Process for implementing a method for the on-line sale of software product use licenses through a data network, and software component which allows carrying out said process

Abstract

Online sale of software product use licenses through a data network by offering software products (SOFT) through vendor sites, purchasing a license on-line on one of said vendor sites, and activating said license on-line by a different licensing site. A specific component (COMP) is provided with the software product (SOFT) and identifying data (IDV) of the vendor site are transmitted during the download of the software product (SOFT). When the component (COMP) is executed in an equipment, the component (COMP) locally accesses said data (IDV) and identifying data (IDL) of the licensing site and activates the license by setting up an on-line communication with the licensing site.

1 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A method comprising:
 electronically receiving in a second system from a first system a software module and incorporating the software module into a software product during the design time of the software product in the second system, the first system different from a system of the software product developer, the software module comprising executable instructions that when executed in a first electronic device assist in establishing electronic communication between the first electronic device and a third system for the purpose of initiating a purchase of the software product, or upgrades thereof, by the first electronic device from the third system,   electronically transmitting from the second system the software product incorporating the executable instructions to the first system or to the third system,   electronically transmitting from the second system to the first system or to the third system sales information related to the software product; and   electronically receiving in the second system from one or more of the first electronic device, the first system and the third system, first data related with a purchase of the software product, or upgrades thereof, by the first electronic device from the third system.   
     
     
         44 . A method according to  claim 43 , further comprising validating in the second system the first data related with the purchase and subsequently electronically transmitting from the second system to the first electronic device second data useable for enabling the use of the software product in the first electronic device or in a second electronic device. 
     
     
         45 . A method according to  claim 43 , wherein the second system is a system of the software product developer. 
     
     
         46 . A method according to  claim 43 , wherein the second data is readable by the executable instructions. 
     
     
         47 . A method according to  claim 43 , further comprising electronically receiving in the second system from the first electronic device identifying data of the third system. 
     
     
         48 . A method according to  claim 43 , wherein the software product produces one or more graphical interfaces in the first electronic device useable to initiate the purchase of different versions of the software product, or upgrades thereof. 
     
     
         49 . A method according to  claim 43 , wherein the executable instructions when executed in the first electronic device assist in producing one or more graphical interfaces in the first electronic device useable to initiate the purchase of different versions of the software product, or upgrades thereof. 
     
     
         50 . A method according to  claim 49 , wherein the one or more graphical interfaces enable a user of the first electronic device to select between different purchase options. 
     
     
         51 . A method according to  claim 50 , wherein the purchase options include a right to use the software product, or upgrades thereof, in the first electronic device for an indefinite period of time. 
     
     
         52 . A method according to  claim 50 , wherein the purchase options include a right to use the software product, or upgrades thereof, in the first electronic device for a definite period of time. 
     
     
         53 . A method according to  claim 50 , wherein the purchase options include a right to install and execute the software product, or upgrades thereof, in a second electronic device different than the first electronic device. 
     
     
         54 . A method according to  claim 43 , wherein the second system is identifiable by a URL address. 
     
     
         55 . A method according to  claim 43 , wherein the second system comprises a website. 
     
     
         56 . A method according to  claim 43 , wherein the second system electronically transmits the software product incorporating the executable instructions to the third system via the first system. 
     
     
         57 . A method according to  claim 43 , further comprising the second system receiving from the first system one or more applications, the one or more applications when installed in the second system being useable to implement electronic communications related to the purchase of the software product, or upgrades thereof. 
     
     
         58 . A method according to  claim 43 , wherein the software module comprises one or more of a class, a set of classes, a set of functions, a dynamic library and source code.