Computer architecture for managing courseware in a shared use operating environment
First Claim
1. A method for managing content in a shared use operating environment, the shared use operating environment including a registration server, a content server connectable by a network link to the registration server, and a client workstation connectable by a client-server network communications link to the content server, the method comprising the steps of:
- registering a user at the registration server, thereby characterizing the user as a registered user;
receiving at the content server a request by the registered user for access to content which contains at least one previously treated critical portion;
authenticating the request;
serving at least the critical portion over the client-server network communications link for presentation to the registered user at the client workstation;
preventing a copy of the critical portion of the content from being created on nonvolatile storage at the client workstation at least in part by disabling caching and other disk writes, andsending another portion of the content to nonvolatile storage at the client workstation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, devices, and systems are provided in a multi-level computer architecture which provides improved capabilities for managing courseware and other content in a shared use operating environment such as a computer network. In particular, the invention provides a commercial networked instruction content delivery method and system which does not exclude synchronous sharing but is focused on asynchronous sharing. Security means in the architecture provide content property holders with the ability to know how many minutes of use an individual made of licensed material and with increased certainty that their material cannot be used, copied, or sold in usable form unless and until a user site is connected or reconnected to a minute-by-minute counter which is located off the premises of the user. This security link helps protect software and other works which are being sold or licensed to an individual, organization, or entity, and creates income opportunities for owners of such content.
92 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for managing content in a shared use operating environment, the shared use operating environment including a registration server, a content server connectable by a network link to the registration server, and a client workstation connectable by a client-server network communications link to the content server, the method comprising the steps of:
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registering a user at the registration server, thereby characterizing the user as a registered user; receiving at the content server a request by the registered user for access to content which contains at least one previously treated critical portion; authenticating the request; serving at least the critical portion over the client-server network communications link for presentation to the registered user at the client workstation; preventing a copy of the critical portion of the content from being created on nonvolatile storage at the client workstation at least in part by disabling caching and other disk writes, and sending another portion of the content to nonvolatile storage at the client workstation. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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2. A method for managing content in an operating environment that includes peer-to-peer nodes, the method comprising the steps of:
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registering users; checking user passwords to prevent unregistered users from receiving content services; receiving at a first peer node a request by a registered user for access to content which contains at least one previously treated critical portion; serving at least the critical portion over a network communications link to a second peer node for presentation to the registered user; preventing a copy of the critical portion of the content from being created on nonvolatile storage at the second peer node, at least in part by disabling caching and other disk writes, and sending another portion of the content to nonvolatile storage at the second peer node. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification