Device and method for providing security for a computer software program

• US 6,651,175 B1
• Filed: 04/28/1999
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MModal IP LLC (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: DVI Acquisition Corp.
• Inventors: Slama, Jeffery E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wright, Norman M.
• Application Number:
  US09/301,523
• Time in Patent Office: 1,665 Days
• Field of Search: 713/201, 713/200, 713/202, 714/706, 714/707, 714/708
• US Class Current: 726/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/123 by using dedicated hardware, e.g. dongles, smart cards, cryptographic processors, global positioning systems [GPS] devices

Abstract

A system, method and apparatus for generating security codes that may be used in providing software security are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, at least one analog data signal representing a security code is generated by security circuitry. Such analog data signal is input to an analog input port of a computer. The generated security code may be used to prevent unauthorized operation of a software program. In a preferred embodiment, such an analog data signal is a resistance value, and such an analog input port of a computer is a game port. Most preferably, multiple sequences of resistance values are generated and input to the analog pins of the game port. A combination of the multiple sequences of resistance values form a security code that may be used to provide software security for a software program. Additionally, one or more confounding signals may be generated to make decoding the security code more difficult. In a preferred embodiment, the generated resistance values representing a security code are presented to analog pins of the game port, leaving the digital pins of the game port free to be utilized by another device. Thus, a device used to interact with the protected software program may effectively share the game port with the security circuitry.

Claims

1. A method for providing security codes to a computer, the method comprising:

generating at least one analog data signal representing a security code; and

inputting said at least one analog data signal into an input port of said computer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said analog data signal is resistance value.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said input port is a game port.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said generating further comprises:

generating a combination of resistance values representing said security code.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said generating further comprises:

generating a frequency;

dividing said frequency into multiple frequencies;

converting said multiple frequencies into said combination of resistance values.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said generating further comprises:

periodically generating a new combination of resistance values, representing a security code.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein said generating further comprises:

periodically generating one of a series of combinations of resistance values.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein said generating further comprises:

generating a frequency;

dividing said frequency into multiple frequencies;

converting one or more of said multiple frequencies into at least one resistance value.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein said generating further comprises:

generating at least one confounding sequence of resistance values.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

coupling a security adapter to said input port of said computer, wherein said security adapter comprises security circuitry which generates said at least one analog data signal.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said input port comprises at least one analog pin and at least one digital pin.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said inputting comprises:

inputting said at least one analog data signal to said at least one analog pin.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

inputting at least one digital signal to said at least one digital pin.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said at least one digital signal comprises input to a software program executing on said computer.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

using said security code for providing security for said software program.

16. A method for generating security codes that may be utilized to provide security for a software program executing in a computer, wherein said computer includes a game port, the method comprising:

generating at least one sequence of resistance values, wherein said resistance values represent a security code; and

inputting said at least one sequence of resistance values into the game port of said computer.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said generating further comprises:

generating multiple sequences of resistance values.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein a combination of said multiple sequences of resistance values form a security code.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein generating multiple sequences of resistance values further comprises:

generating a frequency;

dividing said frequency into multiple frequencies;

converting said multiple frequencies into said multiple sequences of resistance values.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein generating at least one sequence of resistance values further comprises:

generating a frequency;

converting said frequency into said at least one sequence of resistance values.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

coupling a security adapter to said game port of said computer, wherein said security adapter contains security circuitry for generating said at least one sequence of resistance values.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

coupling a device for interacting with said computer to the game port of said computer by said security adapter.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said device is a foot control.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein said generating further comprises:

generating at least one confounding sequence of resistance values.

