Abstract: A licensing system is disclosed for performing synchronous encryption with a client over an IP-compliant network. In disclosed embodiments, the system includes a licensing agent configured to pass a data structure unencrypted in an initial communication between the licensing agent/client pair and pass a first key to said client responsive to an initial communication. The licensing agent then receives the data structure from the client having designated fields encrypted according to the first key. The licensing agent then sends a second key to the client for use in subsequent communications.

Abstract: A downloadable software package incorporating license management software is disclosed. The software package may include a client software application and an associated licensing module for managing use of the client software application. In preferred embodiments, the licensing module is configured to detect the use of the client software application and automatically send a license validity inquiry request to a license server over a public network. The client software application is operated in accordance with the contents of a response message received from the license server. The downloadable software package may comprise a single compiled executable application downloaded by a user onto a computer over the public network.

Abstract: A licensing system using a firewall gateway for protecting and licensing computers is disclosed. A firewall gateway for separating a protected computer on a private network from a public network is provided. The protected computer has a client software application residing thereon that is licensed. A client module is provided that is associated with the client software application. A proxy agent is provided that is maintained by the firewall gateway. The proxy agent is configured to validate a license for the client software application.

Abstract: A license server is disclosed that may operate oven an IP-compliant network. The license server includes a database for storing and retrieving license records associated with a client software application. The license server may be configured to receive a license validity inquiry request from a client module over the IP-compliant connection that includes information regarding a client software application associated with the client module. The server may then query the database to determine whether a valid license exists for the client software application. Responsive to the query, the license server may form a response message containing the results of the query and send a response message to the client module over the IP-compliant network.

Abstract: A method of distributing licensed digital assets across a public computer network is disclosed. The method comprises generating a digital asset identifier, the digital asset identifier identifying a digital asset and a source for the digital asset; inserting the digital asset identifier in the digital asset; and communicating the digital asset and the digital asset identifier to a user across the public computer network.

Abstract: A method of distributing licensed digital assets across a public computer network is disclosed. The method comprises generating a digital asset identifier, the digital asset identifier identifying a digital asset and a source for the digital asset; inserting the digital asset identifier in the digital asset; and communicating the digital asset and the digital asset identifier to a user across the public computer network.

Abstract: A web server for creating entries in an on-line database in a user-defined category is disclosed. The web server may be configured to receive a request from a user to create an entry in the database; create an entry in the database; receive a category defined by the user for the entry and one or more keywords associated with the category; and associate the entry with the category.

Abstract: A web server including a searchable on-line searchable database is disclosed. The web server may be configured to receive a query from a user to search an on-line database, the query including at least a category and a keyword; retrieve a list of search results responsive to the search, the search results including an entry previously posted by an owner, the entry being indexed in a category defined by the owner of said entry; and present a search results page to the user, said search results page including the at least one category defined by an owner and an associated description provided by the owner.

Abstract: A web server for displaying search results is disclosed. The web server may be configured to receive a search query over the public network from a user; produce a set of results responsive to the search including content associated with the search query; display the results to the user on a web page as titles in list form corresponding to the full-page entries of the search results; and wherein content associated with the search results is not contained in the list.

Abstract: A web server for displaying search results is disclosed. The web server may be configured to present the user a search page for receiving a query from the user and search options regarding the query over the public network from a user; display results of the query to the user on a web page as titles in list form, the titles corresponding to entries retrieved from the database as a result of the query; and wherein the number of titles displayed on the web page corresponds to a user-defined number contained in the search options.

Abstract: A commercial network licensing system is disclosed for monitoring use of software on computers. A client licensing module is provided that is associated with a client software application to be monitored. A file server that is in network communication with computers running the client application includes a licensing module that is in network communication with the client licensing modules on the computers. The licensing module monitors the use of the client software applications and sends a report to a license server over a public IP-compliant network.

Abstract: A licensing system using a firewall gateway for protecting and licensing computers is disclosed. A firewall gateway for separating a protected computer on a private network from a public network is provided. The protected computer has a client software application residing thereon that is licensed. A client module is provided that is associated with the client software application. A proxy agent is provided that is maintained by the firewall gateway. The proxy agent is configured to validate a license for the client software application.

Abstract: A regional network licensing system is disclosed. The system may include regional license servers in communication with computers running a protected client software application. The computers include client licensing modules associated with the client software application. Regional license servers include an agent component for updating the client licensing modules with license information received from a central license server. The client application associated with the client licensing module is operated in accordance with the licensing information.

Abstract: A firewall for authenticating a user access request is disclosed. The firewall device may include a proxy process for processing incoming connection requests. The proxy is configured to receive an access request from a user over a first communication medium and prompt the user for a username and a first password portion over the first communication medium. The firewall may then send a second password portion to the user over a communication medium other than said first communication medium responsive to receiving a valid user name and first password portion pair from the user. The firewall may then verify the access request responsive to receiving the second password portion from the user through the first communication medium. The firewall may send passwords to a mobile device for verification.

Abstract: A firewall for authenticating a user access request is disclosed. The firewall device may include a proxy process for processing incoming connection requests. The proxy is configured to receive an access request from a user over a first communication medium and prompt the user for a username over the first communication medium. The firewall may then send a password to the user over a communication medium other than said first communication medium responsive to receiving a valid username from the user. The firewall may then verify the access request responsive to receiving the password from the user through the first communication medium. The firewall may send passwords to a mobile device for verification.

Abstract: A retro-fitted network licensing system is disclosed for monitoring the use of pre-existing software applications. A client licensing module is provided that is associated with each of the pre-existing client software applications to be monitored. A licensing module is provided that is in network communication with the client licensing modules. The licensing modules monitor the use the pre-existing client software applications and send a report to a license server over a public IP-compliant network.

Abstract: A network licensing system for portable computers is disclosed for monitoring use of software application. A client module is provided that is associated with the client software application. A licensing module is provided that is associated with the client module. The licensing module monitors the use of the client software application when the portable computer is not in network communication, and refreshes licensing information with a network server when the portable computer is able to establish communications with the network server over an IP-compliant network.

Abstract: A regional network licensing system is disclosed. A client licensing module is provided that is associated with a protected client software application. A plurality of regional license servers are provided that include a licensing module. The client licensing modules are configured to monitor the use of the client software applications and send a license inquiry request to the licensing module of the geographically nearest regional license server.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for evaluating software freely distributed over the Internet are disclosed. In one disclosed embodiment, licensing system code is inserted into software to be distributed. The code includes a client module associated with the distributed software. A computer operating the software may then by caused to form a connection to a license server over an IP-compliant network responsive to detection by the client module of use of the distributed software on a client computer. The client computer may also be directed to a Web site associated with the distributed software and the user prompted to either purchase the distributed software or-evaluate the distributed software for a demonstration period.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for maintaining the look and feel of a user interface between uses are disclosed. After validating the identity of a user, a user preferences file corresponding to the user ID may be accessed. A user interface may then have user-defined preferences restored in accordance with the user preferences file.