JP2002333927A - Data distribution method, program for data distribution method, data processing method and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data distribution method, a program therefor, a data processing method and a recording medium, which can easily and effectively protect various data from being copied against intention of a person who has a copyright at the time of distributing software through a network. SOLUTION: A specific identification code assigned to equipment at the destination of data distribution is acquired, and when this identification code is not matched with the equipment, data such as software are set so as to be difficult to normally process, and then distributed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a data distribution method,
The data distribution method program, data processing method, and recording medium can be applied, for example, when distributing software via a network. The present invention obtains a unique identification code assigned to a device to which data is to be distributed, and sets the processing to normally difficult if the device is not a device with this identification code, and distributes data such as software to the copyright holder. Various types of data can be effectively protected more easily than unintended duplication.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various types of electronic data used in computers have the advantage that they can be easily copied and used in various ways, but on the other hand, there is a disadvantage that a copy that is not intended by the copyright owner is easily created. For this reason, in a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, software distributed via a network such as the Internet, etc., the software and the like are protected from unintended duplication by the copyright holder using a password, an access key, or the like. .

[0003]

However, even when the copying is restricted by the password and the access key as described above, if the authorized purchaser leaks the password and the access key to a third party, the password and the access key may be restricted. Restricting duplication by key makes no sense.

As one method for solving this problem, a method of storing a hardware key required for starting software in a peripheral device of a computer and distributing the hardware key together with the software is conceivable. According to this method, since the software cannot be started unless it is integrated with the peripheral device, the software can be protected from unintended duplication by the copyright holder. However, in practice, this method is applicable only to CAD (Computer Aided Design).
3.) Only when the target software such as software is expensive, there is a disadvantage that the burden on the user is large. It is not realistic to set a hardware key for each software. Furthermore, there is a drawback that, when a peripheral device is detached and used like a notebook personal computer, it cannot be actually applied.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides a data distribution method, a data distribution method program, and a data distribution method that can effectively protect various data more easily than a copy that is not intended by the copyright owner. A processing method and a recording medium are proposed.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data distribution method, which is applied to a data distribution method via a predetermined communication line. And a data setting step of setting distribution data to be distributed to a data distribution destination to at least partly make processing difficult for devices other than the device having the identification code.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, an identification code acquisition method is applied to a program for a data distribution method to acquire a unique identification code assigned to a data distribution destination device via a predetermined communication line. And a data setting step of setting at least a part of the distribution data to be distributed to the data distribution destination as difficult to process except for the device having the identification code.

In the invention according to claim 6, the method is applied to a data processing method, wherein an identification code detecting step of detecting a unique identification code assigned to a device for data processing is performed, and the processing is performed according to the identification code. An identification code determination step of setting the target data to be normally difficult to process.

In the invention according to claim 8, the method is applied to a program for a data processing method, wherein an identification code detecting step for detecting a unique identification code assigned to a device which performs data processing is performed. And an identification code determining step of setting the data to be processed as normally difficult.

In the invention according to the thirteenth aspect, by applying to a recording medium, desired data is recorded by an identification code unique to a device to which data is distributed, which normally cannot be processed normally unless the device is used. To do.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, an identification code acquiring step for applying to a data distribution method and acquiring a unique identification code assigned to a data distribution destination device via a predetermined communication line. And a data setting step of setting the distribution data to be distributed to the data distribution destination to at least partly difficult to process with devices other than the device having the identification code. Can distribute the data. This makes it possible to effectively protect various types of data more easily than a copy that is not intended by the copyright holder.

Thus, according to the configuration of claim 5, it is possible to provide a program of a data distribution method capable of effectively protecting various types of data more easily than duplication not intended by the copyright holder.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in accordance with the data processing method, an identification code detecting step of detecting a unique identification code assigned to a device which performs data processing, And the step of determining an identification code for setting the data to be processed as normally difficult, for example, when the data is processed by a device different from the device of the proper distribution destination, it is difficult to process the data normally. Become. This makes it possible to effectively protect various types of data more easily than a copy that is not intended by the copyright holder.

Thus, according to the configuration of the eighth aspect, it is possible to obtain a program of a data processing method capable of effectively protecting various types of data more easily than duplication not intended by the copyright holder.

According to the configuration of the thirteenth aspect, when the present invention is applied to a recording medium, desired data can be normally recorded in such a manner that it is difficult to process normally without using the identification code unique to the device to which the data is distributed. Therefore, for example, when data processing is performed by a device different from the device of the authorized distribution destination, it is difficult to perform normal processing. This makes it possible to effectively protect various types of data more easily than a copy that is not intended by the copyright holder.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate.

(1) First Embodiment FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a software distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this software distribution system 1, the software distribution server 2
A homepage is developed on the Internet, and various software is introduced on this homepage. Further, when the user selects desired software on the homepage and applies for purchase, the software distribution server 2 causes the user to download the software by executing a predetermined processing procedure.

FIG. 1 shows the software distribution server 2
5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when providing software. When the software distribution server 2 is requested to purchase desired software from a personal computer or the like as the user hardware 3, the software distribution server 2 is required to process personal information such as the address, name, and contact information of the user related to the purchase, and further necessary for processing the approval. Get information. When acquiring the personal information in this manner, the software distribution server 2 proceeds from step SP1 to step SP2, and acquires the identification code from the computer related to the application.

Here, the identification code is a unique code that can directly or indirectly specify a computer that executes software related to distribution, and that is hardly rewritten in the computer. Specifically, in this embodiment, the identification code of the central processing unit mounted on the computer is applied. The software distribution server 2 obtains this identification code by encrypting it from the computer to be accessed by data exchange according to http (HyperText Transfer Protocol).

Subsequently, the software distribution server 2 proceeds to step SP3, where it generates an access key according to a predetermined algorithm. Here, the access key is data that, when an input is received by the user at the distribution destination, the software related to the distribution can be executed on condition that the access key is correctly input. The access key is generated by, for example, an irregular combination of an alphabet and a number.

Subsequently, the software distribution server 2 proceeds to step SP4, in which the identification code acquired in step SP2 and the access key generated in step SP3 are processed by a hash function according to a predetermined processing procedure to authenticate the authentication data. Generate. Here, the authentication data is data used for determining whether or not the software has been properly acquired when the software is executed.

After generating the authentication data, the software distribution server 2 proceeds to step SP5 and embeds the authentication data in the software related to the distribution. Here, at the time of activation, the software distribution server 2 embeds the authentication data so as to be able to determine whether or not the user is a user who has properly acquired the software by a determination processing procedure which is a part of a processing procedure by the software relating to the distribution. At this time, the software distribution server 2 divides the authentication data and embeds it in the software so as to be difficult to find, for example, in accordance with the program that executes this determination procedure.

The software distribution server 2 proceeds to step SP6, transmits the software in which the authentication data is embedded in this way to the user hardware 3, and proceeds to step SP7 to end the processing procedure. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, the software distribution server 2 uses the identification code for specifying the user hardware 3 which has requested distribution and which is recorded in the user hardware 3 so as not to be easily rewritten. The authentication data is generated by using the authentication data, and the software is distributed in such a manner that it is difficult to execute the software except for the user hardware 3 at the distribution destination.

Further, the software distribution server 2 distributes the software in this manner, and when the processing of the approval by the user is confirmed at a later date, the access key generated at the time of distributing the software is notified by a notification means such as an e-mail. Notify users.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the determination process executed when the software distributed as described above is started. For example, when the user instructs to start the software related to the download, the user hardware 3 first executes the processing procedure according to the software.

That is, the user hardware 3 executes step S
The process moves from step P11 to step SP12, where the identification code of the user hardware 3 is obtained. The user hardware 3 obtains the identification code according to a command attached to the CPU.

