JPH0969045A - Processor and method for information processing - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a program installing method which can effectively prevent a program from being installed in unintended equipment. SOLUTION: The processor and method are equipped with a discrimination code acquiring process for acquiring a discrimination code for discriminating a program to be installed, a calculating process for calculating a machine discrimination code characteristic of the information processor where execution information is installed, a deciding process for deciding whether or not the program is installed judging from the discrimination code of the acquired execution information of the discrimination code acquiring process and the calculated machine discrimination code of the calculating process, and an installation executing process for installing the execution information of a process discriminated according to the discrimination code acquired by the discrimination code acquiring process when the deciding process decides that the program is installed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method, for example, an information processing apparatus and method having a function of loading a software program or data via a medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a plurality of software programs are stored in an external storage medium such as a flexible disk device or a CD-ROM device and supplied to a computer device, the software programs usable by the user are limited. In order to make a specific software program available at the request of the user, the following methods have been mainly adopted.

(1) A user notifies a supplier that he or she wants to use a specific software program (hereinafter referred to as "A software").

(2) The supplier informs the user of the decryption key for using the A software.

(3) The user enables the A software by using the decryption key taught in (2).

[0006]

However, according to the above method, even a user who does not have a legitimate right such as not purchasing a software program legitimately can obtain a legitimate decryption key by some means, You will be able to use the software program without paying a premium. Therefore, there is a drawback that a user who does not have the right to use the software may illegally use the software program.

[0007]

The present invention has been made for the purpose of solving the above-mentioned problems. As one means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the following structure is provided, for example.

That is, the identification code acquisition is an information processing apparatus capable of installing execution information of a desired process including a new software program in the apparatus and acquiring an identification code for identifying execution information of a process to be installed. Means, a calculation means for calculating a machine identification code unique to the information processing device in which the execution information is to be installed, an identification code of the acquired execution information by the identification code acquisition means, and a calculation machine identification code by the calculation means. Discriminating means for discriminating whether or not to install, and installation executing means for installing execution information of the process identified according to the identification code acquired by the identification code acquiring means when the determining means determines to install It is characterized by including.

Alternatively, an identification code acquisition for obtaining an identification code for identifying execution information of a process to be installed, which is an information processing apparatus capable of installing execution information of a desired process including a new software program in the apparatus Means, a calculation means for calculating a machine identification code unique to the information processing device in which the execution information is to be installed, a character string acquisition means for acquiring an arbitrary character string, and an identification code of the acquisition execution information by the identification code acquisition means And a discriminating means for discriminating whether or not to perform the installation based on the machine identification code calculated by the calculating means and the character string obtained by the character string obtaining means, and the identification code obtaining means when the discriminating means determines that the installation Installation execution means for installing the execution information of the process identified according to the identification code acquired in And wherein the door.

Then, for example, the calculating means calculates the machine identification code by referring to a secondary storage device provided in the apparatus, or the calculating means is provided for each section of the secondary storage apparatus provided in the apparatus. It is characterized in that the machine identification code is calculated by referring to the free space.

Further, for example, the calculating means is characterized in that the machine identification code is calculated by referring to a network connection device provided in the apparatus. Further, for example, the calculation means is characterized in that the machine identification code is calculated by referring to a secondary storage device and a network connection device provided in the device.

With the above configuration, it is possible to reliably control the installation of the execution information, and effectively prevent the installation in an unplanned device.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic arrangement of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information processing apparatus of this embodiment may be a workstation or a computer system, or any information processing apparatus having an additional function of a software program, such as a word processor or a DTP system.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a system bus, which is to be a data path between the components described below. 102 is a central processing unit (CPU),
It controls the entire information processing apparatus and performs arithmetic processing and the like. A read-only memory (ROM) 103 is a storage area for a system boot program and the like.

Reference numeral 104 denotes a random access memory (RA
M), which is a data storage area without use restrictions, in which each program and data are loaded in order to execute various processes. 105 is a keyboard (K
B), receiving the key input data,
Communicate to. 106 is a display (CRT),
Output the data to be displayed.

