JPH1124917A - Duplication protection method and duplication protection system for computer device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily protect duplication when original software and duplicated software mutually execute communication. SOLUTION: Both computer devices 11 and 11 which mutually execute communication through a communication medium L send a program ID 13 provided for self-software 12 to the computer devices 11 of opposite communication party and compare the program ID 13 of the opposite communication party, which are received from the opposite communication party, with the self- program ID 13. When the program ID differs (when values are not matched), communication, is continued and target software is enabled to operate. Thus, duplication protection does not apply and a target software operation is enabled. When the values of program ID match with each other, the software is considered as illegally duplicated, and communication is disconnected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a copy protection method, a recording medium, and a copy protection method for a computer device, which are preferably applied to a process having a communication function using commercially available software between computers.

[0002] The present invention also relates to a copy protection method, a recording medium, and a copy protection method for a computer device, which are suitable for application to, for example, computer software in a network application.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a copy protection technique for commercially available application software, a unique ID is set in a computer, and the program is continued only when the ID is checked by software and the validity is confirmed. By doing so, copy protection was performed.

[0004] In this conventional copy protection technique, since a unique ID is required for the computer, it cannot be easily realized by a normal personal computer. In order to realize the above-described copy protection technique on a personal computer, external hardware, for example, RS-
By adding hardware using 232C, an ID unique to the computer is set and realized.

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, in any case, ID storage management means for giving a computer a unique ID, hardware and ID
However, there is a problem that extra management means is required to achieve the same, and therefore, it cannot be easily realized particularly in a normal personal computer.

[0006]

As described above, in the conventional copy protection technique, hardware for setting and holding an ID unique to a computer is required, and ID storage management means is required. Further, there is a problem that extra management means for matching the hardware and the ID is required, and therefore it cannot be easily realized particularly in a general personal computer.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances,
Distribution that enables simple and easy reliable copy protection in ordinary personal computers without the need for complicated setting and management on hardware and software to set and hold a unique ID for the computer. Software copy protection method, recording medium,
And a copy protection method for a computer device.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention focuses on the fact that these applications communicate with each other by narrowing the scope of copy protection to network applications. ) Is copied or not, so that even if unauthorized software is copied, the copied software will not operate, and this will result in unauthorized copying. The use of such software is prohibited to enable highly reliable software protection, and can be realized extremely easily in a normal personal computer.

That is, according to the present invention, in a copy protection method for a computer device, each program having a communication processing function is provided with unique ID information having a different value. It is characterized by receiving the ID information, comparing the ID information with the ID information provided in the running self-program, and if the contents do not match, the process is continued.

[0010] The present invention is also directed to a machine-readable recording medium, wherein an ID of a program executed by a communication partner is stored.
A procedure for acquiring information from a communication partner and a procedure for comparing ID information acquired from the communication partner with ID information of a program being executed, and when the contents do not match, continuing the processing of the program being executed. A program for causing a computer to execute the program is recorded.

According to the present invention, in a copy protection method of a computer device, an ID of a program being executed is stored.
Means for acquiring information; means for sending the acquired ID information to a communication partner during execution of the program;
Means for receiving ID information from a communication partner during execution of the program, comparing the ID information received from the communication partner with ID information obtained from the program being executed, and executing if the contents do not match; Means for continuing program processing during execution, wherein the program processing being executed can be continued only when the ID information is different from that of the communication partner.

Further, the present invention is a copy protection method for a computer device applied in an environment in which communication is performed between at least two computers, and each of the computers performing communication has a different value for each software. An ID is embedded, and when communication is performed between the computers, the IDs are transmitted between the computers.
D is exchanged, communication between the computers is interrupted when the IDs of the computers match, and communication is continued between the computers only when the IDs of the computers do not match.

Further, the present invention is a copy protection method for a computer apparatus applied in an environment in which communication is performed between at least two computers, and each of the computers performing communication has a different value for each software. Embed an ID, and when communicating between the computers, obtain the ID of each computer that may be a communication partner, and suspend communication after that if there is an ID that matches each other among the IDs And
Communication is continued between computers only when all IDs do not match.

The present invention also relates to a copy protection method for a computer device applied in an environment in which communication is performed between at least two computers, wherein each of the computers performing communication has a different value for each software. The IDs are embedded, and when performing communication between the computers, the IDs of the computers that may become communication partners are obtained, and the IDs that match each other among the obtained IDs exceed the set value. When present, subsequent communication is interrupted, and communication is continued between computers only when the set value is not exceeded.

With such a copy protection function,
This eliminates the need for complicated setting and management on hardware and software for setting and holding a unique ID for the computer, and makes it possible to easily and easily perform highly reliable copy protection on an ordinary personal computer.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a computer device (for example, a personal computer), which has an interface function for performing communication with a partner computer device via a communication medium (L). Each of the computer devices 11, 11,... Is provided with a user ID having a unique value for each device, which is used in a general usage form.

Reference numeral 12 denotes software provided in the computer device 11 and executed by the computer device 11 and having the copy protection function of the present invention.
Specifically, it is, for example, a load module of software of a network application existing in a computer. This processing procedure is shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 2 and 3 described later.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a program ID provided (embedded) in a predetermined area in the software 12, and a different value is set for each software 12, 12,.... Specifically, when a plurality of pieces of software 12, 12,... Having the same function are created, a program ID having a different value is assigned to each copy of the software and embedded in a predetermined area.

A program ID comparison means 14 in the software 12 compares a program ID 13 extracted from its own software 12 with a program ID 13 extracted from the software 12 of the computer 11 to be communicated with, and obtains a value. If it does not match (≠), it is determined that the software is valid, and the values match (=)
When it is determined that the software is illegal,
Specifically, it is realized by the microprocessor processing of the computer device 11.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are flowcharts showing the processing procedure of the copy protection function realized by the software 12 of the computer device 11 in the above embodiment. FIG. ) Side (T side), and FIG. 3 shows the processing procedure of the communication partner side (R side).

The operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. The outline of the operation in the first embodiment is as follows. In order to operate the copy protection function of the present invention, the two computer devices 11 and 11 that communicate with each other via the communication medium (L) are:
Each sends the program ID 13 provided in its own software 12 to the computer device 11 of the communication partner,
The other party's program I received from the other party
D13 is compared with its own program ID13. Here, if the program IDs are different (if the values do not match)
Continue communication so that the target software operates. Therefore, the target software operation can be performed without performing copy protection. If the values of the program IDs match, it is determined that the software is illegal software (software copied illegally), and the communication connection is disconnected.

The processing operation of the copy protection function in the first embodiment of the present invention at this time will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. Here, the computer device that triggers the communication (the transmission source) is T
The computer device on the communication side is called a computer device on the R side. FIG. 2 shows the processing procedure of the copy protection function in the computer device on the T side, and FIG. 3 shows the processing procedure of the copy protection function in the computer device on the R side.

The computer device 11 on the T side first requests a user ID from the computer device 11 on the R side as a communication partner via the communication medium (L) (step T1 in FIG. 2). This user ID is generally used and is open ID information that is not classified.

When the R-side computer device 11 receives a request for a user ID from the T-side computer device 11 (step R1 in FIG. 3), the T-side computer device 11
To your own user ID,
(Step R2 in FIG. 3).

The computer device 11 on the T side receives the user I
When a user ID is received from the computer device 11 on the R side within a predetermined time after the request of D (step T2 in FIG. 2),
It transmits its own user ID to the R-side computer device 11 and requests the program ID provided in the software 12 of the R-side computer device 11 (step T3 in FIG. 2).

The computer device 11 on the R side is connected to the user I
When a user ID is received from the computer device 11 on the T side within a predetermined time after the request of D (step R3 in FIG. 3),
The program ID 13 is acquired from a predetermined area in the software 12 (R side) provided in the own (R side) computer device 11 (step R4 in FIG. 3), and the acquired program ID is stored in the T side computer device 11. ID13
, And requests the program ID provided in the software 12 of the computer device 11 on the T side (step R5 in FIG. 3).

