Digital product execution control

• US 6,073,256 A
• Filed: 04/11/1997
• Issued: 06/06/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SafeNet Data Security (Israel) Ltd. (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Preview Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Sesma, Jimmy L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Jr., Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E.
• Application Number:
  US08/837,018
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• Field of Search: 364/468.01, 364/468.02, 364/468.19, 364/468.23, 700/95, 700/920.1, 700/917, 395/701, 395/800.41, 395/712, 395/385, 395/183.14, 395/800.37, 714/38
• US Class Current: 714/38.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1078 Logging; Metering

Abstract

Digital product execution control as disclosed contemplates production of a final version of a digital product and subsequently imposing execution control on that digital product. The manufacturer of the original digital product need not incorporate execution control features into the final version of the product. Execution control programming attaches to an executable file of the digital product to create a controlled executable file. Upon loading and execution of the controlled executable file, the resulting operating environment is insufficient for the original executable file, and control programming determines whether or not execution will be allowed. If allowed, control programming creates the necessary operating environment for the digital product, i.e., as would be provided by the operating system if loaded normally, and allows execution of the digital product only under controlled conditions, e.g., such as under an evaluation use of the digital product.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a digital product, said method comprising the steps:

a first manufacturing step providing said digital product in an original form including an original executable file, said original executable file upon loading for execution by a given computing device and given operating system would cause establishment in said computing device of a first operating environment including access to at least one of a start address, an external function, and a relocatable table necessary for execution of said original executable file and upon executing would present said digital product; and

a second manufacturing step following said first manufacturing step and modifying said original executable file to provide a controlled form of said digital product including a controlled executable file, said modifying including attaching to said original executable file execution control programming whereby upon loading for execution by said given computing device and said given operating system said controlled executable file causes establishment in said computing device of a second operating environment excluding said access to at least one of said start address, said external function, and said relocatable table and thereby insufficient to allow execution of said original executable file in presentation of said digital product but sufficient to allow execution of said controlled executable file, said control programming further including programming selectively allowing presentation of said digital product, upon selecting to allow presentation of said digital product said control programming establishing said first operating environment in said computing device and passing execution control to a start address of said original executable file.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said first operating environment comprises references in memory devices of said computing device corresponding to functions external of said original executable file and called by said first executable file.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein said functions are utility functions provided by at least one of said operating system and said digital product in said original form.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said second operating environment comprises references in memory devices of said computing device corresponding to programming functions external of said execution control programming.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said control programming emulates a load procedure normally executed by said given operating system when said control programming selects to allow presentation of said digital product.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein said selectively allowing execution of said original executable digital product step comprises reference to an allowed execution condition established for an evaluation use of said digital product.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein said execution condition corresponds to a time period.

8. A method according to claim 6 wherein said execution condition corresponds to an allowed number of executions.

9. A method of execution control relative to an original executable digital product, said original executable digital product causing, when loaded for execution on a given computing device by a given operating system, establishment of a first operating environment necessary for execution of said original executable digital product, said first operating environment including access to at least one of a first start address, an external function, and a relocatable table, said method comprising the steps:

attaching control programming to said original executable digital product to provide a controlled executable digital product, said controlled executable digital product causing when loaded for execution on said given computing device by said given operating system establishment of a second operating environment, said second operating environment including a second start address, said second operating environment excluding said access to at least one of said first start address, said external function, and said relocatable table and thereby being insufficient for execution of said original executable digital product, said control programming selectively allowing execution of said original executable digital product by selectively establishing said first operating environment and selectively passing execution control to said first start address following selective establishment of said first operating environment.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein said first operating environment comprises references in memory devices of said computing device corresponding to functions external of said original executable file and called by said first executable file.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein said functions are utility functions provided by at least one of said operating system and said original executable digital product.

12. A method according to claim 9 wherein said second operating environment comprises references in memory devices of said computing device corresponding to programming functions external of said execution control programming.

13. A method according to claim 9 wherein said control programming emulates a load procedure normally executed by said given operating system when allowing presentation of said original executable digital product.

14. A method according to claim 9 wherein said selectively allowing execution of said original executable digital product step comprises reference to an allowed condition established for an evaluation use of said digital product.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein said execution condition corresponds to a time period.

16. A method according to claim 14 wherein said execution condition corresponds to an allowed number of executions.

17. A controlled digital product, said controlled digital product including and selectively executing an original digital product as provided by an original product manufacturer, said controlled digital product comprising:

a first executable portion comprising programming presenting said original digital product, said first executable portion requiring for execution on a given computing device and given operating system a first operating environment, said first operating environment including access to a first start address as a step in said first executable portion first receiving execution control upon execution of said first executable;

a second executable portion attached to said first executable portion in modification thereof and thereby causing upon loading for execution on said computing device by said operating system establishment of a second operating environment, said second operating environment including indication of a second start address as a step in said second executable portion first receiving execution control, said second operating environment excluding said access to said first start address and thereby being insufficient to allow execution of said first executable portion, said second executable portion selectively allowing execution of said first executable portion by selectively establishing said first operating environment and selectively passing execution control to said first start address.

18. A controlled digital product according to claim 17 wherein said first operating environment comprises references in memory devices of said computing device corresponding to functions external of said first executable portion and called by said first executable file.

19. A controlled digital product according to claim 18 wherein said functions are utility functions provided by at least one of said operating system and said first executionable component.

20. A controlled digital product according to claim 17 wherein said second operating environment comprises references in memory devices of said computing device corresponding to programming functions external of said second executable portion.

21. A controlled digital product according to claim 17 wherein said second executable emulates a load procedure normally executed by said given operating system when loading said first executable portion.

22. A controlled digital product according to claim 17 wherein said selectively allowing execution of said first executable portion comprises reference to an allowed condition established for an evaluation use of said digital product.

23. A controlled digital product according to claim 22 wherein said execution condition corresponds to a time period.

24. A controlled digital product according to claim 22 wherein said execution condition corresponds to an allowed number of executions.

25. A controlled digital product according to claim 17 wherein said first executable portion is integral to said second executable portion.