TREA

Software key control for mobile devices

Follow

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 8532640
  • Patent Number
    8,532,640
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, July 28, 2010
    14 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, September 10, 2013
    11 years ago
Information
Abstract
A software key control system and method for mobile devices. When a customer orders a software product, the seller issues a temporary activation key which is posted to a key registration web server. The customer then locates the mobile device's unique device ID and accesses the web server to provide the temporary activation key. The web server creates a registration key based on the customer's temporary activation key and device ID. The registration key is transferred to the customer's mobile device and the customer can then register the ordered software product. The system and method of the present invention thereby automate the sale and distribution of keys for mobile devices.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to software registration for mobile devices, and more particularly to an automated software key control for mobile devices.


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mobile devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), handheld computers, and portable data terminals have operating systems that can be loaded into the hardware and run in a manner similar to a MICROSOFT WINDOWS® operating system a desktop or network computer. Examples of such systems are WINDOWS® MOBILE, WINDOWS® CE, and POCKET PC.


Because mobile devices are typically battery operated and all software and files may be completely removed, control and protection of application software installed on these devices rely on the device's hardware serial number in order to tie the application software to a particular device. Distributing software to a large number of devices by obtaining these serial numbers and integrating them into software “keys,” however, is time consuming and requires serial number information prior to issuing a key, and can also require human intervention. Accordingly, there is a need for a system that simplifies software registration for mobile devices.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention substantially addresses the aforementioned and other needs by providing a software key control system and method for mobile devices. The system and method of the invention automate the sale and distribution of keys for mobile devices.


In one embodiment, when a customer orders a software product from a seller, the seller issues a temporary activation key which is posted to a key registration web server. The customer then locates the mobile device's unique device ID and accesses the web server to provide the temporary activation key. The web server creates a registration key based on the customer's temporary activation key and device ID. The registration key is transferred to the customer's mobile device and the customer can then register the ordered software product, thus enabling the product.


The above summary of the invention is not intended to describe each illustrated embodiment or every implementation of the present invention. The figures and the detailed description that follow more particularly exemplify these embodiments.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be more completely understood from the following detailed description of various embodiments in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:



FIG. 1 is a diagram of a software key control system according to one embodiment of the invention.



FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a software key control system and method according to one embodiment of the present invention.





While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.


DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of a software key control system 100 comprises a customer mobile device 102, a customer computer system 104, a key registration web server 106, and a seller computer system 108, all communicatively coupled to the Internet 110. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, mobile device 102 is communicatively coupled to computer system 104, which is in turn communicatively coupled, directly or via an intermediary network, to the Internet 110 and can transfer information to and from mobile device 102. Alternatively, mobile device 102 can be directly coupled to the Internet 110 or an intermediary network, omitting computer system 104 in another embodiment.


Mobile device 102 may be a cell phone, PDA, handheld computer, portable data terminal, or other similar computer and/or communication device, typically operating with a WINDOWS®.NET compact framework operating system. Operating systems can include, for example, WINDOWS® CE, POCKET PC, MOBILE 2003, and other similar systems.


Referring also to FIG. 2, a method of the invention is initiated when a customer orders a software product for the customer's mobile device 102 from the seller. The seller, via seller computer system 108, accepts and processes the software order at step 112. Upon accepting the order, the seller issues a temporary activation key at step 114. Each temporary activation key is unique to a customer order and will later allow the customer to obtain a registration key for the software product. Customer information and software version information denoting which versions of the software can be registered are included within each temporary activation key. The temporary activation key corresponding to the order is then sent via the Internet 110 from seller computer system 108 to a registration key list stored on registration key web server 106, where the customer will be able to access it. Registration key web server 106 is a server or web service that communicates with the key registration application software installed on customer mobile device 102, or on computer 104 in one embodiment, to allow registration keys to be obtained. Once the temporary activation key is posted on web server 106, a notice is sent to the customer indicating that the customer's key, or keys if multiple products are ordered, is available.


Before a customer can use a temporary activation key to obtain a registration key, the customer first locates mobile device 102's device ID at step 116. A device ID is generally a unique serial number or alphanumeric code stored in each mobile device 102 by the manufacturer that identifies that particular device and can be obtained electronically by software. The customer can locate the device ID by using key registration application software on device 102, or computer system 104, which then writes the device ID to a file in mobile device 102.


