Software protection system with trial period usage code and unlimited use unlocking code both recorded on program storage media

• US 4,740,890 A
• Filed: 12/22/1983
• Issued: 04/26/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Software Concepts, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Software Concepts, Inc.
• Inventors: William, Tobin
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Jr., Archie E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Munteanu, Florin
• Application Number:
  US06/564,170
• Time in Patent Office: 1,587 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File, 364/ 300, 178/22.08, 178/22.01, 340/825.34, 360/15, 360/53, 380/3, 380/4, 380/25
• US Class Current: 726/31
• 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 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data

Abstract

An apparatus for preparing and playing back a duplicated disk containing software as a program so that a customer will be able to use the disk for a predetermined trial period. The duplicated disk is impressed with information relating to this system in the form of a usage count, a locking status and an output code. The usage count is written on the disk and determines the number of times the disk can be used by a customer. The output code identifies a locking code whereby after the allocated number of uses is over, the vendor can unlock the disk to allow unlimited use. The lock code determines whether or not the disk is subjected to the above noted trial usage period. The usage count which is impressed on the disk is detected during each time the disk is used and the usage count is decremented by one until the predetermined number of uses has been accommodated. When this occurs, the usage count becomes zero and this is detected to terminate usage and to access the keyboard of a microprocessor or computer to thereby allow the system to receive the unlocking code from the vendor. If the unlocking code is received, the disk can now be used by the customer without limitation. However, if the proper code is not received, the disk cannot be used by the customer as the system will prevent further use of the program until a proper locking code is inserted via the keyboard of the computer or microprocessor during operation of the program contained on the disk.

Claims

1. Apparatus for protecting a program stored on a storage medium such as a magnetic disc, for enabling trial use of said program in connection with a computer processor, said apparatus comprising:

first means for recording a predetermined indication on said medium indicative of the number of times said program can be used,

second means for recording a predetermined code on said medium associated with said predetermined indication,

means for accessing said indication when said medium is being used by said computer processor,

means for modifying said indication on said medium during use to reduce the number of times represented that said program can be used,

further means responsive to said indication to detect a state indicating a specified number of uses indicative of an end of a period of said trial use to provide an output signal indicative of said end of said period of trial use,

means responsive to said output signal for preventing further use of said program stored on said medium by said computer processor,

logic means responsive to said output signal and said predetermined code to permit said computer processor to receive an enable code from an input means and

means for comparing said enable code with said predetermined code to allow said program to be further used without further interruption upon a favorable comparison.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further including;

third means for recording on said medium a vendor code indicative of a particular vendor supplying said program and means responsive to said vendor code and said predetermined code for determining whether said predetermined code is a proper code for accessing said enabling code.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising;

means responsive to said output signal for providing an indication to said user that said program is being blocked.

4. A method of protecting a prerecorded program for use with a computer processor which program is stored on a storage medium to enable a user to utilize the program as stored for a trial test period comprising the steps of:

recording on said medium with said program a first code indicative of whether said program is subjected to said trial test period, a second code indicative of the number of uses of said program, and a third code indicative of an unlocking code to enable said program to be used after said trial period,

detecting said first code to determine whether said program is subjected to said trial period,

then detecting said second code indicative of the number of allowed uses of said program,

decrementing said second code on said medium each time said program is used to provide a new indication,

detecting said new indication to determine when said indication is indicative of an end of said trial period,

accessing said third code upon detecting the end of said trial period,

conditioning said computer processor for the from an input means reception of an unlocking code compatible with said third code,

comparing said unlocking code with said third code, and

enabling said program to continue in use upon a favorable comparison and preventing said program from continuing upon an unfavorable comparison.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said medium is a magnetic disk.

6. Apparatus for protecting a prerecorded program for use with a computer processor which program is stored on a storage medium to enable a user to utilize the program as stored for a trial test period comprising:

means for recording on said storage medium a first code indicative of the number of allowed uses of said program and a second code indicative of an unlocking code, said first code initially reflecting the number of allowed uses of said program during said trial test period,

means for detecting said first code during the use of said program to provide a signal indicative of said number,

means responsive to said signal to provide an altered signal each time the program is used, said altered signal reflecting the number of remaining allowed uses of said program during said trial test period,

recording means responsive to said altered signal to record a replacement first code on said medium in place of a previously recorded first code,

means responsive to said altered signal to provide a trial test end signal when said altered signal indicates no further allowed trial test uses of said program remain,

logic means responsive to said unlocking code and to said trial test end signal for storing said unlocking code and conditioning said computer processor to receive an unlocking signal from an input means, and

means for comparing said unlocking signal with said unlocking code said means for comparing including means responsive to a favorable comparison to enable said user to continue to use said program and responsive to an unfavorable comparison to prevent said user from using said program.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said means for recording on said storage medium further acts to store a third code on said medium indicative of whether said recording medium is a protected medium, and

means for detecting said third code during program use and to alter said third code if a favorable comparison is obtained to thereby enable uninterrupted use of said program.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said means for recording on said storage medium additionally acts to record a fourth code on said medium indicative of a particular vendor code associated with said program as well as said unlocking code.

9. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said storage medium is a magnetic disk.

10. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said means for recording on said storage medium includes reading means for accessing said codes as recorded on said medium to provide a hard copy of said unlocking code associated with said storage medium.

11. The apparatus according to claim 6, further including:

reading means for accessing said replacement first code as recorded on said medium and comparison means for comparing said replacement first code as recorded with said altered signal as modified to determine whether they are the same.

12. The apparatus according to claim 6, further including:

means responsive to the detection of said trial test end signal to notify a user of this condition.