JPH07325713A - Software executing method with limitation of operating time - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a software executing method with limitation of the operating time which can confirm all functions of the provided software while preventing the limitless use and copy of the software by limiting the operating time instead of the functions of the software. CONSTITUTION:The operatable time and the due date of the offered software 1, the individual identification information on the hardware where the software 1 is installed, and the physical position information on the storage area where the software 1 is stored are all ciphered and stored in a key information storage part 2. An execution monitor program 3 refers to the ciphered information stored in the part 2 to confirm the executing correctness of the software 1 and also monitors the operatable time during execution of the software 1. Then the program 3 ends the execution of the software 1 when the operatable time passed. An installation/copy program 4 is used when the software 1 is installed at a computer or copied to another computer.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operating time restricted software execution method for testing software by restricting it in terms of time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, software has been generally provided as a free sample, but in order to prevent continuous use at that time, software provided on the market with limited functions is provided. Was there.

[0003]

In the conventional software trial, as described above, in order to prevent the continuous use and copying of the software, the software provided with the functions limited to those actually sold is provided. However, there is a problem that the user of the software cannot confirm all the functions of the software even if the free sample having the limited functions is provided.

The present invention has been made in view of the above,
The purpose is to limit the operating time of the sample software instead of limiting the function of the sample software, and to confirm all functions of the sample software while preventing unlimited use and copying of the software. To provide a software execution method with restrictions.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the software execution method with operating time constraint of the present invention can utilize information for uniquely identifying computer hardware, and relates to the operating time of software from the operating system. In the software execution method on the computer where the information is available and the physical position information of the area where the specific software is stored in the auxiliary storage device can be acquired, the individual identification information of the computer hardware in which the software is installed And physical position information on the auxiliary storage device in which the software is stored, and a predetermined operable time of the software are set as encrypted key information at the time of installation, and the key information of the key information is set at the time of starting the software. Of these, the individual identification information and the physical location information are generated. That the operating time of the software does not exceed the operable time, and at the end of execution of the software, the operating time of the software from the operable time The gist is to equally divide the value obtained by subtracting the value into the software being executed and reset as the operable time, and to divide the operable time into the copy source and the copy destination at the time of copying the software.

[0006]

In the software execution method with a restricted operating time of the present invention, the software provider predetermines the operable time, encrypts and sets it in the provided software, and the physical position of the computer in which the provided software is installed. By monitoring the information and the available time when the software is executed, it operates only within the available time set by the computer installed correctly and the total available time does not change even if copying is repeated. You can use the software provided without restrictions within the operating hours to check all its functions.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a functional configuration for implementing a software execution method with a constraint on operation time according to an embodiment of the present invention. For the provided software 1, a key information storage unit 2, an execution monitoring program are provided. 3 and an installation / copying program 4.

In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the computer environment is parallel processing, that is, a plurality of processes can be executed simultaneously. Further, the operable time of the provided software is set in advance when the software is provided. This operable time is set to, for example, several times the average execution time of the provided software so that the outline of all the functions of the provided software can be confirmed.

Next, the function of each component shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

Provided software 1 to which the present invention is applied
Is an execution monitoring program 3 for existing software when the software is started and when the software execution ends.
It has a function to communicate with. Other parts of this software are the same as those to which the present invention is not applied. Further, this function addition can be easily realized because only a predetermined instruction is embedded.

The key information storage unit 2 is provided software 1
Operating time, expiration date and time, individual identification information of computer hardware on which the provided software 1 is installed, and physical position information (cylinder number, sector number, etc.) of the area of the auxiliary storage device storing the provided software 1 The physical location information of the storage device of (1) is encrypted and stored. A conventionally known method can be used as the encryption method.

The execution monitoring program 3 is started at the time of initial setting of the computer, and when the provided software 1 is started, it is already started. The execution monitoring program 3 is called via communication when the provided software 1 is activated. Then, the validity of the software execution is confirmed by referring to the information that is encrypted and stored in the key information storage unit 2. Further, it has a function of monitoring the operable time during the execution of the provided software 1 and ending the execution of the provided software 1 when the time is exceeded. Also,
At the end of execution of the provided software 1, the operable time of the key information storage unit 2 is updated.

The install / copy program 4 is a program used when the provided software 1 is installed in a computer desired by a user or is copied to another computer. The information in the key information storage unit 2 is initialized by installing it in a computer using this program. The installation / copying program 4 is provided as an external storage medium, and this external storage medium is recorded in a special recording format that does not operate even when ordinary copying is performed. As a recording method for preventing such copying, a conventionally known method can be used.

Next, the procedure for installing the provided software 1 using the install / copy program 4 will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the medium B in which the install / copy program 4 is stored and the medium A in which two of the provided software 1 and the execution monitoring program 3 are stored are set in the installation destination computer.

When these softwares are set in the computer, the install / copy program 4 installs the provided software 1 on the medium A in the auxiliary storage device C of the computer, and the install / copy program 4 monitors the execution on the medium A. The program 3 is installed in the auxiliary storage device C of the computer. Further, the install / copy program 4 creates the key information storage unit 2 in the auxiliary storage device C of the computer.