When the computer 11 on the T side receives the program ID 13 from the computer 11 on the R side within a predetermined time after the request for the program ID (step T4 in FIG. 2), the computer 11 on its own (T side) The program ID 13 is obtained from a predetermined area in the software 12 (on the T side) provided in the program 11 (step T5 in FIG. 2),
The obtained program ID 13 is transmitted to the computer device 11 on the R side (step T6 in FIG. 2).

Further, the computer device 11 on the T side activates the program ID comparison means 14 in the software 12 to acquire the program ID 13 acquired from a predetermined area in the software 12 on the (T side) and the R side. Is compared with the program ID 13 received from the computer device 11 (step T7 in FIG. 2).
Are not matched (≠) (see step T8 (Ye
s)), it is determined that the software is legitimate, and the ongoing communication processing is continued (step T9 in FIG. 2).

In the comparison of the program IDs 13 (step T7 in FIG. 2), when the values match (=) (step T8 (No) in FIG. 2), the software is illegal (software copied illegally). Is transmitted to the R-side computer device 11 (step T10 in FIG. 2), and the communication connection state is released (disconnected) (step T11 in FIG. 2). Further, a message indicating that there is an error in the communication environment is displayed on the display unit of the own (T side) computer device 11 (FIG. 2).
Step T12) The process ends.

On the other hand, if the computer device 11 on the R side receives the program ID 13 from the computer device 11 on the T side within a predetermined time after the request for the program ID (step R6 in FIG. 3), the program I in the software 12 will be executed.
Activate the D comparison means 14 and obtain the program ID 13 acquired from a predetermined area in the software 12 of its own (R side).
Is compared with the program ID 13 received from the computer device 11 on the T side (step R7 in FIG. 3). When the values of the respective program IDs 13 do not match (≠) (step R8 (Yes) in FIG. 3), Is determined to be appropriate software, and the ongoing communication processing is continued (see FIG. 3).
Step R9).

In the comparison of the program IDs 13 (step R7 in FIG. 3), if the values match (=) (step R8 (No) in FIG. 3), the software is illegal (software copied illegally). And transmits a message to the effect that the communication environment has an error to the computer device 11 on the T side (step R10 in FIG. 3), and releases (disconnects) the communication connection state (step R11 in FIG. 3). Further, a message indicating that there is an error in the communication environment is displayed on the display unit of the own (R side) computer device 11 (FIG. 3).
Step R12) The process ends.

In the above embodiment, if the ID cannot be received within a certain period of time after the request, a predetermined error process is executed, and the process ends. With the copy protection function according to the first embodiment of the present invention, each of the computer devices 11 and 11 that perform communication has
No complicated setting and management on hardware and software for setting and holding a unique ID is required,
By applying to a normal personal computer, highly reliable copy protection can be easily and easily performed.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, one computer device collects program IDs of a plurality of computer devices and performs copy protection. In this embodiment, as an example, the software 12 whose program ID 13 has a value of “ID012” is used. In this example, the computer device 11 collects the program IDs of the software 12, 12,... Of the other plurality of computer devices 11, 11,.

In the copy protection processing according to the second embodiment, first, the value of the program ID 13 is set to “ID01”.
Computer device 11 having 2 "software 12
Collects, via the communication medium (L), the program IDs 13 of the software 12 of a plurality of other computer devices 11, 11,... Which may communicate with each other.

When the collected program IDs are compared, “ID123”, “ID456”, “ID
. 789 ", the software 12 of all the computer devices 11, 11,... Is regarded as not illegally copied, the communication is continued, and the intended software operation is executed.

Since the details of the processing at this time can be easily understood from the first embodiment, a detailed description thereof will be omitted here. 5 and 6 show a third embodiment of the present invention.
It is a block diagram showing an embodiment.

In the third embodiment, one computer device collects the program IDs of a plurality of computer devices and performs copy protection in accordance with a predetermined value 15 for limiting the number of copies set in the program ID 13 in advance. Here, as an example, the program I
The value of D13 is “ID012” and the value of the specified value 15 is “2”
Computer device 11 with software 12
Is an example in which the program IDs of the software 12, 12,... Of the other plurality of computer devices 11, 11,.

