification information is stored in a portable machine-readable storage element.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the biometric identification information is stored in a portable machine-readable storage element having a size on the order of a credit-card or smaller.

5. The method of claim 1 further including the step of conveying a copy of the software to the customer.

6. The method of claim 1 further including the steps of detecting a mismatch between the biometric identification signal and the identification information stored in the customer storage area by the step of storing, and permitting the customer to use the software a limited number of times in response to the step of detecting a mismatch and after the step of offering.

7. The method of claim 1 further including the steps of:

storing replacement biometric identification information received from the customer in a customer storage area,

receiving a biometric identification signal in response to customer interaction with a biometric interface,

detecting a match between the biometric identification signal and the replacement identification information stored in the customer storage area by the step of storing, and

permitting the customer to use the software in response to the step of detecting a match between the biometric identification signal and the replacement identification information.

8. The method of claim 7 further including a step of registering a biometric interface to validate the biometric identification signal received in the step of receiving.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of storing stores the biometric identification information received from the customer in one of a plurality of customer storage entries in a centralized customer database.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of offering offers software for playing audio recordings.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of offering offers software for playing video recordings.

12. A software distribution method, comprising:

offering software to a customer,

storing biometric identification information received from the customer in a customer storage area,

receiving a biometric identification signal in response to customer interaction with a biometric interface,

detecting a match between the biometric identification signal and the identification information stored in the customer storage area by the step of storing,

permitting the customer to use the software in response to the step of detecting a match and after the step of offering, and

further including the step of recording the software in a proprietary format and conveying to the customer a proprietary player capable of reading the proprietary format.

13. The method of claim 12 further including the steps of detecting a mismatch between the biometric identification signal and the identification information stored in the customer storage area by the step of storing, and permitting the customer to use the software a limited number of times in response to the step of detecting a mismatch and after the step of offering.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of permitting the customer to use the software a limited number of times requires a password from the customer.

15. The method of claim 12 further including the steps of:

storing replacement biometric identification information received from the customer in a customer storage area,

receiving a biometric identification signal in response to customer interaction with a biometric interface,

detecting a match between the biometric identification signal and the replacement identification information stored in the customer storage area by the step of storing, and

permitting the customer to use the software in response to the step of detecting a match between the biometric identification signal and the replacement identification information.

16. The method of claim 12 further including a step of registering a biometric interface to validate the biometric identification signal received in the step of receiving.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of storing stores the biometric identification information received from the customer in one of a plurality of customer storage entries in a centralized customer database.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of offering offers software for playing audio recordings.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of offering offers software for playing video recordings.

20. The method of claim 12 further including the step of receiving a payment commitment from the customer before the step of permitting the customer to use the software.

21. The method of claim 12 wherein the biometric identification information is received electronically through a public network.

22. The method of claim 12 wherein the biometric identification information is stored in a portable machine-readable storage element.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the biometric identification information is stored in a portable machine-readable storage element having a size on the order of a credit-card or smaller.

24. The method of claim 12 further including the step of conveying a copy of the software to the customer.

25. A licensed software use validation method, comprising:

presenting a biometric interface to a customer,

receiving a biometric identification signal in response to customer interaction with the biometric interface,

detecting a match between the biometric identification signal and an entry in a customer storage area, which entry indicates that the customer is registered to access the software, and

permitting the customer to use the software in response to the step of detecting a match, wherein the steps of presenting, receiving, detecting, and permitting are performed by a player and wherein the steps of presenting, receiving, detecting, and permitting take place after the player and rights in the software have been conveyed to the customer.

26. The method of claim 25 further including the step of receiving a payment commitment from the customer before the step of permitting the customer to use the software.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the biometric identification information is stored in a portable machine-readable storage element.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the biometric identification information is stored in a portable machine-readable storage element having a size on the order of a credit-card or smaller.

29. The method of claim 25 further including the step of conveying a copy of the software to the customer.

30. The method of claim 25 further including the steps of detecting a mismatch between the biometric identification signal and the identification information stored in the customer storage area by the step of storing, and permitting the customer to use the software a limited number of times in response to the step of detecting a mismatch and after the step of offering.

