JP2002109253A - Package software rental system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a package software rental system capable of improving the working rate of a terminal. SOLUTION: This system is provided with a use permission information storage medium C, which is to be issued corresponding to a rental for the unit of individual software, storing rental identification information showing the rental of individual software and a name of rented individual software. In a user computer T and a host computer S, when the use permission information storage medium C is loaded, the rental identification information stored thereon is confirmed and when the use permission information storage medium C is authenticated for the user computer T, an individual software name stored in the user computer is collated with the individual software name stored on the use permission information storage medium C. When these names are matched, the rented individual software can be used as it is but when these names are not matched, the individual software of the name stored on the use permission information storage medium C is downloaded from the host computer S to the user computer T and can be used later.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a packaged software rental system, and more particularly to a system for renting packaged software itself.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Package software is a set of related individual software. This includes, for example, EU
There are packages such as C, ERP, and CAD. Among such package software, for example, ERP (Enterprise
Resource Planning) package is a group of individual software that integrates common operations of companies regardless of the type of business, such as production management, accounting, sales management, personnel affairs and payroll, in other words, the core operations of the company in one database. . Such an ERP
According to the package, data can be linked in real time with the database. In other words, for example, the result of calculating the manufacturing cost from the data input in the production management system can be used as it is in the accounting system that processes in the same database, thereby obtaining the management accounting information necessary for management judgment in real time. it can.

As a method of renting this ERP package, a method of renting software for a time has been proposed (see Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-89305).

[0004]

However, in the package software rental method, since the time is rented, the user has to pay a fee for the time actually used. Therefore, at first glance, it seems that the burden on the user is reduced. However, software is different from ordinary products, and development costs occupy a large part of the cost, and manufacturing costs are hardly a problem. Therefore, even in the case of the time lending method, the vendor will set the charge per unit time to a charge at which the development cost can be recovered, so that the charge burden on the user is not necessarily reduced. Furthermore, the time lending method has a problem in that the income becomes unstable for the vendor.

[0005] In this respect, according to the method of renting the package software itself, the above problem does not occur because the vendor can expect a stable income. However, in the method of renting package software, for example, in the case of an ERP package, predetermined individual software is stored in each terminal according to the user's business. Therefore, a task or a person in charge of the task is fixed to each terminal. as a result,
Even if there is a vacant terminal, there is a problem that another person in charge cannot use the terminal and the operation rate of the terminal is reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides a package software rental system capable of improving the operation rate of a terminal in a system for renting package software itself. It is an object.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, a package software rental system according to the present invention uses a host computer and one or more user computers connected to the host computer via a communication line. A package software rental system for renting package software comprising a set of related individual software in units of individual software, which is issued in correspondence with the rental of the individual software unit and indicating that the individual software is rented. A use permission information storage medium storing identification information and a rented individual software name, wherein the user computer and the host computer receive the use permission information when the use permission information storage medium is mounted on the user computer. The rental identification information stored in the storage medium In the case where the use permission information storage medium is authenticated, the individual software name stored in the user computer is compared with the individual software name stored in the use permission information storage medium. If they do not match, the individual software having the name stored in the use permission information storage medium is downloaded from the host computer to the user computer, and the individual software indicated to be rented by the use permission information storage medium is indicated. Is configured to be usable. With this configuration, the contents of the rental correspond to the use permission information storage medium, so that the work of the user or the person in charge of the work is not fixed to the user computer (terminal).
If there is a vacant user computer, the use permission information storage medium can be changed to its own computer only by mounting it on the user computer, so that the operation rate of the user computer can be improved.

In this case, when the use permission information storage medium is mounted, the user computer checks the rental identification information stored in the use permission information storage medium and authenticates the use permission information storage medium. (Claim 2). With this configuration, the user computer authenticates the use permission information storage medium, so that the configuration of the system can be simplified.

Further, in this case, after the user computer authenticates the use permission information storage medium, the user computer stores the individual software name stored in the use permission information storage medium together with the individual software name stored in the user computer. The information may be transmitted to the host computer, and the transmission may be performed by the host computer in response to the transmission, and the individual software may be used (claim 3). With this configuration, the configuration of the host computer can be simplified.

In the above case, the at least one user computer is made to correspond to the use permission information storage medium and stores the individual software having the name stored in the corresponding use permission information storage medium. (Claim 4). With this configuration, when the person in charge uses the other user computer less frequently, the frequency of downloading individual software from the host computer to the user computer can be reduced, and as a result, the load on the host computer can be reduced. Can be reduced.

In the above case, a management directory is established in the user computer, and the management directory always includes the rented individual software including after downloading the individual software from the host computer to the user computer. (Claim 5). With this configuration, by maintaining the consistency of the group of files in the management directory from the server side, there is no need to have a dedicated system administrator in the user. As a result, it becomes easier to introduce packaged software to small and medium enterprises.

