Method and apparatus for controlling access to a product
AssigneeeRoom Technology, Inc.
InventorsPito Salas, Jeffrey Beir, Melissa Leffler, McDonald Glenn, Paul Kleppner, Craig Morrissey, James E. Tonra, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for controlling access to a product includes receiving a request for a product, generating a license string for the product, and transmitting that license string to a user of the product. The license string is generated substantially at the time a request is received. A corresponding system is also described. In some embodiments the product functions for a trial period before requiring input of the license string. License strings may be generated that extend the trial period.
Claims20
A method for controlling access to a product, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) receiving a request for a product;
- (b) generating, substantially at the time the request is received, a license string that controls access to the product, the license string being formed using a cryptographic process to encode a date of creation of the license string, a number of users enabled by the license string, and a type associated with the license string;
- and
- (c) transmitting the license string to a requestor of the product.
A system for controlling access to a product, the system comprising:
- an input unit receiving a request for a product;
- a license string generator in electrical communication with said input unit, said license string generator producing, substantially at the time a request is received, a license string that controls access to said product, said license string being formed using a cryptographic process to encode a date of creation of said license string, a number of users enabled by said license string, and a type associated with said license string;
- and
- an output unit transmitting said license string to a requestor of said product.
An article of manufacture having computer-readable program means for electronically distributing a product, the computer-readable program means comprising:
- computer-readable program means for receiving a request for a product;
- computer-readable program means for generating a license string that enables the product, the license string being formed using a cryptographic process to encode a date of creation of the license string, a number of users enabled by the license string, and a type associated with the license string;
- computer-readable program means for associating the license string with the product;
- and
- computer-readable program means for transmitting the product and the associated license string to a requestor of the product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.