In the copy protection processing according to the third embodiment, first, the value of the program ID 13 is set to “ID01”.
Computer device 11 having 2 "software 12
Collects, via the communication medium (L), the program IDs 13 of the software 12 of a plurality of other computer devices 11, 11,... Which may communicate with each other.

Of the collected program IDs, in this example, there are two computer devices 11 having software 12 whose program ID 13 has the value “ID123”.

At this time, when the value of the specified value 15 is “2”, the mere presence of two equal program IDs
The computer apparatus 11 having the software 12 whose value of the program ID 13 is “ID012” is the software 1
No. 2 is not considered to have been copied illegally, and the communication is continued to enable execution of the intended software operation.

When the value of the specified value 15 is "1", when two equal program IDs exist, the software 12 having the program ID 13 of "ID012"
The computer device 11 having the function (1) assumes that the software 12 has been illegally copied, interrupts the communication, and disables execution of the target software operation.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the value of the specified value 15 is "2", the same program ID ("ID12
3)), the computer apparatus 11 having the software 12 whose program ID 13 has the value of “ID012” assumes that the software 12 has been illegally copied, and suspends the communication. Disables execution of desired software operation.

Since the details of the process at this time can be easily understood from the first embodiment, a detailed description thereof will be omitted here. As described above, according to the copy protection function according to the embodiment of the present invention, only the unique IDs (program IDs) are assigned to the distributed software 13, 13,. It is possible to judge whether or not there is an illegal copy simply by having each software talk to each other, and it is possible to easily and easily perform highly reliable copy protection by applying to an ordinary personal computer. .

In the above-described embodiment, the distribution software 13, 13,... To be copy-protected is not limited to an application program having a communication function, but includes, for example, an operating system having a communication function. It is applicable to various distribution software.

[0045]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to perform complicated setting and management on hardware and software for setting and holding a unique ID for a computer. In this case, it is possible to provide a copy protection method for a distribution software, a recording medium, and a copy protection method for a computer device, which can easily and easily perform a highly reliable copy protection.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a copy protection function in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a copy protection function in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

11: Computer device, 12: Software having the copy protection function of the present invention, 13: Program ID embedded in the software, 14: Program ID comparison means, 15: Default value for limiting the number of copies, L: Communication medium.

Claims (6)

[Claims] A unique ID information having a different value is provided for each program having a communication processing function, and ID information is received from a communication partner in communication processing by the program.
The ID information and the I provided in the running self program
A copy protection method characterized by comparing D information and, when the contents do not match, continuing the processing. 2. A procedure for acquiring ID information of a program executed by a communication partner from a communication partner, and comparing the ID information acquired from the communication partner with ID information of a program being executed. And a procedure for continuing the processing of the program being executed when the contents do not match. Means for acquiring ID information of the program being executed; means for transmitting the acquired ID information to a communication partner during execution of the program; and communication during execution of the program. Means for receiving ID information from the other party; means for comparing the ID information received from the other party with the ID information acquired from the program being executed; and means for continuing the processing of the program being executed when the contents do not match. A copy protection method for a computer device, wherein the program processing being executed can be continued only when the ID information is different from that of the communication partner. 4. In an environment in which communication is performed between at least two computers, an ID having a different value for each software is embedded in software of each computer performing the communication, and communication is performed between the computers. In this case, the IDs are exchanged between the computers, and when the IDs of the computers match, the communication between the computers is interrupted, and the IDs of the computers are changed.
A copy protection method for a computer device, wherein communication is continued between the computers only when D does not match. 5. In an environment in which communication is performed between a plurality of computers, an ID having a different value for each software is embedded in software of each of the computers performing the communication, and communication is performed between the computers. In the meantime, the IDs of the computers that may become communication partners are acquired, and if IDs that match each other are present in the IDs, the subsequent communication is interrupted. A copy protection method for a computer device characterized by continuing communication. 6. In an environment in which communication is performed between a plurality of computers, an ID having a different value for each software is embedded in software of each of the computers performing the communication, and communication is performed between the computers. In the meantime, the IDs of the computers that may become communication partners are acquired, and when IDs that match each other exceed the set value among the acquired IDs, the subsequent communication is interrupted and the set value is exceeded. A copy protection method for a computer device characterized in that communication between computers is continued only when there is no communication.