JP2020087084A - Information processing system, and license protection method - Google Patents

Abstract

To surely protect a license with a simple configuration.SOLUTION: A sales data processing device 1 reads font data 21c and a license code 21b from an external memory 21 to store them, and updates an initial read discrimination flag 21a to "FALSE" in the case that the initial read discrimination flag 21a is "TRUE" showing that the font data 21c is not read in reading the font data 21c from the external memory 21. Also, the device re-reads the font data 21c from the external memory 21 on condition that the license code 21b of the external memory 21 coincides with the license code 21b held by the sales data processing device 1 in the case that the initial read discrimination flag 21a is "FALSE" showing that the font data 21c has already been read.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing system and a license protection method.

Conventionally, an electronic cash register (ECR: Electronic Cash Register) or a POS (Point Of Sales) terminal device has been installed in a store or the like that sells products (including services) and serves as a sales data processing device that receives designation of sales registration of products. An electronic device such as is known (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

In such a sales data processing device, as fonts to be printed on receipts, fonts that can be used for a fee are provided in addition to fonts that can be used free of charge. Fonts that can be used for a fee are provided in the form of an external memory, etc., but normally, from the viewpoint of license protection, one external memory that stores fee-based font data is provided for one sales data processing device. To be done. Hereinafter, a system including the electronic device and the external memory will be referred to as an information processing system.

Conventionally, there are license protection methods for preventing unauthorized use of software and contents. For example, when installing and using the software on a computer, enter the license code included in the package into the computer, communicate with a license authentication server etc. via the Internet, and make sure that the license code is valid. Is authenticated, only the first authenticated computer can be used (for example, see Patent Document 2).

Therefore, in the case of the sales data processing device described above, for example, if the license code is authenticated by the license authentication server via the Internet via the communication unit, it is stored in the attached external memory. It may be possible to load paid font data.

JP, 2017-157089, A JP, 2010-231385, A

However, the conventional license protection method has a problem that it takes time and labor to prepare and manage a license authentication server.

Then, the subject of this invention is protecting a license with a reliable and simple structure.

An information processing system according to a first aspect of the present invention is an information processing system including an external memory in which data to be protected by a license is stored and an electronic device capable of reading the data in the external memory. The external memory stores, in association with the data, read information indicating whether the data is externally read after shipping and a license code of the data, and the electronic device is configured to store the external memory in the external memory. When it is determined that the data has not been read based on the read information when reading the data from, the data and the license code are read from the external memory and held, and the read information is stored. When the information indicating that the data has already been read is updated and it is determined that the data has already been read based on the read information, the license code of the external memory and the electronic device hold the license code. It is characterized in that the data is reread from the external memory on the condition that the license code is matched.

A license protection method according to a second aspect of the present invention is a license protection method for data stored in an external memory, wherein the external memory is associated with the data, and the data is read externally after shipment. The read information indicating whether or not it has been issued and the license code of the data are stored, and when the data is read from the external memory by the electronic device in which the external memory is mounted, the read information is written by the electronic device. When it is determined that the data has not been read based on the data, the data and the license code are read from the external memory and stored in the electronic device, and the read information is already stored in the electronic device by the electronic device. Is updated to information indicating that the electronic device has been read, and when the electronic device determines that the data has already been read based on the read information, the license code of the external memory and the electronic device are It is characterized in that the electronic device reloads the data from the external memory on the condition that the held license code matches.

According to the present invention, the license can be protected reliably and with a simple configuration.

It is a perspective view which shows the external structure of the sales data processing apparatus 1 of this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the sales data processing apparatus 1 and the external memory 21 of this embodiment. It is a flow chart for explaining operation of sales data processing device 1 of this embodiment.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, various technically preferable limitations for carrying out the present invention are attached to the embodiments described below, but the scope of the invention is not limited to the following embodiments and illustrated examples.

