System and method for creating and running protected information

• US 7,085,743 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Issued: 08/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SL Patent Holdings LLC (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SL Patent Holdings LLC (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schull, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAMMELL, JAMES P
• Application Number:
  US10/955,069
• Publication Number:
  US 20050039026A1
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 705/54, 705/53, 705/56, 705/59, 713/164, 713/184, 713/186, 713/206
• US Class Current: 705/59
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 13/02 Viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2213/025 Sightline detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/109 by using specially-adapted hardware at the client
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/16 Program or content traceability, e.g. by watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/007 Encryption, En-/decode, En-/decipher, En-/decypher, Scramble, (De-)compress
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2117 User registration
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification

Abstract

A method and apparatus of encouraging distribution, registration, and purchase of free copyable software and other digital information which is accessed on a User'"'"'s System via a Programmer'"'"'s Program. Software tools which can be incorporated into a Programmer'"'"'s Program allow the User to access Advanced Features of the Programmer'"'"'s Program only in the presence of a valid Password which is unique to a particular Target ID generated on an ID-Target such as the User'"'"'s System. Advanced features will thus re-lock if the Password is copied to another ID-target. If a valid Password is not present, the User is invited to obtain one, and provided with the means of doing so, and of installing that Password in a place accessible to the User'"'"'s System on subsequent occasions. The present invention also provides Programmers with means to invoke business operations as well as computational operations with their programs, and thus to automatically obtain payment from Users who elect to obtain passwords.

Claims

1. A method for creating protected information accessed by a user, the method comprising:

generating a first feature of protected information accessed by the user, the first feature being accessible to the user after the user communicates with a licensing system and acquires a first password from the licensing system, wherein the first password is based at least in part on a first characteristic of an entity to which access to the first feature is linked, different characteristics of such entity being usable for such first characteristic; and

generating a second feature of the protected information accessed by the user, the second feature being accessible to the user after the user communicates with the licensing system and acquires a second password from the licensing system, wherein the second password is based at least in part on a second characteristic of an entity to which access to the second feature is linked, different characteristics of such entity being usable for such second characteristic,

wherein the first and second passwords are distinct.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising generating a third feature of the protected information accessible by the user without the first or second password.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first feature is associated with a feature identifier; and

the first password is additionally based on the feature identifier.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first feature includes a first set of features packaged together; and

the second feature includes a second set of features packaged together.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second password enables the user to access both the first and second set of features.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second features includes non-executable text.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the features are data used by a program.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising generating code effective to enable the user to request the first password.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said first characteristic and said second characteristic are different.

10. A method for enabling a user to access protected information, the method comprising:

receiving a request for access to a first feature of protected information from a user, the protected information including the first feature accessible only with a first password, and the protected information further including a second feature accessible only with a second password, the first password being based at least in part on a first characteristic of an entity to which access to the first feature is linked, different characteristics of such entity being usable for such first characteristic, the second password being based at least in part on a second characteristic of an entity to which access to the second feature is linked, different characteristics of such entity being usable for such second characteristic, the first and second passwords being distinct; and

enabling the user access the first feature without being able to access the second feature.

11. The method of claim 10, comprising sending the first password to the user.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the protected information is accessed using a digital device and the receiving includes requesting the first password from a device distinct from the digital device.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the protected information is accessed using a digital device and the first password is stored in the digital device.

14. The method of claim 10, comprising enabling the user to access a third feature of the protected information without the first or second password.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the request is sent by the user over a network and received by a licensing server.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the features are data used by a program.

17. The method of claim 10, comprising:

receiving a request for access to the second feature of the protected information;

sending the second password to the user; and

enabling the user to access the second feature.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the first feature is accessed using a digital device;

the request for access to the first feature occurs while the user is accessing a first program; and

wherein the sending the first password comprises awakening a second program from a dormant state, the second program including the steps of;

checking the digital device for the first password; and

when the digital device does not include the first password, requesting the first password from a licensing system.

19. A computer readable storage medium on which is stored the steps of:

storing first code to perform a function;

storing protected information in association with the first code, the protected information accessible only with a password, the password being based at least in part on a characteristic of an entity to which access to one or more items of protected information is linked, different characteristics of such entity being usable to provide access to different ones of the one or more items of protected information; and

storing second code in association with the protected information, the second code to enable a user to request the password to access the protected information.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the recording medium is optical.

21. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the first code, the protected information, and the second code are all stored electronically.

22. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the protected information includes non-executable text.

23. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the protected information is data used by the program.

24. A computer readable storage medium having stored thereon:

first code to perform a function;

protected information in association with the first code, the protected information accessible only with a password, the password being based at least in part on a characteristic of an entity to which access to one or more items of protected information are linked, different characteristics of such entity being usable to provide access to different ones of the one or more items of protected information; and

second code in association with the protected information, the second code to enable a user to request the password to access the protected information.

25. The computer readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein the recording medium is optical.

26. The computer readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein the first code, the protected information, and the second code are all stored electronically.

27. The computer readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein the protected information includes non-executable text.

28. The computer readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein the protected information is data used by the program.