JPH10198569A - Method for installing software and software installing recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make possible installing being adaptive to a user system and to prevent illegal copying by generating a program intrinsic to a user based on install continuing data, etc., which is generated in a host system. SOLUTION: The user sets a recording medium 100 from a software provider to the reading device of the user system 1 and permits the respective programs 101-103 to be in a reading possible state. Then, user information of the user system 1 is obtained by an install program 101 and also obtained information is transmitted to the host system by a communication program 102 with a communication line 3. Then, the host system 2 generates install continuing data based on data of a user management database 23 inside and received information so as to transmit it to the user system 1. The user system 1 generates the program intrinsic to the user from an option program 103 based on continuing data so as to record it in a recording device 14.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is provided by a software provider to install a commercially available application program, operating system or the like on a user's computer system (hereinafter abbreviated as "user system"). The present invention relates to a method of installing software in a user system using a recording medium such as a CD-ROM.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When software is installed so as to be adapted to a user system, a program group to be installed, a program version or a parameter setting, etc. differ for each user because the environment is different for each user system. It is a difficult task for the user to properly select and install this. Therefore, the following method is known as a conventional technique. Method a: A method in which a software provider creates a user-specific program in consideration of the configuration of a user system and the like, and records and provides the program on a recording medium each time, for example, a plurality of files Among them, there is a method in which a software provider appropriately selects a necessary file according to a user's system configuration and the like, records the selected file on a recording medium, and provides the product as a product unique to the user. There has been a method of providing the software created in the method b; online on a communication line instead of providing the software on a recording medium. Method c: The installation program recorded on the medium automatically determines the user's system environment and performs the installation, for example, the version of the CPU, the capacity of the installed memory, and the hard disk (hereinafter abbreviated as “HD”; the same applies hereinafter). There is a method in which the installation program detects the system configuration such as the capacity of the printer, the presence or absence of a printer connection, and the like, and automatically selects the program to be installed.

On the other hand, in a method of providing software on a recording medium, an unauthorized copy prevention method has been proposed in order to prevent the software from being illegally copied to a plurality of systems. The following methods are known. Method d: As a method of restricting the subsequent installation by writing data provided on the medium provided at the time of execution of the installation, for example, a program and key data are recorded on a writable recording medium such as a floppy disk. In addition, there has been a method in which the key data is rewritten at the time of executing the installation, thereby making it impossible to perform the next or subsequent installation using the recording medium, or limiting the number of installations. Method e; As a method of notifying the user of key data for performing installation by mail, e-mail, or the like, for example, when the installation program prompts the user to input key data at the time of execution of the installation, and there is no key data input, There were ways to prevent subsequent installations from continuing and to restrict the use of some software features.

[0004]

However, the above a
In the above method, the type of the recording medium of the software provided by the software provider is required for each system configuration of the user, or the software has to be recreated for each user. Also, when software versions were upgraded, each user had to be individually addressed. For this reason, there is a problem that the burden on the software provider is increased and a rapid version upgrade cannot be performed. Also,
In the method (b), there is no need to record and provide the software to be provided on the recording medium provided in (a), but if the software capacity is large, the time and cost required for communication are extremely large. was there. Furthermore, with the method c, the information that the installation program can recognize is limited, and if there is a part that cannot be recognized in the system environment (usually such a part is more difficult to set), the part Has to be set by the user, and there is a problem that the user may make a setting error at this time.

On the other hand, in the method d, a CD-ROM
However, there is a problem in that software cannot be provided by providing a read-only recording medium such as the above, and illegal copying cannot be prevented. In the method e, the key data can be recognized by the user as key data. For example, if the data is characters or numbers, the contents can be easily understood. Key data can be entered, and even if it is encrypted, it is handled as a single file as key data, so it is easy to copy the key data itself. After that, illegal copying is possible, and there has been a problem that illegal copy prevention is incomplete.

