JP2924560B2 - Paid program product use check device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to management of the use of intangible computer software, and in particular, to a check on the use of a paid program product that allows only a paid program product compatible with a user's computer system to be used in the computer system. Related to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, the hardware performance of a computer system depends on the performance of the CPU itself and the number of CPUs. Therefore, in hardware manufacturers, CPU
Several types with different performances and different numbers of CPUs are prepared so that users can select a computer system that meets their needs. In this case, a plurality of types are divided into several groups, and each group is distinguished by attaching a system group number.

For example, a general-purpose computer system called ACOS-4 manufactured by NEC has a system group number "1".
There are five groups of computer systems, ie, "0", "20", "30", "40", and "50". The computer system of the group with the system group number "10" is the cheapest, but has the lowest performance. As the numerical value of the system group number increases, the price increases and the performance improves accordingly. Therefore, a user who does not need a high-performance computer in view of the contents of the business to be computerized and the amount of processing, may purchase the computer system of the system group “10”, for example.

[0004] However, since the content of the business and the amount of processing thereof increase year by year, for example, if there is a request from a user who has purchased a computer system of the system group "10", additional hardware is added to the computer system. The computer systems of the system groups "20" and "30" can be upgraded.

On the other hand, a program operating on the computer system is released to the user as a paid program product (hereinafter referred to as a paid PP) for each functional unit in a lump-sum purchase format or a rental format. Here, paid PP
Some include an operating system (OS) and some do not include an OS such as general application programs. In order to distinguish the former from the latter, the former is referred to as a paid OSPP and the latter is referred to as a paid APPP.

[0006] Such a paid PP is not designed and manufactured for each system group, but designed and manufactured for each group. The paid PP is designed and manufactured for each system group. Released as a paid PP. The selling price in this case is a paid PP with almost the same contents
However, in consideration of the fact that the processing capacity of the program itself changes depending on the hardware performance such as the number of CPUs and the speed of the computer system in which the computer system operates, the user of the computer system with the system group number "10" is considered. The price is set to the lowest price, and the highest price is set for the user of the computer system with the system group number “50”.

[0007]

Therefore, in a computer system having a certain system group, for example, a system group number "30", it is premised that a paid PP having the same system group number "30" is used. However,
As described above, since the paid PP of each system group has almost the same contents, for example, the system group number “3”
System group number "10" in the computer system "0"
Alternatively, even if the paid PP of “20” is operated, there may be a problem such as a reduction in processing speed, but business processing may be performed without any problem. For this reason, some users have to purchase a paid PP with the system group number “30”, but purchase a paid PP with the system group numbers “10” and “20”, which are cheaper than that. Something to offer may come out. Such an action impedes the formal sale of the paid PP, so it is necessary to take some measures to prevent it.

[0008] Of the paid PPs, the paid OSPPs are purchased from the corresponding system group, and the other paid APPs are purchased.
Any action, such as using a cheaper system group for PPP, will also hinder the formal sale of paid PPs, so some measures must be taken.

Here, the following techniques have been known as techniques for preventing unauthorized use of software.

(1) The machine number assigned to the hardware of the computer is also given to the program itself, and both machine numbers are collated at the time of execution of the program, and the program is executed only when they match (for example, Kaisho 60-191
No. 322, page 2, lower right column, description of prior art).

(2) The computer is provided with software-specific data storage means for storing software-specific data such as a software identification code, and software-specific data of software to be used is stored in the software-specific data storage means so as to be usable. To determine whether or not use is possible (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-191).
No. 322).

[0012] However, since these prior arts have a main purpose of preventing theft by copying a program obtained illegally, even a formal release of a paid PP as premised by the present invention requires that the system group be used. If they differ, they will not be familiar with the fraud prevention measures of not using them.

That is, in both of the prior arts (1) and (2), unauthorized use of the paid PP other than the officially released paid PP can be prevented, but if the paid PP is officially released, the system group is different. However, it is not possible to prevent unauthorized use of the paid PP of a different system group.

The present invention has been proposed in view of such circumstances, and the main purpose of the present invention is to provide a system group that is the same as the system group of the user's computer system, even if the formal PP has been officially released. If it is not a paid PP, the paid PP cannot be used.

