KR20010035287A - Time Lock setting method in Computer Programs - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method for setting a time lock of a computer program is provided to prevent a software businessman from being damaged by an illegal replication by enabling a user to receive a specific and new utility time authentication code by users every time, by mounting and selling a program procedure which registers the code and makes the code used in a program. CONSTITUTION: An initial processing routine is processed at the time for operating a program by calculating a program cumulative utility time(S1,S2). In case that the cumulative utility time is 25 or more hours, and 30 or fewer hours, a message which makes a user receive a utility time authentication code is outputted(S3,S4). The user connects to a communication network, and receives the code. In addition, it is judged whether the time is 30 or more hours(S5,S6). In case that the time is 30 or more hours, an operation of the program is stopped(S7). In case that the time is 30 or fewer hours, the program is normally operated(S8).

Description

Time lock setting method in computer programs

The present invention is to prevent damage caused by the use of illegal copying in a program using any type of computer, including a personal computer, a notebook computer or an Internet server computer or a network computer, and in particular, software for limiting the use time of the computer program. If a user locks the lock so that only a legitimate user can continue to use the program and develops, manufactures, and sells a computer program, the product purchaser can sell the product with the software lock locked for the first time. After the initial usage period has passed, the usage time code registration program installed in the program notifies the user of the message, allowing the user to connect to the server of the product vendor, or via his / her own ID via telephone or fax. By notifying you that you are a legitimate user and receiving a usage time approval code, you can register the code in the program and continue to use it, thus preventing software sellers from being injured by piracy without incurring additional costs. It would be.

Generally, software developers or sellers sell software on diskettes or CD-ROMs, and there is no way to stop the illegal copying and use of such diskettes or CD-ROMs. Has been a major damage to the companies.

As a special case, T-Lock is provided along with CD-ROMs to prevent such damages so that the output of the product can be printed only when the T-Lock is connected to the printer. This could not be followed the inconvenience.

In addition, recently, a watermarking technique has been developed and used in which special characters or images, which have been programmed in advance, appear in the case of illegal copying of software by embedding special program code inside the software. It was not enough to prevent.

The present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, an object of the present invention, the use time for the sales program in order to prevent the damage of the software development and sales operators due to illegal copy and use of the software in advance If the cumulative usage time of the program reaches a certain time by cumulative calculation, it determines whether the user is a legitimate user and receives a unique new usage time approval code for each user, and then installs the program procedure to register the code on the program and continue using it. It is to provide a method of setting a computer program time lock that prevents the damage of a software provider by piracy by selling.

Still another object of the present invention is to access a web server on the Internet operated by a business operator for a serial number of a software product purchased by a user, encrypt a user ID registered at the time of membership registration, and decrypt it again. It is to provide a computer program time lock consisting of a cryptographic algorithm, which is a kind of mathematical function generated in plain text, and a key, which is secret information necessary for the operation of the algorithm.

1 is an overall configuration diagram for setting a time lock according to the present invention

2 and 3 is a flow chart for setting the time lock of the present invention

4 is a flowchart showing the time lock process in the new school year of the present invention;

5 is a flowchart showing the time extension approval code authentication process of the present invention.

6 is a flowchart showing a CD key generation process of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

10: Web Server 20: User DB

30: communication network 40: telephone

50: user computer 60: fax

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention stops the operation of the program at the first use of the computer program stored in a storage medium such as a CD / disk where the computer program is stored, and according to the conditions of use of the accumulated time of computer software prescribed by the seller. The party user is automatically given the usage time approval code for the minimum usage time specified by the seller through the communication network according to the user's request, and the time lock setting method of the computer program that allows the unauthorized user to stop the program operation. There is a characteristic.

Another feature of the present invention is a cryptographic generation unit, which is a kind of mathematical function for encrypting information that can determine whether a legitimate user, such as a serial number and a user ID of a software product purchased by a user, and decrypting it again to generate it in plain text; A computer program time lock setting method comprising a key generation unit comprising a key having a number of digits and providing a key which is secret information necessary for the operation of the algorithm unit.

Such a computer program time lock is a program that automatically calculates the user's use time of the program after the user installs the program and installs the program. After receiving the registration and outputting the message to be displayed on the screen or voice, the user can access the web server of the software vendor through a communication network, or by telephone, fax, ARS or call center, etc. The computer program time lock setting method is to register a new code with a new time-of-use approval code through a legitimate user discrimination procedure and to continue using the code.

Hereinafter, a time lock setting method of a computer program according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a conceptual diagram of a program for generating a computer program time lock according to the present invention. The web server 10 generates a time approval code and a web server connected to the web server 10 to store information about a user. (10) a communication network such as a user DB (20) for enabling user confirmation from the Internet, and the Internet for transmitting user information to the web server (10) and receiving a usage time approval code from the web server (10). 30, a telephone 40 for inputting a signal for requesting user information to the communication network 30, a user computer 50 and a fax machine 60 receiving a usage time approval code from the communication network 30; It is configured to include.

The present invention having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6 as follows.

First, Figure 2 is a flow chart showing a schematic operation state of the use time test routine according to the present invention.

That is, as shown in the figure, when the program starts, the existing user registration / determination routine calculates the accumulated use time and calculates the accumulated program use time to proceed with the initial processing routine when the program is driven (steps S1 and S2).

At this time, if it is determined that 25 hours ≤ cumulative use time (t) ≤ 30 hours, and outputs a message to receive the use time approval code (steps S3, S4).

The cumulative usage time ≥ 30 hours in a state in which the code is granted and registered by accessing the communication network 30 and the accumulated usage time is cleared to 0 (Clear)? The authorization is determined (steps S5 and S6).

Here, it is possible to receive a code by connecting to a communication network 30, such as the Internet, as well as to receive a code by telephone 40 or fax 60 without accessing the communication network 30.

If the cumulative usage time is ≥30 hours in step S6, the program driving is stopped (step S7), and the process returns to step S4 and is repeated from step S4. If the cumulative time ≤30 hours, the program is normally driven. (Step S8).

On the other hand, in step S3, if 25 hours ≤ cumulative use time (t) ≤ 30 hours, the process proceeds directly to step S6 without going through steps S4 and S5.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a schematic operation state of a time extension approval code authentication process in the present invention.

That is, as shown in this, when the usage time check routine starts, the web server 10 checks the user's resident registration number and checks the validity period through the user DB 20 (S11-S13).

If the validity period, that is, the use period of the learning CD (usually one year) is checked and is not available (S23), it is terminated as it is (S23), and if it is available, the use time is checked through the user DB 20. The usage time limit is, for example, 30 hours (steps S14 and S15).

In addition, the use time is checked at this time, the use time judgment is determined by dividing the use time <25 hours, the use time> 25 hours, the use time> 30 hours (step S16).

First, the use time <25 hours will be described later, and when the use time> 25 hours, the time approval request message is output to determine whether to register (steps S17 and S18).

In addition, if the use time &gt; 30 hours, the time extension approval code request message is output (step S19), and accordingly, the user inputs the time extension approval code (step S20).

Then, the web server 10 determines whether the use time is authenticated and authenticates the use time, and initializes the use time t to zero (0) through the user DB 20 (step S22).

That is, after accessing the web server 10 receives a usage time approval code and registers the program.

However, if the web server 10 does not authenticate the use time in step S21, since the user inputs an illegal illegal code, the user is not allowed to continue using it because it is not approved (step S23).

In this case, when registering in step S18, a step of inputting a time extension approval code is performed by connecting to the communication network 30 or inquiring through the telephone 40 or the fax 60 (S20).

On the other hand, if the use time <25 hours in step S16, if not registered in step S18, if the use time is initialized in step S22 proceeds to the step as shown in FIG.

In other words, as shown in Figure 4, first to determine whether the new year (March 1), which is the learning CD provided on this site data for two grades are limited to one year It will not be available for the second grade.

Here, if it is confirmed that the March 1 is a new school year (step S31), it is determined whether to proceed to the new school year (step S32). Bring the information to increase the grade, and store the information about the grade in the information DB (steps S33-S35), and start learning in such a state (step S36).

Figure 5 shows the time extension approval code input step (S20) in FIG. 3, the web portion starts receiving the time extension approval code and receives the approval code and the number of approvals in the homepage login state (steps S41-S43).

That is, the steps S41-S43 represent the working process in the web server 10 after the Internet is connected.

In addition, according to the program of the user computer 50, start the time extension approval key check routine (step S44), input the approval code and the number of approval granted by the web server 10 (step S45), the approval number Proceed with the inspection routine (step S46).

In this state, it is determined whether the input code and the test result are the same, and if it is the same, the use time is initialized (step S47), and if it is not the same, it is determined to be an illegal or hacking code and is terminated as it is (step S48).

