Methods and apparatus for protecting information
US7073197B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 16, 2003 |
| Grant date | Jul 4, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 9, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2221/2151
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
System, methods and apparatus are applicable to enable owners and vendors of software to protect their intellectual property and other rights in that software. The system also enables vendors or distributors of software to charge per-use for an instance of software. The system produces a unique, unforgeable, tag for every vendor supplied instance (copy) of specific software. Each user device is equipped with a supervising program that ensures, by use of the tag and other information, that no software instance will be used on the device in a manner infringing on the vendor, distributor, or software owner's rights. When installing or using a vendor-supplied software instance, the supervising program verifies the associated tag and stores the tag. When installing or using untagged software, the supervising program fingerprints selected portions of the software and stores the fingerprints. Software is used on a user's device through the supervising program which ensures proper use of the software. A vendor can submit a copy of infringing software to a guardian center which fingerprints appropriate portions of the infringing software. A user device's (104) supervising program periodical…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.