JP2001282526A - Software management device, its method and computer readable storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect and prevent the illegal use of expensive software such as its use by illegal copying and its use over an expired term. SOLUTION: The latitude/longitude information on a place in which a device loaded with expensive software is installed is acquired from a GPS receiver 108, the information acquired from the receiver 108 is compared with latitude/ longitude information read out from the software, and when a difference between the values of both the information is within an offset range, the execution of a program is continued. When the difference is deviated from the offset range, a warning message indicating the possibility of license violation is displayed and the execution of the program is stopped.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a software management apparatus, a method, and a computer-readable storage medium, which are used to prevent illegal use of expensive software used in a semiconductor manufacturing factory having a plurality of bases. Suitable to prevent.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, not only general personal computers but also equipment control programs for equipment for specific tasks (semiconductor manufacturing equipment, etc.) or software such as mobile terminals have been converted into flash ROMs to implement functional software. As a result, all or part of the functions can be provided by updating only software. It has become common for users to be able to use new functions simply by purchasing software without replacing hardware.

[0003] However, some users have purchased only one package of software with new functions, and illegally copied and installed and used the software with new functions in more than a dozen devices. The problem has arisen. For example, software related to semiconductor manufacturing used for semiconductor exposure equipment, etc., requires enormous development costs, but the number of shipments may be only a few worldwide, resulting in a software unit price of tens of millions of yen. There are many things that can be exceeded. If such expensive software is illegally used by illegal copying, it will be impossible to recover development costs, and drastic measures are required.

Conventionally, as measures for preventing illegal copying, for example, a special noise is recorded on a software supply medium to prevent copying from a master medium, or a hardware has a serial number identifier (serial ID). By attaching parts and identifying the above hardware, the hardware main body on which the software operates is limited, or a hardware key (hardware key) is attached to an interface for an external device such as a printer port of the hardware main body. Therefore, software cannot be operated if communication with the hardware key is not possible.

[0005]

However, in reality, the above-described copy protection measures (protection method) are simply non-protected by a mania engineer working in a semiconductor manufacturing factory or the like.

[0006] Also, because the software is expensive,
The user may set an evaluation period for a certain period before purchasing and request an evaluation version of the software. Software vendors take measures such as setting an expiration date in a binary program of an evaluation version of the software so that the device is not operated if the time of the device exceeds the evaluation period. However, there are many cases where the time of the apparatus is intentionally set back to the past and the evaluation version of the software is illegally used continuously.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to more reliably detect and prevent unauthorized use of software such as illegal copies.

[0008]

A software management device according to the present invention is a software management device for managing predetermined software mounted on a predetermined device, and includes time information and / or the predetermined software. Information acquisition means for acquiring the position information of the predetermined device from outside, and determination means for determining whether the time information and / or the position information is within a predetermined range read from the software. It is characterized by

Another feature of the software management device of the present invention is that when the time information and / or the position information is not within the predetermined range, the execution of the predetermined software program is stopped. The point is that a program stopping means is provided.

Another feature of the software management apparatus of the present invention is that the information acquisition means acquires the time information and / or the position information from a GPS receiver.

Another feature of the software management apparatus of the present invention is that the information acquisition means acquires the time information and / or the position information from the GPS receiver via communication. .

Another feature of the software management apparatus of the present invention is that the software management apparatus is provided with transmission means for transmitting the time information and / or time information obtained and decoded from the GPS receiver to the outside. is there.

[0013] A software management method according to the present invention is a software management method for managing predetermined software installed in a predetermined device, and includes time information and / or a position of the predetermined device in which the predetermined software is installed. It is characterized in that an information acquisition process for acquiring information from outside and a determination process for determining whether the time information and / or the position information are within a predetermined range read from the software are performed.

Another feature of the software management method of the present invention is that when the time information and / or the position information is not within the predetermined range, the execution of the predetermined software program is stopped. The point is that program stop processing is performed.

Another feature of the software management method according to the present invention is that the information acquisition process includes a GPS
The point is to acquire the time information and / or the position information from a receiver.

Another feature of the software management method of the present invention is that, in the information acquisition process, the time information and / or the position information are acquired from the GPS receiver via communication. .

Another feature of the software management method of the present invention is that the time information obtained from the GPS receiver and decoded and / or the transmission processing for transmitting the time information to the outside are performed. .

The computer-readable storage medium of the present invention is characterized in that a program for causing a computer to function as each of the above means is stored.

The computer-readable storage medium of the present invention is characterized in that a program for executing each of the above processes is stored.