[0015]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, a hardware group storage means and hardware information such as a machine model name of a computer system are inputted, and the hardware information is stored in the computer. CPU system
A hardware group setting unit that converts the number into a corresponding system group number among a plurality of system groups grouped by performance, and stores the hardware group setting unit in the hardware group storage unit, and a paid PP. Paid program product save medium for storing the system group number and software group
Storage means, purchase flags and purchase systems for each paid PP
And paid information table for holding a Temu group number, during installation using the <br/> paid program product saving medium is stored with the system group number in the paid program product saved medium to the hardware group storing means Determine whether installation is possible by comparing with the system group number, and determine that installation is possible.
Purchase flag in the paid information table corresponding to the paid PP
Set the system group number to ON and the paid PP
Is set in the paid information table, and the paid PP
System group number when is a paid PP including OS
And onerous installation means for setting the No. in the software group storage means, utilization of installed onerous PP
At the time of use, the fee information corresponding to the paid PP used
The status of the purchase flag in the information table and the paid information table
And the system group number of the paid PP
The system stored in the software group storage means
Based on the collation result with the stem group number,
Program to determine the availability of eligible paid PPs
Product operation availability check means .

[0016]

When a worker inputs hardware information such as a machine model name of a computer system after the upgrade at the time of upgrading the hardware of the computer system of the user, the hardware group setting means sets the input hardware to The information is converted into a corresponding system group number among a plurality of system groups obtained by grouping the computer systems by CPU performance, and is set in a hardware group storage unit.

At the time of installation using the paid program product save medium storing the paid PP and its system group number, the paid installation means includes the system group number stored in the paid program product save medium and the hardware group storage means in the hardware group storage means. The number is compared with the number. If the numbers match, the installation is executed. This prevents installation of a system group different from the system group of the user's computer system other than the paid PP . Also, paid for performing the installation
The installation means is a paid information table corresponding to the paid PP.
Turn on the purchase flag of the bull
Set the system group number in the paid information table, and
System when the paid PP of OS is a paid PP including OS
Set the group number in the software group storage
You. When using the installed paid PP,
Program product operation availability check means is used
Purchase information of the paid information table corresponding to the paid PP
The state of the lag and its fee set in the fee information table
PP system group number and software group classification
Verification with the system group number stored in the delivery method
Based on the result, use of the paid PP that was used as the target
Decide whether or not to allow.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.
In the figure, UCS is a user's computer system, and includes SG information setting means 5, paid installation means 9, paid setting means 10, HW (hardware) group setting means 15, OS specification checking means 16, OS start / stop availability. It has functional means such as a checking means 18 and a PP operation availability checking means 19, and has a SW (software) group storage area 7, an HW group storage area 8, an SG information storage area 11, a specification level storage area 12, a system group conversion table. 13, a paid information table 14, a paid OSPP number table 20, and a PP storage area 22.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 4 denotes a storage medium such as a magnetic tape in which a paid PP is saved (hereinafter referred to as a paid DLT), 1 is save information, 2 is a paid PP group, and 3 is a paid DLT.
LT save means, 6 is SG data, and 17 is HW information.

The HW information 17 is composed of "S3400 / 10" which is the machine model name of the computer system UCS. This machine model name is the computer system UCS C
Each time a PU is upgraded, the PU is changed to a machine model name that matches the computer system after the upgrade.
When the HW information 17 is given by a worker or the like at the time of upgrading the computer system UCS, the HW group setting means 15 operates, and the system group conversion table 1 which holds the correspondence between the HW information and the system group number.
3, “S3400 / 10” of HW information 17 is converted into a corresponding system group “30”, and H
Set in W group storage area 8. Therefore, the system group “30” stored in the HW group storage area 8
Indicates a grade that matches the CPU performance of the computer system UCS.

The SG data 6 is data used when the computer system UCS is generated, and the data "01" therein defines the upper limit of resources that can be used by each function of the OS of the computer system. It is a specification level. In the SG data 6, a specific upper limit value of resources that can be used by each function of the OS (batch job multiplicity, maximum real memory value, number of center connection devices, and the like) is described separately from such specification levels. Have been. When the computer system UCS is generated, the SG information setting means 5
The specific upper limit value of the resource that can be used by each function of the OS described in the G data 6 is set in the SG information storage area 11, and the specification level “01” in the SG data 6 is changed to the specification at the time of executing the SG. Set as level 11-1. In actual operation, when each function of the OS operates, the upper limit value of each resource stored in the SG information storage area 11 is checked, and control is performed so as not to exceed the upper limit value. In addition,
The specification level “01” in the SG data 6 is automatically embedded in the SG data 6 by an SG data generation tool provided to a user who has received an OS release of the specification level “01”. is there.

The following is a paid PP to the computer system UCS.
The operation at the time of installation and the operation at the time of using the installed paid PP will be described.

