Method and apparatus for protecting computer software utilizing coded filter network in conjunction with an active coded hardware device
First Claim
1. The method of protecting computer software using a software protection hardware security device plugged into a communications port of a computer which is controlled by the computer software or software within computer control which is desired to be protected comprising the steps of:
- applying a plurality of bits containing a disguised predetermined control code thereon to a port of a computer from software which is desired to be protected,plugging a software protection hardware apparatus into said computer port containing a stored reference code which in at least one form corresponds to said disguised predetermined control code,comparing said plurality of bits containing said disguised predetermined control code in said software protection hardware with said stored reference code and passing an operational signal when a match occurs,utilizing said operational signal as an acknowledgement that the disguised predetermined control code is present in said plurality of bits.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Filter networks are incorporated within a software protection hardware device which is plugged into a communications port of a computer which device will select bits or combinations of bits emanating from the communications port resulting from commands of a controlling software in use with the computer which is desired to be protected. The filter networks select the bits of a disguised predetermined control code which when matched with a stored reference code results in an output from the filter used to activate functions within the protection device. A stream of bits including a disguised predetermined control code issuing from the computer through the security device are compared with a stored reference code in a programmable memory. When a match occurs an output emanates providing an acknowledgment code to the computer indicating that the hardware device has been plugged in and is a proper one. The stored reference code can be provided by a programmable memory using an intermediate storage register between the programmable memory and the selection network. The intermediate storage register is clocked changing the reference code in a predetermined manner. Accordingly, the reference code is changed in accordance with what is stored in the programmable memory and by the content of an intermediate register at any given time, the effect of which is to continually change the reference code by clocking the intermediate register.
229 Citations
15 Claims
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1. The method of protecting computer software using a software protection hardware security device plugged into a communications port of a computer which is controlled by the computer software or software within computer control which is desired to be protected comprising the steps of:
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applying a plurality of bits containing a disguised predetermined control code thereon to a port of a computer from software which is desired to be protected, plugging a software protection hardware apparatus into said computer port containing a stored reference code which in at least one form corresponds to said disguised predetermined control code, comparing said plurality of bits containing said disguised predetermined control code in said software protection hardware with said stored reference code and passing an operational signal when a match occurs, utilizing said operational signal as an acknowledgement that the disguised predetermined control code is present in said plurality of bits. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A software protection hardware device which is plugged into a communications port of a computer to receive a plurality of bits from the computer containing a disguised predetermined control code resulting from commands from the software controlling the computer which software is desired to be protected comprising:
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a digital decoder filter having an input and an output and a programmable memory coupled to said input for providing a stored reference code for said filter which in at least one form corresponds to said predetermined control code adapted to be plugged into a communications port of a computer, comparison means in said digital decoder filter for comparing an input with said stored reference code and passing a operational control signal when a match occurs, means for applying said plurality of bits including said disguised predetermined control code to the input of said filter, and means coupled between said output of said filter and said computer port for applying said passed operational control signal to said computer port when a match occurs between said control code with said reference code. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification