1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to software distribution, particularly electronic software distribution.
2. State of the Art
Electronic software distribution, or ESD, is technology that enables software publishers and resellers to use the Internet as a direct channel to customers. ESD provides a fast, efficient alternative to the distribution of shrink-wrapped software products in retail stores. ESD follows one of two models, either Buy-Before-You-Try (Buy/Try) or Try-Before-You-Buy (Try/Buy). Try/Buy is technologically more complex but is favored by buyers and is advantageous for sellers as well.
A software tool for Try/Buy "self-wrapping" of software programs is sold by Preview Software, the present assignee- Using this tool, a software program is "injected" with a code module that performs trial protection and enables electronic purchase of the software program. The injected software program and related files are then packed as a program archive, or setup file set, using a conventional installation tool such as InstallShield.TM. installation software. A secondary setup executable is added outside the program archive and functions to install distribution information and instructions.
The foregoing process may be more clearly understood with reference to FIG. 1. A program executable has added to it trial and commerce information, resulting in a modified executable. The modified executable and other files are processed by an installer tool to produce a setup file set, e.g., setup.exe, that is a ready-to-install Try/Buy application.
Various other competing and incompatible Try/Buy ESD technologies have emerged, offered by such technology providers as TestDrive Software, Release Software and TechWave, Inc. ESD merchants have aligned themselves with different ones of these technology providers. As a result, software publishers have faced either choosing one technology provider and ignoring merchants aligned with other technology providers, or producing multiple different versions of a software title for different channels, resulting in considerable expense and duplication of effort.