Abstract: A method of managing a domain, a method of extending a domain, and a method of selecting a reference point controller are provided. The method of operating the domain includes: receiving a request for authenticating a reference point controller from a reference point controller candidate; invalidating a membership of the stored reference point controller; generating a unique reference point controller membership for verifying that the reference point controller candidate is a new reference point controller; and transmitting the generated reference point controller membership to the reference point controller candidate. Accordingly, even when an error occurs in the reference point controller, the function of the reference point controller can be rapidly replaced by using the reference point controller candidate.

Abstract: A system and method for managing sponsorships by a sponsor, in which the party requesting the sponsorship requests to use content owned and protected by the sponsor, such as trademarks, logos, and copyrighted material. An embodiment of the method involves receiving, at a computer network site, a request for sponsorship from a requester and responding to the request by sending either an approval or a rejection. If an approval is sent, the method further involves providing the requestor with access to content of the sponsor through the site. As part of providing this access, the method can involve requiring the requestor to accept an agreement posted on the site. The method can also include monitoring the requestor's actual use of the content.

Abstract: A method of managing a domain, a method of extending a domain, and a method of selecting a reference point controller are provided. The method of operating the domain includes: receiving a request for authenticating a reference point controller from a reference point controller candidate; invalidating a membership of the stored reference point controller; generating a unique reference point controller membership for verifying that the reference point controller candidate is a new reference point controller; and transmitting the generated reference point controller membership to the reference point controller candidate. Accordingly, even when an error occurs in the reference point controller, the function of the reference point controller can be rapidly replaced by using the reference point controller candidate.

Abstract: A method, system, and device for license-centric content use or distribution, including a pre-existing digital rights management (DRM) system having a unique interface to a repository of data thereof to govern use of content; a shared license repository configured to access the data to govern the use of the content and to communicate with the unique interface of the pre-existing DRM system; and a user interface configured to interact with the pre-existing DRM system, and configured to allow the user to send a license associated with the content from the shared license repository to the pre-existing DRM system or to another shared license repository.

Abstract: A system for generating a transferable license key and method thereof are described. The system comprises a license key generator for generating a transferable license key responsive to receipt of a license key request. The license key request comprises a hardware identifier and the transferable license key comprises an uninstall key. The system further comprises a storage device arranged to store the hardware identifier and the uninstall key. The method comprises storing a generated hardware identifier in a first device and transmitting a license key request to a second device, wherein the license key request comprises the hardware identifier. A feature of the first device is activated based on a license key received from the second device. The license key received at the first device is stored and the license key comprises a license identifier and an uninstall verification portion from the second device.

Abstract: A system for providing notice of legal rights corresponding to a computing device includes presenting a notice to the user through an I/O interface. The notice is in response to an attempt by a user to access at least one feature of the device through the I/O interface of the device and the notice further indicates that the device is subject to legal rights under a legal instrument. An acknowledgement of the legal rights is presented through the I/O interface. If the user selects the acknowledgement, the user is allowed to access at least one feature of the device. The user is prevented from accessing the at least one feature of the device if the user does not select the acknowledgement.

Abstract: An authenticated digital confirmation of an installation or an update of a licensed computer data product, for providing the licensor with a validation that the installation/update was carried out as intended, and conveying relevant details of the installation/update. The installation/updating facility (internal software, external hardware device, or combination thereof) examines and documents the pre-installation/update state of the target computer system, performs the installation/update, examines and documents the post-installation/update state, and generates the confirmation, which is a summary or digest of the process and the status thereof. The confirmation is securely authenticated and sent to the licensor for validation, to be used for order fulfillment, billing and accounting, and other purposes.

