WO1995034857A1 - Appareil et procede de surveillance de l'enregistrement, de la licence payee et de l'utilisation comptee de produits logiciels - Google Patents

Appareil et procede de surveillance de l'enregistrement, de la licence payee et de l'utilisation comptee de produits logiciels Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1995034857A1
WO1995034857A1 PCT/US1995/007587 US9507587W WO9534857A1 WO 1995034857 A1 WO1995034857 A1 WO 1995034857A1 US 9507587 W US9507587 W US 9507587W WO 9534857 A1 WO9534857 A1 WO 9534857A1
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
software
user
computing device
units
product code
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1995/007587
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English (en)
Inventor
James P. Smith
Edward A. Smith
Original Assignee
Smith James P
Smith Edward A
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Smith James P, Smith Edward A filed Critical Smith James P
Priority to AU27744/95A priority Critical patent/AU2774495A/en
Publication of WO1995034857A1 publication Critical patent/WO1995034857A1/fr

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR 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]
    • G06F21/105—Arrangements for software license management or administration, e.g. for managing licenses at corporate level
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F8/00—Arrangements for software engineering
    • G06F8/60—Software deployment
    • G06F8/61—Installation
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR 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
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F2221/00—Indexing scheme relating to security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
    • G06F2221/21—Indexing scheme relating to G06F21/00 and subgroups addressing additional information or applications relating to security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
    • G06F2221/2135—Metering

Definitions

  • This invention relates to the use of software products. More particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus and method for controlling the registration, paid licensing and metered usage of software products. Both the apparatus and method are generic in nature; there are several ways in which they can be implemented with novel and non-obvious combinations of existing technology.
  • CD-ROM compact disc
  • a legal publisher may sell all the California legal forms for pleading and practice on a CD-ROM for $4000, and a medical publisher may sell a subscription of CD-ROMs containing copies of all cardiology journals printed since the beginning of modern medicine for $8000 per year. These prices, however, are too steep for most junior colleges and are totally out of the question for casual home or business users.
  • the problem is that publishers of CD-ROMs do not sell their products at prices proportional to the amount of use that their customers would make of them. For example, a lawyer would pay $4000 for his legal reference works on CD-ROM because he would use them every day of the week; however, a casual user would pay only $40 to use the CD-ROM five or six times a year.
  • Pay-per-view Cable Television nor the much- discussed "data superhighway” fulfills the traditional consumer's need and desire for possession and control or provides the benefits of low-cost convenience and accessibility.
  • the data superhighway will not allow the user to stop the movie at his convenience to allow for a food or rest room break.
  • Pay-per-view also is not sufficient because the consumer does not have control and possession of all of the elements. He does not control and possess his own, personal copies of the reference materials or software. He can access only the programs piped into his home under the control of the cable operators and only at those times of day when the cable operators choose to offer them.
  • a software key which is a small device built inside a 25-pin connector shell and which contains an integrated circuit chip that will respond only when a special serial number is written to it by the software.
  • This device is plugged into the back of a personal computer, into one of the connectors used for attaching a printer.
  • the software When software that is "locked” is loaded, the software writes its special serial number to the device and checks for a response. Receipt of a response indicates the presence of the key, such that the software can proceed to operate. If the key is absent, the software will not operate.
  • the software may be copied (legally or illegally) , because the key cannot be duplicated and because the software remains locked without it, the problem of software piracy is effectively eliminated.
  • the software key does not lend itself to universal use because a different key is required for each software product. If this method were applied to all products installed on a typical user's machine, the "daisy chain" of software key devices would be long enough to wrap twice around a building. And second, the software key does not enable the cost of a software package to be proportional to its use. The user must still pay full price for the product even if he intends to use it on an infrequent basis. Thus, the software key serves primarily as a locking device but not much more.
  • CD-ROM distribution medium
  • TryWare offers several (ten to twenty) different complete software packages, all on one CD-ROM. The user is invited to try all of the packages and to purchase only those that he finds usef l. The purchase is handled the same way as for the data file CDs: in exchange for making a charge for the full retail price of the package, the user is given a decryption key that will allow the software to be decoded and transferred to his hard disk.
  • the gimmick is that the software packages are all provided on the CD-ROM in "crippled" form -- that is, crucial sections of the programs are encrypted, just enough to negate the real-life usefulness of the TryWare packages.
  • the ability of the package to save a file or to print a file may be restricted, or the largest document may be limited to just one page.
  • the buyer or "tryer" must pay the full price for it.
  • TryWare approach provides nothing regarding proportional pricing or metering.
