Method of and apparatus for protecting and upgrading software using a removable hardlock
Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000
United States of America Patent
Stats
-
Feb 8, 2000
Grant Date -
N/A
app pub date -
Apr 23, 1997
filing date -
Apr 23, 1997
priority date (Note) -
In Force
status (Latency Note)
Importance
Abstract
A software protection method and apparatus uses a removable hardlock to prevent the unauthorized installation and/or use of a licensed software program. The removable hardlock, when supplied to a user, stores an access variable indicating the number of licenses available for the software program. During installation of the software program on a computer, the removable hardlock is inserted into an external port of the computer and the access variable is read to determine if any licenses for the software program are still available. If so, the software program is installed on the computer in a manner that allows the software program to be run on the computer when the removable hardlock is removed from the external port of the computer. The access variable on the removable hardlock is then decremented to indicate that one of the previously available licenses has now been used. However, when the access variable on the removable hardlock indicates that no further licenses are available, the software program is installed on the computer in a manner that prevents the software program from being implemented on the computer when the removable hardlock is removed from the external port of the computer.
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