JPH11259574A - License management method and system, user terminal equipment and storage medium storing license management program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide license management method and system, a user terminal equipment and a storage medium storing a license management program capable of preventing the unauthorized use of digital contents and realizing a pay-per-use license. SOLUTION: A link processing program constituted of a main program and an activation/end program is divided (S1), the main program is arranged in an operation system extension function area (S2) and the activation/end program is turned to a shell structure turned to a file structure including the digital contents together with license using conditions (S3). When the activation request of the digital contents is issued from a user, the digital contents in the shell structure are separated (S4), the activation and end of the digital contents are controlled by the activation/end program, the operation of the digital contents is monitored by the main program and the activation/end program (S5) and a monitored result is communicated to a license management center in the main program (S6).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a license management method and system, a user terminal device, and a storage medium storing a license management program. More particularly, the present invention relates to computer application software including game software, video, animation, computer graphics, and the like. Digital data such as motion capture, digital still images such as electronic still photos, electronic music, MIDI
For digital contents such as digital data, etc.
Based on the license terms and conditions defining intellectual property and terms of use, monitor the operation of the digital content,
While preventing unauthorized use of the digital content, realizing pay per use (a method of renting digital content such as video, documents, application software, etc. by time, number of times, etc.) such as time lending and frequency lending of the digital content is realized. The present invention relates to a license management method and system using an operation system (OS) function expansion area, a user terminal device, and a storage medium storing a license management program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional method for managing licenses of digital contents including video materials, as shown in FIG. 8, a license usage condition document 2000 and a digital content 3000 have a pair structure. (Japanese Patent Application No. 7-173788). To realize a pair structure based on this, FIG.
As shown in (1), a system in which the link processing program 1000 is mounted (Japanese Patent Application No. 9-247272) is also conceivable.

[0003] These methods use an ID for video material,
User qualification information such as passwords, various rules related to intellectual property such as portrait rights and copyrights, usage fees such as royalties and initials, production address, telephone number etc. inquiry information, usage precautions, warning text Stipulates licenses such as message information to users, etc., and manages licenses by linking a license usage condition sheet explaining the handling and the digital contents to a pair (one pair) or the above link processing program Can be.

[0004]

However, if the digital contents are copied or the license management proxy processing unit is stopped in the above-mentioned conventional method, the above-described method shown in FIG. The license usage condition document 2000 and the digital content 3000 represented by data are linked in a pair or by the link processing program 1000, but have no structure for preventing unauthorized use of the digital content 3000. This causes the following problems.

As a first problem, since digital contents can be operated independently, there is no means for preventing unauthorized use when the license is copied and the license use condition is cut off. As a second problem, if the license management proxy processing unit is stopped when digital content is used, there is no means for calculating billing data, so that pay per use such as time lending and frequency lending cannot be realized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has been made in consideration of the prevention of unauthorized use of digital contents and the use of Pay per
An object of the present invention is to provide a license management method and system capable of realizing a use license, a user terminal device, and a storage medium storing a license management program.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention (claim 1) provides:
In a license management method for managing license distribution of digital content using digital content including application software and a license use condition attached to the content, an operation system function is operated to use the digital content. The status is grasped, the operation of the digital content is monitored, Pay per use data including time lending / frequency lending and billing data for the digital content are generated, and the monitoring result is sent to a license management center operated in a centralized management type. By notifying, communication with the license management center is performed to prevent unauthorized use.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the present invention. According to the present invention (claim 2), the main program and the activation /
A link processing program including an end program is divided (step 1), and the main program is arranged in an operation system extended function area (step 2).
The start / end program, together with the license usage conditions,
The shell structure has a file structure including digital contents (step 3). When a digital content activation request is issued from the user, the digital contents in the shell structure are separated (step 4), and the digital content is separated by the activation / termination program. In addition to controlling the start and end of the digital content, the main program and the start / end program monitor the operation of the digital content (step 5), and communicate the monitoring result to the license management center in the main program (step 6). ).

