JP2002091594A - Device and method for processing information and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress an illegal use of an application program. SOLUTION: The program start processing block 11 decides whether or not a normal password issued by a management server 3 is registered in a personal computer 1 when a program start is instructed, and control the processing of an information processing block 13 on the basis of whether or not the password is normal when the password is decided to be registered. On the contrary, when the password is decided not to be registered, the block 11 controls a communication processing block 12 and acquires a password from the server 3. The password issuing block 32 of the server 3 issues the password including a user ID included in a request for password issuing and outputs the password to the block 31.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method, and a recording medium, for example, an information processing apparatus suitable for use when restricting the start of application program processing in response to an input password. And a method, and a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional technology for preventing unauthorized use of an application program includes a product I provided from a sales source or the like for each package medium of the application program at the time of installation or initial startup.
D (hereinafter also referred to as software ID), a method of requesting the input, and a predetermined interface of a personal computer in which the application program is installed is provided with a hardware key (so-called, A method for executing the program only when the dongle is connected, a user ID is generated using unique information of parts constituting a personal computer, and the user ID is generated.
There is a method of generating a password using a password.

[0003]

However, the method of inputting a software ID cannot prevent unauthorized use of the application program when a person who installs the application program on a personal computer illegally knows the software ID. There were challenges.

A method using a hardware key is as follows.
There are problems such as the cost of the hardware key itself and the inability to use a plurality of application programs using the hardware key at the same time.

Further, in a method of generating a user ID from unique information of parts constituting a personal computer and further generating a password, when a plurality of application programs using the same method are installed and executed, the generated password is generated. However, there is a problem that only one application program is effective for copy protection only.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and uses a unique identification information capable of identifying a personal computer in which an application program is installed and a password issued based on a software ID, thereby enabling an application to be installed. The purpose is to prevent unauthorized use of the program.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided an application program for a first recording medium, comprising: a first acquisition step of acquiring unique identification information given to an application program; and an information processing program in which the application program is installed. A second acquisition step of acquiring unique identification information capable of identifying the device, a generation step of generating a user ID including at least the identification information and the identification information, and a user ID generated in the processing of the generation step.
A receiving step of notifying the administrator of the application program and receiving a password issued by the administrator based on the notified user ID; a registration step of registering the password received in the processing of the receiving step; An extracting step of extracting a user ID from the password registered in the processing, a comparing step of comparing the user ID generated in the processing of the generating step with the user ID extracted in the processing of the extracting step, and a processing of the comparing step. And a restriction step of restricting the start of predetermined information processing of the application program in accordance with the comparison result.

In the comparing step, the specific information included in the user ID generated in the generating step may be compared with the specific information included in the user ID extracted in the extracting step. it can.

[0009] An information processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a receiving means for receiving a password issuance request transmitted from an electronic device via a network, and an extracting means for extracting a user ID and user information from the password issuance request received by the receiving means. Constructing means for constructing a database for user management using the user ID and the user information; issuing means for issuing a password necessary for starting predetermined processing of the application program using the user ID; Notification means for notifying the electronic device of the issued password via a network.

According to the information processing method of the present invention, a receiving step of receiving a password issuance request transmitted from an electronic device via a network, and extracting a user ID and user information from the password issuance request received in the processing of the receiving step An extraction step, a construction step of constructing a user management database using the user ID and the user information, and an issuance step of issuing a password necessary for starting predetermined processing of the application program using the user ID. And a notifying step of notifying the electronic device of the password issued in the processing of the issuing step via a network.

[0011] The program of the second recording medium of the present invention comprises:
A receiving step of receiving a password issuance request transmitted from the electronic device via the network; an extracting step of extracting a user ID and user information from the password issuance request received in the processing of the receiving step;
And a construction step of constructing a database for user management using the user information, an issuance step of issuing a password required to start predetermined processing of the application program using the user ID, and an issuance step of the issuance step. And a notifying step of notifying the electronic device of the set password via a network.

[0012] In the application program of the first recording medium of the present invention, unique identification information given to the application program is obtained, and unique identification information capable of specifying the information processing apparatus in which the application program is installed is obtained. Then, a user ID including at least the identification information and the specific information is generated. Further, the generated user ID is notified to the administrator of the application program, and a password issued by the administrator based on the notified user ID is received,
The accepted password is registered. Further, the user ID is extracted from the registered password, the generated user ID is compared with the extracted user ID, and the start of predetermined information processing of the application program is restricted according to the comparison result.