1A and 1B are perspective views showing an external configuration of a sales data processing device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A shows the configuration of the sales data processing apparatus 1 viewed from the diagonal front side, and FIG. 1B shows the configuration of the sales data processing apparatus 1 viewed from the diagonal rear side. The sales data processing device 1 according to the present embodiment is an electronic device that is installed in a store or the like that sells products (including services) and that accepts designation of sales registration of products. In this embodiment, the sales data processing device 1 will be described as a compact type electronic cash register (ECR). Many of compact type electronic cash registers have a structure in which a bar code scanner is not mounted in order to suppress the cost.

However, the sales data processing device 1 may be configured as an electronic device such as a high-performance type POS (Point Of Sales) terminal device or a tablet terminal device, in addition to the compact type electronic cash register. The high-performance POS terminal device is equipped with an image reading unit such as a bar code scanner, and can perform sophisticated product management based on the image data read by the image reading unit. The tablet terminal device is connected to a barcode, a printer, or the like, and functions as an accounting processing device that accepts designation of sales registration of a product and executes accounting processing.

The sales data processing device 1 includes a display unit 14 that displays data to be viewed by an operator, a customer display unit 15 that displays data to be viewed by a customer, and a printing unit 16 that prints out receipts. It has a drawer 17 for storing cash and an input unit 18 for receiving various data inputs.

The drawer 17 may be configured to be separated from the housing of the sales data processing device 1. Further, in the example shown in FIG. 1, the sales data processing device 1 is not equipped with a bar code scanner, but may be equipped with a bar code scanner.

The input unit 18 includes numeric keys “0” to “9”, a PLU key for inputting a product number, a function key regarding a tax rate, an accounting key for executing an accounting process, and the like. In the example shown in FIG. 1, these keys are shown as physical keys. However, these keys can also be configured as keys drawn on the display by configuring the input unit 18 with a display and a touch panel attached to the display, for example.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configurations of the sales data processing device 1 and the external memory 21 of this embodiment. The sales data processing device 1 includes a CPU 10, a ROM 11, a RAM 12, a timer unit 13, a display unit 14, a customer display unit 15, a printing unit 16, a drawer 17, an input unit 18, a communication unit 19, and an external memory I/F 20. Has been done. The ROM 11 stores in advance a program for operating the CPU 10 as an electronic cash register. The RAM 12 is composed of a flash memory or the like, and is used as a working area associated with execution of a program and a storage area for storing a license code 21b described later. The clock unit 13 has a built-in clock circuit such as an RTC (Real Time Clock) and outputs date and time information indicating the current date and time to the CPU 10.

The display unit 14 is composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display, or the like, and in accordance with the instruction of the display signal input from the CPU 10, the operator can browse the product name, product code, and subtotal amount. , Display tax data, etc. Similar to the display unit 14, the customer display unit 15 is configured by an LCD, an organic EL display, or the like, and displays a subtotal amount (accounting amount) to be browsed by the customer.

The printing unit 16 is, for example, a thermal printer (heat-sensitive printer), has roll paper (heat-sensitive paper) for receipts and journals, and has a product name for the roll paper according to an instruction signal input from the CPU 10. And print out the amount and sales data. At this time, the printing unit 16 prints the data using the font data 21c stored in the RAM 12. For printing, a free font is used, but if a paid font (license-protected font) is installed, a paid font may be used. The paid font can be used only by the first installed sales data processing device 1 even when there are a plurality of sales data processing devices 1. This license protection method will be described later.

The drawer 17 is a drawer for storing cash such as coins and bills. The drawer 17 can be opened by an instruction from the CPU 10. The input unit 18 includes a numeric keypad, a department key, a flat PLU key, a deposit key, a withdrawal key, a credit key, a ticket key, a cash deposit key, a subtotal key, a registration confirmation key, an amount key, a multiplication key, a connection key, and the like. It is configured. The communication unit 19 includes a modem, a router, a network card, and the like, and transmits/receives data to/from an external device connected via the communication network.

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The external memory I/F 20 is composed of hardware and software architecture specific to the sales data processing device 1, and transmits/receives data to/from the external memory 21. That is, since the external memory I/F 20 is not a USB (registered trademark) standard or the like used in a general computer or the like, reading and writing of data from the external memory 21 can be performed only by the sales data processing device 1. Yes, it is not possible with general computers.

