JPS61226837A - Free use preventing method for program - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To decrease the success ratio of the free use by providing a collating step to collate the secret number in the program and the secret number of the second memory media, in the program. CONSTITUTION:When an operator uses the application program of the protective object, a flexible disk A and a magnetic card B are respectively fitted to a flexible disk driver 6 and a magnetic card reading device 7, and thereafter, the reading to a main memory device 2 of an application program in the disk A is requested through an input output interface to a central processing device 1. When the execution of the application program read at the main memory device 2 is started, the contents are read from the magnetic card. The contents read from the magnetic card and the secret number held at the prescribed place of the application program are collated, and the coincidence and dissidence of the collation is decided. In case of dissidence, an unexecutable notice is displayed at a CRT 5, and the execution of the application program is abnormally completed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for preventing unauthorized use of programs used in electronic computers.

Conventional technology Programs used in electronic computers are usually stored and stored on storage media such as magnetic disks, but since the contents of storage media can be easily copied, there is a problem that they can easily be used without permission. be.

Traditionally, as a measure to prevent unauthorized use of programs, programs have been made so that they cannot be copied using normal methods,
Various methods have been taken, such as making the copy so that it does not work properly, or even if it can be copied effectively, it can only be used with specific hardware.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention The method of preventing effective copying of a program as described above has a problem in that there is always a risk that a method of removing the preventive measure will be devised.

Furthermore, methods that allow effective copying but only allow specific hardware to use it have the problem that legitimate use will be inhibited if the hardware breaks down.

Structure of the Invention Means for Solving the Problems The method for preventing unauthorized use of the present invention which solves the problems of the prior art described above is to retain a password in a program stored in a first storage medium and to store the password. is also held in a second storage medium, and the code code held in this program is compared with the code code held in the second storage medium, and only if the code matches, the verification step proceeds to the regular step. is configured to be provided in this program.

In other words, the method for preventing unauthorized use of the present invention is configured such that the program cannot be used without permission unless the content of the second storage medium is also copied in addition to the program itself, which is intended to prevent unauthorized use. The success rate can be effectively reduced.

Hereinafter, the effects of the present invention will be explained in detail by way of examples.

Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a computer to which a method for preventing unauthorized use according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

This electronic computer has a central processing unit 1. Main storage device 2, input/output interface 3. It is equipped with a 4°CRT keyboard, a flexible disk driver 6, and a magnetic card reader 7.

The program to be protected is stored on flexible disk A as an application program.

At certain points in this application program,
A password code is held and a verification portion of the password code is provided.

On the other hand, the magnetic card B holding the above-mentioned password is issued only to specific persons who are permitted to use this program.

The above-mentioned personal identification code is selected from a coded number having an extremely large number of digits, a combination of alphanumeric characters, or an image pattern, since it is held in a magnetic card.

When the operator of this electronic computer uses the above-mentioned protected application program, he/she must transfer the flexible disk A and the magnetic card B to a flexible disk, respectively.
After the flexible disk A is attached to the C disk driver 6 and the magnetic card reader 7, the application program on the flexible disk A is read into the main storage device 2 from the keyboard 4 and sent to the central processing unit 1 via the input/output interface 3. request.

When the execution of the application program read into the main storage device 2 is started, as illustrated in the flowchart of FIG. Ru.

If the magnetic card is not installed, in step 11,
A reminder to install is displayed on the CRT5, and if it has been installed,
In step 12, the contents are read from the magnetic card.

In the next step 13, the content read from the magnetic card is compared with the PIN code held in a predetermined location of this application program, and the match/mismatch of this comparison is determined in step 14. .

In the case of a match, the application program moves to the next regular step and is normally executed up to the final step, and then ends.

On the other hand, if the comparison does not match, a notification that execution is not possible is displayed on the CRT 5 in step 15, and the execution of this application program is abnormally terminated.

In consideration of the case where a legitimate user mixes up the magnetic card, we have shown an example of a configuration that displays a message indicating that execution is not possible when a match does not match. It may also be configured to form an infinite loop that repeats.

Similarly, the display prompting the user to insert the magnetic card may be omitted, and an infinite loop may be formed in which the presence or absence of the magnetic card is determined until the card is inserted.

In addition, although we have illustrated the case where the program to be protected is an application program, this could also be an operating system, in which case the PIN code is verified while being read into the main storage device, and if there is a match, the password is verified. The above reading continues only in this case.

Effects of the Invention As explained in detail above, the program protection method according to the present invention is configured such that the program cannot be used without permission unless the contents of the second storage medium are also copied in addition to the program itself to be protected. Therefore, the success rate of unauthorized use can be effectively reduced.

Furthermore, since the electronic computer to which the protection method of the present invention is applied only requires a simple reading device such as a magnetic card reading device, the versatility of the hardware is hardly impaired.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a computer to which a method for preventing unauthorized use of a program according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the above embodiment. 1. Central processing unit, 2. Main storage device, 3. Input/output interface, 6. Flexible disk driver, 7. Magnetic card reader, A. Programs to be prevented from unauthorized use are stored. a flexible disk (first storage medium). B: Magnetic card (second storage medium) that stores a password.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A password code is held in a program stored in a first storage medium, and this code code is also stored in a second storage medium, and the code code held in this program is A method for preventing unauthorized use of a program, characterized in that the program includes a verification step in which the code stored in the second storage medium is verified and the verification step proceeds to a normal step only when the verification matches.