JPH04138525A - Copying program execution inhibiting system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the execution inhibiting capacity of a copying program by providing this copying program execution inhibiting system with a code conversion memory and a reverse conversion program for converting a key code (conversion code) outputted from a keyboard interface into an original input key code. CONSTITUTION:When an illegal user having illegally copied an external software S e.g. and not having a key code conversion unit 5 inputs a command 'COPY', the software S sends a character string 'COPY' to the reverse conversion program P. The program P converts respective characters C, O, P, Y to reverse conversion codes D, P, Q, Z and outputs the converted codes D, P, Q, Z to an execution program P0. Since a completely meaningless character string 'DPQZ' is applied to the program P0 as a command, the program P0 outputs an error display and does not execute the original function. Thus, the utilization of the program by the illegal user can be surely inhibited.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A. Field of Industrial Application This invention relates to a technique for preventing unauthorized copying of computer programs sold on the market by making it impossible to use copied computer programs.

B. Prior Art There is no end to the act of copying commercially available computer programs without permission and using them by multiple users. This is an act of illegal copying that infringes on the copyright of the program.

This illegal copying results in a decline in the number of computer programs sold, which in turn causes an increase in sales prices. Therefore, in order to prevent this illegal copying, the following method of disabling the use of copy programs has been implemented.

(1) Insert the copy protection program into the floppy disk containing the program.

Generally, to copy a program on a computer such as a personal computer, you use the copy function of the operating system (basic software), but even with this copy function, there are some parts that are not copied (for example, track 0 of a floppy disk). (part that stores management information, etc.)
Therefore, if an identification code is stored in this part, the original disc will have the identification code, and the copied disc will not have the identification code copied. The copy protection program detects the original disc (
It determines whether the disc is a copied disc (a disc for which copying is permitted) or a copied disc (a disc for which copying is not permitted), and prohibits the execution of programs on the copied disc.

(2) Add to the original disk a response device that is attached to an interface such as an R3-232/C expansion connector that is standard equipment on the computer, and a program that determines the presence or absence of the response device.

The program on the original disc is R5-232/C
Determines whether a response device is attached to the expansion connector and executes the program only when it is attached.

Therefore, a user of the copy program who does not have a response device will not be able to execute the program.

C3 Problem to be Solved by the Invention However, in the case of the method described in (1) in which a copy protection program is inserted into a disc, the copy program can be executed by using a protection cancellation program that invalidates the protection program. The disadvantage is that it becomes

In the method of adding a response device to the original disk described in (2), the response device occupies the computer's MS-232/C expansion connector, so it is not necessary to connect an external device such as a communication modem to this expansion connector. The disadvantage is that the computer cannot fully perform its original functions.

Generally, a response device is a device that receives a signal from a program and outputs a signal corresponding to the received signal to the program, and the program identifies the presence or absence of the response device from the reply signal. In order to perform such processing, the response device has a built-in microprocessor and is relatively expensive.

This invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to avoid monopolizing the expansion connector of a computer (
An object of the present invention is to provide a copy program execution prohibition system that is relatively inexpensive and can improve copy program execution prohibition ability.

01 Means for Solving the Problems That is, the copy program execution prohibition system of the present invention is installed between a computer keyboard and a keyboard interface, and uses a key code input from the keyboard as a read address, A relatively small-capacity code conversion memory that outputs a completely different code (conversion code), and a key code (conversion code) that is interpolated into the software used in the computer and output from the keyboard interface. The device is characterized by comprising a reverse conversion program that converts the input key code (conversion code) into the original input key code.

E. Effects According to the present invention, the code conversion memory provided between the keyboard and the keyboard interface converts the manual key code from the keyboard into a completely different code (conversion code) and outputs it. A reverse conversion program inserted into a program used in a computer converts the output code (conversion code) from the keyboard interface into the original input key code.

The program can now be used on a computer.

Therefore, if you use a copy of the program without the code conversion memory, the input code will be converted into another code by the inverse conversion program in the program, and it will not be recognized as a regular command. It is not given to the program, and execution of the program is prohibited.

In addition, since the code conversion memory is only connected between the keyboard and the keyboard interface, it does not occupy the expansion connector of the computer unlike in the case of installing a conventional response device, and furthermore, it is relatively small. It is relatively inexpensive due to its capacity.

F. Example Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a copy program execution prohibition system according to the present invention.

In the figure, 1 is the computer body, 2 is the keyboard, and 3
4 is a monitor display, and 4 is an interface for inputting and outputting various application programs (in this example, external software S) loaded by a floppy disk driver (not shown) to the computer main body 1.
The external software S is operated with such a schematic configuration.

The newly added components in this embodiment are a key code conversion unit 5 and a reverse conversion program P in the external software S. That is, a supplier of software that uses this copy program execution prohibition system supplies the key code conversion unit 5 and the software containing the inverse conversion program P as a pair.

