JP2004515845A - System and method for preventing software piracy - Google Patents

Abstract

A system and method for preventing software piracy. In one embodiment, the system may include a device that includes a hardware component (10) and a software component (101, 300). The hardware component may store the first software component (101) therein. The first software component allows the hardware to operate, but with reduced functionality. The second software component (300) may be obtained by download, which may be achieved with a dial-up connection or an Internet connection. A user may need to register a hardware component and a second software component. Then, once registration is complete, the second software component may be downloaded. Once downloaded, the second software component may allow the hardware component to operate at its intended full functionality.

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[Technical field]
The present invention relates to computer software, and more particularly, to a mechanism for preventing software piracy.
[0002]
[Background Art]
Software piracy is a significant source of intellectual property plagiarism today. Computer software can often be easily counterfeited because many identical copies can be easily and inexpensively manufactured. Second, such illegal software copies can be widely distributed, preventing software publishers from making legitimate revenues. With the advent of the Internet, the distribution of pirated software is becoming easier and more widespread.
[0003]
Software piracy can have enormous economic consequences. For example, the Software Publishers Association (SPA) estimates that the US software industry suffered more than $ 2.9 billion in the United States and more than $ 11 billion globally as a result of software theft in 1998. ing. This is a very significant impact, given that the estimated contribution of the US software industry to the economy for the year was $ 55.6 billion in income and $ 12.3 billion in federal and state income taxes.
[0004]
There are many technologies that exist to prevent software piracy. One such technique involves a password or key for other software. This type of technique has proven to be almost ineffective. Because passwords can often be stolen by avid computer "hackers". Also, passwords can easily be lost or forgotten, and are often shared between users.
[0005]
Hardware technology may be used, but this can be expensive and cumbersome. Such hardware technologies may include simple hardware dongles and coprocessor dongles (dongles are devices that couple to a computer to control access to a given application). A simple hardware dongle may implement a simple query / response protocol, one in which a software routine may poll the hardware for a specific response. Coprocessor dongles make use of complex function call interactions. The software may treat the dongle like a function, communicate the parameters and get an algorithm-dependent answer. This technique is much harder to break than a simple hardware dongle, but is still vulnerable.
[0006]
Software piracy is a concern for many different types of software, such as word processors. Applications that are fundamental to computers (word processors, operating systems, etc.) are vulnerable to copyright infringement.
[0007]
Another area in which software piracy is a concern is software peripherals. Soft peripherals include devices such as soft modems and soft network interfaces. Soft peripherals may replace most of the hardware functions with software. For example, a soft modem replaces the hardware functionality of the modem with software, leaving only the CODEC (coder / decoder) and other essential circuitry implemented in hardware. The code may be embedded in the CODEC, and the soft modem may be configured to function only when the software successfully reads the code. However, if a computer hacker successfully reads the code, a number of counterfeit CODECs may be manufactured, thereby widening the illegal distribution of soft modems. In some cases, a person attempting to counterfeit the CODEC may use a logic analyzer or other test equipment to look up the internal logic of the device, and such a person may be able to copy it.
[0008]
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The problems outlined above are in large part solved by systems and methods for preventing software piracy. In one example, a system may include hardware components and first and second software components. The hardware component may store the first software component therein. The first software component may allow the hardware component to operate, but with reduced functionality. For example, if the hardware and software components include a 56k modem, the first software component may allow the modem (hardware component) to operate at speeds below 14.4k. Because the first software component may operate with reduced hardware components, the user of the device will have sufficient motivation to obtain a second software component that may provide the hardware component with full functionality. . The second software component may be obtained by download, which may be achieved by a dial-up connection or an Internet connection. A user may need to register a hardware component and a second software component. Upon completion of registration, a second software component may be downloaded. Once downloaded, the second software component may enable the hardware component to operate at its intended full functionality.
[0009]
In one embodiment, a hardware component may include a unique serial number. Once downloaded, the software can read the serial number and configure itself to function properly only with this serial number. This would be an effective means of preventing software from being copied illegally. Software cannot function fully with hardware components having different serial numbers.
[0010]
In various embodiments, the hardware components may include hardware for a peripheral device, such as a modem, a network interface, a CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read Only Memory) or other peripheral device. The software component in these embodiments may be a driver that allows the software to function properly. The first software component may be a "cripple" driver that may be stored or embedded in a hardware component and allows only reduced functionality to the hardware. The second software component may be a driver that allows full functionality to the device and may be obtained by download after registration by a user of the computer system.
