JP2003256670A - Distributed management type net sales method for software and protect program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a distributed management type net sales method allowing a software vender and a net sales agent to perform the reasonable sharing of roles by effectively preventing the software from being illegally used. <P>SOLUTION: The net sales agent provides a protect program for protecting the right for use of the software to the software vender. The software vender acquires the sales software prepared by incorporating the protect program into the sold software from the software vender, discloses the sales software acquired from the software vender to a sales Web site, transmits order information to the software vender after confirming the receipt of an order when an application for purchase is given from a user, notifies the user of a password according to a request from the software vender, and claims a commission including the license fee of the protect program to the software vender. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a computer software net selling method, and more particularly to a distributed management type net selling method in which a software vendor and a net selling agent share a rational role.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Computer software (sometimes referred to simply as software or software products).
As one of the selling methods, there is a method called so-called online selling. In online sales, a user usually accesses a predetermined website via a network, downloads desired software from a file server, and installs it on the user's computer. The user decides whether or not to purchase the software within a predetermined trial period, and pays the usage fee of the software to the software provider (hereinafter referred to as software vendor) when purchasing (continuous use). Apply for purchase.

A software vendor that has received a purchase application from a user issues a license key (also called a password) for recognizing the right to use the software (license) to the user. By inputting the license key that the user has obtained with the software under trial,
You can officially use the software as a registered user. For example, if some functions of the software cannot be used during the trial period (when there is a function restriction), all the functions can be used by entering the license key.

The method of determining the license key, the method of inputting the license key, the method of canceling the function restriction, etc., vary depending on the software vendor (or software producer). In many software, the license key is fixed to the software, and it is difficult to prevent unauthorized use by a third party. That is, it is not possible to effectively prevent unauthorized use of the software by a third party who obtains the license key from a registered user who has obtained the license key by some method. To prevent this, a separate serial number or password should be issued for each user's software usage environment (hardware configuration, etc.), but there is a problem that the management burden on the software vendor increases as the number of users increases. .

[0005] Instead of the software vendors (including software producers) selling the software online and issuing the license key by themselves, it is also possible to outsource the services to an online sales agency. An online sales agency opens a website (hereinafter referred to as a sales site) that handles software sales on the Internet, publishes one or a plurality of software, and allows a user to download from a file server. Then, according to the contract with the software vendor, the business from the sale of the software to the collection of money is performed. In this case, the online sales agency needs to individually deal with troubles such as a case where a purchase application is made by the user but the price including the software usage fee has not been paid.

[0006] Further, for all software products, the online sales agency pays the software vendor a license fee (software usage fee) obtained by subtracting a predetermined fee from the price paid by the user. These paperwork processes will increase as the number of software products handled increases, and the burden on the online sales agent will increase. Further, not all purchase applications and payments for software downloaded from the selling site are made to the selling site. In some cases, purchase applications and payments are made directly by the user to the software vendor. In this case, no order is received or sales are made to the online sales agent, and the net business is lost accordingly.

The present invention effectively prevents illegal use of software in order to solve the above-mentioned problems in the online sales of software, and the software vendor and the online sales agent perform a rational division of roles. It is an object of the present invention to provide a distributed management type online sales method and a protection program for realizing the method.

[0008]

A distributed management type net selling method for software according to the present invention is a method for distributing work by a software vendor and an net selling agent to share the software. The vendor (a) provides the software vendor with a protect program for protecting the right to use the software, and (b) the software vendor creates the software for sale created by incorporating the protect program in the software to be sold. There were steps to obtain from the vendor, (c) to publish the software for sale acquired from the software vendor to the website for online sales so that it could be downloaded from the file server, and (d) there was a purchase application from the user. sometimes, After the confirmation, the step of sending the order information to the software vendor, (e) notifying the password to the user according to the request from the software vendor, and (f) the fee including the license fee of the protection program to the software vendor. Performing the claimed steps.

In a preferred embodiment, the protect program generates a serial number and a password based on a hardware environment of a computer where a user installs and uses software.

