Software distribution via a computer network connection

• US 7,778,928 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2003
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: McAfee, LLC
• Original Assignee: McAfee, Inc. (McAfee, LLC)
• Inventors: Clark, Jack Robert Arron
• Primary Examiner(s): Fischer; Andrew J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MURDOUGH, JOSHUA A
• Application Number:
  US10/706,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20050108175A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,468 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/59
• 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 63/061 for key exchange, e.g. in peer-to-peer networks cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key agreement H04L9/0838
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

A licence ticket 6 obtained by a user 12, such as by purchase from a retail outlet 4, bears a licence key 12 behind a scratch off panel 10. This licence key when entered into a webpage dialog with a download server 16 is validated by that download server 16 as legitimate and used to trigger download and installation of a computer program product onto the user'"'"'s computer 14.

Claims

1. A method for distributing a computer program product, said method comprising the steps of:

obtaining a licence ticket bearing a licence key;

inputting at a user computer a download source computer address of a download source computer of a supplier of said computer program product;

establishing a computer network connection between said user computer and said download source computer;

inputting said licence key at said user computer;

transmitting said licence key from said user computer to said download source computer via said computer network connection;

validating said licence key sent to said download source computer based on said transmitting of said licence key, utilizing said download source computer, wherein said receipt of said data indicating sale of said licence ticket validates said licence key associated with said licence ticket such upon subsequent receipt of said licence key at said download source computer said licence key will be treated as valid; and

if said licence key is valid, then;

(i) downloading said computer program product to said user computer; and

(ii) installing said computer program product to be resident upon said user computer;

wherein when said licence ticket is purchased a seller of said licence ticket transmits data indicating sale of said licence ticket to said supplier of said computer program product;

wherein receipt of said data indicating sale of said licence ticket triggers said supplier of said computer program product to charge said seller for a licence to use said computer program product.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said licence ticket is obtained via a purchase by a user.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said data indicating sale of said licence ticket indicates one or more computer program products of which download and installation is to be allowed by said licence key of said licence ticket.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein if said licence key is valid, then a user account is created associated with said licence key.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said licence key is hidden upon said licence ticket so as to be non-reversibly revealable by a user.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said licence key is hidden behind a scratch off covering upon said licence ticket.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said licence ticket bears a licence ticket identifier used to identify licence tickets released to be available to be obtained by a user.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said licence ticket includes a front side and a back side.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said licence ticket includes a bar code identifying said licence ticket.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein validating said licence key includes comparing said licence key with a list of valid licence keys.

13. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the download source computer address is printed on the licence ticket.

14. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the licence key is only enabled to be used to validate said download of said computer program product when said data indicating sale of said licence ticket is received by said supplier.

8. A method for installing a computer program product, said method comprising the steps of:

obtaining a licence ticket bearing a licence key;

inputting at a user computer a download source computer address of a download source computer of a supplier of said computer program product;

establishing a computer network connection between said user computer and said download source computer;

inputting said licence key at said user computer;

transmitting said licence key from said user computer to said download source computer via said computer network connection; and

if said licence key is valid as determined based on said transmitting of said licence key, utilizing said download source computer, wherein said receipt of said data indicating sale of said licence ticket validates said licence key associated with said licence ticket such upon subsequent receipt of said licence key at said download source computer said licence key will be treated as valid, then;

(i) downloading said computer program product to said user computer; and

(ii) installing said computer program product to be resident upon said user computer;

wherein when said licence ticket is purchased a seller of said licence ticket transmits data indicating sale of said licence ticket to said supplier of said computer program product;

wherein receipt of said data indicating sale of said licence ticket triggers said supplier of said computer program product to charge said seller for a licence to use said computer program product.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said licence ticket is obtained via a purchase by a user.

15. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said data indicating sale of said licence ticket indicates one or more computer program products of which download and installation is to be allowed by said licence key of said licence ticket.

16. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein if said licence key is valid, then a user account is created associated with said licence key.

17. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said licence key is hidden upon said licence ticket so as to be non-reversibly revealable by a user.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said licence key is hidden behind a scratch off covering upon said licence ticket.

19. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said licence ticket bears a licence ticket identifier used to identify licence tickets released to be available to be obtained by a user.

20. A method for supplying a computer program product, said method comprising the steps of:

in response to a connection request from a user computer, establishing a computer network connection between said user computer and a download source computer;

receiving a licence key input by a user at said user computer, said licence key being borne by a licence ticket obtained by said user;

validating said licence key sent to said download source computer based on receipt of said licence key at said download source computer, utilizing said download source computer, wherein said receipt of said data indicating sale of said licence ticket validates said licence key associated with said licence ticket such upon subsequent receipt of said licence key at said download source computer said licence key will be treated as valid; and

if said licence key is valid, then downloading said computer program product to said user computer for installation to be resident upon said user computer;

wherein when said licence ticket is purchased a seller of said licence ticket transmits data indicating sale of said licence ticket to a supplier of said computer program product associated with said download source computer;

wherein receipt of said data indicating sale of said licence ticket triggers said supplier of said computer program product to charge said seller for a licence to use said computer program product.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein said licence ticket is obtained via a purchase by said user.

22. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein said data indicating sale of said licence ticket indicates one or more computer program products of which download and installation is to be allowed by said licence key of said licence ticket.

23. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein if said licence key is valid, then a user account is created associated with said licence key.

24. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein said licence key is hidden upon said licence ticket so as to be non-reversibly revealable by said user.

25. A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein said licence key is hidden behind a scratch off covering upon said licence ticket.

26. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein said licence ticket bears a licence ticket identifier used to identify licence tickets released to be available to be obtained by said user.

27. A software supply controlling computer program embodied on a tangible computer readable medium operable to control a download source computer to supply a computer program product to a user computer, said software supply controlling computer program comprising:

connection establishing code operable in response to a connection request from a user computer to establish a computer network connection between said user computer and said download source computer;

licence key receiving code operable to receive a licence key input by a user at said user computer, said licence key being borne by a licence ticket obtained by said user;

licence key validating code operable to validate said licence key sent to said download source computer based on receipt of said licence key at said download source computer, utilizing said download source computer, wherein said receipt of said data indicating sale of said licence ticket validates said licence key associated with said licence ticket such upon subsequent receipt of said licence key at said download source computer said licence key will be treated as valid; and

downloading code operable if said licence key is valid to download said computer program product to said user computer for installation to be resident upon said user computer;

wherein said software supply controlling computer program is operable such that when said licence ticket is purchased a seller of said licence ticket transmits data indicating sale of said licence ticket to a supplier of said computer program product associated with said download source computer;

wherein said software supply controlling computer program is operable such that receipt of said data indicating sale of said licence ticket triggers said supplier of said computer program product to charge said seller for a licence to use said computer program product.

28. A software supply controlling computer program embodied on a tangible computer readable medium as claimed in claim 27, wherein said licence ticket is obtained via a purchase by said user.

29. A software supply controlling computer program embodied on a tangible computer readable medium as claimed in claim 27, wherein said data indicating sale of said licence ticket indicates one or more computer program products of which download and installation is to be allowed by said licence key of said licence ticket.

30. A software supply controlling computer program embodied on a tangible computer readable medium as claimed in claim 27, wherein if said licence key is valid, then a user account is created associated with said licence key.

31. A software supply controlling computer program embodied on a tangible computer readable medium as claimed in claim 27, wherein said licence key is hidden upon said licence ticket so as to be non-reversibly revealable by said user.

32. A software supply controlling computer program embodied on a tangible computer readable medium as claimed in claim 31, wherein said licence key is hidden behind a scratch off covering upon said licence ticket.

33. A software supply controlling computer program embodied on a tangible computer readable medium as claimed in claim 27, wherein said licence ticket bears a licence ticket identifier used to identify licence tickets released to be available to be obtained by said user.