Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for software license management. The License Management System (LMS) is comprised of three components. These three components are the License Client (LC), the License Server (LS) and the Network License Manager (NLM). For the system to function the LC and LS are required. The NLM exists to facilitate and manage concurrent license usage.

Abstract: A method for converting coined money to another type of value proceeds by receiving a plurality of coins into a coin processing machine. The coins are processed with the coin processing machine to determine a value of the coins. An electronic record of the determined value is produced using the coin processing machine. Further, the record of the determined value is electronically transmitted from the coin processing machine to a remote storage location.

Abstract: A portable intelligent shopping device which can be worn as a wristwatch or carried on a belt. It makes paying for purchases more secure. The device stores the wearer's private key and digital certificate. It can also store the public keys of various stores. When the wearer (shopper) buys something from a store, the store can request a payment of the appropriate amount from the wearer's watch. The authorization for payment of the amount specified by the request for payment may be transmitted using IR or RF. The watch can then display the amount and request the shopper to confirm the transaction by entering a PIN number by tapping on the touch screen or using the roller wheel. Once the correct PIN is entered, the watch can send a message to the store authorizing payment of the requested amount. The store can verify the message based on the shopper's encrypted certificate by decrypting it using the shopper's public key.

Abstract: One embodiment in accordance with the invention is a method. For example, the method includes storing movie content with a distribution station that can be subsequently purchased and/or rented. The movie content can be encrypted. A determination can be made as to whether a storage apparatus is coupled with the distribution station. Provided the storage apparatus has been coupled with the distribution station, a determination can be made as to whether the storage apparatus is authorized to receive the movie content. Provided the storage apparatus is authorized to receive the movie content, encrypted movie content can be downloaded to the storage apparatus from the distribution station. Note that the download of movie content to the authorized storage apparatus can be part of a purchase and/or rental transaction.

Abstract: A system and method for method for implementing a discounted printing is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for implementing discounted printing includes creating a sponsored document including a digital signature using a cryptographic protocol provided in an application by an enterprise, sending the sponsored document including the digital signature to a client computing system including a sponsored printer for printing by the enterprise, dynamically verifying the digital signature by a trusted service provider upon the enterprise sending the sponsored document to the sponsored printer, and printing the sponsored document by the sponsored printer upon a successful verification of the digital signature. The method may also include crediting an end user associated with the sponsored printer by an amount that substantially subsidizes cost associated with the printing of the sponsored document.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates maintaining software at a third-party server. During operation, the system receives the software at the third-party server, wherein the end-user has rights to the software. The system also receives information which is associated with the software at the third-party server. The system then stores the software and the information at the third-party server on behalf of the end-user. Furthermore, note that storing the software and the information at the third-party server facilitates subsequent installations of the software on a client.

Abstract: A predictive software license balancing system for allocating a predetermined number of software licenses between two or more license servers located at different sites. Each license server compiles software license usage statistics and shares the usage statistics with the other license servers. Based in the compiled software license usage over time, the software license usage for each site is predicted and the available software licenses distributed accordingly, thus balancing the number of software licenses available at each site based on predicted software license usage.

Abstract: Authenticating the identity and validating the profile of an individual who presents himself to another party as having a certain identity and corresponding profile data occurs during an Internet transaction. A trusted party gives a definitive answer regarding the authentication of identity and validity of profile data. The trusted party can be a financial institution that has an established relationship with the individual. For example, the financial institution can be a bank that issues a debit or credit card to the individual. The trusted party can also provide the profile data of the individual to the other party, rather than have the individual provide such data. The trusted party can also update the individual's profile data held by the other party when such data is no longer current.

Abstract: A shooting rest supports a firearm and reduces recoil energy of the firearm. The shooting rest has a rear support and a front support for supporting the firearm and a frame connecting the rear support and the front support. The frame supports at least one weight to reduce the amount of recoil energy felt by a shooter.

Abstract: A method for managing access to application software contained on a computer system or network. The computer system utilizes an authentication component that is configured to receive a unique user account identifier and to generate an authentication passkey by using an identifying data element, typically called a “password”. The identifying data elements are collected from one or more input devices and used as an encryption key for the user account identifier. The generated authentication passkey is used in an authentication transaction associated with the application software instead of the identifying data element thereby reducing data security risks if the identifying data element alone were discovered due to other unknowns including the encryption elements.

Abstract: A subset of unique codes are generated from a set of codes. The subset of codes are stored in a database on a secure server and each of the codes is marked on a corresponding instantiation of the product. The marked instantiations are distributed. During their distribution, the marked instantiations are verified for authenticity and for routing. This verification is performed by reading or scanning the codes on the instantiations, and transmitting that information to the secure server for comparison against the codes and other information located in the database contained therein.