In order to confirm the order in step (d), an e-mail describing a predetermined URL is sent to the user, the user is requested to access the URL for confirmation, and the user accesses the URL. It is preferable to confirm the order by doing this.

On the other hand, from the viewpoint of the software vendor, in the software distributed management type online sales method according to the present invention, the software vendor obtains (a) a protection program for protecting the right to use the software from the online sales agent. (B) creating the software for sale by incorporating the protect program into the software to be sold, and (c)
The step of requesting the online sales agency to publish the sales software on the website for online sales, and (d) after confirming the deposit from the user notified by the order information from the online sales agent, the user The step of requesting the Internet sales agent to issue a password to the Internet sales agent, and (e) paying the Internet sales agent a fee including the license fee of the protection program in response to the request from the Internet sales agent. It is characterized by doing.

In addition, the protect program of the present invention used in the above-described software distributed management type online sales method is such that the user installs the software and obtains the serial number and password based on the hardware environment of the computer. It is characterized by generating.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (1) Flow until Software Release FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a flow until the online sales agency publishes the software for sale of the software vendor on the website for online sale. An online sales agency publishes an online sales website on a web server connected to the Internet. This online sales website is referred to as "product square" in the following description.

A software vendor who wants to sell his or her own software using the "Product Square" sponsored by an online sales agent makes a registration application to the "Product Square" in step # 11. The online sales agency who has received the registration application in step # 1 makes an inquiry about the protect program to the software vendor (step # 2).

This inquiry includes a protection program start-up message, software to be sold (hereinafter,
Also included are predetermined items such as a trial period of an application program) and a message at the end of the trial period. The protect program is a program for protecting the usage right of the application program, and if a predetermined license key is input, it is regarded as a user having a valid usage right and the software can be used without restriction.

The software vendor receiving the above inquiry in step # 12 responds to predetermined items such as a start message, a trial period, and a message at the end of the trial period (step # 13). These predetermined items are
This is for customizing the protection program according to the contents desired by the software vendor.

The net sales agency, which receives the response from the software vendor in step # 3, sets / changes (customizes) the protect program according to the content of the response (step # 4). Also, the version information of the protect program is changed to the latest version. The protect program thus customized for the application program to be sold by the software vendor is provided to the software vendor together with the application identification information (step # 5).

This protect program is executed in step # 1.
The software vendor acquired in step 4 incorporates the protect program into the application program to be sold to create the software for sale (step # 1).
5). For example, when the application program is started, the program is created so that the protection program is called by using the application identification information. Also,
Create an installer for the application program so that it corresponds to the protect program. After this, the online sales agent is requested to publish the software for sale (step # 16).

The online sales agency, which receives the disclosure request from the software vendor in step # 6, publishes the above software for sale in step # 7. That is, the software for sale is registered in the “Product Square”, which is a website for online sales, and link information to the file server is provided so that the user can download the software for sale from the file server. The file server that actually stores the software for sale may be managed by an online sales agent or managed by a software vendor. Alternatively, it may be a file server managed by a third party. Further, the software for sale may be recorded in a CD-ROM attached to a magazine and distributed to an unspecified number of people.

(2) Overview of Protect Program The protect program automatically generates a serial number and password based on the hardware environment of the computer in which the user installs the software (application program) and uses it. For example, the serial number and password are generated based on the number of the hard disk drive built in the computer, the name of the computer on the network, and the like.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing an example of processing at the time of starting an application program incorporating a protect program. In step # 21 immediately after starting, the application program calls the protect program with the application identification information as an argument.

In the following step # 22, it is determined whether or not the current status is protection release, that is,
It is checked whether or not the application program has been purchased (meaning that the user has paid the price to become a registered user). If the protection has been released, the full function mode is set and executed in step # 23. The user can use all the functions of the application program without limitation.

If the protection has not been released in step # 22, it is checked in the next step # 24 whether or not the trial period is in progress. If the trial period is set in advance, the trial period mode is set and executed in step # 25. For example, it is displayed that the trial period is in progress, and the user can try the application program under the predetermined function limitation (the function is not necessarily limited).

