Software key control for mobile devices

• US 7,792,522 B1
• Filed: 01/16/2007
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Positive Access Corp. (Intellicheck, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Positive Access Corp. (Intellicheck, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bussey, Mark G., Zimmerman, Fred C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pérez-Gutiérrez; Rafael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Behrooz; Neda
• Application Number:
  US11/653,500
• Time in Patent Office: 1,330 Days
• Field of Search: 455418-420, 4554141-4142, 455/410, 717168-177, 709/203, 709/219, 709/232, 713/171, 713/182
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/062 applying encryption of the keys cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution using key encryption key H04L9/0822
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 applying security measures for digital rights management data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for commerce, e.g. marketing, shopping, billing, auctions or e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/103 applying security measure for protecting copy right protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment, e.g. protection the software providers copyright G06F21/10; data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; secrecy systems or subscription systems H04N7/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/71 Hardware identity

Abstract

A software key control system and method for mobile devices. When a customer orders a software product, the seller issues a temporary activation key which is posted to a key registration web server. The customer then locates the mobile device'"'"'s unique device ID and accesses the web server to provide the temporary activation key. The web server creates a registration key based on the customer'"'"'s temporary activation key and device ID. The registration key is transferred to the customer'"'"'s mobile device and the customer can then register the ordered software product. The system and method of the present invention thereby automate the sale and distribution of keys for mobile devices.

Claims

1. A method of managing software activation keys for mobile devices comprising the steps of:

requesting, by a user and as at least part of a purchase, a software product for installation and operation on a user mobile device having a device ID;

creating a unique temporary activation key associated with the software product and the purchase, wherein the temporary activation key comprises software product information and purchase information;

transmitting the temporary activation key to a user-accessible network site;

accessing, by a user, the temporary activation key at the network site by providing the device ID;

creating a permanent registration key associated with the software product using the temporary activation key, the software product information, the purchase information, and the device ID;

transmitting and storing the permanent registration key on the user mobile device; and

registering the software product for installation and operation on the user mobile device using the permanent registration key.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of notifying the user that the temporary activation key has been transmitted to the network site.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of creating a permanent registration key further comprises selecting a key encryption algorithm and using the key encryption algorithm to generate the permanent registration key.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of activating a full version of the software product for use on the user mobile device after registering the software product.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of temporarily activating the software product for use on the user mobile device after registering the software product.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of partially activating the software product for use on the user mobile device after registering the software product.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of repeating the steps of the method using a new device ID to issue a replacement registration key.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of monitoring issuance of a replacement registration key by notifying a software product provider.

9. A software key control system for mobile devices comprising:

means for requesting, as at least part of a purchase, a software product for installation and operation on a user mobile device having a device ID;

computer-implemented means for creating a unique temporary activation key associated with the software product and the purchase, wherein the temporary activation key comprises software product information and purchase information;

computer-implemented means for transmitting the temporary activation key to a user-accessible network site;

computer-implemented means for accessing the temporary activation key at the network site by providing the device ID;

computer-implemented means for creating a permanent registration key associated with the software product using the temporary activation key, the software product information, the purchase information, and the device ID;

computer-implemented means for transmitting and storing the permanent registration key on the user mobile device; and

computer-implemented means for registering the software product for installation and operation on the user mobile device using the permanent registration key.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising computer-implemented means for providing notification that the temporary activation key has been transmitted to the network site.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the computer-implemented means for creating a permanent registration key further comprises means for selecting a key encryption algorithm and means for using the key encryption algorithm to generate the permanent registration key.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising computer-implemented means for activating a full version of the software product for use on the user mobile device after registering the software product.

13. The system of claim 9, further comprising computer-implemented means for temporarily activating the software product for use on the user mobile device after registering the software product.

14. The system of claim 9, further comprising computer-implemented means for partially activating the software product for use on the user mobile device after registering the software product.

15. The system of claim 9, further comprising computer-implemented means for issuing a replacement registration key using a new device ID.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising means for monitoring issuance of a replacement registration key by notifying a software product provider.