Abstract: A dispute resolution system for requesting a service provider to provide services so that the service provider can demonstrate to a service intermediary that a service consumer requested services. A service consumer that wants to start requesting services of the service provider registers with the service intermediary an end code of a sequence of code generated using a one-way function. The service intermediary provides the end code to the service provider. The service consumer can then using codes of the sequence requests the service provider to provide services. When the service provider receives a request, it verifies that the code of the request can be used to derive the end code. If the verification is successful, then the service provider can provide the verified code to the service intermediary as non-repudiatable evidence of the services requested by the service consumer.

Abstract: Consumers may utilize computing devices to assist in the purchase and/or loyalty process, and in particular, the consumer may utilize a PDA to facilitate the purchase and/or loyalty process. During the purchase and/or loyalty process, the consumer may need to insure that any content downloaded or used in association with the PDA is secure in how it is collected, assembled, and delivered to the PDA device. This system and method secures the data from its source to when it is actually viewed or used by the authorized user. The PDA may have direct access to an Internet web site portal that offers secure personal content from a content provider, such as, for example, an on-line banking or financial institution. Using the web site portal, the content provider may offer personal or confidential data, such as financial information, to PDA users in a secure (e.g., encrypted) environment.

Abstract: An online card-present transaction system facilitates card-present type transactions with a merchant over a public network. A host system is configured to accept authentication data from a user via an authentication device. The host system, after authenticating a user is configured to retrieve the user's account information from a user database system and translate a user account number into a temporary transaction number. The temporary transaction number is then transmitted directly from the host system to the merchant, thereby eliminating the need for the user to send to the merchant over the internet, the user's transaction account number.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for soliciting orders for customized apparel. The apparel can be appendage apparel, such as footwear, gloves, or head gear, or non-appendage apparel such as jackets. The present method includes providing an order form accessible through at least one computer by one or more users. The present method further includes providing one or more possible design parameters, requesting the user to customize the apparel by entering at least one of the parameters on the order form. The user submits the order form through the computer and receives apparel according to the order form. The parameters may include size, material, model, style, color, material treatment, or personalization.

Abstract: Consumers may utilize computing devices to assist in the purchase and/or loyalty process, and in particular, the consumer may utilize a PDA to facilitate the purchase and/or loyalty process. During the purchase and/or loyalty process, the consumer may need to insure that any content downloaded or used in association with the PDA is secure in how it is collected, assembled, and delivered to the PDA device. This system and method secures the data from its source to when it is actually viewed or used by the authorized user. The PDA may have direct access to an Internet web site portal that offers secure personal content from a content provider, such as, for example, an on-line banking or financial institution. Using the web site portal, the content provider may offer personal or confidential data, such as financial information, to PDA users in a secure (e.g., encrypted) environment.

Abstract: An interactive information dissemination system includes a media server (210) for receiving a plurality of media elements and storing the media elements in a database. A sender client (200) enables a first user to identify message data, a recipient identifier, and a media element from the database of media elements. A recipient client (202) presents the media element to a second user associated with the recipient identifier. The recipient client (202) further presents the message data to the second user when the second user performs a predetermined action, such as submitting authentication information or requesting the message data, to receive the message data. The message data may be secured by requiring sender and recipient authentication, and by encoding the data using a private encoding key and data package identifier managed by a main server (206) and a key server (208).

Abstract: An online card-present transaction system facilitates card-present type transactions with a merchant over a public network. A host system is configured to accept authentication data from a user via an authentication device. The host system, after authenticating a user is configured to retrieve the user's account information from a user database system and translate a user account number into a temporary transaction number. The temporary transaction number is then transmitted directly from the host system to the merchant, thereby eliminating the need for the user to send to the merchant over the internet, the user's transaction account number.

Abstract: A method and system for designing a probe card from data provided by prospective customers via the Internet is provided. Design specifications are entered into the system by prospective customers and compiled into a database. The collective feasibility of each set of design specifications is determined by an automated computer system and communicated to the prospective customer. If feasible, additional software enables prospective customers to create verification packages according to their respective design specifications. These verification packages further consist of drawing files visually describing the final design and verification files confirming wafer bonding pad data. Verification packages are reviewed and forwarded to an applications engineer after customer approval. An interactive simulation of probe card performance is also provided.

Abstract: A system and method of conducting a transaction comprising accepting transaction information from a user, producing a customized statement, the customized statement relating to at least a portion of the transaction information and including a challenge to the user, and sending the user an obscured representation of the customized statement. The system and method may accept from the user a response to the challenge. The system and method may further allow the transaction to proceed if the response is correct and prevent the transaction from proceeding if the response is incorrect.