If the trial period is not in progress in step # 24, the trial period end mode is set and executed in step # 26. For example, a message indicating that the trial period has expired is displayed, and the user cannot use the application program. Alternatively, only limited functionality can be tried.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are flowcharts showing an example of processing when the protect program is activated. The protect program acquires the application identification information in step # 31 immediately after the start-up, and checks in step # 32 whether or not the information is correct. If the information is not correct, the trial period end information is returned to the application program in step # 33, and the process ends.

If the application identification information is correct in step # 32, it is checked in step # 34 whether or not it is the first activation. If it is the first startup, step # 3
In step 5, the initial start information and the application identification information are stored in the computer. These pieces of information are stored in the hard disk as registry information of the operating system, for example. If it is not the first activation, this process is skipped.

In the following step # 36, it is checked whether or not the protection has been released. If it is released, the protection released information is returned to the application program in step # 37, and the process ends. If the protection has not been released, a message at the time of starting the application program is displayed in step # 38, and a password (license key) input dialog of the application program is displayed in step # 39.

In the next step # 40, it is checked whether or not it is temporarily used. If it is temporarily used, in step # 41 it is checked whether or not it is during the trial period. If the trial period is not in progress, the trial period end information is returned to the application program (step # 42), and if the trial period is in progress, the temporary use information is returned to the application program (step # 4).
3) Finish.

If it is not temporarily used in step # 40,
It is checked whether the entered password is correct (step # 44), and if it is not correct, the process returns to step # 39. Step # 4 if the correct password is entered
In step 5, the protection release and the application identification information are stored in the computer. These pieces of information are stored in the hard disk as registry information of the operating system, for example. After that, the protection-released information is returned to the application program (step # 46).
finish.

Next, as an application example of the protect program, an example of incorporating a paid option called an add-on program into the application program will be described. When adding an option that can be incorporated into the application program later, a password can be requested for each option, and the use of the option can be permitted only during the trial period or when the protection is released.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing example at the time of starting an application program in the case of incorporating an option. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing example of the initialization function of the option DLL (dynamic link library) in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, the application program checks in step # 51 immediately after starting whether or not there is an option DLL, and if there is an option DLL, calls the initialization function of the option DLL in step # 52. Add to menu. If there are a plurality of option DLLs, this process is repeated. If there are no more option DLLs, the process proceeds to execution of the application program in step # 53.

As shown in FIG. 6, the initialization function of the option DLL adds an optional function to the menu of the application program in step # 61,
In step 62, the protect DLL function is called with the application identification information as an argument. In the following step # 63, it is checked whether the protection has been released (license acquired). If the protection has been released, the full function mode is set and executed in step # 64. The user can use the optional functions without restriction.

If the protection has not been released in step # 63, it is checked in the next step # 65 whether or not the trial period is in progress. If you are in the trial period, step # 6
At 6, the trial period mode is set and executed. The user can use the optional function under a predetermined trial condition. If it is not during the trial period, the trial period end mode is set and executed in step # 67. For example, a message indicating that the trial period has expired is displayed, and the user cannot use the optional function. That is, the option menu is disabled in step # 68.

When the paid option is incorporated into one application program later, the application information in the protect program is added as the number of new paid options increases. in this case,
You must install the latest version of the protect program every time you install the protect program. However, this is not the case when an individual protect program is provided for each option or each application program.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing example of the installation program. In this example, the installation program checks in step # 71 whether or not the protect DLL (protect program) is the latest version, and if not, the step # 7.
2. Copy the latest version of the protect DLL.

