First computer process and second computer process proxy-executing code on behalf of first process

• US 8,103,592 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2005
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Rule, Donald H., Hatlelid, Kristjan E., Zvi, Nir Ben, Lilikov, Andrey
• Primary Examiner(s): OBEID, MAMON A
• Application Number:
  US11/273,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20060069653A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,262 Days
• Field of Search: 713/193, 713/150, 713/182, 713/189, 726/2, 726/26, 726/22, 726/27, 726/30
• US Class Current: 705/59
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/00 Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/125 by manipulating the program code, e.g. source code, compiled code, interpreted code, machine code
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

Upon a first process encountering a triggering device, a second process chooses whether to proxy-execute code corresponding to the triggering device of the first process on behalf of such first process based at least in part on whether a license evaluator of the second process has determined that the first process is to be operated in accordance with the terms and conditions of a corresponding digital license. The license evaluator at least in part performs such determination by running a script corresponding to the triggering device in the code of the first process. Thus, the first process is dependent upon the second process and the license for operation thereof.

Claims

1. A method for executing code having a plurality of code sections, the method comprising:

copying a code section and storing the code section in a table separate from a first process;

replacing the code section in the code by a triggering device corresponding to a location of the code section in the table;

a computer receiving the first process, wherein the first process code includes the code having the triggering device;

the computer executing the first process, which executes the triggering device and pauses;

the computer executing a second process, wherein the second process receives a signal associated with the triggering device indicating that the second process needs to cause the computer to proxy-execute the code section stored in the table on behalf of the first process, wherein the proxy-execution by the second process includes the second process causing the computer to perform the steps of;

determining an address of the triggering device within the first process, wherein the address is indicative of the location of the code section in the table;

locating the code section based on the determined address;

executing the code section after determining that the first process is operating in accordance with terms and conditions of a digital license corresponding to the first process, the determination being performed at least in part by running a script corresponding to the triggering device of the first process; and

signaling to the first process that the code section has been processed; and

the computer resuming the first process, whereby the first process is dependent upon the second process for operation thereof.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the code section is encrypted, the method further comprising the second process decrypting the code section before causing the computer to execute same.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein each triggering device is a particular exception and comprising the second process monitoring for when the first process executes the particular exception.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the second process attaching to the first process so as to monitor the first process for the particular exception.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein each triggering device is one of a plurality of types of exceptions and comprising the second process monitoring for when the first process executes any of the types of exceptions, the second process responding to each type of exception in a differing manner.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the triggering device and the script correspond to a mathematical or logical limitation as implemented by the digital license.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the triggering device and the script correspond to a count-based limitation as implemented by the digital license, the method comprising incrementing or decrementing a count value representative of the count-based limitation and storing the count value.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the script includes provisions to modify at least one value representative of the limitation, the method comprising storing the modified value.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital license includes the script corresponding to the triggering device included in the first process.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the second process includes the script corresponding to the triggering device included in the first process.

11. The method of claim 1, further including locating the table in the digital license.

12. A system for executing code having a plurality of code sections, comprising:

a computer program that copies a code section, stores the code section in a table separate from a first process, and replaces the code section in the code by a triggering device corresponding to a location of the code section in the table; and

a computer programmed to receive the first process, wherein the first process code includes the code having the triggering device,

the computer programmed to execute the first process, which executes the triggering device and pauses;

the computer programmed to execute a second process, wherein the second process receives a signal associated with the triggering device indicating that the second process needs to cause the computer to proxy-execute the code section stored in the table on behalf of the first process, wherein the proxy-execution by the second process includes the second process being configured to cause the computer to perform the steps of;

determining an address of the triggering device within the first process, wherein the address is indicative of the location of the code section in the table;

locating the code section based on the determined address;

executing the code section after determining that the first process is operating in accordance with terms and conditions of a digital license corresponding to the first process, the determination being performed at least in part by running a script corresponding to the triggering device of the first process; and

signaling to the first process that the code section has been processed; and

the computer programmed to resume the first process, whereby the first process is dependent upon the second process for operation thereof.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the code section is encrypted and the second process decrypts the code section before causing the computer to execute same.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein each triggering device is a particular exception and the second process monitors for when the first process executes the particular exception.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the second process is attached to the first process so as to monitor the first process for the particular exception.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein each triggering device is one of a plurality of types of exceptions and the second process monitors for when the first process executes any of the types of exceptions, the second process responding to each type of exception in a differing manner.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein the triggering device and the script correspond to a mathematical or logical limitation as implemented by the digital license.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the triggering device and the script correspond to a count-based limitation as implemented by the digital license, the computer incrementing or decrementing a count value representative of the count-based limitation and storing the count value.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the script includes provisions to modify at least one value representative of the limitation, the computer storing the modified value.

20. The system of claim 12 wherein the digital license includes the script corresponding to the triggering device in the code of the first process.

21. The system of claim 12 wherein the second process includes the script corresponding to the triggering device in the code of the first process.