Compact hardware indentification for binding a software package to a computer system having tolerance for hardware changes

• US 20040177354A1
• Filed: 03/03/2003
• Published: 09/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hughes, Aidan T., Gunyakti, Caglar, Alabraba, Ferdinand Jay
• Granted Patent: US 7,278,131 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/121 Restricting unauthorised execution of programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/123 by using dedicated hardware, e.g. dongles, smart cards, cryptographic processors, global positioning systems [GPS] devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/604 Tools and structures for managing or administering access control systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/73 by creating or determining hardware identification, e.g. serial numbers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user

Abstract

Systems and methods for generating a-compact hardware identification (CHWID) for a given computer system are disclosed. The compact hardware identification (CHWID) may be used to control the use of software on the given computer system depending on the degree of hardware changes to the computer system. The compact hardware identification (CHWID) may be electronically transmitted over limited bandwidth media, such as a telephone.

Claims

1. A method of generating a compact hardware identification (CHWID) for a first computer system having a first hardware configuration, wherein the method comprises:

selecting n component classes;

identifying all component instances within each of the n component classes;

generating a plurality of component instance first hash results, wherein the plurality of component instance first hash results comprises a first hash result for each component instance and at least one first hash result for the n component classes;

generating a plurality of component instance second hash results, wherein the plurality of component instance second hash results comprises second hash results resulting from performing a second hash function on select component instance first hash results within one or more select component classes; and

concatenating the plurality of second hash results to form a hash portion,

wherein the hash portion forms the compact hardware identification (CHWID) for the first computer system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

concatenating (i) a version component and (ii) the hash portion of the compact hardware identification (CHWID) to form the compact hardware identification (CHWID) for the first computer system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein n is a whole number up to about 16.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the version component comprises a version number.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the n component classes contains two or more component instances.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the n component classes contains from 0 to 14 component instances.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each component instance first hash result is truncated to a 16 bit number.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each component instance second hash result is truncated to a number having less than 8 bits.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the compact hardware identification (CHWID) for the first computer system has a length of up to about 256 bits.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the compact hardware identification (CHWID) for the first computer system has a length of from about 32 to about 64 bits.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is initiated during a step of loading a software product onto the first computer system.

12. A computing system containing at least one application module usable on the computing system, wherein the at least one application module comprises application code for performing the method of claim 1.

13. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

14. A method of determining whether a software product can be used on a second computer system having a second hardware configuration, wherein the second computer system is identical to or different from a first computer system having a first hardware configuration, the software product being initially installed on the first computer, wherein the method comprises:

generating a second compact hardware identification (sCHWID) for the second hardware configuration;

comparing the second compact hardware identification (sCHWID) for the second hardware configuration to (i) a first compact hardware identification (fCHWID) for the first hardware configuration or (ii) a first verbose hardware identification (fVHWID) for the first hardware configuration;

if a number of matches exists between component classes of the second hardware configuration and corresponding component classes of the first hardware configuration, and the number of matches equals or exceeds m, a number of required component class matches, loading the software product onto the second computer system; and

if the number of matches is less than m, preventing the software product from being loaded onto the second computer system.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second compact hardware identification (sCHWID) is generated by a method comprising:

selecting n component classes of the second hardware configuration;

identifying all component instances within each of the n component classes of the second hardware configuration;

generating a plurality of component instance first hash results, wherein the plurality of component instance first hash results comprises a first hash result for each component instance and at least one first hash result for the n component classes of the second hardware configuration;

generating a plurality of component instance second hash results, wherein the plurality of component instance second hash results comprises second hash results resulting from performing a second hash function on select component instance first hash results within one or more select component classes of the second hardware configuration; and

concatenating the plurality of second hash results to form a hash portion,

wherein the hash portion forms the second compact hardware identification (sCHWID) for the second hardware configuration.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the first compact hardware identification (fCHWID) is generated by a method comprising:

selecting n component classes of the first hardware configuration;

identifying all component instances within each of the n component classes of the first hardware configuration;

generating a plurality of component instance first hash results, wherein the plurality of component instance first hash results comprises a first hash result for each component instance and at least one first hash result for the n component classes of the first hardware configuration;

generating a plurality of component instance second hash results, wherein the plurality of component instance second hash results comprises second hash results resulting from performing a second hash function on select component instance first hash results within one or more select component classes of the first hardware configuration; and

concatenating the plurality of second hash results to form a hash portion,

wherein the hash portion forms the first compact hardware identification (fCHWID) for the first hardware configuration.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the first verbose hardware identification (fVHWID) is generated by a method comprising:

selecting n component classes of the first hardware configuration;

identifying all component instances within each of the n component classes of the first hardware configuration;

generating a plurality of component instance first hash results, wherein the plurality of component instance first hash results comprises a first hash result for each component instance and at least one first hash result for the n component classes of the first hardware configuration; and

concatenating the plurality of first hash results to form a hash portion,

wherein the hash portion forms the first verbose hardware identification (fVHWID) for the first hardware configuration.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein a match exists between a component class of the second hardware configuration and a corresponding component class of the first hardware configuration when one second component instance hash result within a component class of the second compact hardware identification (sCHWID) for the second hardware configuration matches any one of the second component instance hash results within a corresponding component class of (i) the first compact hardware identification (fCHWID) for the first hardware configuration or (ii) derived from the first component instance hashes of the verbose hardware identification (fVHWID) for the first hardware configuration.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein a single match exists between a component class of the second hardware configuration and a corresponding component class of the first hardware configuration when one second component instance hash result within a component class of the second compact hardware identification (sCHWID) for the second hardware configuration matches two or more second component instance hash results derived from the first component instance hashes within a corresponding component class of the first verbose hardware identification (fVHWID) for the first hardware configuration.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein no match exists between a component class of the second hardware configuration and a corresponding component class of the first hardware configuration (a) when the component class in the first hardware configuration does not contain a component instance, and the corresponding component class in the second hardware configuration does contain a component instance, and (b) when the component class in the first hardware configuration contains a single component instance, and the corresponding component class in the second hardware configuration does not contain a component instance.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein a match exists between a component class of the second hardware configuration and a corresponding component class of the first hardware configuration when the component class in the first hardware configuration does not contain a component instance, and the corresponding component class in the second hardware configuration does not contain a component instance.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein m equals (n−

3), wherein n represents the number of component classes within the second hardware configuration used to form the second compact hardware identification (sCHWID).

23. A computing system containing at least one application module usable on the computing system, wherein the at least one application module comprises application code for performing the method of claim 14.

24. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 14.

25. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing a method of generating a compact hardware identification (CHWID) for a first computer system having a first hardware configuration, wherein the method comprises:

selecting n component classes;

identifying all component instances within each of the n component classes;

generating a plurality of component instance first hash results, wherein the plurality of component instance first hash results comprises a first hash result for each component instance and at least one first hash result for the n component classes;

generating a plurality of component instance second hash results, wherein the plurality of component instance second hash results comprises second hash results resulting from performing a second hash function on select component instance first hash results within one or more select component classes; and

concatenating the plurality of second hash results to form a hash portion,

wherein the hash portion forms the compact hardware identification (CHWID) for the first computer system.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 25, further comprising:

concatenating (i) a version component and (ii) the hash portion of the compact hardware identification (CHWID) to form the compact hardware identification (CHWID) for the first computer system.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 25, wherein n is a whole number up to about 16.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the version component comprises a version number.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 25, wherein at least one of the n component classes contains two or more component instances.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 25, wherein each of the n component classes contains from 0 to 14 component instances.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 25, wherein the compact hardware identification (CHWID) for the first computer system has a length of up to about 256 bits.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 25, wherein the method is initiated during a step of loading a software product onto the first computer system.

33. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing a method of determining whether a software product can be used on a second computer system having a second hardware configuration, wherein the second computer system is identical to or different from a first computer system having a first hardware configuration, the software product being initially installed on the first computer, wherein the method comprises:

generating a second compact hardware identification (sCHWID) for the second hardware configuration;

comparing the second compact hardware identification (sCHWID) for the second hardware configuration to (i) a first compact hardware identification (fCHWID) for the first hardware configuration or (ii) a first verbose hardware identification (fVHWID) for the first hardware configuration;

if a number of matches exists between component classes of the second hardware configuration and corresponding component classes of the first hardware configuration, and the number of matches equals or exceeds m, a number of required component class matches, loading the software product onto the second computer system; and

if the number of matches is less than m, preventing the software product from being loaded onto the second computer system.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 33, wherein the second compact hardware identification (sCHWID) is generated by a method comprising:

selecting n component classes of the second hardware configuration;

identifying all component instances within each of the n component classes of the second hardware configuration;

generating a plurality of component instance first hash results, wherein the plurality of component instance first hash results comprises a first hash result for each component instance and at least one first hash result for the n component classes of the second hardware configuration;

generating a plurality of component instance second hash results, wherein the plurality of component instance second hash results comprises second hash results resulting from performing a second hash function on select component instance first hash results within one or more select component classes of the second hardware configuration; and

concatenating the plurality of second hash results to form a hash portion,

wherein the hash portion forms the second compact hardware identification (sCHWID) for the second hardware configuration.

