Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q30/00—Commerce
  • G06Q30/06—Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F21/00—Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
  • G06F21/10—Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F2211/00—Indexing scheme relating to details of data-processing equipment not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00
  • G06F2211/007—Encryption, En-/decode, En-/decipher, En-/decypher, Scramble, (De-)compress

Definitions

• the invention refers to a system for data transmission over an electrical link including at least one distribution server and one client station, which requests transfer of a specific data set from a distributor communicating with the distribution server.
• DE-A1- 3938479 describes a system for transmitting, for instance software via a network between a first and a second computer software.
• the software consists of two programme portions, one part sends back an inquiry to the first computer for permission to use the software, which as a positive answer sends a key over to the second computer, which locks up the software for use.
• One objective of the present invention is to eliminate above problems and ensure for instance payment, distribution and sales report to possible supplier.
• a further object of the invention is to provide an entirely novel method to practise trade with software products, which contributes to environmental savings, low costs, rapidity and possible positive cash flow, preferably without credits from the supplier or others.
• the server being arranged to produce a first encrypted and with a password-locked package of the specific data set, which password is generated at least partly based on the information received from the client station.
• the server is arranged to produce a second package containing said first package and an instruction set, whereby at least parts of said second package can be accessed if the client station receives it in its entirety after a transmission.
• the encrypted data set further being provided to be accessed if the client station performs instructions acceptable by the distributor, which supplies the password for unlocking said first package.
• Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a computer network
• Fig. 2 is a flow chart showing the steps according to the present invention
• Fig. 3 is a schematic view of a transmission package, according to the invention.
• the system in its simplest form illustrated schematically in fig. 1, includes at least one service unit 10 or a server and one or more consumer stations 11, which are interconnected via some type of electrical link or network 12.
• the server 10 is directly or indirectly equipped with storage units for storing information and software to be distributed.
• the server 10 may also include different databases containing information about customers, products, price lists etc.
• a consumer station 11 is connected to the server 10 via a network 12 by means of a modem or the like and besides suitable communication softwares does not need other special softwares to stablish contact with an appropriate server 10.
• Fig. 2 shows the flow chart for the procedure when a contact is established and the communication between the server 10 and the station 11.
• the main object of the procedure is to generate a package 24 (fig. 3), substantially on request, containing the requested software 20 or other data 21, 22 in encrypted form and instructions, which can instruct to decode the encrypted information.
• the distribution procedure 100 On request for purchase, the distribution procedure starts 100.
• the distribution procedure 100 requests 101 or automatically fetches necessary information about the buyer, for example name and electrical addresses, to which the order software should be delivered.
• the procedure waits 102, 103 until necessary information has been obtained. It is possible to check the buyer so that a buyer with poor credit rating is not allowed to buy the software.
• a procedure 104 for generating codes to accompany the delivery starts.
• the code which is called reference cod 21, includes, e.g. mainly information about the identity of the software which the customer has requested, date and the time for the transmission and the identity information.
• a password 105 is generated preferably from the reference cod according to a separate algorithm, for example by picking parts of information in the code or creating a special check sum, which is the basis for generation of the password.
• a reference file is stored, which primarily includes buyer identity, an electrical delivery address and the reference cod generated according above.
• This reference file is updated 106 before transmission.
• a registration file 22 is generated 107, for example a text file intended for the buyer.
• the file also contains information to be re-transmitted to the supplier as well as information about the procedure for registering the software etc.
• the file can contain a password or a unique identity cod, which corresponds to the supplier to control the authenticity of the file.
• a first electronic package called the software package mainly containing the registration file 22 and the purchased software 20 as well as possible instruction documents 21 is created 108, packaged (preferably produced in a known way just as one file), encrypted and lucked with a password generated according to above description.
• an instruction file 23 is created 109, for example a text file, which among others contains instructions to the buyer about the payment procedure, licence conditions and the reference cod according above. This file is not encrypted and can be opened by the buyer.
• a second package 24 is created 110, called the transmission package including the software package created according to stage 108 and the non encrypted instruction file 23.
• the second package 24 can be created through such a method, that if the package due to transmission is damaged or if no complete transmission is carried out, the readability of the instruction file is prevented. For this reason, a control of the check sum of the package or the like can be carried out.
