Software distribution system
First Claim
1. A method of transferring software from a central station to requester equipment in communication with said central station over a communications link for storage at said requester equipment, said method comprising the steps of receiving a request for a particular program, transmitting said particular program to said requester equipment and interrupting said communications link, said method further comprising the steps of:
- transmitting executable program material to said requester equipment in response to communication from said requester equipment to said central station and in addition to said particular program; and
executing at least a portion of said additional program material at said requester equipment prior to interruption of said communications link to prevent unauthorized use of said particular program.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A central station distributes software by telephone. The central station accepts credit card information, transmits an acceptance code to a caller and then terminates the call. After verifying the credit card information, the station calls the purchaser back and continues with the transaction only after receiving the acceptance code. The central station then transmits a Control Transfer Program and Initialization Program to the purchaser, and the purchaser executes the Initialization Program to turn over control of the purchaser computer to the central station. The Control Transfer Program is then executed to transfer first a Protection program for ensuring that no memory resident copying programs are running, than a Storing Program for modifying the purchased program for storage at the purchaser computer, and finally the requested program itself. During the transaction, the various transmitted programs are erased, so that at the end of the transaction only a copy protected version of the purchased program remains on the purchaser'"'"'s disk.
968 Citations
52 Claims
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1. A method of transferring software from a central station to requester equipment in communication with said central station over a communications link for storage at said requester equipment, said method comprising the steps of receiving a request for a particular program, transmitting said particular program to said requester equipment and interrupting said communications link, said method further comprising the steps of:
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transmitting executable program material to said requester equipment in response to communication from said requester equipment to said central station and in addition to said particular program; and executing at least a portion of said additional program material at said requester equipment prior to interruption of said communications link to prevent unauthorized use of said particular program. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 49, 51)
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28. A method of transferring software from a central station to requester equipment in communication with said central station over a communications link for storage at said requester equipment, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request for a particular program; transmitting an acceptance code to said requester equipment; interrupting said communications link between said central station and said requester equipment; reestablishing said communications link from said central station; requesting an acceptance code from said requester equipment; receiving an acceptance code at said central station from said requester equipment; comparing the received acceptance code to the code transmitted to said requester; and transmitting said particular program to said requester equipment after verifying that the received and transmitted acceptance codes are the same.
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29. A system for transferring software from a central station to requester equipment in communication with said central station over a communications link for storage at said requester equipment, said system comprising:
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means at said central station for receiving a request for a particular program; means at said central station for transmitting executable program material from said central station to said requester equipment in response to communication from said requester equipment to said central station and in addition to said particular program; and means for initiating execution of said program material by said requester equipment to prevent unauthorized use of said particular program. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 50, 52)
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48. A system for transferring software from a central station to requester equipment in communication with said central station over a communications link for storage at said requester equipment, said system comprising:
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means for receiving a request for a particular program; means for transmitting an acceptance code to said requester equipment; means for interrupting said communications link between said central station and said requester equipment; means for reestablishing said communications link from said central station; means for requesting an acceptance code from said requester equipment; means for receiving an acceptance code at said central station from said requester equipment; means for comparing the received acceptance code to the code sent to said requester; and means for transmitting said particular program to said requester equipment after verifying that the received and transmitted acceptance codes are the same.
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Specification