Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Aaron J Smith

Ajay Arvind Bhave

Chih-Pin Benjamin Kao

Tyron Michael Balascio

Mikael P Horal

Emeron Bachhuber

Tarik Soulami

Richard Scott Eizenhoefer

Kalpesh S Patel

Paul Cheng

Christopher M Berean

Valentin Sliouniaev

Tyron M Balascio

Liquid dispenser

Methods and systems are disclosed in which inherited activation opens a secure communication path from the host operating system (OS) to the guest (virtual machine) OS. The license state of the software on the host is passed through this channel, and software installed in the guest uses this information to inform its own product activation process. The virtualized (guest) software may then activate without any outside communication when the license requirements for the host are met.

Inherited product activation for virtual machines

In some embodiments, an activation object used to activate a software product is stored in a directory service. The activation object may, for example, comprise a proof of purchase token and/or information about the directory service, and may be communicated from the directory service to a client computer after the directory service authenticates a request from a client computer for access to the activation object. In some embodiments, a directory service is interrogated for an activation object used to activate software on a client computer. A client computer may, for example, receive an activation object from the interrogated directory service, and use the received activation object to activate a software product on the client computer. In some embodiments, a non-transitory computer-readable medium has instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to interrogate a directory service for an activation object used to activate software on the computer. The computer may, for example, receive the activation object from the directory service, and use the received activation object to activate a software product.

Directory service distributed product activation

A system, a method, and computer-readable media are provided for altering behavior of software based on detection of an Internet connection. The system, method, and media detect when a computer has connected to the Internet or is capable of connecting to the Internet. This detection may include analyzing a connection history of the computer to the Internet, reporting in real-time when the computer establishes a connection to the Internet, or attempting to actively establish a connection with an Internet resource using the computer. A first set of software functionality may be disabled when a previously established connection with the Internet is identified, a real-time report of a connection with the Internet is generated, or a connection with the Internet resource is established. In addition, a second set of software functionality may be enabled when the first set of software functionality is disabled.

Altering software behavior based on internet connectivity

Growing community of inventors

Kenmore, WA, United States of America

Aaron J Smith