• the package 24 is generated through recognizable techniques known for a person skilled in the art and therefore no closer description is provided.
• the transmission package 24 is then transmitted 111 to the electronic address obtained from the customer and the procedure is terminated 112, but a second part of the procedure can be started, which waits 113 for payment from the buyer.
• the transmission is carried out in a known way over a modem or network/modem, for example through use of FTP (Filet Transmission Protocol), packet switching or the like.
• FTP Filet Transmission Protocol
• the entire or parts of the transmission package 24 may as well be compressed and/or converted to a (self) executable program, which can be ran by at reception.
• the transmission file can be opened by the buyer and the instructions in the non-encrypted part of the package, i.e. in the instruction file be displayed.
• the fact that the transmission file can be opened confirms that the transmission has succeeded and is complete, which becomes a transfer acknowledgement.
• the buyer can then read the instructions and settle the payment according to the instructions to a payment receiver, for example a bank or the like, at the same time indicating the received reference cod and other possible identity cods, e.g. his address, if the indicated reference cod is wrong.
• a payment receiver for example a bank or the like
• the server waits 113 for a communication from the payment receiver (the bank), that the payment has been received as well as the reference cod.
• the server controls its reference database and if a correct amount is paid, it generates (or fetches from a database) once again the password based on the reference cod corresponding to that specific software package and transmits it to the buyer's electronic address.
• the buyer can now use the password to decrypt the purchased software and install it.
• the payment can be deducted directly from an account at the distributor, which is performed automatically when the instruction file is opened or a special code from the instruction file is sent back to the server.
• the server sends back the password as soon as acknowledgement from the instruction file has been received.
• system can be provided with security routines, which indicate that no payment has been received after a certain period, so that the distributor or other suppliers can control if the software is decrypted and opened in some other way.
• the system can be provided with a report generator, which transmits a report to the software producer, for example including information about the sale per software unit with the password that is used.
• the password information makes it possible to provide self controlling reporting procedure. If the producer's system receives registration files with other password than the one reported by the system, according to invention, the reports from the system are assumed to be incorrect and further control may be performed. As a further precaution the annual sale of sold softwares can be confirmed to the suppliers, for example from the bank after an audit from the company accountants.
• the system according to the present invention facilitates different alternatives to reduce the failure intensity, which provides a safe and reliable system.
• the buyer may complain to the system by indicating the reference cod.
• the code is controlled in comparison to the reference file and even though it is missing but the code is correct (for example through creating a new code by means of date information in the reference cod) the system can send a new password, but if the code is invalid, the earlier is discovered and a reimbursement can be performed.
• the customer is asked to resend the software package to the system for control and a new package can be sent to the customer, if he is right; preferably, all steps are performed through electronic distribution.
• the system may after verification of the accomplished purchase allow the customer to receive the password directly after a new transmission initiated by the customer.
• the invention is neither limited to sale and purchase of software via Internet.
• the system can be used within different applications and different network solutions.
• the system can be used for secure transmission of data, for example between different computers where acknowledgement for transmitted correct data is required.
• the data may consist of moving (video or the like) or still images, newspaper articles, music, currency transactions, purchase and distribution of books (a so-called paperback) or the like. It is obvious for a skilled person that the steps according to the description may be varied or performed simultaneously.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Software Systems (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
• Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
• Technology Law (AREA)
• Finance (AREA)
• Multimedia (AREA)
• Development Economics (AREA)
• Economics (AREA)
• Marketing (AREA)
• Strategic Management (AREA)
• General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Storage Device Security (AREA)
• Computer And Data Communications (AREA)
• Information Transfer Between Computers (AREA)
• Small-Scale Networks (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

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Citations (5)

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• 1997
  • 1997-01-09 SE SE9700063A patent/SE513104C2/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1998
  • 1998-01-09 AU AU55834/98A patent/AU5583498A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1998-01-09 WO PCT/SE1998/000011 patent/WO1998030964A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1998-01-09 EP EP98900795A patent/EP0954818A4/de not_active Withdrawn

Patent Citations (5)

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