Next, the customer uses the key registration application software operating on computer system 104 or device 102 to access key registration web server 106 at step 118. The customer selects which temporary activation key to use from a list of keys for all products which the customer has ordered. Computer system 104 then transmits the device ID for mobile device 102 to web server 106. In another embodiment, mobile device 102 directly transmits the device ID to web server 106.


Using the temporary activation key and its associated customer and software version information, and the device ID, key registration web server 106 creates a permanent registration key at step 120 and stores the permanent key in the registration key list on server 106. The registration key is created using a key encryption algorithm selected by the seller and includes such information as the customer's ID, the version number of the software that can be upgraded to, and the device ID.


The key registration application software receives the permanent registration key from the registration key list and stores the permanent registration key on mobile device 102 at step 122, either directly or by first downloading to the customer's computer 104. After the registration key is stored in the customer's mobile device, the key registration application software or the software product itself will allow the user to register the product at step 124.


In addition to creating registration keys for newly purchased products, registration keys can also be created when devices, software, or other products are updated. This may be necessary because the temporary activation keys generally only allow registration keys to be issued for certain versions of a product. When a new version is released, the registration key will not allow access to the updated version. Accordingly, when the seller releases a new version of a software product, a code is put into the registration key list indicating the version number a customer is qualified to receive. When the customer connects to the key registration web service and requests an updated key, a new key is generated by the web service based on this code and is provided to the customer. The customer may then use the new key to register the new version of the software.


Registration keys can also be created for trial versions of a product. These trial keys may activate a software product for a specific period of time, and then disallow access upon expiration of that time period. Alternatively, a trial key may allow operation of the software only at a reduced capacity level, such as by disabling certain software functions.


The system also allows for the issuance of replacement keys. Replacement keys may be necessary when a customer damages the mobile device on which the software is located and needs to obtain a new device. Because the old registration key was keyed to the unique device ID of the customer's damaged mobile device, it will not work with a new device. A replacement key can be obtained by accessing the key registration web server and selecting the same temporary activation code as before. The key registration application software transmits the new device ID, and a new registration key is issued. Because this could be done with any number of devices even where there is no damaged device, this activity is noted in a report sent to the seller so that it can monitor replacement key activity for abuse.


The disclosure has been described with reference to various specific and preferred embodiments and techniques. However, it should be understood that many variations and modifications can be made while remaining within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

Claims
  • 1. A computer-implemented method to manage software activation keys for mobile devices comprising the steps of: receiving a request from a mobile device to purchase a software product for use on the mobile device, wherein the request includes an identifier of the mobile device;creating a temporary activation key associated with the software product and the purchase, wherein the temporary activation key is unique to the purchase of the software product for the mobile device and comprises software product information and purchase information, including information associated with a customer of the mobile device;storing the temporary activation key;receiving a request to access the stored temporary activation key, wherein the request includes the identifier of the mobile device;creating a permanent registration key associated with the software product using the temporary activation key and the identifier of the mobile device;transmitting the permanent registration key to the mobile device; andregistering the software product for use on the mobile device using the permanent registration key.
  • 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting a notification message to the mobile device indicating that the temporary activation key has been created.
  • 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of creating a permanent registration key further comprises selecting a key encryption algorithm and using the key encryption algorithm to generate the permanent registration key.
  • 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of activating a full version of the software product for use on the mobile device after registering the software product.
  • 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of temporarily activating the software product for use on the mobile device after registering the software product.
  • 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of partially activating the software product for use on the mobile device after registering the software product.
  • 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of receiving a request to issue a replacement registration key, wherein the request includes a new device identifier;creating a new permanent registration key associated with the software product using the new device identifier;transmitting the new permanent registration key to the mobile device; andregistering the software product for use on the mobile device using the new permanent registration key.
  • 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of notifying the vendor of the software product of the issuance of the replacement registration key.
  • 9. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of revoking the permanent registration key.
  • 10. A software key control system for mobile devices comprising: means for receiving a request from a mobile device to purchase a software product for use on the mobile device, wherein the request includes an identifier of the mobile device;computer-implemented means for creating a unique temporary activation key, wherein the temporary activation key is unique to the purchase of the software product for the mobile device and comprises software product information and purchase information, including information associated with a customer of the mobile device;computer-implemented means for storing the temporary activation key;computer-implemented means for receiving a request to access the stored temporary activation key, wherein the request includes the identifier of the mobile device;computer-implemented means for creating a permanent registration key associated with the software product using the temporary activation key, the software product information, the purchase information, and the identifier of the mobile device; andcomputer-implemented means for transmitting the permanent registration key to the mobile device.
  • 11. The system of claim 10, further comprising computer-implemented means for transmitting a notification message indicating that the temporary activation key has been created, wherein the notification message includes a network location at which the temporary activation key is stored.
  • 12. The system of claim 10, wherein the computer-implemented means for creating a permanent registration key further comprises means for selecting a key encryption algorithm and means for using the key encryption algorithm to generate the permanent registration key.
  • 13. The system of claim 10, further comprising computer-implemented means for registering the software product for use on the mobile device.
  • 14. The system of claim 13, further comprising computer-implemented means for activating a full version of the software product for use on the mobile device after registering the software product.
  • 15. The system of claim 13, further comprising computer-implemented means for temporarily activating the software product for use on the mobile device after registering the software product.
  • 16. The system of claim 13, further comprising computer-implemented means for partially activating the software product for use on the mobile device after registering the software product.
  • 17. The system of claim 10, further comprising computer-implemented means for issuing a replacement registration key using a new device ID.
  • 18. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for notifying the provider of the software product of the issuance of the replacement registration key.
  • 19. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for revoking the permanent registration key.
  • 20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with computer-executable instructions to cause a computer system to manage software activation keys for mobile devices, the computer-readable storage medium comprising: computer-executable instructions to respond to a request to purchase a software product for use on a mobile device, wherein the request includes an identifier of the mobile device;computer-executable instructions to create a unique temporary activation key, wherein the temporary activation key is unique to the purchase of the software product for the mobile device and comprises software product information and purchase information, including information associated with a customer of the mobile device;computer-executable instructions to store the temporary activation key;computer-executable instructions to respond to a request to access the stored temporary activation key, wherein the request includes the identifier of the mobile device;computer-executable instructions to create a permanent registration key associated with the software product using the temporary activation key, the software product information, the purchase information, and the identifier of the mobile device;computer-executable instructions to send the permanent registration key to the mobile device; andcomputer-executable instructions to register the software product for use on the mobile device using the permanent registration key.
RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/653,500, entitled SOFTWARE KEY CONTROL FOR MOBILE DEVICES, filed Jan. 16, 2007 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,792,522 which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/758,752, filed Jan. 13, 2006, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

