David A Pearce

US Patent:

7503072, Mar 10, 2009

Filed:

May 17, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/859915

Inventors:

Aidan T. Hughes - Bellevue WA, US
David Barnaby Pearce - West Palm Beach FL, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

H04L 29/00
H04L 9/00

US Classification:

726 26, 705 51, 705 59

Abstract:

In one embodiment, the invention is a 64 bit hardware ID (H/W ID) for tying a software product to a particular computer to prevent software piracy. The 64 bit hardware ID represents ten different components of the user's computer: the CD-ROM device, the disk adapter, the disk device, the display adapter, the first drive serial number, the MAC address, the processor serial number, the processor type, the RAM size in Mb, and the SCSI adapter. Each time the software product is opened, the expanded H/W ID is compared to the hardware on the computer to determine whether a predetermined minimum number of components match. In one embodiment, the expanded H/W ID allows for expansion of the user's computer because so long as the component originally listed in the expanded H/W ID can be found on the computer, then that component matches the expanded H/W ID. Typically, seven out of ten components in the expanded H/W ID must match the computer before the software product will fully operate.

US Patent:

7565323, Jul 21, 2009

Filed:

Sep 23, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/668580

Inventors:

Aidan T. Hughes - Bellevue WA, US
David Barnaby Pearce - West Palm Beach FL, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06Q 99/00

US Classification:

705 50, 710 10, 711117, 700 79, 365201

Abstract:

In one embodiment, the invention is a 64 bit hardware ID (H/W ID) for tying a software product to a particular computer to prevent software piracy. The 64 bit hardware ID represents ten different components of the user's computer: the CD-ROM device, the disk adapter, the disk device, the display adapter, the first drive serial number, the MAC address, the processor serial number, the processor type, the RAM size in Mb, and the SCSI adapter. Each time the software product is opened, the expanded H/W ID is compared to the hardware on the computer to determine whether a predetermined minimum number of components match. In one embodiment, the expanded H/W ID allows for expansion of the user's computer because so long as the component originally listed in the expanded H/W ID can be found on the computer, then that component matches the expanded H/W ID. Typically, seven out of ten components in the expanded HIW ID must match the computer before the software product will fully operate.

US Patent:

44681585, Aug 28, 1984

Filed:

Nov 29, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/445116

Inventors:

David R. Pearce - Bremerton WA
Archie S. Lien - Poulsbo WA

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of The Navy - Washington DC

International Classification:

B23B 4100

US Classification:

408 16

Abstract:

Apparatus for inplace refinishing of the annular seating surfaces in top ded ball valves which comprises a locating ring adapted to be mounted on the top surface of the valve housing. An alignment gage is provided for precisely positioning the locating ring. A cutting apparatus is mounted on the precisely positioned locating ring. The cutting apparatus includes a carriage plate for mounting on the locating ring, channel-forming means mounted on the carriage plate and a cutting tool having a housing adapted to side in the channels and having a cutting head oriented to cut the seating surface at the desired angle.

US Patent:

62434683, Jun 5, 2001

Filed:

Apr 29, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/070518

Inventors:

David B. Pearce - Woodinville WA
Aidan Hughes - Houston TX

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

H04K 100

US Classification:

380255

Abstract:

An anti-piracy system reduces the opportunity for piracy and illicit use of software products by requiring each software product to be registered for a single computer. If a user attempts to install the software product on another computer, the software product will recognize a different hardware composition and disable itself. During installation, the software product generates a hardware ID that identifies the set of hardware components and sends it and a product ID to a registration authority. The registration authority computes a registration ID from the product ID and the hardware ID and sends the registration ID back to the software product. Each time the software product is subsequently launched, the software product computes its own test ID from the product ID and hardware ID using the same algorithm employed by the registration authority. The software product then compares the test ID to the registration ID. If the two match, the software product is enabled; otherwise, if no match occurs, the software product is locked.