Controlling use of a computer program installed on a computer

#1. Field of the Invention

#This invention relates to the field of data processing systems. More particularly, this invention relates to the field of controlling use of a computer program with a licence key.

#2. Description of the Prior Art

#FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a network of computers and a stand alone computer connected via the internet to a web server of a computer program provider;

#FIG. 2 is a flow diagram schematically illustrating the installation of a product update;

#FIG. 3 is a flow diagram schematically illustrating the operation of a licensing control mechanism;

#FIG. 1 illustrates a network 2 comprising a server 4 and a plurality of clients 6, 8, 10 connected to the server 4. The server 4 is in turn connected via the internet to the web server 12 of a computer program provider, such as an anti-virus scanner computer program provider (malware scanner provider). A stand alone computer 14, such as a home user's computer, is also connected via the internet to the web server 12.

#The various computers 4, 6, 8, 10 within the network 2 may all use and malware scanning computer program which incorporates a scanning engine and malware definition data which is kept updated by downloading product updates including the scanner engine, the malware definition data or a combination of both from the web server 12. This update producedure may in some circumstances be automated. The stand alone computer 14 also operates the malware scanning computer program and will download the product updates from the web server 12 in accordance with its own requirements.

#It will be appreciated that a malware scanning computer program must regularly be updated with product updates in order to remain effective since the latest virus definition data is required in order to protect against newly released items of malware. If a user does not download the product updates, then the malware scanner will progressively become less and less effective as the number of items of malware against which it does not provide protection will steadily increase. This situation is made worse as the items of malware that often provide the greatest threat are those most recently released and which require the latest versions of the product updates in order to be detected.