Patent ID: 8646105

Claim:
A system for authorizing use of a software tool, the system comprising: a security device comprising: a processor, at least one communication subsystem responsive to the processor, and a first memory accessible to the processor, the first memory storing a private key for authorizing use of the software tool and storing program instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to execute a security application; a computing device comprising: a second memory storing the software tool, the computing device being capable of communication with the security device via the at least one communication subsystem; and a target device in communication with the computing device, wherein the target device is configured to generate a session value that is transmittable to the computing device; wherein the computing device is configured to: transmit, to the target device, an authorization request to use the software tool in relation to the target device, receive, from the target device, an encrypted request comprising the session value that is generated at the target device, and in response to the receiving of the encrypted request, transmit, to the security device, the received encrypted request to use the software tool, and wherein the security device is configured to: execute the security application to generate a signed response in response to the encrypted request, and send the signed response to the computing device, the signed response being: signed using the private key and comprising the session value in a decrypted form and authorization information to enable the computing device to prove authorization to the target device for use of the software tool in relation to the target device.