Protection of software code from unauthorized use by executing portions of the code in a secure computer environment separate from the environment that executes the remaining portions of the code

摘要

Code of at least one software program is executed in a multi-processor computer environment. Each software program includes a first portion of software code to be executed in a computer, and a second portion of software code that includes one or more fragments of code of the software program. The second portion of code is executed in one or more external devices which are in communication with the computer. The second portion of code is encrypted, transferred to a secure computer environment, such as a smart card, and decrypted in the one or more external devices prior to execution. The fragments of code may be interspersed within the first portion of code.