When a user of the computer system UCS of the system group "30" requests a lump-sum purchase or rental of one or a plurality of required paid PPs, the manufacturer of the release source of the paid PP requests the Paid PP group 2 including one or more paid PPs
Is saved in the paid DLT 4 by the paid DLT saving means 3. At this time, the number for identifying each paid PP and the system group number (in this case, “30”) and the paid OS released when the paid OSPP is included.
The save information 1 including the specification level of the PP is saved in the paid DLT 4 by the paid DLT saving means 3.

The paid DLT 4 is the computer system U of the user.
When released to the CS, the paid DLT 4 is used to install the paid PP.

When the paid DLT 4 is set on a magnetic tape device or the like (not shown) and installation is instructed, the paid installation means 9 and the paid setting means 10 of the computer system UCS start operating in that order. FIG. 2 shows a flow of the operation at this time.

First, the paid installation means 9 provides a paid D
The system group number saved in LT4,
A comparison is made with the system group number stored in the HW group storage area 8 (S1). If the two are different, the installation is stopped. This prevents unauthorized installation by a paid PP that does not match the system group of the computer system UCS.

If the two system group numbers are the same, the paid installation means 9 determines that installation is possible, and installs each paid PP stored in the paid DLT 4 into the PP storage area 22 of a fixed disk device or the like (S2). ). Reference numeral 21 in FIG. 1 indicates the paid PP installed in this manner. In this example,
The paid PP 21 includes a paid OSPP 21-1 (its number is "1") and a paid APPP 21-2 (its number is "3").

The paid installation means 9 further stores a paid OSPP number table 20 which stores all the numbers assigned to the paid OSPP with the number of the paid PP installed this time.
To determine whether the paid OSPP has been installed (S3). And paid O
If the SPP has been installed, pay D
The specification level saved in the LT 4 is stored in the specification level storage area 12 (S 4), and control is passed to the paid setting means 10. If the paid OSPP has not been installed, the process S4 is skipped and the control is passed to the paid setting means 10.

The paid setting means 10 stores the system group number saved in the paid DLT 4 in the SW group storage area 7 (S5). Further, the fee information table 14 holding the purchase flag 14-1 (its initial value is OFF) and the purchasing system group number 14-2 (its initial value is 00) for each paid PP number is updated ( S
6). That is, the purchase flag 14-1 corresponding to the paid PP number “1” of the paid PP 21-1 installed this time is set to O.
N, the system group "30" is set in the purchase system group 14-2, and the purchase flag 14-1 corresponding to the paid PP number "3" of the paid PP 21-2 is set to O.
N, and the system group "30" is set in the purchase system group 14-2.

Next, an operation when the installed paid PP is used will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of the operation at that time.

When the paid PP 21 installed in the PP storage area 22 is going to be used in the computer system UCS, for example, prior to loading into the main memory, the PP operation availability check means 19 checks the used PP of the used PP. Purchase flag 14- in the paid information table 14 corresponding to the number
It is checked whether 1 is ON (S11). And O
If it is not N, the paid PP used this time is not properly installed, and it is considered that it has been installed improperly, so its execution is stopped.

Next, if the corresponding purchase flag is ON, the purchase system group number 14-2 corresponding to the ON purchase flag and the SW group storage area 7
It is checked whether or not the system group number stored in the file matches (S12). If the two do not match, it is conceivable that an unauthorized paid PP is being used, and the execution of the paid PP that is to be used this time is stopped.

If the check in the process S12 is passed, the PP operation availability checking means 19 searches the paid OSPP number table 20 with the number of the currently used paid PP, so that the currently used paid PP can be used. Paid OS
It is checked whether or not it is a PP (S13). If it is a paid APPP other than the paid OSPP, the paid APPP is
Allow execution of On the other hand, if the OSPP is a paid OSPP, the control is passed to the OS startup possibility checking means 18.

The OS start-up / non-startup check means 18 is provided by the HW
It is checked whether the system group number stored in the group storage area 8 matches the system group number stored in the SW group storage area 7 (S1).
4). If the two do not match, the paid OSPP used this time is determined to be invalid, and the startup of the OS is stopped.

If the check in step S14 is passed,
The S startup possibility checking unit 18 requests the OS specification checking unit 16 to check the specification level.

The OS specification checking means 16 stores the specification level stored in the specification level storage area 12 and the specification level 11 at the time of SG execution stored in the SG information storage area 11.
-1 to check whether or not the system has been generated at an incorrect specification level (S15), and notifies the OS startup possibility checking means 18 of the result.