(3) Outline of processing at the time of software purchase Next, the customer (user) downloads the software for sale from the website for online sale, completes the purchase procedure, and the agent for online sale becomes the software vendor. Explain the flow up to charging a fee including the license fee for the protection program. In the following description, it is assumed that the user has an Internet connection environment and can obtain a password (license key) from an online sales agent using an electronic mail. However, it is also possible that the user does not have an Internet connection environment and obtains the software for sale recorded in the CD-ROM of the magazine appendix and performs the purchase procedure after the trial use. In such a case, the software vendor notifies the user of the password by means of facsimile or mail.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing an outline of processing when a user makes a purchase application to an online sales agency. When the user makes a download application to the online sales website "Product Square" of the online sales agent (step # 81), the online sales agent needs the user name, e-mail address, and information guidance from the user. And the like, information A is acquired (step # 9)
0). Then, in step # 91, the file to be downloaded is transferred. However, the file is not always transferred from the file server managed by the online sales agent. Files may be transferred from a file server managed by a software vendor or a third party.

The user who downloads the file of the software for sale confirms the serial number when the software is installed in his computer and activated (step # 82). After that, evaluate the software (product) during the trial period (Step #
83) If the customer decides to purchase, the purchase application is made to the online sales agency (step # 84). At this time, the online sales agent acquires the information B including the serial number as shown in FIG. 8 from the user (step # 92). Then, an electronic mail for order confirmation is transmitted to the user (step # 93).

The user who receives this e-mail in step # 85 is required to access the URL of the web page already described in the e-mail and browse the web page for order confirmation. . This URL
Is presented by an online sales agent for each purchase application from a user, and information for identifying an order (for example, an e-mail address or a customer number) is embedded.

When the net sales agency business confirms that the user browses the web page of the above URL in step # 86, the order is confirmed (step # 94). After that, the order information e-mail is transmitted to the user in step # 95. At the same time, the order information transfer e-mail is transmitted to the software vendor (step # 96). This includes the above information B, and the received software vendor (step # 101) can identify the user who purchased the software for sale.

The user who receives the order information e-mail in step # 87 carries out a deposit process for paying the price including the usage fee of the purchased software (step # 8).
8). This deposit processing is performed not for the online sales agent but for the software vendor. After confirming the deposit in step # 102, the software vendor requests the online sales agent to issue a password in the next step # 103. This password issuance request includes the above information B.

When the online sales agent receives the password issuance request from the software vendor (step #
97), the password determined according to the serial number is notified to the user by e-mail together with the information B (steps # 98 and # 89). In step # 99, a password issuance completion notification e-mail is sent to the software vendor. This e-mail also contains the above-mentioned information B, and the software vendor receiving this (step # 104) can confirm that the password is issued correctly. After this, the agency commission including the license fee of the protect program is billed to the software vendor by the online sales agency (steps # 100 and # 105). In reality, fees for multiple licenses (password issuance processing) are billed together.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the outline of the processing when the user directly makes a purchase application to the software vendor. Even if the software vendor makes a purchase application directly, the software vendor requests a license (password issuance) from an online sales agent,
The online sales agent charges the software vendor a fee corresponding to the number of licenses. Information A in FIG. 9
And the information B are the same as those shown in FIG.

When the user makes a download application to the online sales website "Product Square" of the online sales agent (step # 111), the online sales agent receives the customer name, e-mail address, and information guide from the user. The information A regarding the necessity of the service (step # 12)
0). Then, in step # 121, the file to be downloaded is transferred. However, the file is not always transferred from the file server managed by the online sales agent. Files may be transferred from a file server managed by a software vendor or a third party. Also,
In some cases, the user acquires the software for sale recorded on the CD-ROM of the magazine appendix and performs the purchase procedure after the trial use.

The user who acquired the software for sale is
When the software is installed and started on its own computer, the serial number is confirmed (step # 112). After that, the software (product) is evaluated during the trial period (step # 113), and if it is decided to purchase, a purchase application is made (step # 1).
14). In this example, a purchase application is made directly to a software vendor instead of an online sales agent.

The software vendor accepting the purchase application acquires the information B (step # 131), registers it as customer information, and transmits an order information registration electronic mail to the online sales agent (step # 132). The electronic mail includes the information B, and the online sales agent acquires the detailed information (customer information) of the user via the software vendor (step # 122).

After this, the online sales agency sends the order information e-mail to the user (step # 123) and also sends the order information transfer e-mail to the software vendor (step # 124).

