JP2003050719A - Device for monitoring utilization state of application software, and its software program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for monitoring utilization state of application software. SOLUTION: This device is provided with a monitoring device for recording use history information, to indicate utilization time and utilization time zone of the application software installed in a user's computer into the computer, and to automatically acquire personal information and the utilization history information of a user by each prescribed period via a communication line.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a usage status monitoring device for application software. More specifically, it relates to a system that automatically reports how often a user uses application software to a mail server via a communication line including the Internet, by a script started in the user's computer. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, the usage status of application software used by a user is reported by a questionnaire survey by a conventional postcard or by reporting when registering as a user of the application software manufacturer through a communication line. I was aware of how often and how long the wear was used. In addition, the type of application software used by the user, the period of use, and the period of use have been specified when using a mobile phone including the Internet and PHS.

[0003]

However, as described above, if the application software is of a type that connects to the Internet or a mobile phone network, the usage status of the application software can be grasped in real time. For example, there has been a problem that it is not possible to know at all how much an application is being executed in a stand-alone format that is not connected to a communication line.

In view of the above situation, the present invention intends to provide a usage monitoring device for application software.

[0005]

According to the present invention, use history information representing the use time and the use time zone of application software installed in a user's computer is recorded inside the computer, and the user's personal information is recorded at predetermined intervals. , And a monitoring device for automatically acquiring usage history information via a communication line.

According to the present invention, a storage area for storing application software, a label file for recording the application software name, version name and calendar information, a dynamic link library, and an installation module as a compressed file of digital information. A web server that downloads a compressed file from the storage area to a user's computer via a communication line; and a usage history of the application software in response to activation of the application software decompressed and installed inside the user's computer. Is temporarily stored in the user's computer, and a monitoring device for automatically acquiring the usage history information via a communication line at predetermined intervals is included.

Further, according to the present invention, the dynamic link library includes at least an initialization file that stores the initial settings of the application, a dynamic link start file, and a dynamic link end file.

Furthermore, the present invention further comprises a step of counting the total number of shells storing at least the user identification information and the calendar information, a step of determining whether or not the total number of the shells has reached a predetermined number, and the determination result. When the number exceeds the predetermined number, a step of adding the user personal information to the user identification information and calendar information in the predetermined number of shells and sending an e-mail to a predetermined mail server, while deleting the predetermined number of shells And a step of generating a new shell, which relates to a usage status monitoring software program of application software.

Furthermore, the present invention compares the predetermined local information and global information previously stored in the user's computer with the current local information and global information, and when it is determined that at least one does not match, the current information The present invention relates to a usage status monitoring software program of application software, further including a step of adding user personal information to local information and global information and transmitting an electronic mail to a predetermined mail server.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 7 show an example of an embodiment of the present invention, in which the basic hardware configuration is the same as that of a conventional computer system using the Internet, an intranet, or a mobile phone network. The feature is that, as shown in FIG. 1, a script program, for example, a trail watcher is included in the application software, the use history of the application software is temporarily stored in the user's computer, and the stored information is periodically stored. The point is that the mail was reported to the mail server of the application software vendor.

