JPH0744361A - Starting method for program - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To inhibit the illegal use of a program and to enable only the legal execution of the program by executing a program corresponding to a start address, which is stored in a memory different from a memory storing the program, based on this address. CONSTITUTION:When an application program stored in an application ROM is started according to an operating system(OS) program in an OS ROM, a jump address 2 is previously stored in the OS ROM as the start address so as to execute a program 2 first. When the application ROM is started, the address 2 is read and the correspondent program 2 is executed. Next, a jump address 1 is read by jumping to the OS ROM by a jump instruction 2, and a correspondent program 1 is executed. Next, a jump address 3 is read by jumping to the OS ROM by a jump instruction 1, and a correspondent program 3 is executed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for starting a program, for example, a method for starting an application program such as a computer game.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When executing a normal application program, it is sufficient that the program can be executed.
In most cases, the legitimacy of the application program itself does not matter.

However, when a special application program, such as an application program for a computer game, which needs to meet the examination standards stipulated by national laws and regulations, is mounted on a machine and started, The legitimacy of the application program installed in the machine becomes a problem.

[0004]

However, there is no conventional method for surely checking the legitimacy of a program installed in a machine, for example, when a third party replaces the program with an unauthorized one. It was An object of the present invention is to reliably check the legitimacy of a program installed in a machine and prohibit the use of an unauthorized program.

[0005]

The means of the present invention are as follows. First, an address different from the original start address for starting the program is stored in advance in a first memory storing this program, for example, a second memory different from the application ROM, for example, an OSROM. Next, when the program stored in the first memory is activated, the address stored in the second memory is read. Then, using the read address as a start address, the program stored in the first memory is accessed to start the program.

[0006]

The operation of the means of the present invention is as follows. First,
An address different from the original start address for starting the program is previously stored in a second memory different from the first memory storing the program, and then,
When the program stored in the first memory is activated, the address stored in the second memory is read, and the program stored in the first memory is accessed using the read address as a start address. Then start this program.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a program processing device to which the program starting method according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied. In the figure, when the user performs a predetermined operation, for example, a power-on operation via the input unit 14, the CPU 10 follows the OS program stored in the OS (operating system) ROM 11 according to the OS program.
An application program such as a computer game stored in the application ROM 12 is activated. Then, in accordance with this application program, various display keys are appropriately displayed on the display unit 15 via the display controller 16 in response to various keys configured on the input unit 14 and mouse operations.

The RAM 13 is used as a work area and is provided with areas A, B, C and D, and these areas are the final addresses used when the validity of the application program is checked, as will be described later. The data is stored. Further, the warning lamp 17 is for warning the user of the fact that the application program is found to be invalid.

Next, the operation of the program processing device having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Figure 1
2 is a flow chart for explaining a program starting method according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2A shows O according to this embodiment.
FIG. 2B is a diagram showing the configuration of the SROM 11, and FIG. 2B is a diagram showing the configuration of the application ROM 12.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the OSROM 11 stores a start address, a jump address 1 and a jump address 2 in order. Further, the application ROM 12 stores a dummy program 1, a program 1, a jump instruction 1, a dummy program 2, a program 2, a jump instruction 2, a dummy program 3, and a program 3 in order.

When the application program stored in the application ROM 12 is activated according to the OS program of the OSROM 11, the dummy program 1 is originally executed, but in the present embodiment, the program 2 is used.
In order to execute the first step, the jump address 2 is stored as a start address in the OSROM 11 in advance.
When the application ROM 12 is activated, the start address, that is, the jump address 2 stored in advance in the OSROM 11 is read, and the program 2 corresponding to this address is executed. Then, the jump instruction 2 is used to jump to the OSROM 11 to read the jump address 1, and the program 1 corresponding to this address is executed. Next, jump command 1 is used to run the OS
The program jumps to the ROM 11 to read the jump address 3 and executes the program 3 corresponding to this address.

The program starting method according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. First, when the above-described program processing device is shipped from the factory, after turning on the power, a special switch called a MAC switch (SW) is turned on, and the installed application ROM 12
The last address of the program stored in is searched, and this address is stored in the area A of the RAM 13 (steps S1 and S2). After that, the MACSW is turned off.

Next, after the factory shipment, a program processing device is installed at a predetermined place, and the power is turned on.
It is determined whether or not is ON (step S1). Since the MACSW is turned off at this point, step S3
To the application R installed at this time
The final address of the program stored in the OM 12 is searched and this address is stored in the B area of the RAM 13. Next, it is determined whether the addresses stored in the area A and the area B of the RAM 13 match (step S).
4). If these addresses do not match, a jump to an endless loop is made to prevent the installed application program from starting and a warning lamp 17 indicates that this program is not valid.

If both addresses match, OSR
The start address stored in the OM 11 is read (step S5). Next, the application program of the application ROM 12 according to the read start address, here, the program 2 is started. here,
If a third party illegally analyzes and modifies this application program, the start address will be Program 2
The application program cannot be executed normally because it deviates from the start position. From this, it can be seen that this application program has been tampered with.

As described above with reference to the above-described embodiment, the method for starting a program according to the present embodiment is based on a start address stored in a memory different from the memory in which the program is stored when the program is started. , Execute the program corresponding to this address. Therefore,
Unless a third party knows the start address stored in another memory, even if the program is decrypted and modified into an illegal program, the program start position will be misaligned and normal program operation will not be performed. It turns out to be a program. Although the start address is stored in the OSROM 11 in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this and may be another memory.

[0016]

According to the present invention, since the legitimacy of a program installed in a machine can be surely checked, it is possible to prohibit the use of an unauthorized program and execute only the legitimate program.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart for explaining a program starting method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of an OS ROM and an application ROM according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a program processing device to which a program starting method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... CPU, 11 ... OS (Operating System) ROM, 12 ... Application ROM, 13 ... R
AM, 14 ... Input unit, 15 ... Display unit, 16 ... Display controller, 17 ... Warning lamp.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An address different from the original start address for starting the program is previously stored in a second memory different from the first memory storing the program, and is stored in the first memory. When the program is started, an address stored in the second memory is read, and the read address is used as a start address to access the program stored in the first memory to start the program. How to start the program.