Identifier managing device and method in software distribution system

• US 6,049,670 A
• Filed: 12/12/1995
• Issued: 04/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Okada, Toshiro, Igarashi, Norihiko, Oki, Hiroshi, Kamata, Shinji, Hara, Takashi, Yamazaki, Toshiya
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, Tod R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smithers, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US08/571,104
• Time in Patent Office: 1,582 Days
• Field of Search: 395/186, 395/712, 395/200.3, 395/200.47, 395/200.53, 707/1, 707/10, 380/4, 705/21, 705/1
• US Class Current: 717/177
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation

Abstract

An identifier managing device is used in a software distribution system in which software programs are distributed to distribution terminals from a distribution center through a network, for managing information including identifiers of the distribution terminals. A host computer in the distribution center sells the software programs corresponding to the request from users at the distribution terminals, each of which is assigned a terminal identifier and a terminal password. Each of the users is assigned a user identifier and a user password. A distribution identifier is written in the software programs before the software programs are sold, and the host computer manages the history of the distribution of the software using these identifiers and the passwords. The terminal password is rewritten whenever the terminal accesses the host computer for preventing illegal duplications of the software programs at the users end.

Claims

1. An identifier managing device used in a software distribution system in which a software program is distributed to a terminal from a distribution center through a network, comprising:

software storage means for storing the software program to be distributed through the network;

user information storage means for storing user information including a user identifier indicating a user to which the software program is distributed;

terminal information storage means for storing terminal information including a terminal identifier indicating a terminal in which the software program is installed; and

managing means for managing the user information and the terminal information by relating the user information stored in the user information storage means with the terminal information stored in the terminal information storage means.

2. An identifier managing device according to claim 1, further comprising;

a distribution record storage means for storing a distribution record of the software program in relation to the terminal identifier;

wherein

the managing means manages a distribution history of the software program using the user information, the terminal information, and the distribution record.

3. An identifier managing device according to claim 2, wherein

the user information includes a name of the user,

the terminal information includes a model name of the terminal in which the software program is installed,

the distribution record includes a name of the software program and a distribution date of the software program, and

the distribution history includes the name of the user, the model name of the terminal, the name of the software program, and the distribution date of the software program.

4. An identifier managing device according to claim 2, wherein the managing means reads the user information, the terminal information, and the distribution record to provide a restoration service of the software program to the user when the software program becomes unserviceable after the software program is installed.

5. An identifier managing device according to claim 1, wherein the managing means requires a payment for a distribution service of the software program to the user.

6. An identifier managing device according to claim 2, wherein

the distribution record includes information showing whether or not the software program is sold to the user, and

when the software program becomes unserviceable after the software program is installed and when the managing means recognizes that the software program is sold to the user by referring to the user information and the distribution record, the managing means restores the software program.

7. An identifier managing device according to claim 1, wherein the managing means requires a payment for a distribution service of the software program to the terminal.

8. An identifier managing device according to claim 2, wherein

the distribution record includes information showing whether or not the software program is sold to the terminal, and

when the software program becomes unserviceable after the software program is installed and the managing means recognizes that the software program is sold to the terminal by referring to the terminal information and the distribution record, the managing means restores the software program.

9. An identifier managing device according to claim 2, wherein the managing means provides service information about the software program to the user by referring the user information, the terminal information, and the distribution record.

10. An identifier managing device according to claim 9, wherein the service information includes information about an update of the software program.

11. An identifier managing device according to claim 1, wherein when the terminal in which the software program is installed is transferred from a first user to a second user, the managing means relates an identifier indicating the second user to the terminal identifier instead of an identifier to the first user to transfer rights to the software program attached to the terminal to the second user.

12. An identifier managing device according to claim 1, wherein

the user information includes a user password which is associated with the user identifier by the user, and

the managing means recognizes an access from the user using the user identifier and the user password.

13. An identifier managing device according to claim 1, wherein

the terminal information includes a first terminal password associated with the terminal identifier, and

the managing means recognizes an access from the terminal using the terminal identifier and the first terminal password.

14. An identifier managing device according to claim 13, further comprising

terminal password changing means for changing the first terminal password to a second terminal password when a terminal having the first terminal password accesses the distribution center, wherein

the managing means relates the second terminal password to the terminal identifier.

15. An identifier managing device according to claim 14, wherein when a terminal having the terminal identifier and a terminal password which does not correspond to the terminal password accesses the distribution center, the managing means assigns a new identifier to the terminal having the terminal password and manages the terminal having the new terminal password.

16. An identifier managing device used in a software distribution system in which a software program is distributed to a terminal from a distribution center through a network, comprising:

software storage means for storing the software program to be distributed through the network; and

distribution identifier adding means for writing a distribution identifier into the software program stored in the software storage means.

17. An identifier managing device according to claim 16, further comprising definition file storage means for storing a definition file in which information used for writing the distribution identifier is described, wherein

the distribution identifier adding means writes the distribution identifier into the software program by referring to the definition file stored in the definition file storage means when the software program is distributed.

18. An identifier managing device according to claim 17, wherein the information for writing the distribution identifier includes a position of a region for writing the distribution identifier allocated in the software program.

19. An identifier managing device according to claim 17, further comprising managing means for checking a distribution identifier of a software program distributed to a user who accesses the distribution center by referring to the definition file.

20. An identifier managing device according to claim 16, further comprising

distribution record storage means for storing a distribution record of the software program, wherein

the distribution identifier adding means writes the distribution identifier into the distribution record stored in the distribution record storage means when the software program is distributed.

21. An identifier managing method used for managing a software program distributed to a terminal from a distribution center through a network, including the steps of:

storing user information including a user identifier indicating a user to which the software program is to be distributed through the network;

storing terminal information including a terminal identifier indicating a terminal in which the software program is installed; and

managing the user information and the terminal information by relating the user information with the terminal information.

22. An identifier managing method according to claim 21, further including the steps of;

storing a distribution record of the software program in relation to the terminal information; and

managing a distribution history of the software program using the user information, the terminal information, and the distribution record.

23. An identifier managing method according to claim 21, further including the steps of;

providing a first terminal password associated with the terminal identifier to the terminal;

recognizing an access to the distribution center from the terminal by the terminal identifier and the first terminal password; and

changing the first terminal password to a second terminal password to relate the second terminal password to the terminal identifier when a terminal having the first terminal identifier accesses the distribution center.

24. An identifier managing method used for distributing a software program to a terminal from a distribution center through a network, including the steps of;

writing a distribution identifier into the software program; and

recognizing the software program distributed to the terminal from the network by the distribution identifier written in the software.