  • This invention is intended to solve many problems and to provide many benefits to software end-users, publishers and retailers.
  • the above and other objects are accomplished in accordance with the principles of the invention by providing an apparatus and method for controlling the registration of installation, licensing and metered usage of software products.
  • the invention called the "SoftMeter" system and process, requires the registration of a software product with the SoftMeter system clearinghouse prior to the installation of the software in the user's personal computing device and prior to any use by the user of that software.
  • the invention further requires the purchase by the user of a specified amount of use according to predetermined units-of-use and requires the metering down to zero of the amount of the user's remaining use from the prepaid amount of use as the user uses the software.
  • the SoftMeter system also has a device that notifies the user as his remaining prepaid use approaches or reaches zero.
  • the registration and purchase processes are accomplished via a telephone transmission device, such as a data modem, and operate much like a standard credit card purchase.
  • the SoftMeter system consists of elements including an Actualizing Device, Interchangeable Software, a tamperproof persistent Storage Device, an Interlock Device and a Purchase Transmission Device, all of which must be in the control and possession of the user.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of one embodiment of a SoftMeter device according to the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the method for making a product compatible with the SoftMeter system
  • FIG. 3 is a diagram of a registration process
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram of a metering process
  • FIG. 5 is a diagram of a purchase process
  • FIG. 6 is a plan view of a new software distribution media, called a CD-Ring
  • FIG. 7 is a plan view of an embodiment of a structure to enable a CD player to read and write the CD-Ring.
  • a first embodiment of the invention is a plug-in accessory board device for a personal computer, which device contains a small amount of random access memory (RAM) that is protected from tampering and from power outages.
  • RAM random access memory
  • the SoftMeter device When the SoftMeter device is first installed, software provided with it will ask the user for his name, address, charge card number and password. This information will be stored in the SoftMeter device memory. Because the SoftMeter process requires that data be communicated over the telephone, the installation process will also confirm the existence of a data modem either on the SoftMeter board or elsewhere in the computer.
  • Software products that are compatible with the SoftMeter system will sell not for the usual retail price of software products, for example $200 to $400, but rather much more inexpensively, for example $29 to $39. These software products will include, buried inside their programs, special software modules that will "speak" to the SoftMeter board.
  • the software When a newly purchased software package is first installed on a user's computer, the software will write its publisher number and product number into the SoftMeter memory.
  • the SoftMeter device will use the modem to dial the 800 number for a central SoftMeter clearinghouse and will send a data message indicating that "Mr/Ms XXXXX, residing at YYYYY, is now a registered user of software product number NNN produced by publisher number MMM.”
  • the SoftMeter device will be informed of the initial amount of metered use that the user will be allowed by virtue of purchasing the package. For example, for an original $29 purchase price, a word processing program might allow the user 40 hours of use -- enough time to learn the program and get some useful work done but not enough to accommodate intensive daily use.
  • the software will first check with the SoftMeter device to ensure that the product has already been registered for use on that computer. If so (i.e., if the product number is found in the SoftMeter memory) , the software package will proceed to operate normally. If not, a new registration process will be performed. As the software is being used, it will periodically tally the amount of use (hours, pages, keystrokes, etc.) by writing an electronic "message" to the SoftMeter board. The particular choice for the "units-of-use" will be a matter for the software publisher to determine, based on the publisher's own usage studies.
  • the SoftMeter device When the initial period of use is nearing expiration, the SoftMeter device will so inform the user and ask if the user wishes to purchase additional units of use. If so, and confirmed with the user's password, the SoftMeter device will use the data modem to dial the 800 number for one of the many charge card service agencies and will charge the user, for example, $25 for another 100 hours use of the program.
  • the terms by which the user purchases additional units-of-use i.e. the choice of units-of-use, the per-unit licensing fee, the minimum amount of purchasable units-of-use, are predetermined by the software publisher or licensing agent. When the charge is electronically approved, the additional amount of metered use is added to the use remaining in the SoftMeter device.
  • This financial transaction occurs in exactly the same way (and uses the same existing 800 numbers and service providers) as does a retail purchase in which a clerk swipes a purchaser's charge card through a terminal adjacent to the cash register.
  • the "merchant number” will be that of the software publisher (the "publisher's number” stored in the SoftMeter memory when the software was first installed) .
  • the SoftMeter device consists of the following tangible elements, all of which must be in the control and possession of the user: Actualizing Device; Interchangeable Software; Non- tamperable, Persistent Storage Device; Interlock Device; and Purchase Transmission Device.
  • the Actualizing Device is a device that enables the consumer to manifest the beneficial use of the software.
  • a computer with a SoftMeter device installed in it constitutes the actualizing device.
  • the actualizing device is the viewing machine (e.g., the Sony Data DiscMan) .
  • the actualizing device is the VCR.
  • the actualizing device is the video game machine itself.
  • An actualizing device without software provides no beneficial use to the consumer.
  • software without an actualizing device is of no beneficial use to the consumer.
  • the Interchangeable Software that is to be registered, licensed and metered in the SoftMeter system may take many forms beyond the "computerese” meaning of "software.”
  • computer programs are one kind of software, as are electronically, magnetically or optically recorded books.
  • Software also includes recorded music, video game cartridges and recorded video tapes.
  • the "computer software” that is inside appliances such as microwave ovens and VCR's is not the "software” that is metered by the SoftMeter system because it is not interchangeable.
  • interchangeable video game cartridges that give the game character fifteen different levels of gaming skill are "interchangeable software” but the software that gives a washing machine fifteen different wash cycles is not.
  • SoftMeter system deals with paying for and metering the use of that software.
  • the SoftMeter device is a non-tamperable, non-volatile storage device, usually in the form of Random-Access Memory (“RAM”) . That is, the SoftMeter accessory board must contain some electronic memory that cannot be altered by casual "hackers” and that will “remember” its contents even when the computer's power is turned off for weeks or months.
  • RAM Random-Access Memory
  • a non-tamperable, persistent storage device holds the identity and current amount of paid-for metered use for a large number of separate pieces of interchangeable software.
  • this element is embodied in the RAM chips.
  • the CD-Ring embodiment discussed below it is the magnetic ring laminated to the CD. This element is re-writable without practical limits.
  • the storage device is persistent because the latest information written to this element is retained in the absence of external power. The information may not be retained literally "forever” but for at least an order of magnitude of time longer than the typical metered units- of-use recorded and tracked therein.
  • non- tamperability means that the average, technically astute consumer cannot employ commonly available means to alter the metering information. Physical or electrical inaccessibility, or clever encoding or encrypting may be used to achieve non-tamperability. For simplicity, we may refer to the storage device as "secure.”
  • the Interlock Device enables the actualizing device to manifest the beneficial use of the software to the consumer after he has paid for such use and prevents such beneficial use when the metered amount of use has been exhausted.
  • the interlock device must be capable of switching back and forth between enabled and disabled states.
  • existing encryption-based distribution media and processes do not qualify as interlock devices because they use an encrypted CD-ROM plus a purchased decryption key to unlock the software permanently, not just temporarily.
  • the Purchase Transmission Device transmits a binding financial purchase transaction in "computer-to-computer" form (that is, non-voice, non-graphic) from the consumer's location of beneficial use to the software copyright owner or owner's agent before the interlock device will permit the use of the software.
  • a data modem embodies the purchase transmission device. Because software registration and metered purchase transactions are conducted over the telephone network, the SoftMeter device must be used in conjunction with a data modem. Modems are a very popular personal computer accessory (particularly since the advent of FAX modems) , and it is likely that the purchaser of a SoftMeter device would already have a modem. If not, however, the SoftMeter device could be sold with an optional built-in modem.
  • the purchase transmission device must also operate on a pre-paid basis.
  • the "cable box” that can transmit a movie purchase transaction back over the cable to the cable operator's office qualifies as a purchase transmission device.
  • the frequently proposed system whereby residential electricity meters can be "read” through a telephone connection between the meter and the electric utility is not a purchase transmission device because it tallies the amount of the sale after the beneficial use of the commodity has already been consumed. Purchasing something in a scenario in which "operators are waiting for your call" does not qualify because the purchase transaction is transmitted in voice form. Similarly, faxing an order form to a company also does not qualify because the transaction appears in an intermediate graphic form.
  • FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a simple embodiment of the SoftMeter device.
  • the softmeter device 11 plugs into the actualizing device personal computer 12 containing the interchangeable software (not shown) by way of connectors 13.
  • RAM chips 14 covered with epoxy provide the storage device powered by dual lithium batteries 15.
  • a purchase transmission device data modem (not shown) connects via socket 16.
  • Many variations of the device are possible, including a portable version for use between computers and a miniaturized version for use with notebook computers.
  • the accessory board embodiment provided as a factory-installed component of VCR's, could also be applied to the pre-recorded video- cassette (movie) industry.
