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System for software registration

 Frederic B. Richardson et al
A registration system allows digital data or software to run in a use mode on a platform if and only if an appropriate licensing procedure has been followed. Preferably, the system detects when part of the platform on which the digital data has been loaded has changed in part or in entirety, as...
Inventors: Frederic B. Richardson, III
Assignee: Uniloc Private Limited

U.S. Classification
380/4; 380/23

International Classification
H04L 900

View patent at USPTO

Citations

Patent NumberTitleIssue date
4654799Software vending systemMar 31, 1987
4688169Computer software security systemAug 18, 1987
4796220Method of controlling the copying of softwareJan 3, 1989
4982430Bootstrap channel security arrangement for communication networkJan 1, 1991
4999806Software distribution systemMar 12, 1991
5191611Method and apparatus for protecting material on storage media and for transferring material on storage media to various recipientsMar 2, 1993
5199066Method and apparatus for protecting softwareMar 30, 1993
5222133Method of protecting computer software from unauthorized execution using multiple keysJun 22, 1993
5239166Secure data interchange system erasing a card memory upon an invalid responseAug 24, 1993
5239648Computer network capable of accessing file remotely between computer systemsAug 24, 1993
5287408Apparatus and method for serializing and validating copies of computer softwareFeb 15, 1994
5291598Method and system for decentralized manufacture of copy-controlled softwareMar 1, 1994
5313637Method and apparatus for validating authorization to access information in an information processing systemMay 17, 1994
5319705Method and system for multimedia access control enablementJun 7, 1994
5337357Method of software distribution protectionAug 9, 1994
5343526Method for establishing licensor changeable limits on software usageAug 30, 1994
5349643System and method for secure initial program load for diskless workstationsSep 20, 1994
5371792CD-ROM disk and security check method for the sameDec 6, 1994
5379433Protection against unauthorized use of software recorded on recording mediumJan 3, 1995
5386468Method of registering identification number in personal communication terminalJan 31, 1995
5388211Method and apparatus for remotely controlling and monitoring the use of computer softwareFeb 7, 1995
5390297System for controlling the number of concurrent copies of a program in a network based on the number of available licensesFeb 14, 1995

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A registration system for licensing execution of digital data in a use mode, said digital data executable on a platform, said system including local licensee unique ID generating means and remote licensee unique ID generating means, said system further including mode switching means operable on said platform which permits use of said digital data in said use mode on said platform only if a licensee unique ID first generated by said local licensee unique ID generating means has matched a licensee unique ID subsequently generated by said remote licensee unique ID generating means; and wherein said remote licensee unique ID generating means comprises software executed on a platform which includes the algorithm utilized by said local licensee unique ID generating means to produce said licensee unique ID.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said local licensee unique ID generating means generates said local licensee unique ID by execution of a registration algorithm which combines information in accordance with said algorithm, said information uniquely descriptive of an intending licensee of said digital data to be executed in said use mode.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said mode switching means permits operation of said digital data in said use mode in subsequent execution of said digital data only if said licensee unique ID generated by said local licensee unique ID generating means has not changed.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said local licensee unique ID generating means comprises part of said digital data when executed on said platform.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said mode switching means comprises part of said digital data when executed on said platform.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the information utilized by said local licensee unique ID generating means to produce said licensee unique ID comprises prospective licensee details including at least one of payment details, contact details and name.

7. The system of claim 1, said system further including platform unique ID generating means, wherein said mode switching means will permit said digital data to run in said use mode in subsequent execution of said digital data on said platform only if said platform unique ID has not changed.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said platform unique ID generating means comprises part of said digital data when executed on said platform.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said platform unique ID generating means utilizes hard disc or other platform information to determine said platform unique ID.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said platform comprises a computer operating system environment.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said digital data comprises a software program adapted to run under said operating system environment.

12. A registration system attachable to software to be protected, said registration system generating a security key from information input to said software which uniquely identifies an intended registered user of said software on a computer on which said software is to be installed; and wherein said registration system is replicated at a registration authority and used for the purposes of checking by the registration authority that the information unique to the user is correctly entered at the time that the security key is generated by the registration system.

13. The registration system of claim 12, wherein said security key is generated by a registration number algorithm.

14. The registration system of claim 13, wherein said registration number algorithm combines information entered by a prospective registered user unique to that user with a serial number generated from information provided by the environment in which the software to be protected is to run.

15. The registration system of claim 12, wherein said registration system checks at the time of boot of said software as to whether it is a first boot of the software to be protected or a subsequent boot, and, if a subsequent boot is detected, then environment and user details are compared to determine whether the program reverts to a demonstration mode and a new user registration procedure is to commence or a full version run.

16. The registration system of claim 15, wherein said environment details comprise at least one element which is not user-configurable on the platform.

17. A method of control of distribution of software, said method comprising providing mode-switching means associated with said software adapted to switch said software between a fully enabled mode and a partly enabled or demonstration mode, said method further comprising providing registration key generating means adapted to generate a registration key which is a function of information unique to an intending user of the software; said mode-switching means switching said software into fully enabled mode only if an enabling key provided to said mode-switching means by said intending user at the time of registration of said software has matched identically with said registration key; and wherein said enabling key is communicated to said intending user at the time of registration of said software; said enabling key generated by a third party means of operation of a duplicate copy of said registration key generating means.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said registration key is also a function of the environment in which said software is installed.

19. A remote registration station incorporating remote licensee unique ID generating means, said station forming part of a registration system for licensing execution of digital data in a use mode, said digital data executable on a platform, said system including local licensee unique ID generating means, said system further including mode switching means operable on said platform which permits use of said digital data in said use mode on said platform only if a licensee unique ID generated by said local licensee unique ID generating means has matched a licensee unique ID generated by said remote licensee unique ID generating means; and wherein said remote licensee unique ID generating means comprises software executed on a platform which includes the algorithm utilized by said local licensee unique ID generating means to produce said licensee unique ID.

20. A method of registration of digital data so as to enable execution of said digital data in a use mode, said method comprising an intending licensee operating a registration system for licensing execution of digital data in a use mode, said digital data executable on a platform, said system including local licensee unique ID generating means and remote licensee unique ID generating means, said system further including mode switching means operable on said platform which permits use of said digital data in said use mode on said platform only if a licensee unique ID generated by said local licensee unique ID generating means has matched a licensee unique ID generated by said remote licensee unique ID generating means; and wherein said remote licensee unique ID generating means comprises software executed on a platform which includes the algorithm utilized by said local licensee unique ID generating means to produce said licensee unique ID.

Drawings