The present invention has solved the above-mentioned problems, ie,
CD-ROM that reduces the burden on software providers associated with the provision of recording media and enables quick version upgrades, reduces communication time and cost, reduces setting errors by reducing user setting items, and reduces CD-ROMs.
Even if the software is provided on a read-only recording medium such as the one described above, illegal copying can be prevented, and
An object of the present invention is to provide a software installation method and a software installation recording medium that can completely prevent unauthorized copying without a user recognizing the contents as key data.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a software installation method, wherein at least an installation program, a communication program, and an option program provided by a software provider are recorded. Setting the recorded medium in a reading device of the computer system of the user to read and execute the installation program and the communication program, and by executing the installation program, user information of the computer system of the user is obtained. And executing the communication program, the host computer system via a communication line connected between the computer system of the user and the host computer system of the software provider. Transmitting the acquired user information to the host computer system, and the host computer system generates a user-specific program based on the data of the user management database constructed in the host computer system and the received user information. Generating installation continuation data including the instructing information and transmitting the installation continuation data to the user's computer system; and the installation program of the user's computer system, wherein the recording is performed based on the received installation continuation data. A user-specific program suitable for the user's computer system is generated from the optional program recorded on the medium, and the user-specific program is stored in a recording device of the user's computer system. There is provided a software installation method characterized in that it comprises a step of recording grams, the.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a software installation method according to the first aspect, wherein the installation continuation data includes data not recorded on the recording medium. To provide.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the software installation method according to the first or second aspect, the installation continuation data includes installation management information, and is stored in the recording device of the user's computer system. In the step of recording the program, the installation management information is encoded and recorded in the recording device, and in the subsequent communication with the host computer system, the computer system of the user is based on the encoded installation management data. Generating user information and transmitting the user information to the host computer system, wherein the host computer system receiving the user information transmits the encoded input to the user's computer system. Transmitting update instruction data for instructing to update the installation management data, and the user's computer system updating the encoded installation management data with the received update instruction data. A feature of the present invention is to provide a featured software installation method.

[0010] The software installation recording medium according to claim 4 is used by setting the software provided by the software provider in a reading device of the user's computer system when the software is installed in the user's computer system. In a recording medium for software installation, at least an installation program, a communication program, and an option program are recorded on the recording medium, and the installation program executes, when executed, user information for acquiring user information of a user's computer system. An acquisition function and the option program recorded on the recording medium are read by the installation continuation data received from the host computer system, and the computer of the user is read. And user-specific program generation function of generating a user-specific program adapted to the stem,
A user-specific program writing function of writing the generated user-specific program to a recording device of the user's computer system, wherein the communication program includes:
By executing, a user information transmission function of transmitting the acquired user information to the host computer system of the software provider via a communication line, and an installation continuation data receiving function of receiving installation continuation data from the host computer system A method for installing software is provided.

[0011]

Next, an embodiment of a software installation method according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to [Embodiment 1] and [Embodiment 2].

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows a user system 1 and a host computer system (hereinafter abbreviated as "host system") 2 of a software provider for performing software installation in the first embodiment. It is a block diagram showing an outline. The user system 1 includes a communication device 12 for performing data communication, a CD-ROM drive 13, an HD (hard disk) 14, and a control device 11 for controlling them. HD 23 and a control device 21 for controlling these. Data communication can be performed between the user system 1 and the host system 2 through the communication line 3 by the respective communication devices 12 and 22. The control device 11
And the control device 21 are not shown, respectively.
Input devices such as a main storage device, a cache memory, a keyboard, a display device or a mouse, and devices for controlling these devices are also included, and the communication line 3 may be a public line or a dedicated line. It is assumed that the connection by the network is also included.

