Method for watermarking computer programs

• US 7,231,524 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2006
• Issued: 06/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Burns, Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Song; Hosuk
• Application Number:
  US11/276,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20060123237A1
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 713/168, 713/176, 713189-190, 726/26, 726/30, 726/32, 380/54, 380200-202, 382/100, 705/50, 705 57- 59
• US Class Current: 713/176
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/16 Program or content traceability, e.g. by watermarking

Abstract

A method for encoding watermark information into a computer application in which occurrences of at least two non-interfering computer-executable code instructions contained in a block of code of a computer application are determined. A relative order of the non-interfering computer-executable code instructions is exchangeable without adversely affecting an overall execution of the computer application. Watermark information is generated based on personal identification of a purchaser of the computer application. The relative order of an occurrence of the non-interfering computer-executable code instructions is exchanged based on watermark information. Lastly, the computer application is transmitted over a computer network.

Claims

1. A method for encoding watermark information into a computer application comprising:

(a) determining occurrences of at least two non-interfering computer-executable code instructions contained in the computer application; and

(b) exchanging a relative order of an occurrence of the non-interfering computer-executable code instructions based on watermark information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) further comprises creating a swap table listing the determined occurrences of non-interfering computer-executable code instructions.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein (a) further comprises indexing the at least two non-interfering computer-executable code instructions.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein (b) further comprises mapping the watermark information into the swap table.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-interfering computer-executable code instructions are non-interfering scripts.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-interfering computer-executable code instructions are non-interfering byte code sequences.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the watermark information includes personal identification information of a purchaser of the computer application.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the personal identification information includes at least one of an identity of the purchaser, address information of the purchaser, and financial account information of the purchaser.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the identity of the purchaser includes one of a name of the purchaser and a public key certificate of the purchaser.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the address information of the purchaser includes one of a residential address, a mailing address, an e-mail address, a zip code, and a telephone number.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the financial account information of the purchaser includes one of a credit card account and a bank account.

12. A method for detecting watermark information encoded in a computer application comprising:

(a) determining occurrences of exchanged non-interfering computer-executable code instructions contained in a computer application; and

(b) determining watermark information based on the determined occurrences of exchanged non-interfering computer-executable code instructions contained in the computer application.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein (b) further comprises searching a swap table for the determined non-interfering computer-executable code instructions.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the watermark information includes personal identification information of a purchaser.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the personal identification information includes at least one of an identity of the purchaser, address information of the purchaser, and financial account information of the purchaser.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the address information of the purchaser includes one of a residential address, a mailing address, an e-mail address, a zip code, and a telephone number.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the financial account information of the purchaser includes one of a credit card account and a bank account.

18. A method of detecting watermark information encoded in a computer application, the method comprising:

(a) comparing a first computer application to a watermarked copy of a second computer application;

(b) determining swapped non-interfering instructions based on the comparison of the first computer application to the watermarked copy of the second computer application;

(c) searching a swap table for the determined non-interfering instructions; and

(d) determining watermark information based on entries of the non-interfering instructions in the swap table.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the non-interfering computer-executable code instructions are non-interfering scripts.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the non-interfering computer-executable code instructions are non-interfering byte code sequences.