Licensing Patents (Class 705/59)
  • Patent number: 9524378
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for licensing include executing a base application on a device, initiating a transaction with an application store to obtain access to a subordinate licensable item that is usable by the base application, receiving a transaction receipt corresponding to the transaction for the subordinate licensable item, and obtaining, from a license server, a subordinate license that corresponds to the subordinate licensable item. Additionally, the apparatus and methods may include storing a base license for a base application on a device, acquiring a subordinate license for a subordinate licensable item usable by the base application, receiving a request to execute the base application, enforcing, by a license agent service on the device, the base license with respect to executing the base application, and enforcing, by the base application, the subordinate license during execution of the base application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael P. Mahan, Kenneth S. Swinson, Giridhar D. Mandyam
  • Patent number: 9524380
    Abstract: The examples provided herein relate to digital rights management keys that allow for the presentation of content on output devices of a content presentation device. The examples describe subscriber-specific digital rights management keys that are provided to a subscriber by a mobile network operator instead of a device manufacturer. The digital rights management keys are associated with the subscriber account maintained by the mobile network operator. As a result, the mobile network operator provides the capability to transfer the digital rights management keys between multiple devices because the digital rights management keys are subscriber-specific instead of device-specific.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Cellco Partnership
    Inventors: Warren Hojilla Uy, Taussif Khan, Young Rak Choi
  • Patent number: 9507921
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and software to enhance licensing in multi-user computing environments. In an implementation, for each user of a plurality of users engaged with an application installed in a multi-user computing environment, a user-specific license state is maintained for the user with respect to the application. In addition, for each of the plurality of users engaged with the application installed in the multi-user computing environment, the application is delivered in accordance with the user-specific license state for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Piotr A. Ciszewski, Tianyu Xie, Richard Moloney, Robert Donner, Zhengyu Li
  • Patent number: 9483782
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for automating capacity upgrade on demand. Responsive to a usage of an originally allocated resource exceeding an upper predetermined threshold, access to an additional resource is temporarily allocated. A trial time counter is initiated to track a time of access to the additional resource. A user of the logical partition is alerted that the additional resource is being accessed. Responsive to the user failing to license the additional resource, a determination is made as to whether a value of the trial time counter has exceeded a predetermined trial time period value. Responsive to the value of the trial time counter exceeding the predetermined trial time period value, access to the additional resource is deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Mike C. Duron, Mark D. McLaughlin, Scott R. Smylie
  • Patent number: 9479553
    Abstract: A personal media player (PMP) uses a digital media processing system—comprising a video rendering subsystem, a music rendering subsystem, and a picture rendering subsystem—to produce moving-video (video), audio (music), still-graphics (picture), and other output rendered from media files ported to the PMP from another source. The PMP further comprises a user interface system, a display unit system, a power source system, and a data port system utilizing Universal Plug and Play functionality, all of which are coupled directly or indirectly to the digital media processing system. The physical components constituting the aforementioned systems and subsystems are then encased in a portable housing unit suitable for hand-held use and ready portability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: John C. Calhoon, Scott J. Fierstein, Scott Manchester
  • Patent number: 9460274
    Abstract: A device creates a pool of available licenses for secure network resources, and receives an unused license from a network device. The device also provides the unused license in the pool of available licenses, and receives a request for a license from another network device. The device further provides, to the other network device, the unused license from the pool of available licenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Pulse Secure, LLC
    Inventors: Kanti Varanasi, Kevin Peterson
  • Patent number: 9454778
    Abstract: A mechanism is provide for automating capacity upgrade on demand. Responsive to a usage of an originally allocated resource exceeding an upper predetermined threshold, access to an additional resource is temporarily allocated. A trial time counter is initiated to track a time of access to the additional resource. A user of the logical partition is alerted that the additional resource is being accessed. Responsive to the user failing to license the additional resource, a determination is made as to whether a value of the trial time counter has exceeded a predetermined trial time period value. Responsive to the value of the trial time counter exceeding the predetermined trial time period value, access to the additional resource is deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Mike C. Duron, Mark D. McLaughlin, Scott R. Smylie
  • Patent number: 9450802
    Abstract: A method of serving a resource from an HTTP server system having a stateless microkernel architecture and one or more link resource servers is provided. The method may include generating a data object in response to an HTTP request, sending the data object to each of the link resource servers, and at each link resource server receiving the data object from the handler and examining the data object for pre-determined information to perform a linking operation. The method may further include if the data object includes the pre-determined information, performing the linking operation by returning one or more links to the handler linking to related information provided by the link resource server. The method may further include if the data object does not include the pre-determined information, not performing the linking operation and instead returning one or more stop condition links indicating that the pre-determined information is not included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Elastic Path Software, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew D. Bishop, Jeremy Halford Skelton, Ashley Doyle Thomas
