Patent ID: 7092907
Filing Date: 2006-08-15
Classification: G06F,G06Q

Abstract:
1. A system running in a central processing unit for changing the appearance and performance generated by a specified application, said specified application being undegraded and having a set of complete functionalities, the system comprising: a timer for measuring time; and means, responsive to the timer, to change, after receipt of the specified application by the central processing unit, the appearance or performance generated by the specified application according to a timed procedure to encourage a user of the application to abandon this specified application and to purchase a new version of the specified application, said means to change the appearance or performance of the specified application including means to eliminate said functionalities one at a time according to said timed procedure to provide the user with a continuous, but progressively diminishing, use of said specified application; wherein the central processing unit is connected to a network to receive data therefrom over a bandwidth and the means to change the appearance or performance of the specified application includes means to degrade said network bandwidth.