CA2221829A1 - Method for protecting software - Google Patents
Method for protecting software Download PDFInfo
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- CA2221829A1 CA2221829A1 CA 2221829 CA2221829A CA2221829A1 CA 2221829 A1 CA2221829 A1 CA 2221829A1 CA 2221829 CA2221829 CA 2221829 CA 2221829 A CA2221829 A CA 2221829A CA 2221829 A1 CA2221829 A1 CA 2221829A1
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- word
- software
- devices
- owner
- identification
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- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 19
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000002401 inhibitory effect Effects 0.000 abstract 1
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 6
- 230000006854 communication Effects 0.000 description 6
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000011161 development Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000003993 interaction Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004913 activation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000011065 in-situ storage Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010348 incorporation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000011664 signaling Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F21/00—Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
- G06F21/10—Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material ; Digital rights management [DRM]
- G06F21/12—Protecting executable software
- G06F21/121—Restricting unauthorised execution of programs
- G06F21/123—Restricting unauthorised execution of programs by using dedicated hardware, e.g. dongles, smart cards, cryptographic processors, global positioning systems [GPS] devices
Abstract
For safe-guarding that a software package produced by a manufacturer can be used only by someone acquiring it together with an individual device ((g1;gz) of the same manufacturer and for inhibiting the device owner to acquire further devices of the same type without assuming the obligation of also having to acquire the software package which is necessary for each further device, the following software protecting method is disclosed: The software (sw) is installed in a computer (pc) of the owner. Each device (g1;gz) is assigned by the manufacturer an individual identification word (iw1;iwz) which differs from the respective identification words of all the other devices. This word is stored in a nonvolatile memory (m1;mz) of the device. By means of a processor (pz), a key word (kw1;kwz) is formed by the manufacturer from the identification word (iw1;iwz) using an encryption algorithm and the key word is stored in the memory (m1;mz) of the device. The identification words are listed, together with the associated key word, in a database (dbb) of the device owner and in a database (dbh) of the software manufacturer. Whenever one of the devices is started up the software checks, whether the identification word stored in its memory is present in the owner database and, if so, whether the key word associated with this identification word is present in the owner database, if the identification word is not present therein, whether a correct key word is stored in the device memory. If so, the software stores the key word and the associated identification word in the owner database and enables the electronic control of the device. If not so, the software creates an error list of those identification words with which an incorrect key word is associated and does not enable the electronic control of the device.
Description
Method for protecting software FIELD OF THE lNvk~llON
The invention relates to a method for protecting software, originating from a manufacturer, against unauthorized use.
BA~.ROUND OF 'lH~ lNV~ ON
US Patent 5,502,831 describes a method for protecting iden-tical receiving devices (therein referred to as communica-tion units), originating from a manufacturer, of a communi-cation system against unauthorized modification, said re-ceiving devices comprising a plurality of electronic sub-units (therein referred to as operational platforms), for example boards with printed circuits or carrier modules supporting the entire circuitry (therein referred to ~
assembly modules supporting the circuitry) which themselves contain subsoftware necessary for the functioning of said receiving devices, for example for a digital signal proces-sor or for an encryption/decryption processor, which method comprises the following steps:
Each electronics subunit and each item of partial soft-ware is assigned by the manufacturer a separate subunit identification word (therein referred to as unit plat-form identification code) and a separate partial soft-ware identification word (therein referred to as serial number of software program), an electronic identification word (therein referred to as communication unit's hardware identification code) is formed from the subunit identification words of a re-ceiving device, a software identification word (therein referred to as communication unit's software identifi-cation code) is formed from the partial software of same receiving device, and a device identification word (therein referred to as assembly code for the communication unit identification code) is formed from the electronic identification word and the software identification word, and these words are stored in a nonvolatile memory of the receiving device, the device identification words are continuously transmitted to a database of the manufacturer of the receiving devices and listed there, and each modification of a receiving device is detected owing to the device identification word which has been changed as a result of the modification.
Therefore, this method, in contrast with the method of the invention, is merely concerned with the detection and sig-nalling of unauthorized manipulation of receiving devices of the communication system, the encryption/decryption processor being clearly not included in the protection against unauthorized modifications.