The OS start-up / non-startup checking means 18 includes an OS
Upon receiving a notification from the specification checking means 16 that the system has been generated at an incorrect specification level, it stops the startup of the OS, and upon receiving a notification that the system has been correctly generated, starts the OS. Authorization is performed and the OS is actually started.

Since the present embodiment is configured and operates as described above, it is possible to prevent the following various illegal acts.

(1) The act of performing only hardware performance improvement and using the paid OSPP as it is. For example, when the hardware grade is upgraded by improving the performance of the CPU of the computer system UCS in FIG. 1, the new HW information 17 is given, and the system group number of the HW group storage area 8 is changed by the HW group setting means 15. , "30" to, for example, "40". Nevertheless, when the paid OSPP 21-1 having the system group number "30" is still used, the system group number in the SW group storage area 7 remains "30". In the check in step S14 of step 3, HW
An inconsistency between the system group number in the group storage area 8 and the system group number in the SW group storage area 7 is detected, and the start-up of the OS is prevented.

In such a case, when the paid DLT 4 including the paid OSPP of the system level “40” is released and the installation operation is performed, the system group number of the HW group storage area 8 becomes “40”. Therefore, the check of the process S1 in FIG. 2 of the paid installation means 9 is passed, and the installation is performed. Then, the new specification level is stored in the specification level storage area 12.
(S4), the system group number "40" is set in the SW group storage area 7 (S5), and the paid information table 14 is updated (S6).

(2) The act of purchasing only the paid OSPP in accordance with the improvement of the hardware performance and using the paid APPP as it is. For example, when the system group number of the HW group storage area 8 becomes “40” due to the improvement of hardware performance, if a paid DLT 4 including a paid OSPP of the system group number “40” is purchased and an installation operation is performed,
The installation is permitted, and as described above, the new specification level is stored in the specification level storage area 12, the system group number "40" is set in the SW group storage area 7, and the paid information table 14 The purchasing system group number corresponding to the OSPP is updated. In this state, the paid APPP 21 of the system group number “30” is
If the PP operation availability check unit 19 checks the process S12 in FIG. 3, the system group number “30” in the paid information table 14 corresponding to the paid APPP-2 is stored in the SW group storage area 7. Is detected to be different from the system group number “40”, and the execution of the paid APPP 21-2 is stopped.

(3) The system is generated at the specification level equal to or higher than the specification level of the purchased paid OSPP, and the paid OSPP is generated.
Act of using. For example, in the case of FIG. 1, the specification level of the purchased paid OSPP 21-1 is “01”, which is the specification level storage area 1
2 is stored. In order to use the paid OSPP at a higher specification level, for example, if the system data is generated by illegally obtaining the SG data for the OS of the specification level “02”, if such SG data is generated. Since the specification level of “02” is embedded, the specification level of “02” is stored in the SG information storage area 11 by the SG information setting means 5. Therefore, when the OS is started, the system is generated at a specification level equal to or higher than the specification level "01" set in the specification level storage area 12 by the processing S15 of FIG. Is detected, and startup by the paid OSPP 21-1 is prevented.

[0044]

According to the paid program product use checking device of the present invention described above, the following effects can be obtained.

Even if the paid PP has been officially released, if it is not a paid PP of the same system group as the system group of the user's computer system, the paid P
Since the installation of the P itself can be made impossible, the use of the inexpensive paid PP of a system group lower than the own computer system can be prevented.

When the paid PP is installed, each paid PP
Is set in the paid information table, and the system group number is set in the SW group storage means when the paid OSPP including the OS is installed, and the paid PP is actually used. At that time, whether the paid PP is actually purchased is checked by the purchase flag of the paid information table, and when the purchased PP is not purchased, the PP is not used. It is possible to prevent unauthorized use of the paid PP. Further, even if it is confirmed that the purchase has been made, if the system group number set in the charge information table is different from the system group number set in the SW group storage means, the charge APPP cannot be used. Paid OSPP
Only repurchasing and paying APPP can prevent fraudulent attempts to use the old system group.

When the HW of the user's computer system is upgraded, the HW group setting means sets the HW
The system group number stored in the group storage is changed. On the other hand, if you do not repurchase the paid OSPP,
The system group number in the SW group storage is not changed. Therefore, if the paid OSPP is used as it is despite the upgraded HW, the paid OPP
When the SPP is used, a difference between the system group number stored in the HW group storage unit and the system group number stored in the SW group storage unit is detected, and the OS startup by the paid OSPP cannot be performed. As a result, users who have upgraded HW can use the old paid OSP
It is possible to prevent unauthorized use of P.