[0013] In the information processing apparatus and method of the present invention, and in the program of the second recording medium, a password issuance request transmitted from the electronic device via the network is received, and the user ID is determined based on the received password issuance request.
D and user information are extracted. Also, a database for user management is constructed using the user ID and the user information, a password required for starting predetermined processing of the application program is issued using the user ID, and the issued password is transmitted via the network. The electronic device is notified.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a system including a personal computer 1 in which an application program with an unauthorized use prevention function to which the present invention is applied is installed.

The personal computer 1 is, for example, a CD
-Install and execute an application program with an unauthorized use prevention function from package media such as ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory). In addition, the personal computer 1 accesses a management server 3 operated by a vendor of an application program with an unauthorized use prevention function through a network 2 represented by the Internet.

The management server 3 issues a password corresponding to only the transmission source personal computer 1 based on information (described in detail later) transmitted from the personal computer 1 in which the application program with an unauthorized use prevention function is installed. .

FIG. 2 shows functional blocks of an application program with an unauthorized use preventing function executed by the personal computer 1 and functional blocks of the management server 3.

The activation processing block 11 of the application program with the unauthorized use prevention function is a function block that is executed first when the activation of the application program with the unauthorized use prevention function is instructed. It is determined whether or not the password has been registered in the personal computer 1. If it is determined that the password has been registered, the process of the information processing block 13 is controlled based on whether or not the password is legitimate. On the other hand, if it is determined that it has not been registered, the activation processing block 11 controls the communication processing block 12 to
A password is obtained from the management server 3.

The communication processing block 12 accesses the management server 3 via the network 2 and acquires a password based on the control from the activation processing block 11.

The information processing block 13 is a functional block serving as a main body of an application program with an unauthorized use prevention function, and is provided with predetermined information processing (for example, spreadsheet processing,
Image processing).

The communication processing block 31 of the management server 3
A password issuance request transmitted from the personal computer 1 via the network 2 is received and output to the password issuance block 32. The communication processing block 31 transmits the password input from the password issuing block 32 to the personal computer 1 via the network 2.

The password issuing block 32 issues a password including a user ID included in the password issuing request input from the communication processing block 31 and outputs the password to the communication processing block 31. The password issuing unit 32 also outputs the user ID and the user information included in the password issuance request to the user information management block 33. The user information management block 33 records the user ID and user information input from the password issuing unit 32 in a database. The password issuance block 32 issues passwords by the number of issuances (usually one) permitted for the software ID.

FIG. 3 shows a personal computer 1 for executing an application program with an unauthorized use prevention function.
Is shown. The personal computer 1
A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 41 is built in. CP
The input / output interface 4 is connected to the U 41 via the bus 44.
5 is connected. The input / output interface 45 includes:
An input unit 46 including an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse; an output unit 47 for outputting image data as a processing result to a display;
D, a storage unit 48 composed of a hard disk drive or the like for storing a password, a communication unit 49 for communicating data via the network 2, a magnetic disk 51 (including a floppy disk), an optical disk 52 (CD-ROM (Compa
ct Disc-Read Only Memory), DVD (Digital Versatile D)
isc)), magneto-optical disk 53 (MD (Mini Disc)
Or a drive 50 that reads and writes data from and to the semiconductor memory 54. Bus 54
Include a ROM (Read Only Memory) 42 and a RAM (Random Ac
cess Memory) 43 is connected.

The application program with the unauthorized use prevention function is supplied to the personal computer 1 in a state of being recorded on a recording medium such as the magnetic disk 51 to the semiconductor memory 54, read by the drive 50, and installed in the storage unit 48. ing. The application program with an unauthorized use prevention function installed in the storage unit 48 is loaded from the storage unit 48 to the RAM 49 and executed according to a command from the CPU 41 corresponding to a command from the user input to the input unit 46.

The information processing apparatus such as a personal computer that constitutes the management server 3 is configured in the same manner as the personal computer 1 shown in FIG. 3, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the processing at the time of starting the application program with the unauthorized use prevention function installed in the personal computer 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The process at the time of starting is started when a command to start an application program with an unauthorized use prevention function is issued.

In step S1, the activation processing block 11 acquires a hardware ID from predetermined parts constituting the personal computer 1.

In step S2, the activation processing block 11 reads out the software ID of the application program with an unauthorized use prevention function (input at the time of installation, etc.) from the storage unit 48, and obtains the read software ID and the information in step S1. And a user ID including the hardware ID.

Instead of prompting the user to input a software ID, a unique software ID for each package medium may be recorded in advance in program data of an application program with an unauthorized use prevention function.