According to the present invention (claim 3), when the end of use of the digital content is detected, the digital content is returned to the shell structure. According to the present invention (claim 4), an activation / termination program monitors activation / termination of digital content, notifies the main program of the result of the monitoring, and the main program uses the digital content's usage time, The usage count data is acquired, and the license management center is notified.

According to the present invention (claim 5), the main program comprises:
It is possible to detect unauthorized use including copying of content from a user. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention. The present invention (claim 6) is a license management system for managing license distribution of digital content using digital content including application software and a license use condition attached to the content, wherein the digital content is used. In order to monitor the operation of the digital content, monitor the operation of the digital content and generate pay-per-use data including hourly / multi-time lending and billing data for the digital content. It has a user terminal having a generating means, a communication means for notifying a monitoring result by the monitoring data generating means, and a license management center operated in a centralized management type.

According to the present invention (claim 7), the monitoring data generating means divides the link processing program 1 comprising a main program and an activation / termination program for controlling activation and termination of the digital content. The main program 4 is arranged in the operation system extended function area 3 so as not to stop the execution during use, and the start / end program 5 has a shell structure having a file structure including digital contents 6 together with license use conditions. Program division arrangement means 2
When the user issues a digital content activation request, the digital content separating unit 9 that separates and arranges the digital content in the shell structure, the main program 4 and the activation / termination program 5, and the digital content It includes an operation monitoring means 7 for monitoring the operation, and a monitoring result transferring means for acquiring the result of monitoring by the operation monitoring means 7 in the main program 4 and transferring the result to the communication means 8.

The present invention (claim 8) includes means for returning the digital content to the shell structure when the digital content separating means 9 detects the end of use of the digital content. According to the present invention (claim 9), the activation / termination program 5 has means for monitoring activation / termination of digital content and notifying the main program of the result of the monitoring. The main program 4 is based on the activation / termination program. Means for acquiring usage time and usage count data of the digital content based on the monitoring result and notifying the license management center of the content.

According to the present invention (claim 10), the operation monitoring means 7 is provided.
The main program 4 includes an unauthorized use detecting means for detecting unauthorized use including copying of content from a user. The present invention (claim 11) relates to a user terminal device for accessing digital content including application software, which is set in a function extension area of an operating system and permits activation of digital content by using a function of an operation system. A main program for monitoring the operation of the digital content and notifying the license management center of the monitoring result;
It includes a start / end program that monitors the start and end of digital contents and notifies start and end requests to the main program, license use condition processing, and digital contents, and uses a shell structure outside the function expansion area of the operating system. When a digital content activation request is obtained from a shell and a user, the digital content in the shell is separated from the shell,
A content detachment / attachment control unit that attaches the digital content to the shell when an end request is acquired.

According to the present invention (claim 12), the content detachment / attachment control means includes means for separating the digital content in the shell from the shell by inversely converting the digital content into a state usable by the user. The present invention (claim 13) is a storage medium storing a license management program for performing license distribution management of digital content using digital content including application software and a license use condition accompanying the content. It has a monitoring data generation process for monitoring the operation of digital content and generating Pay per use data including time lending / frequency lending and charging data for digital content, and a communication process for notifying a monitoring result by the monitoring data generation process. .

According to the present invention (claim 14), in the monitoring data generation process, a link processing program comprising a main program and a start / end program for controlling start and end of digital content is divided, and A program dividing and arranging process for arranging the main program in an operation system extended function area so as not to stop execution in the middle, and for arranging the start / end program together with a license use condition and a file structure including digital contents in a shell structure; ,
When a start request for digital content is issued from a user, a digital content separation process for separating and arranging digital content in a shell structure, and an operation of monitoring the operation of the digital content by a main program and a start / end program The main program includes a monitoring process and a process of acquiring a result of monitoring by the operation monitoring process in the main program and transferring the result to the communication process.

