Downloadable software package incorporating license management software

Abstract

A downloadable software package incorporating license management software is disclosed. The software package may include a client software application and an associated licensing module for managing use of the client software application. In preferred embodiments, the licensing module is configured to detect the use of the client software application and automatically send a license validity inquiry request to a license server over a public network. The client software application is operated in accordance with the contents of a response message received from the license server. The downloadable software package may comprise a single compiled executable application downloaded by a user onto a computer over the public network.

1 . A downloadable software package incorporating license management software comprising: 
 a downloadable software package including a client software application and an associated licensing module;    the licensing module being configured to: 
 detect the use of the client software application;  
 automatically send a license validity inquiry request regarding said client software application to a license server over a public network; and  
 operate said client software application in accordance with the contents of a response message received from the license server.  
   
   
   
       2 . The downloadable software package of  claim 1 , wherein said downloadable software package comprises a single compiled executable application downloaded by a user onto a computer over the public network.  
   
   
       3 . The downloadable software package of  claim 2 , wherein said licensing module comprises one of a selected object modules inserted into a pre-compiled version of said client software application.  
   
   
       4 . The downloadable software package of  claim 3 , wherein validation check watchdog timers are inserted at pre-selected points in said client software application.  
   
   
       5 . The downloadable software package of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of said pre-selected points corresponds to a software interrupt of said client software application.  
   
   
       6 . The downloadable software package of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of said pre-selected points corresponds to a software procedure call of said client software application.  
   
   
       7 . The downloadable software package of  claim 6 , wherein software procedure call comprises a print routine of said client software application.  
   
   
       8 . The downloadable software package of  claim 7 , wherein software procedure call comprises a print routine of said client software application.  
   
   
       9 . The downloadable software package of  claim 7 , wherein software procedure call comprises a save routine of said client software application.  
   
   
       10 . The downloadable software package of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of said pre-selected points corresponds to an opening routine of said client software application.  
   
   
       11 . The downloadable software package of  claim 10 , wherein opening routine of said client software application initiates an initial license validation check.  
   
   
       12 . The downloadable software package of  claim 10 , wherein opening routine of said client software application initiates an enablement check.  
   
   
       13 . A downloadable software package incorporating license management software comprising: 
 means for detecting the use of a client software application;    means for automatically sending a license validity inquiry request regarding said client software application to a license server over a public network; and    means for operating said client software application in accordance with the contents of a response message received from the license server.    
   
   
       14 . The downloadable software package of  claim 13 , wherein said downloadable software package comprises a single compiled executable application downloaded by a user onto a computer over the public network.  
   
   
       15 . The downloadable software package of  claim 14 , wherein validation check watchdog timers are inserted at pre-selected points in said client software application.  
   
   
       16 . The downloadable software package of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of said pre-selected points corresponds to a software interrupt of said client software application.  
   
   
       17 . The downloadable software package of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of said pre-selected points corresponds to a software procedure call of said client software application.  
   
   
       18 . The downloadable software package of  claim 17 , wherein software procedure call comprises a print routine of said client software application.  
   
   
       19 . The downloadable software package of  claim 18 , wherein software procedure call comprises a print routine of said client software application.  
   
   
       20 . The downloadable software package of  claim 18 , wherein software procedure call comprises a save routine of said client software application.  
   
   
       21 . The downloadable software package of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of said pre-selected points corresponds to an opening routine of said client software application.  
   
   
       22 . The downloadable software package of  claim 21 , wherein opening routine of said client software application initiates an initial license validation check.  
   
   
       23 . The downloadable software package of  claim 21 , wherein opening routine of said client software application initiates an enablement check.  
   
   
       24 . A downloadable software package incorporating license management software comprising: 
 a downloadable software package comprising a single compiled executable application configured to be downloaded onto a computer over a public network;    the software package including a licensing module associated with a client software application; and    responsive to the operation of said client software application, the licensing module being operable to automatically send a license validity inquiry request to a license server over a public network and operate said client software application in accordance with the contents of a response message received from the license server.    
   
   
       25 . The downloadable software package of  claim 24 , wherein said licensing module is operable to automatically send a license validity inquiry request to a license server software responsive to activation of a print routine of said client software application.  
   
   
       26 . The downloadable software package of  claim 24 , wherein said licensing module is operable to automatically send a license validity inquiry request to a license server software responsive to activation of a save routine of said client software application.