Subsequently, the user hardware 3 proceeds to step SP
Then, the process goes to 13 to acquire an access key. Here, the user hardware 3 is a so-called trial period, and when an access key has not been correctly input by the user in the past, a predetermined menu screen is displayed, and the input of the access key by the user is accepted here. On the other hand, if the access key has been correctly input in the past, the access key is obtained from the past record. User hardware 3
Indicates that the trial period has elapsed, and if the access key has not been correctly input in the past, a message indicating that the trial period has elapsed is displayed and the entire process ends. . If the access key has not been correctly input by the user in the past during the trial period, a trial button is displayed on the access key input screen. Start the application program after setting to limit the function of the section.

When the user hardware 3 obtains the access key at step SP13, it proceeds to step S13.
The process proceeds to P14, and the authentication data on the device side is generated from the identification data and the access key in the same manner as in the case of the software distribution server 2.

Further, in the following step SP15, the user hardware 3 collates the authentication data embedded in the software with the device-side authentication data generated in this way, and in the following step SP16, obtains a matching result of matching. It is determined whether or not it has been performed. Here, if a negative result is obtained, the user hardware 3 proceeds to step SP17, displays a predetermined message, and ends the entire process related to the distributed software. Thus, in this embodiment, it appears that the unauthorized copying by the access key is prohibited, and the unauthorized copying is also prohibited by the identification code.

On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step SP16, the user hardware 3 proceeds to step SP18.
And start the actual application program here. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 5, in this embodiment, the application program can be executed only by the device having the identification code by the device-specific identification code embedded in the software,
It is designed to effectively protect the interests of the copyright owner.

According to the above arrangement, a unique identification code assigned to a device to which data is to be distributed is acquired, and if the device is not a device with this identification code, processing is set normally to be difficult and software is distributed. Various types of data can be effectively protected more easily than a copy that is not intended by the copyright holder.

Also, by embedding the identification code in the distribution data so that it can be compared with the identification code of the device to which the device is to be distributed, and setting the device to be normally difficult to process unless the device is based on this identification code, Can be difficult to discover.

In addition, an access key having an irregular arrangement of predetermined characters is generated, authentication data is created by encrypting the identification code and the access key, and the authentication data is embedded to prevent unauthorized duplication by the access key. It can be made to look like it is forbidden, and illegal duplication can be prohibited by the identification code, and the device using such an identification code can be made more difficult to find.

Further, since the identification code is data that is hardly rewritten in the device, it is possible to effectively cope with such illegal means by rewriting the identification code.

(2) Second Embodiment FIGS. 6 and 7 are time charts showing processing in a software distribution system according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in comparison with FIGS. It is. In this embodiment, the access key and the identification code are encrypted with a secret key to generate authentication data, and the authentication data is embedded in software together with the secret key.

In response to the processing on the software distribution side, the distribution destination encrypts the identification code and the access key with the secret key embedded in the software to generate authentication data on the device side, and this authentication is performed. User authentication is performed when the data matches the authentication data embedded in the software.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, even if the authentication data is generated by the encryption process, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

(3) Third Embodiment In this embodiment, a MAC (Madia Access Control) address is applied to the identification code instead of the identification code of the central processing unit. In the second embodiment, the identification code according to the first embodiment has an MA code.
Except that the C address is applied, the description is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a duplicate description will be omitted.

The MAC address is a 6-byte identification code of a device connected to the Ethernet (registered trademark), and is a unique identification code of each device including a maker identifier, a maker identifier, and the like.

The same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained by using the identification code assigned to each device in such a specific network.

(4) Other Embodiments In the above-described embodiment, the case where the identification code and the MAC address of the central processing unit are used has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. BIOS (Basic Input / Output System)
m) may be used for the identification code, and further, the operating system API (Application Prog.
The identification code may be obtained by using a ramming interface.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the processing is stopped when the device is not the device having the proper identification code by the collation has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, by encrypting a part of the data by the authentication data and distributing the software, the data may not be correctly processed unless the device has a proper identification code. This makes it possible to omit the process of embedding the authentication data.