  • Patent number: 9449155
    Abstract: A license consumption system includes an information device on which application software operates based on a given license; and a function providing server which grants the license to the information device. The function providing server stores the license and an operating condition for granting the license, when attempting to start the application software, the information device transmits to the function providing server a licensing request of the application software and an operating environment of the information device, and the function providing server compares an operating condition of the application software corresponding to the requested license with the operating environment of the information device, and grants the license to the information device when the operating environment satisfies the operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: NEC Platforms, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuomi Ooki
  • Patent number: 9442966
    Abstract: The reporting and recovery of log activity in a computer system is extended by receiving an indication of a desired log activity to be retrieved, and by designating an active index file as a current index file. The current index file includes an inventory of log files, and is constrained in the number of log files. A searching operation is performed in an iterative process. The searching operation determines whether the desired log activity is within any of log files of the current file, designates a backup index file as the current index file if it is determined that the desired log activity is not within the current index file, and accesses a select log file within the current index file that includes the desired log activity, if it is determined that the desired log activity is within the current index file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: CA, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew J. Badgley
  • Patent number: 9426330
    Abstract: Provided an image forming apparatus that can realize an authentication function easily. (1) Transmit a printing requested data from a PC to a port for printing. (2) A user authentication application inputs printing requested data from the port for printing, and user determination data of the printing requested data are transmitted to a user authentication server. (3) The user authentication server transmits “use permission” or “use non-permission” to the user authentication application. (4) The user authentication application transmits the image data of the printing requested data to an application platform in case of “use permission.” (5) The application platform transmits image data to a controller. (6) The controller outputs the image data to a printing part. (7) The user authentication application transmits “use non-permission” to the PC in case of “use non-permission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Takanao Kawai
  • Patent number: 9424399
    Abstract: A request for a digital license associated with a software product is received from a device. The request includes a user ID of a user of the device, with the digital license having been generated in response to a request to activate the software product with a product key. A check is made as to whether a digital license bound to the user ID is available, and also whether the digital license can be returned to the device in accordance with the terms of the digital license. The digital license is returned if the digital license can be returned to the device in accordance with the terms (regardless of whether the device is a same device from which the product key was activated), and otherwise is not returned. The digital license can be removed from the device in accordance with the terms of the digital license.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Egor Nikitin, Viswanath Vadlamani, Alexander Kochis
  • Patent number: 9424403
    Abstract: A plurality of software instances deployed in a monitored environment are discovered by a software asset management tool operated by a software asset administrator who is responsible for monitoring software license compliance within the monitored environment. The software asset management tool then collects metrics associated with the plurality of software instances. The collected metrics are then provided to a first analytic service adapted to generate analytic information about the plurality of software instances. Using at least the collected metrics, the analytic service generates analytic information. The analytic information is then obtained from the analytic service. By reviewing the analytic information, the software asset administrator is able to obtain additional insight into the monitored environment that would not otherwise be available to him.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Pawel K. Gocek, Piotr Kania, Bartlomiej T. Malecki, Michal S. Paluch, Tomasz A. Stopa
  • Patent number: 9424401
    Abstract: Licenses to software services are assigned automatically to users as a function of one or more user attributes. An attribute can include membership in a group such as a license group or a security group, among other things such as location. License assignments can also be retracted automatically upon changes in one or more user attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Clifford Didcock, Corinne Pascale, Jono Luk, Girish Chander
  • Patent number: 9423990
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable recording medium stores an account management program. The account management program causes a computer in a mobile terminal apparatus to perform the steps of: receiving service table data from an image forming apparatus and storing the service table data in the mobile terminal apparatus; receiving account information required to use a service from a user; storing the account information in the mobile terminal apparatus so as to associate the account information with the service; receiving an identification code of the service when the user logs in the image forming apparatus, and storing the identification code in the mobile terminal apparatus so as to associate the identification code with the account information associated with the service; and receiving the identification code from the image forming apparatus when performing the service, and transmitting to the image forming apparatus the account information associated with the received identification code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Nishino