The CPU 10 reads the system program stored in the ROM 11, develops it in the work area of the RAM 12, and controls each unit according to the system program. Further, the CPU 10 reads a processing program stored in the ROM 11 and expands it in the work area to execute various kinds of processing.

The external memory 21 is a portable recording medium including a non-volatile memory that can store and retain the contents of data even when the power supply is cut off and is freely readable and writable. The external memory 21 stores an initial read determination flag (readout information) 21a, a license code 21b, and font data 21c. The initial read determination flag 21a is set to "TRUE" as an initial value (at the time of shipment), and when the font data 21c to be license-protected (paid) is first read, the CPU 10 of the sales data processing device 1 sets " It can be rewritten as "FLASE".

When the external memory 21 is attached, the CPU 10 of the sales data processing device 1 confirms the state of the first read determination flag 21a, and if the first read determination flag 21a is "TRUE", it is subject to license protection (paid). The font data 21c is read, but if it is "FLASE", the font data 21c to be license protected is not read.

The license code 21b is read by the CPU 10 of the sales data processing device 1 when the font data 21c is read for the first time, and written in the RAM 12. If the first read determination flag 21a is “FLASE” after the first time, the CPU 10 is subject to license protection on the condition that the license code 21b written in the RAM 12 and the license code 21b of the external memory 21 match. The (paid) font data 21c is read, but if the license codes 21b do not match, the (paid) font data 21c to be license-protected is not read.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the hardware in the external memory I/F 20, the software architecture related to data transmission/reception, the data structure in the external memory 21, and the like are not disclosed, so the font data from the external memory 21 is not disclosed. 21c can be read and written only by the sales data processing device 1. The (paid) font data 21c to be license-protected may be stored encrypted or may be stored unencrypted.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the sales data processing device 1 of this embodiment. When the external memory 21 is attached to the external memory I/F 20, the CPU 10 of the sales data processing device 1 reads the first read determination flag 21a of the external memory 21 and determines whether or not it is “TRUE” (step S10). ). Then, when the initial read determination flag 21a is “TRUE”, that is, when the external memory 21 is first attached to the sales data processing device 1 (YES in step S10), the CPU 10 causes the font data 21c to be read from the external memory 21. Is read (step S12).

Next, the CPU 10 reads the license code 21b of the external memory 21 and writes it in the RAM (flash) 12 (step S14). After that, the CPU 10 rewrites the initial read determination flag 21a of the external memory 21 to "FLASE" (step S16), and ends the process.

On the other hand, in step S10, when the initial read determination flag 21a is not "TRUE", that is, when the font data 21c has already been read at least once and rewritten to "FALSE" (NO in step S10), the CPU 10 It is determined whether the license code 21b of the external memory 21 and the license code 21b of the RAM 12 match (step S18).

At this time, if the sales data processing device 1 is a device that has read the font data 21c from the external memory 21 in the past, since the license code 21b of the external memory 21 is written in the RAM 12 at the time of the first reading, Both license codes 21b match. When both license codes 21b match (YES in step S18), the CPU 10 reads the font data 21c from the external memory 21 (step S20), and ends the process. That is, in the case of the sales data processing device 1 that has read the font data 21c from the external memory 21 when first attached, the font data 21c can be read (reread) from the external memory 21 as many times as necessary.

On the other hand, when the sales data processing device 1 has never read the font data 21c from the external memory 21, the license code 21b is not written in the RAM 12, and therefore the mismatch does not occur. Further, even when the sales data processing device 1 reads the font data 21c of the other external memory 21, the other license code 21b is written in the RAM 12, so that they do not match. Thus, when the license codes 21b do not match (NO in step S18), the process ends without reading the font data 21c. That is, when the font data 21c has already been read by another sales data processing device 1, the font data 21c of the external memory 21 is not read. As described above, the font data 21c in the external memory 21 can be used only by one sales data processing device 1, and the license is surely protected.

