METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING A SYSTEM-ALLIED PHYSICALLY SEPARABLE PROGRAM MEMORY AND A DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM UTILIZING SAID METHOD

摘要

A method and system that discourages the use of unauthorized program software with proprietory data processing system hardware. Under the control of a start command signal generated by the central processing unit of the system an identifier is fetched up from a specified location in a program memory which is physically separable from the data processing system. The identifier is then compared with a reference identifier which is stored in the proprietory hardware. The hardware blocks further execution of programs contained in the program memory if the identifiers are not congruent. In a preferred embodiment the identifier is displayed and the display is material which can only be legally used with the permission of the manufacturer or proprietory of the hardware; for example a registered trademark or copyrighted material.