METHOD OF METERING AND PROTECTING COMPUTER SOFTWARE

摘要

A method of protecting computer software on installation is provided by providing an installation media (58) containing a security electrical device (HSED). The HSED must be connected to the user's computer (68) before the software from the installation media (58) can be entered on the user's computer. The HSED contains a variety of secret installation data (70) which is used to install a program to be protected. In general the secret installation data (70) is checked to see if a specific HSED is present and if it contains information to enable the installation process for that particular piece of software to continue. The exact nature of the secret installation data (70) will depend on the process used for protection. The HSED is also used in a method of metering the amount of computer service HSED to the end user.