Then, the installation / copying program 4
Sets the operable time and the expiration date and time data on the medium B in the key information storage unit 2, and changes the operable time data on the medium B to 0.

The install / copy program 4 acquires the individual identification information of the computer hardware in which the provided software 1 is stored and writes it in the key information storage unit 2.
Further, the installation / copy program 4 acquires the physical position information of the auxiliary storage device C storing the provided software 1 and writes it in the key information storage unit 2.

Then, the install / copy program 4 encrypts the contents of the key information storage unit 2 and ends.

Next, when the provided software 1 is started,
The execution monitoring program 3 is called via communication, and the correctness of the execution of the provided software 1 is confirmed. When the method as in this embodiment is adopted, the execution monitoring program 3 needs to be activated before the provided software 1 is executed. The trigger for activation may be arbitrary when the system is started.

The processing of the execution monitoring program 3 when the provided software 1 is activated will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 3, when the provided software 1 is activated, the execution monitoring program 3 is notified and control is transferred to the execution monitoring program 3 (step 110).

The execution monitoring program 3 holds the following variables X and Y from the time of its activation. The variable X indicates the number of pieces of software being executed, and represents the number of pieces of provided software 1 at that time, and the initial value is 0. Further, the variable Y indicates the clocking start time, and represents the time of the starting point when the operation time is measured. The time when the operable time was last updated is written.

When the constraint is transferred to the execution monitoring program 3, the execution monitoring program 3 adds 1 to the variable X (step 12
0), the execution monitoring program 3 decrypts the encrypted key information in the key information storage unit 2 (step 130).

Then, the execution monitoring program 3 confirms whether or not the individual identification information of the computer hardware in which the launched providing software 1 is stored matches the key information (step 140). If they do not match, the process proceeds to step 150, 1 is subtracted from the variable X, and the provided software is forcibly terminated (step 1
60).

In step 140, when the individual identification information of the computer hardware in which the provided software 1 is stored matches the key information, the execution monitoring program 3 stores the launched provided software 1. It is confirmed whether the physical position information of the area of the auxiliary storage device matches that of the key information (step 170).

If they match, the execution monitoring program 3
Confirms whether the operable time remains (step 180). If the available time remains,
The operable time is updated (step 190). The time count start time Y is undefined when the value of X is 1, and when the value of X is other than 1, the start time of the provided software 1 that was started immediately before is stored (this procedure is shown in step 220). . The operable time is subtracted by the total execution time from the time point Y to the current time, and is calculated by the following equation.

[0029]

[Equation 1] Operable time = Operable time- (X-1) x
(Current time-Y) Next, the execution monitoring program 3 confirms whether or not the activated time has exceeded the expiration date and time (step 20).
0). If not exceeded, the current time is set in the variable Y (step 210). Then, when the number of pieces of software being executed is constant and continuously operating, the time when the operable time set in step 190 becomes 0 is set as the scheduled end time Z, and this is calculated by the following equation ( Step 220).

[0030]

## EQU00002 ## Scheduled end time Z = current time + current operable time / X Using the function of the operating system, execution monitoring program 3 itself is set to start at scheduled end time Z (step 230). . (It is assumed that the operating system has such a function of designating the start time.) Next, the key information is encrypted (step 24).
0). Then, the control is transferred to the provided software 1, and the procedure ends.

If NO in steps 170, 180 and 200, that is, if the physical position information of the area of the auxiliary storage device storing the provided software 1 does not match the key information (step 170). When the operable time does not remain (step 180) and when the expiration date and time has passed (step 200), the process proceeds to step 150, 1 is subtracted from the variable X, and the provided software is forcibly terminated. (Step 160).

When the scheduled end time is reached during execution of the provided software 1, the execution monitoring program 3 is started from the operating system, and the processing during execution of the provided software 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 4, when the execution monitoring program 3 is started from the operating system because the scheduled end time is 1 (step 310), the encrypted key information in the key information storage unit 2 is decrypted (step). 32
0). Then, the operable time is set to 0 (step 330), the key information is encrypted (step 340),
Terminate the execution of the provided software.

The provided software 1 finishes executing,
When the user terminates the provided software 1 during execution, it is necessary to appropriately subtract the operable time, encrypt again, and store the encrypted software. If a plurality of pieces of provided software 1 are being executed, the scheduled end time is recalculated. The process flow of the execution monitoring program 3 at the end of the provided software 1, which is the procedure, will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 5, the user specifies the end of the provided software 1 being executed, and the process proceeds to the execution monitoring program 3 (step 410). It is assumed that the user is given some means for designating the end of the provided software 1.

When the processing shifts to the execution monitoring program 3, the execution monitoring program 3 decrypts the key information in the key information storage unit 2 (step 420). Next, the value of the operating time of the provided software 1 is subtracted from the operable time to calculate the operable time (step 430). The operating time of the provided software 1 is the product of the difference between the clocking start time and the current time stored in the variable Y and the value of the variable X representing the number of software programs being executed, and the calculation is performed using the following formula. Be seen.