  • the SoftMeter device needs specialized software that "talks" to it in a very specific and controlled manner. No matter how well specified, interaction with the SoftMeter device cannot be left to the publisher's engineering staff to implement. Therefore, while the SoftMeter hardware device will be sold to the end-user at retail, there are also several software components that will be licensed to participating software publishers for inclusion into their software products. These software components (or “modules") present to their enclosing software products a standardized and controlled interface to the SoftMeter device. These modules will constitute the "SoftMeter API" (Application Programming Interface) and implement the three SoftMeter system processes of Registration, Metering and Purchase.
  • SoftMeter API Application Programming Interface
  • SoftMeter API When a software publisher agrees to participate in the SoftMeter system, the publisher will modify its existing products to physically incorporate the SoftMeter API modules and to "call” ("request the services of") these modules at appropriate points in the operation of the software.
  • FIG. 2 An existing software product 20, having installation program code 11 and normal operating program code 22, can be modified by one with normal skill in the art of computer programming to incorporate the SoftMeter API 26.
  • the modified software product 23 has installation program code 24 that incorporates the registration module 29 of
  • SoftMeter API 26 and has normal operating code 25 that incorporates the purchase module 27 and the metering module 28 of SoftMeter API 26.
  • the SoftMeter registration, purchase and metering modules are preprogrammed to interact with the SoftMeter device and with the data modem as described below.
  • the overall SoftMeter process consists of the three distinct operations of Registration, Metering and Purchase. These operations are described in detail below.
  • Registration of a newly installed software product uses the data modem to call the central clearinghouse, enters a new product into the SoftMeter device's RAM and sets the initial count for the amount of metered use. Registration does not require financial transaction integrity control and takes only about one minute of real time to complete. The steps of the registration portion of the SoftMeter process are described below and are shown schematically FIG. 3. l.
  • the first part of a new software package 20 is transferred from a floppy disk 17 to the main memory 18 (CPU and RAM) of personal computer 12.
  • Part of the registration program checks with the SoftMeter device 11 as to whether the new software product has already been registered (whether the software product's number is already present in the memory of the SoftMeter device 11) .
  • SoftMeter 11 When the SoftMeter device 11 reports that it doesn't "know” about this software product 20, SoftMeter 11 provides its own serial number, plus the name and address of the user, to the CPU 18 to be used to register the software.
  • the registration software uses the modem 19 to dial the number of the SoftMeter registration clearinghouse.
  • the initial amount of metered use (which may be adjusted upward for special promotions) is received and transferred, along with the publisher and product numbers, into the memory of the SoftMeter device 11.
  • the registration process is not a necessary element of the SoftMeter system. It is a means for manifesting additional benefits from the use of the SoftMeter device.
  • the registration process essentially notifies the software copyright owner (or his agent) of the- identity of a new owner of a published copy of the copyrighted material.
  • the registration process establishes possession but not beneficial use of the software.
  • the registration process simply records the final link in the chain from author to publisher to distributor to retailer to consumer, where the consumer is identified not merely as a sales statistic but rather with some uniquely identifying information (name, account number, address, etc.).
  • the metering portion of the SoftMeter process tallies the consumer's beneficial use of the installed software by metering the "remaining use” counter down to zero from some prepaid quantity of authorized use.
  • This counter is the "meter” that is maintained in the memory of the SoftMeter device. It is just like a parking meter in that, as long as time remains, the user is parked legally (he can use the software) ; when the time expires, the user gets towed away
  • the metering process is also responsible for giving the "OK" for the software to start operating; that is, if the software has never been registered, the metering process ensures that the software must first register itself before the user may use it.
  • the metering operation makes no use of the data modem and occurs without delay at electronic speed. Furthermore, metering does not require strict integrity controls. The steps of the metering operation are described in more detail below and are shown schematically in FIG. 4.
  • the user starts up a software product in main memory 18 of computer 12 from the keyboard 32.
  • the software through the metering program, first checks whether the product is registered with the
  • the SoftMeter device 11 gives the "go ahead" for the software to run.
  • the metering program notifies the SoftMeter device 11 to tally down its counter of remaining use. 6.
  • the SoftMeter device 11 advises the program that additional use should be purchased soon if the user wishes to continue to use the program. If the user wants to make a purchase, the purchase process is performed. If not, the program continues operating until the counter reaches zero.
  • the purchase portion of the SoftMeter process is initiated whenever the "meter is running low” or whenever the user wants to "add more to the meter” in order to increase the count in the remaining use meter. Since the purchase process involves making a charge purchase on a credit card via a data modem, this process is subject to the strictest integrity controls for electronic financial transactions. However, there is absolutely nothing new that is required; from the standpoint of the financial transaction service provider (any of the several credit card processing centers) , there is no difference between the telephonically transmitted message from a retail merchant's card-swipe terminal and an identical message received from the SoftMeter device. The purchase operation, which takes only about one minute, is described in more detail in the numbered steps below and is shown schematically in FIG. 5.