SUMMARY OF THF lNv~llON
In contrast to the above, an object of the invention is that it should be possible for software, that is to say a so-called software package, produced by a manufacturer, to be used by someone acquiring it only together with that device of the same manufacturer together with which, or for which, it has been acquired. Therefore and in addition, it should be impossible for the owner of the device and of the software package to acquire further devices of the same type without assuming the obligation of also having to -acquire the software package which is necessary for each further device.
The invention starts from the basic idea that this obli-gation can only be implemented if the system imposes it automatically, and the invention achieves this in that a software package which is compatible with a device which has been acquired is not operational together with another device, but only becomes so when a further use licence has been acquired.
Thus, the invention consists in a method for protecting software originating from a manufacturer against unautho-rized use, which software can be used on the basis of an individual use licence granted by the manufacturer, for an electronic control of an individual example of devices of an owner which are of the same type and which originate from the manu-facturer, is installed in a computer of the owner and serves to process data which originate from the devices, which method comprises the following steps:
each device is assigned by the manufacturer an individual identification word which differs from the respective identification words of all the other devices;
the respective identification word is stored in a nonvolatile memory of the respective device;
by means of a processor, a key word is formed by the manufacturer from the respective identification word using an encryption algorithm, which is known only to him, and the key word is stored in the memory of the respective device;
the identification words are listed, together with the respective associated key word, in a database of the owner of the devices, and in a database of the manufacturer of the software and of the devices;
whenever one of the devices is started up the software checks, whether the identification word stored in the memory of this device is present in the database of the owner, if this is the case, whether the key word associated with this identification word is present in the database of the owner, if, on the other hand, the identification word is not present in the database of the owner or if the key word present in the database of the owner is incor-rect, whether a correct key word is stored in the memory of the device;
if this is the case, the software stores the key word, together with its associated identification word, in the database of the owner and enables the electronic control of the device and the processing of the data;
on the other hand, if this is not the case, the software creates an error list of those identification words with which an incorrect key word is associated and does not enable the electronic control of the device and the processing of the data.
According to a development of the invention, a use licence word is incorporated into the key word.
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, a serial and/or parallel interface is provided between the devices and the computer.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a manually controlled data transfer from the devices into an auxiliary device is provided between the devices and the computer.
BRIFF DFSCRIPTION OF TH~ DRAWING
The invention is explained now in greater detail with re-ference to the Figure in the drawing which shows, in the manner of a block diagram, the interaction between indi-vidual components when the method of the invention isproceeding.
DFTAILED DFSCRIPTION OF THF DRAWING
In the Figure, a first device g1 and a last device gz of any number of devices which are of the same kind, in part-icular identical, for example measuring devices or record-ing devices, are illustrated. The devices originate from the same manufacturer and are positioned for use at the same owner.
To the delivery of the device also belongs a software sw, which the manufacturer of the devices has created in its entirety himself or has tailored to the use together with the devices by processing standards software. The software sw runs on a computer pc of the owner of the devices and serves, inter alia, to control them electronically.
Within the scope of this control, the software permits for example an exchange of data d between the devices and the computer pc. The data d are generated by each device on the basis of any measurements, for example a measurement of pressure, pH value, temperature, flow rate or gases etc.
The interaction of the computer pc with the devices can take place for example via a serial and/or a parallel interface ss, that is to say a permanent line connection which is illustrated in the Figure by unbroken double arrows.
Another possibility for the data connection between the devices and the computer pc is also illustrated in the Figure, but by means of double arrows indicated by broken lines: the data d are read into an auxiliary device hh from the devices in situ by manual activation, using a data carrier which can be written to and read, for example a cassette recorder. Then, the auxiliary device hh is brought to the location of the computer pc and the data d are read into it there via a suitable connection.
The data d can be further processed by the computer pc using the software sw to display the measured values.
The manufacturer of the devices and of the in-house-produced software sw has an interest in "his" software being used only in return for payment, therefore in ensuring that it can only be used with that device together with which and for which it has been acquired by the owner of the device.
An undesired, and thus from the point of view of the manu-facturer, unauthorized use of the software sw thus occurs even if the owner of one or more devices which have already been acquired, for example a device which has been acquired at a later time, were to be capable of being used by copy-ing the software of a device which has already been acquir-ed.