31. The method of claim 25 further including the steps of:

storing replacement biometric identification information received from the customer in a customer storage area,

receiving a biometric identification signal in response to customer interaction with a biometric interface,

detecting a match between the biometric identification signal and the replacement identification information stored in the customer storage area by the step of storing, and

permitting the customer to use the software in response to the step of detecting a match between the biometric identification signal and the replacement identification information.

32. The method of claim 25 further including a step of registering a biometric interface to validate the biometric identification signal received in the step of receiving.

33. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of storing stores the biometric identification information received from the customer in one of a plurality of customer storage entries in a centralized customer database.

34. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of permitting permits the user to use software for playing audio recordings.

35. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of permitting permits the user to use software for playing video recordings.

36. The method of claim 25 wherein the steps of presenting, receiving, detecting, and permitting are all performed in a single housing of a player assembly.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the steps of presenting, receiving, detecting, and permitting are all performed by a player assembly that weighs less than three pounds.

38. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of presenting a biometric interface presents a fingerprint detector.

39. A software distribution system, comprising:

means for offering software to a customer,

means for presenting a selection of payment choices including at least one choice involving access based on biometric identification and at least one choice involving access without biometric identification,

means for storing biometric identification information received from the customer in a customer storage area,

means for receiving a biometric identification signal in response to customer interaction with a biometric interface,

means for detecting a match between the biometric identification signal and the identification information stored in the customer storage area by the means for storing,

means for permitting the customer to use the software in response to the means for detecting a match and after a step of offering by the means for offering, and

means for receiving a payment commitment from the customer before the means for permitting permits the customer to use the software, wherein the means for receiving a payment commitment is operative to receive a payment commitment after a step of presenting a selection by the means for presenting a selection.

40. The apparatus of claim 39 further including means for registering a biometric interface to validate the biometric identification signal received by the means for receiving.

41. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the means for offering is operative to offer software for playing audio recordings.

42. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the means for offering is operative to offer software for playing video recordings.

43. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the means for storing biometric identification information is responsive to a fingerprint detector.

44. A software distribution system, comprising:

means for offering software to a customer,

means for storing biometric identification information received from the customer in a customer storage area,

means for receiving a biometric identification signal in response to customer interaction with a biometric interface,

means for detecting a match between the biometric identification signal and the identification information stored in the customer storage area by the means for storing,

means for permitting the customer to use the software in response to the means for detecting a match and after a step of offering by the means for offering, and

means for recording the software in a proprietary format and conveying to the customer a proprietary player capable of reading the proprietary format.

45. The apparatus of claim 44 further including means for registering a biometric interface to validate the biometric identification signal received by the means for receiving.

46. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein the means for offering is operative to offer software for playing audio recordings.

47. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein the means for offering is operative to offer software for playing video recordings.

48. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein the means for storing biometric identification information is responsive to a fingerprint detector.

49. A software distribution system, comprising:

means for presenting a biometric interface to a customer,

means for receiving a biometric identification signal in response to customer interaction with the biometric interface,

means for detecting a match between the biometric identification signal and an entry in a customer storage area, which entry indicates that the customer is registered to access the software, and

means for permitting the customer to use the software in response to the means for detecting a match, wherein the means for presenting, receiving, detecting, and permitting are part of a player and wherein the means for presenting, receiving, detecting, and permitting are operative to perform steps of presenting, receiving, detecting, and permitting that take place after the player and rights in the software have been conveyed to the customer.

50. The apparatus of claim 49 further including means for registering a biometric interface to validate the biometric identification signal received by the means for receiving.

51. The apparatus of claim 49 wherein the means for offering is operative to offer software for playing audio recordings.

52. The apparatus of claim 49 wherein the means for offering is operative to offer software for playing video recordings.

53. The apparatus of claim 49 wherein means for presenting, receiving, detecting, and permitting are all housed in a single housing.

54. The apparatus of claim 53 wherein the player assembly weighs less than three pounds.

55. The apparatus of claim 49 wherein the means for presenting a biometric interface presents a fingerprint detector.

56. The apparatus of claim 49 wherein the player assembly is an audio recording player assembly.