System and method enabling licensed software to be used on multiple computers

Abstract

A method of transferring user preferences from one computer to another is based upon a transportable data storage medium. Information relating to the user's computer configuration preferences are recorded on the medium at a first computer, which is then loaded at a second computer, so as to at least temporarily configure the second computer in accordance with the information stored on the transportable medium. The information stored on the medium may effectuate various configuration changes at the second computer, including the generation of a preferred desktop graphical interface. The storage medium may also include information relating to wired or wireless network or dial-up communications preferences, application programs, one or more user files or information relating thereto. The method may further include the step of accessing a remote location to at least temporarily configure the second computer in accordance with the information stored on the transportable medium. For example, a remote location may be accessed to download data or an application program desired by the user at the second computer. The configuration of the second computer may occur by re-booting the second computer or through a different user log-on without restarting the second computer. The medium may be based on magnetic, optical, magneto-optical, or semiconductor storage, and may be in the form of a disk or card.

1 . A method allowing a computer user to use licensed software on multiple computers in conformance with a license agreement, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a transportable data storage medium;   recording, on the transportable data storage medium, one or more software license files, each software license file being associated with a different computer accessible by a user;   receiving the transportable data storage medium at one of the computers accessible by the user; and   using software at the computer in accordance with a license file stored on the transportable data storage medium, such that the software can only be used on one computer at a time.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further including the steps of:
 recording, on the transportable data storage medium, at least a limited version of the software having minimal or restricted features; and   using the limited version of the software at the computer in accordance with a license file also stored on the transportable data storage medium.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , including the step of downloading a license file over a local or wide-area network, including the Internet. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein storage medium further includes information relating to the user's preferred desktop graphical interface. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein storage medium further includes information relating to wired or wireless network or dial-up communications preferences. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein storage medium further includes one or more user files or information relating to a user file. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further including the step of accessing a remote location to at least temporarily configure the different computer in accordance with the information stored on the transportable medium. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the remote location includes data or an application program desired by the user at the different computer. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of at least temporarily configuring the second computer occurs through re-booting the different computer or through a different user log-on. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein storage medium uses a magnetic, optical, magneto-optical, or semiconductor memory. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user is prompted to retain information on the storage medium following the use of different computer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the storage medium is in the form of a disk or card. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein user files stored on the storage medium are updated in accordance with the use of the different computer.