JP2001147803A - Measuring period monitoring device and its program recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To execute prescribed processing for realizing security maintenance or use period monitor as usual by accurately measuring a prescribed accumulating period depending on a system date even when the system date is changed with malicious intent at the time of measuring an accumulating period for realizing security maintenance or use period monitor or the like. SOLUTION: A CPU 1 measures a program-off accumulating period indicating that a prescribed application program is continuously unavailable. Then, the CPU detects that the system date is corrected, and changes the previous program-off date for calculating the program-off accumulating period according to the correction of the system data. Then, when the off-accumulating period is beyond a fixed period, the CPU 1 limits the of the following program.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a measuring period monitoring device for monitoring a predetermined cumulative period depending on a system date and time and forcibly executing a predetermined process, and a program recording medium therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of measuring period monitoring device incorporated in a computer device is provided with a hardware, for example, to prevent highly confidential personal information and corporate information from being leaked to a third party. By monitoring the usage status of software and software, if the hardware or software has not been used for a certain period of time, the subsequent usage is restricted. For example, when portable information devices are lost or stolen on the road, hardware and software are used to maintain security to prevent sensitive information from being leaked to third parties. The unused non-use cumulative period is measured, and when the non-use total period reaches a predetermined period, a predetermined security process is executed. In addition to maintaining such security, for example, by monitoring the expiration date of the application software lent with the expiration date, use of the application software is permitted only for a certain period.
In such a case, the cumulative period according to the use status of the hardware and software is measured based on the basic timekeeping information (system date and time) of the entire system which is always clocked even when the power is turned off.

[0003]

As described above, since the cumulative use period according to the use status of the hardware and software depends on the system date and time, if the system date and time are maliciously corrected, the corresponding time is used. The use of time-limited application software is possible even if the use-by date expires, and highly confidential personal or corporate information is leaked to a third party, or even after the expiration date. was there. It is an object of the present invention to measure a cumulative period for the purpose of maintaining security or monitoring a use-by date, etc., even if a system date and time are maliciously changed, without being affected by the change. Is to be able to accurately measure the cumulative period, and to perform a predetermined process for the purpose of maintaining security, monitoring the expiration date, and the like as usual.

[0004] The means of the present invention are as follows. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a clocking means for clocking a basic system date and time, a cumulative period measuring means for measuring a predetermined cumulative period dependent on the system date and time, and when the system date and time are arbitrarily changed. Detecting means for detecting the change; changing means, which depends on the system date and time and used to determine the cumulative period when the system date and time are changed by the detecting means, A process control unit for forcibly executing a predetermined process when the period reaches a predetermined period. The present invention may be as follows. (1) The cumulative period measuring means is at least any one of a cumulative cumulative period in which hardware or software is used continuously or intermittently, or a cumulative cumulative period in which hardware or software is not used continuously or intermittently. Is measured as a cumulative period according to the usage status, and the processing control means restricts the usage when the cumulative period according to the usage status of hardware or software reaches a predetermined period. Is forcibly executed. (2) A date and time holding means for storing and holding the system date and time when the hardware or software is turned off as a previous OFF date and time is provided, and the cumulative period measuring means is provided when the hardware or software is turned on this time. From the system date and time, the last OFF stored and held in the date and time holding means
The period obtained by subtracting the date and time is calculated and stored as the non-use cumulative period, and when the system date and time are changed, the change unit changes the previous OFF date and time held in the date and time storage unit after the change. Change to the system date and time. In this case, each time the hardware or software is turned off, the cumulative period measuring means erases the cumulative period stored and held, thereby measuring the unused cumulative period that is not continuously used. You may. (3) Date and time holding means for storing and holding the system date and time when the hardware or software was turned on as the previous ON date and time is provided, and the cumulative period measuring means is provided when the hardware or software is turned off this time. A period obtained by subtracting the previous ON date and time stored in the date and time storage unit from the system date and time is calculated as the cumulative use period and stored and stored. The change unit stores the date and time when the system date and time are changed. The previous ON date and time stored in the means is changed to the changed system date and time. In this case, every time the hardware or software is turned on, the cumulative period measuring means deletes the cumulative period stored and retained, thereby measuring the cumulative use period used continuously. You may. (4) When the cumulative period has reached a predetermined period, the process control means performs a key input disable process that disables key input, a display disable process that disables data display, and a data disable process that disables data display. At least one of communication disabling processing for disabling communication, power disabling processing for disabling power on, application disabling processing for disabling application software execution, and erasing processing for erasing memory contents Is forcibly executed.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in order to measure a predetermined cumulative period dependent on the system date and time, and to determine the cumulative period when the system date and time are arbitrarily changed. Change the parameters used. Then, when the cumulative period reaches a predetermined period, a predetermined process is forcibly executed. Therefore, when measuring the cumulative period for the purpose of maintaining security, monitoring the expiration date, etc., even if the system date and time is maliciously changed, the predetermined cumulative period dependent on the system date and time is not affected by the change. Accurate measurement can be performed, and a predetermined process for maintaining security, monitoring the expiration date, and the like can be executed as usual.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a data processing device in this embodiment, for example, a portable information device. This data processing device measures the accumulated non-use period for the purpose of maintaining the security of the application program, monitors the accumulated non-use period, and if the application program is continuously unused for a certain period of time, thereafter, The use of the program is restricted. In this case, the system date and time are modified maliciously by detecting the modification of the system date and time and changing the parameter (previous program OFF date and time) used for obtaining the total unused period according to the modification of the system date and time. Even if such a change is made, it is possible to accurately measure the total unused period depending on the system date and time without being affected by the change. Before describing the features of this embodiment in detail, the hardware configuration of this embodiment will be described below.