US Referenced Citations (137)
Number Name Date Kind
3154761 O'Gorman Oct 1964 A
3383657 Claassen May 1968 A
3569619 Simjian Mar 1971 A
3581282 Altman May 1971 A
3636318 Lindstrom et al. Jan 1972 A
3702392 St. Jean Nov 1972 A
3764742 Abbott et al. Oct 1973 A
3868057 Chavez Feb 1975 A
3896266 Waterbury Jul 1975 A
3906201 Housman et al. Sep 1975 A
3956615 Anderson et al. May 1976 A
3988570 Murphy et al. Oct 1976 A
4137058 Schlom et al. Jan 1979 A
4138057 Atalla Feb 1979 A
4140272 Atalla Feb 1979 A
4186871 Anderson et al. Feb 1980 A
4193131 Lennon et al. Mar 1980 A
RE30579 Goldman et al. Apr 1981 E
4277837 Stuckert Jul 1981 A
4281215 Atalla Jul 1981 A
4304961 Campbell, Jr. Dec 1981 A
4315101 Atalla Feb 1982 A
4341951 Benton Jul 1982 A
4357529 Atalla Nov 1982 A
4369361 Swartz et al. Jan 1983 A
4438824 Mueller-Schloer Mar 1984 A
4450348 Stockburger et al. May 1984 A
4453074 Weinstein Jun 1984 A
4471216 Herve Sep 1984 A
4501957 Perlman et al. Feb 1985 A
4506148 Berthold et al. Mar 1985 A
4529870 Chaum Jul 1985 A
4590470 Koenig May 1986 A
4629872 Hallberg Dec 1986 A
4634808 Moerder Jan 1987 A
4634846 Harvey et al. Jan 1987 A
4636622 Clark Jan 1987 A
4659914 Kondo et al. Apr 1987 A
4684791 Bito Aug 1987 A
4689477 Goldman Aug 1987 A
4712103 Gotanda Dec 1987 A
4729129 Koerner Mar 1988 A
4731841 Rosen et al. Mar 1988 A
4752676 Leonard et al. Jun 1988 A
4807287 Tucker et al. Feb 1989 A
4811393 Hazard Mar 1989 A
4811408 Goldman Mar 1989 A
4812628 Boston et al. Mar 1989 A
4816657 Stockburger et al. Mar 1989 A
4879747 Leighton et al. Nov 1989 A
4882779 Rahtgen Nov 1989 A
4945216 Tanabe et al. Jul 1990 A
4982072 Takigami Jan 1991 A
4993068 Piosenka et al. Feb 1991 A
4995081 Leighton et al. Feb 1991 A
5007089 Matyas et al. Apr 1991 A
5012077 Takano Apr 1991 A
5016192 Ishido et al. May 1991 A
5042686 Stucki Aug 1991 A
5172785 Takahashi Dec 1992 A
5214699 Monroe et al. May 1993 A
5237611 Rasmussen et al. Aug 1993 A
5249227 Bergum et al. Sep 1993 A
5259025 Monroe et al. Nov 1993 A
5267315 Narita et al. Nov 1993 A
5284364 Jain Feb 1994 A
5287181 Holman Feb 1994 A
5321751 Ray et al. Jun 1994 A
5336871 Colgate, Jr. Aug 1994 A
5337358 Axelrod et al. Aug 1994 A
5337361 Wang et al. Aug 1994 A
5341428 Schatz Aug 1994 A
5367148 Storch et al. Nov 1994 A
5367581 Abel et al. Nov 1994 A
5386103 DeBan et al. Jan 1995 A
5422468 Abecassis Jun 1995 A
5429361 Raven et al. Jul 1995 A
5453600 Swartz Sep 1995 A
5469506 Berson et al. Nov 1995 A
5471533 Wang et al. Nov 1995 A
5490217 Wang et al. Feb 1996 A
5500518 Olzak et al. Mar 1996 A
5506395 Eppley Apr 1996 A
5513019 Cueli Apr 1996 A
5513261 Maher Apr 1996 A
5514860 Berson May 1996 A
5546278 Bethurum Aug 1996 A
5550359 Bennett Aug 1996 A
5553143 Ross et al. Sep 1996 A
5559885 Drexler et al. Sep 1996 A
5590193 Le Roux Dec 1996 A
5594226 Steger Jan 1997 A
5610993 Yamamoto Mar 1997 A
5635981 Ribacoff Jun 1997 A
5642485 Deaton et al. Jun 1997 A
5649118 Carlisle et al. Jul 1997 A
5651066 Moriyasu et al. Jul 1997 A
5661805 Miyauchi Aug 1997 A
5663553 Aucsmith Sep 1997 A
5668874 Kristol et al. Sep 1997 A
5679940 Templeton et al. Oct 1997 A
5694471 Chen et al. Dec 1997 A
5706507 Schloss Jan 1998 A
5712472 Lee Jan 1998 A
5717776 Watanabe Feb 1998 A
5721777 Blaze Feb 1998 A
5722526 Sharrard Mar 1998 A
5748908 Yu May 1998 A
5754939 Herz et al. May 1998 A
5770849 Novis et al. Jun 1998 A
5781650 Lobo et al. Jul 1998 A
5786587 Colgate, Jr. Jul 1998 A