The manufacturer of the devices and of the associated soft-ware sw is therefore compelled to provide each individual software package associated with a device with a type of individual use licence. It is therefore necessary to link the individual device and the software "associated" with it to one another in such a way that only these two entities are capable of working together.
This is achieved in accordance with the method of the in-vention as follows: The manufacturer assigns each device g1~ g2 an individual identification word iw1, iwz such that all the identification words differ from one another. Each device-specific identification word iw1, iwz is stored in a nonvolatile memory m1, mz of the respective device g1, gz.
In addition, a key word kw1, kwz is formed by the manu-facturer from the respective identification word iw1, iwz by means of a processor pz using an encryption algorithm known only to him, to be kept secret and, therefore, not be disclosed here. The key word kw1, kwz is likewise stored in the associated memory m1, mz of the respective device g1, gz As an example, an identification word iw1 and an identi-fication word iwz may read in decimal representation:
iw1 = 123456; iwz = 234561. The respective key words kw1, kwz could then read: kw1 = 132537495116;
kwz = 253749511671. The latter are generated by inserting the sum of two adjacent ciphers between them.
According to a development of the invention it is also possible to include a use licence word in the key word kw1, kwz. This "incorporation" permits various types or degrees of use licences, which are oriented for example according to the complexity of the data processing of the software sw, to be granted. If such gradation is not necessary, the actual key word formed by means of the encryption algorithm constitutes the use licence.
Any algorithm which is customary in digital encryption technology and which for example can be found in subclass G09C of the International Patent Classification may be used as the encryption algorithm.
The identification words are also listed, together with the respective associated use licence word, in a database dbb of the owner of the devices and in a database dbh of the manufacturer of the software and of the devices. The data-base dbb of the owner of the devices is represented sepa-rately in the Figure, but is of course a subunit of thecomputer pc.
Since the database dbb of the owner of the devices and the database dbh of the manufacturer of the software and of the devices are databases independent from another, no data connection is shown in the Figure.
Whenever one of the devices is started up, the software sw then checks whether the identification word iw1, iwz stored in the memory m1, mz of this device g1, gz is present in the database dbb of the owner. If this is the case, the software sw subsequently checks whether the key word kw1, kwz associated with this identification word is present in the database dbb.
If, on the other hand, the identification word iw1, iwz is not present in the database dbb or if the key word present therein is incorrect, the software sw subsequently checks whether a key word kw1, kwz is stored in the memory m1, mz of the device. If this is the case, the software sw stores the key word kw1, kwz, together with its associated iden-tification word iw1, iwz, in the database dbb of the owner and only now enables the electronic control of the device and the processing of the data.
If, on the other hand, it is not the case that a key word kw1, kwz is stored in the memory m1, mz of the device, the software sw creates an error list fl of those identifica-tion words iwx, iwy with which in each case an incorrect key word is associated, and the software sw does not enable the electronic control of the device and the processing of the data.
The error list fl thus informs the owner of the devices for which devices he still has to acquire a use licence. The error list fl is again a sununit of the computer pc. It can be conveyed to the manufacturer of the devices in a suit-able form for ordering the missing use licences.
The error list fl is of use even in the case of partial or complete data loss of the identification words and the key words on the part of the owner. In this case, the manu-facturer of the software sw determines, by comparing the error list fl with the content of his database dbh, for which devices use licences had already been acquired, and grants them anew to the owner of the devices, but free of charge, for example.
The invention relates to a method for protecting software, originating from a manufacturer, against unauthorized use.
