Method of software distribution protection
US5337357A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 27, 1993 |
| Grant date | Aug 9, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 27, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04Q2213/13339
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method is provided for protecting distributed software which relies on a unique factor such as an accessible serial number or the generation of a profile or fingerprint of the computer of the user which is entered individually and/or with a random factor to generate a unique first key which will differ for different computers. The first key is sent to a processing center which then generates a second key. The user applies the second key which compares the unique and/or random factors. If the comparison matches, the first and second keys are used in an algorithm in the software to generate a decrypting key permitting the customer to purchase the selected program(s).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.