Patent EP0598587A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0598587A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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File locking based on disk location
Assignee: HP Inc
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Filing: 1993-11-15
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-11-15
Abstract
Abstract A method for locking software programs to a particular disk (306), comprises the steps of creating several files, one with a fixed name and at least one other file having a random name, saving the head, cylinder and sector information for each of the files in the corresponding file along with use count information, saving the names of all the files in the first file with the fixed name, and encrypting all the files. This program locking method permits the distribution of trial copies of software programs and limits the risk that the program will be copied or used more than the permitted number of times.
Inventors
- 👤 Jitendra Kumar Singh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 23:29
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/70; G06F21/78; G06F21/80; G06F21/10; G06F21/106; G06F21/1063; G06F21/12; G06F21/121; G06F2211/00; G06F2211/007; G06F2221/00; G06F2221/21; G06F2221/2135; G06F2221/2137
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for locking a software program (Fig.3: Step 1) to a hard disk (306) having sectors, comprising the steps of: a) encrypting the software program (Fig.3: Step 2); b) storing the software program onto the hard disk (306) (Fig.3: Step 3); c) creating (Fig.5: Step 7) and storing (Fig.5: Step 9) a first file, having a known name, onto the hard disk (306); d) determining the sector location, on the hard disk, of the software program and the file (Fig.5: Step 8); e) encrypting the sector location information (Fig.5: Step 8); and f) storing the encrypted sector location information in the first file (Fig.5: Step 9).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
82 words
A method as in claim 1 further comprising the steps of: a) creating (Fig.5: Step 7) and storing (Fig.5: Step 9) a second file, having a random name, onto the hard disk (306); b) determining the sector location, on the hard disk, of the software program, the first file and the second file (Fig.5: Step 8); c) encrypting the sector location information (Fig.5: Step 8); and d) storing the encrypted sector location information in the first and second files (Fig.5: Step 9).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as in claim 2 further comprising the steps of: a) storing the name of the second file in the first file (Fig.5: Step 8); and b) storing, in either the first or the second file, a decipher key to decipher the software program (Fig.5: Step 8).
Claim 4
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for locking a software program having a first name (Fig.3: Step 1) to a hard disk (306) having sectors, comprising the steps of: a) encrypting the software program (Fig.3: Step 2); b) storing the software program onto the hard disk (306) (Fig.3: Step 3); c) creating (Fig.5: Step 7) and storing (Fig.5: Step 9), on the hard disk (306), a first file, having a known name; d) creating (Fig.5: Step 7) and storing (Fig.5: Step 9), on the hard disk (306), a second file, having a name; e) determining the sector location, on the hard disk, of the software program, the first file and the second file (Fig.5: Step 8); f) encrypting the sector information (Fig.5: Step 8); g) storing the encrypted location information in the first and second files (Fig.5: Step 9); and i) storing, in the first file, the name of the second file (Fig.5: Step 9).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method as in claim 4 further comprising the steps of: a) assigning a second name to the software program (Fig.3: Step 2); and b) assigning the first software program name to a second software program (Fig.4: Step 5); whereby, when the user causes a program having the first software program name to execute, the second software program executes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as in claim 4 further comprising the step of: a) storing, in either the first or second file, a decipher key to decipher the first software program (Fig.5: Step 8).
Claim 7
Independent Claim
97 words
A method to unlock a software program, the software program having an original storage location and a current storage location on a hard disk (306) having sectors, comprising the steps of: a) determining the current sector location, on the hard disk, of the software program (1308); b) determining the original sector location, on the hard disk, of the software program (1310); c) performing a verification process including determining if the original and current sector locations of the software program are the same (1310); and d) causing the software program to execute if the verification process is successful.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
A method as in claim 7 wherein the verification process further includes the steps of: a) retrieving the original sector location for the software program from a first file (1308); b) verifying that the first file is located in an original hard disk location (1310); and c) determining if the software program has been executed more than a preset number of times (1310).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
88 words
A method as in claim 8 wherein the verification process further includes the steps of: a) retrieving, from the first file, the name of a second file (1308); b) retrieving the original sector location for the software program from the second file (1308); c) verifying that the second file is located in an original hard disk location (1308); and d) using count information; in either the first or the second files to determine if the software program has been executed more than a preset number of times (1310).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as in claim 4 further comprising the steps of: a) retrieving, from a file, a decipher key (1308); and b) utilizing the decipher key to decipher the software program before the software program is executed (1208).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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