JPS6255732A - Control system for protection of program - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To protect programs with a simple constitution by using a cylinder key to set the levels of loadable programs and loading these programs after discriminating whether the level of the program received a start request is higher or lower than a set level. CONSTITUTION:A cylinder key 1 is used to set the level of a startable program and has the limited one of rotary angles L1-Ln according to the type of a keyhole 1-2 of a lock 1-1. These angles L1-Ln are detected by a multi-step contact provided to the lock 1-1. For instance, the key 1 can turn up to the position L1 and a key 2 can turn up to the position L2 and so on. Thus the used key can be specified by detecting the angles which are turned by keys 1-n according to a opened or closed state of said multi-step contact.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Summary] In the program protection aI ib control system that protects programs, the cylinder key that sets the level of the program that can be loaded and executed, and the level of the program that has been requested to start, are・Provided with level determination means for determining whether the level of the program exceeds the level set by the key, and based on the determined result, loads and executes the program requested to be activated. There is.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a program protection control method for controlling programs to be protected using cylinder keys.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in simple computer systems such as personal computers (hereinafter referred to as personal computers), files (programs and data files) in the system
Although there is a desire for a simple method to protect information from third parties, there is no suitable method.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

Conventionally, multi-job systems have used a method of protecting programs using a code called a bus password, but this method has not been adopted in personal computers intended for single users. However, now that multiple people share a single computer, file protection using a simple configuration is an important issue.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention uses a cylinder key to set the level of a program that can be loaded and executed, and makes sure that the level of the program that is requested to start does not exceed the set level. Determine whether or not the
By adopting an execution configuration, programs can be protected using a simple configuration.

Means for solving the problems will be explained using the configuration of one embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.

In FIG. 1, a cylinder key 1 sets the level of a program that can be loaded and executed, and is composed of a plurality of cylinder keys (keys) 1 and a lock having multistage contacts. Depending on the type of cylinder key 1,
The rotation angle at which the cylinder key 1 rotates is different, and this rotation angle is detected by opening and closing of the mounted multistage contacts.

The O3 (operating system) 2 performs various controls and is composed of a level determining means 2-1 and the like. This level determining means 2-1 determines whether the level of the program requested to be started by the operator is cylinder or
By inserting the key 1 into the keyhole and rotating it, it is determined whether or not the level of the set program is exceeded. If it is determined that the set program level is not exceeded, the OS 2 loads the program 3-1 read from the external storage device 3 into the main storage device and executes it.

[Effect]

Adopting the configuration described using FIG. 1, a predetermined cylinder key 1 is inserted into the keyhole and rotated to the right until it stops. This automatically sets the level of the program that can be loaded and executed in accordance with the type of cylinder key l.

Then, the operator manually issues a request to start a desired program using a keyboard or the like. The key 032, which receives this key manually, detects which program level has been set based on the open/close state of the multistage contact attached to the lock into which the cylinder key 1 is inserted. On the other hand, the level of the program requested to be started is calculated by referring to a pre-registered table. The level determining means 2-1 constituting the O32 determines that the level of the program for which the start request was made is cylinder key 1.
It is determined whether the program level (priority) exceeds the level (priority) of the program set by the program. If it is determined that the program level does not exceed the program level (within the program level range), the O32 reads the program 3-1 requested to start from the external storage device 3 and loads it into the main storage device. , transfer control to this program and have it run.

On the other hand, if the level of the program requested to start is determined to be higher than the level of the set program,
O32 prohibits the activation of the program for which activation has been requested, and notifies the operator that activation of this program is prohibited.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows an explanatory diagram of the operation of the cylinder key according to the present invention. In the figure, l
is the cylinder key, 1-1 is the lock, 1-2 is the keyhole, 2 is O5 (operating system), 2-1
3 represents a level determining means, 3 represents an external storage device, and 3-1 represents a program.

In FIG. 1, the cylinder key 1 is used to set the level of the program that can be started, and depending on the type inserted into the keyhole 1-2 provided in the lock 1-1, the cylinder key 1 can be used to increase the rotation angle, turn the rotation angle, or change the rotation angle. limited to any of the following. This rotation angle is detected by a multistage contact mounted on the lock 1-1. The following is an explanation of the operation of the cylinder key according to the present invention as shown in FIG.
Detailed explanation of the program levels set by .

FIG. 2(A) shows a lock 1-1, a keyhole 1-2, and key (cylinder key) positions L+ to L7.

This key position or wrinkle is the keyhole 1 provided in the hole 1-1.
The position to which the cylinder key can be rotated is set in advance depending on the type of cylinder key 10 inserted into the cylinder key -2.

Figure 2 (B) is the key position shown in Figure 2 (A) from 1 to Ln.
represents the type (Keyt or Kayn) of cylinder key 1 associated with . For example, Keyl can be rotated to key position LI of the cylinder key, and Key2 is rotatable to key position L2.
It is possible to rotate up to -・−・・−・−・−, etc. Therefore, by detecting the rotation angle of the key or key by the open/closed state of the multistage contact attached to the lock 1-1, it is possible to determine which key is used.

Next, the operation will be explained in detail using the flowchart shown in FIG.

■ in Figure 3 indicates a state in which a request to load a program is accepted. Uke means to make a payment.

In the figure, ■ indicates a state in which a startup request for the program P is issued. This is used to load program P from the operator.
This means that the oS2 issues a start request for this program P since the execution request has been entered.

■ in the figure indicates a state in which cylinder key information is read. This indicates whether or not the cylinder key 1 has been rotated to any position shown in Figure 2 (a).
This means reading key information.

In the figure, ■ indicates a state in which the level Ph of the program P is set. This means searching and reading a table in which the level of the program P requested to be started is registered in advance, and setting it in a register.

In the figure, ■ indicates a state in which level L7 of cylinder key 1 is set. This means that the level L7 of the program corresponding to the cylinder key information read at (■) in the figure is read out by searching a previously registered table and set in the register.

■ in the figure indicates a state in which a level check is performed.

This means that it is determined whether or not the level P set at ■ in the figure does not exceed the level Lfi set at ■ in the figure (levels match). When the levels do not match (when level P1 exceeds levels L and l)
In this case, loading and execution of program P is prohibited at ■ in the figure. If the levels match (if the level P7 does not exceed the level L, . . . ), the program P is read from the external storage device 3 and loaded into the main storage device at 3 in the figure. Then, control is passed to the loaded program P at ■ in the figure, and it is executed.

By the procedure described above, it is possible to load and execute a program whose level does not exceed the level corresponding to the type of cylinder key 1.

This allows you to use cylinder key 1 to program (
files) can be protected.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, the level of a program that can be loaded and executed is set using a cylinder key, and whether the level of the program requested to be started does not exceed the set level is checked. Since the program uses a configuration that determines whether the program is a program and then loads and executes it, programs can be protected using a simple and inexpensive configuration.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of a cylinder key according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart explaining the present invention in detail. In the figure, 1 is a cylinder key, 1-1 is a lock, 1-2 is a keyhole, 2 is O3' (operating system), 2-1 is a level determination means, 3 is an external storage device, 3 −
1 represents a program. Patent Applicant: Alps Electric Co., Ltd. Representative Patent Attorney Mori 1) Hiroshi (3 others) Fuyu♂Yu/)Flow to explain motion IY - F No. 312
1

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a program protection control method for protecting programs, a cylinder key sets the level of a program that can be loaded and executed, and a level of a program for which a startup request has been made is set by the cylinder key. and level determination means for determining whether or not the level of the program exceeds the level of the program, and based on the result determined by the level determination means, it is determined whether or not to load and execute the program for which the startup request has been made. A program protection control method characterized by controlling to protect a program by making a decision.