35. The computer readable medium of claim 33, wherein the first compact hardware identification (fCHWID) is generated by a method comprising:

selecting n component classes of the first hardware configuration;

identifying all component instances within each of the n component classes of the first hardware configuration;

generating a plurality of component instance first hash results, wherein the plurality of component instance first hash results comprises a first hash result for each component instance and at least one first hash result for the n component classes of the first hardware configuration;

generating a plurality of component instance second hash results, wherein the plurality of component instance second hash results comprises second hash results resulting from performing a second hash function on select component instance first hash results within one or more select component classes of the first hardware configuration; and

concatenating the plurality of second hash results to form a hash portion,

wherein the hash portion forms the first compact hardware identification (fCHWID) for the first hardware configuration.

36. The computer readable medium of claim 33, wherein the first verbose hardware identification (fVHWID) is generated by a method comprising:

selecting n component classes of the first hardware configuration;

identifying all component instances within each of the n component classes of the first hardware configuration;

generating a plurality of component instance first hash results, wherein the plurality of component instance first hash results comprises a first hash result for each component instance and at least one first hash result for the n component classes of the first hardware configuration; and

concatenating the plurality of first hash results to form a hash portion,

wherein the hash portion forms the first verbose hardware identification (fVHWID) for the first hardware configuration.

37. The computer readable medium of claim 33, wherein a match exists between a component class of the second hardware configuration and a corresponding component class of the first hardware configuration when one second component instance hash result within a component class of the second compact hardware identification (sCHWID) for the second hardware configuration matches any one of the second component instance hash results within a corresponding component class of (i) the first compact hardware identification (fCHWID) for the first hardware configuration or (ii) derived from the first component instance hashes of the verbose hardware identification (fVHWID) for the first hardware configuration.

38. The computer readable medium of claim 33, wherein a single match exists between a component class of the second hardware configuration and a corresponding component class of the first hardware configuration when one second component instance hash result within a component class of the second compact hardware identification (sCHWID) for the second hardware configuration matches two or more second component instance hash results derived from the first component instance hashes within a corresponding component class of the first verbose hardware identification (fVHWID) for the first hardware configuration.

39. The computer readable medium of claim 33, wherein no match exists between a component class of the second hardware configuration and a corresponding component class of the first hardware configuration (a) when the component class in the first hardware configuration does not contain a component instance, and the corresponding component class in the second hardware configuration does contain a component instance, and (b) when the component class in the first hardware configuration contains a single component instance, and the corresponding component class in the second hardware configuration does not contain a component instance.

40. The method of claim 33, wherein a match exists between a component class of the second hardware configuration and a corresponding component class of the first hardware configuration when the component class in the first hardware configuration does not contain a component instance, and the corresponding component class in the second hardware configuration does not contain a component instance.

41. The computer readable medium of claim 33, wherein m equals (n−

3), wherein n represents the number of component classes within the second hardware configuration used to form the second compact hardware identification (sCHWID).

42. A computing system containing at least one application module usable on the computing system, wherein the at least one application module comprises application code for performing a method of generating a compact hardware identification (CHWID) for a first computer system having a first hardware configuration, wherein the method comprises:

selecting n component classes;

identifying all component instances within each of the n component classes;

generating a plurality of component instance first hash results, wherein the plurality of component instance first hash results comprises a first hash result for each component instance and at least one first hash result for the n component classes;

generating a plurality of component instance second hash results, wherein the plurality of component instance second hash results comprises second hash results resulting from performing a second hash function on select component instance first hash results within one or more select component classes; and

concatenating the plurality of second hash results to form a hash portion,

wherein the hash portion forms the compact hardware identification (CHWID) for the first computer system.

43. The computing system of claim 42, further comprising:

concatenating (i) a version component and (ii) the hash portion of the compact hardware identification (CHWID) to form the compact hardware identification (CHWID) for the first computer system.

44. The computing system of claim 42, wherein n is a whole number up to about 16.

45. The computing system of claim 43, wherein the version component comprises a version number.

46. The computing system of claim 42, wherein at least one of the n component classes contains two or more component instances.

47. The computing system of claim 42, wherein each of the n component classes contains from 0 to 14 component instances.

48. The computing system of claim 42, wherein the compact hardware identification (CHWID) for the first computer system has a length of up to about 256 bits.