25. A computer system comprising:

an analog input port of a computer; and

security circuitry for generating security codes coupled to said analog input port, wherein said security circuitry generates at least one sequence of analog data signals, and wherein said at least one sequence of analog data signals are input to said analog input port, said data signals representing a security code.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said analog data signals are resistance values.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said analog input port is a game port.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein said security circuitry generates multiple sequences of analog data signals.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein a combination of said multiple sequences of analog data signals form a security code.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein said security circuitry comprises:

an oscillator for generating an output frequency;

a divider chain for dividing said output frequency into multiple frequencies;

a resistor diode chain for converting said multiple frequencies into multiple sequences of resistance values.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein said oscillator has a frequency within the range of 4 Kilohertz to 10 Kilohertz.

32. The system of claim 25, wherein said security circuitry comprises:

an oscillator for generating an output frequency; and

a resistor diode chain for converting said output frequency into at least one sequence of resistance values.

33. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

a security adapter coupled to said input port of said computer, wherein said security adapter contains said security circuitry.

34. The system of claim 33, further comprising:

coupling an external device for interacting with said computer to the input port of said computer by said security adapter.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein said external device is a foot control.

36. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

an external device for interacting with said computer that interfaces with said input port of said computer, wherein said external device contains said security circuitry.

37. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

a sound card coupled to said computer.

38. The system of claim 25 wherein said analog input port comprises at least one analog pin and at least one digital pin.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein said security circuitry is coupled to said analog input port such that said at least one sequence of analog data signals are input to said at least one analog pin.

40. The system of claim 38 further comprising:

circuitry coupled to said analog input port for inputting digital signals to said at least one digital pin.

41. The system of claim 40 wherein said circuitry for inputting digital signals comprises circuitry for interfacing to a software program executing on said computer.

42. A computer system comprising:

an analog input port of a computer; and

means for generating security codes for providing security to a software program on a computer, wherein said means for generating security codes generates at least one sequence of analog data signals, said analog data signals representing a security code, and wherein said at least one sequence of analog data signals is fed to said analog input port.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein said analog data signals are resistance values.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein said analog input port is a game port.

45. The system of claim 42, wherein said means for generating security codes generates multiple sequences of analog data signals, and wherein said multiple sequences of analog data signals are fed to said analog input port.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein said means for generating security codes comprises:

means for generating an output frequency;

means for dividing said output frequency into multiple frequencies; and

means for converting said multiple frequencies into multiple sequences of resistance values.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein said means for generating an output frequency is an oscillator, said means for dividing said output frequency into multiple frequencies is a divider chain, and said means for converting said multiple frequencies into multiple sequences of resistance values is a resistor diode chain.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein said oscillator has a frequency within the range of 4 Kilohertz to 10 Kilohertz.

49. The system of claim 42 wherein said analog input port comprises at least one analog pin and at least one digital pin.

50. The system of claim 49 wherein said means for generating is coupled to said analog input port such that said at least one sequence of analog data signals are input to said at least one analog pin.

51. The system of claim 49 further comprising:

means for interacting with said software program, wherein said means for interacting is coupled to said analog input port for inputting digital signals to said at least one digital pin.

52. The system of claim 49 further comprising:

means for providing a user interface to said software program, wherein the user interface means is coupled to said analog input port for inputting digital signals to said at least one digital pin.

53. A security adapter for generating security codes, said security adapter comprising:

a means for coupling said security adapter to an analog input port of a computer; and

security circuitry for generating at least one sequence of analog data signals on said analog input port, wherein said analog data signals represent a security code.

54. The security adapter of claim 53, wherein said analog data signals are resistance values.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein said analog input port is a game port.

56. The security adapter of claim 53, further comprising:

security circuitry for generating multiple sequences of analog data signals on said analog input port.

57. The security adapter of claim 56, wherein a combination of said multiple sequences of analog data signals forms a security code.

58. The security adapter of claim 56, wherein the security circuitry further comprises:

an oscillator for generating an output frequency;

a divider chain for dividing said output frequency into multiple frequencies;

a resistor diode chain for converting said multiple frequencies into multiple sequences of resistance levels.

59. The security adapter of claim 58, wherein said oscillator has a frequency within the range of 4 Kilohertz to 10 Kilohertz.