[0011]
In another example, the hardware component may be a computer system motherboard. In such an embodiment, the software component may include an operating system. The motherboard may include at least one processor that may have a unique serial number. Other devices on the computer motherboard may also have unique serial numbers. The first software component may be a version of the operating system with a reduced number of features. Alternatively, the first software component may be configured to slow down the processor, the system bus, or both, to operate the computer system. The second software component may be a full featured version of an operating system and may be configured to allow the computer system to run at full speed.
[0012]
Thus, in various embodiments, systems and methods for preventing software piracy can be an effective means of preventing unauthorized copying of software. By configuring the software to function only with hardware components having a unique serial number, it will be difficult to increase the number of unauthorized copies. Potential counterfeiters would have to imitate serialized hardware components in order to distribute copies of counterfeit software that could actually be used. This will increase counterfeit costs to a point where they are no longer cost effective.
[0013]
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0014]
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. However, the drawings and description are not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, which, on the contrary, is intended to limit the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims. It is to be understood that all variations, equivalents, and alternatives included herein are included.
[0015]
Mode for carrying out the invention
Referring now to FIG. 1, a block diagram of one embodiment of a computer system 200 that includes a processor 10 coupled to various system components by a bus bridge 202 is shown. Other embodiments are possible and contemplated. The illustrated embodiments may include hardware and software components configured to prevent software piracy as described herein. In the illustrated system, a main memory 204 is coupled to the bus bridge 202 by a memory bus 206 and a graphics controller 208 is coupled to the bus bridge 202 by an AGP bus 210. Finally, a plurality of PCI devices 212A-212B are coupled to bus bridge 202 by PCI bus 214. A second bus bridge 216 is further provided, which may support an electrical interface to one or more EISA or ISA devices 218 via an EISA / ISA bus 220. Processor 10 is coupled to bus bridge 202 by CPU bus 224 and to optional L2 cache 228.
[0016]
Bus bridge 202 provides an interface between processor 10, main memory 204, graphics controller 208, and devices attached to PCI bus 214. Upon receiving an operation from one of the devices connected to the bus bridge 202, the bus bridge 202 identifies the target of the operation (eg, a particular device or, in the case of a PCI bus 214, the target is a PCI bus 214). It's above). Bus bridge 202 communicates the operation to the target device. Bus bridge 202 generally translates operations from the protocol used by the source device or bus to the protocol used by the target device or bus.
[0017]
In addition to providing the PCI bus 214 with an interface to the ISA / EISA bus, the second bus bridge 216 may further incorporate additional features, if desired. An input / output controller (not shown), whether it is external to or integral with the second bus bridge 216, is optionally included within the computer system 200 and includes a keyboard and mouse 222 and Operational support for various serial and parallel ports may be provided. In other embodiments, an external cache unit (not shown) may be further coupled to CPU bus 224 between processor 10 and bus bridge 202. Alternatively, an external cache may be coupled to bus bridge 202 and cache control logic, or an external cache may be integrated into bus bridge 202. The L2 cache 228 is further shown in a backside configuration to the processor 10. L2 cache 228 may be separate from processor 10, integrated with cartridge (eg, slot 1 or slot A) with processor 10, or even integrated with processor 10 on a semiconductor substrate. Note that it is good.
[0018]
The main memory 204 is a memory in which application programs are stored, and the processor 10 executes mainly from this memory. Suitable main memory 204 includes a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory). For example, multiple banks of SDRAM (synchronous DRAM) or Rambus DRAM (RDRAM) may be suitable.
[0019]
PCI devices 212A-212B are examples of various peripheral devices such as, for example, network interface cards, video accelerators, audio cards, hard disk drives or floppy disk drives or drive controllers, SCSI (small computer system interface) adapters, and telephony cards. It is. Similarly, ISA device 218 is illustrative of various types of peripheral devices, such as modems, sound cards, and various data collection cards such as GPIB or fieldbus interface cards.
[0020]
Graphic controller 208 is provided to control the rendering of characters and images on display 226. Graphics controller 208 may embody a typical graphics accelerator commonly known in the art that renders three-dimensional data structures that can be effectively shifted into and out of main memory 204. Thus, the graphics controller 208 may be a master of the AGP bus 210 in that it can request access to and receive access to the target interface within the bus bridge 202 to gain access to the main memory 204. The dedicated graphic bus supports quick retrieval of data from main memory 204. For certain operations, the graphics controller 208 may be further configured to generate PCI protocol transactions on the AGP bus 210. Thus, the AGP interface of bus bridge 202 may include functionality to support both AGP protocol transactions and PCI protocol target and initiator transactions. Display 226 is any electronic display capable of displaying images or characters. Suitable displays 226 include cathode ray tubes (CRT), liquid crystal displays (LCD), and the like.
[0021]
It should be noted that although the above description uses AGP, PCI and ISA or EISA buses as examples, any bus architecture can be substituted if desired. It is further noted that computer system 200 may be a multi-processing computer system that includes an additional processor (eg, processor 10a shown as an optional component of computer system 200). Processor 10a may be similar to processor 10. More specifically, processor 10a may be an exact copy of processor 10. Processor 10a may be connected to bus bridge 202 via an independent bus (as shown in FIG. 5), or may share CPU bus 224 with processor 10. Further, processor 10a may be coupled to an optional L2 cache 228a similar to L2 cache 228.
[0022]
Turning now to FIG. 2, a block diagram illustrating the connection of one embodiment of a computer system to a software repository / database for downloading and registering full-featured software components is shown. In the illustrated embodiment, the computer system 200 is connected to a software publisher's database / repository 300 through an Internet Service Provider (ISP) 350. The connection between computer system 200 and ISP 350 may be through a network connection or a dial-up connection. Alternative embodiments are possible and contemplated where the computer 200 can connect directly to the database / repository 300 through a dial-up connection (not by the ISP).
[0023]
Computer system 200 may be equivalent to computer system 200 of FIG. 1, or may be a computer system based on a different architecture. A user of computer system 200 may send registration information to database / repository 300 through ISP 350 after installation of hardware components. The hardware component can be a peripheral device such as a modem, a network interface card, a compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM) drive or other device. The hardware component may be a motherboard of the computer system 200. The first software component may be stored on a hardware component of computer system 200 and may allow the hardware to operate with limited functionality. For example, if the hardware component is a 56k modem, the first software component may be a driver that limits the modem's baud rate to 14.4k. In another example, if the hardware component is a computer system motherboard, the first software component may be an operating system with a reduced number of functions, and may also operate the computer system at a reduced clock speed. Can be configured.
[0024]
Database / repository 300 may be configured to receive registration information from computer system 200. The registration information may then be stored in a database and used by a user of computer system 200 to upgrade the registered software in the future. The database / repository may be configured to store the full-featured software associated with the hardware components in the computer system 200.
[0025]
In response to receiving the registration information, the database / repository 300 may then allow for the downloading of a second software component, which may be full-featured software associated with the hardware components of the computer system 200. Once downloaded, the second software component may enable the hardware component to operate at its intended full functionality.
[0026]
FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of one embodiment of a method for preventing software piracy. Method 400 begins at step 401, where a computer system is loaded with hardware components, including a first software component. The hardware component may in various embodiments be an add-in card for a peripheral device or a motherboard for a computer system. In various embodiments, a hardware component may be part of a "soft device" such as a soft modem or a soft network interface. Since such soft devices use minimal hardware, many functions can be performed using software.
[0027]
At step 402, a user of the computer system may provide registration information to a publisher of the software. Software publishers may utilize databases and software repositories, such as database / repository 300 as shown in FIG. The database may be configured to store the registration information. The registration information sent by the user to the database may include the username, the date of purchase of the software and hardware components, and other relevant information. The registration information may also include a unique serial number or other unique identifier for the hardware component. This serial number or unique identifier may be stored in a database along with other registration information sent by the user. Hardware components may include a coder / decoder (CODEC) that includes a unique serial number. Alternatively, the unique serial number may be included in another device of the hardware component. In embodiments where the hardware component is a computer system motherboard, it may include a unique serial number within the system processor, chipset device, or other device mounted on the motherboard.
[0028]
In response to receiving the registration information, the user may be authorized to download (step 403) a second software component, which may be a full-featured software associated with the hardware component (which may be an add-in component). Before performing the download, the repository may cause the second software component to reconfigure itself so that it will only work with hardware components that include a unique serial number or identifier. After this reconfiguration, a download of the second software component may take place.