The present invention (claim 15) includes, in the digital content separation process, a process of returning the digital content to the shell structure when the end of use of the digital content is detected. According to the present invention (claim 16), the start / end program has a process of monitoring the start / end of the digital content and notifying the monitoring result to the main program. And a process of acquiring the usage time and usage count data of the digital content based on the license management center and notifying the license management center.

The present invention (claim 17) includes, in the operation monitoring process, an unauthorized use detection process for detecting unauthorized use of the main program including copying of content from a user. As described above, the present invention provides a file structure including the digital contents, that is, a shell structure using the license use condition and the start / end program, and the shell and the operating system (OS).
By controlling the digital content with the main program in the function expansion area, the operation of the digital content is monitored, and information such as how much the digital content has been used is communicated to the license management center. This makes it possible to prevent unauthorized use of digital contents and to realize a Pay per use license.

Further, the digital contents are stored in a shell structure together with a license use condition document and a start / end program, and when the user issues a start request of the digital contents, the digital contents are stored. By detaching from the shell, the digital content cannot be operated by the user unless controlled by the main program via the start / end program. In this way, in managing digital contents, instead of placing digital contents alone on the user terminal, by storing them in a shell structure together with a start / end program and a license use condition document, Cannot be executed by This makes it possible to monitor the operation (usage status) of the digital content based on the license use condition, prevent unauthorized use of the digital content, and rent the digital content by time or by lending.
y peruse can be realized.

[0019]

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of a license management system according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, in the present invention, the processing process 1000 is divided into a main program 1100 and a start / end program 1200, and the start / end program 1200 and the license use condition
A file structure that wraps the digital content 3000, that is, a shell structure, and the shell 10000 is
Utilizing various commands and functions used in the OS, the main program 1100 performs link verification, and digital contents 3000
By having a structure that can monitor the operation of, content fraud prevention and Pay per use license are realized.

Here, the shell structure will be described. As an example of digital contents, for example, when a user wants to view an image file, the image file can be easily displayed by using application software capable of displaying the format (JPEG, GIF, etc.) of the image file. . About this image file,
Performing a certain conversion by a program incorporated in the S function extension area 150 and replacing the file with a file that cannot be displayed by application software is referred to as incorporating (attaching) to the shell. Once incorporated in the shell, the file is subjected to reverse conversion by the program incorporated in the OS extension area 150, ie,
Until the image is separated (leaved) from the shell, an accurate image cannot be displayed by other application software as well as application software capable of displaying the image file after the inverse conversion.

As another example of digital contents, a certain conversion is performed by a program similarly incorporated in the OS function extension area 150 for executable software such as game software. In other words, when incorporated (attached) to the shell, the user cannot execute it on the OS. When the file embedded in the shell is separated (leaved) from the shell by the reverse conversion, the software becomes a format that can be executed by the user.

As described above, converting digital content into an unusable form by a user is called embedding into a shell (making it into a shell structure). Once the digital content having been made into a shell structure is inversely converted, the user can convert the digital content into a shell structure. Making it usable is called separation from the shell. Here, as an example of the above-mentioned conversion / inverse conversion, for example, conversion / inverse conversion using a file compression / decompression technique / algorithm disclosed in a well-known technique such as Japanese Patent Application No. 9-247272. Alternatively, conversion and inverse conversion using an encryption / decryption technique are conceivable, and other methods and algorithms may be used.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the license management system of the present invention. The license management system shown in FIG.
This is a configuration using the OS function extension area 150, and includes a license use condition document 2000 and a start / end program 12.
00 has a file structure and a shell structure surrounding digital contents 3000, and shows a situation where the shell 10000 is connected by the main program 1100 placed in the function extension area 150 of the OS.

FIG. 5 shows an example of transition of the link processing operation state of the present invention, and FIG. 6 shows an example of an application system using a plurality of shell programs of the present invention simultaneously. As shown in FIG. 5, when the start data is sent to the shell, the start / end program 1200 sends the start request data to the main program 1100 existing in the OS function extension area 150. End program 12
Returned to 00.