In addition, you may provide the coping method when you want to change the sales data processing device 1 which uses the font data 21c of the external memory 21 in the situation where a plurality of sales data processing devices 1 exist. In this case, in the sales data processing device 1 which has read the font data 21c for the first time, a predetermined key operation of the input unit 18 or a simultaneous operation of a plurality of predetermined keys is performed with the external memory 21 attached. The CPU 10 confirms whether the license code 21b of the external memory 21 and the license code 21b held in the RAM 12 match, and if they match, the font data 21c and the license code 21b held in the RAM 12 are erased. , The initial read determination flag 21a of the external memory 21 is rewritten to "TRUE". As a result, the initial read determination flag 21a of the external memory 21 becomes "TRUE", that is, the initial state at the time of shipment, so that the external memory 21 can be set to another sales data processing device 1 that wants to use the font data 21c of the external memory 21. Just put it on. As described above, after securing the license protection of the font data 21c, the sales data processing device 1 that can use the font data 21c can be easily replaced.

According to the above-described embodiment, when the sales data processing device 1 reads the font data 21c from the external memory 21, the first read determination flag 21a indicates “TRUE” indicating that the font data 21c has not been read. In this case, the font data 21c and the license code 21b are read and held from the external memory 21, and the first read determination flag 21a is updated to “FALSE” indicating that the font data 21c has already been read, and the first read determination is performed. When the flag 21a is "FALSE" indicating that the font data 21c has already been read, the license code 21b of the external memory 21 and the license code 21b held by the sales data processing device 1 match. On the condition that the font data 21c is re-read from the external memory 21, the font data 21c of the external memory 21 can be used only by one sales data processing device 1, and the license can be secured. In addition, it can be protected with a simple structure. Even if the sales data processing device 1 is configured to store the license code 21b in a non-volatile flash memory and store the font data 21c having a large data capacity in a volatile inexpensive dynamic memory, By reloading the font data 21c from the memory 21, the font data 21c can be reconstructed when the sales data processing device 1 is powered on.

According to the above-described embodiment, if a predetermined user operation is performed on the sales data processing device 1, it is necessary that the license code 21b of the external memory 21 and the license code 21b held by the sales data processing device 1 match. In addition, the font data 21c and the license code 21b held by the sales data processing device 1 are erased, and the first read determination flag 21a of the external memory 21 is set to "TRUE" indicating that the font data 21c is not read. Since the rewriting is performed, the sales data processing device 1 that can use the font data 21c can be easily replaced after ensuring the license protection of the font data 21c.

In the embodiment described above, the sales data processing device 1 such as an electronic cash register (ECR; Electronic Cash Register) or a POS (Point Of Sales) terminal device is assumed as the electronic device, but the electronic device is not limited to this, and the external memory is not limited thereto. The device may be a computer, a tablet, a smartphone, or the like as long as it is a device capable of installing some data (contents), programs (application programs), etc. Similarly, in the above-described embodiment, the license protection of the font data 21c stored in the external memory 21 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be a still image, a moving image, a document, a program (application program), or the like. Good.

Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these, and includes the inventions described in the claims and their equivalents.
The inventions described in the claims of the present application will be additionally described below.

(Appendix 1)
The invention described in appendix 1 is an information processing system including an external memory in which data to be license-protected is stored, and an electronic device capable of reading the data in the external memory, wherein the external memory is When the electronic device reads the data from the external memory, the read information indicating whether or not the data is read to the outside after shipment and the license code of the data are stored in association with the data. When it is determined that the data has not been read based on the read information, the data and the license code are read and held from the external memory, and the read information is already read by the data. When it is determined that the data has already been read based on the read information, the license code of the external memory and the license code held by the electronic device are The information processing system is characterized in that the data is reread from the external memory on condition that they match.

(Appendix 2)
The invention according to appendix 2 is characterized in that, in the electronic device, when a predetermined user operation is performed, the license code of the external memory matches a license code held by the electronic device. The device according to claim 1, wherein the data and the license code held by the device are erased, and the read information of the external memory is rewritten to information indicating that the data is not read. It is an information processing system.

