Patent ID: 6742129
Filing Date: 2004-05-25
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method of preventing the unauthorized use of a computer program that is to be installed in a computer having an operating system installed therein, said method comprising the steps of:determining, within the computer, a value of a variable that is dependent on a time that the computer program is first installed; reading, within the computer, an identification of the operating system installed in the computer; computing, within the computer, an intermediate code which is a mathematical function of both the variable that is dependent on the time the computer program is installed and the identification of the operating system; computing, externally from the computer, a password which is a predetermined mathematical function of both the intermediate code and a secret, preassigned, identification of the computer program and forwarding the password for entry into the computer; computing, within the computer, a key to be compared with the password, said key being computed in accordance with the same mathematical function of the intermediate code and the secret, preassigned identification of the computer program used to externally computer the password; and authorizing, within the computer, the execution of the computer program having the secret, preassigned identification in the event the password equals the key.