Importance

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Abstract

A method and apparatus provide a level of authentication or a computer software program sign-on that is intermediate trust-based licensing and hardware based protection. Entry of a registration name is required at the time of initial use of the program, and at each invocation of the program the computer determines if the invocation is within the freshness interval (based upon the number of sign-ons, e.g. 30, or the passage of time, e.g. 30 days). If the sign-on is not within the freshness level, the computer and display screen provide a re-authentication inquiry, which may require a response before a standard sign on is allowed. If the re-authentication response is at odds with the initial registration name, standard sign-on may be precluded, and the screen displays a phone/fax number or electronic address to contact for appropriate registration information. The software may be a Shell++ product, and the registration number is provided in an Init-File, a Chalkmark Checksum calculated encoded at initial registration. At each invocation the computer may also be controlled to determine if there is an Init-File in some directory in the current command search path for the software, and if is there is a Chalk-File in the same directory as an Init-File, and if the system's file version date for Chalk-File is the same as the date encoded into the Chalkmark Checksum.

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First Claim