Computer system security method and apparatus having program authorization information data structures
INFORMATION PROTECTION AND AUTHENTICATION OF TEXAS, LLCThe holder of the '717 patent has sued Microsoft, Symantec, CA, F-Secure, McAfee, Kaspersky, Sophos, Novell, and PC Tools for infringing this patent.
Last updated: about 1 year ago
Summary / Description
| Summary / Description | The present invention relates generally to software protection, and more particularly toward a method of and apparatus for enabling execution of software with only a data processing system authorized to execute the software. The software protection method and apparatus are particularly useful in a microprocessor based environment. |
Basic Information
| Type of Prior Art | Issued Patents - US |
| Country | United States of America |
| Patent/Application # | 4593353 |
| Kind Code | United States (US) - United STATES Patent - A |
| Patentee Name | Telecommunications Associates, Inc. |
| Relevant Pages, Columns, or Lines | col. 3, ln 37-54 |
| URL | http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/... |
| Publication Date | October 26, 1981 |
| Additional Information | The publication date given is actually the filing date. |
Notes / To Do
| Notes | |
Excerpt
To enable execution of software stored on external memory or disc 18 within CPU 12, a pseudorandom sequence or number generator (referred to hereinafter as a pseudorandom number generator, or PRN) 22 responds to data stored together with proprietary software on disc 18 to determine whether execution of the software is authorized on the particular data processing system 10. Thus, stored on disc 18 together with the proprietary software are a first authorization code and a second authorization code. The first and second authorization codes may be in the form of digital words having no apparent relationship to each other. In basic principle, the first authorization code is applied to PRN 22 as an encryption key or "seed". The seed is manipulated in accordance with the particular pseudorandom number generating algorithm associated with PRN 22 to obtain a resultant number that is compared in CPU 12 with the second authorization code read from disc 18.
Relevance
Claims
Claim 120
In a digital computer system having digital data processing means for executing a plurality of digital computer programs for a computer user and memory means for storing digital program instructions and digital data, a method for providing improved computer security comprising the steps of:
a) storing digital authorization information in said memory means which restricts an associated program from accessing resources when executed by said digital data processing means which are accessible to said computer user; and
b) storing in at least one segment, digital data for associating said authorization information with at least one program to be executed by said processing means for said computer user.
Relevance
a) storing digital authorization information in said memory means which restricts an associated program from accessing resources when executed by said digital data processing means which are accessible to said computer user; and b) storing in at least one segment, digital data for associating said authorization information with at least one program to be executed by said processing means for said computer user.
a) storing digital authorization information in said memory means which restricts an associated program from accessing resources when executed by said digital data processing means which are accessible to said computer user; and b) storing in at least one segment, digital data for associating said authorization information with at least one program to be executed by said processing means for said computer user.
Claim Chart
All
Claim 61
In a digital computer system for providing improved computer security having digital data processing means for executing a plurality of digital computer programs for a computer user and memory means for storing digital program instructions and digital data, apparatus for protecting a digital computer user from operations typically performable by a digital computer program executing on behalf of a user comprising:
a) means for storing digital authorization information in said memory means which restricts an associated program from performing operations, when executed by said processing means, which are available to said computer user; and
b) means for storing in at least one segment digital data for associating said authorization information with at least one program to be executed by said processing means.
Relevance
a) means for storing digital authorization information in said memory means which restricts an associated program from performing operations, when executed by said processing means, which are available to said computer user; and b) means for storing in at least one segment digital data for associating said authorization information with at least one program to be executed by said processing means.
a) means for storing digital authorization information in said memory means which restricts an associated program from performing operations, when executed by said processing means, which are available to said computer user; and b) means for storing in at least one segment digital data for associating said authorization information with at least one program to be executed by said processing means.
Claim Chart
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Claim 1
In a digital computer system having a digital data processing means for executing a plurality of digital programs and a memory means for storing digital program instructions and digital data, apparatus for protecting a digital computer user from operations typically performable by a digital computer program executing on behalf of a user comprising:
a) means for storing a plurality of digital authorization entries in said memory means, wherein said entries qualify operations which an associated program is permitted to perform when executed by said processing means; and
b) means for storing in at least one segment, digital data for associating said authorization entries with at least one program.
Relevance
a) means for storing a plurality of digital authorization entries in said memory means, wherein said entries qualify operations which an associated program is permitted to perform when executed by said processing means; and b) means for storing in at least one segment, digital data for associating said authorization entries with at least one program.
a) means for storing a plurality of digital authorization entries in said memory means, wherein said entries qualify operations which an associated program is permitted to perform when executed by said processing means; and b) means for storing in at least one segment, digital data for associating said authorization entries with at least one program.
Claim Chart
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