In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described where authentication data is generated by encrypting the identification code and the access key, and this authentication data is embedded.
The present invention is not limited to this, and it is possible to embed only a part of the authentication data as necessary, or to omit the encryption process, and further to omit the combination with the access key. Is also good.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to software distribution has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be widely applied to distribution of image data, music data, and the like. it can.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the collation processing program for judging the identification code is distributed together has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, music data and image data related to distribution can be transmitted. The processing procedure for such determination may be provided on the application program side to be processed.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where data is distributed via the Internet has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is widely applied to the case where data is recorded and recorded on a recording medium. be able to.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention, a unique identification code assigned to a device to which data is to be distributed is acquired, and if the device does not use this identification code, it is set to normally difficult to process so that software or the like can be used. By distributing this data, it is possible to effectively protect various types of data more easily than copying that is not intended by the copyright holder.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a software distribution server in a software distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a software distribution system using the software distribution server of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a time chart for explaining processing by a software distribution server in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the user hardware of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a time chart for explaining the processing in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a time chart showing processing of a software distribution server in a software distribution system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a time chart showing processing of a distribution destination corresponding to FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

1. Software distribution system 2. Software distribution server 3. User hardware

Claims (15)

[Claims] An identification code acquiring step for acquiring a unique identification code assigned to a data distribution destination device via a predetermined communication line, and the distribution data distributed to the data distribution destination is identified by the identification code. A data setting step of setting at least a part of the devices other than the device to be difficult to process. 2. The data setting step includes, by executing a predetermined processing procedure, embedding all or a part of the identification code in the distribution data so as to be collatable with the identification code of a device that processes the distribution data. 2. The data distribution method according to claim 1, wherein: 3. An access key generating step of generating an access key based on an irregular arrangement of predetermined characters, wherein the data setting step encrypts the identification code and the access key to generate authentication data. The data distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the authentication data is embedded in the distribution data. 4. The data distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the identification code is data that is hardly rewritten on the device. 5. An identification code acquiring step for acquiring a unique identification code assigned to a data distribution destination device via a predetermined communication line, and distributing data to be distributed to the data distribution destination by the identification code. A data setting step of setting at least a part of the data to be difficult to process in devices other than the above device. 6. An identification code detection step for detecting a unique identification code assigned to a device for data processing, and an identification code determination for setting data to be processed normally difficult according to the identification code. And a data processing method. 7. The step of determining an identification code includes collating the identification code with specific data included in data to be processed, and processing the data to be processed normally according to a result of the comparison. 7. The data processing method according to claim 6, wherein the setting is made as follows. 8. An identification code detecting step for detecting a unique identification code assigned to a device for data processing, and an identification code determination for setting data to be processed to normally difficult according to the identification code. And a program for a data processing method. 9. The step of determining the identification code includes collating the identification code with specific data included in the data to be processed, and setting the data to be processed to be difficult to process in accordance with the result of the comparison. 9. The program according to claim 8, wherein the program is executed. 10. An access key input step of receiving an access key input in an irregular arrangement of predetermined characters, wherein the identification code determination step includes: encrypting the identification code and the access key to obtain authentication data. 9. The authentication data is collated with specific data included in the data to be processed, and the data to be processed is set to be difficult to process according to the result of the collation. A program for the data processing method according to 1. 11. The program according to claim 8, wherein the identification code is data that is hardly rewritten in the device. 12. The program according to claim 8, wherein the program is distributed to the data distribution destination together with the data to be processed. 13. A recording medium wherein desired data is recorded by means of an identification code unique to a device to which data is distributed so that normal processing is difficult unless the device is used. 14. The data processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the identification code is recorded so as to be collatable by executing a predetermined processing procedure, so that the data is recorded in such a manner that normal processing is difficult unless the device is used. A recording medium according to claim 1. 15. An authentication key generated by encrypting an access key having an irregular arrangement of predetermined characters and the identification code is embedded in the data and recorded, so that the authentication data must be used by the device. 14. The recording medium according to claim 13, wherein the data is recorded so as to be normally difficult to process.