Patent ID: 7231360
Filing Date: 2007-06-12
Classification: G06F,G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method for licensing time-based software comprising the steps of: loading time-based software onto a client machine, wherein said time-based software requests user information including an amount of time requested by the user for using said time-based software and connects to an authentication server through a network and submits said user information to the authentication server; determining if the user is approved, wherein if the user is approved, further comprising the step of: the authentication server activating the time-based software for an amount of time approved; thereafter disconnecting from said authentication server, wherein if the user uses the time-based software for less than the amount of time approved, the user crediting any remaining amount of time back to the user's account located on the authentication server wherein the time-based software is configured to allow the user to check the total remaining time in his account via the time base software when it is reconnnected to the network to communicate with the authentication server.