Method and apparatus for controlling usage of a programmable computing machine

• US 4,246,638 A
• Filed: 09/14/1978
• Issued: 01/20/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William J. Thomas
• Original Assignee: William J. Thomas
• Inventors: Thomas, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Atkinson, Charles E.
• Application Number:
  US05/942,422
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File, 235/301, 178/22, 371/72
• US Class Current: 712/208
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/101 by binding digital rights to specific entities
• 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 9/30145 Instruction analysis, e.g. decoding, instruction word fields
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/3017 Runtime instruction translation, e.g. macros

Abstract

A method for controlling usage of a programmable computing machine which operates in accordance with uncoded or published machine language operation codes including uniquely encoding the uncoded operation codes of instructions of a program to be used on the computing machine as a function of location of the instructions in memory and as a function of machine state, and adding to the machine a decoder that decodes only the uniquely encoded operation codes. Apparatus for controlling usage of a programmable computing machine which operates in response to uncoded or published machine language operation codes including memories which store machine user created programs and operating system programs, in which each program has instructions with uncoded and encoded operation codes, decoders to decode the encoded operation codes of the instructions of the user created program and the encoded operation codes of the instructions of the operating system program, and a circuit to execute the instructions of the user created program and the operating system program having the decoded and the uncoded operation codes.

Claims

1. A method of preventing unauthorized use of a program on a programmable computing machine which operates in accordance with uncoded machine language operation codes, comprising:

(a) encoding the uncoded operation codes of instructions of the program as a function of location of the instructions of the program in a memory and as a function of the state of the machine prior to using the program on the computing machine; and

(b) adding to the computing machine a decoder to decode the encoded operation codes to perform the object of the program.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of encoding comprises encoding the uncoded operation codes of the instructions in a code that is unique to the machine.

3. A method of according to claim 2 wherein the step of adding comprises adding a decoder that decodes only the uniquely encoded operation codes.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of encoding comprises:

(a) receiving the program having the instructions including the uncoded operation codes from a machine user; and

(a) converting the uncoded operation codes of the instructions of the received program to machine language encoded operation codes.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the step of converting converts the uncoded operation codes to the encoded operation codes uniquely to each machine.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of encoding comprises:

(a) creating a machine language operating system program, the system having instructions including the uncoded operation codes; and

(b) converting the uncoded operation codes of the instructions of the operating system program to machine language encoded operation codes.

7. Apparatus for preventing unauthorized use of a program on a programmable computing machine which operates in accordance with uncoded machine language operation codes, comprising:

(a) means for storing prior to execution a machine language program having instructions with encoded operation codes;

(b) means for decoding the encoded operation codes of the instructions, including means for converting the encoded operation codes of the instructions to the uncoded operation codes as a function of location of the instructions in said storing means and as a function of the state of the machine; and

(c) means for executing the instructions of the program in accordance with the decoded operation codes.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said means for storing stores a machine user implemented program having instructions including the encoded operation codes, and said means for converting converts the encoded operation codes of the instructions of the machine user implemented program to the uncoded operation codes.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said means for storing stores an operating system program having instructions including the encoded operation codes, and said means for converting converts the encoded operation codes of the instructions of the operating system program to the uncoded operation codes.

10. Apparatus for controlling usage of a programmable computing machine which operates in accordance with uncoded machine language operation codes, comprising:

(a) means for storing a machine user created program and an operating system program, each program having instructions including uncoded and encoded operation codes;

(b) first means for decoding the encoded operation codes of the instructions of the user created program;

(c) second means for decoding the encoded operation codes of the instructions of the operating system program; and

(d) means for executing the instructions of the user created program and the operation system program having the decoded and the uncoded operation codes.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said means for executing includes means for selecting the decoded operation codes of the instructions of the user created program or the operating system program.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said first means for decoding and said second means for decoding each comprises means for converting the encoded operation codes of the instructions to the uncoded operation codes as a function of location of the instructions in said storing means.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said converting means of each of said first decoding means and said second decoding means comprises a read only memory having a table of converting codes.

14. A method of preventing unauthorized use of a program on a programmable computing machine, comprising:

(a) encoding the instructions of the program prior to using the program on the computing machine as a function of the state of the machine; and

(b) adding to the computing machine a decoder to decode the instructions to perform the object of the program.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein the step of encoding further comprises encoding the instructions as a function of the location of the instructions of the program in a memory.

16. A method of controlling usage of a programmable computing machine which operates in accordance with uncoded machine language operation codes, comprising:

(a) encoding the uncoded operation codes of instructions of a program to be used on the computing machine as a function of location of the instructions of the program in a memory and as a function of the state of the machine; and

(b) adding to the computing machine a decoder to decode the encoded operation codes to perform the object of the program.

17. Apparatus for controlling usage of a programmable computing machine which operates in accordance with uncoded machine language operation codes, comprising:

(a) means for storing a machine language program having instructions with encoded operation codes;

(b) means for decoding the encoded operation codes of the instructions, including means for converting the encoded operation codes of the instructions to the uncoded operation codes as a function of the location of the instructions in said storing means and as a function of the state of the machine; and

(c) means for executing the instructions of the program in accordance with the decoded operation codes.

18. A method of controlling usage of a programmable computing machine, comprising:

(a) encoding the instructions of a program to be used on the computing machine as a function of location of the instructions of the program in a memory and as a function of the state of the machine; and

(b) adding to the machine a decoder to decode the instructions to perform the object of the program.

19. Apparatus for preventing unauthorized use of programs on a programmable computing machine which operates in accordance with uncoded machine language operation codes, the programs including a first program and a second program, the first program and the second program each being stored in a respective memory and having instructions with encoded operation codes and uncoded operation codes, comprising:

(a) first means for decoding the encoded operation codes of the first program to produce decoded operation codes;

(b) second means for decoding the encoded operation codes of the second program to produce decoded operation codes;

(c) means for selecting the uncoded operation codes of the first program and the second program or the decoded operation codes of the first program or the decoded operation codes of the second program; and

(d) means for automatically controlling said selecting means to select the uncoded operation codes of the first program and the second program or the decoded operation codes of the first program or the decoded operation codes of the second program as a function of the state of the machine.

20. Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said means for automatically controlling is responsive to operands of the instructions.

21. Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said means for automatically controlling comprises:

(a) means for decoding operands of the instructions; and

(b) flip-flop means for changing state in response to the decoded operands.

22. Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said first means for decoding and said second means for decoding each comprises:

(a) means for storing predetermined data and for outputting the data in response to the encoded operation codes stored in the memory; and

(b) exclusive-Or means for producing the decoded operation codes in response to the data and to addresses to locations in the memory at which the encoded operation codes are stored.

23. Apparatus for preventing unauthorized use of programs on a programmable computing machine which operates in accordance with uncoded machine language operation codes, the programs including a first machine user created program and a second operating system program, the first program and the second program each being stored in a respective memory and having instructions with encoded operation codes and uncoded operation codes, comprising:

(a) first means for decoding the encoded operation codes of the first program to produce decoded operation codes, including;

(i) first means for storing first predetermined data and for outputting the first data in response to the encoded codes of the first program stored in the memory; and

(ii) first exclusive-Or means for producing the decoded operation codes of the first program in response to the first data and to addresses to locations in the memory at which the encoded operation codes of the first program are stored;

(b) second means for decoding the encoded operation codes of the second program to produce decoded operation codes, including

(i) second means for storing second predetermined data and for outputting the second data in response to the encoded operation codes of the second program stored in the memory; and

(ii) second exclusive-Or means for producing the decoded operation codes of the second program in response to the second data and to addresses to locations in the memory at which the encoded operation codes of the second program are stored;

(c) multiplexer means for selecting the uncoded operation codes of the first program and the second program or the decoded operation codes of the first program or the decoded operation codes of the second program; and

(d) means for automatically controlling said multiplexer means to select the uncoded operation codes of the first program and the second program or the decoded operation codes of the first program or the decoded operation codes of the second program as a function of the state of the machine, including;

(i) means for decoding operands of the instructions; and

(ii) flip-flop means for changing state in response to the decoded operands.