  • the user agrees to purchase an additional amount of metered use by entering his password when prompted on the screen 33.
  • the publisher number, credit card number and other values needed for the transaction are retrieved from the memory of the SoftMeter device 11.
  • the modem 19 is directed to dial a credit card transaction service center.
  • the credit card purchase transaction is transmitted by way of phone line connector 30 and is confirmed with an approval code. 6. The additional amount of usage that was purchased is added to the remaining use counter in the SoftMeter device 11.
  • the purchasing process uses the purchase transmission device to automate the transaction by computer-to-computer means to effect a purchase in advance of the right to access copyrighted material for beneficial use.
  • the purchase is of a license to use the software for a specific, limited, automatically-countable amount of units- of-use and must be effected in advance of use.
  • the units- of-use can be units such as time, pages, keystrokes, articles, queries, viewings or plays, or could even be based on the value of the transactions that are processed: "for $100, you may use this invoicing program to create an unlimited number of invoices totaling up to $100,000 in gross sales.”
  • SoftMeter system all of the elements thus far described constitute the SoftMeter system, so long as they are under the control and in the possession of the consumer.
  • pay- per-view cable TV is not an embodiment of a SoftMeter system because the movies (the software) are not in the possession and under the control of the consumer.
  • one of the most fundamental benefits of the SoftMeter is the benefit to the consumer of low-cost convenience and accessibility.
  • the consumer can have, for example, 100 software programs on his personal computer just in case he might need one particular program in a hurry. Or, the consumer can have 5000 electronic novels on his bookshelf or movies on his VCR so that he can read or watch whatever suits his mood at any time.
  • the consumer can also have a complete CD-ROM legal library in his living room for quick easy reference.
  • the SoftMeter system allows the consumer to "have it all now" at an affordable price.
  • the benefits of the SoftMeter system to publishers, end-users, corporate users, dealers and the Shareware industry are many.
  • the publishers will get a complete registration record for every owner of their products, not just the 20% who are presently diligent enough to send in their registration cards. They will even get a registration record from every illegal copy, because these copies won't run without first'being registered through the SoftMeter device. Since upgrade packages (newer versions of a product with more and better features) are an important source of revenue to publishers, the SoftMeter system will expand this source of revenue by a factor of 400%! In addition, by tracking the purchase of additional units of use, the publishers can develop finely tuned marketing profiles of their customers, which can aid them in making a wide variety of strategic decisions.
  • the SoftMeter system enables such schemes to be trackable, accountable and automatically maintainable.
  • the SoftMeter system makes it possible to realize the grand promise of the CD-ROM: cheap, abundant access to information. (Recall that a CD-ROM cannot be economically copied.)
  • the SoftMeter device With the SoftMeter device, an end-user can now buy a complete encyclopedia, a complete law library or a complete set of all of the cardiology journals published in the last 50 years, each for just $29. It is likely, particularly with appropriate marketing of the SoftMeter concept, that this single benefit would sway the end-user into embracing the system, to the complete exclusion of the existing software distribution mechanisms. It should also be noted that the SoftMeter approach preserves and enhances the satisfaction of the retail purchase experience (an American cultural tradition) .
  • SoftMeter system Corporate users of software products would also benefit from the SoftMeter system.
  • the majority of software revenue is produced from sales to businesses.
  • Business decision makers are quite comfortable with the concepts of leasing, renting and contracting for the limited use of something, the idea that an asset that is used intensively costs more to maintain than one that is used infrequently, and the idea of expenses being trackable and accountable.
  • the business user is already both educated and predisposed to understand and appreciate the value of the SoftMeter system.
  • the SoftMeter system will also be developed as a networked product, i.e., rather than having an individual SoftMeter device in each PC, one "family size" SoftMeter device (and one modem) will be placed into the file server on the local area networks.
  • This version of the SoftMeter system will also incorporate a greatly expanded capability for reporting on the level of software usage throughout the company. It will be able to report, for example, that "Mary in Accounting used Lotus
  • the SoftMeter system would provide trackable, accountable, "hard numbers" on the extent of software use throughout the company. This information would enable much more effective decisions to be made in the areas of equipment purchase, the allocation of training and internal customer support resources, and PC-related expense budgeting.
  • the SoftMeter system does not provide a great deal of tangible benefit to retail dealers.
  • a retail software package would have the dealer's identification number encoded into the software product's installation disk, so that the dealer could receive a sales commission on further purchases of units of use.