FIG. 2 to FIG. 7 are diagrams showing the data structures used in the present embodiment according to their functions.
Here, each data may be composed of a single file, for example, or may be composed of a set of a plurality of files. Further, the recording format such as the directory structure is not limited. Therefore, it is possible to use two or more data as one data having each function, or to use a combination of a plurality of files to realize a certain function. In the following description, “executing” a program includes not only executing a file described in a so-called executable format, but also automatically executing from another program.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the recorded contents of a CD-ROM 100, which is an example of a recording medium provided by a software provider, divided into blocks for each function.
-At least an installation program 101, a communication program 102, and an option program group 103 are recorded in the ROM 100. The installation program 101 includes a file described in a so-called executable format.
1 is read and executed by the CD-ROM drive 13. In addition, the communication program 102
Is a program that controls the communication and enables communication. The optional program group 103 is a program in which a plurality of optional programs are recorded. The optional programs are selected from these programs or partially rewritten and installed in the user system 1 by a method described later. It is.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the contents of data in the user management database 230 constructed in the HD 23 of the host system 2. User management database 2
Data of each of the 30 users is registered in a so-called relational database format, and a record can be specified by setting a certain field as a search field. In FIG. 3, the fields include a user ID number 231, a user system configuration 232, an additional function 233, and an installation history 23.
4 and these combinations for each user constitute one record.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the contents of new user information 300 generated in the user system 1 and transmitted to the host system 2, wherein 301 is a user ID number, 302 is automatic acquisition environment data, and 303 is manually input. Environment data 304 indicates an additional notification item.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the contents of the installation continuation data 400 generated in the host system 2 and transmitted to the user system 1, wherein 401 is user-specific program generation instruction information, 402 is installation management information, and 403 is This shows an additional program when a program not recorded on the CD-ROM is added.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the contents of the software 500 installed in the HD 14 and 501.
Denotes a communication program, 502 denotes encoded installation management data, and 503 denotes a user-specific program adapted to a user's system.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the procedure of the initial installation of the software on the user system 1 in the respective operations of the user system 1 and the host system 2. Each step of S1 to S24 in FIG. It is explained along. However, assuming that each procedure is executed normally in each of the following steps, FIG. 10 omits the judgment of whether or not the execution has been performed normally and the processing at the time of abnormality. In the event of an abnormality, it is conceivable that the installation is interrupted in that step, or that the step is ignored and the process proceeds to the next step. In making these determinations and operations, the control device 11 and the control device 21 in FIG. 1 mainly control the control of each device.

S1: The user stores the CD-ROM 100 provided by the software provider in the user system 1.
Set in the CD-ROM drive 13 of FIG. S2: Start the installation program 101 recorded on the CD-ROM. S3: The installation program 101 is stored in the control device 11 and executed, thereby prompting the user to input a user ID number from a keyboard, and the user inputs a predetermined user ID number. S4: The installation program 101 automatically acquires information on the user's system environment that can be grasped as software, such as the CPU version, the drive configuration, the free space of the HD 14, and the like. S5: The user inputs an item to be notified in addition to the software provider using the keyboard. For example, there is a case where a peripheral device of the user system is changed, a case where a function requested by the user is changed, or the like. S6: The control device 11 temporarily stores the data obtained in S3 to S5 in the storage unit of the control device 11 as new user information 300 shown in FIG. S7: The installation program 101 is a CD-ROM
Is started, and the communication program is stored in the control device 11 and executed. S8, S9: The communication program 102 sends a command to the communication device 12 and makes a connection request to the host system 2 through the communication line 3, while the host system 2 receives the connection request and connects the communication device 12 and the communication device 22. In between,
A line connection state is established by a general connection procedure such as determination of a communication rate and transmission and reception of a user ID number. S10: The control device 21 of the host system 2 starts the user management database 230, and
Request for transmission of user information. S11: The user system 1 transmits the new user information 300 stored in S6 to the host system 2. S12: Based on the transmitted new user information 300, the host system 2 specifies a user by collating with the user management database 230 shown in FIG. Here, the user ID number 301 of the new user information 300
Using the as a key, the user ID number field 231 of the user management database 230 is searched to identify the record of the corresponding user. S13: The installation continuation data 400 shown in FIG. 5 is generated based on the combined data of the transmitted new user information 300 and the contents recorded in the user management database 230. Here, the user-specific program generation instruction information 401 includes the automatically acquired environment data 302 of the new user information 300, the manually input environment data 303, and the user system configuration 23 of the user management database 230.
2. Based on the additional function 233, the installation history 234, etc., the optional program group 10 of the CD-ROM 100
3 and the additional program added by the installation continuation data 400 so as to be optimal for the user system 1.
It has instruction information for setting a combination of programs and various parameters. S14: Installation history field 234 in the corresponding user record of user management database 230
To update. In the installation history field 234,
The change of the user system 1 in this communication is recorded, and is used as a reference when the next communication is performed. S15: The host system 2 transmits the generated installation continuation data 400 to the user system 1. S16: The user system 1 receives the installation continuation data 400, and
0, the software 500 shown in FIG. Communication program 50
1 and the user-specific program 503 are generated by the program specified in the CD-ROM 100 and the additional program 403 based on the user-specific program generation instruction information 401 in the installation continuation data 400, and set various parameters. Installed. The encoded installation management data 502 is encoded and installed so that the installation management information 402 cannot be recognized by the user. Therefore, the user cannot recognize the contents of the encoded installation management data 502, and illegal copying is not possible. There are various known encoding methods, and the method is not particularly limited here. Also, the encoded installation management data 50
2 is used as key data when executing the installed software to confirm that the software is executed by an authorized user, and is used as authentication data of the authorized user who is an authorized user in the next communication with the host system 2. Is also used.

