A computer software security and billing system is disclosed in which the application program is enciphered in accordance with an algorithm driven by a numeric key. The user's computer is provided with a hardware security module and a removable billing module, both of which carry unique codes. A security program accesses the application program and also writes information about billing into the billing module. The billing module is periodically replaced so the user can be charged based on amount of usage of the software.
An encrypted signature S representative of the information and of the identity of the holder of the information is established by means of a calculation algorithm for the encryption and the compression of the information to be saved. The signature S is recorded on the medium carrying the information forming the message M. The parameters for the calculation of the signature S, one or several secret keys, are recorded on at least one inviolable carrying medium. The application is to qualitative safeguarding and protection of data, on-line or not, in data bases.
A license management system which includes a license management facility that determines whether usage of a licensed program is within the scope of the license. The license management system maintains a license unit value for each licensed program and a pointer to a table identifying an allocation unit value associated with each use of the licensed program. In response to a request to use a licensed program, the license management system respond with an indication as to whether the license unit value exceeds the allocation unit value associated with the use. Upon receiving the response, the operation of the licensed program depends upon policies established by the licensor.
A central program comprising a EI sub-program for providing identity information of the rightful user thereof for accessing a network central computer to obtain service(s) or software product(s) or alike, in which a secure operation on an account of the rightful user for payment therefor involved; and a AS sub-program for using the existence of the EI sub-program in a computer as a precondition for authorising use of those software products obtained on that computer. The central program is for managing the use of the individual sub-programs therein so that the AS sub-program can be protected from being copied individually.
At least one storage unit is used for storing software which is divided into a plurality of software components. At least one CPU controls hardware components of an image processing apparatus by running the plurality of software components cooperatively. Each software component of the plurality of software components has a charging function such that a charge for the software component is cumulatively increased each time the software component is run.
A system for the management of computer programs in a computer network environment is presented. A network license server comprises a license server daemon which provides access to a computer program based on information stored in user and license databases. To track software usage, the daemon also maintains a log file which can be accessed by and interfaced with a network administration station. The network license server protects software vendors from unauthorized use of their software while permitting software programs and users to reside anywhere on the network.
