Method of managing contracts for licensed program use and a management system thereof

• US 5,930,357 A
• Filed: 08/29/1994
• Issued: 07/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Fukui, Toshiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomas, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US08/297,179
• Time in Patent Office: 1,793 Days
• Field of Search: 364/401 R, 364/402, 395/700, 395/186, 395/778, 395/712, 395/207, 395/208, 395/187.01, 395/188.01, 380/4, 380/23, 380/25, 705/1, 705/7, 705/18, 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 705/59
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/85 interconnection devices, e.g. bus-connected or in-line devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing

Abstract

The present invention has an object to provide a method of managing contracts for licensed program use with which a licensor is able to confirm whether or not a contract for using a program has been properly kept by the user, as well as provide a system capable of utilizing the managing method. At the user-side (20), information on the status of utilizing the licensed program is stored as data (25), and the stored data is outputted after it is coded. Whereas, at the licensor-side (10), the coded data is inputted and decoded, thereby the licensor is able to determine the status of utilization of the program.

Claims

1. A method of managing licensed program use contracts comprising the steps of:

in a user side apparatus where a licensed program has been installed,

deleting the licensed program when a contract of using the licensed program has expired;

preparing and encrypting data notifying of completion of the deletion which includes a deletion execution date, an ID of the licensed program, and a name of the user side apparatus by executing a specific command when the deletion of the licensed program has completed; and

transmitting the encrypted data notifying the completion of the deletion to a licensor side apparatus; and

in the licensor side apparatus,

deciphering the encrypted data transmitted from the user side apparatus; and

confirming the deletion of the licensed program whose contract has been expired by analyzing the deciphered data.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein execution of the specific command is instructed by a licensor by remote control.

3. A method of managing licensed program use contracts comprising the steps of:

in a user side apparatus where a licensed program has been installed;

encrypting a log file representing an execution history of a licensed program in a manner in which a user of the apparatus cannot decipher the encrypted log file and accumulating the encrypted log file;

reading out the encrypted log file by executing a specific command; and

transmitting the encrypted log file to a licensor side apparatus; and

in the licensor side apparatus;

deciphering the encrypted log file transmitted from the user side apparatus; and

confirming the status of utilizing the licensed program by the user by analyzing the deciphered log file representing the execution history.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein execution of the specific command is instructed by a licensor by remote control.

5. A system for managing licensed program use contracts including a user side apparatus where a licensed program has been installed and a licensor side apparatus,

said user side apparatus comprising:

deleting means for deleting the licensed program when a contract of using the licensed program has expired;

preparing means for preparing and encrypting data notifying of completion of the depletion which includes a deletion execution data, an ID of the licensed program, and a name of the user side apparatus by executing a specific command when the deletion of the licensed program has completed; and

transmission means for transmitting the encrypted data notifying the completion of the deletion to said licensor side apparatus; and

said licensor side apparatus comprising;

deciphering means for deciphering the encrypted data transmitted form said user side apparatus; and

confirmation means for confirming the deletion of the licensed program whose contract has expired by analyzing the deciphered data.

6. A system for managing licensed program use contracts including a user side apparatus where a licensed program has been installed and a licensor side apparatus,

said user side apparatus comprising:

encryption means for encrypting a log file representing an execution history of a licensed program in a manner in which a user of the apparatus cannot decipher the encrypted log file and accumulating the encrypted log file;

reading means for reading out the encrypted log file by executing a specific command; and

transmission means for transmitting the encrypted log file to said licensor side apparatus, and

said licensor side apparatus comprising;

deciphering means for deciphering the encrypted log file transmitted from said use side apparatus; and

confirmation means for confirming the status of utilizing the licensed program by the user by analyzing the deciphered log file representing the execution history.