JP2001290642A - System and method for use management - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem where it is necessary to embed use inquiry processing in software concerning a conventional user managing system or execution performance is affected in a method for performing an inquiry each time, when the start or to solve a problem that labor for such work as periodically maintaining hardware or preparing, preserving and shipping an IC card is required, in a system requiring dedicated hardware such as IC cards. SOLUTION: By updating use permission information on the basis of the list of use-permitted targets, the use permission information can be managed unitarily by a managing device. Besides, by inquiring from a device to be managed the right of use to the managing device when a change in the use permission information is made, the use can be managed without requiring creation into specified hardware or item. Further, by storing the use permission information into the device to be managed, the influence on execution performance can be eliminated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a use management system and a use management method for managing use of an object corresponding to a managed device and preventing unauthorized use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-76745 discloses a conventional usage management system. In this usage management system, software usage right inquiry processing is incorporated in software, and every time software is started, an inquiry about usage right is made to a software management server using a communication network.

FIG. 4 shows a usage management system linked with a conventional software ordering system. In this use management system, the software ordering / ordering system 25 includes an executable I / O
Issue C card 24. Executability IC card 24
The software execution availability control means 22 is mounted on the software execution management means 23, and the software execution availability control means 22 is activated via the software execution management means 23 when the software is activated.
4 is checked against the execution right information stored in No. 4 to determine whether or not execution is possible.

[0004]

In the conventional use management system, it is necessary to incorporate a use inquiry process into software, and the method of inquiring every time at startup has an influence on execution performance. Further, in a system that requires dedicated hardware such as an IC card, there is a problem that labor such as periodic maintenance of the hardware, creation and storage of the IC card, and shipment accompanying a change of the IC card is required. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. In a use management system, no specific programming or hardware is required, and the use of software is linked to a software order receiving system. The purpose is to manage.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a use management system comprising: a use control system for controlling use of a target object based on use permission information which is a list of previously licensed objects; A management information updating unit that updates the use permission information based on an update of an object previously licensed to the managed device, and a management control unit that transmits the use permission information in response to an inquiry from the managed device. It has a management device.

Also, a managed computer having software executable control means for controlling the use of software based on use permission information which is a list of software licensed in advance, and updating of software previously licensed to the managed computer A management server having software management information updating means for updating the use permission information based on the management information and software management control means for transmitting the use permission information in response to an inquiry from the managed computer.

Further, the software management information updating means updates the use permission information based on the use of the managed computer which has been permitted in advance, in conjunction with the order receiving system.

In the use management method according to the present invention, a step of creating use permission information based on previously licensed software is performed, and the managed computer inquires the management server of the use permission information previously permitted using the identification information. Transmitting the pertinent use permission information to the managed computer; updating the use permission information of the managed computer with the transmitted use permission information; It comprises a step of determining whether the software can be used and a step of controlling whether the software can be used based on the determination result.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiment 1 Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the use management system according to the present embodiment is provided with identification information 3, use permission information 5, and software execution availability control means 4 in the managed computer 1, and software management information 8 and software management in the management server 2. A control unit 7 and a software management information updating unit 11 are provided. The software management information updating means 11 includes a software order receiving system 12
In conjunction with the above, the information of the software list whose use is permitted is reflected in the software management information 8, and when there is a change, the information is updated to be the latest state.

Referring to FIG. 2, the flow of processing when the managed computer 1 inquires about the right to use is described.

In step S1, the contract contents are collated with the software order receiving system 12 in order to obtain a list of previously licensed software. The contract contents collated in step S2 are reflected on the use permission information 10 corresponding to the use permission computer information 9 of the software management information 8.

Next, in step S3, an inquiry about the use right based on the identification information 3 from the managed computer 1 is received. At this time, the software execution control unit 4 sends the software management control unit 4 via the communication network 6 An inquiry is made to 7. The inquiry is made when the usage right corresponding to the managed computer 1 is changed, that is, at the time of initial purchase, when any software usage right is added, or when the software usage right is extinguished. . In step S4, the identification information 3 transmitted is compared with the use-permitted computer information 9 of the software management information 8.

If they match, the process proceeds to step S5, where the use permission information 10 corresponding to the use permission computer information 9 that matches the identification information 3 is extracted, and the use permission information 10 extracted in step S6 is received. This is transmitted to the software execution control unit 4 of the management computer 1. The use permission information 10 includes the type of software for which use is permitted, the version name of the software, and the expiration date defined by the contract.

