Method and system for software asset usage detection and management

Claim 1

In a computer system having a processor, a program memory, and a program execution operating system, a method of managing application program utilization by detecting attempted execution of any application program by said processor, including steps in said processor of: reading an application program header comprising Dynamically Linked Library (DLL) routines identification references; loading into said program memory any said DLL routines identified in said header portion of said application program; executing program logic found in any said DLL routines; and only loading into said program memory a new DLL containing an operating system kernel permitting execution of said application program if the said execution of program logic in at least one of said DLL routines provides execution permission for said application program.

Claim 6

A method as described in any one of claims 1 through 4, further including a step of returning operation by said operating system to said at least one DLL containing said application usage condition logic at the termination of said execution of said application program.

Claim 8

A method as described in any one of claims 1 through 4, further including a step of searching said application program header to locate a reference to the operating system kernel DLL and, replacing said reference in said application program header with a substitute DLL reference identifying a substitute DLL which contains execution permission logic including a conditional pointer to pass execution from said substitute DLL to said original DLL only if said execution permission is provided by execution of said substitute DLL.

Claim 11

A method is described in any of claims 2 through 4, further including steps of: comparing said record of attempted usage of said application program against a prestored number representing the authorized limit of use of said application program; and directing said loading into said program memory of said DLL containing said operating system kernel only if said record of attempted usage does not exceed said authorized limit. ______________________________________ Appendix 1 - Sample `C' source code to implement DLL initialization header int .sub.-- CRT.sub.-- init(void); void .sub.-- CRT.sub.-- term(void); static PIB pib; static PTIB tib; unsigned long .sub.-- System .sub.-- DLL.sub.-- InitTerm( unsigned long hModule, unsigned long ulFlag ) { switch(ulFlag) { case 0: // Indicates `Program Starting' { if (.sub.-- CRT.sub.-- init ( ) ==-1) // Required return 0UL; // Load Failed if unsuccessful // Program is attempting to run . . . // One way to get the name of the program running is to use // // DosGetInfoBlocks(&tib,&pib); // // pib ->pib.sub.-- pchcmd holds the command line used // to start the program // // // if (PermissionToRun( )) // perform any verification desired return(1UL); // OK - Load is successful return(0UL); // Load Failed break; } case 1: // Indicates `Program Stopping' { .sub.-- CRT.sub.-- term( ); // Perform any cleanup or execution // termination logic here. return 1UL; // OK } } return 0ul; ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Appendix 2 - Sample Module Definition File for Intercept DLL The following is an example of a module definition file that might be used to create an intercept dll named DOSCALLX.DLL. Note that an Export in the intercept DLL DOSCALLX is no more than a passthrough to its corresponding Export in DOSCALLS LIBRARY DOSCALLX INITINSTANCE TERMINSTANCE PROTMODE DATA NONSHARED MULTIPLE LOADONCALL CODE SHARED LOADONCALL IMPORTS a0000001 = DOSCALLS.1 a0000002 = DOSCALLS.2 a0000003 = DOSCALLS.3 . . . a0000500 = DOSCALLS.500 EXPORTS a000000l @l a0000002 @2 a0000003 @3 . . . a0000500 @500 .sub.-- CRT.sub.-- init ______________________________________