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US Patent 5625690 - Software pay per use system
US Patent Issued on April 29, 1997
Estimated Patent Expiration Date:
April 29, 2014Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
Estimated Patent Expiration Date:
April 29, 2014Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.AbstractA pay per use system for of the unauthorized use of computer software. An encryption program encodes original software to produce secured software. The encoding is accomplished by using cryptographic techniques. In order to use the software, a user must call a telephone number to receive the cryptographic keys necessary to decrypt the secured software. Thus, users must pay for each use of the secured software. The system allows software developers to freely distribute the secured software. Copies of the secured software may be freely made, because payment is based on each use of the software not on each copy of the software.Other References
| InventorsApplicationNo. 152769 filed on 11/15/1993US Classes:705/53, Including third party for collecting or distributing payment (e.g., clearinghouse)380/282By public key methodExaminersPrimary: Cangialosi, SalvatoreAttorney, Agent or FirmUS Patent References4433207, Cryptographic decoder for computer programsIssued on: 02/21/1984 Inventor: Best4658093, Software distribution system Issued on: 04/14/1987 Inventor: Hellman4847902, Digital computer system for executing encrypted programs Issued on: 07/11/1989 Inventor: Hampson4864494, Software usage authorization system with key for decrypting/re-encrypting/re-transmitting moving target security codes from protected software Issued on: 09/05/1989 Inventor: Kobus, Jr.4924378, License mangagement system and license storage key Issued on: 05/08/1990 Inventor: Hershey, et al.4999806, Software distribution system Issued on: 03/12/1991 Inventor: Chernow, et al.5103476, Secure system for activating personal computer software at remote locations Issued on: 04/07/1992 Inventor: Waite, et al.5138712, Apparatus and method for licensing software on a network of computers Issued on: 08/11/1992 Inventor: Corbin5173938, Key management system Issued on: 12/22/1992 Inventor: Steinbrenner, et al.5235641, File encryption method and file cryptographic system Issued on: 08/10/1993 Inventor: Nozawa, et al.5319705, Method and system for multimedia access control enablement Issued on: 06/07/1994 Inventor: Halter, et al.5349643, System and method for secure initial program load for diskless workstations Issued on: 09/20/1994 Inventor: Cox, et al.5371692, Activating circuit for modifying or adding a new program to an electronic device Issued on: 12/06/1994 Inventor: Draeger, et al.5392351Electronic data protection system Issued on: 02/21/1995 Inventor: Hasebe, et al. International ClassH04L 009/00 |