The user who receives the order information e-mail in step # 115 performs a deposit process for paying the price including the usage fee of the purchased software (step # 11).
6). This deposit process is performed for the software vendor. Software Vendor Steps # 133
After receiving the order information transfer e-mail from the online sales agent, the user confirms the payment in step # 134. Then, in step # 135, a password issuance request is sent to the online sales agent.

The subsequent processing is the same as in the example shown in FIG. However, if the user does not have an Internet connection environment, the software vendor may directly notify the user of the password by mail. In this case, the software vendor notifies the online sales agency of this fact, and the online sales agency charges the software vendor the agency fee including the protection program license fee as when the software sales agent notified the user of the password. can do.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the order confirmation e-mail and the order information e-mail transmitted from the online sales agent to the user. As described above, the online sales agent that has accepted the purchase application from the user is
Is stored in the database as customer data and a customer number is assigned. In addition, an encryption key is generated, and an order confirmation e-mail having a text as illustrated in FIG. 10A is transmitted to the user. In this e-mail, the URL of the web page that the user browses for order confirmation is described. This URL has information for identifying an order and an encryption key embedded for each purchase application from the user.

When the user accesses this URL,
The online sales agent confirms that the encryption key is correct and considers that it is not an unauthorized access. If the encryption key is invalid, a predetermined message will be displayed on the web page and the order will not be accepted. If the encryption key is correct, it is confirmed that the customer database and the information for identifying the order match, the status of the customer database is changed to "order", and then the order information in the text as shown in FIG. Send an email to the user. Also, an order information transfer e-mail having the same content is sent to the software vendor.

FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 are flowcharts showing an example of processing relating to the customer management database performed by the online sales agency on the online sales website. Figure 1
As shown in FIG. 1, in the customer management database, in addition to the information B described above, a password, a purchase application date, an order confirmation date,
The purchase date, product type, and status information (application, order received, or purchased) are included.

When the online sales agent accepts the purchase application, the data is registered in the database (step #
141), and generate an encryption key (step # 142).
Then, the database status is set to "application" (step # 143), and an order confirmation mail is transmitted to the user (step # 144). At this time, the information for identifying the order and the encryption key are used as arguments.

In the application confirmation processing shown in FIG. 12, the online sales agency acquires data with the same information for identifying the order from the database (step # 151) and checks whether the status is "application". (Step # 152). If it is not "application", the processing is ended, and if it is "application", it is checked whether or not the information for identifying the order is correct (step # 153). If it is correct, the database status is set to "order" (step # 154), and the order information is transmitted to the user (purchaser) and the software vendor (step # 155). If it is not correct, it is notified that the application process is incorrect (step # 156).

In the password issuing process, the online sales agent makes a change to add the password to the database of the designated customer number (step # 161) and sets the database status to "purchased" (step # 162). , And sends the password to the user (purchaser) and the software vendor (step # 163).

In the case of an offline user, in the process of registering the order information from the software vendor, the customer information is registered in the database (step # 171),
The database status is set to "order" (step # 172), and order information is transmitted to the user (purchaser) and the software vendor (step # 173).

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing an example of processing relating to the customer management database executed by the software vendor. If the software vendor receives the purchase application directly from the offline user, go to step # 181.
Register customer information with. In the subsequent order receiving process, data is registered in the database (step # 182) and the database status is set to "order receiving" (step # 183).

The software vendor who confirms the payment from the user sets the database status to "purchased" (step # 191), and sends a password issuance request to the online sales agent (step # 191).
192). Further, in the process of directly sending the password to the user when the purchase request is directly received from the offline user, the software vendor makes a change to add the password to the database of the designated customer number (step # 201), and the customer (user) ) Has an e-mail (step # 202). If you do not have an e-mail, send the password directly by mail or facsimile (step # 203).

(4) Outline of Processing of Website for Online Sales and Customer Management Database System Next, the configuration and information exchange system of the website for online sales and the customer management database system will be described.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the flow of information in the first embodiment in which the database is separated from the website for online sales. If you cannot place a web server with sufficient security on the Internet or if you do not want to keep customer information on the web server,
As in this embodiment, the customer data (database) is placed in the local environment of the online sales agent. Also, in consideration of the case where the software vendor is directly contacted by the user, a database is independently set up for the software vendor so that prompt response can be made.

