JPH0651975A - Software managing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily change the right of using of installed onerous software to another computer device by comprising a system by providing a managing means including a registration means and a deletion means which deletes identification information from a storage means and which manages the identification information. CONSTITUTION:A contract managing device part 21 and a contract confirmation device part 22 are included as the managing part mechanism of the right of using. The contract managing device part 21 is a mechanism which manages the right of using of the onerous software in a network system, and is provided with an identification number storage part 20 which stores a number identified by a computer device on which the software of a managing target is installed, and performs the registration/deletion of the identification number to be registered on the identification number storage part 20, and manages the right of using of the onerous software in the network system. Therefore, it is possible to manage the right of using of the onerous software unitarily by the identification information of the computer device on which the software is installed and to easily change the right of using to another computer device.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a software management system, and in particular, when the paid software is used in a plurality of computer devices in a network system, the paid software is installed and the usage right of the installed paid software is used in a network. The present invention relates to a software management system that can be changed to another computer device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when providing software for a computer device for a fee, the software for a fee is stored in a recording medium such as a flexible disk, and the recording medium is provided for a fee. In this case, since the paid software provided may be illegally installed on another computer device, the paid software provider must
Measures are taken so that the paid software can be used only on a specific computer device. For example, in the "method of installing paid software on a plurality of computers using a single medium" described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-83622,
Provide only one set of media for storing the paid software, and set the available computer ID storage area for the contracted number of the paid software for this set of media, and set the available computer ID An identification number unique to each computer is registered in the storage area so that this medium can be commonly used by a plurality of computers.

[0003]

However, in such a paid software installation method, when purchasing the paid software, a plurality of computers capable of operating the paid software are registered, and a dedicated single unit for identifying the registered computers is used. A computer device that has the right to use the paid software for some reason because it creates a medium, installs the paid software on multiple computers using the dedicated single medium, and gives the right to use the paid software. If you want to change the usage right of the paid software to a computer device that does not have the usage right of the paid software, you must create a dedicated single medium again. Since this dedicated single medium needs to be created from the source of the paid software, there is a problem that it takes time to change the usage right of the paid software.

Further, even if a new dedicated single medium can be obtained, the usage right can be acquired even with the previous single medium, so that it is possible to use the paid software in the computer devices more than the contract number. Points will be created.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to install paid software when the paid software is used in a plurality of computer devices. An object of the present invention is to provide a software management system that can easily change the usage right of software to another computer device.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the software management system according to the first aspect of the present invention is composed of a plurality of computer devices connected via a communication line or a network. A network management system for managing software installed in a system in a network system according to claim 1, wherein storage means (2) storing identification information of a computer device in which predetermined software is installed.
0) and a managing means (21) for managing the identification information including a registration means for registering the identification information in the storage means and a deleting means for deleting the identification information from the storage means. Characterize.

Further, in the software management system according to the second aspect of the present invention, the management means further comprises limiting means for limiting the number of identification information registered in the storage means,
And a monitoring means for monitoring that only a limited number of computer devices are operating in the network system.

[0008]

In the software management system according to the present invention, the software installed in the system is managed in a network system composed of a plurality of computer devices connected via a communication line or a network. In this system, a storage means (20) stores identification information of a computer device in which predetermined software is installed. The management means (21) includes a registration means for registering the identification information in the storage means and a deletion means for deleting the identification information from the storage means, and management of the identification information is performed using these means. To do.

The management of the identification information manages the right to use the software installed in the computer device in the system. Further, in order to perform this management in detail, the management means has the identification information registered in the storage means. And a monitoring means for monitoring that only a limited number of computer devices are operating in the network system. As a result, the number of computer devices in which the software is used in the network system is always limited to the limit of the number of permitted use devices.

As described above, when managing the software installed in a plurality of computer devices in the network system, the storage means (20) stores the identification information of the computer devices in which the predetermined software is installed and manages it. When the identification information is registered in the storage means by the means (21), the other identification information is deleted from the storage means, and unity management of the identification information is performed. As a result, in the network system,
The management of usage rights of a plurality of paid software can be centrally managed by the identification information of the computer device in which the software is installed, and the change of the usage right of the paid software to another computer device is registered in the storage means. By registering and deleting information, it is possible to easily change the usage right of the installed paid software to another computer device.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. First, the outline of the functions of the software management system according to the present embodiment will be described. In the software management system of this embodiment, the paid software is installed and managed not through the medium but through the communication line or the network of the network system. For this reason, in this embodiment, a usage right registration mechanism is provided for registering and managing, on a network, a plurality of computer devices that have usage rights for paid software, for a plurality of computer devices operating on the same network.
Each computer device in the network system
When operating the paid software, the usage right registration mechanism acquires the usage right or confirms the usage right. As a result, in normal use, usage management of paid software can be performed as in the case of paid software management by a single medium.

