IDENTIFICATION OF COMPUTERS

Abstract: A method of identifying a computer connected on-line to a remotely located site, comprises the steps of: searching a hard disk associated with the computer for identifying element inherent to the computer; and combining the identifying element, when found, together with other identifying information associated with the hardware of the computer, to form a unique identifier for that computer. The unique identifier for the computer is compared to a storeof such unique identifiers available to the remote site. If the unique identifier is present in the store, it is matched to data which is available to the remote site and which is associated with that unique identifier. If the unique identifier is not present in the store, then it is stored in the store, and recorded against data associated with that computer.

Description: IDENTIFICATION OF COMPUTERS INTRODUCTION This invention relates to the identification of a computer when logging onto a remote site. More specifically, the invention relates to the identification of such a computer without requiring the use of user identification data, such as a personal identification number (PIN) or the like. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Computer users commonly log onto remote sites such as an Internet web site in order to perform transactions, which involve payments from the user for goods or services to be delivered by or through the web site. The remote site may for example be a web site that provides software for download by a user logging onto the site, and paying a required licence fee by credit card. One of the difficulties experienced by providers of such on-line services is the identification of the user logging on to the associated remote site, for the purposes of credit control and for marketing information. In most cases, some information has to be provided by the user before credit will be granted or the purchase can be effected, but the medium of payment lends itself to fraudulent input. A user paying by means of credit or debit card is not physically present when the transaction is concluded, and this enables the user to decline the purchase when the payment is presented to him by the account holder of the card facility. The provision of this user information also adds to the tedium of usage when a customer logs onto a commercial site. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a method of and system for identifying a computer connected on-line to a remotely located site, which can at least partially, alleviate the abovementioned difficulties. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention there is provided a method of identifying a computer connected on-line to a remotely located site, comprising the steps of: searching a hard disk associated with the computer for an identifying element inherent to the computer; combining such an identifying element, when found, together with other identifying information associated with the hardware of the computer, to form a unique identifier for that computer; comparing the unique identifier for the computer to a store of such unique identifiers available to the remote site; if the unique identifier is present in the store, matching it to data which is available to the remote site and which is associated with that unique identifier; and if the unique identifier is not present in the store, then storing it in the store, and recording against it data associated with that computer. There is provided for the identifying element that is searched for on the hard disk to be a predetermined number such as a serial number of the hard disk, or another such number which is unique to the hardware of the computer. There is particularly provided for the other identifying information to be information that is associated with the geometry of the hard disk, for example the number of sectors, platters and cylinders in the disk. Preferably, the combining function is performed on the computer, and the unique identifier is sent to the remote site, from where it is compared to the store. Still further features of the invention provide for the data relating to that computer, and against which the unique identifier is stored to include data relating to a credit record of previous transactions effected from that computer, or relating to further data associated with such previous transactions, such as credit card details used during such previous transactions The invention extends to a method of creating a unique identifier for a computer, comprising the steps of: finding an identifying element inherent to the computer; and combining it together with other identifying information associated with the hardware of the computer, to form a unique identifier for that computer. Preferably, the combining function is an encryption process, and is a 'hash; - type encryption. This invention includes a system for identifying a computer connected on-line to a remotely located site, comprising: searching means for searching a hard disk associated with the computer for an identifying element inherent to the computer; combining means for combining such an identifying element, when found, together with other identifying information associated with the hardware of the computer, to form a unique identifier for that computer; a database of unique identifiers for computers, the database being available to the remote site and having data associated with each such unique identifier; and comparator and operator means for matching the unique identifier with one in the database of such unique identifiers, and with the data which is associated with a matched unique identifier, and for stoπng an unmatched unique identifier in the database and recording against it data associated with that computer. There is provided for the searching to be arranged to establish a predetermined type of number such as the serial number of the hard disk of the computer as the identifying element, or to establish such other mark or number which is inherently particular to hardware connected to the computer. There is particularly provided for the searching means to be arranged to establish the other identifying information in the form of information that is associated with the geometry of the hard disk of the computer, preferably including the number of sectors, platters and cylinders in the hard disk. The invention extends to a system for creating a unique identifier for a computer, comprising: searching means for finding an identifying element inherent to the computer; and combining means for combining the identifying element together with other identifying information associated with the hardware of the computer, to form a unique identifier for that computer. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a functional block diagram of a system in accordance with the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to the drawing, a remotely located computer (1 ) equipped with a hard disk can dial up through a telecommunication channel, indicated figuratively by line (2), to an Internet web site (3). The telecommunication line can be a conventional public switched telephone line with a modem facility associated therewith. The Internet web site (3) has the usual computer facilities associated with such a web site, namely a web server and an application server (not shown) and is connected to a database (4), for storing identifying markers and data associated therewith. In use, a user logs onto the Internet web site (3) through the telecommunication channel (2) from the computer. The user in this instance will download software from the Internet web site (3), which is required to enable the user to purchase e-cash to perform gambling transactions on an on-line computer-based casino. Clearly the e-cash could be used for any transaction on the Internet. The actual casino need not of course be located at the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) of web site, but the software is downloaded from this web site. Once