In this case, it is necessary for the database of the online sales agency and the database of the software vendor to interlock with the information from the user to hold the data, and electronic mail is used for exchanging the information for that purpose.
A system can be constructed at low cost by using e-mail for exchanging information. On the other hand, encryption is used to ensure security. In addition, by using e-mail, when maintaining the database system,
The unprocessed information is automatically stored in the mail spool, and the processing can be smoothly restarted when the database system is restarted. Further, keeping the customer information in a distributed manner at a plurality of locations also functions as a backup in case of an emergency.

To explain the flow of information by e-mail in FIG. 14, first, when a user makes a purchase application to the website for online sales (step # 211), purchase from the website for online sales to an online sales agent. The application information is transmitted (step # 212). The database system computer of the online sales agent periodically fetches the contents of the mail server automatically (step # 21A).

An order confirmation e-mail is sent from the database system computer of the online sales agent to the user (step # 213), and the designated order confirmation UR is sent.
The user browses L (step # 214), and the order confirmation information is transmitted from the online sales website to the mail server of the online sales agent (step # 215). In response to this, the order information is transmitted from the database system computer of the online sales agent to the mail server of the software vendor (step # 216).

The database system computer of the software vendor also periodically takes in the contents of the mail server automatically (step # 21B). When the user deposits money (step # 217), the database system computer of the software vendor requests the mail server of the online sales agent to issue a password (step # 218). In response to this, the password is issued to the user from the database system computer of the online sales agent (step # 219). After this, the online sales agent charges the software vendor a fee including the license fee of the protect program (step # 220), and the payment (payment) is made from the software vendor to the online sales agent (step # 221). ).

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of processing by electronic mail in an online sales agency. In this example,
This shows a configuration in which an electronic mail address cannot be obtained for each product inside the online sales agency. In other words, e-mails sent via the Internet to personal e-mail addresses are stored in the mail server (mail spool) of the sales agent, and the mail distribution tool stores them in the product information mail spool and the personal use mail spool on the local server. It is distributed. As a result, both personal use and system use are compatible.

The electronic mail stored in the product information mail spool is automatically fetched by the database system computer at regular intervals, and the processing is sorted according to the status. The customer database is updated based on the information of the electronic mail distributed to the purchase application processing and the application confirmation processing, and the necessary electronic mail is transmitted.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of processing by electronic mail in a software vendor. This example
It is assumed that there is a dedicated e-mail address inside the software vendor, and the configuration is simpler than in the case of FIG. That is, an email sent to a dedicated email address via the Internet
It is stored in the product-specific mail spool of the mail server of the software vendor, and is automatically fetched by the database system computer on a regular basis. Processing of the information of the fetched e-mail is sorted according to the status, the customer database is updated based on the information, and necessary e-mail is transmitted.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the flow of information in the second embodiment in which the database is placed on the website for online sales. When a customer database is placed on a website for online sales on the Internet, all customer correspondence can be centrally managed on the website for online sales.

In FIG. 17, when the user makes a purchase application on the website for online sales (step # 23).
1), an order confirmation e-mail is sent from the online sales website to the user (step # 232). When the user browses the designated order confirmation URL (step # 233), the order is confirmed and the order information is notified from the website for online sales to the online sales agent and the software vendor (step # 234).

When the software vendor receives the payment (step # 235), the software vendor sends a password issue request to the website for online sales (step # 23).
6). In response to this, the password is issued to the user from the online sales website (step # 237), and at the same time, the online sales website notifies the online sales agent of the fee information including the license fee of the protect program ( Step # 238). Based on this, the online sales agent charges a fee to the software vendor (step # 239), and the payment (payment) is made from the software vendor to the online sales agent (step # 240).

