Code operated access control system for electronic data store
First Claim
1. A control system for controlling access by a host operating system to a store information stored in divisible form in machine readable media using a unique code, said control system comprising, storage means for storing a plurality of unique codes and corresponding information units, said storage means being normally unreadable by the host operating system, said storage means being coupled to said host operating system via a control device and a unique code obtainable by user, said host operating system having code input means for entering said code into said storage means via said control device, said unique code allowing use of a number of information units stored in said storage means, the number of information units used being monitored by an information units counter of said host operating system, and comparison means for comparing the number of units used with an available total number of units for that unique code to permit continued access to said store of information for said corresponding information units, and security means coupled to said storage means for causing the number of information units corresponding to said unique code rendered subsequently inaccessible by said unique code or previously used codes after all said corresponding information units have been released.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for controlling access such as time access by a user to a store of information in an information storage system which uses unique codes associated with corresponding number of information units. The system includes a key storage unit (18) which is specifically formatted and can only be accessed by a special read/write program available to the distributor or manufacturer. The key storage unit (18) has a plurality of keys (16) which act as addresses for time units which control the time of operation the program is to be run using the host system clock (14). In response to a valid key being given to the user and being entered to start the program, the number of timed units for this code is rendered subsequently inaccessible, by for example being set to zero automatically so that it cannot readily be used again for free. The program can then be run continuously until an accumulated predetermined time is reached and at the end of the time, program operation is terminated. The user can extend operation by obtaining additional keys, subject to payment, to run the program for as long as suitable. With this system the user does not buy the computer program but effectively hires it from the owner or distributor.
108 Citations
18 Claims
- 1. A control system for controlling access by a host operating system to a store information stored in divisible form in machine readable media using a unique code, said control system comprising, storage means for storing a plurality of unique codes and corresponding information units, said storage means being normally unreadable by the host operating system, said storage means being coupled to said host operating system via a control device and a unique code obtainable by user, said host operating system having code input means for entering said code into said storage means via said control device, said unique code allowing use of a number of information units stored in said storage means, the number of information units used being monitored by an information units counter of said host operating system, and comparison means for comparing the number of units used with an available total number of units for that unique code to permit continued access to said store of information for said corresponding information units, and security means coupled to said storage means for causing the number of information units corresponding to said unique code rendered subsequently inaccessible by said unique code or previously used codes after all said corresponding information units have been released.
- 13. A method of controlling access by a host operating system to a store of information stored in divisible form in machine readable media using a unique code said method comprising the steps of, providing a storage means having a plurality of unique codes each with a corresponding number of information units, coupling said storage means to said host operating system, providing a unique code for entry into said host operating system, said unique code being identifiable by said storage means, releasing an information unit corresponding to said code, monitoring a counter of said host operating system, and comparing a counted number of released units with a number of available information units permitting access to said store of information for said corresponding number of information units and, after releasing said number of information units, rendering the number of information units corresponding to said code to be inaccessible.
- 17. A storage device for use with a control system for controlling access by a host operating system to a store of information stored in divisible form in a machine readable media using a unique code, said storage means comprising a storage element having at least one specially formatted area which is unreadable by the host operating system, said area having at least one portion with a plurality of a pair of numbers, each pair having a unique code and a corresponding number of information units, said unique code identifying, when selected, the corresponding number of information units for controlling a counter coupled to the host system to operate until a count corresponding to said number of information units has elapsed.
Specification