Method for preventing illegal use of software

• US 9,235,691 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2012
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sergii Mishura
• Original Assignee: Sergii Mishura
• Inventors: Mishura, Sergii
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fenstermacher, Jason
• Application Number:
  US13/448,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20120203649A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,366 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/109 by using specially-adapted hardware at the client
• 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: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

Apparatus, techniques and systems for preventing illegal use of software and other digital files based on operations of a data storage device controller in a computer or computer system. For example, a method for preventing illegal use of software includes: configuring a computer to use a data storage device controller to control use of each digital file stored on one or more data storage devices; before a use of each digital file, operating the data storage device controller to access a storage device on which the digital file is stored to check whether the digital file meets a condition for use; and operating the data storage device controller to block use of the digital file when the condition is not met and to allow execution of the digital file when the condition is met. The digital file can be an application software or other digital documents.

Claims

1. A computer system for preventing illegal use of software, the system comprising:

a data storage device controller comprising

a data processing apparatus, and

a non-transitory computer data storage encoded with a computer program for preventing illegal use of software, the software comprising computer instructions or data encoded on a data storage device, the data storage device comprising computer components and recording media that retain digital data and being connected to the computer system,

wherein the computer program comprises instructions that when executed by the data processing apparatus cause the data storage device controller to perform operations comprising;

dedicating, controlling and managing

a first dedicated area on the data storage device comprising

a first sub-dedicated area for isolated checking whether the software is properly installed and is not illegally modified, and

a second sub-dedicated area for final installing of software from recognized software developers, where the recognized software developers are listed on a list of recognized software developers, and

a second dedicated area on the data storage device for final installing of software from unrecognized software developers, where the unrecognized developers are not listed on the list of recognized software developers; and

checking whether the software is properly installed by;

installing the software to a first sub-dedicated area of the data storage device;

checking the data storage device to obtain detailed information about the installed software;

obtaining detailed information about the software which is provided by a recognized software developer; and

comparing the detailed information obtained from the data storage device with the detailed information which is provided by the recognized software developer; and

if a result of the above comparison is that the obtained two pieces of detailed information are the same, then

determining that the software has been properly installed on the data storage device; and

reinstalling the software from the first sub-dedicated area of the data storage device to a second sub-dedicated area of the data storage device, if the software is provided by recognized software developers or to a second dedicated area of the data storage device, if the software is provided by unrecognized software developers;

otherwise, if the result of the above comparison is that the obtained two pieces of detailed information are different, then

determining that the software is not properly installed on the data storage device; and

deleting the installed software from the first sub-dedicated area of the data storage device, and

wherein the operations further comprise;

checking whether the software has to be paid for use;

if the software is free for use then allowing a user to use the software normally;

otherwise, if the software has to be paid for use then

checking whether a user has already performed a payment process;

if the user has not performed the payment process then blocking the launch of the software;

otherwise, if the user has already made the payment then

determining an available time period of software usage for user logged on to the computer system;

if the software has been used for a period of time that is less than the determined available time period then allowing the user to use the software normally;

otherwise, if the software has been used for a period of time that is longer than the determined available time period then

 

prompting the user to perform the payment process once more; and

 

terminating an execution of the software, if the user does not perform the payment process once more in response of said prompting.

2. The computer system for preventing illegal use of software according to claim 1, wherein the first dedicated area is kept permanently encrypted by the data storage device controller.

3. The computer system for preventing illegal use of software according to claim 1, wherein the data storage device controller is configured to provide restrictions to software installed on the second dedicated area so that the software in the second dedicated area has no access to the first dedicated area.

4. The computer system for preventing illegal use of software according to claim 1, wherein the detailed information is encrypted.

5. The computer system for preventing illegal use of software according to claim 1, wherein the data storage device controller is operated to directly control each device which is used to obtain the detailed information about the installed software provided.

6. The computer system for preventing illegal use of software according to claim 1, wherein the data storage device controller is operated to independently obtain the detailed information about the installed software, without involving other system software or application software.

7. The computer system for preventing illegal use of software according to claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise

checking whether the already installed software has not been illegally modified by:

checking the data storage device to obtain detailed information about the installed software;

obtaining detailed information about the software which is provided by a recognized software developer;

comparing the detailed information obtained from the data storage device with the detailed information which is provided by the recognized software developer; and

if a result of the above comparison is that the obtained two pieces of detailed information are the same, then determining that the software has not been illegally modified on the data storage device,

otherwise, if the result of the above comparison is that the obtained two pieces of detailed information are different, then determining that the software has been illegally modified on the data storage device.

8. The computer system for preventing illegal use of software according to claim 7, wherein the detailed information is encrypted.

9. The computer system for preventing illegal use of software according to claim 7, wherein the data storage device controller is operated to directly control each device which is used to obtain the detailed information about the installed software.

10. The computer system for preventing illegal use of software according to claim 7, wherein the data storage device controller is operated to independently obtain the detailed information about the installed software, without involving other system software or application software.

11. The computer system for preventing illegal use of software according to claim 1, wherein

the operation of determining the available time period of the software comprises:

gathering information about a usage level of the software;

determining whether a current usage level of the software is higher than a predetermined usage level predetermined by a software developer or a vendor;

determining the available time period on the basis of a fee paid by the user and a first price, if the usage level is not higher than the predetermined usage level; and

determining the available time period on the basis of a fee paid by the user and a second price, if the usage level is higher than the predetermined usage level.

12. The computer system for preventing illegal use of software according to claim 11, wherein the usage level of the software is determined according to at least one of:

a total usage time period;

a daily usage time period;

a total amount of input information;

a total amount of processed information; and

used features of the software.

13. The computer system for preventing illegal use of software according to claim 12, wherein:

in a case the total or daily usage time period is longer than a predetermined usage time period, the usage level of the software is marked as being higher than the predetermined usage level, or

in a case where the total amount of inputted information is more than a predetermined information amount, the usage level of the software is marked as being higher than the predetermined usage level, or

in a case where the total amount of processed information is more than a predetermined information amount, the usage level of the software is marked as being higher than the predetermined usage level, or

in a case where a special feature of the software is used, the usage level of the software is marked as being higher than the predetermined usage level.

14. The computer system for preventing illegal use of software according to claim 11, wherein information related to the first and the second prices is encrypted.

15. The computer system for preventing illegal use of software according to claim 1, wherein the recognized software developer releases a software in a control file format—

*.cff and encodes the released software by using digital watermarking.

16. The computer system for preventing illegal use of software according to claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise,

before performing the operation of checking whether the software is properly installed,

converting *.cff files into respective original file formats;

and

enabling the installation to begin to the first sub-dedicated area.

17. The computer system for preventing illegal use of software according to claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise controlling all volatile and non-volatile data storage devices that are connected to the computer system, the data storage devices including one or more of processor registers, a processor cache, RAM, a hard disk, a compact disk (CD), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a floppy disk, a magnetic tape, a flash memory, a ZIP disk, and a network memory.

18. The computer system for preventing illegal use of software according to claim 1, wherein

activities of the data storage device controller are independent from any other device or software, and

the operations further comprise controlling directly all devices which can be a source to launch and execute the software.

19. The computer system for preventing illegal use of software according to claim 18, wherein the devices which can be a source to launch the software comprise all volatile and non-volatile data storage devices that are connected to the computer system, the data storage devices including one or more of processor registers, a processor cache, RAM, a hard disk, a compact disk (CD), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a floppy disk, a magnetic tape, a flash memory, a ZIP disk, or a network memory.

20. The computer system for preventing illegal use of software according to claim 1, wherein

the data storage device controller is the only device of the computer system which is configured to authorize a CPU of the computer system to perform an operation of the software, if the verification of the software proves that the software is not illegally modified, as well as the software is successfully paid-up or free for use, and

the operation of the software comprises at least one of opening, editing, saving, closing, copying, moving, deleting, providing access to, sharing, converting, archiving, decompiling, printing, changing file attributes, backuping, compressing, archiving, recovering, synchronizing, downloading, encoding, decoding, encrypting, decrypting, updating of the software and a file associated with the software.

21. The computer system for preventing illegal use of software according to claim 1, wherein the data storage device controller is an integrated hardware element of a computer motherboard;

and the motherboard and the data storage device controller is arranged and configured to cause the computer motherboard to stop normal operations, to malfunction or break down physically when the data storage device controller is illegally replaced or intruded.

22. The computer system for preventing illegal use of software according to claim 1, wherein the user performs the payment process in an off-line payment manner or in an on-line payment manner.

23. The computer system for preventing illegal use of software according to claim 1, wherein the data storage device controller is operated to control activity of each device associated with launching or executing a software, and each device includes a card reader, which can be used by a user to perform the payment with credit cards, debit cards, and smart cards.

24. The computer system for preventing illegal use of software according to claim 1, wherein the data storage device controller is operated to independently perform the payment without involving other system software or application software.