Method and apparatus that accounts for usage of digital applications

A method for generating usage accounting information of digital applications regardless of distribution channels, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) detecting usage of a digital application by a user system;
• b) obtaining a digital application identification code and a publisher identification code from the digital application;
• c) obtaining a user identification code from a meter data file affiliated with the user system, when the meter data file is located;
• and
• d) generating debiting information for the user system based on the usage of the digital application, where the debiting information includes the user identification code, the digital application identification code, the publisher identification code, and an amount of usage, such that when the digital application is used, regardless of how it was obtained, appropriate digital application suppliers can be compensated.

A computer readable memory tangibly embodying a program of instructions for directing a computer to perform digital information accounting, said program of instructions comprising:

• determination means for causing the computer to detect when digital information is activated by a user system;
• first retrieve means for causing the computer to retrieve a digital information code and a publisher identification code after activation of the digital information has been detected;
• second retrieve means for causing the computer to retrieve usage information from a meter data file affiliated with the computer when the meter data file is located by the computer;
• generation means for causing the computer to generate an accounting message from the usage information, the digital information identification code and the publisher identification code when activation has been authenticated;
• and
• sending means for causing the computer to send the accounting message to an authority identified in the accounting message.

A computer readable memory tangibly embodying a program of instructions that direct a computer to generate usage accounting information of a digital application regardless of distribution channels, said program of instructions comprising:

• detecting means for causing the computer to detect usage of a digital application by a user system;
• first obtaining means for causing the computer to obtain a digital application identification code and a publisher identification code from the digital application;
• second obtaining means for causing the computer to obtain an user identification code from a meter data file that is affiliated with the user system when the meter data file is located;
• and
• generation means for causing the computer to generate debiting information for the user system based on the usage of the digital information.

An apparatus for generating accounting information of digital application usages, the apparatus comprising

• memory that stores usage detection program instructions, memory access program instructions, accounting message generation program instructions, and authority transmission program instructions;
• usage memory that stores usage information;
• and
• processor that performs the usage detection program instructions to detect activation of a digital application, performs the memory access instructions to retrieve the usage information from the usage memory and to retrieve a digital application identification code and a publisher identification code from the digital application, performs the accounting message generation program instructions to generate a usage accounting message, and performs the authority transmission program instructions to transmit the usage account message to an authority.

A method for utilizing digital application accounting information, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) receiving a digital application accounting information message;
• b) extracting a digital application identification code, a user identification code, and usage information from the digital application accounting information message;
• and
• c) generating debit information from the user identification code, the digital application identification code, and the usage information.

A method for receiving payment of digital application usages, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) determining user credits for a particular user by reading a user credit account;
• b) receiving digital application use information for the particular user;
• c) determining a debit amount from the digital application use information;
• and
• d) debiting the user credit account by the debit amount.

A computer readable memory tangibly embodying a program of instructions for directing a computer to perform digital application payment, said program of instructions comprising:

• receiving means for causing the computer to receive a digital application accounting information message;
• extraction means for causing the computer to extract a digital application code, a user identification code, and usage information from the digital application accounting information message;
• and
• generation means for causing the computer to generate debit information from the user identification code, the digital application identification code, and the usage information.

A computer readable memory tangibly embodying a program of instructions that directs a computer to receive payment of digital application usages, said program of instructions comprising:

• means for causing the computer to maintain user credits for a particular user, thereby forming a user credit account;
• receiving means for causing the computer to receive digital application use information;
• determination means for causing the computer to determine a debit amount from the digital application use information;
• and
• debiting means for causing the computer to debit the user credit account by the debit amount.

A computer readable memory tangibly embodying a program of instructions that directs a computer to perform an application and to retrieve usage information, said instructions comprising:

• application means for causing the computer to perform the application;
• and
• information means for storing application information;
• usage means for causing the computer to retrieve the application information and to send at least a portion of the application information to an accounting monitor;
• and
• execution means for causing the computer to enable execution of the application program instructions when the computer receives an enablement signal from the accounting monitor.

A method for providing application information to an accounting monitor, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) detecting a run command to execute an application program;
• b) retrieving the application information from the application program;
• c) sending at least a portion of the application information to the accounting monitor;
• and
• d) executing the application program when an enablement signal is received from the accounting monitor.

A computer that retrieves use accounting information for digital applications, the computer comprising:

• a central processing unit;
• non-volatile memory operably coupled to the central processing unit;
• volatile memory operably coupled to the central processing unit;
• and
• accounting co-processor that is operably coupled to the central processing unit, the accounting co-processor includes:
• memory that stores usage detection program instructions, memory access program instructions, accounting message generation program instructions, and authority transmission program instructions;
• usage memory that stores usage information;
• and
• processor that performs the usage detection program instructions to detect activation of a digital application, performs the memory access instructions to retrieve the usage information from the storage memory and to retrieve a digital application identification code and a publisher identification code from the digital application, performs the accounting message generation program instructions to generate a usage accounting message, and performs the authority transmission program instructions to transmit the usage account message to an authority.

A computer that retrieves use accounting information for digital applications, the computer comprising:

• a central processing unit;
• non-volatile memory operably coupled to the central processing unit;
• and
• volatile memory operably coupled to the central processing unit;
• wherein the non-volatile memory includes:
• determination storage means for storing program instructions that cause the central processing unit to detect when a digital application is activated;
• first retrieve storage means for storing program instructions that cause the central processing unit to retrieve a digital application identification code and a publisher identification code after activation of the digital application has been detected;
• second retrieve storage means for storing program instructions that cause the central processing unit to retrieve usage information from a meter data file affiliated with the computer;
• generation storage means for storing program instructions that cause the central processing unit to generate an accounting message from the usage information, the digital application identification code and the publisher identification code when activation has been authenticated;
• and
• sending storage means for storing program instructions that cause the central processing unit to send the accounting message to an authority identified in the accounting message.

A method for generating user meter files for tracking digital application usage, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) receiving a digital application identification code and a publisher identification code from a user system, the receiving indicates initialization of the digital application by the user system;
• b) determining whether a user record exists for the user system;
• c) when the user record does not exist, requesting a user system network identification code and a user account identification code from the user system;
• and
• d) storing the user system network identification code and the user account identification code as the user record in a user database.

A method for generating user account files for tracking digital application usage, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) receiving a usage message that includes a digital application identification code, a publisher identification code, and a user account identification code;
• b) determining whether a user record exists for a user identified by the user account identification code;
• and
• c) when the user record does not exist, generating the user record to identify the user account identification code, the publisher identification code and the digital application identification code.

A computer readable memory tangibly embodying a program of instructions for directing a computer to generate user meter files, the program of instructions comprising:

• receive means for causing the computer to receive digital application information and a publisher identification code which indicate initialization of a digital application by a user system;
• determine means for causing the computer to determine whether a user record exists in a user data base;
• request means for causing the computer to request a user system network identification code and a user account identification code from the user system when the user record does not exist;
• and
• store means for causing the computer to store the user system network identification code and the user account identification code as the user record in the user data base.

A computer readable memory tangibly embodying a program of instructions for directing a computer to generate user account files, said program of instructions comprising:

• receive means for causing the computer to receive a usage message, the usage message includes a digital application identification code, a publisher identification code, and a user account identification code;
• determine means for causing the computer to determine whether a user record exists for a user identified by the user account identification code;
• and
• generate means for causing the computer to generate the user record to identify the user account identification code, the publisher identification code, the digital application code, and debit information when the user record does not exist.