Next, the digital content 3000 is separated from the shell 10000 and activated. While digital content 3000 is being used, main program 1100 is
The function of S is used to monitor the operation of the digital content 3000. When implementing a Pay per use license,
The main program 1100 communicates with the license management center 20 to transmit Pay per use data, billing data, and the like (content ID, OS operation information, usage time, number of uses, usage history information, billing data). .

Further, at the end of the digital contents 3000, the digital contents 300
0 is inserted and the processing ends. When there are a plurality of digital contents, as shown in FIG.
By using a plurality of file structures and shell structures in the management unit 100, it can be easily implemented.

As described above, according to the present invention, the link processing program 1000 is divided, and one of the programs is divided into the start / end program 1
A shell 10000 that wraps digital contents 3000 using a license use condition document 2000 as 200
And the other as a main program 1100, placed in the function extension area 150 of the OS, incorporating a link with the shell 10000 and a structure for monitoring startup / termination, to prevent unauthorized use of the digital content 3000, and
Realize the r use license.

[0028]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 7 shows the configuration of a license management system according to one embodiment of the present invention. The license management system shown in FIG. 1 includes a user terminal 10 and a license management center 20.

The user terminal 10 comprises an operation system 2000 and a shell 10000. The operation system 2000 includes a main program 1100 for controlling the shell 10000 via the operation system 2000, and an OS function 170.

The main program 1100 includes a content operation monitoring processing unit 1110 having a start / end program connection processing unit 1111, a communication processing unit 1120, and a memory unit 113.
0, and a control unit 1140. Shell 10000
Has a start / end program 1200 and a license use condition document 2000. Start / end program 120
0 indicates the terminal input / output processing unit 1210 and the connection processing unit 1220
And a control unit 1230.

For this to work, the shell 10000
In response to a command from the control unit 1230 of the start / end program 1200, the terminal input / output processing unit 1210
0 and the shell 10000 of the start request data of the digital content 3000 input from a mouse or the like connected to
Is received and transferred to the connection processing unit 1220.

Next, in response to a command from the control unit 1230, the connection processing unit 1220 checks whether the license use condition document 2000 and the digital content 3000 correspond to each other, and checks whether a pay-per-use period such as time lending or number lending has expired. Then, as a result, if the digital content 3000 is not operated, the result data is transferred to the terminal input / output unit 1210.

The terminal input / output processing unit 1210 outputs the result from a display or the like. On the other hand, when operating the digital content 3000, the connection processing unit 1220
Via the start / end program connection processing unit 1 in the content operation monitoring processing unit 1110 of the main program 1100
11 to transfer the activation request data. In response to a command from the control unit 1140, the start / end program connection processing unit 1111 of the main program 1100 stores the start request data received from the connection processing unit 1220 of the shell 10000 in the memory unit 1130.

In response to a command from the control unit 1140, the start / end program linking unit 1111 in the content operation monitoring processing unit 1110 transfers the start permission data to the linking processing unit 1220 of the start / end program 1200. Control unit 1
In accordance with the command of 230, the connection processing unit 1220 starts /
From the start request data received from the end program connection processing unit 1111, the digital content 3000 is
0000.

In response to a command from the control unit 1140, the content operation monitoring processing unit 1110 monitors the operation of the digital content 3000 using the OS function 170, and stores the usage time, number of times data, and the like in the memory unit 1130. In addition, in response to a command from the control unit 1140, the content operation monitoring processing unit 1110 receives the end request data of the digital content 3000 from the OS function 170, stores the end data in the memory unit 1140, and stores the end data in the communication processing unit 1130.
The data such as Pay per use is transferred to the license management center 20. Also, in response to a command from the control unit 1140, the communication processing unit 1130 causes the content operation monitoring processing unit 1110
Such as Pay per use, etc. received from
The data such as the usage time and the number of times extracted from 130 are transmitted to the license management center 20.

In response to a command from the control unit 1140, the start / end program connection processing unit 111 in the content operation monitoring processing unit 1110 sends digital content use end data to the connection processing unit 1220 of the start / end program 1200 of the shell 10000. Forward. Further, the control unit 1
In accordance with the instruction at 230, the connection processing unit 1220 incorporates (attaches) the digital content 3000 into the shell 10000.

