Illegitimate duplication preventing method, data processing apparatus and medical imaging apparatus

• US 6,904,528 B1
• Filed: 01/03/2000
• Issued: 06/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GE Yokogawa Medical Systems Limited (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: GE Yokogawa Medical Systems Limited (GE Aerospace)
• Inventors: Kawanaka, Tatsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Barroń Jr., Gilberto
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lanier, Benjamin E.
• Application Number:
  US09/476,262
• Time in Patent Office: 1,982 Days
• Field of Search: 713/200, 713/191, 705/59
• US Class Current: 726/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/125 by manipulating the program code, e.g. source code, compiled code, interpreted code, machine code

Abstract

In order to assuredly prevent illegitimate duplication of a program by a simple technique, license information 304 is created as information in the form of a run-time read module in a data processing apparatus by a creation program that self-destructs after being executed, and a program 300 that is installed without the license information and is incomplete without the license information is executed with the license information 304 read during the execution.

Claims

1. An illegitimate duplication prevention method comprising the steps of:

starting process of installing a particular software program in a particular apparatus, said particular software program having a blank area for insertion of identification information in form of a module independently of a program body, and remaining areas for holding said program body which is provided independently of said identification information;

executing a dedicated creation program provided in a memory, said creation program automatically creating an identification information uniquely for that said particular apparatus in form of a run-time read module and storing said identification information in a predefined address, and self destructing said creation program after one execution in creating said unique identification information;

deciding whether said identification information is valid for said particular apparatus; and

when said identification information is valid, installing said particular software having said remaining areas filled with said program body in said particular apparatus and causing said run-time read module to be inserted into said blank area of said software program; and

then said particular apparatus executing said particular software program having said program body and said run-time read module with said identification information inserted in said blank area; and

wherein

in the event said particular software program having said program body and filled blank area is read for duplication by an apparatus other than said particular apparatus, the duplicated software program will not act properly for the said other apparatus because the blank area will not be filled with an appropriate run-time read module having an appropriate identification information for the other apparatus; and

wherein said run-time read module is separated from said blank area of said particular software program when the program is terminated.

2. A data processing apparatus comprising:

means for starting process of installing a particular software program in a particular apparatus, said particular software program having a blank area for insertion of identification information in form of a module independently of a program body, and remaining areas for holding said program body which is provided independently of said identification information;

means for executing a dedicated creation program provided in a memory, said creation program automatically creating an identification information uniquely for that said particular apparatus in form of a run-time read module and storing said identification information in a predefined address, and self destructing said creation program after one execution in creating said unique identification information;

means for deciding whether said identification information is valid for said particular apparatus; and

when said identification information is valid, installing said particular software having said remaining areas filled with said program body in said particular apparatus and causing said run-time read module to be inserted into said blank area of said software program; and

then said particular apparatus executing said particular software program having said program body and said run-time read module with said identification information inserted in said blank area; and

wherein

in the event said particular software program having said program body and filled blank area is read for duplication by an apparatus other than said particular apparatus, the duplicated software program will not act properly for the said other apparatus because the blank area will not be filled with an appropriate run-time read module having an appropriate identification information for the other apparatus; and

means for separating said run-time read module from said blank area of said particular software program when the program is terminated.

3. A medical imaging apparatus comprising medical image acquisition means for acquiring an image of a subject, image processing means for processing said image, and display means for displaying said processed image, wherein said image processing means comprises:

means for starting process of installing a particular software program in a particular apparatus, said particular software program having a blank area for insertion of identification information in form of a module independently of a program body, and remaining areas for holding said program body which is provided independently of said identification information;

means for executing a dedicated creation program provided in a memory, said creation program automatically creating an identification information uniquely for that said particular apparatus in form of a run-time read module and storing said identification information in a predefined address, and self destructing said creation program after one execution in creating said unique identification information;

means for deciding whether said identification information is valid for said particular apparatus; and

when said identification information is valid, installing said particular software having said remaining areas filled with said program body in said particular apparatus and causing said run-time read module to be inserted into said blank area of said software program; and

then said particular apparatus executing said particular software program having said program body and said run-time read module with said identification information inserted in said blank area; and

wherein

in the event said particular software program having said program body and filled blank area is read for duplication by an apparatus other than said particular apparatus, the duplicated software program will not act properly for the said other apparatus because the blank area will not be filled with an appropriate run-time read module having an appropriate identification information for the other apparatus; and

means for separating said run-time read module from said blank area of said particular software program when the program is terminated.