Abstract: A product update is used to add a licensing control mechanism to an installed computer program. The computer program is preferably a malware scanner or other program which requires regular product updating in order to remain effective in its normal functionality.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide for licensed feature enablement management for deploying software to be used in conformance with a software license agreement. The system includes a software application provider server that deploys a software application and a role hierarchy enumerating a list of roles and features of the software application that each role in the list of roles is licensed to use in accordance with a license agreement. The software application provider server further comprises a role examiner server that determines whether the deployed software application is being used in compliance with the software license. The system also includes a customer enterprise application server that receives the deployed application and role hierarchy and enables use of the application to customer employees based on their assigned roles. The customer enterprise application server comprises a role directory server that responds to queries from the role examiner to maintain conformance with the software license.

Abstract: A method to generate revenue from supplied content is provided. Content is provided to a consumer via a network by providing a content service that allows the consumer to select and retrieve content as a package together with a clearing of the selectable content to an operator used by the consumer to select and retrieve the content via the network. Any content selected by the consumer is supplied directly to the consumer via the operator. The operator is charged for the supplied content.

Abstract: A computer-implemented hierarchical revenue model to manage revenue allocations among derived product developers in a networked system is disclosed. The model includes providing a first revenue value associated with a first digital component, providing a second revenue value associated with a second digital component, and combining the first revenue value with a second revenue value to produce a third revenue value associated with the second digital component, the second digital component including at least a portion of the first digital component.

Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to pre-installed software and services, such as online services, and markets for pre-installed software and online services. In one aspect, the disclosed subject matter facilitates contracting between software vendors and device manufacturers or redistributors for placement and/or conversion of software applications or services in devices. As further advantages, embodiments of the disclosed subject matter can provide transparency into markets for device placement and can facilitate detailed contract performance tracking. Further non-limiting embodiments are provided that illustrate the advantages and flexibility of the disclosed subject matter.

Abstract: A software license engine allows an enterprise to model software license contracts and evaluate deployment of software for compliance with the software license contracts. Deployment of software products in the enterprise is modeled in a configuration management database. The software license engine maintains a license database for connecting software license contracts with software deployment modeled by the configuration management database. Users of the software license engine may use license types that are predefined in the software license engine or may define custom license types. The software license engine may indicate compliance or non-compliance with the software license contracts.

Abstract: Online sale of software product use licenses through a data network by offering software products (SOFT) through vendor sites, purchasing a license on-line on one of said vendor sites, and activating said license on-line by a different licensing site. A specific component (COMP) is provided with the software product (SOFT) and identifying data (IDV) of the vendor site are transmitted during the download of the software product (SOFT). When the component (COMP) is executed in an equipment, the component (COMP) locally accesses said data (IDV) and identifying data (IDL) of the licensing site and activates the license by setting up an on-line communication with the licensing site.

Abstract: Online sale of software product use licenses through a data network by offering software products (SOFT) through vendor sites, purchasing a license on-line on one of said vendor sites, and activating said license on-line by a different licensing site. A specific component (COMP) is provided with the software product (SOFT) and identifying data (IDV) of the vendor site are transmitted during the download of the software product (SOFT). When the component (COMP) is executed in an equipment, the component (COMP) locally accesses said data (IDV) and identifying data (IDL) of the licensing site and activates the license by setting up an on-line communication with the licensing site.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products distribute digital content based on digital rights license. A digital file may be fragmented into a plurality of unusable fragments. Each unusable fragment is separately unusable. Each unusable fragment may be tagged with a tag to generate tagged unusable fragments. The digital rights license is generated based on the tag, such that the tagged unusable fragments may be reassembled into the digital file.