(5) Password reissue process for purchased user In the protect program used in the online selling method of this embodiment, a serial number and a password are automatically generated for each user's hardware environment. Therefore, when the user's hardware environment changes, the user needs to request the issuance (reissue) of a password corresponding to the new hardware environment.

At the time of reissuing the password, it is confirmed that the user is a purchased user based on the customer number, the e-mail address, and the encryption key created for each customer, which is known to the user when the first password is issued. However, if the user loses such information, the software vendor directly reissues the user password.
For offline users, the password is reissued to the user by mail or fax.

In the system configuration shown in FIG. 14, when the user makes a password reissue request to the website for online sales, the password reissue request is transferred to the software vendor, and the user and the email are sent from the online sales agent to the user. A password is issued to an online sales agent. When the user requests the software vendor to reissue the password, the password reissue request is transferred from the software vendor to the online sales agent, and the password is issued to the user and the online sales agent by email from the online sales agent. To be done.

In the system configuration shown in FIG. 17, when the user makes a password reissue request to the online sales website, the password is issued directly to the user from the online sales website.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to some examples, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments,
It can be implemented in various forms. The various configurations and contents illustrated in the drawings are merely examples.

(Supplementary Note 1) A method in which a software vendor and an online sales agency share the business and sell the software online.
(A) a step of providing a software vendor with a protect program for protecting the right to use the software; and (b) obtaining from the software vendor the software for sale created by incorporating the protect program into the software to be sold by the software vendor. And (c) publishing the software for sale acquired from the software vendor on the website for online sales so that it can be downloaded from the file server, and (d) when there is a purchase application from the user, After confirming the order, the step of transmitting the order information to the software vendor, (e) notifying the user of the password according to the request from the software vendor, and (f) the procedure including the license fee of the protection program. Distributed managed online sales method of software and executes a step of billing fee to the software vendor.

(Supplementary Note 2) The protect program is
A distributed management type online sales method for software according to appendix 1, wherein a serial number and a password are generated based on a hardware environment of a computer in which a user installs and uses the software.

(Supplementary Note 3) In the step (a), the software vendor is inquired about predetermined items such as a startup message, a trial period, a message at the end of the trial period, and the protect program is customized based on the obtained answer. A distributed management type online sales method for the software according to Supplementary Note 1 including.

(Supplementary Note 4) In order confirmation in step (d), the user is requested to send an e-mail describing a predetermined URL to the user to access the URL for confirmation. The distributed management type online sales method for software as set forth in appendix 1, wherein the order is confirmed by accessing the.

(Supplementary note 5) The distributed management type online sales method for software according to supplementary note 1, wherein information for identifying the user's order and an encryption key are embedded in the URL.

(Supplementary Note 6) When a user requests a password reissue when the hardware environment of the user is changed, the online sales agent is notified of the customer number and the encryption key when the user first issued the password. After confirming that the user is a purchased user, the step of reissuing a password is further executed, and the distributed management type net sales method for software according to appendix 1 is characterized.

(Supplementary Note 7) A method in which a software vendor and an online sales agency share the business and sell the software online, and the software vendor
(A) Obtaining a protect program for protecting the right to use the software from an online sales agent, and (b) creating the sale software by incorporating the protect program into the software to be sold, and (c) ) A step of requesting an online sales agent to publish the sales software on an online sales website, and (d) after confirming the deposit from the user notified by the order information from the online sales agent, A step of requesting the online sales agent to issue a password to the user, and (e) a step of paying a fee including the license fee of the protection program to the online sales agent in response to a request from the Internet sales agent. Distributed management type net of software characterized by executing How to sell.

(Supplementary note 8) A protect program used in the distributed management type online sales method for software according to supplementary note 1 or 7, wherein the serial number is based on the hardware environment of the computer on which the user installs and uses the software. And a protect program that generates a password.

[0085]

As described above, according to the distributed management type online sales method for software of the present invention, the software vendor can easily execute the protect program for the license protection of the software product from the online sales agent. Can be obtained at. Since a serial number and a password are set for each hardware environment of the user, the protect program can effectively prevent unauthorized use by a third party. In addition, it is possible to outsource online sales to an online sales agent simply by having a simple Internet connection environment.

