JP2000347853A - Device and method for copy guard - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the operation easiness of guarding the copying of information, software, etc., in an information processor such as a personal computer. SOLUTION: Hot swapping (insertion and extraction in electrified state) is enabled by making it possible to freely insert or extract a USB protocol module 2 into or from a USB/IEEE1394 port of a personal computer to eliminate the need to restart the personal computer for module replacement by an application(AP). Key information on the serial No., ID, etc., of the application(AP) is previously stored in the memory part 22 of the USB protocol module 2 and a memory control part 23 decides whether the key information in the memory part 22 matches key information on a serial No. an ID, etc., inputted from the personal computer. When it is judges that the key information is discrepant, the use of the application(AP) is made impossible.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a copy guard apparatus and a copy guard method suitable for copy guard of information and software in an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a protection module using an RS232C (serial port), a parallel I / F (interface) or the like has been used to prevent copying of information and software in an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer. .

[0003]

However, the above-described protect module can be inserted and removed only when the power of the information processing apparatus such as a personal computer is turned off. In other words, the protection module cannot be inserted or removed unless the power of the information processing device is turned off.

For this reason, when trying to use the parallel I / F (interface) from the state where the above RS232C (serial port) is used, it is necessary to turn off the power of the information processing apparatus.

[0005] For this reason, when the application (AP) is used, it is necessary to restart the information processing apparatus, and there is a problem that the operability using the protection module is reduced.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has been made in view of the above circumstances. It is possible to improve the operability when performing copy guard of information or software in an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer. A guard device and a copy guard method can be provided.

[0007]

The copy guard device according to the present invention is a USB / IEEE139 of an information processing device.
4 is a copy guard device that can be inserted into and removed from the port No. 4 of the application (AP).
Storage means for storing key information such as ID and ID, and a serial number input from the information processing apparatus. A determination unit for determining whether the key information such as ID and ID and the key information in the storage unit match. If the determination unit determines that the key information does not match, the use of the application (AP) is disabled. It is characterized in that it is possible. In addition, the determination means includes:
Information according to the use of the application (AP) can be stored in the storage unit, and the information according to the use can be checked at the next operation of the application (AP). The determining means includes a first USB / IEEE1394 port connected to the information processing apparatus.
USB port and a second USB port connected to a connection plug of a USB cable for connecting a peripheral device. The copy guard method according to claim 4, wherein the USB / IEEE of the information processing apparatus is used.
A copy guard device which can be inserted into and removed from the port of the application (AP) and prevents unauthorized use of the application (AP).
A first step of storing key information such as ID and ID, and a serial No. input from the information processing apparatus. A second step of determining whether key information such as ID and ID and key information of the storage unit match, and determining that the key information does not match.
The method is characterized by including a third step in which use of the application (AP) is impossible. In the second step,
A step of storing information according to use of the application (AP) and a step of checking information according to use at the next operation of the application (AP) may be included. Further, the second step includes a step of taking in key information input from the information processing apparatus via a first USB port connected to a USB / IEEE 1394 port of the information processing apparatus. The step may include a step of blocking input / output of a signal at a second USB port connected to a connection plug of a USB cable connecting the peripheral device. In the copy guard apparatus and the copy guard method according to the present invention, hot swap (electrical insertion / extraction) is enabled by making it possible to insert and remove the USB / IEEE 1394 port of the information processing apparatus, and an application ( AP) serial No. Key information such as ID and ID is stored in advance, and the serial No. input from the information processing apparatus by the determination means. It is determined whether or not the key information such as ID and ID and the key information of the storage unit match. If it is determined that the key information does not match, the application (A
Make use of P) impossible.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an information processing system relating to a copy guard device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of the copy guard device of FIG.

The information processing system shown in FIG. 1 includes a personal computer 1, a USB protocol module 2,
An SB cable 3 and a peripheral device 4 are provided.

The personal computer 1 as an information processing apparatus has a port such as USB / IEEE1394. The serial number of the application (AP) is transmitted from the personal computer 1. An application (AP) can be used by inputting key information such as a password and an ID.

The USB protocol module 2, which is a copy guard device, is connected to the USB /
It is configured to be freely inserted into and removed from a port such as IEEE1394. USB protocol module 2
Is accessed using a protocol in accordance with USB / IEEE1394.

Further, the USB protocol module 2
An interface (I / I / O) capable of hot-swapping (power insertion / removal) for ports such as USB / IEEE1394
F).

When using the application (AP), the USB protocol module 2 uses the serial number of the application (AP). Since key information such as ID and ID is stored, one usage right is the basis.

That is, the USB protocol module 2
Is the serial number of the application (AP) input from the personal computer 1. It has a function of checking key information such as ID and ID, and if the key information does not match key information stored in advance, use of the application (AP) is disabled.

The USB cable 3 connects the personal computer 1 and the peripheral device 4 via the USB protocol module 2. The USB cable 3 has a connection plug 3a connected to the USB protocol module 2 and a connection plug 3b connected to the peripheral device 4.

FIG. 2 shows the internal configuration of the USB protocol module 2.

The USB protocol module 2 has a bus I
A / F (interface) control unit 21, a memory unit 22, a memory controller unit 23, a USB port (male) 24 and a USB port (female) 25 are provided.

As a power source, a line assigned to the USB protocol module 2 can be used.

The memory unit 22 as the storage unit and the memory controller unit 23 as the determination unit have a USB device function. The memory unit 22 stores the serial number of the application (AP). ROM storing key information such as ID and ID, and usage history (LOG)
And a RAM to which other information can be written.

The RAM of the memory section 22 is previously accessed by the personal computer 1 so that the serial No. A program for checking key information such as ID and ID is written.

The memory controller 23 stores the serial No. input from the personal computer 1. Key information such as ID and ID and a serial number stored in the memory unit 22 in advance. It is determined whether key information such as ID and ID match. Further, the memory controller unit 23 writes a usage history (LOG) and other information in the memory unit 22.

The USB port (male) 24 is connected to a port of the personal computer 1 such as USB / IEEE1394 so as to be freely inserted and removed. The connection plug 3a of the USB cable 3 of FIG. 1 is connected to the USB port (female) 25.

Next, the operation of the copy guard apparatus having such a configuration will be described.

Generally, the application (AP) is C
It is used by reading from a medium such as a D-ROM or by reading what is installed on a hard disk or the like of the personal computer 1.

The access from the personal computer 1 to the USB protocol module 2
The serial number is stored in the memory unit 22 in advance. A program for checking key information such as ID and ID is written in advance.

The writing of such a program may be performed before the application (AP) is operated or during the operation of the application (AP).

As described above, the serial number is stored in the memory unit 22 of the USB protocol module 2 in advance.
Since key information such as ID and ID is stored, one usage right is the basis.

Therefore, the application (AP) receives the serial No. input from the personal computer 1.
Key information such as ID and ID and a serial number stored in the memory unit 22 in advance. Unless the key information, such as ID and ID, match, it cannot be used.

For this reason, even if a user other than the user who has the right to use the application (AP) illegally copies or installs the application (AP) such as a CD-ROM, as long as the user does not use the USB protocol module 2 of the present embodiment. , Can not be used.

Further, since the usage history (LOG) is stored in the memory section 22 of the USB protocol module 2 by the memory controller section 23, the memory section 22 is used at the next operation.
The usage time and usage history (LOG) are checked.

Thus, the application (AP)
Will not be able to use the application (AP) even if it is illegally copied or installed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the USB protocol module 2 is connected to the U
Since the SB / IEEE1394 port can be inserted and removed freely, hot swap (electrical insertion and removal) becomes possible, and restarting for module replacement by an application (AP) is not required, thereby improving operability.

The USB of the personal computer 1
The port of the personal computer 1 can be occupied without being occupied because it can be inserted into and removed from the port of the IEEE 1394.

The serial N of the application (AP) is stored in the memory 22 of the USB protocol module 2.
o. And key information such as ID and ID are stored in advance, and the personal computer 1
Serial No. input from Key information such as ID and ID,
It is determined whether or not the key information in the memory unit 22 matches, and if the key information is determined to be mismatched, the use of the application (AP) is disabled. Can be performed reliably.

Further, the USB protocol module 2
Serial No. And a memory controller 23 for controlling the storage operation of the memory 22, a USB port (male) 24, and a USB port (female) 25. Therefore, it can be manufactured relatively inexpensively.

Further, since a line assigned to the USB protocol module 2 can be used as a power supply, an external power supply and a power supply circuit are not required.

[0038]

As described above, according to the copy guard apparatus and the copy guard method according to the present invention, the US of the information processing apparatus is reduced.
B / IE 1394 ports can be inserted and removed so that hot swap (power insertion and removal) is possible and the serial number of the application (AP) is stored in the storage means. Key information such as ID and ID are stored in advance, and the serial N
o. It is determined whether or not the key information such as ID and ID and the key information of the storage unit match, and if the key information is determined to be mismatched, the use of the application (AP) is disabled. It is possible to improve operability when performing a copy gart of information or software in an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an information processing system according to a copy guard device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of the copy guard device of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 personal computer 2 USB protocol module 3 USB cable 3a, 3b connection plug 4 peripheral device 21 bus I / F (interface) control unit 22 memory unit 23 memory controller unit 24 USB port (male) 25 USB port (female)

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. USB / IEEE139 of an information processing apparatus
4 is a copy guard device which can be inserted into and removed from port No. 4 of the application (AP). Storage means for storing key information such as ID and ID, and serial No. input from the information processing apparatus. And ID
Determining whether or not the key information of the storage unit matches the key information of the storage unit. If the determination unit determines that the key information does not match, use of the application (AP) A copy guard device, which makes copying impossible. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining unit is configured to:
2. The copy guard device according to claim 1, wherein information according to the use of the application (AP) is stored, and the information according to the use is checked at the next operation of the application (AP). 3. . 3. The determination means includes a first USB port connected to a USB / IEEE 1394 port of the information processing apparatus and a second USB connected to a connection plug of a USB cable for connecting a peripheral device. 3. The copy guard device according to claim 1, wherein the copy guard device is connected to a port. 4. USB / IEEE139 of the information processing apparatus
A copy guard device which can be inserted into and removed from the port of the application (AP) and prevents unauthorized use of the application (AP). And ID
A first step of storing key information such as key information such as a serial number input from the information processing apparatus. And ID
And a second step of determining whether or not the key information such as the key information of the storage means matches. If it is determined that the key information does not match, the use of the application (AP) is disabled. A copy guard method, comprising: a third step. 5. The second step includes a step of storing information according to the use of the application (AP), and a step of checking the information according to the use at the next operation of the application (AP). 5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of: 6. The second step includes a first USB / IEEE1394 port connected to the information processing apparatus.
Taking in the key information input from the information processing device through a USB port of the second device. The third process includes a second process of connecting a peripheral device to a connection plug of a USB cable. 5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising a step of blocking input / output of a signal at a USB port.