[0007] The CPU 1 is a central processing unit that controls the overall operation of the data processing device according to the operating system and various application software in the storage device 2. The storage device 2 includes, in addition to an operating system and various application software, a database,
It has a recording medium 3 which stores character fonts and the like and is constituted by a magnetic, optical, semiconductor memory or the like, and a drive system therefor. The recording medium 3 is a fixed medium such as a hard disk or a CD-RO that can be removably mounted.
M, a floppy desk, a RAM card, a portable card such as a magnetic card. Further, the programs and data in the recording medium 3 are stored in the R under the control of the CPU 1 as necessary.
An AM (for example, a static RAM) 4 is loaded, and data in the RAM 4 is saved on the recording medium 3.
Further, the recording medium may be provided on an external device side such as a server, and the CPU 1 can directly access and use the program / data in the recording medium via a transmission medium. The CPU 1 can also take in a part or all of the data stored in the recording medium 3 from another device via a transmission medium, and newly or additionally register the data in the recording medium 3. That is, the transmission control unit 5 receives a program / data transmitted from another device constituting the computer communication system via a wired transmission line such as a communication line or a cable or a wireless transmission line such as radio waves, microwaves or infrared rays. And can be installed in the recording medium 3. In addition, program /
The data may be stored and managed on an external device such as a server, and the CPU 1 may directly access and use the program / data on the external device via a transmission medium. On the other hand, a transmission control unit 5, an input unit 6, and a display unit 7, which are input / output peripheral devices, are connected to the CPU 1 via a bus line, and the CPU 1 controls these operations according to an input / output program. The transmission control unit 5 is, for example, a communication interface including a communication modem, an infrared module, an antenna, and the like.

FIG. 2 shows the storage contents stored in the recording medium 3 and the RAM 4, and the memory area M1 has a power supply OFF.
This is an area in which basic timekeeping information of the entire system, which is always clocked, is stored as “system date and time”. The memory area M2 indicates the system date and time when the predetermined application program was last turned off in the "last program OF
This area is stored and held as “F date and time”. Memory area M
3 indicates a period counted for the purpose of maintaining the security of the application program, that is, a cumulative non-use period in which the application program is not continuously used as “program OF”.
This is an area that is stored and held as “F cumulative period”. here,
The CPU 1 calculates a period obtained by subtracting the previous program OFF date and time from the system date and time when the program is turned ON (started) this time as the program OFF cumulative period, and erases the value each time the program is turned OFF. Like that. Thereby, the program OF
The value of the F cumulative period is a non-use cumulative period that is not continuously used. The memory area M4 is an area in which a reference period serving as a criterion for determining whether or not the cumulative program OFF period has exceeded a certain period has been set.
When it is determined that the cumulative program OFF period has reached this reference period, a security process for prohibiting the use of the program is executed. The security process in this case is a process of prohibiting access to the program or deleting the program.