BA~.ROUND OF 'lH~ lNV~ ON
US Patent 5,502,831 describes a method for protecting iden-tical receiving devices (therein referred to as communica-tion units), originating from a manufacturer, of a communi-cation system against unauthorized modification, said re-ceiving devices comprising a plurality of electronic sub-units (therein referred to as operational platforms), for example boards with printed circuits or carrier modules supporting the entire circuitry (therein referred to ~
assembly modules supporting the circuitry) which themselves contain subsoftware necessary for the functioning of said receiving devices, for example for a digital signal proces-sor or for an encryption/decryption processor, which method comprises the following steps:
Each electronics subunit and each item of partial soft-ware is assigned by the manufacturer a separate subunit identification word (therein referred to as unit plat-form identification code) and a separate partial soft-ware identification word (therein referred to as serial number of software program), an electronic identification word (therein referred to as communication unit's hardware identification code) is formed from the subunit identification words of a re-ceiving device, a software identification word (therein referred to as communication unit's software identifi-cation code) is formed from the partial software of same receiving device, and a device identification word (therein referred to as assembly code for the communication unit identification code) is formed from the electronic identification word and the software identification word, and these words are stored in a nonvolatile memory of the receiving device, the device identification words are continuously transmitted to a database of the manufacturer of the receiving devices and listed there, and each modification of a receiving device is detected owing to the device identification word which has been changed as a result of the modification.
Therefore, this method, in contrast with the method of the invention, is merely concerned with the detection and sig-nalling of unauthorized manipulation of receiving devices of the communication system, the encryption/decryption processor being clearly not included in the protection against unauthorized modifications.
SUMMARY OF THF lNv~llON
In contrast to the above, an object of the invention is that it should be possible for software, that is to say a so-called software package, produced by a manufacturer, to be used by someone acquiring it only together with that device of the same manufacturer together with which, or for which, it has been acquired. Therefore and in addition, it should be impossible for the owner of the device and of the software package to acquire further devices of the same type without assuming the obligation of also having to -acquire the software package which is necessary for each further device.
The invention starts from the basic idea that this obli-gation can only be implemented if the system imposes it automatically, and the invention achieves this in that a software package which is compatible with a device which has been acquired is not operational together with another device, but only becomes so when a further use licence has been acquired.
Thus, the invention consists in a method for protecting software originating from a manufacturer against unautho-rized use, which software can be used on the basis of an individual use licence granted by the manufacturer, for an electronic control of an individual example of devices of an owner which are of the same type and which originate from the manu-facturer, is installed in a computer of the owner and serves to process data which originate from the devices, which method comprises the following steps:
each device is assigned by the manufacturer an individual identification word which differs from the respective identification words of all the other devices;
the respective identification word is stored in a nonvolatile memory of the respective device;
by means of a processor, a key word is formed by the manufacturer from the respective identification word using an encryption algorithm, which is known only to him, and the key word is stored in the memory of the respective device;
the identification words are listed, together with the respective associated key word, in a database of the owner of the devices, and in a database of the manufacturer of the software and of the devices;
whenever one of the devices is started up the software checks, whether the identification word stored in the memory of this device is present in the database of the owner, if this is the case, whether the key word associated with this identification word is present in the database of the owner, if, on the other hand, the identification word is not present in the database of the owner or if the key word present in the database of the owner is incor-rect, whether a correct key word is stored in the memory of the device;
if this is the case, the software stores the key word, together with its associated identification word, in the database of the owner and enables the electronic control of the device and the processing of the data;
on the other hand, if this is not the case, the software creates an error list of those identification words with which an incorrect key word is associated and does not enable the electronic control of the device and the processing of the data.
According to a development of the invention, a use licence word is incorporated into the key word.
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, a serial and/or parallel interface is provided between the devices and the computer.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a manually controlled data transfer from the devices into an auxiliary device is provided between the devices and the computer.
BRIFF DFSCRIPTION OF TH~ DRAWING
The invention is explained now in greater detail with re-ference to the Figure in the drawing which shows, in the manner of a block diagram, the interaction between indi-vidual components when the method of the invention isproceeding.
DFTAILED DFSCRIPTION OF THF DRAWING
In the Figure, a first device g1 and a last device gz of any number of devices which are of the same kind, in part-icular identical, for example measuring devices or record-ing devices, are illustrated. The devices originate from the same manufacturer and are positioned for use at the same owner.
To the delivery of the device also belongs a software sw, which the manufacturer of the devices has created in its entirety himself or has tailored to the use together with the devices by processing standards software. The software sw runs on a computer pc of the owner of the devices and serves, inter alia, to control them electronically.