In the above case, the download package software may be stored in the host computer. With this configuration,
Can be downloaded quickly.

In the above case, the use permission information storage medium may be a smart card. Such a configuration is convenient to carry and use.

[0014] In the above case, the user computer may be rented together with the corresponding individual software. With this configuration,
Software ownership and usage rights are separated, making it easier for vendors to license the software.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a packaged software rental system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing contents stored in a smart card C of FIG.

In FIG. 1, a package software rental system 1 includes a host computer (hereinafter, referred to as a server) S, a network N, and a user computer (hereinafter, referred to as a server).
A terminal T) and a smart card (usage information storage medium) C.

The server S is connected to a plurality of terminals T via a network N. The network N is the Internet here. The network N may be a network capable of data communication, for example, LA
N, CATV, or the like. The terminal T is configured to be usable when the smart card C is attached.

In this embodiment, for example, package software comprising an ERP package is rented from the owner of the server S to the owners of the plurality of terminals T. The rental is performed for each individual software constituting the ERP package according to the business of the owner of the terminal T. That is, the owner of the terminal T grasps the individual software necessary for each business using the ERP package, and receives a license (rented) for the grasped individual software. Then, the smart card C is issued in response to the license.

The smart card C is a well-known one in which an IC is embedded in a plastic card, and can store a larger amount of data than a conventional magnetic card. As shown in FIG. 2, the smart card C stores a license number and a license individual software name.
The license number is a serial number given for each license. Therefore, the smart card C is specified by the license number. The licensed individual software name is a licensed individual software name, and is also an individual software name usable by the smart card C as described later. This individual software name is not limited to one, and may be plural. In this case, one smart card C can use plural individual software. Then, as is clear from the above description, the types and numbers of individual software that can be used by all smart cards C match the types and numbers of all rented individual software.

In addition, the smart card C stores a terminal number and a previous use record in addition to the above. The terminal number is a serial number that specifies the terminal T corresponding to the smart card C. That is, in the present embodiment, one terminal T is associated with one smart card C, and each terminal T is provided with individual software 3 having a name stored in the smart card C corresponding to the terminal T. Each is installed. And the person in charge of each business,
The user is provided with a smart card C corresponding to his / her work, and in principle, uses the terminal T corresponding to the smart card C as his / her own terminal.

In this embodiment, the hardware (for example, a personal computer) constituting each terminal T is rented from the owner of the server S to the owner of the terminal T. Accordingly, the hardware that constitutes the terminal T rents hardware that satisfies the predetermined specifications and that performs the predetermined test and confirms the performance. For example, it is checked whether or not the performance and storage capacity of the CPU can appropriately operate the stored individual software. The terminal T stores, in addition to the individual software 2, all license numbers, terminal numbers of the terminal T, Mac addresses, management codes such as server connection addresses, and a browser for this system. The individual software 2 is protected to prevent unauthorized use, and is configured so that the protection can be released by a key.

On the other hand, in the server S, in addition to all the individual software 3 to be downloaded to the terminal T, all terminal numbers and individual software names stored in each terminal T are stored.

In the case of the ERP package, all the individual software are unified by using a common database for the individual software. In this embodiment, this database is constructed in the server S. Therefore, all data processed by each terminal T is transmitted to the server S and stored in the database, and data necessary for processing is extracted from the database to each terminal T. Of course, this database may be constructed in a specific terminal T. In that case, data is exchanged between each terminal T and the database in the specific terminal T via the server S.

Next, the operation of the package software rental system configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the terminal T, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the server S. Here, a case where a person in charge of a certain task works using the terminal T corresponding to the smart card C and a case where the person in charge works using the terminal T not supporting the smart card C will be described separately.

First, the terminal T corresponding to the smart card C
A case where the work is performed using will be described. In this case, in FIG. 1, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4, the terminal T initializes the flag F1 to “0” (step S101),
Is attached (step S1), the license number is read from the smart card C, and the license number is checked against all the license numbers stored in the terminal T to determine whether there is a match (step S2). If there is no match, a message indicating that the smart card C cannot be authenticated is displayed (step S13). On the other hand, if there is a match, the smart card C is authenticated, and then the license individual software name and the usage record up to the previous time are read and temporarily stored (step S3). Next, the network system including the server S is booted (step S4). Thereby, the server S is started. Next, the server connection address stored in the terminal T, Ma
server S using the c-address and the system browser
(Step S5), and transmits information of the terminal T and information of the smart card C (step S6). The information of the terminal T includes the terminal number and the individual software name stored in the terminal T, and the information of the smart card C includes the license individual software name and the record of use up to the previous time. Thereafter, the terminal T waits until receiving the key or the directory update program (Step S7,
14, 7).