Next, the cumulative period monitoring operation in the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. Here, the programs for realizing the functions described in these flowcharts are stored in the form of readable program codes on the recording medium 3, and the CPU 1 executes the operations according to the program codes sequentially. I do. Further, the CPU 1 can also sequentially execute the operation according to the above-described program code transmitted via the transmission medium. This is the same in other embodiments to be described later, and an operation unique to this embodiment can be executed using a program / data externally supplied via a transmission medium in addition to a recording medium.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a program OFF operation which is started when a predetermined application program that is currently running is turned OFF. First, the system date and time when the program is turned off is obtained and set as the previous program off date and time (step A1), and the accumulated program off period is cleared and its value is set to "0" (step A2). And
Move to execution of normal program OFF processing (step A
3). As a result, as shown in FIG.
If the system date and time (actual current date and time) is "1:00 on the 10th
Minutes, the previous program OFF date and time is the system date and time, and the total program OFF period is 00 hours and 00 minutes.

FIG. 4 shows a program O started to be executed when the above-mentioned predetermined application program is started again.
6 is a flowchart illustrating N operation. First, the system date and time when the program is turned on is obtained, and a period obtained by subtracting the previous program off date and time from this system date and time is calculated as an elapsed period in which the program has not been used since the previous time (step B1). The period is added to the cumulative program OFF period to update the value (step B2). As shown in FIG. 6B, if the current date and time when the program is ON is “2:00 on the 10th at 2:00 pm”, the non-use elapsed period is “2:00 to 1:00 on the same day.
0 minutes = 1 hour ", and the total program OFF period is" 1 + 0 = 1 ". And this program OFF
Compare the cumulative period with the judgment reference period and turn off the program.
It is determined whether the cumulative period has exceeded this reference period (step B3). Now, "50 hours" as the judgment reference period
Is set, since the cumulative program OFF period is one hour, use of the program is permitted, and processing according to the program is started (step B4).

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6C, when the program is turned off, the program OFF operation according to the flowchart of FIG. 3 is executed, and as a result, the previous program OFF date and time becomes "4:00 pm". (Step A1) In addition, the program OFF cumulative period is cleared to “0” (Step A2).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation to be started when an instruction to correct the system date and time is given. First, when a correction of the system date and time is instructed, the system date and time before the correction are obtained, the previous program OFF date and time are subtracted from this system date and time, and the previous program is turned OFF.
Then, the elapsed period is calculated (step C1), and the elapsed period is added to the cumulative program OFF period and updated (step C2). When the system date and time are corrected (step C3), the system date and time after the correction are set as the previous program OFF date and time (step C4). In this case, as shown in FIG. 6D, if the system date and time before correction is “10th 6:00 pm” and after correction is “1:00 pm on the same day”, the previous program O
The FF date and time are changed to the date and time after the correction. in this case,
The elapsed period obtained by subtracting the previous program OFF date and time from the system date and time before correction is “6-4 = 2”, and the cumulative program OFF period is “2 + 0 = 2”.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6 (E), when the program is turned on, the program ON operation according to the flowchart of FIG. 4 is executed. As a result, the previous program OFF date and time is subtracted from the corrected system date and time. The elapsed period is "3-1 = 2" (step B1), and the cumulative program OFF period is "2 + 2 = 4" (step B2). Therefore, even if the system date and time are corrected as described above, the program OFF cumulative period is the cumulative period from the previous time when the program was turned OFF to the time when it is turned ON this time, as usual. On the other hand, if it is determined in the comparison step B3 that the cumulative program OFF period exceeds the reference period, a security process is executed to prohibit access to the program,
Alternatively, the program is erased (step B
5).

As described above, in the first embodiment, if a predetermined application program is continuously unused for a certain period of time, the system date and time are corrected when the use of the program is restricted thereafter. Since the previous program OFF date and time for calculating the cumulative program OFF period is changed according to the correction of the system date and time, even if the system date and time are maliciously changed, the change is affected. Instead, the program OFF cumulative period depending on the system date and time can be accurately measured. Therefore, security can be maintained as usual without being affected by the correction of the system date and time.