Within the scope of this control, the software permits for example an exchange of data d between the devices and the computer pc. The data d are generated by each device on the basis of any measurements, for example a measurement of pressure, pH value, temperature, flow rate or gases etc.
The interaction of the computer pc with the devices can take place for example via a serial and/or a parallel interface ss, that is to say a permanent line connection which is illustrated in the Figure by unbroken double arrows.
Another possibility for the data connection between the devices and the computer pc is also illustrated in the Figure, but by means of double arrows indicated by broken lines: the data d are read into an auxiliary device hh from the devices in situ by manual activation, using a data carrier which can be written to and read, for example a cassette recorder. Then, the auxiliary device hh is brought to the location of the computer pc and the data d are read into it there via a suitable connection.
The data d can be further processed by the computer pc using the software sw to display the measured values.
The manufacturer of the devices and of the in-house-produced software sw has an interest in "his" software being used only in return for payment, therefore in ensuring that it can only be used with that device together with which and for which it has been acquired by the owner of the device.
An undesired, and thus from the point of view of the manu-facturer, unauthorized use of the software sw thus occurs even if the owner of one or more devices which have already been acquired, for example a device which has been acquired at a later time, were to be capable of being used by copy-ing the software of a device which has already been acquir-ed.
The manufacturer of the devices and of the associated soft-ware sw is therefore compelled to provide each individual software package associated with a device with a type of individual use licence. It is therefore necessary to link the individual device and the software "associated" with it to one another in such a way that only these two entities are capable of working together.
This is achieved in accordance with the method of the in-vention as follows: The manufacturer assigns each device g1~ g2 an individual identification word iw1, iwz such that all the identification words differ from one another. Each device-specific identification word iw1, iwz is stored in a nonvolatile memory m1, mz of the respective device g1, gz.
In addition, a key word kw1, kwz is formed by the manu-facturer from the respective identification word iw1, iwz by means of a processor pz using an encryption algorithm known only to him, to be kept secret and, therefore, not be disclosed here. The key word kw1, kwz is likewise stored in the associated memory m1, mz of the respective device g1, gz As an example, an identification word iw1 and an identi-fication word iwz may read in decimal representation:
iw1 = 123456; iwz = 234561. The respective key words kw1, kwz could then read: kw1 = 132537495116;
kwz = 253749511671. The latter are generated by inserting the sum of two adjacent ciphers between them.
According to a development of the invention it is also possible to include a use licence word in the key word kw1, kwz. This "incorporation" permits various types or degrees of use licences, which are oriented for example according to the complexity of the data processing of the software sw, to be granted. If such gradation is not necessary, the actual key word formed by means of the encryption algorithm constitutes the use licence.
Any algorithm which is customary in digital encryption technology and which for example can be found in subclass G09C of the International Patent Classification may be used as the encryption algorithm.
The identification words are also listed, together with the respective associated use licence word, in a database dbb of the owner of the devices and in a database dbh of the manufacturer of the software and of the devices. The data-base dbb of the owner of the devices is represented sepa-rately in the Figure, but is of course a subunit of thecomputer pc.
Since the database dbb of the owner of the devices and the database dbh of the manufacturer of the software and of the devices are databases independent from another, no data connection is shown in the Figure.
Whenever one of the devices is started up, the software sw then checks whether the identification word iw1, iwz stored in the memory m1, mz of this device g1, gz is present in the database dbb of the owner. If this is the case, the software sw subsequently checks whether the key word kw1, kwz associated with this identification word is present in the database dbb.
If, on the other hand, the identification word iw1, iwz is not present in the database dbb or if the key word present therein is incorrect, the software sw subsequently checks whether a key word kw1, kwz is stored in the memory m1, mz of the device. If this is the case, the software sw stores the key word kw1, kwz, together with its associated iden-tification word iw1, iwz, in the database dbb of the owner and only now enables the electronic control of the device and the processing of the data.
If, on the other hand, it is not the case that a key word kw1, kwz is stored in the memory m1, mz of the device, the software sw creates an error list fl of those identifica-tion words iwx, iwy with which in each case an incorrect key word is associated, and the software sw does not enable the electronic control of the device and the processing of the data.