  • Patent number: 9426650
    Abstract: Multimedia content may be delivered to content consumer devices via a content-delivery network. Encrypted content and cryptography keys for decrypting the content may be distributed from a data center to various nodes of the content-delivery network, each node acting as a semi-independent content-delivery system. Each content-delivery system is capable of delivering received content to end-users and implementing a key-management scheme to facilitate secure content-delivery and usage tracking, even when the content-delivery system is disconnected from the data center. In other words, the disclosed systems and methods facilitate the operation of nodes which may operate in “autonomous mode” when disconnected from a larger content-delivery network, thus maintaining content-delivery capabilities despite having little if any connectivity to external networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: GOGO LLC
    Inventors: Premkumar Bangole, Bryan Adrian Lauer, Patrick J. Walsh, Kathy Wang
  • Patent number: 9412122
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for transferring user data objects, wherein a data providing component provides user data objects. According to the method, the data providing components are called up by a first telecommunication device in order to transfer a selection of certain user data objects to a second telecommunication device. The data providing component transmits a transfer offer message to the second telecommunication device in order to inform the latter on the user data objects that are to be transferred. At least one useful data object is then selected in a second telecommunication device, whereupon the user data object is transferred from the data providing component to the second telecommunication device. The user data object which is transferred to the second telecommunication device is then charged to the first telecommunication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Markus Trauberg
  • Patent number: 9414002
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a receiving apparatus, a receiving method, and a program which are configured to provide application programs to be executed in response to AV content. The receiving apparatus includes: a receiving block; a trigger acquisition block; an application acquisition block; and a control block. The control block acquires trigger information and, on the basis of a command obtained from the acquired trigger information, acquires a data broadcast application from an application server on the Internet or a data broadcast application transmitted as NRT content of an NRT service using a FLUTE session by referencing an FDT identified by an SMT and an NRT-IT. In accordance with a command obtained from the acquired trigger information, the control block controls an operation of the acquired application program. The present technology is applicable to television receivers configured to receive digital television broadcast signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignees: SONY CORPORATION, SONY ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Naohisa Kitazato, Yoshiharu Dewa, Yasuaki Yamagishi, Jun Kitahara, Mark Eyer
  • Patent number: 9405909
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium includes a shared library that is executed by a processor. The shared library includes a preprocessing function and a function. The function causes the processor to execute a process if a value, as an execution result of the preprocessing function, is valid, and not to execute the process if the value is invalid. The preprocessing function causes the processor to acquire encrypted unique information from the storage device, to decrypt the unique information, to acquire, from the storage device, specific information that specifies an application using the shared library, and to return the value that is valid or invalid based on a comparison between the specific information and the decrypted unique information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kotaru Kaneko
  • Patent number: 9406095
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable storage media for licensing an application using sync providers are provided herein. The method includes receiving a request for a license for an application from a client sync provider at a licensing service and receiving information relating to the license from a commerce partner offering the application via a commerce partner sync provider. The method also includes returning the license for the application to a client computing device, receiving information relating to a state of the license from the client sync provider, and adjusting conditions of the license according to the state of the license.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Karvell Li, Robert Donner, Amit Wadhwa, Sanjay Garg
  • Patent number: 9391966
    Abstract: A method for providing secure remote access by a controller is described. The method includes sending one or more endpoint requests. The method also includes receiving authentication service endpoint information and connection service endpoint information. The method further includes requesting authentication based on the authentication service endpoint information. Requesting authentication includes requesting license validation. The method also includes sending one or more registration messages based on the connection service endpoint information. The method further includes receiving a session request. The method additionally includes determining controller candidate link information. The method also includes sending the controller candidate link information. The method further includes receiving an automation message based on the controller candidate link information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Control4 Corporation
    Inventors: William Richard Clark, Wallace Eric Smith, John Mar, Andrew Van Uitert, Charles Alexander Hudson, Clinton Perry
  • Patent number: 9372679
    Abstract: Provided herein are techniques for distributing software. An embodiment operates by receiving a software product request including a unique identification information, verifying the unique identification information, and distributing a software product associated with the unique identification information in response to the request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: SAP SE
    Inventor: Frederik Thormaehlen
  • Patent number: 9369352