The key code conversion unit 5 is composed of a ROM 6 as a code conversion memory that performs key code conversion, and a switch SW that switches whether or not to send the output signal of the keyboard 2 to the ROM 6. It is installed between the connector 7 and the connector 7. Therefore, other connectors installed in the computer main body 1 are not occupied, and the original functions of the computer main body 1 are not impaired by connecting external devices.

The ROM 6 has a built-in memory table for key code conversion, and has a function of reading out the key code output from the keyboard 2, inputting it as an address, and outputting a converted code corresponding to the key code. An example of a conversion memory table is shown in FIG.

As shown in this figure, the memory table has key codes:
Alphabetical strings such as A, B, C, D, E, . . . are made to correspond to completely different alphabetic strings.

For example, when "A" is input from keyboard 2, RO
M6 uses this as the read address of the memory table,
The corresponding conversion code rB" is output. In short, it is sufficient to convert the code entered manually from the keyboard 2 into a completely different code, and the memory table can be configured in various formats.

The switch SW is turned ON by the user only when performing input via the ROM 6 for code conversion (when using external software S with built-in reverse conversion program P), and is turned OFF during other uses. be made into This allows the computer to be used normally even with the key code conversion unit 5 attached.

The inverse conversion program P built in the external software S is for inversely converting the code converted by the key code conversion unit 5 into the original input code, and uses a memory with a configuration opposite to that of the memory table shown in FIG. table (not shown) and the inverse conversion code (original input code)
An execution program P that performs the functions of external software S
, is output to .

Next, the operation of the above-mentioned system will be explained.

With this copy program execution prohibition system, a user who has purchased copy-protected external software S must first install the key code conversion unit 5 between the keyboard 2 and the keyboard connector 7, and install the key code conversion unit 5 between the keyboard 2 and the keyboard connector 7. The switch SW provided in 5 is
Turn it on.

Next, external software S containing a reverse conversion program P is installed in the computer main body 1. The preparation for using the external software S is now complete. later,
Just start using the external software S according to the attached manual.

The user enters the desired command from keyboard 2 (for example,
When inputting rcOPYJ), each character code is given to the key code conversion unit 5, and the switch SW
The data is input to the ROM 6 via the ROM 6. The ROM 6 uses the input character codes c, o, p, y as read addresses to the memory table shown in Figure 2, and sets the conversion code D for each.
, P, Q, and Z are output to the computer main body l.

The external software S installed in the computer body inputs the conversion codes D, P, Q, and Z.
It is sent to the inverse conversion program P.

The reverse conversion program P is a reverse conversion code corresponding to the conversion codes D, P, Q, and Z (original character codes C, O, P, and Y).
It is inversely converted into and output to the execution program P0.

The execution program P0 executes processing according to the given command.

If an unauthorized user who illegally copies this external software S and does not have the key code conversion unit 5 manually executes the above command rcOPYJ, the external software S similarly converts this character string C0PY into the reverse conversion program P. Send. The inverse conversion program P is C, O, P,
Convert Y into reverse conversion codes D, P, Q, and Z and output them to the execution program P0.

In this way, the execution program P is given the completely meaningless string r DPQZ J as a command, so
The execution program P0 outputs an error message, etc.
It does not perform its original function, and copy program execution is prohibited.

In the above-described embodiment, the key code conversion unit 5 containing the ROM 6 is installed between the keyboard 2 and the keyboard connector 7, but the ROM 6 may also be built into the keyboard 2. . Usually, the keyboard 2 has a built-in IC for outputting key codes, and this can be implemented by installing a ROM 6 after this IC.

Effects of the G9 Invention As is clear from the above explanation, the copy program execution prohibition system according to the present invention is equipped with a code conversion memory between the keyboard and the keyboard interface, and completely separates the input key codes from the keyboard. The code for (
This is then converted into the original input key code using a reverse conversion program within the computer program. Therefore, unless the code conversion memory is installed, the program cannot be executed, and it is almost certain that users of the copy program (unauthorized users) who do not have the code conversion memory will be prohibited from using the program. can.

In addition, since the code conversion memory is simply connected between the keyboard and the keyboard interface, it is possible to connect external devices without occupying the computer's expansion connector, unlike in the case of installing a conventional response device. Therefore, copy protection can be implemented without damaging the computer's advanced functions.

Furthermore, since the hardware required by this system is only a relatively small capacity memory for code conversion, the system can be relatively inexpensive.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2 relate to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a copy program execution prohibition system, and FIG. 2 is a code conversion memory table built in the ROM 6. It is a figure showing an example. 1... Computer body 2... Keyboard 5.
...Key code conversion unit 6...ROM P...Reverse conversion program Patent applicant: Shimadzu Corporation

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A relatively small capacity installed between a computer keyboard and a keyboard interface, which uses the key code input from the keyboard as a read address and outputs a completely different code (conversion code). a code conversion memory; and an inverse conversion program that is interpolated into software used in the computer and converts the key code (conversion code) output from the keyboard interface into the original input key code. A copy program execution prohibition system characterized by: