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CLAIMS:
1. A method of providing access to a service including disclosing a unique access code provided with a product, said access code providing access to said service for a predetermined period of time.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said access code is disclosed only after purchase or use of said product.
3. A method according to claim 2, including identifying a user of the service by a username for subsequent accesses of the service using different unique access codes.
4. A method according to claim 3, including accessing stored information relating to the user for said subsequent accesses.
5. A method according to claim 4, including registering the user and establishing said username on accessing said service for a first predetermined period of time.
6. A method according to claim 1, including deriving said unique access code from a respective product number for said product.
7. A method according to claim 6, including storing valid product numbers, deriving a product number from said access code, and providing said access to said service when the derived product number is one of said valid product numbers.
8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said access code is derived from said product number by encrypting said product number.
9. A method according to claim 7, wherein the product number derived from said access code is obtained by decrypting said unique access code.
10. A method according to claim 1, wherein said service is provided on a computer system.
11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said system includes at least one Internet 5 server.
12. A method according to claim 10, wherein said service is an entertainment service.
13. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said product is a 10 purchased good.
14. A method according to claim 13, when dependent on claim 7, wherein said valid product numbers identify a batch of said good.
15 15. A service access interface including means for allowing access to a service for a predetermined period of time on entry of a unique access code provided with a product.
16. A service access interface according to claim 15, wherein said access code is disclosed only after purchase or use of said product.
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17. A service access interface according to claim 16, including means for identifying a user of the service by a username for subsequent accesses of the service using different unique access codes.
25 18. A service access interface according to claim 17, including means for accessing stored information relating to the user for said subsequent accesses.
19. A service access interface according to claim 18, including means for registering the user and establishing said username on accessing said service for a first predetermined period 30 of time.
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20. A service access interface according to claim 15, including means for deriving said unique access code from a respective product number for said product.
21. A service access interface according to claim 20, including means for storing valid 5 product numbers, means for deriving a product number from said access code, and means for providing said access to said service when the derived product number is one of said valid product numbers.
22. A service access interface according to claim 21, wherein said access code is derived 10 from said product number by encrypting said product number.
23. A service access interface according to claim 21, wherein said product number is derived from said access code by decrypting said unique access code.
15 24. A service access interface according to claim 15, wherein said interface and said service is provided on a computer system.
25. A service access interface according to claim 24, wherein said system includes at least one Internet server.
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26. A service access interface according to claim 24, wherein said service is an entertainment service.
27. A service access interface according to any one of claims 15 to 26, wherein said 25 product is a purchased good.
28. A service access interface according to claim 27, when dependent on claim 21, wherein said valid product numbers identify a batch of said good.
30 29. A process of attaching a unique access code to a product, including deriving said
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unique access code from a number for said product, and adding said access code to said product such that the access code can only be obtained on using or purchasing said product, said access code providing access to a service for a predetermined period of time.
5 30. A process according to claim 29, including storing valid product numbers, deriving a product number from said access code, and providing said access to said service when the derived product number is one of said valid product numbers.
31. A process according to claim 30, wherein said access code is derived from said 10 product number by encrypting said product number.
32. A process according to claim 21, wherein said product number is derived from said access code by decrypting said unique access code.
15 33. A process according to claim 29, wherein said service is provided on a computer system.
34. A process according to claim 33, wherein said system includes at least one Internet server.
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35. A process according to claim 33, wherein said service is an entertainment service.
36. A process according to any one of claims 29 to 35, wherein said product is a purchased good.
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37. A process according to claim 36, when dependent on claim 30, wherein said valid product numbers identify a batch of said good.
38. A process according to claim 29, wherein said product is a manufactured good and 30 said process is a manufacturing process.
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AMENDED CLAIMS
[received by the International Bureau on 28 June 1999 (28.06.99); original claims 1, 2, 15 and 16 amended; new claims 39 and 40 added (5 pages)]
AMENDED CLAIMS:
1. (Amended) A method of providing access to a service including providing a unique access code with a product without access software and such that said access code is disclosed only after purchase or use of said product, said access code providing access to said service for a predetermined period of time.
