Automated method for electronic software distribution

US6134593A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• CCCOMPLETE, INC. · US

Inventors

• Marc Alexander · San Francisco, US
• Gerald B. Feldkamp · Beaverton, US
• Bernard R Strathern · Beaverton, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 30, 1997
• Grant date: Oct 17, 2000
• Expiry date: Sep 30, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q30/0601
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method for a user to automatically order, unlock and pay for a vendor software application via an automated telephony and/or Internet system. The user requests access to a vendor software application. If access is not allowed, the user transmits a computing device identifier identifying the computing device on which the vendor software application is executing, a vendor software product distribution identifier, and a vendor identifier to a aserver. Pricing data is provided to the user, and payment for the vendor software application is processed before access is granted thereto. After payment processing, the server then transmits a password to the client based on the identifiers. Thereafter, the user enters the password to gain access to and execute the vendor software application to which access was previously denied.