Data security apparatus and method

• US 5,668,945 A
• Filed: 02/23/1995
• Issued: 09/16/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sega Enterprises LTD. (SEGA Sammy Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sega Enterprises LTD. (SEGA Sammy Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Ohba, Toshihiro, Asai, Toshinori
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Jr., Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Decady, Albert
• Application Number:
  US08/393,055
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 395/186, 395/188.01, 380/4, 380/23, 364/286.4, 364/286.5, 364/286.6, 463/1, 463/29
• US Class Current: 726/30
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/201 Playing authorisation given at platform level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/121 Restricting unauthorised execution of programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/80 in storage media based on magnetic or optical technology, e.g. disks with sectors preventing unauthorised reproduction or copying of disc-type recordable media G11B20/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2109 Game systems

Abstract

A data security apparatus and method permits programmed data stored in a replaceable external storage medium to be processed by the data processor when it is determined that a security code is stored on the external storage medium and a replacement second external storage medium is available. The data can then be transferred under a controlled process without performing a security check on the second external storage medium. A hardware security apparatus can therefore be disabled to permit authorized game developers to test their games on an actual game system.

Claims

1. A data security apparatus for controlling whether program data stored in a replaceable, external storage medium is to be processed by a data processor, the data security apparatus comprising:

a security check means for detecting the presence or absence of a security code stored in an external storage medium;

an internal storage means for storing an identification code read out from the external storage medium;

a replacement detect means for detecting a replacement of the external storage medium with a second external storage medium;

a judgment means for comparing the identification code stored in the internal storage means with an identification code read out from the second external storage medium and judging whether the codes correspond;

a control means for controlling whether the program data stored in the external storage medium or the second external storage device is to be processed by the data processor or not;

wherein, when the presence of the security code in the external storage medium is detected by the security check means, and the replacement means detects a replacement of the external storage medium with the second external storage medium, and the judgment means judges that the identification code stored in the internal storage means and the identification code read out of the second external storage medium correspond, then the security check means does not check the second external storage medium for the security code and the control means permits the program data stored on the second external storage medium to be processed by the data processor,

and when the absence of the security code in the external storage medium is detected by the security check means, and the replacement means detects a replacement of the external storage medium with the second external storage medium, the security check means checks the second external storage medium for the security code,

and when the external storage medium has a security code but does not have an identification code, and the replacement means detects a replacement of the external storage medium with the second external storage medium, the security check means checks the second external storage medium for the security code,

and when the presence of the security code in the external storage medium is detected by the security check means, and the replacement means does not detect a replacement of the external storage medium with the second external storage medium, then the control means permits any program data stored on the external storage medium to be processed by the data processor.

2. The data security apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control means comprises:

an indicator flag for controlling the operation of the security check means; and

a flag storage means for storing the indicator flag, wherein the indicator flag has two values, one value for causing an operation of the security check means and one value for inhibiting an operation of the security check means.

3. The data security apparatus of claim 2, wherein the data processor is a game machine having a computer, the program data is a game program for execution on the game machine, and the security check means, internal storage means, replacement detect means, judgment means, control means and flag storage means are implemented on the game machine'"'"'s computer.

4. The data security apparatus of claim 3, wherein the external storage medium is a CD-ROM.

5. The data security apparatus of claim 3, wherein an external storage medium having a security code and an identification code stored thereon is used to set the control means to allow the execution of program data stored on a second external storage medium, the second external storage medium having an identification code and program code, but no security code.

6. The data security apparatus of claim 3, wherein the control means allows program data stored on an external storage medium to execute on the game machine if the external storage medium has a security code stored thereon.

7. The data security apparatus of claim 1, wherein an external storage medium has a plurality of identification codes, the intemal storage means stores a plurality of identification codes read out from the external storage medium, and the judgment means compares the plurality of identification codes stored in the internal storage means with the plurality of identification codes read out the external storage medium and judges whether the plurality of codes correspond.