Next, the operation of the illustrated example will be described. Figure 1
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an internet network illustrating an embodiment of the present invention. A trail watch included in the application software installed in the computer which is the user machine 10 can notify the mail server, which is the center machine 14, via the Internet 12 of the usage status of the application software. The center machine 14 can manage usage statistics of application software used by a user and unauthorized use such that a single application software is used by a plurality of user machines 10, for example, application software. User's name, address, work, email address and other Internet input at the stage of installing
The information of the IP address, the POP server, and the SMTP server for connecting to 2 can be individually acquired. Although the user machine 10 connected to the Internet 12 has been described in the present embodiment, in the embodiment of the present invention, the user machine 10 is replaced with a computer and I-
A mobile phone network such as MODO or J-SKYNET can also be used. Further, even if the center machine 14 is replaced with a web server instead of the mail server, the usage status of the application software of the user can be obtained.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of package software exemplifying an embodiment of the present invention. The installation module 16 includes an application source 18 of application software, a label file 20, and DLL_INI 22 and DL of a dynamic link library.
This is a program for installing L_ST24 and DLL_END26 in the user machine 10. Install module 16, application source 1
8, label file 20, DLL_INI22, DLL
_ST24 and DLL_END26 are both known LZ
HDD of web server or CD or VD of package software in the form of compressed file 28 such as H or ZIP
It can be permanently stored as digital information in the V medium,
The user uses the compressed file 28 via the Internet 12.
Can be downloaded or the compressed file 28 can be purchased at a computer shop.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of package software illustrating an embodiment of the present invention. The installation module 30 decompresses the compressed file 28 and initializes the dynamic link library DLL_INI2.
Process step 32 of calling 2. The decompressed application software 34 executes step 36 of calling DLL_ST24 of the dynamic link library at the stage of starting, and step 38 of calling DLL_END26 of the dynamic link library at the end of the application software 34. The application software 34 can be terminated. In the decompressed label file 40,
The application software name of the application software 34, its version name, and calendar information, that is, digital information of the date when the application software is executed are stored. In addition, the three dynamic link libraries shown are DLL_I after decompression.
NI 42, DLL_ST 44, and DLL_END 46.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of the present invention. Installer 48, application software 50, label file 52, dynamic link library DLL_INI 54, DLL_S
The T56 and the DLL_END 58 are digitally stored in the compressed file 62 through the compression process 60 and can be downloaded in response to a user's request, for example, via the Internet 12. The downloaded compressed file 64 can be fixedly stored in the storage area of the user machine 10, and the user decompresses the compressed file 64.
6 to execute installer 68, application software source file 70, label file 7
2. The dynamic link libraries 74, 76, 78 can be temporarily stored. After that, the installer 68 is activated, and the consent approval / disapproval determination processing 82 is performed while watching the screen display 80 asking whether or not to consent to the script installation. If the user does not agree, the process is terminated, and if the user agrees, the log file storing the information on the usage status of the application software is initialized 86. When the initialization process 86 is executed, the log file 9 is stored in the internal storage device of the user machine 10.
2 is generated and the use status of the application software is set to the initial state. Also, initialization process 86
After that, the installation process 88 of the application software 70 is executed on the user machine 10, and the execution file 94 of the application software 70 can be digitally permanently stored in the internal storage device of the user machine 10. Furthermore, a log folder 96 of application software is created in the log file 92 in the storage device inside the user machine 10, and the log folder 96
A subfolder generation folder 98 in the lower layer and a folder 10 storing installation information in the lower layer
0 is created. This installation information includes the user's name, address, telephone number, personal information of the user,
It may include an email address and application software name or software version name. Further, sub-shells 102 to 104 are automatically created in the lower layer of the log folder 96 for each date when the application software is started, and the usage time zone and usage period regarding the usage status of the application software are automatically recorded. You can A user-designated folder 106 is created in the execution file 94, and an AP folder 108 of application software is created below the user-designated folder 106.
Reference numeral 08 denotes an application software execution file 110, dynamic link libraries 112, 11
4. Label file 116 mentioned above, initialization file 1 of applet dynamic link library
18, dynamic link library startup file 1
20, dynamic link library end file 1
22 created. A subdirectory 124 of the log folder 124 is created below the AP folder 108.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of the present invention. When the user starts the application software, the computer calls DLL_ST 126 of the dynamic link library to check whether or not the installation information of the application software of the present case is held 128.
To execute. If it is determined that the user has installation information, the process branches to step 132, and the shell
Check if there are more than 50 entries, in other words, if a shell has been created. If 50 or more have been created as a result of the check in step 132, step 13
The above-mentioned installation information is added to the contents of all 50 shells created or checked by branching to 6 to automatically generate an e-mail, and then the e-mail is sent to the mail server of the center connected to the Internet environment. To send. Next, all the shells stored in the user's computer or the shells sent by e-mail are deleted in step 138, and the process proceeds to step 140 to automatically create a new shell. At step 142, it is checked whether the current local IP address and global IP address from the operating user's computer match the initial local IP address and initial global IP address stored during the installation of the application software. , Step 144. If the determination result does not match, the process branches to step 146 and the current local IP address and global IP address.
The installation information described above is added to the address to create an electronic mail and send it to the mail server of the center. As a result, it is possible to check whether the application software is used by a legitimate user only by accessing the mail server of the center. This check can be performed manually, but it can be automatically detected by the center computer connected to the center mail server. That is, the user registration information is compared with the content of the received e-mail, and if they match, it can be determined that the user is an authorized user, and if they do not match, an alert can be sent to the person in charge of the center. If it is determined in step 130 described above that the user does not have installation information, the process proceeds to step 15
After branching to 2 to process the preparation for sending an email, it is determined in step 154 whether the user's computer is currently connected to the Internet environment. If the determination result is the connection state, the prepared local e-mail address and global IP address are sent to the above-mentioned mail server of the center in step 156, and the process ends in step 158. Further, if the number of shells is less than 50 in step 134 described above, it is possible to branch to step 140 and create a new shell. In this embodiment, if the user's computer is not connected to the Internet, for example, if the dial-up connection is interrupted or the application software is a stand-alone type that does not connect to the Internet environment, send an email at step 154. However, since many users will start using the computer with a cheap Internet constant connection state such as ADSL, optical fiber, or cable TV in the future, the present invention has sufficient utility. It is expected that it will come out.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of the present invention. DLL_END of the dynamic link library is called at step 158 when the user selects the end of the application software. According to the called DLL_END, it is possible to check in step 160 whether or not the user's computer has the installation information of the application software, and if it has the installation information, the process branches to step 164 and a new one is created. The process is terminated 166 after a new shell is generated inside the user's computer. However, if the user does not have the installation information, the process can be terminated 166 without generating a new shell.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of the present invention. The process when DLL_INI of the dynamic link library that initializes the log file 92 and generates new installation information is called will be described. When DLL_INI is called, the process begins at step 168 and proceeds to step 170 where the user's computer can automatically generate installation information. For example, the time stamp of the calendar function is automatically generated, the name information entered by the user, the address information entered by the user, the date of birth information, and the occupation information are stored and stored in the user's computer. After automatically acquiring and storing the local and global IP addresses and the version information of the installed operating system, the process proceeds to step 172, and the installation information is reported to the mail server of the center by an automatic e-mail. While connecting to the website or file transfer server where other application software is downloaded to the user, these time stamps, name information, address information, date of birth information, occupation information, local and global IP address Less, and it is also possible to automatically acquire the version information of the operating system. When the installation information is acquired, the process proceeds to step 174 to end the process.