Reference numeral 107 denotes a flexible disk device (F
D), 108 are hard disk devices (HD), 109 is a CD-ROM device (CR), and programs and data are stored in a recording medium of these external storage devices (disks) to perform information processing of this embodiment. At the time of execution on the device, it is referred to or loaded into the RAM 104 as needed. 11
A printer device (PRT) 0 executes printing on a recording medium. 111 is a network controller (NW
C), which is connected to the external network 200,
It is configured to be able to perform data communication with other information processing devices and the like connected to the network 200, and to receive and send programs.

In the apparatus of this embodiment having the above configuration, the following description assumes the following situation.

It is assumed that there is a user and a program provider, and they are located apart from each other so that they cannot directly hand over the equipment. However, both parties can exchange information by telephone or facsimile. The medium for supplying the software program is the medium of the CD-ROM device 109 shown in FIG. 1, and the user carries out the formal procedure and owns it. In the CD-ROM medium, a program for calculating a machine identification number (hereinafter referred to as "machine ID"), some unusable software programs, and a program for canceling unusability of a specific software program ( Hereinafter, it will be referred to as an "installation program". Machine ID
Is to uniquely identify the information processing device used by the user.

Under the above assumptions, in order to execute the program for canceling the unusability of the specific software program, a software program identification number (hereinafter referred to as "software ID") for specifying the software program and an arbitrary It is necessary to enter the character string (password) of.

The operation based on the above assumption of the present embodiment having the configuration of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In step S201, the user informs the software program supplier that there is software to be used. In step S202, the software program supplier who has received this request requests the user to execute the machine identification number (hereinafter referred to as "machine ID") acquisition program.

The user who has received this request operates in step S2.
03, the CD-RO in which the program is stored
The M medium is set in the CD-ROM device 109, and the machine ID calculation program stored therein is executed to obtain the machine ID. This machine ID calculation program will be described later.

Then, in the following step S204, the program supplier informs the user of the machine ID and the ID of the software program the user is requesting to use. Then, in step S205, the program supplier refers to a table prepared in advance and obtains the unusable cancellation password from the machine ID and software ID notified. FIG. 3 shows an example of a table for acquiring the unusable cancellation password from the machine ID and the software ID. For example, if the machine ID is 123 and the software ID is 6, the password will be VQRAO from the table of FIG.

Then, in the next step S206, the program supplier notifies the user of this password, and the user obtains this password. As a result, in step S207, the user inputs the software ID, machine ID, and password to execute the installation program. The installation program will be described later.

As a result, the storage of the desired program is completed, and thereafter, the desired installed program can be used in the information processing apparatus of this user.

The machine ID calculation program of step S203 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In step S401, first, the number of sections of the HD 108 connected to the register N of the apparatus is set. Usually, the HD 108 is logically divided into several parts. Further, 0 is set to both the register I and the register MID of the device as a loop variable. Succeedingly, in a step S402, it is checked whether or not the contents of the register I and the register N are equal. If the contents of both registers are equal, the processing is terminated, and the MID at that time is set as the machine ID obtained by this program.

On the other hand, if the contents of register I and register N are not equal in step S402, step S403.
Then, the remaining capacity of the hard disk of the register I section of the hard disk sections is added to MID. Then, in step S404, 1 is added to the register I and incremented by 1, and the process returns to step S402.

The machine IND obtained by executing the above program is different depending on each information processing device (machine), and even the same machine waits for a property that changes depending on the usage condition at that time.

Next, the installation program in step S207 of FIG. 2 described above will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

At the time of executing the installation program, the user specifies and inputs the software ID of the software program to be installed and the password calculated in step S205 shown in FIG. 2 described above in step S501 according to the specified execution procedure. This software I
The installation program that obtains D and the above-mentioned password from the user sets the password as password A and R
It is stored in the AM 104.