[Embodiment 2] FIG. 7 shows the user system 1 when the second and subsequent communications are performed after the communication between the user system 1 and the host system 2 for the first installation shown in the first embodiment is completed. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the contents of data of registered user information 600 generated by and transmitted to the host system 2. A user ID number 601 is the user ID number 30 described in the first embodiment.
As in the case of 1, the host system 2 is used to specify a user. Reference numeral 602 denotes management data for notifying the host that the user is a legitimate user based on the content of the encoded installation management data 502.
1 automatically. Reference numeral 603 denotes other data, which is attached when there is data such as a text file or an image file to be transmitted from the user system 1 to the host system 2.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the host system 2 in the second and subsequent communications, and will be described below along the steps S20 to S24 in the figure.

S20: The host system 2 receives the registered user information 600 from the user system 1 and specifies the user by the user ID number 601 according to the same procedure as described in S1 to S12 of the first embodiment. S21: Management data 602 and installation history 204 of the specified user in user management database 230
And checks whether the user who has accessed through the line is a legitimate user. S22: If it is a legitimate user, user system 1
To update the encoded installation management data 502. S23: Wait for receiving an update completion signal from the user computer system, and update the installation history 234 of the host computer system. That is, when communication is performed between the user system 1 and the host system 2, the history is left in each system, and the history is collated, so that the same effect can be obtained if the password is changed every time, so to speak. Strictly check whether a user is a user. S24: The required data communication is performed.

[0025]