Further, when it is desired to change (transfer) the usage right of the paid software from the computer apparatus that has the usage right to the computer apparatus that does not have the usage right of the paid software, the usage right registered in the usage right registration mechanism is available. By changing the identification information such as the identification number of the computer device, the usage right of the paid software can be changed, and the usage right of the paid software can be easily changed to the computer device without the usage right of the paid software. After the change of the usage right, the usage right of the paid software cannot be acquired in the computer device before the change, so that the operation cannot be performed, and the paid software can be prevented from operating in the computer devices having the contract number or more.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration before installation of paid software in a software management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The network system in which the software management system operates is a network 10 in which a plurality of computer devices 11, 12, 1
3, 14, 15, 16 are connected to each other, and the system is capable of mutual communication via the network 10. In such a network system, the paid software 18 is installed in the computer devices 11, 12, and 15, and the paid software 18 can be used. The paid software 18 includes a software core unit 19 of the software main unit, and a contract management device unit 21 and a contract confirmation device unit 22 as a management unit mechanism of the usage right.
And are included. The contract management device unit 21, which will be described in detail later, is a mechanism for managing usage rights of paid software in the network system, and stores an identification number for storing the identification number of the computer device in which the software to be managed is installed. An identification number to be registered in the identification number storage unit 20 is registered / deleted, and the usage right of paid software in the network system is managed. Further, the contract confirmation device unit 22 in the management part of the paid software 18 is a mechanism for confirming the identification number of the computer device having the usage right registered in the contract management device unit 21 when the paid software is operating, and is always It is installed together with the software backbone 19 of the software main body.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration after the paid software is installed in the paid software management system according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the software backbone section 19 of the software main body section is installed in the computer apparatus 11, 12, 15 to which the paid software is to be installed, and the contract confirmation apparatus section 21 of the management section mechanism is installed. To be done. Since only one contract management device unit 20 for managing the entire usage right of paid software in the system is required in the system, it is installed only in the computer device 11. Also, the contract confirmation device unit 22
Is installed in the computer device 11, 12, 15 in which the software backbone 19 is installed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the contract management device section. As shown in FIG. 3, the contract management device unit 21 has a network identification number table 31 for storing a network identification ID for identifying a network as an identification number storage unit 20, and a computer in which a usage right of paid software is registered. A device identification number table 32 for storing a computer device identification ID for identifying a device is provided. Before the installation, the network identification number table 31 only stores the network identification ID, and the device identification number table 32 does not store any data. The number of computer device identification IDs that can be stored in the device identification number table 32 is defined by contract. The computer device identification ID is registered from the computer device identification ID table 33 in a system management unit (not shown) that manages the entire network system here.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a processing flow of control at the time of installation in the paid software management system according to the embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, in this installation process, first, in step 41, the process of confirming the number of computer devices to be installed and the contract of the network is performed, and then in step 42, the paid software is obtained. Then the work of the installation process is started. In the installation work, in the next step 43, first, the contract management device section 21 that manages the usage right of the entire paid software in the network system is installed in the computer device 1.
Install to 1. Then, in step 44,
The software core unit 19 and the contract confirmation device unit 22 are installed in the computer device X that is the installation target using the paid software. Next, in step 45, the computer apparatus identification ID of the computer apparatus X in which the software backbone section 19 and the contract confirmation apparatus section 22 are installed is registered in the contract management apparatus section 21 (installed in the computer apparatus 11). Then, in the next step 46, the number of computer devices in which the paid software is installed is checked to determine whether or not the number of contracted devices has been exceeded.
If the number of contracted vehicles is exceeded in the judgment at step 46,
In step 48, error processing is performed. In this error processing, since there is an error report indicating that the contract management device unit 21 has requested the registration exceeding the contract number, the error report is performed according to this.

If it is determined in step 46 that the number of contracted vehicles has not been exceeded, the process proceeds to step 47, inquires of the operator as to whether or not the computer is to be installed in another computer, and confirms it. When installing the software, the process returns to step 44 and the installation work from step 44 is repeated. If you do not install it on another computer device,
Further, when the installation work is completed for all the computer devices to be installed, the process is completed. After the completion of the installation work in such a network system, the configuration of the contract management device unit 21 becomes as shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the main part of the contract management device unit after the installation is completed. After the installation of the contract management device unit 21 is completed, the network identification ID is stored in the net identification number table 31, as shown in FIG. The computer device identification IDs of the computer devices 11, 12, and 15 are registered as the computer device identification IDs registered in the computer device identification ID registration process (step 45) by the installation work.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of control at the time of starting the paid software in the paid software management system according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the paid software starting process in the network system, first, when an instruction to start the paid software is input in step 61, next, in step 6
In 2, the contract confirmation device unit 22 of the computer device instructed to start makes a confirmation inquiry to the contract management device unit 21 of the computer device 11 as to whether or not the computer device identification ID of the computer device is registered. . In response to this, the contract management device section 21 of the computer device 11 returns a response indicating that the computer device identification ID of the computer device is registered / not registered. It is determined whether or not the identification ID is registered.
If the computer identification ID of the computer instructed to start is registered, the next step 6
Proceeding to step 4, the start-up process for normally starting the paid software is performed. In this activation process, the activation flag indicating that the paid software is being activated in the computer device of the computer ID is set to the contract management device section 21.
Send to.