The error list fl thus informs the owner of the devices for which devices he still has to acquire a use licence. The error list fl is again a sununit of the computer pc. It can be conveyed to the manufacturer of the devices in a suit-able form for ordering the missing use licences.
The error list fl is of use even in the case of partial or complete data loss of the identification words and the key words on the part of the owner. In this case, the manu-facturer of the software sw determines, by comparing the error list fl with the content of his database dbh, for which devices use licences had already been acquired, and grants them anew to the owner of the devices, but free of charge, for example.
Claims (4)
1. A method for protecting software originating from a manufacturer against unauthorized use, which software can be used on the basis of an individual use licence granted by the manufacturer, for an electronic control of an individual example of devices of an owner which are of the same type and which originate from the manufacturer, is installed in a computer of the owner and serves to process data which originate from the devices, which method comprises the following steps:
each device is assigned by the manufacturer an individual identification word which differs from the respective identification words of all the other devices;
the respective identification word is stored in a nonvolatile memory of the respective device;
by means of a processor, a key word is formed by the manufacturer from the respective identification word using an encryption algorithm, which is known only to him, and the key word is stored in the memory of the respective device;
the identification words are listed, together with the respective associated key word, in a database of the owner of the devices, and in a database of the manufacturer of the software and of the devices;
whenever one of the devices is started up the software checks, whether the identification word stored in the memory of this device is present in the database of the owner, if this is the case, whether the key word associated with this identification word is present in the database of the owner, if, on the other hand, the identification word is not present in the database of the owner or if the key word present in the database of the owner is incorrect, whether a correct key word is stored in the memory of the device;
if this is the case, the software stores the key word, together with its associated identification word, in the database of the owner and enables the electronic control of the device and the processing of the data;
on the other hand, if this is not the case, the software creates an error list of those identification words with which an incorrect key word is associated and does not enable the electronic control of the device and the processing of the data.
each device is assigned by the manufacturer an individual identification word which differs from the respective identification words of all the other devices;
the respective identification word is stored in a nonvolatile memory of the respective device;
by means of a processor, a key word is formed by the manufacturer from the respective identification word using an encryption algorithm, which is known only to him, and the key word is stored in the memory of the respective device;
the identification words are listed, together with the respective associated key word, in a database of the owner of the devices, and in a database of the manufacturer of the software and of the devices;
whenever one of the devices is started up the software checks, whether the identification word stored in the memory of this device is present in the database of the owner, if this is the case, whether the key word associated with this identification word is present in the database of the owner, if, on the other hand, the identification word is not present in the database of the owner or if the key word present in the database of the owner is incorrect, whether a correct key word is stored in the memory of the device;
if this is the case, the software stores the key word, together with its associated identification word, in the database of the owner and enables the electronic control of the device and the processing of the data;
on the other hand, if this is not the case, the software creates an error list of those identification words with which an incorrect key word is associated and does not enable the electronic control of the device and the processing of the data.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a use licence word is incorporated into the key word.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a serial and/or parallel interface is provided between the devices and the computer.
4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a manually controlled data transfer from the devices into an auxiliary device is provided between the devices and the computer.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP96810819.1 | 1996-11-22 | ||
| EP96810819A EP0844548A1 (en) | 1996-11-22 | 1996-11-22 | Method to protect software |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2221829A1 true CA2221829A1 (en) | 1998-05-22 |
Family
ID=8225757
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2221829 Abandoned CA2221829A1 (en) | 1996-11-22 | 1997-11-21 | Method for protecting software |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0844548A1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH10187432A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2221829A1 (en) |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5483658A (en) | 1993-02-26 | 1996-01-09 | Grube; Gary W. | Detection of unauthorized use of software applications in processing devices |
| US5379343A (en) * | 1993-02-26 | 1995-01-03 | Motorola, Inc. | Detection of unauthorized use of software applications in communication units |
-
1996
- 1996-11-22 EP EP96810819A patent/EP0844548A1/en not_active Withdrawn
-
1997
- 1997-11-21 CA CA 2221829 patent/CA2221829A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1997-11-21 JP JP32130597A patent/JPH10187432A/en active Pending
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPH10187432A (en) | 1998-07-21 |
| EP0844548A1 (en) | 1998-05-27 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Dead |