Computer architecture for managing courseware in a shared use operating environment

Abstract

Methods, devices, and systems are provided in a multi-level computer architecture which provides improved capabilities for managing courseware and other content in a shared use operating environment such as a computer network. In particular, the invention provides a commercial networked instruction content delivery method and system which does not exclude synchronous sharing but is focused on asynchronous sharing. Security means in the architecture provide content property holders with the ability to know how many minutes of use an individual made of licensed material and with increased certainty that their material cannot be used, copied, or sold in usable form unless and until a user site is connected or reconnected to a minute-by-minute counter which is located off the premises of the user. This security link helps protect software and other works which are being sold or licensed to an individual, organization, or entity, and creates income opportunities for owners of such content.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by patent is: 
     
         1 - 175 . (canceled) 
     
     
         176 . A system for managing shared courseware content, the system comprising:
 a server computer having a memory configured with courseware content serving software in operable communication with a processor of the server computer;   a pseudo-random number generator configured to generate a sequence of pseudo-random numbers;   a manager configured to prevent the content serving software from serving courseware content to a personal computer if the pseudo-random numbers are not paired with corresponding numbers from the personal computer; and   a content server date/time stamp which agrees with a reset date/time stamp of the personal computer;   wherein the system is configured to meter use of the courseware content.   
     
     
         177 . The system of  claim 176 , further comprising a computer-readable medium configured with client software to reside in a memory of the personal computer in operable communication with a processor of the personal computer, the client software including a pseudo-random number generator which is paired with a pseudo-random number generator in the server computer to generate the same sequence of pseudo-random numbers. 
     
     
         178 . The system of  claim 176 , wherein the manager resides in the server computer. 
     
     
         179 . The system of  claim 176 , wherein the manager is configured to meter use of the content as a basis for billing. 
     
     
         180 . The system of  claim 176 , wherein the system further comprises a content repository server, and the server computer is configured to receive courseware content from the content repository server and to serve that courseware content to the personal computer. 
     
     
         181 . The system of  claim 176 , wherein the server computer is configured to serve content only to registered users in a shared use operating environment. 
     
     
         182 . The system of  claim 176 , further comprising code which upon execution by a processor treats a critical portion of the courseware content. 
     
     
         183 . The system of  claim 176 , further comprising code which upon execution by a processor serves a critical portion of the courseware content. 
     
     
         184 . The system of  claim 176 , further comprising a registration server. 
     
     
         185 . The system of  claim 176 , further comprising a registration server which is free of courseware content managed by the system. 
     
     
         186 . The system of  claim 176 , further comprising a registration server which is free of courseware content that is both (a) managed by the system and (b) fully accessible only in exchange for payment. 
     
     
         187 . The system of  claim 176 , further comprising in memory (a) a user registration which identifies a registered user and includes at least a user ID and a corporate sponsor identity, and (b) a bill to the corporate sponsor for service of courseware content by the system to the registered user. 
     
     
         188 . The system of  claim 176 , further comprising in memory (a) a user registration which identifies a registered user and includes at least a user ID and a government sponsor identity, and (b) a bill to the government sponsor for service of courseware content by the system to the registered user. 
     
     
         189 . The system of  claim 176 , wherein the manager is configured to check for paired pseudo-random numbers once per client-server pair in a shared use operating environment. 
     
     
         190 . The system of  claim 176 , wherein the manager is configured to check for paired pseudo-random numbers once per workstation in a shared use operating environment. 
     
     
         191 . The system of  claim 176 , wherein the manager is configured to check for paired pseudo-random numbers once per connection in a shared use operating environment. 
     
     
         192 . A system for managing shared courseware content, the system comprising:
 a server computer having a memory configured with courseware content serving software in operable communication with a processor of the server computer;   a pseudo-random number generator configured to generate a sequence of pseudo-random numbers;   a manager configured to prevent the content serving software from serving courseware content to a personal computer if the pseudo-random numbers are not paired with corresponding numbers from the personal computer; and   a registration server which is free of courseware content that is both (a) managed by the system and (b) fully accessible only in exchange for payment.   
     
     
         193 . The system of  claim 192 , further comprising code which upon execution by a processor serves a critical portion of the courseware content. 
     
     
         194 . The system of  claim 192 , further comprising code which upon execution by a processor treats a critical portion of the courseware content. 
     
     
         195 . The system of  claim 192 , wherein the manager is configured to meter use of the content as a basis for billing.