[0029]
At step 404, the computer system may be rebooted. This may be necessary before initializing the second software component. In some embodiments, such as involving the installation of a plug and play device, a reboot of the computer system may not be required.
[0030]
Once downloaded to the computer system, the second software component may be ready for initialization (step 405). The initialization may include a second software component reading a serial number embedded in the hardware component. Upon confirming the correct serial number, the second software component is ready for operation, which may give its associated hardware component full functionality. Upon completion of software initialization, the hardware components may be operated at their full functionality (step 406).
[0031]
Turning now to FIG. 4, a block diagram of one embodiment of a computer system having a microprocessor with a serial number in which a system for preventing software piracy can be implemented is shown. Computer system 200 may be similar to computer system 200 of FIG. 1, or may be an alternative embodiment. In the embodiment shown, computer system 200 includes a processor 10 coupled to a basic input / output system (BIOS) 105 and a bus bridge 202. Bus bridge 202 is also coupled to keyboard / mouse 222, disk storage 240, system memory 245, modem 250 and graphics controller 208. Graphics controller 208 is coupled to display 226.
[0032]
Embedded in the processor 10 is a serial identifier 102 and a first software component, a reduced function operating system (OS) 101. As used herein, an operating system is defined as a main control program of a computer system that performs functions such as task scheduling, memory and storage device management, and communication with peripheral devices. Common examples of operating systems include Microsoft's Windows (R), Unix (R), and DOS (Disk Operating System).
[0033]
Reduced function OS 101 may be an operating system that provides basic functions to the computer, but does not enable all use of operating system functions. Serial identifier 102 may be a serial number that is unique to the particular processor in which it is embedded. The reduced function OS 101 can be embedded in the processor 10 using an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM) circuit configuration or a static random access memory (SRAM) circuit configuration. Alternatively, the reduced function OS 101 may be hard-wired to the processor 10 by a lithographic mask when the processor 10 is manufactured. The BIOS 105 can be configured such that the reduced function OS 105 is loaded into the memory when the computer system 200 is started.
[0034]
Modem 250 may be configured to connect computer system 200 to a software publisher's database / repository, such as that described with reference to FIG. Other embodiments are possible and contemplated where the connection to the database / repository is established through an Internet connection or a network interface card. Upon establishing a connection using modem 250, a user of computer system 200 may send registration information to a database / repository. The serial identifier 102 may be included in the registration information and may be stored with other information in the software publisher's database.
[0035]
In response to receiving the registration information, the software publisher's repository may configure a second software component for use with computer system 200. To function properly within computer system 200, such an arrangement may require a second software component to read serial identifier 102. In such an embodiment, the second software component may be configured to function only with the unique serial identifier 102.
[0036]
After the configuration described above, the software publisher's repository may enable the computer system 200 to download the second software component. The second software component may be a full featured version of an operating system embedded in processor 10. Alternatively, the second software component may be part of an operating system that, when combined with the reduced function OS 101, includes a full function OS. After downloading, computer system 200 may be configured for use with a full-featured version of the OS. Such an arrangement involves the OS verifying the serial identifier 102, which ensures that the identifier 102 matches the serial identifier sent to the software publisher's database along with the registration information.
[0037]
Turning now to FIG. 5, a block diagram of one embodiment of a computer system having peripheral devices in which a system for preventing software piracy can be implemented is shown. Computer system 200 includes processor 10 coupled to bus bridge 202. Bus bridge 202 is coupled to system memory 245, modem 250, keyboard / mouse 222, disk storage 240, and graphics controller 208. Graphics controller 208 is coupled to display 226. A peripheral device, that is, a network interface 110 is also coupled to the bus bridge. Embodiments that include other peripherals such as CD-ROM drives, modems, etc. are possible and contemplated.
[0038]
A serial identifier 102 and a reduced function driver are embedded in the network interface 110. The reduced function driver and the second software component that is a full function driver are both device drivers. As used herein, a device driver is defined as a program that interfaces with an operating system and supports devices such as disk drives, network interfaces or modems. Further, the device driver may enable application software to use the device for the purposes of this specification, such as when a word processing program uses a printer to make a hard copy of the document created therein. It can be defined as a program.
