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US 2003/0154168 A1Published application
Method for using software products that are offered via a network
AssigneeRichard a Neifeld
InventorMarkus Lautenbacher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention provides a way for a network provider to assume the processing for the usage of software products that are offered via a network. The network provider can offer this processing as a service for the provider of software products, who wishes to “outsource” these tasks.
Claims14
A method for using software products that are offered via a network, comprising the steps of:
- inquiring about a software product from an offer server by a user via a terminal device;
- downloading said software product from said offer server via said network onto said terminal device in response to said inquiry of said user;
- activating a software component of said software product;
- starting a communication by way of said software component with a usage processing server regarding a usage of said software product in response to a call of said software product in said terminal device of said user;
- providing, by said software component in a framework of said communication, data to said usage processing server;
- and
- checking said data, by said usage processing server, and then making a determination selected from the group consisting of:
- whether usage of said software product is approved with respect to said inquiring user, and whether charging operations are carried out on user accounts and provider of software product accounts.
5 more elements
A usage processing server comprising:
- a usage processing module for processing a software product downloaded from a network;
- wherein said usage processing server is contacted by said software product after said software product has been downloaded into a terminal device of a user and has been activated;
- and
- wherein usage processing data required to perform usage processing are delivered to said usage processing server.
1 more element
A software product, comprising:
- a software component that is activated when called by said software product and that subsequently starts communicating with a usage process server and delivers usage processing data required for performing usage processing to said usage processing server in the framework of said communication;
- wherein said software product can be downloaded into a terminal device by a user via a network in response to an inquiry from said user.
A method for the generation of a software product that is offered via a network, comprising the steps of:
- installing a software component in source code of said software product of a software manufacturer by using a software development kit provided by a usage processing provider;
- activating said software component when called by said software product;
- starting a communication by said software component with a usage processing server after said step of activating said software component;
- sending, by said software component, usage processing data that are required for performing usage processing to said usage processing server in the framework of said communication.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.