downloaded, the software is activated and logs on to the Internet web site. It searches for the serial number of the computer's hard disk. The serial number is generally a 32-bit number which can be accessed through operating system software of the computer (1 ), such as the MS-DOS command "VOL" which displays the serial number in hexadecimal format as an eight character string. The software also establishes the number of sectors, platters and cylinders of the hard disk geometry. The serial number and the numbers relating to the hard disk geometry are combined in a hash encryption function to produce a unique identifier of that computer. The resultant encrypted output will provide a one in 2 32 protection against a coincidence of the identifier from different computers. The software transmits the identifier back to Internet web site (3) along the telecommunication channel. This unique identifier is then compared with other identifiers stored in the database (4) to see whether or not it is present. If the unique identifier is not in the database (4) it will be recorded as a new entry, and will be stored against a history of the transactions performed by any user at the remote computer (1 ). When the remote computer (1 ) subsequently connects again to the remote site, or a user is gambling with the downloaded software, the unique identifier is recreated and is transmitted to the Internet web site (3) for authentication. If the unique identifier is present in the database (1 ), the history of previous transactions from this computer can be examined. If the user at the remote site has defaulted on a payment, or otherwise transgressed licensing or other limitations imposed by the licence terms of the Internet web site (3), then the web site can make a commercial decision on the log-on from the remote computer (1 ). The transaction may be declined, or may be accepted with or without conditions. It is considered that the invention forms a useful method and system for identifying computers that are logging on from remote sites to effect transactions. It will be appreciated that the method can be used for identifying a computer for any form of online interaction or transaction, and is not restricted to use in the environment described with reference to the drawings. Also, the software used to create the unique identifier need not be downloaded from an Internet web site but could, for example, be provided as part of a transaction processing package and be installed by a user on his computer.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A method of identifying a computer connected on-line to a remotely located site, comprising the steps of: searching a hard disk associated with the computer for an identifying element inherent to the computer; combining such an identifying element, when found, together with other identifying information associated with the hardware of the computer, to form a unique identifier for that computer; comparing the unique identifier for the computer to a store of such unique identifiers available to the remote site; o if the unique identifier is present in the store, matching it to data which is available to the remote site and which is associated with that unique identifier; and if the unique identifier is not present in the store, then storing it in the store, and recording against it data associated with that computer. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the identifying element that is searched 5 for on the hard disk is a predetermined number. 3. A method as claimed in claim 2 in which the predetermined number is a serial number of the hard disk or another such number which is unique to the hardware of the computer. 4. A method as Claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the other 0 identifying information is information that is associated with the geometry of the hard disk. 5. A method as claimed in claim 4 in which the information associated with the geometry of the hard disk includes the number of sectors, platters and cylinders in the disk. 6. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the combining function is performed on the computer. 7. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the unique identifier is sent to the remote site, from where it is compared to the store. 8. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the data relating to that computer, and against which the unique identifier is stored, includes data relating to a credit record of previous transactions effected from that computer. 9. A method as claimed in claim 8 in which the data relating to that computer, and against which the unique identifier is stored relates to further data associated with such previous transactions, such as credit card details used during such previous transactions. 10. A method of creating a unique identifier for a computer, comprising the steps of: finding an identifying element inherent to the computer; and combining he identifying element together with other identifying information associated with the hardware of the computer, to form a unique identifier for that computer. I L A method as claimed in claim 10 in which the combining function is an encryption process. 12. A method as claimed in claim 1 1 in which the encryption process is a 'hash - type encryption. 13. A system for identifying a computer connected on-line to a remotely located site, comprising: searching means for searching a hard disk associated with the computer for an identifying element inherent to the computer; combining means for combining such an identifying element, when found, together o with other identifying information associated with the hardware of the computer, to form a unique identifier for that computer; a database of unique identifiers for computers, the database being available to the remote site and having data associated with each such unique identifier; and comparator and operator means for matching the unique identifier with one in the 5 database of such unique identifiers and with the data which is associated with a matched unique identifier, and for storing an unmatched unique identifier in the database and recording against it data associated with that computer. 14. A system as claimed in claim 1 3 in which the searching means is arranged to establish a predetermined type of number such as the serial number of the hard 0 disk of the computer as the identifying element. 1 5. A system as claimed in claim 1 3 in which the searching means is arranged to establish a mark or number which is inherently particular to hardware connected to the computer., as the identifying element. 1 6. A system as claimed in either one of claims 1 3 or 1 4 in which the searching means is arranged to establish the other identifying information that is associated with the geometry of the hard disk of the computer. 17. A system as claimed in claim 16 in which the geometry of the hard disk to include the number of sectors, platters and cylinders in the hard disk. 18. a system for creating a unique identifier for a computer, comprising: searching means for finding an identifying element inherent to the computer; combining means for combining the identifying element together with other identifying information associated with the hardware of the computer, to form a unique identifier for that computer. 19 A method of identifying a computer connected on-line to a remotely located site, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 20. A method of creating a unique identifier for a computer substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 21 . A system for identifying a computer connected on-line to a remotely located site, substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 22. A system for creating a unique identifier for a computer, substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: WYNNE ADAM JOSHUA, WYNNE, ADAM, JOSHUA
Applicants: INFINIA IP LTD, WYNNE ADAM JOSHUA, WYNNE, ADAM, JOSHUA
Application year: 2000
Main classification: G06F1
IPC codes: G06F1, G06F11, G06F21