In this way, the application software use status monitoring apparatus must acquire a history of who used the application software by a script called a trail watcher having the use status monitoring function embedded in the application software in advance. You can create a log and report it to the center's mail server at a certain interval using communication means. Also,
Since user attributes are recorded in the log area during user registration when installing application software, it is possible to embed other functions for collecting information necessary for marketing. Therefore, various statistics can be automatically obtained and used for marketing information. In the embodiment of the present invention, for example, the software vendor is
A label file is provided, and software name information, software version information, and date are stored in this label file.
This date information can be updated daily, but the label file can be generated daily by using the calendar function of the computer. Further, an installation module is provided so that the user can download the application software through the Internet environment, decompress the application software, and activate the application software to execute the installation of the application software. A coding program for calling DLL_INl is inserted in the approximate head area of this installation module, and a coding program for calling DLL_ST is inserted in the first half area of the application software. Insert a coding program that calls DLL_END in the approximate end area of the application software. These "label file", "install module", "application software",
"DLL_INI", "DDLL_ST", "DLL_
6 files of "END" can be bundled and transferred as one compression file. Furthermore, it is possible to consider the process of checking the falsification of the parameters stored in the file. For example, an agency program for which the applicant has already filed a patent for a trail watch may be intentionally or randomly deleted by monitoring the trail watch at certain intervals or at all times. In this case, the alteration of the program or the alteration of the usage status of the program can be reported to the mail server of the center by using the electronic mail of automatic transmission.