    Abstract: A method of improving the accuracy of a topology report, the topology report covering a plurality of operating systems on a plurality of servers, the servers comprising virtual servers and physical servers, the servers comprising a plurality of processors or CPUs or both, each CPU comprising one or more cores, the method comprising, executing a first script on a computer to perform a primary analysis that accesses physical servers via an enterprise network to identify the physical servers, processors and cores, and a plurality of installed operating systems. The method further comprises automatically creating a topology report on a computer, wherein the topology report records the results of the primary analysis, executing a second script on a computer to perform one or more secondary analysis that collects information identifying a plurality of virtual software installed on the servers, and amending the topology report based on at least one secondary analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Kelby Dickey, Kathleen M. Moffett, Keith Trotter
  • Patent number: 9367410
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to failover mechanisms in a distributed computing system. A region of data is managed by multiple region servers. One of the region servers is elected as a “leader” and the remaining are “followers.” The leader serves the read/write requests from a client. The leader writes the data received from the client into the in-memory store and a local write-ahead log (“WAL”), and synchronously replicates the WAL to the followers. A region server designated as an “active” region server synchronizes a distributed data store with the data from the WAL. Active witness followers apply the data from the WAL to their in-memory store while shadow witness followers do not. Different types of servers provide failover mechanisms with different characteristics. A leader is elected based on their associated ranks—higher the rank, higher the likelihood of electing itself as a leader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Liyin Tang, Rishit Manit Shroff, Amitanand S. Aiyer, Arjen Roodselaar
  • Patent number: 9369821
    Abstract: Apparatus, and associated method, provides for downloading an application with a selectable lifetime from an application database to a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal user's identification information and the selected lifetime for the application are stored in an application-license database. When the user seeks to download the same application on a subsequent occasion the user is able to download that application for a reduced fee if lifetime remains from when the application was first downloaded. In addition, the application may be configured to delete or uninstall itself from the mobile terminal when the selected lifetime for the application expires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Martin Zilliacus, Gabor Kaszonyi
  • Patent number: 9363081
    Abstract: A license administration device manages grant or denial of each optional function in a plurality of licensee devices. The licensee device stores key information encrypted with a cipher key so as to issue a license change request activating or restricting the predetermined optional function. Upon receiving a license change request restricting the predetermined optional function, the license administration device overwrites the key information of the licensee device with a default key. Subsequently, upon receiving a license change request activating the predetermined optional function, the license administration device applies an upgrade key to the key information of the licensee device. The default key or the upgrade key can be decrypted using a cipher key unique to the licensee device. The license administration device manages the licensed maximum for the predetermined optional function and reflects an increment or decrement to the licensing maximum by applying the default key or the upgrade key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Shingo Kinoshita, Koji Kawada
  • Patent number: 9361433
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward an improved enterprise leasing license algorithm and system thereof. A licensing algorithm for enterprise software configured to support expiring floating licenses obtained from a central license server. Floating licenses that have a user limit but not necessarily an expiration date, are installed to a central license server. A license is assigned to a user upon starting of the software program if a valid license has not yet been assigned. On exiting the software program, the user can return the license, making it immediately available to another user, or can keep the license for later use. A user is able to obtain a license while coupled to a network but is able to advantageously continue using the software program while disconnected from the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Synchronoss Technologies, Inc
    Inventors: Eric Marshall Fedok, Michael Bellomo
  • Patent number: 9361435
    Abstract: Several embodiments enable management of a bulk package of licenses at a distribution server. The distribution server can store a fulfillment record of a set of licenses. The fulfillment record can indicate distribution statuses of the licenses. The distribution server can also maintain a distribution hierarchy for the set of licenses in the distribution server. The distribution hierarchy can identify one or more other distribution servers that transferred the set of licenses from a root of trust for the licenses to the distribution server and one or more end-user devices or distribution servers that received or fulfilled at least one of the licenses from that the distribution server. When the distribution server distributes a subset of the licenses to a target computing device, the distribution server can update both the fulfillment record and the distribution hierarchy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: FLEXERA SOFTWARE LLC
    Inventor: Vikram Koka
  • Patent number: 9349110
    Abstract: A comprehensive enterprise product management system to effectuate efficient product time to market. The system includes a process model and a data model. The process model consists of entities that represent typical concepts in a trade setting and relationships among these entities. The data model represents the complexity of a product, including defining the entities that comprise the product and the relationship among these entities. The process model and the data model accommodate the dynamic characteristics associated with both product definition and channels of trade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Dante Consulting, Inc.
