Computer apparatus, method and memory including license key

• US 6,662,284 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2001
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Gold, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Sparks, Donald
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHACE, CHRISTIAN
• Application Number:
  US09/785,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20020116589A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 369/30.01, 705/59, 707/9, 707/10, 709/320, 709/321, 709/325, 710/36, 710/104, 710/200, 711/111, 711/112, 711/114, 711/154, 711/163, 711/170, 711/173, 713/1, 713/2, 713/100, 713/189, 713/200, 345/735, 345/866, 345/965, 345/966
• US Class Current: 711/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/78 to assure secure storage of data address-based protection against unauthorised use of memory G06F12/14; record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access

Abstract

A headless computer entity has a license key data stored on a raw disk sector separate from a system disk and a data disk. The license key data control the available data storage capacity within the headless computer entity, and protect the computer entity from unauthorized upgrade to a higher product specification. The license key data are encrypted and protected from hacking via software updates introduced on an external data carrier, such as a CD ROM.

Claims

1. A memory for a computer, the memory comprising:

a file system including a program storing an operating system for controlling operation of the computer, and

a license key resident outside the file system, the license key including an indication of licensed user storage capacity of the computer, the license key being incapable of being changed during operation of the computer, the license key being incapable of being changed as result of changes of the file system.

2. The memory of claim 1 wherein the license key is encrypted.

3. A computer comprising:

a processor, and

a memory including a file system and a license key including an indication of licensed user storage capacity of the computer;

the processor being arranged to be coupled with the memory for (a) causing the file system to control operation of the processor and (b) preventing further operation of the processor in response to the licensed user storage capacity being exceeded or substantially exceeded;

the processor and memory being arranged so the license key is incapable of being changed during operation of the computer, the processor and memory being arranged so the license key is incapable of being changed as result of changes of the file system.

4. The computer of claim 3 wherein the license key is resident outside the file system.

5. The computer of claim 4 wherein the license key is encrypted.

6. The computer of claim 3 wherein the license key is encrypted.

7. The computer of claim 3 wherein the computer is a headless computer.

8. The computer of claim 3 further including a display coupled with the processor and memory, the display being arranged to be activated to display a message in response to the licensed user capacity being exceeded or substantially exceeded.

9. The computer of claim 3 wherein the computer and memory are arranged so that during boot-up the processor is arranged for (a) comparing the actual and licensed capacity and (b) preventing further operation of the processor after boot-up in response to the comparison indicating the actual capacity exceeding or substantially exceeding the licensed capacity.

10. The computer of claim 3 wherein the computer and memory are arranged so that further operation of the processor is prevented in response to the actual capacity being substantially different from the licensed capacity.

11. A method of operating a computer including a processor and a memory, the memory including a file system and a license key including an indication of licensed user storage capacity of the computer, the method comprising:

causing the file system to control operation of the processor;

preventing further operation of the processor in response to the licensed user storage capacity being exceeded or substantially exceeded;

preventing the license key from being changed during operation of the computer; and

preventing the license key from being changed as a result of changes of the computer file system.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the computer includes a display, and further including displaying a message on the display in response to the licensed user capacity being exceeded or substantially exceeded.

13. The method of claims 11 further including comparing the actual and licensed capacity during boot-up, and preventing further operation of the processor after boot-up in response to the comparing step indicating the actual capacity exceeds or substantially exceeds the licensed capacity.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the computer includes a display, and further including displaying a message on the display in response to the comparing step indicating the actual capacity exceeds or substantially exceeds the licensed capacity.

15. The method of claim 11 further including preventing operation of the processor in response to the actual capacity being substantially different from the licensed capacity.

16. A method of operating a computer entity having an actual configuration, a licensed configuration, plural logical disks, and an applications program, said method comprising the steps of:

determining the actual configuration;

storing license data describing the licensed configuration of said computer entity;

determining whether said determined actual configuration of said computer entity lies within said licensed configuration, within predetermined limits;

determining the number of logical disks for which said application program stores application data by interrogating the applications program of the computer entity;

comparing said predetermined number of logical disks used by said applications program with a licensed number of logical disks according to said licensed data; and

reconfiguring said applications program to use the same number of logical disks as said licensed number of logical disks in response to the comparing step indicating said predetermined number of logical disks in said applications program exceeds or substantially exceeds said licensed number of said logical disks according to said licensed data.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said applications program is reconfigured to use the same number of logical disks as said licensed number of logical disks in response to the comparing step indicating said predetermined number of logical disks in said application program differs from said licensed number of said logical disks by more than a predetermined percentage.

18. A method of controlling a computer entity having at least one data processor, at least one storage device including disks for which licenses are required, and at least one applications program storing application data about the disks;

the method comprising the steps of;

determining the configuration of the disks by checking said applications program;

comparing said application disk configuration with a licensed configuration of said disks; and

changing configuration settings of said applications program to correspond with said licensed logical disk configuration of said computer entity in response to said applications program being configured to use a logical disk configuration which differs from said licensed logical disk configuration of said computer entity.