In the subsequent step S502, the obtained installation program executes the machine ID calculation program shown in FIG. 4 to obtain the machine ID and stores it in the RAM. Then, in step S503, from the table included in this installation program, step S501
A password is obtained using the software ID obtained in step S1 and the machine ID obtained in step S502 as a key, which is designated as password B. The table included in the installation program in this embodiment is the same as the table shown in FIG. 3 used by the program supplier in step S205. In step S504, the password A obtained in step S501 and the password B obtained in step S503. Check if are equal. If the two passwords are not the same, the process ends without further program installation. As a result, when password A and password B are different, the requested software program cannot be used.

On the other hand, if both passwords are the same, the process advances to step S505 to enable the software program specified by the software ID. That is, for example, if the software program on the storage medium of the CD-ROM device 109 becomes unusable by exchanging the odd number byte and the even number byte in the correct state, the odd number byte and the even number byte are exchanged. Meanwhile, the software program can be read and copied to the HD 108 to be used.

As described above, according to this embodiment, H
By limiting the function of using the information of D108 to enable a distributed software program that is disabled on a medium such as a CD-ROM by generating a machine ID, within a specific machine and within a specific period. The effect that can be obtained can be obtained.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described. The basic configuration of the second embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment described above, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The second embodiment is effective not only in the case where the machine ID is obtained using the HD information.
For example, the machine ID shown in FIG. 4 of the first embodiment described above.
By changing the calculation program as shown in FIG. 7, more reliable operation can be performed.

The operation of the second embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. As described above, the operation of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment except for the machine ID calculation program shown in FIG.

In step S601 of FIG. 6, the physical address acquisition request of the NWC 111 shown in FIG. 1 is executed.
Subsequently, in step S602, the acquired physical address is stored in the RAM 113. In step S603, the physical address is stored as the machine ID. In addition,
What is a physical address? Network controller (NWC)
Unique to 111, no two NWCs have the same physical address.

As described above, the machine ID is generated by using the information of NWC, and the function of making the distributed software program unusable on the medium such as CD-ROM can be used by the specific machine. It has the effect that it can be surely limited to only.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment according to the present invention will be described. The basic configuration of the third embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment described above, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The third embodiment is effective in the case where the machine ID is obtained by using the information of the HD 108 as in the first embodiment, and the NWC111 as in the second embodiment.
It is not only the case where the machine ID is obtained by using the information of. For example, in the third embodiment, by changing the machine ID calculation program shown in FIG. 4 of the first embodiment as shown in FIG. 7, it is possible to perform a more reliable operation with a limited effective period. It is possible. .

The operation of the third embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. As described above, except for the machine ID calculation program shown in FIG. 7, it is the same as in the first embodiment.

In step S701 of FIG. 7, the NWC is
The physical address acquisition request of 111 is executed. Step S
In 702, the physical address obtained in step S701 is received and stored in the RAM 104. Subsequently, in step S703, the acquired physical address is stored as ID1.

Then, in step S704, the first
The control of FIG. 4 described in the embodiment is executed to obtain the machine ID, which is referred to as ID2. In the following step S705, ID1 and ID2 are combined as a character string. For example I
If D1 is bca098 and ID2 is 123,
The result of combining them is bca098123. The combined result is the machine ID.

As described above, according to the third embodiment,
By creating a machine ID using NWC information and HD information, it is possible to use a function that makes it possible to use a distributed software program that is disabled on a medium such as a CD-ROM, for a specific machine and for a specific period of time. It has the effect that it can be limited to.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, the storage medium storing the program according to the present invention constitutes the present invention. Then, by reading the program from the storage medium to the system or device, the system or device operates in a predetermined manner.

As described above, according to each of the above-described embodiments, the software program is previously disabled and supplied through the specific medium such as the FD or the CD-ROM, and the specific software program is requested by the user. By providing an installation program including a machine ID calculation program when enabling the software, it is possible to limit the function enabling the software program to a specific machine and a specific period.

[0049]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to reliably control the installation of execution information, and effectively prevent the installation in an unplanned device.