    Inventors: Pierre Malko, John C. Gilbert
  • Patent number: 9342669
    Abstract: Systems and methods of licensing and identification of a virtual network appliance. The systems and methods obtain information specific to an instance of a virtual machine corresponding to the virtual network appliance. The instance of the virtual machine is deployed on a predetermined virtualization platform. The systems and methods can generate an identifier as well as a serial number for the virtual machine based at least on the information specific to the instance of the virtual machine, and generate a license including license data for the virtual network appliance, embedding at least the identifier for the virtual machine in the license data. The information specific to the instance of the virtual machine can include a universally unique identifier (UUID) and at least one virtual media access control (MAC) address for the virtual machine deployed on the predetermined virtualization platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Dialogic, Inc.
    Inventors: Ritesh Patani, Chien Cheng
  • Patent number: 9344495
    Abstract: A peer-to-peer network system provides at least one peer with information for configuration of a peer-to-peer network to optimize the configuration of the peer-to-peer network by using at least one of information about a status of the at least one peer, information about a status of an underlying network and information about a user in respect of services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Wook Hyun, Sung Hei Kim, Chang Kyu Lee, Shin Gak Kang
  • Patent number: 9336368
    Abstract: A license install support method includes receiving input of a first license identifier used for receiving license data, the license data being used by an electronic device for determining whether activation of a program is allowable; sending, to a license source determining device connected via a network, an acquisition request specifying the first license identifier for acquiring issuing source information including issuing source identification information of the license data; receiving the issuing source information returned from the license source determining device; and using a license install processing unit to acquire the license data corresponding to the first license identifier from a license management device relevant to the issuing source information included among plural license management devices connected via the network, and to send the license data to the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuko Sugiura, Tomoya Hirokawa, Xiaofeng Han, Taku Ikawa
  • Patent number: 9336361
    Abstract: A system and method for issuing a license for a device through a license server is provided. A server receives identification information for a device that communicates to the server if a first license binding identity and/or a first display identity has changed. A previous license for the device is revoked and a previous license credit is returned to a user's credit pool if the first license binding identity and/or the first display identity has changed. A license request is received, which includes a second license binding identity identifying the device. If the second license binding identity is the same as the first license binding identity, the previous license for the device is issued. If the second license binding identity is not the same as the first license binding identity, a new license for the device is issued and a new license credit is deducted from the user's credit pool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Tat Keung Chan, Paul D Baker, Christopher P Gardner, Xin Qiu, Jinsong Zheng
  • Patent number: 9336518
    Abstract: A method and system for conditioning grant of digital rights on receiving and validating content-distribution referrals is provided. A subscriber using a communication device may enter a request to use locked digital content, or request a content-use right. The user may be prompted to enter one or more referrals as potential other recipients of the content. An indication of the one or more referrals may be sent to a network entity, which may determine whether at least a threshold number of the entered referrals are valid. If so, a network entity may transmit to the communication device data that will facilitate use of the digital content. Additionally, a network entity may send a solicitation message to each of at least the threshold number of entered referrals. A network entity may also provide an award in return for the entered referrals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Geoff S. Martin, Jonathan R. Kindred
  • Patent number: 9330184
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for discovering application compatibility status, the method being performed by one or more processors, the method comprising receiving a request for determining compatibility of a first application with a platform and organizing a plurality of data points associated with the first application into a plurality of elements. The method also comprises comparing the plurality of elements with a plurality of elements associated with one or more analyzed applications, wherein the one or more analyzed applications have been previously analyzed for compatibility with the platform. The method further comprises identifying a compatibility status of the first application with the platform based on the comparison; and providing, for display, the compatibility status of the first application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Cltirix Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David Greggory Thornley, Sheldon Ferdinand Lachambre
  • Patent number: 9323751
