ESD Features Word Cloud

Pure Software Solutions - ESD

In addition to classic copy protection systems such as the iLok USB smart key, PACE offers software-only mechanisms for securely distributing and controlling software. Often referred to as Electronic Software Distribution, or ESD, pure software solutions are considered by many software industry analysts to be the future of software distribution, and PACE is leading the way with the use of signed XML license files. License Files are secure and easy to integrate with databases. For software requiring portability with secure authorizations, PACE provides the option for scaling copy protection from a software solution to a hardware solution with the iLok USB Smart key.

The InterLok suite of software-only solutions is well suited for software developers who are interested in Internet commerce, try-before-you-buy, and other electronic software distribution channels and configurations.
Here is an example of how you can use InterLok today to sell your software from a web site:
  • Use InterLok to wrap your product in minutes. You can choose numerous options including buy-before-you-try (BBYT) and try-before-you-buy (TBYB) configurations.
  • Integrate your product with the installer technology of your choice.
  • Post your product installer on your web site, or provide it to the online distributor of your choice.
  • When your customers purchase your software, you can either unlock them manually using the InterLok Satisfaction tool or you can integrate Satisfaction's automation into your web site.
Graphic of ESD Implementation
Note that your sales and customer support teams can provide phone unlocks via the Satisfaction application's easy-to-use graphic interface. The Satisfaction database can even be shared between your web server and multiple employees.

How ESD Works

  1. When the end user purchases your software, your InterLok wrapped product "phones home" through the Internet and connects with a secure web server.
  2. After a secure hand shaking process occurs, the web server communicates with Satisfaction to determine if the user needs new authorization based on your policies and the user's previous purchases.
  3. If this is a new purchase, the server passes the credit card information to a clearing house, which in turn communicates with the bank over a private financial network in order to process the order and deposit the funds into your merchant account.
  4. Once the funds are deposited, the web server asks Satisfaction to generate the user's unlocking KeyCode. This KeyCode can be machine unique (which binds the software to the user's system) or generic (transferable like a serial number).
  5. Once generated, this KeyCode is delivered back to the end user transparently via the Internet or email.