In step S3, the activation processing block 11 determines whether or not the password for the application program with an unauthorized use prevention function has been registered in the personal computer 1 (whether or not the password is stored in the storage unit 48). Is determined. If it is determined that the password has not been registered, the process proceeds to step S4.
In step S4, the startup processing block 11 displays a message asking the user whether to request the management server 3 to issue the password, and if it is instructed to issue the password, the process proceeds to step S5. .

In step S5, a password acquisition process is performed. For details on the password acquisition process,
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In step S21, the startup processing block 11 encodes (encrypts) the user ID generated in step S2, and inputs user information (user name, contact information, e-mail address, credit card, Number and the like to the communication processing block 12. In step S22, the communication processing block 12 transmits the encoded user ID and user information input from the activation processing block 11 to the management server 3 via the network 2 as a request for issuing a password.

The communication processing block 31 of the management server 3
In step S31, a request for issuing a password from the personal computer 1 is received and output to the password issuing block 32. Password issue block 32
Decodes the input password issuance request and outputs the obtained user ID and user information to the user information management block 33. The user information management block 33 stores the input user ID and user information in a database. As a result, the user of the personal computer 1 is registered as a distributor of an application program with an unauthorized use prevention function.

In step S33, the password issuing block 32 extracts the software ID from the user ID obtained by decoding, refers to the database stored in the user information management block 33, and permits the same software ID. After confirming that the specified number of passwords (usually 1) have not been issued yet, a password including the user ID is issued and the communication processing block 3
Output to 1.

If the number of passwords permitted for the same software ID has already been issued as a result of referring to the database stored in the user information management block 33, the password is not issued. Notify the personal computer 1. Alternatively, after performing a predetermined accounting process using the transmitted user information, the number of passwords allowed for the software ID may be increased to issue the password.

In step S34, the communication processing block 31 transmits the password input from the password issuing block 32 to the personal computer 1 via the network 2.

In step S23, the communication processing block 12, which is a functional block for an application program with an unauthorized use prevention function, which is being executed on the personal computer 1, receives the password from the management server 3 and outputs it to the activation processing block 11. I do. The activation processing block 8 registers the input password (the storage unit 4).
8).

The process returns to step S8 in FIG. In step S8, the activation processing block 8
From the user ID included in the password to the hardware ID
And a software ID. In step S9, the activation processing block 8 determines whether the hardware ID acquired in step S8 matches the hardware ID acquired in step S1. If it is determined that the two hardware IDs match, the process proceeds to step S1
Go to 0. In step S10, the activation processing block 11 starts the processing of the information processing block 13.

If it is determined in step S3 that the password has been registered (the password is stored in the storage unit 48), the processing in steps S4 to S7 is skipped.

If it is determined in step S4 that the issuance of the password is not requested, the process proceeds to step S6. In step S6, the activation processing block 11 requests the user to input a password, and in step S7, waits until the password is input. If the password has been entered, the process proceeds to step S8.

Also, in step S9, step S
If it is determined that the hardware ID obtained in step 8 does not match the hardware ID obtained in step S1,
The process returns to step S6, and the subsequent processes are repeated.

According to the above-described processing at the time of startup, for example, when a password issued by the management server 3 in response to a request from another personal computer is used for the personal computer 1, hardware acquired from the password is used. Since the hardware ID and the hardware ID of the personal computer 1 do not match, the information processing block 13 of the application program with the unauthorized use prevention function is used.
Is not executed. Therefore, it becomes impossible for a plurality of personal computers in which an application program with an unauthorized use prevention function is installed to share one password.

In the above description, in step S9, the hardware I acquired in step S8
It is determined whether or not D and the hardware ID obtained in step S1 match. However, it is determined whether the software ID obtained from the password matches the software ID registered in the personal computer 1. Or it may be determined whether the user ID generated in step S2 matches the user ID obtained from the password.

Further, instead of executing the password acquisition processing shown in FIG. 5, an encrypted user ID (here,
The reason for encrypting the user ID is to prevent the components of the user ID from being exposed to the user), so that the user can perform, for example, mail, telephone,
The user ID encrypted using facsimile, e-mail, etc. is notified to the vendor of the application program with the unauthorized use prevention function, and the issued password is obtained by mail, telephone, facsimile, e-mail, etc. You may do so.

According to the present invention, the hardware ID
In addition, since the user ID is generated using not only the software ID but also the software ID, it is possible to install and execute a plurality of application programs for generating the user ID on the same personal computer in a similar manner.

