Extracting information from software

• US 7,392,517 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2001
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Berstis, Viktors
• Primary Examiner(s): Dam; Tuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): KENDALL, CHUCK O
• Application Number:
  US09/970,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20030070164A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,455 Days
• Field of Search: 717168-178, 713/202
• US Class Current: 717/167
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/125 by manipulating the program code, e.g. source code, compiled code, interpreted code, machine code
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/16 Program or content traceability, e.g. by watermarking

Abstract

A method and implementing computer system are provided in which selected information is embedded within computer program structures without requiring separate bit strings. In an exemplary embodiment, the embedded selected information includes an identification of a licensed user together with a serial number of the associated licensed program. That information is converted into a binary representation, and a transfer function is used to embed the binary representation into the structure of the licensed program. In the example, when a licensed program is compiled, linked and downloaded over an interconnection network, the order or sequence of the modules of the licensed program is arranged in a manner to correspond to the embedded selected information. The embedded information can then be extracted from the program by analysis of the organization of the modules comprising the program.

Claims

1. A method for extracting identification information from a software package, said software package including a number of executable software modules organized in a manner determined by said identification information, said method comprising:

determining an organization of said executable software modules within said software package; and

extracting said identification information from said organization of said executable software modules within said software package, said organization comprising a sequence in which components of said executable software modules are linked, wherein said executable software modules are organized in a series of sets of executable software modules, said series of sets corresponding to a binary series, and each of said sets comprises first and second executable software modules, said binary series being determined in accordance with a sequence of said first and second executable software modules within said sets of said executable software modules.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said executable software modules are coupled together in a manner representative of said identification information.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said executable software modules are coupled together by compiling said software modules into an executable form of said software package.

4. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said executable software modules are coupled together by linking said executable software modules into an executable form of said software package.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1 and further including:

analyzing said software package to determine an organizational relationship among said executable software modules; and

determining a binary series from said organizational relationship of said executable software modules.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1 and further including transmitting said software package over a network to a requesting terminal, said requesting terminal being enable d to extract said identification information from said organization of said executable software modules of said software package.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said software package is transmitted from a user terminal over an Internet network to a server.

8. The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said user terminal is a wireless device.

9. The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said user terminal is a personal computer system.

10. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said identification information includes an identification of a user of said software package.

11. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said identification information includes an identifying number related to said software package.

12. The method as set forth in claim 11 wherein said identification information further includes an identification of a user of said software package.