Abstract: Portable digital rights for multiple devices is described. In an embodiment, a digital rights management (DRM) system includes a first device with a removable component configured as a token that is associated with a DRM license. The first device also includes a removable memory card that stores protected media content on which the first device can perform actions as permitted by the DRM license. The DRM system also includes a second device that can have the removable component and the removable memory card when removed from the first device and installed in the second device such that the second device can perform the actions on the protected media content as permitted by the DRM license.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a program storing unit, a function introducing unit to obtain a program licensed to an individual user and license information about the program from an external source and to store the program in the program storing unit, a user information storing unit to store user information that includes the license information about the program that is stored by the function introducing unit, the license information being associated with a user ID of the individual user in the user information, a removal timing receiving unit to receive a setting of removal timing at which the program stored by the function introducing unit is removed from the program storing unit, and a removal unit to remove the program stored by the function introducing unit from the program storing unit upon arrival of the removal timing received by the removal timing receiving unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is an information providing apparatus comprising first reception control means for controlling the reception, from a first information processing apparatus, of user identification data for identifying a user of the first information processing apparatus and a request for purchasing a content, first transmission control means for controlling in response to the request for purchasing the content the transmission of the request for purchasing the content to a second information processing apparatus, second reception control means for controlling the reception of the content and usage conditions thereof supplied from the second information processing apparatus, storage control means for controlling the storing of the content and usage conditions thereof in correlation with the user identification data, third reception control means for controlling the reception of the user identification data and a request for sending the content supplied from the first information processing apparatus, and second trans

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating the exchange of electronic video games. A video game exchange server provides interacts with a gaming device to permit a game user to buy and load a video game onto the gaming device, to play the game on the gaming device and to return the “used” game for credits that may be used to purchase a new or used game. The game exchange server assigns a price to each new game and used game in its inventory. The game exchange server also assigns a value to each game currently stored on the gaming device. The game price and the game value may decline as a function of time or based on other factors (e.g., a new release). The game exchange server also validates that a video game stored on a gaming device is authorized.

Abstract: Exemplary methods, systems, and products are described for creating rules for the administration of end-user license agreements (‘EULAs’). Creating rules for the administration of end-user license agreements is accomplished by identifying, from historical license data, a license administration pattern. A license administration rule is then created in dependence upon the license administration pattern. Identifying a license administration pattern from historical license data may include data mining a collection of accepted EULAs and data mining a collection of rejected EULAs.

Abstract: A system for online collaboration includes an application for online collaboration, the application including an application feature set, a control module programmed to receive a request from a user to access a tenancy associated with the application on the system, the tenancy including a site provisioned for a tenant, the request including a tenancy identifier identifying the tenancy and a user identifier identifying the user, the control module using the tenancy identifier to identify a tenancy feature set associated with the tenancy, and the control module using the user identifier to identify a user feature set associated with the user, and a web-page render module programmed to generate a collaboration web site including a site feature set including the tenancy feature set and the user feature set, the web site being sent to the user for rendering on the user's computing device.

Abstract: In accordance with a broad aspect, a method is provided to securely configure a computing device. A configuration indication is received into the computing device, including receiving a digital signature generated based on the configuration indication. Generation of the digital signature accounts for a unique identifier nominally associated with the computing device. The received configuration indication may be verified to be authentic including processing the unique identifier, the received configuration indication and the received digital signature. The computing device may be operated or interoperated with in accordance with the received configuration indication. In one example, a service interoperates with the computing device. For example, the computing device may be a portable media player, and the service may provide media to the computing device based on a capacity indication of the configuration indication.

Abstract: A system for physical distribution of secure content to customers and physical collection of secure billing information. A plurality of content storage devices may be provided to a customer, each content storage device including secure content. A billing storage device may also be provided to the customer, the billing storage device including decryption information, which may be used by a media player for decrypting the secure content of the content storage devices to exhibit the secure content to the customer. The content and billing storage devices may be provided to the customer via physical delivery and without electronic data transmission occurring to or from the physical location of the customer. After each billing period, the billing storage device may be received from the customer via physical delivery. The billing storage device includes secure billing information stored in a writeable area, which is associated with the exhibition of secure content to the customer.

