System and method for selling protected information in an oem context

• US 7,092,908 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2004
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• 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:
  US10/988,273
• Publication Number:
  US 20050102239A1
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 705/51, 705/54, 705/56, 705/59, 380/286
• US Class Current: 705/51
• 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 relock 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 enabling access to a software program comprising a plurality of different features, the method comprising:

loading the software programs on to a hard drive of a computer, one or more of a plurality of different features of the software programs being at least partially inaccessible to a user without a password, the loading being performed by a first entity, the software programs being created by at least a second entity distinct from the first entity;

selling the computer to a user;

receiving a request from the user to access one or more of the plurality of different features of the software program, which request includes an identifier from the software program, the identifier being based at least in part on a characteristic of an entity to which access to the software program is linked, different such characteristics being usable to provide access to different ones of the plurality of different features of the software program; and

forwarding, to the user over a communications network, a password for accessing one or more of the plurality of different features of the software program, the password generated using at least the identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is received by a licensing server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is received by the second entity.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is based at least in part on a characteristic of a device accessible to the computer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is based at least in part on a characteristic of hardware in the computer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is based at least in part on a characteristic of a user of the software program.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the password is generated using the first identifier as a seed to a number generator.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the request includes payment information associated with access to the software program.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the payment information is related to a monetary payment.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising processing the payment information to affect a transfer of funds.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the payment information comprises credit card information.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the password is generated using a technique which does not use any additional characteristic of the entity to which access to the software program is linked.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the password is generated using a technique which only allows the password to be validated using at least data accessible to the software program.

14. A method for accessing software comprising a plurality of different features, the method comprising:

purchasing a computer, the computer including a software program stored on a hard drive, one or more of a plurality of different features of the software program being at least partially inaccessible to a user without a password, the software program being loaded on the computer by a first entity, the software programs being created by at least a second entity distinct from the first entity;

requesting access to one or more of the plurality of different features of the software program, wherein the requesting includes transmitting an identifier from the software program, the identifier being based at least in part on a characteristic of an entity to which access to the software program is linked, different such characteristics being usable to provide access to different ones of the plurality of different features of the software program;

receiving, over a communications network, a password for accessing one or more of the plurality of different features of the software program, generated using at least the identifier; and

using the password to access the software program, including one or more of the plurality of different features of the software program.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the requesting access is performed by a user.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the requesting the password is initiated by another software program.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the request is received by a licensing server.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the request is received by the second entity.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the identifier is based at least in part on a characteristic of a device accessible to the computer.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the identifier is based at least in part on a characteristic of hardware in the computer.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the identifier is based at least in part on a characteristic of a user of the software program.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the password is generated using the first identifier as a seed to a number generator.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the request includes payment information associated with access to the software program.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the payment information is related to a monetary payment.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising processing the payment information to affect a transfer of funds.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the payment information comprises credit card information.

27. The method of claim 14, wherein the password is generated using a technique which does not use any additional characteristic of the entity to which access to the software program is linked.

28. The method of claim 14, wherein the password is generated using a technique which only allows the password to be validated using at least data accessible to the software program.