Figure 6 shows the CD key generation process, the user enters the year, month, factory number, serial number in the CD key generation start step (steps S51, S52), after the CD number generation routine proceeds to the CD key, CD number Create and exit (steps S53-S55).

Here, the CD key system will be described.

In other words, the CD key consists of a four-digit numeric code for the year code-a two-digit numeric code for the month of release-a three-digit alphabetic code for the factory division-a seven-digit numeric code for the serial number. It is expressed in hexadecimal.

YYYY-MM-ABC-DDDDDDD (16-digit code in total): A serial number that distinguishes up to 9,999,99,999 for each of the preceding 9-digit codes (where YY, MM, and DDDDDDD All in hexadecimal).

For example, the November 2000 product code configuration begins at 3221-0B-00B-0000001.

On the other hand, if the 16-digit CD key code is received from the dealer and filled out in the ″ Member No. ″ column of the ″ Application for Membership ″, and then notified to the head office, the server will be entered into the user registration information DB along with the member's details to manage the members. do.

In addition, by matching the CD key code and the member ID in the user registration information DB and manages together, the server registers the CD key code range each time the product is released to analyze the CD key code to determine whether the right CD key Create and mount a routine.

In addition, the server records and manages the usage time approval history for each active member for every regular member, thereby preventing the illegal use of illegal copyers.

If you call or fax, the employee will check your member's CD key and member ID, access the Internet server instead, and call or fax the code to register the code.

As described above, the present invention has an effect of putting a software lock on a computer program to limit the use time so that only a legitimate user can continue to use the program.

In addition, in order to prevent damages to software development and sales operators due to illegal copying and use of software, the usage time is accumulated in the sales program. After each user is given a unique new usage time approval code, the program can be registered and sold on the program to be used continuously, thereby preventing damages to software operators from piracy. .

Claims (5)

A method of setting a time lock to limit the use time of a computer program stored in a storage medium such as a CD / diskette, in which a computer program is stored. According to the conditions of the cumulative usage time of a computer software, a party user is automatically given a usage time approval code for the minimum usage time specified by the seller through the communication network according to the user's request. How to set a time lock for a computer program The method of claim 1, further comprising: a first step of performing an initial processing routine when the program is driven by performing a cumulative use time calculation in an existing user registration / determination routine when the program is started to calculate a cumulative use time of the program; And determining that the cumulative usage time t is 25 hours ≤ t ≤ 30 hours and outputting a message to the user to receive the usage time approval code from the web server. A third step in which the user accesses a communication network such as the Internet, receives a code, registers and clears the accumulated usage time to zero; A fourth time for determining that the cumulative usage time (t) ≥ 30 hours is to stop the program driving when the cumulative usage time (t) ≥ 30 hours and to drive the program normally when the cumulative usage time (t) ≤ 30 hours. Method of setting a time lock of a computer program, characterized in that consisting of steps. The method of claim 1, wherein the checking of the usage time comprises: checking an expiration date of the user in the web server and confirming an expiration date through the user DB if correct; Checking the use time when the validity period is available, and determining the use time by dividing the use time into use time &lt; 25 hours, use time &gt; 25 hours, use time &gt; In the case of using time> 25 hours, outputting a time approval request message to determine whether to register, Outputting a time extension approval code request message when the usage time is &gt; 30 hours, and inputting a time extension approval code by the user; In the case of authenticating the use time by determining whether the use time is authenticated by the web server, initializing the use time to zero through the user DB. If the web server does not authenticate the use time, the user is judged to be an illegal illegal code and the use approval is not allowed, Check the new grade through the study CD, determine whether to proceed to the new grade, if you want to proceed to the new grade, if you want to proceed to the new grade, get grade information from the grade information DB to increase the grade, and information about this grade information Method of setting a time lock of a computer program, characterized in that the step of starting the learning after storing in the DB. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the learning CD contains data for two grades and is not limited to one grade, but is usable for two grades. 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising: authenticating the time extension authorization code; After receiving the time extension code and receiving the approval code and the number of times from the login status of the homepage, the work steps on the web server after accessing the internet, Starts the time extension approval key check routine, inputs the approval code and the number of approvals granted from the web server, proceeds with the approval number check routine, determines whether the input code and the check result are the same, and initializes the usage time if it is the same. , If different, comprising the steps of working on the user's computer, which is determined to be illegal or hacked code.