Software distribution method and apparatus

• US 20070027813A1
• Filed: 08/07/2006
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Clement, Kurt
• Granted Patent: US 8,099,366 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/57
• 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 21/12 Protecting executable software
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

The present invention provides for a method and apparatus for distributing digital information, such as software applications, to application users. By providing the digital information on unused memory space of a computer system, and providing a process for authorizing access to the information, the information can be efficiently and cost effectively transferred to users. Traditional inventory and distribution channel difficulties are avoided.

Claims

1-29. -29. (canceled)

30. A method of distributing software with a computer system, the method comprising:

recording digital data on a storage device in the computer system; and

controlling access to the digital data in the computer system by;

in response to receiving a first request for access to the digital data, contacting a party authorized to grant access to the digital data;

if the party provides authorization to grant access to the digital data, recording the authorization in the computer system and granting a first access to the digital data based on the recorded authorization; and

in response to receiving at least a second request for access to the digital data, granting a second access to the digital data based on the authorization recorded in the computer system.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein recording digital data on a storage device includes recording software application program instructions on a fixed medium.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein recording digital data on a storage device includes recording the digital data on a non-volatile storage device.

33. The method of claim 30 wherein recording digital data on a storage device includes recording the digital data on a removable media storage device.

34. The method of claim 30 wherein recording digital data on a storage device includes recording program instructions that enable a software application that does not depend on continued access to a network for fully functional operation.

35. The method of claim 30 wherein controlling access to the digital data further includes determining if a user has a sufficient account credit to continue access to the digital data.

36. The method of claim 30 wherein controlling access to the digital data further includes determining if a user should be billed for accessing the digital data.

37. The method of claim 30 wherein controlling access to the digital data further includes verifying an access permission of a user.

38. The method of claim 30 wherein controlling access to the digital data further includes verifying an access permission of the computer system.

39. A method of controlling access to digital data in a computer system, the method comprising:

receiving a first request for access to the digital data;

in response to receiving the first request, contacting a party authorized to grant access to the digital data;

if the party provides authorization to grant access to the digital data, recording the authorization in the computer system and granting a first access to the digital data based on the recorded authorization;

receiving at least a second request for access to the digital data; and

in response to receiving the second request, granting a second access to the data based on the authorization recorded in the computer system.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the digital data includes a software application, and wherein the method further comprises storing the software application on the computer system during manufacture of the computer system.

41. The method of claim 39 wherein contacting a party authorized to grant access to the digital data includes automatically executing computer readable instructions to activate a network link to contact the party.

42. The method of claim 39 wherein contacting a party authorized to grant access to the digital data includes automatically executing computer readable instructions to activate access to the Internet to contact the party.

43. The method of claim 39 wherein the computer system is a first computer system, and wherein contacting a party authorized to grant access to the digital data includes contacting a second computer system remote from the first computer system.

44. The method of claim 39, further comprising presenting an opportunity to qualify for access to the digital data if the party does not provide authorization to grant access to the digital data.

45. The method of claim 39, further comprising generating a request to set up an account if the party does not provide authorization to grant access to the digital data.

46. A software module operable to control access to a software application recorded on a storage device in a computer system, the software module operating by a method comprising:

detecting a first use of the software application on the computer system;

in response to detecting the first use, contacting a party authorized to grant access to the software application;

if the party provides authorization to grant access to the software application;

recording the authorization in the computer system; and

granting a first access to the software application based on the recorded authorization;

detecting at least a second use of the software application on the computer system; and

in response to detecting the second use, granting a second access to the software application based on the authorization recorded in the computer system.

47. The software module of claim 46 wherein the software application does not depend on continued access to a network for fully functional operation.

48. The software module of claim 46 wherein the software module and the software application are stored on the computer system during manufacture of the computer system.

49. The software module of claim 46 wherein verifying authority to access the software application verifies authority of a particular user to access the software application.

50. The software module of claim 46 wherein verifying authority to access the software application verifies authority of an accessing computer system to access the software application.

51. The software module of claim 46 wherein verifying authority to access the software application is accomplished through a network connection.

52. A computer system comprising:

a software application;

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor; and

a software module executable on the processor and the memory, wherein the software module controls access to the software application by a method comprising;

contacting a party authorized to grant access to the software application;

if the party provides authorization to grant access to the software application, recording authorization in the memory and granting a first access to the software application based on the recorded authorization.

53. The computer system of claim 52, further comprising a network connection, wherein contacting a party authorized to grant access to the software application includes contacting the party via the network connection.

54. The computer system of claim 52, further comprising an Internet interface, wherein contacting a party authorized to grant access to the software application includes contacting the party via the Internet interface.

56. The computer system of claim 52 wherein the accessed software application does not depend on continued access to a network for fully functional operation.

55. The computer system of clam 52 wherein the software module and the software application are stored on the computer system during manufacture of the computer system.

57. A computer system comprising:

digital data stored on a fixed medium in the computer system;

means for receiving a first request for access to the digital data;

means for automatically contacting a party authorized to grant access to the digital data, in response to receiving the first request;

means for recording an authorization to grant access to the digital data in the computer system if the party provides such an authorization;

means for granting a first access to the digital data based on the recorded authorization;

means for receiving at least a second request for access to the digital data; and

means for granting a second access to the data based on the authorization recorded in the computer system, in response to receiving the second request.

58. The computer system of claim 57 wherein the digital data includes a software application, and wherein the software application and the means for means for automatically contacting a party are installed in the computer system during manufacture of the computer system.

59. The computer system of claim 57 wherein the means for automatically contacting a party authorized to grant access to the digital data include means for activating a network connection.