[0039]
The reduced function driver 103 serves as a first software component that enables the hardware component (in this case, the network interface 110) to operate, but with limited functionality. In the illustrated embodiment, the reduced function driver may be configured to allow the network interface 110 to send and receive information at a slower rate than with a full function driver.
[0040]
The serial identifier 102 is a serial number or another identifier that uniquely identifies the network interface 110. The reduced function driver 103 may be embedded in a hardware device of the network interface 110 such as a CODEC. The embedding of the reduced function driver 103 can be achieved by using a lithographic mask, using an EPROM circuit configuration, an SRAM circuit configuration, or a hard-wired circuit configuration when manufacturing a hardware device. In addition to those mentioned, other types of circuitry may be used to embed the first software component into the hardware component. It should also be noted that the serial identifier 102 may be embedded in the same hardware device as the reduced function driver 103, or may be embedded in a different device of the first hardware component.
[0041]
Modem 250 may be configured to connect computer system 200 to a software publisher's database / repository, such as that described with reference to FIG. Other embodiments in which the connection to the database / repository is established through an Internet connection or network interface 110 are possible and contemplated. Upon establishing a connection using modem 250, a user of computer system 200 may send registration information to a database / repository. The serial identifier 102 may be included in the registration information and may be stored with other information in the software publisher's database.
[0042]
In response to receiving the registration information, the software publisher's repository may configure the second software component for use with the network interface 110. To function properly with network interface 110, such a configuration may require a second software component to read serial identifier 102. In such an embodiment, the second software component may be configured to function only with the unique serial identifier 102.
[0043]
After the above configuration, the software publisher's repository may allow for the download of a second software component, in this case, a full-featured driver for use with the network interface 110. Alternatively, the second software component may be part of a driver that, when combined with the reduced function driver 103, can form a full function driver for the network interface 110. After downloading, computer system 200 may configure network interface 110 to operate with the full-featured driver. Such an arrangement may include a confirmation of the serial identifier 102, which ensures that the serial identifier 102 matches the serial identifier sent to the software publisher's database along with the registration information.
[0044]
Although the invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that the embodiments are illustrative and that the scope of the invention is not so limited. Any modifications, variations, additions and improvements to the embodiments described are possible. These modifications, variations, additions and improvements will fall within the scope of the invention, as set forth in detail in the appended claims.
[0045]
[Industrial applicability]
The invention is applicable to computer software.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a computer system in which systems and methods for preventing software piracy may be implemented.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the connection of one embodiment of a computer system to a software repository / database for downloading and registering full-featured software components.
FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of one embodiment of a method for preventing software piracy.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a computer system having a serialized microprocessor in which a system for preventing software piracy may be implemented.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a computer system having peripheral devices in which a system for preventing software piracy may be implemented.

Claims (10)

A computer system,
A hardware component (10);
A first operating system component (101) stored within the hardware component, wherein the first operating system component is configured to operate the hardware component with reduced functionality; The computer system, wherein the wear component is configured to operate in full function in response to a download of the second operating system component (300). The computer system of claim 1, wherein a user of the computer system is required to register the second operating system component prior to the download. The method,
Installing a hardware component (10) on a computer system, wherein the hardware component is configured to store a first software component (101), wherein the first software component replaces the hardware component with: The hardware component includes a unique identifier (102), and further comprises registering a second software component (300), the registration step comprising: Providing the unique identifier to the database in response to the step of providing the unique identifier to the database. A step only when using the components are configured not to operate, further downloading the second software component,
Installing the second software component, wherein the hardware component is configured to operate at full functionality after installation of the second software component. 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising storing registration information including the unique identifier in the database. 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising initializing the second software component after the download. The method of claim 5, wherein the initializing step comprises the second software component reading the unique identifier. Peripheral devices,
A hardware component (110) configured to be installed on the computer system;
A first device driver component (202) stored within the hardware component, wherein the first device driver component is configured to operate the hardware component with reduced functionality; The peripheral device, wherein the wear component is configured to operate in full function in response to the download of the second device driver component (300). The peripheral device of claim 7, wherein the hardware component comprises a coder / decoder (CODEC) (110). 9. The peripheral device according to claim 8, wherein the CODEC includes a unique identifier. The peripheral device according to claim 9, wherein the second device driver component is configured to function only with the CODEC including the unique identifier.

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