Method and system for enforcing licenses on an open network
US6453305B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 21, 1999 |
| Grant date | Sep 17, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 21, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F21/10
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An electronic commerce system and method enforces a license agreement for content on an open network by restricting the number of consumers that can concurrently access the content. A consumer initially acquires vendor scrip, either from a broker or the vendor itself. The consumer presents the vendor scrip to the vendor along with a request to access the content. In response, the vendor gathers information about the consumer to determine whether the consumer belongs to the class allowed to access the content. The information may be gathered from the scrip or from other sources. If the consumer belongs to the class, then the vendor determines if a license to access the content is available. Generally, a license is available if the number of other consumers having licenses to access the content is less than the maximum specified in the license agreement. If no licenses are available, the vendor provides the consumer with an estimate of when a license will be available. If a license is available, the vendor directs the consumer to obtain license scrip which allows the consumer to access the content. The license scrip expires after a relatively brief period of time. When the consumer u…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.