Information management apparatus, information management system and storing medium storing information management software

• US 20020049716A1
• Filed: 05/11/2001
• Published: 04/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Wada, Toshihiko, Takata, Hidenori, Kurasawa, Yoshiaki, Hoshino, Kyoichi, Furuyama, Keiko
• Application Number:
  US09/852,615
• Publication Number:
  US 20020049716A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2109 Game systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2135 Metering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2153 Using hardware token as a secondary aspect

Abstract

The present invention provides a management apparatus comprising a storing part adapted to control restriction of use of software and including a storage area for storing type information representing type of the restriction of use of software and a storage area for storing information representing the restriction of use, a software storing part for storing software corresponding to the storing part, and a device for altering contents of the storing part on the basis of the use of the software corresponding to the storing part.

Claims

1. A management apparatus comprising:

a storing part adapted to control restriction of use of software and including a storage area for storing type information representing type of the restriction of use of software and a storage area for storing information representing the restriction of use;

a software storing part for storing software corresponding to said storing part; and

means for altering contents of said storing part on the basis of the use of the software corresponding to said storing part.

2. A management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said storing parts are provided, and further comprising means for revising contents of said storing part whenever the software corresponding to each of said storing parts is executed.

3. An information processing apparatus comprising:

means for displaying message whether control information displayed on a display is revised or not, if a condition that the control information for controlling the use of software is to be revised is attained; and

means for displaying a view required for revision of the control information when the control information is revised.

4. An information processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means for displaying plural types of control information on the view for revising the control information and for displaying prices corresponding to the respective control informations.

5. An information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the information processing apparatus is connected to a network, and further comprising means for taking-in the control information from said network.

6. An information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said taking-in means includes means for taking-in the control informations from said network on the basis of URL of an inter-net.

7. An information processing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising means for altering and effecting revision control in accordance with the type of the control information, when the control information for controlling the use of the software is to be revised.

8. An information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said means includes means for displaying revision history when the control information is revised.

9. An information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said means includes for effecting revision of the control informations in accordance with preferential order when the plurality of control informations are provided.

10. An information processing apparatus comprising:

control means for reading-out history information regarding use of software on the basis of control information when the use of the software is controlled by the control information and for displaying validity of the control information on display means.

11. An information processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said control means includes means for judging the validity by judging the history information.

12. A terminal device connected to a network, comprising:

control means for revising control information for controlling use of software, upon receipt of revision information of the control information from an information equipment connected to said network, if a condition that the control information for controlling the use of the software is to be revised is attained.

13. A system in which a terminal device is connected to an information equipment via a network, wherein:

said information equipment includes means for sending control information for controlling use of software to said terminal device on the basis of information sent from said terminal device.