| 摘要 |
<p>A system for distributing copies of computer software provides inherent protection against unauthorized copy of the software. The software distribution system includes three computers: a host (10), a software protection computer (12) and an end-user computer (14). The host computer (10) is under the control of the vendor, and the software protection computer (12) and the end-user computer (14) are located at the customer installation. The software is encrypted in the host computer (10) and then transferred to and stored in the end-user computer (14) after it is registered in the software protection computer (12). The transferred software is encrypted using a unique encryption key. Each copy of a software package generated by the host computer (10) is a unique encrypted version of that software package. When this unique encrypted version of the software package is run on the end user's computer (14) and encounters an encrypted portion of itself, it will suspend normal execution and transfer the encrypted portion to the software protection computer (12). This computer (12) will then decrypt the encrypted portions of the code and return the decrypted portion of the code to the end-user computer (14) where that code is itself executed or allows execution of the program of which it is a part to continue.</p> |