[0050]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure for enabling a user to use an arbitrary software program in the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a table for calculating a password from a machine ID and a software ID in this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure for calculating a machine ID using hard disk information in this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure of an installation program in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure for calculating a machine ID using NWC in the second embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows NWC and H in the third embodiment according to the present invention.
11 is a flowchart showing a procedure for calculating a machine ID using the information of D.

[Explanation of symbols]

 102 CPU (Central Processing Unit) 104 RAM (Random Access Memory) 108 HD (External Storage Device) 109 CR (External Storage Device) 111 NWC (Network Controller)

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus capable of installing execution information of a desired process including a new software program in the apparatus, and acquiring an identification code for identifying execution information of a process to be installed. Means, a calculation means for calculating a machine identification code unique to the information processing apparatus in which the execution information is to be installed, and an identification code of the acquisition execution information by the identification code acquisition means,
Discriminating means for discriminating whether or not to perform installation based on the machine identification code calculated by the computing means, and processing identified according to the identification code obtained by the identification code obtaining means when the discriminating means decides to install An information processing apparatus, comprising: an installation execution unit that installs execution information of the. 2. An information processing device capable of installing execution information of a desired process including a new software program in the device, and acquiring an identification code for identifying execution information of a process to be installed. Means, a calculation means for calculating a machine identification code unique to the information processing device in which the execution information is to be installed, a character string acquisition means for acquiring an arbitrary character string, and an identification code of the acquisition execution information by the identification code acquisition means When,
A discriminating unit that discriminates whether or not the installation is performed based on the machine identification code calculated by the calculating unit and the character string obtained by the character string obtaining unit; An information processing apparatus, comprising: an installation execution unit that installs execution information of the process identified according to the identified identification code. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit calculates the machine identification code by referring to a secondary storage device provided in the apparatus. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the calculating unit calculates the machine identification code by referring to the free capacity of each section of the secondary storage device provided in the apparatus. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit calculates the machine identification code by referring to a network connection device provided in the apparatus. 6. The machine identification code is calculated by referring to a secondary storage device and a network connection device provided in the device.
Or the information processing device according to any one of 2). 7. An information processing method in an information processing device capable of installing execution information of a desired process including a new software program in the device, wherein an identification code for identifying execution information of a process to be installed is acquired. An identification code acquisition step, a calculation step of calculating a machine identification code unique to the information processing apparatus in which the execution information is to be installed, and an identification code of the acquisition execution information in the identification code acquisition step,
A determining step of determining whether or not to perform installation based on the calculated machine identification code in the calculating step; and a process of identifying according to the identification code acquired in the identification code acquiring step when the determining step determines to perform installation And an installation execution step of installing execution information of the information processing method. 8. An information processing method in an information processing device capable of installing execution information of a desired process including a new software program in the device, wherein an identification code for identifying execution information of a process to be installed is acquired. An identification code acquisition step, a calculation step for calculating a machine identification code unique to the information processing apparatus in which execution information should be installed, a character string acquisition step for acquiring an arbitrary character string, and an acquisition execution in the identification code acquisition step The identification code of the information,
A discrimination step of discriminating whether or not to perform installation based on the machine identification code calculated in the calculation step and the character string obtained in the character string acquisition step, and acquired in the identification code acquisition step when the judgment step determines that installation is to be performed And an installation execution step of installing execution information of the process identified according to the identified identification code. 9. The information processing method according to claim 7, wherein the calculation step calculates the machine identification code by referring to a secondary storage device provided in the device. 10. The information processing method according to claim 9, wherein the calculating step calculates the machine identification code by referring to the free capacity of each section of the secondary storage device provided in the device. 11. The information processing method according to claim 6, wherein in the calculating step, the machine identification code is calculated by referring to a network connection device provided in the apparatus. 12. The information according to claim 7, wherein in the calculation step, the machine identification code is calculated by referring to a secondary storage device and a network connection device provided in the device. Processing method.