Further, according to the present invention, user information can be obtained when a password is issued, so that it is possible to establish a customer management system for using services such as notification of update information.

In this specification, steps for describing a program recorded on a recording medium are not limited to processing performed in chronological order according to the described order, but are not necessarily performed in chronological order. Alternatively, it also includes individually executed processing.

In this specification, the system is
It represents the entire device composed of a plurality of devices.

[0049]

As described above, according to the application program of the first recording medium of the present invention, the unique identification information given to the application program is obtained.
It acquires unique specific information capable of specifying the information processing device on which the application program is installed, and generates a user ID including at least the identification information and the specific information. Furthermore, the user ID extracted from the registered password is compared with the generated user ID, and the start of predetermined information processing of the application program is restricted according to the comparison result. The use can be suppressed.

Also, the information processing apparatus and method of the present invention,
According to the program of the second recording medium, a password issuance request transmitted from the electronic device via the network is received, and the user ID is received from the received password issuance request.
D and user information are extracted. Further, since a password required to start predetermined processing of the application program is issued using the user ID and notified to the electronic device via the network, a password capable of suppressing unauthorized use of the application program is provided to the electronic device. It becomes possible to supply.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a system including a personal computer 1 in which an application program with an unauthorized use prevention function to which the present invention is applied is installed.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing functional blocks of an application program with an unauthorized use prevention function executed by the personal computer 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a personal computer 1.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process performed by the personal computer 1 when an application program with an unauthorized use prevention function is activated.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a password acquisition process in step S5 of FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 personal computer, 2 network,
3 management server, 11 startup processing block, 12
Communication processing block, 13 information processing block, 31
Communication processing block, 32 password issue block, 33 user information management block, 41 CPU,
42 ROM, 43 RAM, 51 magnetic disk,
52 optical disk, 53 magneto-optical disk, 54
Semiconductor memory

Claims (7)

[Claims] An application program having a copy protection function, wherein a first acquisition step of acquiring unique identification information given to the application program, and an information processing apparatus in which the application program is installed can be specified. A second obtaining step of obtaining unique specific information; a generating step of generating a user ID including at least the identification information and the specific information; and the user ID generated in the processing of the generating step
Receiving the password issued by the administrator based on the notified user ID, and registering the password received in the process of the receiving step. A registration step, an extraction step of extracting the user ID from the password registered in the processing of the registration step, and the user ID generated in the processing of the generation step
And the user I extracted in the process of the extracting step
A computer-readable program, comprising: a comparison step of comparing D; and a restriction step of restricting the start of predetermined information processing of the application program in accordance with a comparison result in the processing of the comparison step. A recording medium on which an application program is recorded. 2. In the processing of the comparing step, the specific information included in the user ID generated in the processing of the generating step and the specific information included in the user ID extracted in the processing of the extracting step 2. The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein? 3. An information processing apparatus for issuing a password in response to a password issuance request from an electronic device on which an application program having a copy protection function is executed, wherein the password transmitted from the electronic device via a network is provided. Receiving means for receiving an issuance request; extracting means for extracting a user ID and user information from the password issuance request received by the receiving means; constructing a user management database using the user ID and the user information Constructing means, issuing means for issuing the password necessary for starting predetermined processing of the application program using the user ID, and transmitting the password issued by the issuing means to the electronic device via the network. Include notification means for notifying The information processing apparatus according to claim. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the information processing apparatus is a server. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the network is the Internet. 6. An information processing method for an information processing apparatus for issuing a password in response to a password issuance request from an electronic device on which an application program having a copy protection function is executed, wherein the password is transmitted from the electronic device via a network. Receiving the received password issuing request, extracting the user ID and user information from the password issuing request received in the processing of the receiving step, and extracting the user using the user ID and the user information. A construction step of constructing a management database; an issuance step of issuing the password required to start predetermined processing of the application program using the user ID; and the password issued in the processing of the issuance step The network The information processing method characterized by comprising a notification step of notifying the electronic apparatus via a click. 7. An information processing program for issuing a password in response to a password issuance request from an electronic device on which an application program having a copy protection function is executed, wherein the program is transmitted from the electronic device via a network. Receiving the received password issuing request, extracting the user ID and user information from the password issuing request received in the processing of the receiving step, and extracting the user using the user ID and the user information. A construction step of constructing a management database; an issuance step of issuing the password required to start predetermined processing of the application program using the user ID; and the password issued in the processing of the issuance step The said network Recording medium from which a computer readable program is recorded, which comprises a notification step of notifying the electronic apparatus via.