System for installing information related to a software application to a remote computer over a network

{
  "publication_number": "US6067582A",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A",
  "title": "System for installing information related to a software application to a remote computer over a network",
  "abstract": "A system and method is disclosed for distributing, registering and purchasing software application and other digital information over a network. Each software application is embedded with an agent module which communicates with a remote server module in a server attached to the network. The server module interacts with the user that is requesting installation of the software application and upon verification of billing or other constraints, the server module enables the agent module to proceed with installation. Subsequent to installation, the agent module monitors the server module and informs the user if an update to the software application is available.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A system for installing information related to a software application to a remote computer via a network having at least one content server, comprising: a server module in communication with the at least one content server; an embedded agent module embedded in a version of the software application, the embedded agent module, when the version of the software application is installed on the remote computer, running under the control of the version of the software application to communicate with the server module; means for storing the information related to the software application on the content server; means for installing the version of the software application with the embedded agent module on the remote computer; means for communicating a request for the information from the embedded agent module to the server module to initiate transfer of the information from the content server to the remote computer, the information being transferred to the remote computer under control of the embedded agent module in communication with the server module.",
    "2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the remote computer in communication with the server module transmits information to the server module.",
    "3. The system according to claim 2 wherein the information transmitted from the remote computer is identification information.",
    "4. The system according to claim 3 further comprising a technical department, in electrical communication with the server module, for selectively receiving the installation log and the identification information transmitted from the server module.",
    "5. The system according to claim 1 wherein the software application provides associated pricing information.",
    "6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the server module is disposed upon the content server.",
    "7. The system according to claim 1 wherein the network is an intranet.",
    "8. The system according to claim 1 wherein the network is an internet.",
    "9. The system according to claim 1 further comprising: an audit server; and an audit module disposed on the audit server, the audit module in communication with the server module for monitoring information retrieved from the remote computer to determine whether information should be prevented from being retrieved from the remote computer has been retrieved from the remote computer.",
    "10. The system according to claim 9 wherein the audit server is disposed remotely from the content server.",
    "11. The system according to claim 1 further comprising: an audit server; an installation file embedded in the agent module; and an audit module disposed on the audit server, the audit module in electrical communication with the server module for communicating to the remote computer information regarding the functionality of the installation file.",
    "12. The system according to claim 11 wherein the audit server is disposed remotely from the content server.",
    "13. The system according to claim 1 further comprising: an audit server; and an audit module disposed on the audit server in electrical communication with agent module, selectively enabled by the agent module for verifying an installer of the software application.",
    "14. The system according to claim 13 wherein the audit server is disposed remotely from the content server.",
    "15. The system of claim 1 wherein the agent module is embedded in a demonstration version of the software application.",
    "16. The system of claim 1 wherein the agent module comprises: means for identifying information related to the remote computer which should be prevented from being retrieved from the remote computer; and means for preventing the identified information from being retrieved from the remote computer.",
    "17. A method for installing information related to a software application on a remote computer via a network, the method comprising the steps of: including in the software application an embedded agent module, the embedded agent module, when the software application is installed on a computer, running under the control of the software application to communicate with a server module; installing the software application with the embedded agent module on the remote computer; storing the information related to the software application on a content server in communication with the server module; communicating a request for the information from the embedded agent module to the server module to initiate transfer of the information from the content server to the remote computer; transferring the information from the content server to the remote computer.",
    "18. A method according to claim 17 further comprising the step of securing the confidentiality of the transfer of the information between the remote computer and the server module.",
    "19. The method of claim 17 further comprising the steps of: selectively connecting the remote computer to an audit server, the audit server including an audit module; and with the audit module monitoring information retrieved from the remote computer to determine whether information which should be prevented from being retrieved from the remote computer has been retrieved from the remote computer.",
    "20. The method of claim 17 further comprising the steps of: selectively initiating the agent module to communicate with an audit module disposed upon an audit server; executing a verification program disposed upon the audit server, upon selection by the remote computer to verify the installer of the software application; and displaying on the remote computer an output of the verification program.",
    "21. The method of claim 17 wherein the agent module is embedded in a demonstration version of the software application.",
    "22. The method of claim 17 further comprising, with the agent module: identifying information related to the remote computer which should be prevented from being retrieved from the remote computer; and preventing the identified information from being retrieved from the remote computer.",
    "23. The method of claim 17 wherein the server module is disposed on the content server.",
    "24. A method for auditing an agent module to verify the installation of a software application on a remote computer by the agent module comprising the steps of: providing the agent module with a means for identifying information related to the remote computer which should be prevented from being retrieved from the remote computer and means for preventing the identified information from being retrieved from the remote computer, the agent module being embedded in the software application; providing an audit module on an audit server in communication with the agent module, the audit module disposed remotely from the agent module; with the audit module, monitoring information retrieved from the remote computer to determine whether information which should be prevented from being retrieved from the remote computer has been retrieved from the remote computer; and examining the software application, said examining comprising: ascertaining that the software application exclusively transmits a unique packet, the unique packet selectively encapsulated by a transmit header generated from the unique packet; ascertaining that the software application exclusively receives the unique packet, the unique packet selectively encapsulated by a receive header generated from the unique packet; verifying the unique packet exclusively contains predetermined objects; and verifying the predetermined objects are necessary to the functionality of the installation of the software application."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The invention relates to a system and method for distributing software over a network. More particularly, the invention relates to a method for controlling software distribution by embedding a sub-component of the distribution control software in each software application, and having a central monitoring software for monitoring the distribution of the software applications.\n\nDigitally encoded information, or software, is one of the most economically important commodities of the era. The ease and economy with which perfect copies can be made and distributed has promoted the spread of software and related technologies through traditional commercial channels such as retail and mail-order sales. More recently, non-traditional distribution channels such as distribution over networks of interconnected computers such as the Internet have become more viable. These non-traditional distribution channels have made it difficult for software creators and copyright holders to regulate the use of their creations or to receive payment and registration information from their users. Consequently, software producers forfeit substantial revenues and valuable information about their customer base and potential markets while businesses and universities find themselves subject to legal prosecution and intimidation for software piracy.\n\nVarious security methods have been employed in an attempt to inhibit illegal copying of software. Such attempts have included software security, such as password protection and requiring original diskettes to initiate startup, for example, and hardware security, such as a dongle, for example, inter alia.",
  "cpc": [
    "H04L 63/20",
    "G06F 21/10",
    "G06F 8/65",
    "H04L 2463/101",
    "H04L 67/01"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G06F 1/00",
    "G06F 21/00",
    "G06F 9/445",
    "H04L 29/06"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Angel Secure Networks Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Benjamin Hewitt Smith",
    "Fred Hewitt Smith"
  ],
  "filing_date": "1996-08-13",
  "publication_date": "2000-05-23",
  "grant_date": "2000-05-23",
  "priority_date": "1996-08-13",
  "application_number": "US-68976796-A",
  "family_id": "24769826",
  "cited_by_count": 399,
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}