In the above-described first embodiment,
If a predetermined application program is continuously unused for a certain period of time, the use of the program after that is limited. However, the cumulative program OFF period is not limited to a continuous period but is discontinuous, that is, intermittent. It may be a total value obtained by accumulating the non-use period when it is used regularly or when it is not used. Calculation of such a discontinuous program OFF cumulative period can be easily realized only by deleting a part of the above-described flowchart. That is, in the above-described program OFF operation of FIG. 3, the program OFF cumulative period is cleared every time the program is turned off, but this can be realized only by deleting this clearing process.

Further, in the first embodiment described above,
Although a predetermined application program continuously measures the program OFF cumulative period, which is a non-use period, the program O used continuously or discontinuously is used.
The N total period may be measured. In this case, in the first embodiment described above, the previous program OF
The F date and time is stored and held, and the program OFF cumulative period is measured by accumulating a value obtained by subtracting the previous program OFF date and time from the current program ON date and time, but it is used continuously or discontinuously. When measuring the cumulative program ON period, the current program ON date is stored and held, and the current program OF
The program ON cumulative period may be measured by adding up the value obtained by subtracting the program ON date and time from the F date and time. In this case, the program ON cumulative period is compared with the determination reference period, and it can be determined whether or not the use period of the application software lent with the use period has expired, and the use of the program whose use period has expired is restricted. It becomes possible.

(Second Embodiment) Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the first embodiment described above, the usage status of application software is measured, whereas in the second embodiment, the usage status of hardware is measured. Here, since the two embodiments are basically the same, the following description focuses on the features of the second embodiment. Here, the previous program OF shown in the first embodiment
The memory area for storing and holding the date and time F and the cumulative program OFF period are replaced with the date and time of the previous power OFF and power OFF.
The FF cumulative period is stored and held. This last power OF
The date and time F is set when the power is turned off, and the cumulative power-off period is calculated based on the date and time of the previous power-off and the system date and time.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation started when the power is turned on. First, the system date and time when the power is turned on is obtained, the previous power-off date and time is subtracted from the system date and time, and the elapsed time is calculated (step D1). This elapsed time is added to the power-off cumulative period and updated. (Step D2). And
It is determined whether or not the cumulative power-off period has exceeded the determination reference period (step D3). If not, normal processing at power-on, such as initial menu display, is performed in order to permit normal use (step D3). Step D4) If the determination reference period is exceeded, a process of restricting the use of hardware, for example, a key input disable process that disables key input, a display disable process that disables data display, and data communication Is performed, and a power-on disable process for disabling power-on is executed (step D5).

Further, in the second embodiment, the flowchart when the correction of the system date and time is instructed is not shown, but in this case, the operation corresponding to the flowchart of FIG. 5 described above is executed. That is, when the correction of the system date and time is instructed, the system date and time before the correction are obtained, the previous power OFF date and time are subtracted from this system date and time, and the elapsed time since the previous power OFF was calculated.
This elapsed period is added to the cumulative power-off period and updated. Then, when the system date and time are corrected, the system date and time after the correction are set as the last power-off date and time.

As described above, in the second embodiment, if the power supply is continuously turned off for a certain period of time, the system date and time are corrected when the use of the hardware thereafter is restricted. Is detected, and the previous power-off date and time for calculating the cumulative power-off period is changed according to the correction of the system date and time. Therefore, even if the system date and time are maliciously changed, the change is not affected by the change. It is possible to accurately measure the power-off cumulative period depending on the system date and time. Therefore, without being affected by the modification of the system date and time, for example, even if the portable information device is lost or stolen on the go, security that reliably prevents important information from being leaked to third parties Maintenance becomes possible.

In the second embodiment described above, the continuous power-off cumulative period is measured.
The F cumulative period is not limited to a continuous period, and as described above,
It may be a cumulative period in which discontinuous power-off periods are accumulated. In this case, as in the case of the modified application example of the above-described first embodiment, the present invention can be realized by merely accumulating the power-off accumulated period without clearing the power-off accumulated period every time the power is turned off.