  • this is likely to be practical only for large volume mail order houses and retail chains.
  • the dealer's number could be attached to the outside of the retail package by the dealer himself. The number would be imprinted on a double-layer adhesive label, which the user would remove from the box and affix to the floppy disk or CD-ROM after the user opened the package.
  • the SoftMeter system would serve the Shareware industry as an eminently fair mechanism of enforcement if a user really made substantial use- of a product, the SoftMeter device would require him to eventually pay a bit of money for the benefits received.
  • a second embodiment of the SoftMeter device applies to the Compact Disc Read Only Memory (CD-ROM) media.
  • This embodiment requires a new form of CD-ROM media, called the "CD-Ring," shown in FIG. 6.
  • the CD-Ring 35 is a combination of a magnetic stripe 36, similar to one found on the back of a credit card, laminated to the aluminized laser-readable media 38 as found on a standard CD-ROM.
  • the CD-Ring media provides the persistent and non-tamperable memory in the form of the laminated magnetic recording stripe 36.
  • non-tamperability means that the average, technically astute consumer cannot employ commonly available means to alter the memory. Physical or electrical inaccessibility, or clever encoding or encrypting may be used to achieve non-tamperability.
  • CD-Ring For example, if the magnetic ring on a CD-Ring were compatible with an industry standard floppy disk drive (CD-ROMs are the same physical size as 5V floppy disks) , it would not qualify as non-tamperable. However, if CD-Ring drives were not sold to the retail consumer as general purpose computer accessories complete with control software and detailed technical specifications, then the CD-Ring media would effectively be tamperproof by the average, technically astute consumer.
  • the CD-Ring embodiment of the SoftMeter device can be applied to the recorded music industry and the video game industry and is particularly applicable to the publishing of "electronic books" that are readable with a portable viewing device, such as the Sony Data DiscMan.
  • the Data DiscMan is a portable device, smaller and lighter than a typical hard-bound book, containing a CD-ROM player and a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) panel.
  • a Data DiscMan that is able to utilize the CD-Ring media and has a built-in modem embodies the SoftMeter device in its most portable, mass market form.
  • a CD-ROM drive can be enabled for use with the CD-Ring media, as shown in FIG.
  • the metering will be done not in terms of access to pages but will be based on viewing time or on number of pages viewed. These variations are similar to those described for the PC computer program application of the SoftMeter system.
  • the SoftMeter metering and purchasing processes are essentially the same as those described above regarding software, except that the "non-tamperable, persistent storage" is provided by the ring of magnetic recording material 36 laminated to the CD, rather than by memory chips inside the playback device.
  • the SoftMeter registration process is not critical and may be skipped at the option of the publisher.
  • the benefits of the SoftMeter system for both new and established authors are substantial and simple. For established authors, the SoftMeter system would provide them with royalties every time their books are read. For new authors, the SoftMeter system provides an unprecedented opportunity to "be discovered.”
  • Book publishers would benefit from the SoftMeter system in a number of ways. For example, by "piggy ⁇ backing" new authors' works on the same CD-Ring as those of established authors, publishers would be able to promote many more new authors at no increase in cost. Or, by grouping a popular author's works onto a single CD-Ring (such as all of Agatha Christie's mystery), publishers would overcome the deficiencies of the distribution system. That is, once a reader has found an enjoyable author, the reader would have immediate access from that publisher to more works by the same author. Also, publishers would gain immediate feedback on the popularity of new authors and new works, because the SoftMeter system purchase process evidences the consumer's commitment to read, rather than his earlier decision to acquire. The SoftMeter system purchase process also eliminates the distortion introduced by the vast numbers of books that are sitting idle in the distribution pipeline.
  • the secure storage means might be embodied in the newer "flash" memory chips, or by storing the data in encrypted form on the existing hard disk inside the users computer.
  • the transmission means might be embodied through radio frequency (RF) signals sent over the coaxial cable of a cable TV network. It might also be embodied in a two-phase approach, whereby an infra-red signal from an electronic book viewer would be received by a cable TV converter box, and subsequently transmitted over the coaxial cable. Or it could use digital cellular phone technology (particularly in the book viewer application, where portability is a factor.)
  • RF radio frequency
  • the entire SoftMeter device (as applied to personal computers) might be contained in a box that is external to the main computer chassis and connected to it by a wire cable or by infra-red signals.
  • the secure storage means of the SoftMeter device could also be embodied in one of the "credit card” memory cards, which would carry the user's identity and licensed usage counts to whatever computer in which the card was plugged.
