Method and apparatus for licensing computer programs using a DSA signature

• US 6,078,909 A
• Filed: 11/19/1997
• Issued: 06/20/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Knutson, James Irwin
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tesfamariam, Mussie
• Application Number:
  US08/974,379
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 395/712, 380/21, 380/24, 380/23, 380/4, 705/1
• US Class Current: 705/59
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]

Abstract

A method and apparatus for using a Digital Signature Algorithm (DSA) for providing licensing of software. Three steps are required to allow setting up a license, issuing a license and for customer update of the license. An initialization step generates a public and private key pair. A license generation step follows the initialization step and involves feeding the private key and data for the license terms through the DSA to create a digital signature. The digital signature hash value is distributed to the customer as a valid license. The customer performs license verification by running the signature, public key and data for the license through the DSA on the customer'"'"'s machine.

Claims

1. A method, implemented in a computer system, for licensing software for electronic distributions in said computer system, comprising the steps of:

generating a pair of keys compatible for use with a digital signature algorithm for a license for a selected electronic distribution in said computer system at a licensor machine;

generating a digital signature for said license using one of said pair of keys for data and all information related to said license using said digital signature algorithm at said licensor machine;

transmitting said digital signature directly from said licensor machine to a user for said selected electronic distribution; and

verifying said license by said user using said digital signature algorithm on said digital signature, data for said license and a different one of said pair of keys without any further transmissions with said licensor machine.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of generating a pair of keys further comprises:

distributing said public key to said user in said electronic distribution; and

retaining said private key for generation of said digital signature for said license.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of generating a digital signature further comprises:

providing information to said digital signature algorithm.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of generating a digital signature further comprises:

providing information to said digital signature algorithm including data for license terms for said license.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of verifying said license further comprises:

generating a true/false indication by said DSA for said license using said public key.

6. An apparatus for licensing software for electronic distributions in a computer system, comprising:

means for generating a pair of keys compatible for use with a digital signature algorithm for a license for a selected electronic distribution in said computer system;

means for generating a digital signature for said license using one of said pair of keys for data and all information related to said license using said digital signature algorithm at a licensor machine;

means for transmitting said digital signature directly from said licensor machine to a user for said selected electronic distribution; and

means for verifying said license by said user using said digital signature algorithm on said digital signature, data for said license and a different one of said pair of keys without further transmissions to said licensor machine.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for generating a pair of keys further comprises:

means for distributing said public key to said user in said electronic distribution; and

means for retaining said private key for generation of said digital signature for said license.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for generating a digital signature further comprises:

means for providing information to said digital signature algorithm.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for generating a digital signature further comprises:

means for providing information to said digital signature algorithm including data for license terms for said license.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for verifying said license further comprises:

means for generating a true/false indication by said DSA for said license using said public key.

11. A computer program product having a computer readable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for licensing software for electronic distributions in a computer system, comprising:

computer readable means for generating a pair of keys compatible for use with a digital signature algorithm for a license for a selected electronic distribution in said computer system at a licensor machine;

computer readable means for generating a digital signature for said license using one of said pair of keys for data and all information related to said license using said digital signature algorithm at said licensor machine;

computer readable means for transmitting said digital signature directly from said licensor machine to a user for said selected electronic distribution; and

computer readable means for verifying said license by said user using said digital signature algorithm on said digital signature, data for said license and a different one of said pair of keys without further transmissions to said licensor machine.

12. A computer program product of claim 11 wherein said computer readable means for generating a pair of keys further comprises:

computer readable means for distributing said public key to said user in said electronic distribution; and

computer readable means for retaining said private key for generation of said digital signature for said license.

13. A computer program product of claim 11 wherein said computer readable means for generating a digital signature further comprises:

computer readable means for providing information to said digital signature algorithm.

14. A computer program product of claim 11 wherein said computer readable means for generating a digital signature further comprises:

computer readable means for providing information to said digital signature algorithm including data for license terms for said license.

15. A computer program product of claim 11 wherein said computer readable means for verifying said license further comprises:

computer readable means for generating a true/false indication by said DSA for said license using said public key.