In the above-described second embodiment,
The last power-off date and time are stored and stored, and the power
The power-off cumulative period is measured by accumulating the value obtained by subtracting the previous power-off date and time from the N date and time. However, when measuring the continuous or discontinuous power-on cumulative period, the current power-on period is measured. The date and time may be stored and retained, and the accumulated period may be measured by accumulating a value obtained by subtracting the power-on date and time from the current power-off date and time, which is a modification of the first embodiment. Is the same as

[0024]

According to the present invention, even if the system date and time is maliciously changed when measuring the cumulative period for the purpose of maintaining security, monitoring the expiration date, and the like,
Without being affected by the change, the predetermined cumulative period depending on the system date and time can be accurately measured, and the predetermined processing for maintaining security, monitoring the expiration date, and the like can be executed as usual.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a data processing device (portable information device).

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing storage contents stored in a recording medium 3 and a RAM 4.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a program OFF operation that is started when a predetermined application program currently running is turned OFF.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a program ON operation started to be executed when a predetermined application program is started again.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation to be started when a correction of a system date and time is instructed.

FIG. 6 shows the last program OFF date and time and the program O when correcting the program ON / OFF and the system date and time.
The figure which showed the process in which the content of the FF accumulation period changes with progress of time.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation that is started when the power is turned on in the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 CPU 2 Storage device 3 Recording medium 5 Transmission control part 6 Input part 7 Display part

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A time measuring means for measuring a basic system date and time, a cumulative period measuring means for measuring a predetermined cumulative period depending on the system date and time, and when the system date and time are arbitrarily changed, the change is performed. Detecting means for detecting the system date and time, when the system date and time are changed by the detecting means, changing means for changing parameters used for obtaining the cumulative period depending on the system date and time, and the cumulative period is predetermined. A measurement control unit for forcibly executing a predetermined process when a predetermined period has been reached. 2. The cumulative period measuring means according to claim 1, wherein said cumulative period measuring means includes at least one of a cumulative cumulative period of use in which hardware or software is used continuously or intermittently, and a cumulative total period of nonuse in which hardware or software is not used continuously or intermittently. Any one of them is measured as a cumulative period according to the usage status, and the processing control means, when the cumulative period according to the usage status of the hardware or software has reached a predetermined period, determines the usage period. 2. The measurement period monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined process for restricting the measurement is forcibly executed. 3. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a date and time holding means for storing and holding a system date and time when the hardware or software is turned off as a last time when the hardware or software is turned off. A period obtained by subtracting the previous OFF date and time stored and held in the date and time holding unit from the system date and time of the hour is calculated and stored and stored as the non-use cumulative period, and when the system date and time are changed, 3. The measurement period monitoring device according to claim 2, wherein the previous OFF date and time stored in the date and time storage unit is changed to the changed system date and time. 4. The cumulative period measuring means each time the hardware or software is turned off, erases the cumulative period stored and held, and measures the unused cumulative period that is not continuously used. 4. The measuring period monitoring device according to claim 3, wherein: 5. A date and time holding means for storing and holding a system date and time when hardware or software is turned on as a previous ON date and time, wherein said cumulative period measuring means is such that the hardware or software is turned off this time. The last O stored and held in the date and time holding means from the system date and time of the hour
The period obtained by subtracting the N date and time is calculated and stored as the cumulative use period thereof, and when the system date and time are changed, the change unit changes the previous ON date and time held in the date and time storage unit after the change. The measurement period monitoring device according to claim 2, wherein the measurement date and time are changed to the system date and time. 6. Each time hardware or software is turned on, the cumulative period measuring means erases the cumulative period stored and retained, thereby measuring the cumulative cumulative period of continuous use. 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein
The measurement period monitoring device described. 7. The processing control means includes a key disabling process for disabling key input and a display disabling process for disabling data display when the cumulative period reaches a predetermined period. Out of communication disable processing to disable data communication, power on disable processing to disable power on, application disable processing to disable application software execution, and erase processing to erase memory contents.
2. The measurement period monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the processes is forcibly executed. 8. A recording medium having a computer readable program code, the computer readable program code for measuring a predetermined cumulative period depending on a system date and time, and a computer readable program code when the system date and time are arbitrarily changed. A computer readable program code for detecting the change, and a computer readable program for changing a parameter used for obtaining the cumulative period depending on the system date and time when the system date and time are changed. A recording medium comprising: a program code; and a computer-readable program code for forcibly executing a predetermined process when the cumulative period reaches a predetermined period.