On the other hand, when the server S is started,
2 is initialized to "0" (step S201), accessed by the terminal T (step S21), and then the information of the terminal T and the smart card C transmitted from the terminal T are transmitted.
Is received (step S22). Next, the transmitted terminal number is compared with all the terminal numbers stored in the server S, and it is determined whether or not there is a match (step S2). If there is no match, the terminal T is transmitted to the terminal T indicating that the terminal T cannot be authenticated (step S29). On the other hand, if there is a match, the terminal T is authenticated, and then it is determined whether or not the type of the individual license software of the smart card C matches the type of the individual software stored in the terminal T ( Step S24). Then, here, since they match, the key is transmitted to the terminal T (step S25).

The terminal T receives this key (step S
7), release the protection of the individual software (step S)
8). Next, the individual software is operated while communicating with the server S as needed (steps S9 and S26). Thereby, the person in charge can use the individual software. Here, the reason that the individual software is operated while the terminal T and the server S communicate with each other is that ordinary individual software includes both a part that operates on the terminal T and a part that operates on the server S. is there. Therefore, in the case of, for example, word processing software that is configured only with a part that operates on the terminal, the terminal T does not need to communicate with the server S while the software is operating. Also, all data processed by this use is transmitted to the database of the server S and stored therein. Data necessary for processing in the terminal T including this processing data is stored in the terminal T as user data.

Next, when the use of the individual software is completed (steps S10 and S27), the terminal T stores the current use record together with the user data in its storage area (internal memory or external storage device), Is written and stored in the smart card C (step S
11, 12). On the other hand, the server S stores the current usage record in its storage area (internal memory or external storage device) (step S28). Since both the flag F1 of the terminal T and the flag F2 of the server S are "0" (steps S103 and S202), the operation of using the individual software is terminated. Thereby, the person in charge can use the terminal T corresponding to the smart card C as his / her own terminal.

Next, a case where a person in charge works using a terminal T that does not support the smart card C will be described. In this case, the operations from the start of the terminal T to the standby for receiving the key or directory update program, and the operations from the start of the server S to the determination of the consistency of the individual software (step 24) are the same as described above. Then, in step S24 of FIG. 4, if the server S determines whether or not the type of the individual licensed software of the smart card C matches the type of the individual software stored in the terminal T, the server S does not match.
Transmits the missing individual software to the terminal T (step S30). In this case, the missing individual software is transmitted to the terminal T by being incorporated in a directory update program so as to constitute a directory including a file group including the individual software. This is because the management directory of the terminal T is constituted by only predetermined files. If the management directory contains extra software,
This is because there is a risk that data will be lost or corrupted using it. Note that the user data in the terminal T is stored in a file in the user directory.

Next, the server S stands by to receive the user data or the directory update program from the terminal T (steps S31 and S32).

On the other hand, in FIG.
When the directory update program is received from (step S14), the directory update program is installed. Next, after the flag F1 is set to "1" (step S102), the user data is transmitted to the server S (step S15). If there is no user data, information to that effect is transmitted instead of the user data.

Next, the management directory is updated to the one containing the missing individual software by using the directory update program (step S16).

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, on the other hand, when the server S receives the data from the user data terminal T (step S31), the server S stores the user data in its storage area (step S33). ), And sets the flag F2 to "1" (step S34). On the other hand, when information indicating that there is no user data is received from the terminal T (step S32), step S32 is performed.
Move to 26.

Next, the use of the individual software is started in the terminal T and the server S (steps S9 and S26). Thereafter, the terminal T is the same as the above until step S12, and the server S is the same until the step S28. If the server S stores user data, the flag F2 is "1" in step S202, and the process proceeds to step S35 to set the flag F2 to "0". Next, the stored user data is transmitted to the terminal T and returned (step S36).

On the other hand, since the flag F1 is "1" in step S103, the terminal T proceeds to step S17 and sets the flag F1 to "0". Next, when the user data is received (step S18), the user data is stored and stored in the storage area (step S19). Next, the added individual software is deleted by the above-described directory update program, thereby returning the management directory to the original state (step S20). Thus, the operation of using the individual software is completed. This allows the person in charge to use the terminal T as his / her own terminal using the smart card C even if the terminal T does not support the smart card C. As a result, if there is a vacant terminal T, the operator can use the terminal T using the smart card C, so that the operation rate of the terminal T can be improved.

In this embodiment, when each individual software is upgraded by a vendor, each time the software is upgraded,
Notify the owner of the terminal T, and download the upgraded individual software from the server S to the terminal T in response to a request from the terminal T. In addition, when the individual software is upgraded, data compatibility between the upgraded individual software and other old individual software may be lost. In this embodiment, however, the individual software is upgraded. When the individual software is downloaded from the server S to the terminal T, including when the software is upgraded and when the above-mentioned missing individual software is added, data compatibility must be obtained between all the individual software included in the same management directory. Create and download a directory update program that constitutes such a management directory. This ensures consistency in the ERP package. Therefore, there is no need to assign a dedicated person for managing the ERP package to the owner of the terminal T. As a result, it becomes easier to introduce the ERP package into small and medium-sized enterprises. Embodiment 2 FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a packaged software rental system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. 5, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 indicate the same or corresponding parts.

In the package software rental system 51 of this embodiment, one or more terminals T are connected to the network N via the sub server SS. Sub server SS
Plays a role similar to that of the server S of the first embodiment. Then, the server (center server) S exchanges management information, records and retains the management information with the sub server SS at regular intervals. Such exchange of management information, record keeping, and the like can be easily performed when the server S and the sub server SS are always connected. Therefore, in this embodiment, the network N
Preferably, it is a TV network.

With this configuration, the package software rental system can be operated efficiently even when the individual software is frequently downloaded from the server to the terminal T and the load on the server is high. Embodiment 3 In Embodiment 3 of the present invention, unlike Embodiment 1,
Terminal T does not support smart card C. That is, the individual software stored in the terminal T is not predetermined, and each time the smart card C is attached, the individual software corresponding to the contents of the smart card C is downloaded. Even with such a configuration, the first embodiment
The same effect as described above can be obtained.

In the first and second embodiments, the terminal T
And the server S are connected via a network,
This may be connected by a dedicated line capable of data communication.

Further, in the above embodiment, when there is excess or deficiency in the individual software stored in the terminal T, the missing individual software is added. However, the excess software is sent to the server S. It may be.

Although the smart card C and the terminal T are associated one-to-one in the first embodiment, the smart card C and the terminal T may be associated one-to-many or a plurality one-to-one.

Further, in the above embodiment, the smart card C is used as the use permission information storage medium, but this may be any information storage medium that can store and read information.
For example, a magnetic card can be used as a card type, and a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, or the like can be used as a type other than a card.

In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to the ER
Although the case where the present invention is applied to the P package has been described, the present invention can be similarly applied to other package software.

[0044]

The present invention is embodied in the above-described manner, and has an effect that the operating rate of the terminal can be improved in the method of renting the package software itself.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a package software rental system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing contents stored in the smart card of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the terminal in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the server in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a packaged software rental system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,51 Package software rental system 2 All individual software 3 Individual software C Smart card N Network S server SS Sub server T Terminal

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification FI FI Theme Court ゛ (Reference) G06F 13/00 530 G06F 9/06 660A (72) Inventor Kenichi Ohashi Kenichi Wadazakicho, Hyogo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo Prefecture No. 1-1, Shinryo System Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5B049 AA05 BB58 CC05 CC21 DD04 DD05 EE23 EE28 FF03 FF04 FF08 FF09 GG04 GG07 GG10 5B076 BB06 FB01 FC10

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A package software rental system for renting package software composed of a set of related individual software in units of individual software using a host computer and one or more user computers connected to the host computer via a communication line. A use permission information storage medium that is issued in correspondence with the rental of the individual software unit and stores rental identification information indicating that the individual software is rented and the rented individual software name, When the use permission information storage medium is mounted on the user computer, the user computer and the host computer check the rental identification information stored in the use permission information storage medium and authenticate the use permission information storage medium. In some cases, individual software stored on the user computer Is compared with the individual software name stored in the use permission information storage medium, and if they match, they remain as is, and if they do not match, the individual software with the name stored in the use permission information storage medium is read from the host computer. A packaged software rental system configured to enable use of individual software that has been rented by the use permission information storage medium after being downloaded to the user computer. 2. When the use permission information storage medium is mounted, the user computer checks the rental identification information stored in the use permission information storage medium, and authenticates the use permission information storage medium. Item 1. A package software rental system according to item 1. 3. The user computer, after performing authentication of the use permission information storage medium, stores the individual software name stored in the use permission information storage medium together with the individual software name stored in the user computer into the host computer. 3. The package software rental system according to claim 2, wherein the package software rental system transmits to the computer, and upon receiving the transmission, the host computer performs the collation and enables use of the individual software. 4. The one or more user computers are made to correspond to the use permission information storage medium, and store individual software having a name stored in the corresponding use permission information storage medium. A package software rental system according to any one of the above items. 5. A management directory is constructed in the user computer, and the management directory is always a file of predetermined software including the rented individual software including after downloading the individual software from the host computer to the user computer. The package software rental system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the system comprises: 6. The package software rental system according to claim 1, wherein the package software for download is stored in the host computer. 7. The package software rental system according to claim 1, wherein the use permission information storage medium is a smart card. 8. The computer according to claim 1, wherein said user computer is rented together with corresponding individual software.
A package software rental system according to any one of the above items.