20,80c19
< Serial No.: 894182
< Series Code: 09
< Filed: June 28, 2001
<
< U.S. Current Class: 705/1
< U.S. Class at Publication: 705/1
< Intern'l Class: G06F 017/60
< Claims
<
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< What is claimed is:
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< 1. A system for use in a network, comprising: a user console; a disc storage medium including a permanently recorded disc identification, the disc storage medium being readable by the user console, wherein the user console is operable to transmit the disc identification over the network; and a host server in the network, the host server being configured to receive the disc identification and configured to assign points to a point account associated with the disc identification.
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< 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the user console includes a set identification that uniquely identifies the user console.
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< 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the user console includes a user identification that identifies a user of the user console.
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< 4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a user database accessible by the host server, the user database including a user table associated with the user identification, the user table including the point account, the point account being further associated with the user identification.
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< 5. The system of claim 2, further comprising a user database accessible by the host server, the user database including a user table associated with the set identification, the user table including the point account, the point account being further associated with the set identification.
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< 6. The system of claim 4, wherein the user console transmits the disc identification and the user identification to the host server for authorization to execute software residing on the disc storage medium.
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< 7. The system of claim 5, wherein the user console transmits the disc identification and the set identification to the host server for authorization to execute software residing on the disc storage medium.
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< 8. The system of claim 6, wherein the host server compares the disc identification to a plurality of disc identifications stored in the user table associated with the user identification, and compares the disc identification with a plurality of disc identifications stored in other user tables associated with other user identifications.
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< 9. The system of claim 8, wherein if the disc identification matches one of the plurality of disc identifications stored in the user table associated with the user identification, the host server transmits to the user console an access permission signal that authorizes execution of software stored on the disc storage medium, assigns points to the point account of user table associated with the disc identification and the user identification, and transmits point information to the user console.
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< 10. The system of claim 8, wherein if the disc identification matches one of the plurality of disc identifications stored in the other user tables associated with other user identifications, and if the matched other user table indicates owner consent, the host server transmits to the user console an access permission signal that authorizes execution of software stored on the disc storage medium, assigns points to the point account of the other user table associated with the disc identification and the other user identification, and transmits point information to the user console.
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< 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the host server assigns points to a point account of the user table associated with the user identification.
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< 12. The system of claim 8, wherein if the disc identification matches one of the plurality of disc identifications stored in the other user tables associated with other user identifications, and if the matched other user table does not indicate owner consent, the host server transmits an access refusal signal to the user console whereby the user console cannot execute software residing on the disc storage medium.
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< 13. The system of claim 8, wherein if the disc identification does not match any disc identifications stored in any user table, the host server transmits to the user console an access permission signal to execute software residing on the disc storage medium, assigns points to the point account of user table associated with the user identification, and transmits point information to the user console.
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< 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the host server records the disc identification to the user table associated with the user identification.
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< 15. The system of claim 8, further comprising a disc database accessible by the host server, the disc database including a disc table that includes owner consent data and a sub-account associated with the disc identification, the sub-account including point data associated with the disc identification and the owner consent data including access permission data for other users.
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< 16. The system of claim 15, wherein if the disc identification matches one of the plurality of disc identifications stored in the user table associated with the user identification, the host server transmits to the user console an access permission signal that authorizes execution of software stored on the disc storage medium, assigns points to the sub-account of disc table associated with the disc identification, and transmits point information to the user console.
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< 17. The system of claim 15, wherein if the disc identification matches one of the plurality of disc identifications stored in the other user tables associated with other user identifications, and if the matched other user table indicates owner consent, the host server transmits to the user console an access permission signal that authorizes execution of software stored on the disc storage medium, assigns points to the sub-account of the disc table associated with the disc identification, and transmits point information to the user console.
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< 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the host server assigns points to a point account of the user table associated with the user identification.
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< 19. The system of claim 15, wherein if the disc identification matches one of the plurality of disc identifications stored in the other user tables associated with other user identifications, and if the matched other user table does not indicate owner consent, the host server transmits an access refusal signal to the user console whereby the user console cannot execute software residing on the disc storage medium.
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< 20. The system of claim 15, wherein if the disc identification does not match any disc identifications stored in any user table, the host server transmits to the user console an access permission signal to execute software residing on the disc storage medium and transmits point information to the user console.
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< 21. The system of claim 20, wherein the host server records the disc identification to the disc table.
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< 22. The system of claim 21, wherein the host server assigns points to the sub-account of the disc table associated with the disc identification.
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< 23. The system of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of publisher servers accessible by the host server, the publisher servers being configured to manage a plurality of publisher databases, wherein each of the publisher databases includes sub-accounts managed by one of the publisher servers.
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< 24. The system of claim 23, wherein if the disc identification matches one of the plurality of disc identifications stored in the user table associated with the user identification, the host server transmits to the user console an access permission signal that authorizes execution of software stored on the disc storage medium and transmits point information to the user console, and the publisher server of the publisher database associated with the disc identification assigns points to the sub-account of the publisher database associated with the disc identification.
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< 25. The system of claim 23, wherein if the disc identification matches one of the plurality of disc identifications stored in the other user tables associated with other user identifications, and if the matched other user table indicates owner consent, the host server transmits to the user console an access permission signal that authorizes execution of software stored on the disc storage medium and transmits point information to the user console, and the publisher server of the publisher database associated with the disc identification assigns points to the sub-account of the publisher database associated with the disc identification.
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> Assignee Name and Adress: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.