Further, although it is preferable that the user of the application software running on the computer can connect to the Internet environment where TCP / IP can be used, i-
The present invention can be applied to mobile phone terminals such as modo and j-skynet. For example, a user who downloaded the game software may intentionally rewrite the game software to change the story, or prevent unauthorized use such as exploring a hidden command for clearing the front and ending the game in a short time. it can. When installing application software, it is common to display the wording "I agree to collect usage statistics" of the application software program in the license, but within the range that does not violate the privacy of the user. If so, it does not necessarily require consent. Application software usage monitoring products currently under development target so-called online software that can be downloaded by users connected to the Internet environment.
Needless to say, the present invention can be implemented in the future with package software handled in stores or by mail order. In the present embodiment, for example, a predetermined area of the C drive of the hard disk of the computer used by the user of the application software is used as a log area, and the operation system of the application software user is Windows developed by Microsoft Corporation in the United States. 9
It corresponds to 5/98 / me / 2000 / NT,
It can also be compatible with Linux and operating systems made by Apple Inc. in the United States. That is, COOKIE, which is an application software version, acquires personal information by using e-mail. However, in the world of the Internet, which cannot be known, individuals freely leak personal information on the line. The current situation.

It should be noted that the application software use status monitoring device of the present invention is not limited to the above-described illustrated example, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. is there. For example, applets can be Java type or other types.

[0021]

As described above, according to the use status monitoring apparatus of the application software of the present invention, the use status of the application software can be grasped and the supporting data of the popular software can be acquired. That is, the excellent effect can be achieved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an Internet network of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of package software illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of package software illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 user machines 12 Internet 14 center machine 16 Install Module 18 Application Source 20 Label file 28 compressed files 30 Install Module 34 Application software 40 label file 48 installer 50 application software 52 Label file 62 compressed files 64 compressed files 68 installer 70 Application software 72 Label file 74 Dynamic Link Library 92 log files 94 Executable file 96 log folders 98 Generated folder 100 folders 102 shell 106 User specified folder 108 folders 110 executable 112 Dynamic Link Library 116 Label file 118 Initialize file 120 startup file 122 end file 124 subdirectories 124 log folder

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A digital computer connected to a communication line for acquiring system information of a computer used by a user via the communication line, the usage time and use of application software installed in the user's computer. Use of application software including a monitoring device which records use history information indicating a time zone inside the computer and automatically acquires the personal information of the user and the use history information via the communication line at predetermined intervals. Situation monitoring device. 2. A storage area for storing application software, a label file for recording the application software name, version name, and calendar information, a dynamic link library, and an installation module as a compressed file of digital information, A web server for downloading the compressed file from the storage area to the user's computer via a communication line, and a usage history of the application software in response to activation of the application software decompressed and installed inside the user's computer. A usage status monitoring apparatus for application software including a monitoring apparatus for temporarily storing the usage history information inside the user's computer and automatically acquiring the usage history information at predetermined intervals via a communication line. 3. The dynamic link library is an initialization file that stores at least an initial setting of an application, a dynamic link start file,
The usage monitoring apparatus for application software according to claim 2, further comprising: and a dynamic link end file. 4. A usage monitoring program for application software operating on a digital computer, which comprises a step of counting the total number of shells storing at least user identification information and calendar information, and the total number of the shells is set to a predetermined number. The step of determining whether or not the number has reached, and when the result of the determination exceeds a predetermined number, the user personal information is added to the predetermined number of user identification information and calendar information in the shell, and electronic mail is sent to a predetermined mail server. An application software usage status monitoring application software program including a step of transmitting an email and a step of creating a new shell while deleting the predetermined number of shells. 5. The current local information and global information are compared with predetermined local information and global information stored in advance in the user's computer, and when it is determined that at least one of them does not match, the current local information and global information. The use status monitoring software program according to claim 4, further comprising the step of adding the user personal information to information and transmitting an electronic mail to a predetermined mail server.