Memory card

• US 5,357,573 A
• Filed: 08/12/1992
• Issued: 10/18/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Solution Services GmbH
• Original Assignee: Intelligent Solution Services GmbH
• Inventors: Walters, Kenn D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buczinski, Stephen C.
• Application Number:
  US07/928,006
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 364/184, 364/953.3, 380/3, 380/4, 380/25
• US Class Current: 713/193
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/121 Restricting unauthorised execution of programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/79 in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/22 in combination with an identity check of the pass holder

Abstract

Memory card as mass memory device for computer systems preventing unauthorized use of software stored on said memory card. In the memory card a non-changable and read-only protection code is stored indicative of the respective memory card and/or the computer system and/or the manufacturer of the software etc. A protection routine is added to the software program to be protected executing the protected software itself only if a comparison code within the protection routine matches with the non-changeable protection code.

Claims

1. A protected PCMCIA/JEIDA standard memory card for use as a mass memory device for computer systems such as palmtop, notebook and laptop computers, comprising a read-write memory means for storing data and application programs, a control means for controlling the read-write memory means, and an interface means for connecting the memory card to a computer system, wherein an unchangeable protection code is stored on a read-only memory means on the memory card.

3. The memory card of claim 1, characterized in that the protection code contains a memory card identification code, a computer system identification code or a memory card manufacturer identification code.

4. The memory card of claim 1, characterized in that the memory means contain, individually or in combination, OTP, ROM, SRAM, DRAM, FLASH-EPROM, or EEPROM chips.

2. A protected PCMCIA/JEIDA standard memory card for use as a mass memory device for computer systems such as palmtop, notebook and laptop computers, comprising a read-write memory means for storing data and application programs, a control means for controlling the read-write memory means, and an interface means for connecting the memory card to a computer system, wherein an encrypted unchangeable protection code is stored on the memory card.

5. The memory card of claim 2, characterized in that the protection code contains a memory card identification code, a computer system identification code or a memory card manufacturer identification code.

6. The memory card of claim 2, characterized in that the memory means contain, individually or in combination OTP, ROM, SRAM, DRAM, FLASH-EPROM, or EEPROM chips.

7. Method for modifying a PCMCIA/JEIDA standard memory card so as to prevent unauthorized use, comprising the steps of:

providing a conventional PCMCIA/JEIDA memory card with a first read-write memory means for storing data and application programs, a second read-write memory means, a control device to control access to the first and second read-write memory means, and an interface device to connect the PCMCIA/JEIDA memory card to a computer system; and

storing a protection code in the second read-write memory means via the interface means, wherein said first read-write and said second read-write memory means include data terminals, address terminals, write enable terminals, and read enable terminals, all being connected to said interface, and wherein the write enable terminal of the second memory means is physically cut through so as to disable write enable functions of the second memory means.

8. Method for protecting software against unauthorized use, comprising the steps of:

providing a PCMCIA/JEIDA memory card, said PCMCIA/JEIDA memory card including a read-write memory means for storing data, application programs, and a protection code which cannot be changed;

modifying an application program to be protected by adding a protection routine, which is activated by calling the application program and;

storing the modified application program on the memory card,

wherein said protection routine includes the process steps of;

reading the protection code from the memory card;

comparing the protection code with a comparison code assigned to the application program;

aborting application program execution if the comparison code does not match the protection code;

starting the application program if the comparison code and the protection code match.

9. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the protection code and the comparison code are encrypted.

10. An improved PCMCIA/JEIDA memory card for use as a mass memory device for computer systems, comprising:

a first read-write memory means for storing data and application programs;

a second read-write memory means;

a control device to control access to the memory devices; and

an interface device to connect the PCMCIA/JEIDA memory card to a computer system, said interface device being connected to data terminals, address terminals, write enable terminals, and read enable terminals of said first and said second read-write memory means;

a protection code stored unchangeably in the second memory means; and

an application program including a protection routine stored in said first read-write memory means, the protection routine including;

means for reading the protection code stored unchangeably in the second memory means;

means for comparing a comparison code with said protection code; and

means for aborting program execution if said codes do not match, and for switching to execution of the protected application software if the codes match.