According to the present invention described above, time information and position information of a device having predetermined software are acquired from a GPS receiver, and it is determined whether the time information and the position information are within a predetermined range. Thus, it can be determined whether or not the software has been illegally used. For example, if the device with the specified software is located away from the place where it should be installed,
If the expiration date of the evaluation version software is exceeded, the program can be stopped to prevent unauthorized use.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of a software management device, a method, and a computer-readable storage medium according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a semiconductor exposure apparatus such as a stepper (optical reduction projection exposure apparatus) is used as the predetermined apparatus according to the present invention, that is, as an apparatus on which expensive software to be protected from unauthorized use such as illegal copying is installed. Will be described as an example.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a hardware configuration of a semiconductor exposure apparatus. Reference numeral 101 denotes a console CPU, which controls console display of the semiconductor exposure apparatus and operation control by console command input. 102
Is a RAM, in which the CPU 101 stores an execution program and data. A ROM 103 stores a program.

An auxiliary storage device 104 is used for storing data and programs. In this embodiment, expensive software to be protected from unauthorized use is stored in the auxiliary storage device 104. The software program generally configures a file system on the auxiliary storage device 104 and manages it as a file. As the auxiliary storage device 104, a magnetic disk device such as a hard disk is often used. However, a flash memory or NV-RA
In some cases, software rewritable components such as M (nonvolatile memory) and EEP-ROM may be used.

A communication interface 105 communicates with a GPS receiver 108 described later. In general, a serial communication interface such as RS232C is often used as the communication interface 105.
A parallel interface, a SCSI interface, or the like may be used depending on the data amount of the S communication.
The communication interface 105 and the GPS receiver 10
Generally, a non-procedure asynchronous system is used as a protocol for communication with the communication system 8, but a synchronous system or a binary procedure may be employed.

Reference numeral 106 denotes a console device. An operator (operator) receives a console CPU 1 from the device 106.
01 can be issued. As a display device of the console device 106, a CRT, a liquid crystal display device, an E
An L panel, a plasma display, or the like is generally used. As the input device of the console device 106, a keyboard for inputting a command by a key is often used. However, the input device may be a pen input device (tablet) using an electronic pen or a touch panel.

Reference numeral 108 denotes a GPS (Global Positioning Sys
tem) is a receiver that decodes (decodes) a digital signal in a GPS radio wave from a GPS antenna that receives a GPS radio wave from a satellite, and obtains latitude and longitude information (position information) where the semiconductor exposure apparatus is installed. . When the device is located in a place where radio waves do not reach, such as a clean room, the GPS antenna is installed by extending an electric wire to the outside where radio waves reach.

Reference numeral 109 denotes an external storage device, such as an FDD (floppy disk drive) or a MOD (magneto-optical disk drive). Expensive software programs to be protected from unauthorized use are generally supplied from the external storage device 109 in the form of software only in a supply medium such as FD or MO. The storage device 109 is not essential. When the above-described network installation or the like is adopted, it is necessary to separately provide a LAN interface or the like, but since the basic operation is the same, a detailed description of the case where the network installation is used is omitted in the present embodiment.

Reference numeral 110 denotes a main CPU, which controls the entire control of various control units constituting the semiconductor exposure apparatus. The main CPU 110 and the console CPU 101 are connected by a main CPU bus 107 and operate as a semiconductor exposure apparatus.

An illumination device 111 controls a light source for exposing a semiconductor manufacturing wafer. Reference numeral 112 denotes a reticle driving device, which controls loading and unloading of a reticle (photomask) depicting a pattern to be exposed on a semiconductor manufacturing wafer. Reference numeral 113 denotes a stage driving device, which drives and controls the wafer on an XY stage or the like in order to expose a semiconductor manufacturing wafer by a step-and-repeat method. 114 is an alignment TV system,
This is for accurately controlling the position of a semiconductor manufacturing wafer. These devices 111 to 114 are under the control of the main CPU 110 by a peripheral device bus 115. In the present embodiment, the peripheral device bus 115
SCSI is used as the standard, but any general-purpose standard bus may be used.

Next, based on the flowchart of FIG.
The processing operation in the present embodiment will be described. As a premise, in the software program to be protected from unauthorized use, at the time of creating the compile link, the latitude and longitude information of the installation location of the semiconductor exposure apparatus on which the software is It is assumed that the program routine shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2 is embedded in several to several hundred locations in the binary code.

