JPH0283622A - System for installing chargeable software on plural computers by single medium - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary Regarding the installation method of paid rough software on computers, only one set of media for storing the paid software to be provided is provided, and this set of media is installed on multiple computers. For the purpose of common use, multiple usable computer name storage areas are set on the medium for the applicable paid software, and for each of multiple computers, the identification name is read from the computer and the identification name storage area is set. The first step is to determine whether an identification name is registered in the identification name storage area, and if the identification name is not registered in the identification name storage area in the first step,
The second step is to write the identification name into the identification name storage area and then make it available for use by a computer.If the identification name is registered in the identification name storage area in the first step, the identification name is written to the identification name storage area. The configuration is such that the third step of enabling subsequent use by a computer is executed without writing to the name storage area.

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a method for installing paid software on a computer.

When software is provided for a fee 1.Usually, users are required to purchase software for each computer they use.

However, if no measures are taken, the same software may be used to illegally install other computers. This diminishes the significance of providing software for a fee.

Therefore, software providers usually take measures to ensure that the software they provide can only be used on specific computers.

[Prior art] That is, conventionally, as shown in FIG. (protspi disk) F, and send it to the computer purchaser along with the computer itself.

This medium F is provided. At this time, medium I=' has 1
One use for one software + 1T function calculation 4I
An identification name storage area is set (see Figure 6).

Then, this medium F is transferred to the computer C used by the computer user.
When writing paid software i (i=:L~n) via , as shown in Figs. Normally, the serial number (which is normally input using the dip switch DS on the computer C side) is written in. This allows you to use this medium F to copy software to other computers that do not match the identification name D. is prevented from doing so.

Furthermore, referring to the conventional method of installing paid software on a computer, when installing paid software on the computer C via the medium F, the following processing is performed.

(1) First, the identification name ID is read from the computer C, and it is determined whether the identification name ID is registered in the usable computer name storage area of the medium F (first step;
(See steps a1 to a5 in the figure). Note that if the software name and the software name of the key data block do not match, the process terminates abnormally without proceeding to the next step (see step a6 in FIG. 7).

(2) Next, - in the first step above, if the identification name ID is not registered in the usable computer fabric alias storage area (if the key area is blank), the identification name ID is set to this usable computer fabric alias. After writing to the storage area, it is made available for subsequent use by a computer (second step; see steps a7 to a12 in FIG. 7).

(3) On the other hand, if the identification name ID is registered in the usable computer alias storage area in the first step above, the identification name ID is used in this usable calculation l! %Allows subsequent use by a computer without writing to the distinguished name storage area (
Third step; reference numeral a7 in FIG. (See steps a13 to a15).

(4) Note that if an identification name other than this computer is registered in the usable computer name storage area, it cannot be used by any subsequent computer (4th step; refer to step a16 in Figure 7). ).

[Problem to be solved by the invention] By the way, in the case of a floppy disk-based computer (a low-grade personal computer) that stores processing software on a floppy disk and loads the software into main memory and executes it at the time of execution, Since a software medium is essential for each computer, there is no problem even if the conventional method of installing paid software on a computer as described above is used.

However, processing software and data cannot be processed on a hard drive.

In the case of computers (high-end personal computers) that store and process data in the hard disk drive HD (see Figure 5), the provision medium containing paid software can be provided once it has been copied to the hard disk drive HD in each computer. No additional media is required. However, even in this case, it is necessary to save files in case of file destruction, etc., but in such a case, there is a problem in that a large amount of media storing software provided for each computer that is not usually used must be saved and managed. .

The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and is directed to a monomer,
A method for installing paid software on multiple computers using a single medium, in which only one set of media is provided to store the paid software to be provided, and this set of media can be used commonly by multiple computers. The purpose is to provide.

[Means to solve the problem] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the principle of the present invention.

In this Figure 1, C1,..., Cn are computers, HD
I, . . . , HDn are hard disk devices.

Further, 5F is a medium for storing paid software, and this medium F has a plurality of usable computer name storage areas set for the applicable paid software, and these usable computer name storage areas include: Each computer loom alias I
1) l, . . . , IDn are written.

[Operation] With this configuration, paid software can be sent to multiple computers Ci (i, . . . + n) via a single medium in which multiple usable computer name storage areas are set. When installing software, the following first to third steps are executed for each of the plurality of computers C1.

(1) A first step of reading the identification name IDi from the computer Ci and determining whether or not 1 is registered from this identification name in the usable computer name storage area.

(2) In this first step, if this identification name IDi is not registered in the usable computer name storage area,
The second step is to write this identification name IDj into the usable computer name storage area and then enable it to be used by the computer Ci thereafter.

(3) In the first step above, if this identification name IDi is registered in the usable computer fabric alias storage area, this identification name IDi is not written to the usable computer fabric alias storage area, and the subsequent Third step to enable use by computer C1.

[Example code] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, C1, . Identification name IDi (e.g. computer serial number)
is set.

In addition, HDI, ..., HDn are hard disk devices, and each hard disk device HDj stores multiple pieces of software 1 to m (including those for system startup or system generation). With the rll HD i, once you have stored the software, each time you start up the system, you can set the floppy disk F as a medium in the driver device attached to the computer and run each software program as long as the internal files are not destroyed. - There is no need to write to wafers 71-m.

In addition, F is a floppy disk as a medium for storing paid software, and this floppy disk F has a plurality (n) of usable computer name storage areas for the applicable paid software, and these are usable. In the computer fabric alias storage area, each computer fabric alias IDI, ・
・, IDn are written.

With the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 3, the paid software provider first copies the required software from the original OGF, stores the provided software on the required floppy disk F, and then sends it to the computer purchaser. This floppy disk F is provided to the computer Ci and the hard disk device HDi. In this case, n computers Ci and hard disk devices HD i are provided, but only one set of floppy disks F is provided. As described above, on this floppy disk F, a plurality of usable computer name storage areas (n for the number of computers etc. provided) are set for the corresponding paid software. That is,
Assuming that m pieces of software are prepared, n usable computer name storage areas are set for each piece of software i.

By the way, when installing paid software on multiple computers C1 (i, . . . + n) via a single floppy disk F that has multiple usable computer name storage areas set for the paid software, , the following processing is performed for each computer Ci.

First, the identification name IDi is read from the computer Ci, and it is determined whether this identification name IDi is registered in each available computer name storage area (numerals A1 to A in FIG. 4).
5).

Next, if this identification name IDi is not registered in each available computer alias storage area, write this identification name IDi to the available computer alias storage area, and then make it available for use by subsequent computers Ci. (See steps A7 to A15 in FIG. 4). In this case, on the machine corresponding to the process when installing a predetermined new computer, the identification name ID is stored in the alias storage area of each available computer.
If i has already been registered, this identification name IDi is not written to the usable computer name storage area and is made available for use by the computer Ci thereafter (reference number A8 in FIG. 4).
．． (See steps indicated by A14 to A17). in this case,
This corresponds to the case of re-installation on a computer where it has already been installed.

Note that when the key file block is read, if it is the file end, the process ends abnormally (see step 6 in FIG. 4).

Additionally, if the identification name IDi is written in the alias storage area for all usable computers, and the computer identification name is not registered, this computer will be deemed to have exceeded the number of usage permissions. Become.

It cannot be used by a computer after that (symbol A in Figure 4).
18).

In this way, only one set of floppy disks F for storing the paid software to be provided is provided, and on this set of floppy disks F, usable computer organization alias storage areas for the applicable paid software are set for the number of contracted machines. However, since this floppy disk F can be used commonly by multiple computers, the software provider can reduce the shipping cost of paid software (floppy disk cost,
The cost of copying to floppy disks (2 shipping costs, etc.) can be reduced to 1/2 of the number of devices used compared to the conventional method, and software users (purchasers) can manage the provided software by 1.
This means that the software can be easily managed.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the method of installing paid software on multiple computers using a single medium of the present invention,
Only one set of media is provided to store the paid software to be provided, and on this set of media, the usable computer organization alias storage area for the applicable paid software is set for the number of contracted machines, and this medium is shared with multiple users. Since it can be used commonly on all computers, software providers can reduce the shipping cost of paid software to one-half of the number of computers used compared to the conventional method, and software users can manage the provided software on only one computer. This has the advantage of making it easy to manage the provided software.

Ci is a calculator, F is floppy disk (medium), HD i is a hard disk device, IDi is an identification name.

Claims (1)

[Claims] When installing paid software on a computer (C) via a medium (F) in which a usable computer name storage area for the paid software is set, an identification name ( a first step of reading out the identification name (ID) and determining whether or not the identification name (ID) is registered in the usable computer name storage area; If the identification name (ID) is not registered in the computer (C), the second step is to write the identification name (ID) into the usable computer name storage area and enable subsequent use by the computer (C). In the first step, if the identification name (ID) is registered in the usable computer name storage area, the identification name (ID) is not written to the usable computer name storage area. In a method for installing paid software onto a computer, which takes the following steps: A plurality of usable computer name storage areas are set in the medium (F) for the corresponding paid software, and the first to third steps are executed for each of the plurality of computers (Ci). , a method for installing paid software on multiple computers using a single medium.