Patent ID: 6243468
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: G06F,G11B

Abstract:
One or more computer-readable media, comprising:a software product executable by a computer having a set of hardware components, the software product having an associated product ID and the software product being configured to generate a first hardware ID that identifies the set of hardware components and to send the product ID and first hardware ID to a registration authority remote from the computer;a registration unit executable by the registration authority, the registration unit computing a registration ID by applying an operation to the product ID and the first hardware ID, the registration unit returning the registration ID to the software product;the software product being further configured to store the registration ID locally on the computer and, each time the software product is subsequently launched on the computer:generate a second hardware ID that identifies the set of hardware components;apply the operation to the product ID and the second hardware ID to derive a test ID;compare the test ID to the registration ID; andif the test ID substantially matches the registration ID, enable execution of the software product on the computer; andif the test ID does not substantially match the registration ID, disable execution of the software product on the computer.