Verification of server authorization to provide network resources

A method of verifying that a server is authorized to provide resources to a client, comprising:

• repeatedly conducting, at times specified by a timing mechanism at the client, the steps of:
• by the client, combining and encrypting a client identifier, a random number, and a time identifier to generate a first message;
• transmitting the first message from the client to the server;
• at the server, conducting the steps of:
• decrypting the first message;
• identifying an authorization code associated with the client identifier, the authorization code defining a level of functionality to be exhibited by the client;
• generating an expiration count based upon the time identifier, the expiration count defining a time when the client is to verify the authorization of the server;
• and
• combining and encrypting the authorization code, the expiration count, and the random number to generate a second message;
• transmitting the second message to the client;
• decrypting the second message at the client;
• and
• verifying, by the client, that the random number has been included in the second message, thereby indicating that the server is authorized to provide resources to the client.

A computer program product for implementing, at a client system, a method of verifying that a server is authorized to provide resources to the client system, the computer program product comprising:

• a computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for implementing the method, wherein the computer-executable instructions comprise:
• program code means for generating and encrypting a first message identifying the client system and including a random number, the first message being encrypted using an encryption key selected from a plurality of encryption keys encoded on an integrated circuit at the client system;
• program code means for initiating transmission of the first message to the server, the first message including the encryption key;
• program code means for receiving an encrypted second message from the server;
• program code means for decrypting the second message;
• and
• program code means for determining whether the random number has been included in the second message, wherein inclusion of the random number in the second message indicates that the server is authorized to provide resources to the client system.

A computer program product for implementing, at a server, a method of verifying that the server is authorized to provide resources to a client, the computer program product comprising:

• a computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for implementing the method, wherein the computer-executable instructions comprise:
• program code means for receiving an encrypted first message from the client, the first message identifying the client and including a random number and an encryption key selected from a plurality of encryption keys encoded on an integrated circuit at the client;
• program code means for decrypting the first message;
• program code means for selecting an authorization code associated with the client, the authorization code defining a level of functionality to be exhibited by the client;
• program code means for generating and encrypting a second message including the random number and the authorization code;
• and
• program code means for initiating transmission of the second message to the client, wherein the random number, having been included in the second message, is to indicate to the client that the server is authorized to provide resources to the client.

A method for periodically authorizing a client to exhibit a selected level of functionality, the method comprising the steps of:

• establishing communication between the client and the server;
• and
• repeatedly conducting, at selected times while communication is established between the client and the server, the steps of:
• causing the client to determine whether the server is authorized to provide resources to the client by verifying that a random number received in an encrypted message from the server is the same as the random number stored at the client, wherein the random number is initially sent from the client to the server and is encrypted using one of a plurality of encryption keys encoded on an integrated circuit at the client;
• if the client determines that the server is authorized to provide resources, then activating selected functions of the client;
• and
• if the client determines that the server is not authorized to provide resources, then disabling selected functions of the client.

In a networked system including a client and a server interconnected one with another, wherein resources are provided from the server to the client based on an authorization level of the client, a method for verifying the authorization level, comprising the steps of:

• receiving at the server, a first message including a random number, an authorization code, and an encryption key selected from a plurality of encryption keys encoded on an integrated circuit at the client;
• transmitting an encrypted message from the server to the client, the encrypted message including the random number received from the client and the authorization code defining the authorization level of the client;
• decrypting the encrypted message using decryption instructions encoded in hardware at the client, the decryption instructions being inaccessible to software executed on the client;
• and
• upon matching the random number included in the encrypted message with the random number stored at the client, writing the authorization code to a register in the client after the step of decrypting the encrypted message.

A method of verifying that a server is authorized to provide resources to a client, comprising the steps of:

• asserting an authorization interrupt signal at the client, the-authorization interrupt disabling at least some functions of the client after the expiration of an allotted period of time unless the server is first verified as being authorized to provide resources to the client;
• generating and encrypting a first message at the client, the first message including a random number;
• transmitting the first message to the server;
• receiving an encrypted second message from the server;
• decrypting the second message at the client;
• and
• determining, by the client, whether the random number has been included in the second message, wherein the inclusion of the random number in the second message indicates that the server is authorized to provide resources to the client.

A method of verifying that a server is authorized to provide resources to a client, comprising the steps of:

• asserting an authorization interrupt signal at the client, the authorization interrupt disabling at least some functions of the client after the expiration of an allotted period of time unless the server is first verified as being authorized to provide resources to the client;
• generating and encrypting a first message at the client, the first message identifying the client and including a random number and an encryption key encoded on an integrated circuit at the client;
• transmitting the first message to the server;
• receiving an encrypted second message from the server;
• decrypting the second message at the client;
• and
• determining, by the client, whether the random number has been included in the second message, wherein the inclusion of the random number in the second message indicates that the server is authorized to provide resources to the client.

A method of verifying that a server is authorized to provide resources to a client, comprising:

• repeatedly conducting, at times specified by a timing mechanism at the client, the steps of:
• by the client, combining and encrypting a client identifier, a random number, and a time identifier to generate a first message;
• encrypting the first message using an encryption key selected from a plurality of encryption keys encoded on an integrated circuit at the client, the encryption key being included in the first message;
• transmitting the first message from the client to the server;
• at the server, conducting the steps of:
• decrypting the first message;
• identifying an authorization code associated with the client identifier, the authorization code defining a level of functionality to be exhibited by the client;
• and
• combining and encrypting the authorization code and the random number to generate a second message;
• transmitting the second message to the client;
• decrypting the second message at the client;
• and
• verifying, by the client, that the random number has been included in the second message, thereby indicating that the server is authorized to provide resources to the client.