Method of metering and protecting computer software
US5826011A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 23, 1996 |
| Grant date | Oct 20, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 23, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2221/2135
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method of protecting computer software on installation is provided by providing an installation media containing an installation program supplied to the user along with an hardware security electrical device (HSED). The HSED must be connected to the user's computer before the software from the installation media can be entered on the user's computer. The HSED contains a variety of secret installation data which is used to install a program to be protected. In general the secret installation data is checked to see if a specific HSED is present and if it contains information to enable the installation process for that particular piece of software to continue. The exact nature of the secret installation data will depend on the process used for protection. The HSED is also used in a method of metering the amount of computer service used such that payment can be made at the time of delivery of the HSED to the end user.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.