8. A data security apparatus for controlling whether program data stored in a replaceable, external storage medium is to be processed by a data processor, the data security apparatus comprising:

a security check means for detecting the presence or absence of a security code stored in an external storage medium;

a replacement detect means for detecting a replacement of a first external storage medium with a second external storage medium;

data readout control means for controlling the transfer of program data from the first or second external storage medium to the data processor;

wherein when the presence of the security code is detected by the security check means in the first external storage medium and the replacement detect means detects a replacement of the first external storage medium, the data readout control means transfers the program data from the second external storage medium to the data processor without performing a security check on the second external storage medium,

and when the absence of the security code is detected by the security check means in the first external storage medium and no replacement is detected, then the data readout control means does not transfer the program dam to the data processor,

and when the absence of the security code is detected by the security check means in the first external storage medium and the replacement means has detected a replacement of the first external storage medium, then the security check means checks the second external storage medium for the security code,

and when the presence of the security code is detected by the security check means in an external storage medium and the replacement detect means has not detected a replacement of the external storage medium, the data readout control means transfers any program data stored on the external storage medium to the data processor.

9. The data security apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:

an identification code storage means for storing an identification code read out from the first external storage medium; and

a judgment means for comparing the identification code stored in the identification storage means with an identification code read out from the second external storage means and for judging whether the codes correspond;

wherein when the presence of the security code in the external storage medium is detected by the security check means, and the replacement means detects a replacement of the first external storage medium with the second external storage medium, and the judgment means judges that the identification code stored in the identification code storage means and the identification code read out of the second external storage medium correspond, then the security check means does not check the second external storage medium for the security code and the data readout control means permits the program data stored on the second external storage medium to be processed by the data processor,

and when the absence of the security code in the first external storage medium is detected by the security check means, and the replacement means detects a replacement of the first external storage medium with the second external storage medium, the security check means checks the second external storage medium for the security code,

and when the first external storage medium has a security code but does not have an identification code, and the replacement means detects a replacement of the first external storage medium with the second external storage medium, the security check means checks the second external storage medium for the security code,

and when the presence of the security code in the first external storage medium is detected by the security check means, and the replacement means does not detect a replacement of the first external storage medium with the second external storage medium, then the data readout control means permits any program data stored on the first external storage medium to be processed by the data processor.

10. The data security apparatus of claim 9, wherein the data readout control means comprises:

an indicator flag for controlling the operation of the security check means; and

a flag storage means for storing the indicator flag, wherein the indicator flag has two values, one value for causing an operation of the security check means and one value for inhibiting an operation of the security check means.

11. The data security apparatus of claim 10, wherein if the first external storage medium has a security code and an identification code, and the identification code on the second external storage medium corresponds to the identification code of the first external storage medium, then the indicator flag is set to the value for inhibiting an operation of the security check means, such that when the first external storage medium is replaced by the second external storage medium, no security check is performed on the second external storage medium.

12. The data security apparatus of claim 10, wherein the external storage medium is a CD-ROM.

13. The data security apparatus of claim 10, wherein an external storage medium having a security code and an identification code stored thereon is used to set the data readout control means to allow the execution of program data stored on a second external storage medium, the second external storage medium having an identification code and program code, but no security code.

14. The data security apparatus of claim 10, wherein the data readout control means allows program data stored on an external storage medium to execute if the external storage medium has a security code stored thereon.

15. A data security method for determining whether program data stored in a replaceable, external storage medium is to be processed by a data processor, the data security method comprising the steps of:

determining whether a security code is stored in a first external storage medium;

reading an identification code from the first external storage medium and storing the identification code in an identification storage means;

detecting a replacement of the first external storage medium with a second external storage medium;

reading an identification code from the second external storage medium;

comparing the identification code stored in the identification code storage means with the identification code from the second external storage means and determining whether the identification codes correspond; and

transferring the program data from the second external storage medium to the data processor without determining whether a security code is stored on the second storage medium when the identification codes correspond.

16. A data security method for allowing program data stored on a storage medium to execute on a data processing machine, the data processing machine having a hardware security apparatus, wherein the storage medium does not have a required security code stored thereon as required by the security hardware apparatus, the data security method comprising the steps of:

detecting a key external storage medium attached to the data processor, the key external storage medium comprising a security code; and

detecting a replacement of the key external storage medium with a program data storage medium, the program data storage medium comprises program data;

wherein the key external storage medium disables the hardware security apparatus, such that the hardware security apparatus does not check the program data storage medium for the required security code, and the program data stored on the program data storage medium is executed on the data processor.

17. The data security method of claim 16, wherein the key external storage medium further comprises an identification code and the program data storage medium further comprises an identification code, such that a key external storage device is detected based on a presence of the security code and the identification code, and a program data storage medium is detected based on a presence of the identification code.

18. The data security method of claim 17, wherein the key external storage medium and the program data storage medium are CD-ROMs and the data processor is a video game machine.