Method and apparatus for controlling access to a product

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.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . 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; and    (c) transmitting the license string to the requester.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein step (a) comprises receiving a request via a distributed communications network.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein step (a) comprises: 
 (a-a) receiving a request for a product; and  
 (a-b) receiving payment information from the requester.  
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising the step of verifying the received payment information.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein step (b) comprises using a cryptographic process to generate a license string that controls access to the product.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein step (b) comprises using a cryptographic process to generate a license string encoding a character text string, the license string controlling access to the product when supplied by the requestor.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein step (b) comprises using a cryptographic process to generate a license string encoded as an upper case alphanumeric string, the characters in the text string excluding capital O, capital I, and numbers 0 and 1, the license string controlling access to the product when supplied by the requestor.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein step (b) comprises using a cryptographic process to generate a license string encoding: 
 the date of creation of the license string;  
 the number of users enabled by the license string; and  
 the type of license string created.  
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein step (b) further comprises including validation information in the generated string.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein step (b) comprises generating, substantially at the time the request is received, a license string that controls access to a single facility.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein step (b) comprises generating, substantially at the time the request is received, a license string that controls access to multiple facilities.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein step (c) comprises transmitting the license string to the requestor via a distributed communications network.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the product functions for only a predetermined period of time before the license string is entered.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the license string extends the predetermined period of time for which the product will function.  
     
     
         15 . 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 the product;    an output unit transmitting the license string to the requester.    
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said input unit is in electrical communication with a network and said input unit receives a request for a product via the network.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said license string generator uses a cryptographic engine to produce a license string.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said license string generator generates a license string controlling access to a single facility.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said license string generator generates a license string controlling access to multiple facilities.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said output unit is in electrical communication with a network and said output unit transmits the product and the associated license string to the requester via the network.  
     
     
         21 . An article of manufacture having computer-readable program means embodied thereon, the computer-readable program means comprising the system of  claim 15 .  
     
     
         22 . 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 when supplied by the requester;    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 the requestor.    
     
     
         23 . The article of manufacture of  claim 22  further comprising computer-readable program means for receiving payment information from the requestor.