Determining authorized use of a software application
US7849511B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 16, 2007 |
| Grant date | Dec 7, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 8, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2221/2111
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A user may enable features of a software application installed on a processing device only when the processing device is at a location for which the processing device is authorized to use the software application. If the processing device is offline, the processing device may refer to data in a component of the processing device to determine whether the data includes an authorized value. If processing device determines that the data has the authorized value, then the features of the installed software application may be enabled. In some embodiments, data with respect to unauthorized use of the software application may be recorded. In other embodiments, a determination may be made regarding whether a processing device, associated with an entity, violates a license agreement of the entity with respect to an installed software application. If the license agreement of the entity is determined to be violated, then information may be recorded.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.