Patent ID: 7421412
Filing Date: 2008-09-02
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A computerized method for monitoring use of a licensed digital good to determine if said licensed digital good has multiple instances on multiple digital devices, said method comprising: associating a licensed digital good with a shared resource such that each instance of said licensed digital good is associated with and communicates with said shared resource repeatedly and with a known interval of time having elapsed between each communication; updating said shared resource with a time associated with each communication from said each instance of said licensed digital good associated with said shared resource when said each instance of said licensed digital good is used on one of said digital devices; determining if any communication was received with less than said known interval of time having elapsed since the previous communication, such an occurrence being a race condition indicating that multiple instances of said licensed digital good are being used; if a race condition has occurred, determining that use of said multiple instances of said licensed digital good is a license violation; and if a race condition has not occurred, continuing to monitor use of the licensed digital good.