US 8,898,469 B2 · Software feature authorization through delegated agents

Abstract

A method enables selected features of a software product residing on an end user electronic device with a license delivered from a licensing provider to a service provider of the end user electronic device. The method includes requesting at least one license to authorize a first service provider. An encrypted installation key uniquely associated with the first service provider is received as well as an authorization agent module for installation on one or more authorization agent devices associated with the first service provider. The encrypted installation key and the authorization agent module are installed on the authorization agent devices. A device-unique identifier (DUID) is generated for each authorization agent device based on hardware characteristics of the respective authorization agent devices. The DUID and the encrypted installation key are sent from the authorization agent device to a licensing provider to obtain the requested license. The requested license is received by the authorization agent devices if the DUID and the encrypted installation key are validated by the licensing provider. The license on authorization agent device authorizes and enables the selected features of the software product on an end user electronic device.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for enabling selected features of a software product residing on an end user electronic device with a license delivered from a licensing provider to a service provider of the end user electronic device, comprising:

requesting at least one license to authorize the service provider to enable selected features of the software product residing on the end user electronic device;
receiving an encrypted installation key that is unique to the service provider;
receiving an authorization agent module for installation on one or more authorization agent devices associated with the service provider;
installing the encrypted installation key and the authorization agent module on the one or more authorization agent devices, wherein the installing of the authorization agent module includes using the encrypted installation key as a product key to install the authorization agent module;
generating a device-unique identifier (DUID) for each authorization agent device based on hardware characteristics of the respective authorization agent devices;
sending the DUID and the encrypted installation key from at least one of the authorization agent devices to the licensing provider in order to obtain the requested license;
receiving the requested license on said at least one of the authorization agent devices if the DUID and the encrypted installation key are validated by the licensing provider;
and
using the license on said at least one authorization agent device to authorize and enable the selected features of the software product on the end user electronic device.

6 more elements

A method for delegating authorization of selected features of a software product residing on an end user electronic device from a licensing provider to a service provider of the end user electronic device, comprising:

receiving a request from the service provider for authorization to use one or more authorization agent devices to enable the selected features of the software product residing on the end user electronic device;
generating an installation key that is unique to the service provider;
encrypting the installation key;
sending an authorization agent module and the encrypted installation key for installation on one or more authorization agent devices associated with the service provider, wherein the installing of the authorization agent module includes using the encrypted installation key as a product key to install the authorization agent module;
receiving a request for a license to enable the selected features of the software product, the request including the encrypted installation key and a device-unique identifier (DUID) from a first of the authorization agent devices, said DUID being based on hardware characteristics of the first authorization agent device;
authenticating the first service provider by validating the encrypted installation key received from the first authorization agent device;
and
sending the requested license to the first authorization agent device if the encrypted installation key is validated by the licensing provider.

5 more elements

An authorization agent module, installed on an authorization agent device using a received encrypted version of an installation key as a product key, comprising instructions encoded on at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium associated with the authorization agent device, wherein the instructions, when executed by a processor, perform a method including:

generating a device-unique identifier (DUID) for the authorization agent device based on hardware characteristics of the authorization agent device;
causing the DUID and the encrypted version of the installation key associated with a service provider to be sent to a licensing provider in order to obtain a license to enable selected features of a software product residing on an end user electronic device;
receiving the requested license if the encrypted installation key is validated by the licensing provider;
and
using the license to cause the end user electronic device to enable the selected features of the software product.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Software feature authorization through delegated agents

Life of this patent

Software feature authorization through delegated agents

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20