5805849 Jordan et al. Sep 1998 A
5812664 Bernobich et al. Sep 1998 A
5838812 Pare, Jr. et al. Nov 1998 A
5845256 Pescitelli et al. Dec 1998 A
5848426 Wang et al. Dec 1998 A
5864623 Messina et al. Jan 1999 A
5879747 Murakami et al. Mar 1999 A
5991429 Coffin et al. Nov 1999 A
6070147 Harms et al. May 2000 A
6119932 Maloney et al. Sep 2000 A
6134593 Alexander et al. Oct 2000 A
6148091 DiMaria Nov 2000 A
6169542 Hooks et al. Jan 2001 B1
6196460 Shin Mar 2001 B1
6363387 Ponnekanti et al. Mar 2002 B1
6463416 Messina Oct 2002 B1
6523741 DiMaria et al. Feb 2003 B1
6920437 Messina Jul 2005 B2
20010034712 Colvin Oct 2001 A1
20020143571 Messina Oct 2002 A1
20050131829 Messina Jun 2005 A1
20060184798 Yaldwyn et al. Aug 2006 A1
20070011748 Tiwari Jan 2007 A1
20070112686 Chatani et al. May 2007 A1
20080114685 Leong et al. May 2008 A1
Foreign Referenced Citations (22)
Number Date Country
1952737 Jun 1970 DE
3000560 Sep 1981 DE
4410459 Feb 1995 DE
0187448 Jul 1986 EP
0407207 Jan 1991 EP
0683471 Nov 1995 EP
0991027 Apr 2000 EP
1546053 May 1979 GB
2067322 Jul 1981 GB
2136180 Sep 1984 GB
2332973 Jul 1999 GB
2359172 Aug 2001 GB
0050075879 Jun 1975 JP
63138462 Jun 1988 JP
1055695 Mar 1989 JP
3014973 Jan 1991 JP
3100972 Apr 1991 JP
7093648 Apr 1995 JP
0080101868 Apr 1996 JP
09245231 Sep 1997 JP
11316818 Nov 1999 JP
WO-9412372 Jun 1994 WO
Non-Patent Literature Citations (15)
Entry
Positive Access: Drivers License Software for Developers. Apr. 13, 2004. pp. 1-3, http://www.positiveaccess.com.
Positive Access: IDecode DLL Active X, Positive Access Corporation, 1 page, 2004.
Positive Access. “What We Do” Driver's license software and equipment for scanning and reading drivers ID cards. 2 pages. Aug. 10, 2004.
Application Notes: The Mag-Tek Card Reader, Copyright 1992, Mag-Tek, Inc., 3 pages, Aug. 1992.
Positive Access. CardChecker Software, 2 pages, Aug. 22, 2003.
Intelli-Check, Inc. 1997, “Do You Really Know . . . Who is Old Enough?”
Intelli-Check, Inc. 1997, ID-Check Online, http://www.intellicheck.com, excerpts taken from http://intellicheck.com/news.htm and http://intellicheck.com/page14.htm.
Anonymous, “California Driver's License Readability Supported in New Percon Bar Code and Magnetic Stripe Decoder,” PC Business Products, vol. 5, No. 7, Jul. 1993.
Anonymous, “Systems Copies Charge Transactions”, Computer Retail Week, p. 56, Jun. 7, 1993.
Anonymous, “Multimedia's Future is Just a Touch Away”, Report on IBM, vol. 10, No. 47, Dec. 1, 1993.
Specification, I Decode Parser (DLL) Software, Version I.07, Version K, Mar. 11, 2003.
Anonymous, “Technology Adds Functionality to ID Cards: Get Ready to Replace That Bulging Purse or Wallet-Full of Credit Cards with a Single, Multi-Function Card”, Automatic I.D. News, p. 32, Apr. 1995.
Reese, Shelly, “Age Verification Units Counter Alcohol, Tobacco Sales to Minors: Devices read driver's licenses and approve or deny sale of age-restricted products”, 2 pages, Jun. 1998.
Positive Access: Specification, IDecode R Parser Software Acive X DLL, 88 pages, Version 2.02, Rev. N, Copyright 2002-2005.
U.S. Appl. No. 11/447,240, filed Jun. 5, 2006, Inventor: Bussey.
Related Publications (1)
Number Date Country
20100293096 A1 Nov 2010 US
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60758752 Jan 2006 US
Continuations (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 11653500 Jan 2007 US
Child 12845598 US