On the other hand, since the online sales agent can entrust the user to the software vendor, even if the number of software products registered on the online sales website increases, the load on the online sales website will be distributed and the quality will be improved. A high service can be provided to the user. Further, not only online users but also offline users can be supported. For example, even if you apply for purchase by a method other than accessing the website for online sales,
As long as the software product uses the protection program provided by the online sales agent, you can get the fee including the license fee.

When the information distribution system by electronic mail is used to separate the online sales website and the database system, the online sales website is set up only by securing a simple web page and electronic mail address. be able to. Furthermore, by managing the customer data by both the online sales agent and the software vendor, a system configuration that is preferable also in terms of backup system is obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing a flow until a sales agent of a software vendor publishes the sales software on a website for online sales.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of processing when an application program incorporating a protect program is activated.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart (first half) showing an example of processing when a protect program is activated.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart (second half) showing an example of processing when the protect program is activated.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing example at the time of starting an application program when an option is incorporated.

6 is a flowchart showing a processing example of an initialization function of an option DLL in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a processing example of an installation program.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an outline of processing when a user makes a purchase application to an online sales agency.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an outline of processing when a user directly makes a purchase application to a software vendor.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an order confirmation e-mail and an order information e-mail transmitted from an online sales agency to a user.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart (1) showing an example of processing relating to a customer management database performed by an online sales agency on an online sales website.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart (2) showing an example of processing relating to a customer management database performed by an online sales agency on an online sales website.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing regarding a customer management database executed by a software vendor.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the flow of information in the first embodiment in which the database is separated from the website for online sales.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing by electronic mail in an online sales agency.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing by electronic mail in a software vendor.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a flow of information in the second embodiment in which the database is placed on the website for online sales.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Yoshikazu Kado             2-2-1 Hyakudohama, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka, Fukuoka               Fujitsu Kyushu System Engineer Co., Ltd.             In the ring (72) Inventor Toshihiro Kido             2-2-1 Hyakudohama, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka, Fukuoka               Fujitsu Kyushu System Engineer Co., Ltd.             In the ring F term (reference) 5B076 AB10 FB01 FC10

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A method of distributing software between a software vendor and an online sales agency to perform online sales of software, wherein the online sales agency includes (a) a protect program for protecting the right to use the software. To the software vendor, (b) obtaining from the software vendor the software for sale created by incorporating the protection program in the software to be sold by the software vendor, and (c) for sale obtained from the software vendor. A step of publishing the software on a website for online sales so that it can be downloaded from a file server; and (d) a step of sending order information to a software vendor after confirming the order when there is a purchase application from a user. , Decentralized management of software, which comprises: e) notifying a user of a password according to a request from a software vendor; and (f) charging a fee including the license fee of the protect program to the software vendor. Type net sales method. 2. The distributed management type network of software according to claim 1, wherein the protect program generates a serial number and a password based on a hardware environment of a computer in which a user installs and uses the software. How to sell. 3. The order confirmation in the step (d) is
2. An order is confirmed when an e-mail containing a predetermined URL is sent to a user to ask the user to access the URL for confirmation, and the order is confirmed when the user accesses the URL. Distributed management type online sales method for the listed software. 4. A method in which a software vendor and an online sales agent share the business and sell the software online. The software vendor (a) uses a protect program to protect the right to use the software online. (B) creating the software for sale by incorporating the protect program in the software to be sold, and (c) publishing the software for sale on a website for online sales. Steps of requesting an online sales agent, and (d) Steps of requesting an online sales agent to issue a password to the user after confirming the payment from the user notified by the order information from the online sales agent And (e) in response to a request from an online sales agent Distributed management type net sales methods of software which is characterized in that to perform the steps to pay the fees, including the license fee of the protection program in net sales agency. 5. A protection program used in the distributed management type online sales method for software according to claim 1 or 4, wherein a serial number and a serial number based on the hardware environment of the computer in which the user installs and uses the software. A protect program characterized by generating a password.