IP Library Granted Patent US 10,872,133
Granted Patent B1
US 10,872,133 · App. 16/011,369 · Granted Dec 22, 2020

Software application activation using a picture-based activation key

Inventors: Somard Kruayatidee (Stevenson Ranch, CA); Jonathon Salehpour (Upland, CA)
Assignee: NORTONLIFELOCK INC.
G06F21/12G06F21/36G06F21/629G06F2221/072
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,872,133
App. No.
16/011,369
Granted
Dec 22, 2020
Kind
B1
Abstract

Software activation using a picture-based activation key. In some embodiments, a method may include presenting, on a display of the network device, a request for a user to enter a picture-based activation key in order to activate a software application on the network device. The method may also include receiving, at the network device, the picture-based activation key that includes pictures. The method may also include confirming, at the network device, that the received picture-based activation key is a valid picture-based activation key for the software application. The method may further include, in response to confirming that the received picture-based activation key is a valid picture-based activation key for the software application, activating the software application on the network device.

Claims (44)

1. A computer-implemented method for software activation using a picture-based activation key, at least a portion of the method being performed by a network device comprising at least one processor, the method comprising:

presenting, on a display of the network device, a request for a user to enter a picture-based activation key, or a numeric and/or alphabetic character-based activation key as an alternative to the picture-based activation key, in order to activate a software application on the network device, a number of pictures in the requested picture-based activation key being less than a number of numeric and/or alphabetic characters in the requested numeric and/or alphabetic character-based activation key, the software application comprising program code in the form of computer-executable instructions configured to cause the network device to perform a certain operation or group of operations;

receiving, at the network device, the picture-based activation key that includes multiple pictures;

confirming, at the network device, that the received picture-based activation key is a valid picture-based activation key for the software application; and

in response to confirming that the received picture-based activation key is a valid picture-based activation key for the software application, activating the software application on the network device.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, at the network device, renderings of the pictures of the picture-based activation key that are specific to an operating system of the network device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the picture-based activation key includes numeric characters in addition to the pictures of the picture-based activation key; and

each of the pictures of the picture-based activation key is paired with one of the numeric characters of the picture-based activation key.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the picture-based activation key includes alphabetic characters in addition to the pictures of the picture-based activation key; and

each of the pictures of the picture-based activation key is paired with one of the alphabetic characters of the picture-based activation key.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pictures of the picture-based activation key are Unicode emoji characters.

6. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing one or more instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to execute the method of claim 1 .

7. A computer-implemented method for software activation using an emoji-based activation key, at least a portion of the method being performed by a network device comprising one or more processors, the method comprising:

presenting, on a display of the network device, a request for a user to enter an emoji-based activation key, or a numeric and/or alphabetic character-based activation key as an alternative to the emoji-based activation key, in order to activate a software application on the network device, a number of emojis in the requested emoji-based activation key being less than a number of numeric and/or alphabetic characters in the requested numeric and/or alphabetic character-based activation key, the software application comprising program code in the form of computer-executable instructions configured to cause the network device to perform a certain operation or group of operations;

receiving, at the network device, the emoji-based activation key that includes multiple Unicode emoji characters;

confirming, at the network device, that the received emoji-based activation key is a valid emoji-based activation key for the software application; and

in response to confirming that the received emoji-based activation key is a valid emoji-based activation key for the software application, activating the software application on the network device.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

receiving, at the network device, renderings of the Unicode emoji characters of the emoji-based activation key that are specific to an operating system of the network device.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein:

the emoji-based activation key includes numeric characters in addition to the Unicode emoji characters of the emoji-based activation key; and

each of the Unicode emoji characters of the emoji-based activation key is paired with one of the numeric characters of the emoji-based activation key.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein:

the emoji-based activation key includes alphabetic characters in addition to the Unicode emoji characters of the emoji-based activation key; and

each of the Unicode emoji characters of the emoji-based activation key is paired with one of the alphabetic characters of the emoji-based activation key.

11. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing one or more instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to execute the method of claim 7 .

12. A computer-implemented method for software activation using an emoji-based activation key, at least a portion of the method being performed by a network device comprising one or more processors, the method comprising:

presenting, on a display of the network device, a request for a user to enter an emoji-based activation key, or a numeric and/or alphabetic character-based activation key as an alternative to the emoji-based activation key, in order to activate a software application on the network device, a number of emojis in the requested emoji-based activation key being less than a number of numeric and/or alphabetic characters in the requested numeric and/or alphabetic character-based activation key, the software application comprising program code in the form of computer-executable instructions configured to cause the network device to perform a certain operation or group of operations;

receiving, at the network device, the emoji-based activation key that includes multiple Unicode emoji characters each paired with an alphanumeric character;

confirming, at the network device, that the received emoji-based activation key is a valid emoji-based activation key for the software application; and

in response to confirming that the received emoji-based activation key is a valid emoji-based activation key for the software application, activating the software application on the network device.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

receiving, at the network device, renderings of the Unicode emoji characters of the emoji-based activation key that are specific to an operating system of the network device.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

determining the operating system of the network device.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the paired alphanumeric characters are received, at the network device, along with the renderings of the Unicode emoji characters of the emoji-based activation key that are specific to the operating system of the network device.

16. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing one or more instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to execute the method of claim 12 .

17. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

determining the operating system of the network device.

18. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

determining the operating system of the network device.

Assignments (6)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 18, 2023
From: NORTONLIFELOCK INC.
To: GEN DIGITAL INC.
Reel/Frame 063697/0493 →
NOTICE OF SUCCESSION OF AGENCY (REEL 050926 / FRAME 0560) Recorded Sep 13, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 061422/0371 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 13, 2022
From: NORTONLIFELOCK INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 062220/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 5, 2020
From: SYMANTEC CORPORATION
To: NORTONLIFELOCK INC.
Reel/Frame 052109/0186 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 4, 2019
From: SYMANTEC CORPORATION; BLUE COAT LLC; LIFELOCK, INC,; SYMANTEC OPERATING CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN, N.A.
Reel/Frame 050926/0560 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 18, 2018
From: KRUAYATIDEE, SOMARD; SALEHPOUR, JONATHON
To: SYMANTEC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 046123/0067 →