Method and system for distributing a plurality of software products, and limiting access thereto
US6134324A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 29, 1997 |
| Grant date | Oct 17, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 29, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F21/121
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A technique for mass distributing software products, especially integrated circuit design tools and design libraries, while allowing only a selected portion of the products to be loaded onto and used on a computer. One or more volumes of CD-ROM contains one or more software products, each of which are encrypted with a key code. The CD-ROMs are mass distributed to customers. A separate configuration file, uniquely configured for each customer, contains a list of only the selected portion of software products, and contains the key codes for decrypting only those products. A loader module is provided for controlling the decryption and loading of only the selected portion of products, based on information in the configuration file. Each software product is hierarchically arranged by class, file set and file, and files may be shared between products.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.