As described above, the software installation method according to the first aspect of the present invention provides a method of reading a removable recording medium A, a method of reading / writing a readable / writable recording medium B, and a method of reading data connected to a line. In a method of installing software recorded on a recording medium A having at least an instrument program and a communication program in a user system having communication means for performing communication, acquiring the user information by executing the installation program, Transmitting automatically the user information through the line by the communication program and the communication means to the host system having the communication means connected to the line, and further, based on the user information transmitted from the host system. System-generated installation By receiving the installation data and automatically generating a user-specific program based on the installation continuation data and the data recorded on the recording medium A, and writing the program on the recording medium B, the user becomes familiar with the contents of his or her own system. Even if it is not done, software suitable for the system can be installed, and at the same time, unauthorized copying can be prevented.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the software installation method, the host system has a user management database corresponding to each user, and adapts to the user system based on the received user information. By creating the user-specific program generation instruction information, adding data not recorded on the recording medium A, and transmitting the data together, it is possible to provide installation continuation data adapted to the user system, and to provide a software version. Even if there is an up, it can respond quickly.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the software installation method, the installation continuation data transmitted from the host system includes installation management information, and at the time of installation, the installation management information is encrypted and encoded. Written to
In the next communication with the host system, the data generated based on this code is automatically sent to the host system, and by updating this encrypted code, the user can update the contents of the encrypted code. Without knowing, it is always updated every time it communicates with the host, so that the use of software other than the authorized user can be disabled.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a user system and a host system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing recorded contents of a CD-ROM.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing data contents of a user management database.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the contents of new user information.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing contents of installation continuation data.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the contents of installed software.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing contents of registered user information.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of initial installation of software.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the host system in the second and subsequent communications.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 User system 2 Host system 3 Communication line 11, 21 Control device 12, 22 Communication device 13 CD-ROM drive 14, 23 Hard disk 14, 23 Control means 100 CD-ROM 230 User management database 300 New user information 400 Installation continuation data 500 Installed software 600 Registered user information

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] March 7, 1997

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Brief description of drawings

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a user system and a host system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing recorded contents of a CD-ROM.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing data contents of a user management database.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the contents of new user information.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing contents of installation continuation data.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the contents of installed software.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing contents of registered user information.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of initial installation of software.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the host system in the second and subsequent communications.

[Description of Signs] 1 User system 2 Host system 3 Communication line 11, 21 Control device 12, 22 Communication device 13 CD-ROM drive 14, 23 Hard disk 14, 23 Control means 100 CD-ROM 230 User management database 300 New user information 400 Installation continuation data 500 Installed software 600 Registered user information

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] All figures

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG.

FIG. 2

FIG. 3

FIG. 4

FIG. 5

FIG. 6

FIG. 7

FIG. 9

FIG. 8

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A software installation method for installing software on a user's computer system, comprising: storing a recording medium on which at least an installation program, a communication program, and an option program provided by a software provider are recorded; Setting the readout device of the computer system to read and execute the installation program and the communication program; acquiring the user information of the computer system of the user by executing the installation program; By executing the program, via a communication line connected between the computer system of the user and the host computer system of the software provider,
Transmitting the obtained user information to the host computer system, and the host computer system is configured to execute a process based on the received user information and data of a user management database constructed in the host computer system.
Generating installation continuation data including information instructing generation of a user-specific program, and transmitting the installation continuation data to the user's computer system; and the installation continuation received by the installation program of the user's computer system. Generating a user-specific program suitable for the user's computer system from the option program recorded on the recording medium based on the data, and recording the user-specific program on a recording device of the user's computer system. Software installation method characterized by the following: 2. The software installation method according to claim 1, wherein the installation continuation data includes:
Software installation method including data not recorded on the recording medium 3. The software installation method according to claim 1, wherein the installation continuation data includes installation management information, and records the user-specific program in a recording device of the user's computer system. In the step, the installation management information is encoded and recorded in the recording device, and the user computer system generates user information based on the encoded installation management data in the next communication with the host computer system. And transmitting the user information to the host computer system. The host computer system receiving the user information transmits the encoded installation management data to the user computer system. Transmitting update instruction data for instructing update of the data, and the user's computer system updates encoded installation management data with the received update instruction data. Software installation method 4. A recording medium for software installation used when a software provided by a software provider is installed in a user's computer system and is set in a reading device of the user's computer system. Has at least the installation program,
A communication program and an option program are recorded, and the installation program is recorded on the recording medium by a user information acquisition function for acquiring user information of a user's computer system by execution, and installation continuation data received from a host computer system. A user-specific program generating function of reading out the optional program that has been written and generating a user-specific program suitable for the user's computer system, and writing the generated user-specific program to a recording device of the user's computer system The communication program has the functions described above. A user information transmitting function of transmitting Heather information, and a installation continuous data receiving function for receiving an installation continuity data from a host computer system, software installation recording medium, characterized in that