[0037]

## EQU00003 ## Operable time = Operable time-X.times. (Current time-Y) Then, the variable X is decremented by 1 (step 440), the current time is set in the variable Y (step 450), and the variable X is 0. Is checked (step 460). When the variable X is not 0, the scheduled end time is calculated by the following formula (step 470).

[0038]

## EQU00004 ## Scheduled end time = current time + current operable time / X When the variable X is 0, the key information is encrypted (step 480) and the process is ended.

In this embodiment, the difference between the start time and the end time is used as the software operation time, but it is also possible to integrate the time when the program actually uses the CPU to obtain the software operation time. is there.

In order to operate the provided software 1 in another environment, the install / copy program 4 is used. This procedure will be described with reference to FIG. In this example, the provided software 1 is copied via a magnetic medium.

In FIG. 6, the key information of the copy source C is first decrypted to reduce the operable time (N) of the copy source C by half.

Operable time = Operable time / 2 The install / copy program 4 is the copy source C
The operable time of is copied on the medium B. The key information of the copy source is encrypted. The provided software 1 of the copy source and the execution monitoring program 3 are copied onto the medium A. Then, the medium A and the medium B are set in the computer which is the copy destination.

Next, the install / copy program 4 installs the provided software 1 on the medium A in the auxiliary storage device D of the computer. The installation / copy program 4 also installs the execution monitoring program 3 on the medium A in the auxiliary storage device D of the computer.

Then, the install / copy program 4 creates the key information storage unit 2 in the auxiliary storage device D of the computer, sets the data of the operable time on the medium B in the key information storage unit 2, and sets the medium B. The data of the above operable time is changed to 0, and the individual identification information of the computer hardware in which the provided software 1 is stored is acquired and written in the key information storage unit 2. Furthermore, the installation / copy program 4 acquires the physical position information of the auxiliary storage device D storing the provided software 1, writes it in the key information storage unit 2, encrypts the contents of the key information storage unit 2, and executes the processing. finish.

In this procedure, the process of setting the media A and B in the computer as the copy destination is the installation procedure itself, and the copy process can be realized by diverting most of the installation process.

When the software execution method of the present invention is adopted, the operable time is halved by the designated copying method, that is, the copying using the installation / copying program 4, so that the total operating time of the provided software 1 does not change.

Further, it is difficult to copy the software by a copying method other than the designated method. The copying methods are roughly classified into the following two types.

The first method is to save the physical position information of the storage area of the auxiliary storage device, and the second method is to save the physical position information of the storage area of the auxiliary storage device. is there.

The first method is to copy a logical unit (file or the like) of a storage area provided by the operating system, and is generally used. If such a copy is made, the condition cannot be activated because the condition of step 170 of the execution monitoring program 3 at the time of activation is violated.

The protection for the method of storing physical information in the area of the second method (eg, copying to tape by stream access of disk) will be described. Even if the physical position information of the area is stored, it violates the condition of step 140 of the execution monitoring program 3 at startup,
It cannot be copied to another computer. Further, even if copying is made to the same computer and the operable time is repeatedly extended, the operable time cannot be extended endlessly because of the condition of the expiration date and time of step 200 of the execution monitoring program 3.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention, the individual identification information of the computer on which the provided software is executed, the information on the physical position of the storage device in which the software is stored, and the operation preset by the provider are possible. It keeps the time encrypted so that the time cannot be seen by the user, and confirms that the information obtained from the computer when the software is started and the encrypted information match. By confirming that the available time remains, the provided software will not run for longer than the set available time, and the software can be protected from unlimited use by copying, but within the available time. Free execution of all the functions of the provided software and copying of the provided software by a prescribed method, and requiring a special device Ku can be performed, it is possible to provide a functionally no different from commercially available sample.

Further, by using the present invention, it is possible to limit the execution time of software, and it is also possible to realize a providing method of lending software for a fee.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a functional configuration for implementing a software execution method with an operation time constraint according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an installation procedure of provided software using an installation / copy program.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing of an execution monitoring program when the provided software is activated.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing of an execution monitoring program during execution of provided software.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing of an execution monitoring program when the provided software ends.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure for copying software to another computer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Software provided 2 Key information storage 3 Execution monitoring program 4 Installation / copying program

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Physical location information of an area where computer hardware can be uniquely identified, information about operating time of software is available from an operating system, and specific software is stored in an auxiliary storage device. In the method of executing software on a computer capable of acquiring the software, individual identification information of computer hardware in which the software is installed, physical position information on an auxiliary storage device in which the software is stored, and the predetermined software The operable time of is set at the time of installation as encrypted key information, and the individual identification information and the physical position information of the key information at the time of starting the software match the corresponding information of the started software. Monitor the operation of the software That the operating time is not exceeded, and at the end of execution of the software, a value obtained by subtracting the operating time of the software from the operating time is equally divided into the running software as the operating time. A software execution method with a limited operating time, which is reset, and when the software is copied, the operable time is equally divided into a copy source and a copy destination.