Robert M Doherty

US Patent:

6920567, Jul 19, 2005

Filed:

Apr 7, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/544682

Inventors:

Robert J. Doherty - Medway MA, US
Peter L. Tierney - Arlington MA, US

Assignee:

Viatech Technologies Inc. - Natick MA

International Classification:

G06F009/00
G06F007/00

US Classification:

713202, 707104, 713182, 713194, 713171, 713168

Abstract:

A digital content file including a license control mechanism controlling the licensed use of digital content and a system and method for distributing licensable digital content files and licenses. A digital content file includes a digital content, which may be executable code or data, an embedded file access control mechanism and a dynamic license database associated with the file access mechanism for storing license information used by the file access control mechanism in controlling use of the digital content. The file access control mechanism includes a license monitor and control mechanism communicating with the dynamic license database and controlling use of the digital content and a license control utility providing communications between a user system and an external system to communicate license definition information and includes a graphical user interface. License information may be stored initially in the dynamic license database or provided from an external system. The system allows the distribution of digital content files and the acquisition of licenses with seamless transaction processing through an order processing system generating an order identification and authorization for a license and a product configuration and order database containing license management databases associated with the digital content files and containing license information to be transmitted to a user system upon receipt of an order identifier.