Secure software rental system using distributed software

• US 5,548,645 A
• Filed: 07/07/1994
• Issued: 08/20/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stamps.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mohan Ananda
• Inventors: Ananda, Mohan
• Primary Examiner(s): Cangialosi, Salvatore
• Application Number:
  US08/271,472
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 380/4, 380/25, 364/401
• US Class Current: 705/52
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/125 by manipulating the program code, e.g. source code, compiled code, interpreted code, machine code
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/007 Encryption, En-/decode, En-/decipher, En-/decypher, Scramble, (De-)compress
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2135 Metering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/10 Tax strategies

Abstract

A system is disclosed for providing secure access and execution of application software by a first computer while a communication link is maintained between the first computer and a second computer. More specifically, a secure software rental system is disclosed. The system enables a user in a remote location using the first computer and a modem to connect to the second computer, transfer an application software either from the second computer or from a local storage device to the first computer, and execute the application software on the first computer while connected to the second computer. When the communication link between the second computer and the first computer is interrupted or terminated, the application software no longer executes on the first computer. This is accomplished by integrating header software with the application software. The application software stored in the second computer or in the local storage device is integrated with the header software to provide a security feature. The use of header software allows the user to execute the application software only while the user is continuously connected to the second computer. This prevents the user from copying the application software, and subsequently executing the application software after interrupting or terminating the communications link between the second and first computers.

Claims

1. A method for securely renting software, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a communication link between a first computer and a second computer;

loading in said first computer at least one application software from a plurality of application softwares stored in a local storage device;

executing said at least one application software on said first computer, by periodically obtaining authorization from said second computer, wherein said authorization is obtained when a first dynamic password generated by said first computer matches a second dynamic password generated by said second computer; and

terminating execution of said at least one application software when said authorization is not obtained.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said local storage device is a CD-ROM.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein said communication link between said first and second computers is established through modems.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said loading step comprises the steps of:

selecting said locale storage device for accessing said at least one application software; and

storing in said first computer a selection time indicating when said selecting step is performed.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said first and second dynamic passwords comprise a time difference between said selection time and a current time of a processor of said first computer.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said first and second dynamic passwords further comprise a user identification password and an application software identification number.

7. The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein said step of establishing said communication link between said first computer and said second computer comprises the steps of:

executing a communication manager on said first computer; and

said first computer accessing said second computer using said communication manager to begin a rental session.

8. A method of providing secure software rental, comprising the steps of:

transferring a communication manager from a central rental facility to a user computer;

initiating a rental session by accessing said central rental facility using said communication manager, said communication manager executing on said user computer;

selecting a rental application from a plurality of rental applications stored in a local storage device, said rental application comprising an application software and an asynchronous header;

loading said selected rental application from said local storage device to said user computer;

executing said rental application on said user computer;

said rental application initiating said asynchronous header for dynamic password verification to ensure continuous communication between said user computer and said central rental facility; and

continuously checking to determine if said dynamic password verification is successful using said header, said header terminating said rental application when said dynamic password verification fails.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said rental application is loaded from a CD-ROM.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said rental application is terminated by said asynchronous header sending a message to said application software.

11. A method of synchronously verifying a continuous connection between first and second computers while a rental application software executes on said first computer, said rental application comprising a header, said first and second computers electronically connected by a communications path, comprising the steps of:

(a) determining a loading time, the loading time being the time when said rental application is loaded from a local storage device to said first computer;

(b) transferring said loading time from said first computer to said second computer;

(c) computing a time difference between a system time of said first computer and said loading time using said header;

(d) generating a first dynamic password dependent on said time difference using said header;

(e) transmitting a password verification request comprising said system time to said second computer;

(f) checking for a password verification response from said second computer, said header terminating said rental application when a password verification response is not received;

(g) comparing a received dynamic password of said password verification response with said first dynamic password, said received dynamic password generated by said second computer, said header terminating said rental application when said received dynamic password and said first dynamic password do not match;

(h) allowing a first time interval to lapse;

(i) repeating steps (c)-(h).

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said local storage device is a CD-ROM.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said password verification request and said password verification response are encrypted by said first and said second computers respectively.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said first dynamic password is stored in memory means of said first computer.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein said first dynamic password is further dependent on a user identifier and an application identifier.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein said password verification request further comprises a user identifier and an application identifier.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein said first time interval is thirty seconds.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein said step of checking for a password verification response is performed after a second time interval elapses.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said second time interval is thirty seconds.

20. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of decrypting said password verification request and said password verification response by said second and said first computers respectively.