Abstract: A method, performed by a video provisioning system, may include receiving a request for a first digital rights management (DRM) token, associated with a video asset purchased via the video provisioning system, from a browser application associated with a user device and providing the first DRM token to the browser application. The method may further include receiving a license authorization request to issue a DRM license for the video asset, where the license authorization request is received from a license server, where the DRM license is to be used by the user device to decrypt the video asset, and where the license authorization request includes a second DRM token; determining whether the second DRM token matches the first DRM token; and authorizing the license server to issue the DRM license for the video asset, when the second DRM token matches the first DRM token.

Abstract: A method of acquiring rights to content to be burned to a CD, comprising defining a first content set; defining a second content set comprised of content selected from the first content set whose content attributes match those selected by a user; identifying as a third content set that content in the second content set for which DRM rights sufficient to permit the content to be burned to CD are not currently possessed; allowing a user to authorize obtaining rights for members of the second content set for which rights permitting the content to be burned to CD are not currently possessed; obtaining rights which allow at least a subset of the third content set to be burned to CD; and, allowing the content defined in the second content set and for which appropriate rights have been obtained to be burned to CD.

Abstract: Particular embodiments provide a method for orchestrating an order fulfillment business process that includes a sub-process. In one embodiment, abstraction of business processes from an underlying information technology (IT) infrastructure is provided. An orchestration process can be designed using sub-processes such that the sub-process is assembled at run-time into an executable process. The sub-process may be defined in an interface as a single step. A plurality of services as then assembled as steps in the executable process at run-time.

Abstract: A database record controls a license to use a computational component. An input receives an order identifier associated with an order related to a computational component and an interface retrieves order information associated with the identifier. The order information comprises at least one material code. A material code mapping agent compares the material code with at least one material code mapping table to identify corresponding computational component information associated with the material code.

Abstract: In order to facilitate access to encrypted broadcast or multicast data an encrypted service key is sent from an access server of the communication network to the user terminal, passing the encrypted service key to a secure module of the user terminal. The secure module has access to a decryption key for decrypting the encrypted service key but this decryption key is inaccessible to other functions of the user terminal. Acknowledgement of receipt of the service key at said secure module, and sending the acknowledgement from the user equipment to the access server; authenticating the receipt at the access server and sending a return acknowledgement from the access server to the user terminal, and passing the return acknowledgement to the secure module; and authenticating the return acknowledgement at the secure module, and subsequently making the decrypted service key available to the user terminal, the service key making possible directly or indirectly the decryption of broadcast and/or multicast data.

Abstract: A method and system for creating license management in software applications are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving an installer package associated with a software application to be run on a computer, the installer package not including license administration functionality. One or more executable files are extracted from the installer package. One or more license-enabled executable files are generated with the one or more executable files and a license wrapper. A new installer package is created with the one or more license-enabled executable files, the new installer package supporting the license administration functionality.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements for assembly and licensing of appliances. A base image is created, the base image corresponding to a combination of an operating system and hardware. A purchasing medium client is embedded into the base image, and a provisioning request for a pay-per-use license is developed. A provisioned instance is started, and a product bundle plan is executed. The license is requested from a purchasing medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for providing a digital content service that provides packaging content consisting of digital rights management (DRM) content and advertisement content, and is able to use the DRM content for free by watching or listening to the advertisement content, including: generating packaging content consisting of pilot content and target content, which has been encrypted using an encryption key of the pilot content, and providing the packaging content to a portable terminal; and obtaining a decryption key for the target content through playing the pilot content of the packaging content, and playing the target content by the decryption key, by the portable terminal.

Abstract: Techniques are described for generating a license for software installed on a device. An entitlement certificate is generated including one or more entitlements describing license characteristics of the software. The one or more entitlements are determined in accordance with first information about the software. The first information includes at least one of a purchase token and package information. A binding certificate in accordance with a binding type for the software is generated. A license in accordance with said binding certificate and said entitlement certificate is generated. The binding certificate identifies an entity to which the license is bound.

Abstract: In a method of providing a virtual product to third parties, the virtual product being present in an original version in a digital form having a predetermined quality, a reduced version of the virtual product, along with information relating to a distributor of the virtual product, is initially provided. The reduced version's quality is inferior to the quality of the original version, and the information relating to the distributor are associated with this reduced version. On the basis of the information associated with the reduced version, further information may be created. This further information indicates that the reduced version has been passed on to the third party by the content provider. The further information is created if the third party has acquired rights to the virtual product after having obtained the reduced version of same.

Abstract: Methods for controlling software usage are described. Methods comprise receiving a request for at least one software application license, wherein the request comprises a user count, generating, by the computing apparatus, one or more sets of license data in response to the request, wherein a set of license data comprises at least one of the user count and a corresponding sequence number, signing each of the one or more sets of license data digitally with a private key, embedding a set of signed license data into the software application, receiving user identification data from a user through an input interface associated with the computing apparatus, and validating the user identification data. Additional embodiments incorporate mechanisms for license renewal, user registration and user authentication by means of associating a range of user identification data with the license data.

Abstract: This invention relates to provide a communication network system, a gateway, and a data communication method, in which the gateway has an advanced functionality. A person who issues an access request can retrieve a desired access destination easily by the following configuration: functions of routing information providing and authentication processing are added to a gateway that performs protocol conversion between two different communication networks; when an access request is issued from a public communication network such as Internet to a terminal in a local (private) communication network connected to the gateway, a request terminal is authenticated to enable prevention of unauthorized data writing and reading; and an access request user who succeeded in the authentication is provided with an active terminal list comprising accessible terminal information, or with a user condition table.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling digital rights of the “Play N times” type for a digital audio and/or video content, referred to as controlled content, the controlled content being consumed by a consumer on a consuming device or on another device delegating the controlling of these rights to the consuming device. According to this method, charging of one additional usage is inhibited in at least one of the following cases where: the consumer momentarily consumes another content, on the same device where the controlled content is consumed, and then returns to the controlled content; the consumer effects a pause in the usage of the controlled content; the consumer performs a fast-forward of the controlled content; or the consumer performs a rewind of the controlled content.

Abstract: Provided is digital rights management (DRM) provision technology, and more particularly, are an apparatus, system, and method which can easily provide content using one or more DRM systems. A DRM provision apparatus includes a content download unit which downloads encrypted real content and dummy content from a download server and which manages the downloaded real content and dummy content; a license management unit which manages a license issued by a license server; and a processing unit which manages the downloaded real content and dummy content and the issued license.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for location-based access control applies a location-based identifier to a document, wherein the location-based identifier indicates an original storage location of the document. The original storage location is an authorized node having access privileges specific to the document. In response to the document being moved or copied, an access control engine compares a current location of the document to the original storage location and denies access when there is a discrepancy. When the document is moved consistent with an access control policy, such as when an administrator moves the document, an original storage location identifier is changed consistent with a new location. The document is only accessible when accessed from an authorized location. The locations may be referred to as access nodes, wherein each access node corresponds to a folder.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for determining license compliance includes receiving data regarding a plurality of licenses, including at least first and second licenses. The first license has a corresponding first license count that applies to a first software product. The second license has a corresponding second license count that applies to the first software product. An instance count of the first software product is determined. A determination is made regarding whether the instance count can be apportioned to the first and second licenses, such that neither the first or second license counts are exceeded.

Abstract: In some applications, it may be more convenient to the user to be able to log in the memory system using one application, and then be able to use different applications to access protected content without having to log in again. In such event, all of the content that the user wishes to access in this manner may be associated with a first account, so that all such content can be accessed via different applications (e.g. music player, email, cellular communication etc.) without having to log in multiple times. Then a different set of authentication information may then be used for logging in to access protected content that is in an account different from the first account, even where the different accounts are for the same user or entity.

Abstract: Modified firmware is registered and controlled, and, when a download request is received from a terminal device, unupdated firmware is determined and downloaded to the terminal device. User identification information obtained from the download request is acquired, and, if the user identification information matches the user identification information of another terminal device that is already carrying out download, the download to the terminal device that output the download request is stopped. Even when the user identification information matches the user identification information of the other terminal device that is already carrying out download, if it is determined to be a download request by an operator operation, stopping the download is cancelled so as to execute the download, and a forcible termination notification is transmitted to the other terminal device that is already executing download so as to interrupt the download thereof in the process.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for obtaining video content using wireless multicast for video content data in combination with wireless unicast for requests of the video content and transmissions of licenses to use the video content. A method can include: receiving an instruction to obtain particular content; sending a first wireless unicast signal requesting the particular content; receiving the obtained particular content in response to sending the first wireless unicast signal; obtaining a license for the particular content; and providing a notification that the particular content is available for display by a mobile device.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to receive reports at a server node, the reports indicating a change in virtual machine status for virtual machines hosted on a virtual machine host node; and to allocate/de-allocate software licenses to the virtual machines based on the change in virtual machine status. In some embodiments, operations may include detecting, at a virtual machine host node, a change in virtual machine status for virtual machines hosted on the host node; and transmitting reports to a server node from the host node. The reports can be used to indicate the change in virtual machine status, enabling the server node to allocate/de-allocate software licenses to the virtual machines based on the change in virtual machine status. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: An encrypted content and a license are separated from each other to be distributed individually, so that the encrypted content is decrypted using the license in a user apparatus. A server encrypts licenses of a plurality of encrypted contents for package sale to generate an inactive license packaged in one file and distribute the inactive license to a user terminal utilizing an activation license for package sale. An activation license for package sale is distributed in response to a purchase request from the user terminal, a plurality of encrypted licenses contained in the inactive license are decrypted, an encrypted content contained in an object for package sale is decrypted using a license corresponding thereto so that the decrypted content is reproduced.

Abstract: A request to activate a software tool can be received, where activation requires a quantity of tokens of a token license model. An entity, project, user-set, user, or combination thereof corresponding to the request can be ascertained. A feature-set to be enabled can be determined by querying preexisting indexed records. The preexisting indexed records can associate different feature-sets to different entities, projects, user-sets, users, or combinations thereof. A token cost can be computed for activating the software tool with the feature-set enabled for the request. Token costs for utilizing the software tool can vary depending upon the enabled feature-set. The computed token cost can be the quantity of tokens required to activate the software tool responsive to the request.

Abstract: The invention provides a computer-implemented municipal bond trading system having a capability to conduct a private electronic auction of bid wanteds between a central brokers' broker and multiple prospective remote bidders and to maintain a reference database of accurate bond lot descriptions and identifications, notably, CUSIP (trademark) numbers.

Abstract: The invention is directed towards enabling data volume and data type based licensing of software in a distributed system of a plurality of remote and/or local nodes. The invention enables measuring and optionally restricting the use of software based on one or more provided licenses that restrict the amount and type of data that may be processed by the software. New and older licenses may be added together for a single, bulk entitlement for a given volume of data processing for one or all types of data. Different users in the same enterprise may combine license entitlements too. Also, a new license can be acquired repeatedly, without requiring the issuance of combined licenses by the issuing authority and/or the revocation of prior licenses.

Abstract: A database driven tool can be used to enable front line engineering personnel to make requests regarding the use of open source software, to document those requests, and to provide responses to those requests to their originators. Information in addition to open source requests can also be maintained, including incoming licenses for a company's products, outgoing licenses for a company's products, and whether a particular product has been scanned to verify that all incoming licenses for that product have been identified.

Abstract: An audio-video display device (AVDD) includes a licensable component providing a licensable function. The licensable function is available to present data on the AVDD without paying a license fee to exploit the licensable function when the AVDD is in a retail demonstration mode, whereas post-vending of the AVDD the licensable function is available to present data on the AVDD only pursuant to a license fee therefor being arranged.