Next, the process proceeds to the managed computer 1, and in step S7, the software executable control means 4
Stores the use permission information 10 transmitted from the management server 1 in the use permission information 5 owned by the managed computer 1.

When trying to start software on the managed computer 1, the software execution permission / non-permission control means 4 determines the permission / inhibition by referring to the use permission information 5 in step S8. At this time, the software cannot be executed unless the type of software owned by the use permission information 5, the software version name, and the expiration date specified by the contract do not match, so that unauthorized use due to expiration specified by the contract must be prevented. Can be. If it is determined that the software can be used, the software can be used in step S9. If it is determined that the software cannot be used, the software is notified in step S10 that the software cannot be used.

If the contract is changed, such as the purchase of the right to use the software or the expiration of the right to use the software, step S
In step 11, the process returns to step S1, and the contract is updated.

Next, the flow of the process of collation using the identification information 3 in step S4 in FIG. 2 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In step S21, the software management control means 7 acquires the identification information 3 transmitted from the managed computer 1. The identification information 3 stores a user ID for uniquely identifying the managed computer 1 and an encryption key as security information. In step S22, the user ID of the identification information 3 is changed to the user ID of the use-permitted computer information 9 stored in the software management information 8.
Compare with If there is a user ID of the use-permitted computer information 9 that matches the user ID of the identification information 3, the process proceeds to step S23. If there is no matching user ID, the process proceeds to step S25 with an inquiry request from an unauthorized computer. Since it turns out that there is, it sends the unauthorized computer to the unauthorized computer that was inquired.

In step S23, the security encryption key of the identification information 3 is compared with the security encryption key owned by the use-permitted computer information 9 whose user ID matches in step S22. If they match, the process proceeds to step S24, but if they do not match, the process proceeds to step S24.
25 is transmitted to inform the unauthorized use. Step S
At 24, it is determined that the managed computer 1 that has received the inquiry is the legitimate managed computer 1.

In this embodiment, by determining whether or not the software can be used at the time of starting the software, target software can be installed in the managed computer 1 in advance and can be shipped uniformly. There is no need to manage according to

The software management information 8 stores information on one managed computer 1 on the hard disk 1K.
B, the management server 1 can manage a plurality of managed computers 1 in thousands of units.

Further, the software order receiving system 12
Automatically updates the content of the software management information 8 in conjunction with the software management information updating means 11 at the time of software purchase, version update, or expiration of the software usage right. The latest status can always be sent. Embodiment 2. A system that prepares in advance items that can be targeted on the management device side, such as satellite broadcasting channels, music pieces, and game software, and manages use based on the licensed items to prevent unauthorized use. Can be built.

[0023]

According to the present invention, the use permission information received from the software management server is received and stored in the managed computer, thereby controlling whether the software can be used at the time of starting the software and preventing unauthorized use without affecting the execution performance. Can be.

By updating the use right granted in advance in conjunction with the order receiving system, the use permission information can be updated to the latest.

Further, since the software management information includes the use-permitted software information corresponding to a plurality of managed computers in a unified manner, a plurality of managed computers can be managed in a unified manner.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an overall flow of performing usage management in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process for determining whether or not the computer is the managed computer 1 based on the identification information 3 in the management server 2 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a conventional usage management system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 managed computer 2 management server 4 software execution availability control means 5 use permission information (managed computer 1) 7 software management control means 10 use permission information (management server 2) 11 software management information update means 12 software order receiving system

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A managed device having availability control means for controlling availability of an object based on use permission information which is a list of objects licensed in advance, and an object licensed in advance to the managed device. A use device comprising: a management device having management information updating means for updating the use permission information based on an update of an object; and management control means for transmitting the use permission information in response to an inquiry from the managed device. Management system. 2. A managed computer having software execution permission / prohibition control means for controlling the permission / prohibition of use of software based on use permission information which is a list of pre-licensed software, and updating of software previously granted to the managed computer A management server having software management information updating means for updating the use permission information based on the information and software management control means for transmitting the use permission information in response to an inquiry from the managed computer. system. 3. The use management system according to claim 2, wherein said software management information updating means updates the use permission information based on newly licensed software in conjunction with an order receiving system. 4. A step of creating usage permission information based on previously licensed software; a step of inquiring the management server for the previously licensed usage permission information using identification information; Transmitting to the managed computer, updating the use permission information of the managed computer with the transmitted use permission information, determining whether to use the software by referring to the use permission information at the time of starting the software, A use management method comprising a step of controlling whether or not software can be used based on the determination result.