The processing operation for inspecting the installation location of the semiconductor exposure apparatus will be described below. First, in step S201, information on the latitude and longitude where the semiconductor exposure apparatus is installed is acquired from the GPS receiver.

Next, in step S202, the latitude / longitude information of the installation location of the semiconductor exposure apparatus embedded in the software program code and the allowable latitude / longitude offset range (how long the movement is allowed) Is read). The latitude / longitude offset range varies as user information. For example, a value such as 10 km square is set according to the size of the factory.

Next, in step S203, the GPS
Latitude and longitude information obtained from the receiver 108 (step S2
01) and the latitude and longitude information (step S202) read from the software program code,
If it is within the offset range, the execution of the program is continued (step S206). If it is out of the offset range, a warning message indicating a possibility of a license violation is displayed (step S204), a confirmation is requested from the user, and the execution of the program is stopped (step S204).
205).

By the operation described above, it is possible to discover that the software has been illegally copied and used in a place other than the installation place of the licensed device.
Then, by stopping the execution of the program in that case, unauthorized use can be prevented. In the present embodiment, the console CPU 101 and the like of the semiconductor exposure apparatus function as the software management device of the present invention based on the program routine described with reference to FIG.

(Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment, the software is managed using the latitude and longitude information of the semiconductor exposure apparatus obtained from the GPS receiver 108. In the embodiment, time information is acquired from the GPS receiver 108, and software is managed using the time information. The hardware configuration of the semiconductor exposure apparatus is the same as that shown in FIG. 1, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, based on the flowchart of FIG.
The processing operation in the present embodiment will be described. As a premise, at the time of creating a compile link, use-by date information that can evaluate and use the software is acquired in the software program, and the program routine shown in the flowchart of FIG. It shall be embedded in 100 places.

The processing operation of the expiration date check of the evaluation version software will be described below. First, step S301
In, the current time information is acquired from the GPS receiver.

Next, in step S302, the expiration date information of the evaluation version software embedded in the program code of the software is read.

Next, in step S303, the GPS
The time information obtained from the receiver 108 (step S30
1) is compared with the expiration date information (step S302) read from the software program code. If the expiration date is within the expiration date, the execution of the program is continued (step S306). If the expiration date has passed,
A warning message to that effect is displayed (step S30).
4) The user is asked for confirmation and the execution of the program is stopped (step S305).

By the above-described operation, accurate time information can be obtained from the GPS receiver. Therefore, it is found that the user intentionally changes the time of the clock of the device and illegally continues using the evaluation version software. , Can be prevented.

It should be noted that the interface between the GPS receiver 108 and the apparatus in FIG. 1 is not embedded in the apparatus, but via a communication network such as a LAN.
An embodiment for transmitting data from the GPS receiver 108 is also feasible. For example, this is effective when a semiconductor exposure apparatus is installed in a clean room and it is difficult to lay an antenna from a GPS receiver embedded in the apparatus to a place where GPS radio waves can be received.

However, in this method, since the communication interface with the network is interposed between the GPS receiver 108 and the device, the illegal copy prevention method by this method is broken by falsification of the contents of the network packet or decryption of the encryption. There is a possibility that it will. The most powerful embodiment is a mode that secures an inseparable interface between the GPS receiver 108 and the device inside the device.

In the first and second embodiments, if data from the GPS receiver 108 is falsified by any means and the protection of the present method is broken, the protection is broken by the license management source. May be detected. Specifically, the data obtained from the GPS receiver 108 is notified to the license management source using communication means such as the Internet as needed, and compared with the data obtained from the license management source GPS receiver. Check whether the GPS received data has been tampered with.

Hereinafter, based on the flowchart of FIG.
A processing operation for finding protection break will be described. In step S401, the semiconductor exposure apparatus decodes a signal obtained by the GPS receiver 108 to obtain GPS reception data. Next, in step S402, the GPS receiver data is sent to the license management source by a communication means such as the Internet.