    Abstract: Access to documents by parties can be controlled as follows. First, access can be controlled in accordance with access counters associated with the parties, where the documents have one or more versions. Second, access can be controlled in accordance with access levels associated with the parties. The access level of each party is one of a first access level, a second access level, a third access level, or a fourth access level. The first, second, third, and fourth access levels are ordered from the first access level to the fourth access level such that the first access level provides a greatest degree of access to the documents and the fourth access level provides a least degree of access to the documents. Third, access can be controlled in accordance with placement of organizations within a hierarchy of organizations, where the parties are organized over the organizations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Trieu C. Chieu, Manikandan Dharamarajan, Thomas Yu-Kiu Kwok, Linh Hue Lam, Thao Ngoc Nguyen, Kakan Roy, Amit Jaysukhlal Shah
  • Patent number: 9317677
    Abstract: Content items are distributed to a content delivery network using identifiers that expresses relationships between the content items and at least one associated content element. When making requests to content delivery network, a requesting Web browser may thus specify the content items according to uniform resource locators that include credentials that allow the content delivery network to verify that the browser is authorized to receive the content items. These uniform resource locators may uniquely associate the content items with the associated content element and the requesting browser in a cryptographically secure manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Inkling Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Benjamin Scott, Arthur Kopatsy, Ned Todd Birdwell Rockson
  • Patent number: 9311956
    Abstract: An information processing device includes: a data processing unit that executes a process of reproducing content recorded in a medium, wherein the data processing unit acquires a token from the medium, the token being management data corresponding to content recorded in the medium, compares a server ID recorded in the acquired token with a server ID recorded in a server certificate acquired from a server from which the management data is acquired, and halts reproduction of content when the two server IDs are not identical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenjiro Ueda, Koji Yoshimura, Hiroshi Kuno, Takamichi Hayashi, Munetake Ebihara
  • Patent number: 9305146
    Abstract: A license management device causes a wireless device to enter a state in which all functions are restricted by overwriting key information of the wireless device with a default key specific to the wireless device. A key generating device generates an upgrade key specific to the wireless device, and transmits the update key to the license management device. The license management device can release a restriction of a function in the wireless device by applying the upgrade key to the key information of the wireless device overwritten with the default key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Shingo Kinoshita, Koji Kawada
  • Patent number: 9298416
    Abstract: A method for uploading content to a server may include associating an identifier and a trigger with a digital audio item uploaded to the server for inclusion into a digital multimedia store managed by the server. The identifier may identify the digital audio item from a plurality of other audio items available at the digital multimedia store. If the trigger is active, a first user interface may be displayed in the digital multimedia store. The first user interface may be associated with the uploaded digital audio item and may provide code for executing an embedding functionality. Upon execution, the embedding functionality may allow for automatic inclusion of the digital audio item into an individual media profile of a user. The media profile may be managed by the server and may be associated with the digital multimedia store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon Bilinski, Owen Daniel Otto, Paul Nicholas Gennai, Bo Yang
  • Patent number: 9294793
    Abstract: A computing system and/or network environment in which users can transfer (or initiate transfer of) digital content items to other users in accordance with a variety of transaction parameters that are specified by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Kobo Inc.
    Inventors: Robert MacArthur, James Wu
  • Patent number: 9292664
    Abstract: A method can include injecting key information from memory of a memory device into non-volatile memory of a hardware device via a data port of the hardware device; receiving via the data port identification information from the hardware device that identifies the hardware device; and associating the key information and the identification information in the memory of the memory device. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Christopher Robert Gordon, Keith W. Douglas, David J. Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 9288264
    Abstract: System and method for implementing a workflow of a first domain, wherein the workflow is implemented as a series of steps to accomplish a workload and wherein at least one of the steps utilizes a process, are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises establishing a mutual trust relationship between the first domain and a second domain; wherein one of the steps is authored by the second domain, the method further comprising associating with the step authored by the second domain a digital attestation for enabling the first domain to verify authorship and non-modification thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: NOVELL, INC.
    Inventors: Carolyn Bennion McClain, Stephen R. Carter, Lloyd Leon Burch, Dale Robert Olds
  • Patent number: 9275134
    Abstract: In accordance with various example embodiments, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided. A method comprises accessing a gallery comprising a plurality of classes, determining distances between classes of the plurality of classes, and determining thresholds for one or more classes of the gallery for classifying test objects in the classes, wherein threshold for a class is determined based on at least one distance of the class from at least one remaining class of the plurality of classes. The apparatus comprises at least one processor and at least one memory, configured to, cause the apparatus to perform accessing a gallery comprising a plurality of classes, determining distances between classes of the plurality of classes, and determining thresholds for classes of the gallery for classifying test objects in the classes, wherein threshold for a class is determined based on distances of the class from remaining classes of the gallery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Krishna Annasagar Govindarao, Gururaj Gopal Putraya
  • Patent number: 9275423
    Abstract: A Right Object renewal method and apparatus for a right-protected digital broadcast service that is capable of predicting the expiration of a Right Object issued for the right-protected broadcast channel and renewing the Right Object prior to the expiration of the Right object based on the predicted expiry is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeong Wook Seo, Je Geol Lee, Chung Kyu Lee, Mi Sun Kim
  • Patent number: 9275233
    Abstract: Generating a modified protected file is disclosed, including: creating a modified protected file at least in part by embedding a protected file into an at least partially unprotected file; and modifying a set of content type information included in the at least partially unprotected file to include a content type associated with the protected file as embedded. Using the modified protected file is disclosed, including: receiving, using a processor, a data access operation to an at least partially unprotected file; determining that the at least partially unprotected file includes a portion associated with a content type associated with embedded protected content; and redirecting the data access operation to the portion of the at least partially unprotected file associated with the content type associated with embedded protected content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventors: Howard Lu, Yongjian Feng, Christopher Hebert, Jean-Claude Paul
  • Patent number: 9275201
    Abstract: Systems and articles of manufacture for execution-based license discovery and optimization include collecting multiple parameters of execution information for one or more software processes on one or more servers in an operating system, mapping the multiple parameters of collected execution information for the one or more software processes to one or more software products, determining usage of a software product in the operating system based on the mapping of the collected multiple parameters of execution information for the one or more software processes to one or more software products, and identifying one or more software product license optimization opportunities based on a comparison of the determined usage of the software product in the operating system and an indication of all installations of the software product in the operating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Han Chen, Nicholas Fuller, Liangzhao Zeng, Zhe Zhang
  • Patent number: 9276938
    Abstract: Example systems, methods and storage media to provide a cross-enterprise workflow among clinical systems are disclosed. An example cross-enterprise enabled clinical information system includes a workflow manager to coordinate user workflows with respect to the system and associated content. The system includes an image services manager configured to manage images and associated services for the system and associated content. The workflow manager and image services manager are configured for cross-enterprise content sharing such that the system is to locally authenticate a user at the system and the system is to locally authorize a remote request for access to content at the system from a remote user that has been authenticated remotely. The system is arranged to provide content in response to the remote request after the remote authentication has been received and the system has verified the remote user's authorization for access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Piyush Raizada
  • Patent number: 9270657
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems, apparatuses, and methods to enable a value-added storage service of a storage system coupled to a client are described. In some embodiments, a system establishes a secure root of trust for the client. In addition, the system establishes a secure tunnel between an application of the client and a storage system of the client. Furthermore, the system securely downloads a license for the value-added storage service to the storage system and provides the license from the storage system to an application via the secure tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas D. Triantafillou, Terry Ryun Bradfield, Paritosh Saxena, Paul J. Thadikaran, David Owen Novick
  • Patent number: RE46023
    Abstract: Technology for replacing a first storage unit operatively coupled to a device is provided. Content of the first storage unit is sent to a new storage unit that serves as the replacement of the first storage unit. In one embodiment, the content is first sent to a trusted third-party server and then transferred from the server to the new storage unit. A portion of the content on the new storage unit is adjusted in one embodiment to maintain content security features that were implemented in the first storage unit. The upgrading can be performed under the control of a software entity that is installed on the device. In various embodiments, the first storage unit may be bound to a third storage unit prior to the upgrade process. In such cases, the process can include measures to bind the new storage unit to the third storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Mei Yan, Robert C Chang, Farshid Sabet-Sharghi, Po Yuan, Bahman Qawami