2. (Amended) A method according to claim 1, wherein said access code is provided as a reward for said purchase or use of said product.
3. A method according to claim 2, including identifying a user of the service by a username for subsequent accesses of the service using different unique access codes.
4. A method according to claim 3, including accessing stored information relating to the user for said subsequent accesses.
5. A method according to claim 4, including registering the user and establishing said username on accessing said service for a first predetermined period of time.
6. A method according to claim 1, including deriving said unique access code from a respective product number for said product.
7. A method according to claim 6, including storing valid product numbers, deriving a product number from said access code, and providing said access to said service when the derived product number is one of said valid product numbers.
8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said access code is derived from said product number by encrypting said product number.
9. A method according to claim 7, wherein the product number derived from said access code is obtained by decrypting said unique access code.
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10. A method according to claim 1, wherein said service is provided on a computer system.
11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said system includes at least one Internet 5 server.
12. A method according to claim 10, wherein said service is an entertainment service.
13. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said product is a 10 purchased good.
14. A method according to claim 13, when dependent on claim 7, wherein said valid product numbers identify a batch of said good.
15 15. (Amended) A service access interface including means for allowing access to a service for a predetermined period of time on entry of a unique access code provided with a product without access software, said access code being disclosed only after purchase or use of said product.
20 16. (Amended) A service access interface according to claim 15, wherein said access code is provided as a reward for said purchase or use of said product.
17. A service access interface according to claim 16, including means for identifying a user of the service by a username for subsequent accesses of the service using different unique
25 access codes.
18. A service access interface according to claim 17, including means for accessing stored information relating to the user for said subsequent accesses.
30 19. A service access interface according to claim 18, including means for registering the user and establishing said username on accessing said service for a first predetermined period
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of time.
20. A service access interface according to claim 15, including means for deriving said unique access code from a respective product number for said product.
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21. A service access interface according to claim 20, including means for storing valid product numbers, means for deriving a product number from said access code, and means for providing said access to said service when the derived product number is one of said valid product numbers.
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22. A service access interface according to claim 21, wherein said access code is derived from said product number by encrypting said product number.
23. A service access interface according to claim 21, wherein said product number is 15 derived from said access code by decrypting said unique access code.
24. A service access interface according to claim 15, wherein said interface and said service is provided on a computer system.
20 25. A service access interface according to claim 24, wherein said system includes at least one Internet server.
26. A service access interface according to claim 24, wherein said service is an entertainment service.
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27. A service access interface according to any one of claims 15 to 26, wherein said product is a purchased good.
28. A service access interface according to claim 27, when dependent on claim 21, 30 wherein said valid product numbers identify a batch of said good.
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29. A process of attaching a unique access code to a product, including deriving said unique access code from a number for said product, and adding said access code to said product such that the access code can only be obtained on using or purchasing said product, said access code providing access to a service for a predetermined period of time.
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30. A process according to claim 29, including storing valid product numbers, deriving a product number from said access code, and providing said access to said service when the derived product number is one of said valid product numbers.
10 31. A process according to claim 30, wherein said access code is derived from said product number by encrypting said product number.
32. A process according to claim 21, wherein said product number is derived from said access code by decrypting said unique access code.
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33. A process according to claim 29, wherein said service is provided on a computer system.
34. A process according to claim 33, wherein said system includes at least one Internet 20 server.
35. A process according to claim 33, wherein said service is an entertainment service.
36. A process according to any one of claims 29 to 35, wherein said product is a 25 purchased good.
37. A process according to claim 36, when dependent on claim 30, wherein said valid product numbers identify a batch of said good.
30 38. A process according to claim 29, wherein said product is a manufactured good and said process is a manufacturing process.
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39. (New) A method according to claim 2, providing another unique access code as a reward for a further purchase or use of said product, said another unique access code providing access to said service for another said predetermined period of time.
40. (New) A service access interface according to claim 16, wherein said allowing means allows access to said service for another said predetermined period of time on entry of another unique access code provided as a reward for a further purchase or use of said product.