On the other hand, at the license management source, step S
In step 403, the GPS reception data is received from the license use destination by a license management server or the like, and is compared with the GPS reception data acquired from the license management source GPS receiver. Then, in step S404,
Based on the difference between the data, it is determined whether or not the GPS reception data obtained at the license destination is data decoded based on a signal obtained from an actual GPS satellite. Proceeds to step S405 assuming that some tampering has been performed, and reports the possibility of a license violation to the administrator of the license management source. As a result, it is possible to obtain evidence that the protection has been broken, warn the use source of the licensed software, and use it as evidence.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention, illegal use such as use of software due to illegal copying and use of software whose expiration date has passed can be detected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a semiconductor exposure apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing operation for finding a protection break.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 101 Console CPU 102 RAM 103 ROM 104 Auxiliary storage device 105 Console device 106 Communication interface 107 Main CPU bus 108 GPS receiver 109 External storage device 110 Main CPU 111 Lighting device 112 Rectil drive 113 Stage drive 114 TV system 115 Peripheral equipment Bus

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] March 15, 2001 (2001.3.1.1)
5)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0009

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Further, the software management method of the present invention comprises:
A software management method for managing predetermined software mounted on a predetermined device, comprising: an information acquisition process for externally obtaining time information and / or position information of the predetermined device on which the predetermined software is mounted; A determination process of determining whether or not the time information and / or the position information is within a predetermined range read from the software.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0010

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a software management apparatus comprising: an acquiring unit for acquiring position information indicating a position where an apparatus using software is installed; a position information acquired by the acquiring unit; Determining means for determining whether a device using the software is located in a range in which the use of the software is permitted according to the information indicating the license range embedded in the software. .

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0011

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Further, another software management method of the present invention includes an acquisition process for acquiring position information indicating a position where an apparatus using the software is installed, a position information acquired by the acquisition process, and A determination process of determining whether a device using the software is located in a range in which the use of the software is permitted, in accordance with information indicating a license range embedded in the software. Have.

[Procedure amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0012

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0012] Another software management device of the present invention comprises:
It is characterized in that it comprises an obtaining means for obtaining time information from a PS receiver, and a determining means for determining whether the time information obtained by the obtaining means is within the expiration date embedded in software to be managed. .

[Procedure amendment 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0013

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0013] Further, another software management method of the present invention includes an acquisition process for acquiring time information from a GPS receiver;
It is characterized in that the time information obtained by the above-mentioned obtaining process is subjected to a determining process of determining whether or not it is within the expiration date embedded in the software to be managed.

[Procedure amendment 7]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0014

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to another software management method of the present invention, a license reception destination of a software license is sent to a license management source, and is compared with GPS reception data obtained from the license management source GPS receiver. It is characterized in that the presence or absence of falsification of the previous GPS reception data is determined.

[Procedure amendment 8]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0015

[Correction method] Deleted

[Procedure amendment 9]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0016

[Correction method] Deleted

[Procedure amendment 10]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0017

[Correction method] Deleted

[Procedure amendment 11]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0018

[Correction method] Deleted

[Procedure amendment 12]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0019

[Correction method] Deleted

[Procedure amendment 13]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0040

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

By the above-described operation, accurate time information can be obtained from the GPS receiver. Therefore, it has been discovered that the user intentionally changes the time of the device clock and illegally continues using the evaluation version software. And can be prevented.

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A software management device for managing predetermined software mounted on a predetermined device, wherein time information and / or position information of the predetermined device on which the predetermined software is mounted are obtained from outside. A software management apparatus comprising: an information acquisition unit; and a determination unit configured to determine whether the time information and / or the position information is within a predetermined range read from the software. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a program stopping means for stopping the execution of the program of the predetermined software when the time information and / or the position information is not within the predetermined range. Software management device as described. 3. The software management device according to claim 1, wherein the information acquisition unit acquires the time information and / or the position information from a GPS receiver. 4. The software management device according to claim 3, wherein the information acquisition unit acquires the time information and / or the position information from the GPS receiver via communication. 5. The software management device according to claim 3, further comprising a transmission unit that transmits the time information and / or the time information obtained and decoded from the GPS receiver to the outside. 6. A software management method for managing predetermined software mounted on a predetermined device, wherein time information and / or position information of the predetermined device on which the predetermined software is mounted are obtained from outside. A software management method comprising: performing an information acquisition process; and a determination process of determining whether the time information and / or the position information is within a predetermined range read from the software. 7. The program according to claim 6, wherein when the time information and / or the position information are not within the predetermined range, a program stop process for stopping execution of the program of the predetermined software is performed. Software management method. 8. The software management method according to claim 6, wherein the information acquisition processing acquires the time information and / or the position information from a GPS receiver. 9. The software management method according to claim 8, wherein in the information acquisition processing, the time information and / or the position information is acquired from the GPS receiver via communication. 10. The software management method according to claim 8, wherein a transmission process of transmitting the time information and / or the time information obtained and decoded from the GPS receiver to the outside is performed. 11. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as each of the means according to claim 1. Description: 12. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing each of the processes according to claim 6. Description: