Method and apparatus for authenticating the use of software

Claim 3

A system for assuring that software is utilized only on computers for which it has been specifically authorized as claimed in claim 1 in which the means generating a verification value whenever the application program is run comprises: a hardware circuit for encrypting a first value and a second value using a third value whenever the application program is run.

Claim 4

A system for assuring that software is utilized only on computers for which it has been specifically authorized as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a circuit for verifying the accuracy of the first and third values, and means for degrading the operation of the computer if the first and the third values do not verify.

Claim 5

A system for assuring that software is utilized only on computers for which it has been specifically authorized as claimed in claim 2 in which the hardware circuit includes means running an encryption algorithm, storage for a first value which is a random number, storage for a third value which is a random number, and software means for providing a second value which is unique to the application program.

Claim 6

A system for assuring that software is utilized only on computers for which it has been specifically authorized as claimed in claim 1 in which the circuit within a computer for providing a code value which is unique to the computer includes a hardware circuit running an encryption algorithm, storage for a first value which is a random number, storage for a third value which is a random number, and means for providing a second value.

Claim 7

A system for assuring that software is utilized only on computers for which it has been specifically authorized as claimed in claim 1 in which the circuit within a computer for providing a code value which is unique to the computer includes a hardware circuit running an encryption algorithm, storage for a first value which is a random number, storage for a third value which is a random number, and means for providing a second value; and in which the means generating a verification value whenever the application program is run comprises: the hardware circuit running an encryption algorithm, the storage for a first value which is a random number, the storage for a third value which is a random number, and software means for providing a second value which is unique to the application program.

Claim 8

A circuit for assuring that software is utilized only on computers for which it has been specifically authorized comprising: a first means furnishing a plaintext value unique to the circuit, means for furnishing an initial value, a hardware encoding circuit responding to signals furnished in executing programs on the computer for executing an encoding algorithm to generate from the plain text value and the initial value a code value unique to a particular computer, means for storing a password generated using the encoding algorithm from the plaintext value and a value which is unique to an application program and to the particular computer, means for selectively providing: a fixed value as the initial value to the hardware encoding circuit in response to execution by the computer of a first process, and a value generated utilizing the password in response to execution by the computer of a second process, a comparator for testing the stored password against code value generated by the hardware encoding circuit in response to running the second process each time the application program is run and for generating an error signal if the stored password and the newly generated code value do not match, and means for impairing the operation of the particular computer in response to the error signal.

Claim 9

A circuit for assuring that software is utilized only on computers for which it has been specifically authorized comprising: a first means furnishing a plaintext value unique to the circuit, means for furnishing an initial value, a hardware encoding circuit responding to signals furnished in executing programs on the computer for executing an encoding algorithm to generate from the plain text value and the initial value a code value unique to a particular computer, means for storing a password generated using the encoding algorithm from the plaintext value and a value which is unique to an application program and to the particular computer, means for selectively providing: a fixed value as the initial value to the hardware encoding circuit in response to execution by the computer of a first process, and a value generated utilizing the password in response to execution by the computer of a second process, a comparator for testing the stored password against code value generated by the hardware encoding circuit in response to running the second process each time the application program is run and for generating an error signal if the stored password and the newly generated code value do not match, and means for impairing the operation of the particular computer in response to the error signal.

Claim 10

A circuit as claimed in claim 7 in which the hardware encoding circuit and comparator share an address with other component circuitry on a computer input/output bus.