Further, the main program 1100 and the shell 1
0000 linked, and the shell 1 only when used
Since it is possible to remove the digital content 3000 from 0000, the shell 10000 prevents the user from directly accessing the digital content 3000. Even while the digital content 3000 is in use, the main program 1100 can use a function of detecting a copy or the like to prevent unauthorized use and protect copyright and portrait right.

That is, when the user is not using the application, the user is prevented from using the application by the shell structure. When the user is using the application, the user performs illegal processing such as copying. Is periodically interrupted to the task processing of the OS function 170, the main program 1100 extracts the information of the task (copy or the like) currently being performed, and forcibly interrupts the user from performing an illegal process. To block unauthorized use.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but constructs the operation of the user terminal 10 as a program, and enables the disk device in the user terminal 10, a floppy disk, a CD-ROM, or the like. The present invention can be easily realized by storing it in a portable storage medium and installing it when implementing the present invention. In addition,
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified and applied within the scope of the claims.

[0040]

As described above, according to the license management system using the OS function storage area of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. Digital content is wrapped in a shell program, the main program and the shell program are linked, and the digital content is removed from the shell program only when used. For example, by providing a function of detecting a copy or the like as in a virus check technique, unauthorized use can be prevented, and copyright and portrait rights can be protected.

Further, by adopting a structure in which the main program is incorporated in the function expansion area of the OS, the main program cannot be stopped during the use of the digital content, and the operation of the digital content can be constantly monitored. For example, when the main program detects the start or end of an application, it always rents time,
y per use can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a principle configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of a license management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a license management system of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an example of a link processing operation state transition according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an example of an application system using a plurality of shell programs of the present invention at the same time.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a license management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the configuration of a conventional video information search method and system (Japanese Patent Application No. 7-173788).

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of a system in which a link processing program is implemented to realize a conventional pair structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Link processing program 2 Program division arrangement means 3 OS extended function area 4 Main program 5 Start / end program 6 Digital contents 7 Operation monitoring means 8 Communication means 9 Digital contents separation means 10 User terminal 20 License management center 150 Function expansion area 160 Basic Area 170 OS function 1000 Link processing program 1100 Main program 1110 Start / end program connection processing unit 1111 Content operation monitoring processing unit 1120 Communication processing unit 1130 Memory unit 1140 Control unit 1200 Start / end program 1210 Terminal input / output processing unit 1220 Connection processing unit 1230 Control unit 2000 License use condition 3000 Digital contents 10000 Shell 20000 OS (Operating system)

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A license management method for managing license distribution of digital content by using digital content including application software and a license use condition attached to the content, wherein an operating system is used to use the digital content. It grasps the state that the function is operating, monitors the operation of the digital content, generates Pay per use data including time lending / multiple lending, and billing data for the digital content, and centralizes the monitoring result in the monitoring result. A license management center operated by the system to communicate with the license management center to prevent unauthorized use. 2. A link processing program comprising a main program and a start / end program is divided, and the main program is arranged in an operation system extended function area. When the user issues a request for starting the digital content, the digital content in the shell structure is separated, and the start / end program starts and ends the digital content. 2. The license management method according to claim 1, further comprising controlling and monitoring the operation of the digital content by the main program and the start / end program, and communicating a result of the monitoring to the license management center in the main program. 3. The license management method according to claim 2, further comprising: means for returning the digital content to the shell structure when the end of use of the digital content is detected. 4. The start / end program monitors the start / end of the digital content, notifies the main program of the result of the monitoring, and the main program uses the digital content based on the monitor result. 3. The license management method according to claim 2, wherein time and usage count data are acquired and notified to the license management center. 5. The license management method according to claim 1, wherein the main program is capable of detecting unauthorized use of the content including copying of the content from the user. 6. A license management system for performing license distribution management of digital content using digital content including application software and a license use condition attached to the content, wherein: An operation system for ascertaining the state in which the digital content is operating, and monitoring data generation for monitoring the operation of the digital content and generating Pay per use data including time lending / number lending and billing data for the digital content A license management system comprising: a user terminal having communication means for notifying a monitoring result by the monitoring data generation means; and a license management center operated in a centralized management type. 7. The monitoring data generating means divides a link processing program including a main program and a start / end program for controlling start and end of the digital content, and executes the link processing program during use of the digital content. A program division arrangement means for arranging the main program in an operation system extended function area so as not to stop the program, and for arranging the start / end program together with license use conditions in a shell structure having a file structure including digital contents; When a start request for digital content is issued, digital content separation means for separating and arranging the digital content in the shell structure, and operation of the digital content is monitored by the main program and the start / end program. Motion monitoring hand 7. The license management system according to claim 6, further comprising: a step; and a means for acquiring, in the main program, a result of monitoring by the operation monitoring means, and transferring the result to the communication means. 8. The license management system according to claim 7, wherein said digital content separating means includes means for returning said digital content to said shell structure upon detecting end of use of said digital content. 9. The activation / termination program has means for monitoring activation / termination of the digital content, and notifying the main program of a result of the monitoring, and wherein the main program is configured to execute the activation / termination by the activation / termination program. 8. The license management system according to claim 7, further comprising: means for acquiring usage time and usage count data of the digital content based on a monitoring result and notifying the license management center. 10. The license management system according to claim 7, wherein the operation monitoring unit includes an unauthorized use detection unit that detects unauthorized use of the main program including copying of the content from the user. 11. A user terminal device for accessing digital contents including application software, wherein the user terminal device is set in a function extension area of an operating system and permits activation of the digital contents by using a function of an operation system. A main program for monitoring the operation of the digital content and notifying the license management center of the result of the monitoring; a start / end program for monitoring the start and end of the digital content and notifying the main program of a start and end request; A shell that includes use condition processing and the digital content, and that is arranged using a shell structure outside the function expansion area of the operating system; A user terminal device comprising: a content detachment / attachment control unit that detaches the digital content from the shell and, upon receiving an end request, attaches the digital content to the shell. 12. The user terminal device according to claim 11, wherein the content detachment / attachment control means includes means for separating the digital content in the shell from the shell by inversely converting the digital content into a state usable by a user. . 13. A storage medium storing a license management program for performing license distribution management of digital content using digital content including application software and a license use condition attached to the content, wherein A monitoring data generation process for monitoring operation and generating Pay peruse data including time lending / number lending and billing data for the digital content; and a communication process for notifying a monitoring result by the monitoring data generation process. A storage medium storing a license management program. 14. The monitoring data generation process divides a link processing program including a main program and a start / end program for controlling start and end of the digital content, and executes the link processing program during use of the digital content. A program dividing and arranging process for arranging the main program in the operation system extended function area so as not to stop the program, and for arranging the start / end program together with license use conditions into a shell structure having a file structure including digital contents; When a start request for digital content is issued, a digital content separation process for separating and arranging the digital content in the shell structure, and an operation of the digital content is monitored by the main program and the start / end program. 14. The storage medium storing the license management program according to claim 13, comprising: an operation monitoring process to perform the process; and a process of obtaining, in the main program, a monitoring result of the operation monitoring process, and transferring the result to the communication process. 15. The storage medium storing the license management program according to claim 13, wherein the digital content separation process includes a process of returning the digital content to the shell structure when the end of use of the digital content is detected. 16. The activation / termination program includes a process of monitoring activation / termination of the digital content, and notifying a result of the monitoring to the main program, wherein the main program is configured to execute the activation / termination by the activation / termination program. 15. The storage medium storing the license management program according to claim 14, comprising a process of acquiring usage time and usage count data of the digital content based on a monitoring result and notifying the license management center. 17. The storage medium storing the license management program according to claim 14, wherein the operation monitoring process includes an unauthorized use detection process for detecting unauthorized use including copying of the content from the user in the main program. .