(Appendix 3)
The invention described in appendix 3 is the information processing system according to appendix 1 or 2, wherein the data is font data used in the electronic device.

(Appendix 4)
The invention according to appendix 4 is characterized in that the electronic device is a sales data processing device, and the font data is font data printed on a receipt output from the sales data processing device. The information processing system described in 1.

(Appendix 5)
The invention described in appendix 5 is a license protection method for data stored in an external memory, wherein the external memory associates with the data and determines whether the data is read to the outside after shipment. The read information representing the read data and the license code of the data are stored, and when the electronic device having the external memory mounted therein reads the data from the external memory, the electronic device reads the data based on the read information. If it is determined that the data has not been issued, the data and the license code are read from the external memory and stored in the electronic device, and the read information has already been read by the electronic device. When the electronic device determines that the data has already been read based on the read information, the license code of the external memory and the license code held by the electronic device are updated. The license protection method is characterized in that the electronic device re-reads the data from the external memory on the condition that and match.

(Appendix 6)
The invention according to appendix 6 provides the electronic device on condition that, when a predetermined user operation is performed on the electronic device, the license code of the external memory matches the license code held by the electronic device. Deletes the data and the license code held by the electronic device, and rewrites the read information in the external memory with information indicating that the data has not been read. 5 is the license protection method.

(Appendix 7)
The invention described in appendix 7 is the license protection method according to appendix 5 or 6, wherein the data is font data used in the electronic device.

(Appendix 8)
The invention according to appendix 8 is characterized in that the electronic device is a sales data processing device, and the font data is font data printed on a receipt output from the sales data processing device. The license protection method described in.

1... Sales data processing device, 10... CPU, 11... ROM, 12... RAM, 13... Timing unit, 14... Display unit, 15... Customer display unit, 16... Printing unit, 17... Drawer, 18... Input unit, Reference numeral 19... Communication unit, 20... External memory I/F, 21... External memory, 21a... First reading determination flag, 21b... License code, 21c... Font data

Claims (8)

An information processing system including an external memory storing data to be license-protected and an electronic device capable of reading the data in the external memory,
The external memory stores, in association with the data, read information indicating whether or not the data has been externally read after shipping, and a license code of the data,
The electronic device, when reading the data from the external memory,
When it is determined that the data has not been read based on the read information, the data and the license code are read and held from the external memory, and the read information has already been read. Information that indicates that
When it is determined that the data has already been read based on the read information, the external memory is provided on the condition that the license code of the external memory and the license code held by the electronic device match. Reload the above data from
An information processing system characterized by the above. When a predetermined user operation is performed on the electronic device,
On condition that the license code of the external memory and the license code held by the electronic device match, the data and the license code held by the electronic device are erased, Rewriting the read information to information indicating that the data has not been read,
The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein: The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the data is font data used in the electronic device. The electronic device is a sales data processing device,
The information processing system according to claim 3, wherein the font data is font data printed on a receipt output from the sales data processing device. A license protection method for data stored in an external memory,
The external memory stores, in association with the data, read information indicating whether or not the data has been externally read after shipping, and a license code of the data,
If the electronic device determines that the data has not been read based on the read information when the electronic device having the external memory mounted therein reads the data from the external memory, the external memory To read and hold the data and the license code in the electronic device, and update the read information to information indicating that the data has already been read by the electronic device,
If the electronic device determines that the data has already been read based on the read information, it is necessary that the license code in the external memory and the license code held by the electronic device match. The electronic device reloads the data from the external memory,
A license protection method characterized by the following. When a predetermined user operation is performed on the electronic device,
The electronic device erases the data and the license code held by the electronic device on the condition that the license code in the external memory and the license code held by the electronic device match. Rewriting the read information of the external memory to information indicating that the data has not been read,
The license protection method according to claim 5, wherein: 7. The license protection method according to claim 5, wherein the data is font data used in the electronic device. The electronic device is a sales data processing device,
The license protection method according to claim 7, wherein the font data is font data printed on a receipt output from the sales data processing device.

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