JPH087009A - Software rental system through network - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a system for renting out software through a network. CONSTITUTION:This system is provided with a network for executing data communication, a host computer 1 on a supplier-side, which is connected to the network and which rents out and manages software being a rental resource, a storage device accompanied by the computer, a computer 3 on a user-side, which rents software, a management table which is loaded on the host computer and which makes a password by which software can be used correspond to ID of a user or the serial number of software, a management system retrieving the password by using the management table and software being the rental resource, which automatically executes network communication after a starting instruction, acquires the password from the host computer and which is programmed in such a way that it cannot use a main function when the password cannot precisely be acquired.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention describes a system for renting via a network so that a usage fee can be collected by using an execution type software program rather than selling it.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, software has been sold by recording an executable program on a medium such as a floppy disk or a CD-ROM.

[0003]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] When there is software that a user wants to use, the conventional method as described above had to take the form of purchase. Therefore, there are inconveniences such as having to purchase software that is rarely used, and having to purchase again even if the purchased software is immediately upgraded.

[0004]

[Means for Solving the Problem] The program is transferred from the host computer to the user who wants to use the software through the network. When the software program, which is a rental resource, is activated, the host computer is automatically accessed through network communication, and the main function of this software is programmed so that it cannot be used unless a correct password is acquired.
When the host computer accesses from the network, the host computer searches the installed management table and transfers the password corresponding to the user ID or the serial number of the rental resource software to the user. At that time, the date and time when the user starts using the software is recorded. Even when the user finishes using the software, which is a rental resource, the host computer is programmed to record the use end date and time, and the use time of the user is recorded in the host computer. The software supplier, which is a rental resource, charges a fee based on the user's usage time.

[0005]

By using the above means, the user can use the software at low cost and the supplier can disseminate the software more widely.

[0006]

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. As a network for data communication, two local area networks (LAN) are connected via a multiplexer (TDM),
Connected to a high-speed digital communication network (ISDN), one of which is L
The system configuration is such that a host computer and its associated hard disk (HD) are connected to the AN, and a user's computer is connected to the other LAN. The user specifies the rental resource software that he wants to use and requests it from the supplier. Supplier is the user's ID
As a result, the e-mail address is registered in the management table on the host computer, and the serial number of the rental resource software to be lent out and the password for enabling the software are registered in correspondence with this. next,
The supplier links the above-mentioned software to be rented and creates an executable program, in which case a module that transfers the serial number to the host computer and an object of the module that acquires the password from the host computer and enables the main function And link to the main function object. The supplier transfers this software to the user's computer via the network. When the user launches the software on the user's computer, an email containing the serial number of the software is automatically transferred from the user's computer to the host computer. When the management system on the host computer receives this e-mail, it searches the management table, finds the password from the user's e-mail address and software serial number, and transfers it by e-mail to the user's computer via the network.
At the same time, the management system records the software start date and time of the user on the host computer. When the correct password is transferred from the host computer to the user's computer, the main function of the rental resource software running on the user's computer can be used. Then, when the user gives an instruction to terminate the use of the software, the electronic mail is automatically transferred from the user's computer to the host computer.
Upon receiving this e-mail, the management system records the end date and time of the software use of the user on the host computer. The supplier calculates the usage time of software, which is a rental resource, from these usage start date and time and usage end date and time, and bills the usage fee to the user. FIG. 2 shows the processing / communication sequence of the management system on the host computer and the software which is the rental resource on the user's computer. Fig. 3 shows the algorithm of rental resource software. In addition, in order to avoid stealing the password, the password may be encrypted, and the module for obtaining the password and enabling the main function may be provided with a decryption function. Alternatively, personal computer communication using a public telephone line may be used as the network system. FIG.
Shows an example of using personal computer communication over a public telephone line.

[0007]

[Advantage of the Invention] It is considered that the present invention promotes the use of application software with a small amount of funds and contributes to the spread of software and network systems as social capital.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

[Figure 2] Processing / communication sequence between software that is a rental resource and a management system

[Fig. 3] Processing algorithm of software that is a rental resource

FIG. 4 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention in which personal computer communication using a public telephone line is used as a network.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Host Computer 2 Hard Disk (HD) 3 User Computer 4 Local Area Network (LAN) 5 High Speed Digital Communication Network (ISDN) 6 Multiplexer (TDM) 7 Personal Computer Communication Server 8 Access Point 9 Public Telephone Line 10 Modem 11 Host Computer 12 Hard disk (HD) 13 User computer

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A system for renting software, which is a rental resource, via a network, comprising: a) a network for performing data communication; and b) renting and managing software, which is a rental resource, connected to the network. A supplier-side host computer for carrying out the operation, and a storage device associated therewith; c) a user-side computer that is connected to the network and rents software that is a rental resource; and d) is installed in the host computer and is a rental resource. A management table that associates a password that enables a certain software with a user ID or a serial number of software that is a rental resource, and a pass table using the management table from these user IDs or serial numbers A management system that searches for a password, and e) A rental resource that is programmed so that after the start command, it automatically executes network communication to acquire the password from the host computer, and the main function cannot be used unless the password is acquired correctly. It is composed by software that is. The rental resource software is transferred from the host computer to the user's computer via a network, and is activated on the user's computer at an arbitrary timing according to an instruction from the user.
Immediately after booting, it automatically executes network communication to transfer the user ID or serial number of rental resource software to the host computer, then waits for network communication from the host computer, and then correct password by network communication from the host computer. If is not obtained, the feature is that the main function cannot be used by performing error processing. Further, when the host computer obtains the user's ID or the serial number of software which is a rental resource through communication from the user's computer, the management system searches the management table installed in the host computer and activates the user. The password that enables the main function of the software is transferred to the user's computer by performing network communication. 2. A management table that associates a part of the rental resource software program itself with a user ID or a serial number of software that is a rental resource for making software that is a rental resource available, and these users. A management system that searches a part of the program using the management table from the ID or serial number, and automatically executes network communication after the start command to acquire a part of its own software program from the host computer, and A system for renting software, which is a rental resource via a network, which is equivalent to that of software, which is a rental resource created so that the main function cannot be used unless a part of the software can be acquired.