  • an electronic book viewer embodiment of the SoftMeter device might be implemented in a two-part mechanism, consisting of (1) a hand-held portable viewer, with minimal built-in secure storage means, and (2) a desk ⁇ top "docking station” that would contain a battery charging circuit, a data modem (or other transmission means) and additional secure storage.

Abstract

Appareil et procédé permettant de surveiller l'installation, l'autorisation de licence et l'utilisation comptée de produits logiciels (23). Cette invention appelée système et procédé 'SoftMeter' nécessite d'enregistrer un produit logiciel auprès du centre d'enregistrement avant d'installer le logiciel dans le dispositif informatique personnel de l'utilisateur et avant toute utilisation par l'utilisateur de ce logiciel (29). Cette invention oblige également l'utilisateur à acheter une quantité prédéterminée d'utilisation correspondant à des unités d'utilisation prédéterminées et oblige à décompter jusqu'à zéro la quantité d'utilisation prépayée lorsque l'utilisateur utilise le logiciel (28). Le système 'SoftMeter' comprend également un dispositif qui notifie à l'utilisateur que l'utilisation prépayée restante se rapproche de zéro ou atteint zéro. Les étapes d'enregistrement et d'achat s'effectuent par un dispositif de transmission téléphonique, tel qu'un modem, et d'une manière similaire à un achat effectué par carte de crédit classique. Le système 'SoftMeter' est constitué d'éléments comprenant un dispositif d'actualisation, un logiciel interchangeable, un dispositif de stockage durable infraudable, un dispositif de verrouillage et un dispositif de transmission d'achat qui doivent tous être sous la surveillance de l'utilisateur et en sa possession.
PCT/US1995/007587 1994-06-14 1995-06-14 Appareil et procede de surveillance de l'enregistrement, de la licence payee et de l'utilisation comptee de produits logiciels WO1995034857A1 (fr)

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AU27744/95A AU2774495A (en) 1994-06-14 1995-06-14 Apparatus and method for controlling the registration, paid licensing and metered usage of software products

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US25959094A 1994-06-14 1994-06-14
US08/259,590 1994-06-14

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WO2001022340A2 (fr) * 1999-09-18 2001-03-29 Wild Tangent, Inc. Procede et appareil axes sur le lecteur servant a creer, distribuer et consommer un contenu
WO2001088670A2 (fr) * 2000-05-15 2001-11-22 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Licenciation et autorisation d'acces
EP1158404A2 (fr) * 2000-05-26 2001-11-28 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Dispositif de serveur et système de transmission d'application pour la transmission appropriée de l'application divisée en parties
WO2002063423A2 (fr) * 2001-02-02 2002-08-15 Curl Corporation Systemes et procedes servant a mesurer un contenu sur internet
GB2375411A (en) * 2001-03-15 2002-11-13 Hewlett Packard Co Automatic installation of licenced software components to a network server
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WO2003029936A1 (fr) * 2001-10-02 2003-04-10 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Nouveau modele commercial de telechargement de jeux video
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US8725645B1 (en) 2013-01-04 2014-05-13 Cetrus LLC Non-invasive metering system for software licenses
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EP0809221A2 (fr) * 1996-05-23 1997-11-26 Sun Microsystems, Inc. Système et méthode virtuels de vente pour la gestion de la distribution, des licences et de la location de données électroniques
EP0809221A3 (fr) * 1996-05-23 1999-06-30 Sun Microsystems, Inc. Système et méthode virtuels de vente pour la gestion de la distribution, des licences et de la location de données électroniques
EP0811942A2 (fr) * 1996-06-07 1997-12-10 Cyber Media, Incorporated Mise à jour automatique de produits logiciels divers dans des systèmes ordinateurs à clients multiples
EP0811942A3 (fr) * 1996-06-07 1999-02-10 Cyber Media, Incorporated Mise à jour automatique de produits logiciels divers dans des systèmes ordinateurs à clients multiples
US9292273B2 (en) 1996-06-07 2016-03-22 Mcafee, Inc. Software uninstallation system, method and computer program product
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US7013294B1 (en) * 1997-07-15 2006-03-14 Shinko Electric Industries Co., Ltd. License management system
EP1008250A4 (fr) * 1997-08-29 2004-05-19 Aladdin Knowledge Systems Ltd Distribution de logiciels electroniques a plusieurs paliers
EP1008250A1 (fr) * 1997-08-29 2000-06-14 Preview Systems, Inc. Distribution de logiciels electroniques a plusieurs paliers
WO1999057662A2 (fr) * 1998-04-30 1999-11-11 Ehpt Sweden Ab Procede relatif a un reseau informatique et dispositif afferent
WO1999057662A3 (fr) * 1998-04-30 1999-12-29 Ericsson Telefon Ab L M Procede relatif a un reseau informatique et dispositif afferent
FR2792750A1 (fr) * 1999-04-20 2000-10-27 France Telecom Systeme de paiement pour l'utilisation de logiciels
WO2000063859A1 (fr) * 1999-04-20 2000-10-26 France Telecom Systeme de paiment pour l'utilisation de logiciels
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EP1081616A2 (fr) * 1999-09-01 2001-03-07 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Système de distribution, carte mémoire à semi-conducteurs, appareil de réception, medium de stockage lisible par ordinateur, et méthode de réception
USRE42019E1 (en) 1999-09-01 2010-12-28 Panasonic Corporation Distribution system, semiconductor memory card, receiving apparatus, computer-readable recording medium and receiving method
EP1081616A3 (fr) * 1999-09-01 2004-12-15 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Système de distribution, carte mémoire à semi-conducteurs, appareil de réception, medium de stockage lisible par ordinateur, et méthode de réception
USRE41096E1 (en) 1999-09-01 2010-02-02 Panasonic Corporation Distribution system, semiconductor memory card, receiving apparatus, computer-readable recording medium and receiving method
WO2001022340A2 (fr) * 1999-09-18 2001-03-29 Wild Tangent, Inc. Procede et appareil axes sur le lecteur servant a creer, distribuer et consommer un contenu
US6957195B1 (en) 1999-09-18 2005-10-18 Wildtangent Player-centric method and apparatus for creating, distributing, and consuming content
WO2001022340A3 (fr) * 1999-09-18 2002-05-16 Wild Tangent Inc Procede et appareil axes sur le lecteur servant a creer, distribuer et consommer un contenu
US9471910B2 (en) 1999-10-25 2016-10-18 Smartflash, LLC Data storage and access systems
US6678824B1 (en) * 1999-11-02 2004-01-13 Agere Systems Inc. Application usage time limiter
WO2001088670A3 (fr) * 2000-05-15 2002-11-28 Siemens Ag Licenciation et autorisation d'acces
WO2001088670A2 (fr) * 2000-05-15 2001-11-22 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Licenciation et autorisation d'acces
EP1158404A3 (fr) * 2000-05-26 2004-04-14 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Dispositif de serveur et système de transmission d'application pour la transmission appropriée de l'application divisée en parties
EP1158404A2 (fr) * 2000-05-26 2001-11-28 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Dispositif de serveur et système de transmission d'application pour la transmission appropriée de l'application divisée en parties
US7823147B2 (en) 2000-09-22 2010-10-26 Lumension Security, Inc. Non-invasive automatic offsite patch fingerprinting and updating system and method
US8407687B2 (en) 2000-09-22 2013-03-26 Lumension Security, Inc. Non-invasive automatic offsite patch fingerprinting and updating system and method
US6876986B1 (en) * 2000-10-30 2005-04-05 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Transaction payment system
WO2002063423A2 (fr) * 2001-02-02 2002-08-15 Curl Corporation Systemes et procedes servant a mesurer un contenu sur internet
WO2002063423A3 (fr) * 2001-02-02 2003-02-13 Curl Corp Systemes et procedes servant a mesurer un contenu sur internet
GB2375411A (en) * 2001-03-15 2002-11-13 Hewlett Packard Co Automatic installation of licenced software components to a network server
GB2375411B (en) * 2001-03-15 2005-08-31 Hewlett Packard Co System and method for installing a software product on a network server device
WO2003012609A2 (fr) * 2001-08-01 2003-02-13 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Procede et dispositif de gestion des droits d'utilisation de contenus
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WO2003012609A3 (fr) * 2001-08-01 2004-04-15 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Procede et dispositif de gestion des droits d'utilisation de contenus
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US8041594B2 (en) * 2003-10-22 2011-10-18 International Business Machines Corporation System for importing calendar data from a computer screen into a calendar application
US8688491B1 (en) 2005-09-29 2014-04-01 The Mathworks, Inc. Testing and error reporting for on-demand software based marketing and sales
US7996255B1 (en) * 2005-09-29 2011-08-09 The Mathworks, Inc. System and method for providing sales leads based on-demand software trial usage
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JP2011514604A (ja) * 2008-03-20 2011-05-06 インターナショナル・ビジネス・マシーンズ・コーポレーション アプリケーション仮想化環境においてソフトウェアのインストールおよび使用を検出する方法およびシステム
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