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Computer implemented method and system for controlling use of digitally encoded products

  • US 7,376,971 B2
  • Filed: 10/10/2002
  • Issued: 05/20/2008
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2001
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A computer-implemented method of controlling use of digitally encoded products including the steps of:

  • requesting execution of a digitally encoded product on a computer;

    intercepting the execution request before starting of execution of the product;

    determining whether the product is included in a control memory structure of the computer indicative of products to be controlled;

    responsive to determining that the product is included in the control memory structure;

    verifying compliance of the execution request with authorised conditions of use of the product, wherein verifying compliance of the execution request includes;

    sending a request message indicative of the execution request from the computer to a metering server associated with a plurality of computers;

    granting or denying an authorisation to run the product by the metering server according to a comparison between licensing information indicative of the authorised conditions of use for all the associated computers and a metering memory structure indicative of authorisations to run currently granted by the metering server,sending a corresponding response message from the metering server to the computer, andadding the product to the metering memory structure when the authorisation to run has been granted; and

    enabling or preventing starting of execution of the product according to the result of the verification; and

    responsive to determining that the product is not included in the control memory structure;

    enabling starting of the product;

    adding an indication of the product to a log stored on the computer;

    periodically transmitting the log to the associated metering server; and

    updating the control memory structure and the licensing information according to the log.

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