When the upper limit value of the resources that can be used by each function of the paid OSPP is grouped, a specification level is assigned to each group, and the specification level is set in the SG information storage area when the system is generated. In the operation of the computer system, the operating system is operated within the range of the set specification level, and the computer system is provided with the OS specification checking means.
It is possible to prevent the system from being generated at a specification level that exceeds the specification level specified in the SPP.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing when installing a paid PP.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a process when an installed paid PP is used.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Save information 2 ... Paid PP group (paid program product group) 3 ... Paid DLT save means 4 ... Paid DLT 5 ... SG information setting means 6 ... SG data 7 ... SW group storage area 8 ... HW group storage area 9 ... Paid Installation means 10 Charge setting means 11 SG information storage area 12 Specification level storage area 13 System group conversion table 14 Charge information table 15 HW group setting means 16 OS specification check means 17 Machine name Included HW information 18 ... OS startup availability check means 19 ... PP operation availability check means 20 ... Paid OSPP number table 21 ... Paid PP 21-1 ... Paid OSPP 21-2 ... Paid APPP 22 ... PP storage area

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A hardware group storage means, and hardware information such as a machine model name of a computer system
And enter the hardware information into the computer system
Multiple system groups grouped by PU performance
To the corresponding system group number
The hardware set in the hardware group storage means.
Stores software group setting means and paid program products, and
Stores the system group number of the program product
A paid program product save mediumSoftware group storage means; Purchase flags and purchases for each paid program product
A paid information table holding a system group number, Said In the case of using paid program product save media
During the stall,SaidPaid program product save medium
System group number and hardware group
Compare with the system group number stored in the storage
To determine if it can be installedAnd installable
The paid information corresponding to the specified paid program product
Turn on the purchase flag in the report table and the paid program
Information on the system group number of the ram product
Set in the table and the paid program product
Is a paid program product that includes an OS
Store the system group number in the software group
Set as a meansPaid installation means and, Use of installed paid program products
At times, it corresponds to the paid program product that was used
The state of the purchase flag in the paid information table,
The paid program pro set in the paid information table
Duct system group number and software group
System group number stored in the
Based on the verification result of
Program pro to determine the availability of program products
Duct operation availability check means and It is characterized by having
A paid program product usage check device. 2. The paid program product use checking device according to claim 1 , wherein the paid program product determined to be usable by the program product operation availability check means is a paid program product including an OS, and the hardware is provided. OS start-up / non-startup checking means for determining whether to start up a paid program product including the OS based on a comparison result between the system group number stored in the group storage means and the system group number stored in the software group storage means A paid program product use checking device characterized by comprising: 3. A specification level is assigned to each group when an upper limit of resources that can be used by each function of a paid program product including an OS is grouped, and the specification is stored in an SG information storage area when a system is generated. In a computer system in which a level is set and an OS is operated within the range of the set specification level in actual operation, a hardware group storage means, a software group storage means, a specification level storage Means, a paid information table holding a purchase flag and a purchased system group number for each paid program product, and hardware information such as a machine model name of the computer system, and input the hardware information to the computer system.
A hardware group setting unit that converts the number into a corresponding system group number among a plurality of system groups grouped according to PU performance, and sets the hardware group storage unit in the hardware group storage unit; A paid program product save medium that stores a system group number of the program product and further stores a specification level for a paid program product including an OS, and a paid program product save medium that is used for installation using the paid program product save medium. The system group number in the hardware group is compared with the system group number stored in the hardware group storage means to determine whether or not installation is possible. Turn on the purchase flag of the paid information table, set the system group number of the paid program product in the paid information table, and change the system group number when the paid program product is a paid program product including an OS. Paid installation means for setting in the software group storage means and setting the specification level in the specification level storage means; specification level set in the specification level storage means; OS specification checking means for comparing with the specification level set in the above. When using the installed paid program product, the state of the purchase flag of the paid information table corresponding to the used paid program product, Set in the paid information table A program product operation for determining whether or not the paid program product to be used can be used, based on a comparison result between the system group number of the paid program product and the system group number stored in the software group storage means. Availability check means; and a system group number stored in the hardware group storage means and the software when the paid program product determined to be usable by the program product operation availability check means is a paid program product including an OS. An OS start-up / non-start-up checker for determining whether to start up a paid program product including the OS based on the result of comparison with the system group number stored in the group storage unit and the check result of the OS specification check unit. Paid program product use check device, characterized in that it was and a click means.