49. The computing system of claim 42, wherein the method is initiated during a step of loading a software product onto the first computer system.

50. A computing system containing at least one application module usable on the computing system, wherein the at least one application module comprises application code for performing a method of determining whether a software product can be used on a second computer system having a second hardware configuration, wherein the second computer system is identical to or different from a first computer system having a first hardware configuration, the software product being initially installed on the first computer, wherein the method comprises:

generating a second compact hardware identification (sCHWID) for the second hardware configuration;

comparing the second compact hardware identification (sCHWID) for the second hardware configuration to (i) a first compact hardware identification (fCHWID) for the first hardware configuration or (ii) a first verbose hardware identification (fVHWID) for the first hardware configuration;

if a number of matches exists between component classes of the second hardware configuration and corresponding component classes of the first hardware configuration, and the number of matches equals or exceeds m, a number of required component class matches, loading the software product onto the second computer system; and

if the number of matches is less than m, preventing the software product from being loaded onto the second computer system.

51. The computing system of claim 50, wherein the second compact hardware identification (sCHWID) is generated by a method comprising:

selecting n component classes of the second hardware configuration;

identifying all component instances within each of the n component classes of the second hardware configuration;

generating a plurality of component instance first hash results, wherein the plurality of component instance first hash results comprises a first hash result for each component instance and at least one first hash result for the n component classes of the second hardware configuration;

generating a plurality of component instance second hash results, wherein the plurality of component instance second hash results comprises second hash results resulting from performing a second hash function on select component instance first hash results within one or more select component classes of the second hardware configuration; and

concatenating the plurality of second hash results to form a hash portion,

wherein the hash portion forms the second compact hardware identification (sCHWID) for the second hardware configuration.

52. The computing system of claim 50, wherein the first compact hardware identification (fCHWID) is generated by a method comprising:

selecting n component classes of the first hardware configuration;

identifying all component instances within each of the n component classes of the first hardware configuration;

generating a plurality of component instance first hash results, wherein the plurality of component instance first hash results comprises a first hash result for each component instance and at least one first hash result for the n component classes of the first hardware configuration;

generating a plurality of component instance second hash results, wherein the plurality of component instance second hash results comprises second hash results resulting from performing a second hash function on select component instance first hash results within one or more select component classes of the first hardware configuration; and

concatenating the plurality of second hash results to form a hash portion,

wherein the hash portion forms the first compact hardware identification (fCHWID) for the first hardware configuration.

53. The computing system of claim 50, wherein the first verbose hardware identification (fVHWID) is generated by a method comprising:

selecting n component classes of the first hardware configuration;

identifying all component instances within each of the n component classes of the first hardware configuration;

generating a plurality of component instance first hash results, wherein the plurality of component instance first hash results comprises a first hash result for each component instance and at least one first hash result for the n component classes of the first hardware configuration; and

concatenating the plurality of first hash results to form a hash portion,

wherein the hash portion forms the first verbose hardware identification (fVHWID) for the first hardware configuration.

54. The computing system of claim 50, wherein a match exists between a component class of the second hardware configuration and a corresponding component class of the first hardware configuration when one second component instance hash result within a component class of the second compact hardware identification (sCHWID) for the second hardware configuration matches any one of the second component instance hash results within a corresponding component class of (i) the first compact hardware identification (fCHWID) for the first hardware configuration or (ii) derived from the first component instance hashes of the verbose hardware identification (fVHWID) for the first hardware configuration.

55. The computing system of claim 50, wherein a single match exists between a component class of the second hardware configuration and a corresponding component class of the first hardware configuration when one second component instance hash result within a component class of the second compact hardware identification (sCHWID) for the second hardware configuration matches two or more second component instance hash results derived from the first component instance hashes within a corresponding component class of the first verbose hardware identification (fVHWID) for the first hardware configuration.

56. The computing system of claim 50, wherein no match exists between a component class-of the second hardware configuration and a corresponding component class of the first hardware configuration (a) when the component class in the first hardware configuration does not contain a component instance, and the corresponding component class in the second hardware configuration does contain a component instance, and (b) when the component class in the first hardware configuration contains a single component instance, and the corresponding component class in the second hardware configuration does not contain a component instance.

57. The method of claim 50, wherein a match exists between a component class of the second hardware configuration and a corresponding component class of the first hardware configuration when the component class in the first hardware configuration does not contain a component instance, and the corresponding component class in the second hardware configuration does not contain a component instance.

58. The computing system of claim 50, wherein m equals (n−

3), wherein n represents the number of component classes within the second hardware configuration used to form the second compact hardware identification (sCHWID).