If it is determined in step 63 that the computer identification ID of the computer instructed to start is not registered,
In step 65, error processing is performed without starting the paid software. In this error processing, for example, a message indicating that the software cannot be started because no contract for using the software has been made is displayed.

Next, a processing example in the case of changing the usage right of the paid software from the computer apparatus having the usage right of the paid software to the computer apparatus having no usage right of the paid software will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of control for changing the usage right of paid software. Explaining with reference to FIG. 7, in this case, first, in step 70, the paid software to be changed whose usage right is to be changed is selected and an instruction for change processing is issued.
To the contract management apparatus section 21 of (1) to delete the registration of the computer apparatus ID of the computer apparatus Y to be changed (transfer of the usage right). On the other hand, in the contract management device section 21 of the computer device 11,
When the deletion request for deleting the registration of the computer device ID of the computer device Y is received, the next step 7
In step 2, a process of confirming whether the corresponding paid software of the computer Y is being activated is performed. The confirmation process as to whether or not the computer device with the computer device identification ID to be deleted is in operation is performed by confirming the in-execution flag that has been sent in the above-described activation process. The identification Y may be inquired for confirmation to determine whether or not the system is being activated.

If it is determined by the determination in step 72 that the engine is being activated, the process proceeds to step 75, and error processing is performed. In this error processing, processing is performed to report that the registration cannot be changed because the paid software is being activated. On the other hand, if it is confirmed by the determination process in step 72 that the paid software is not being activated, the process proceeds to step 73, and in step 73, the computer device identification ID of the computer device Y is deleted from the device identification number table 32. . Then in step 74,
New computer device ID of computer device X
Is registered in the contract management device section 21 of the computer device 11. The registration method is the same as the control at the time of installation described above. As a result, the contract management device unit 21
As for the registered contents of the device identification number table 32 of the computer device Y, the computer device identification ID of the computer device Y is deleted and the computer device identification ID of the new computer device X is registered. This means that the computer device X, which has no usage right for the software, has had its usage right changed.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the configuration of the contract management device unit after the usage right of the paid software is changed. In the case of this example, as shown in FIG. 8, the computer identification ID of the computer 15 is deleted from the device identification number table 32 of the contract management apparatus 21, and the computer identification ID of the computer 14 is newly added. It is registered. As a result, the right to use the paid software here is transferred from the computer device 15 to the computer device 14.
Is changed to.

In the embodiment described above, the paid software core is installed in each computer device of the network system, and the paid software is managed in each computer device of the system. In the network system in which the shared file can be installed, the paid software can be stored in the shared file and the usage right of the paid software can be centrally managed in the shared file. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, a computer device 9 having a shared file 90 that can be commonly used in a network system.
1, the paid software 18 is centrally managed. Here, the software core unit 1 of the paid software 18 is installed in each of the computer devices 92 and 94 that use the paid software.
9 does not need to be installed, and the contract confirmation device unit 22
Just install. In each of the computer devices 92 and 94, the software backbone 19 is installed from the shared file and the activation process is performed when the fee-based software is activated. The system having such a shared file has an advantage that the software backbone section 19 and the contract management apparatus section 21 can be managed by the same computer apparatus.

[0025]

As described above, according to the software management system of the present invention, the management of the usage right of the paid software can be centrally managed by the identification information of the computer device in which the software is installed, and the software can be installed. It is possible to easily change the usage right of the paid software to another computer device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration before installation of paid software in a software management system according to an embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration after installation of paid software in a paid software management system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a contract management device unit,

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of control at the time of installation in the paid software management system according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a contract management device unit after installation is completed,

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of control at the time of starting paid software in the paid software management system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of control for changing the usage right of paid software,

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the configuration of the contract management device unit after the usage right of the paid software is changed,

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of a software management system in which paid software is installed and centrally managed in a computer having a shared file that can be commonly used in a network system.

[Explanation of Codes] 10 ... Network, 11-16 ... Computer device,
18 ... paid software, 19 ... software executive,
20 ... Identification number storage unit, 21 ... Contract management device unit, 22 ...
Contract confirmation device section, 31 ... Network identification number table, 32 ... Device identification number table, 33 ... Computer device identification ID table, 90 ... Shared file, 91-9
6 ... Computer device.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A network management system comprising a plurality of computer devices connected via a communication line, a network or the like, the software management system managing software installed in the system, wherein the predetermined software is A management unit that manages identification information including a storage unit that stores identification information of an installed computer device, a registration unit that registers the identification information in the storage unit, and a deletion unit that deletes the identification information from the storage unit. A software management system comprising a means and a means. 2. The software management system according to claim 1, wherein the managing means further includes a limiting means for limiting the number of pieces of identification information registered in the storage means, and a limited number of computer devices. A software management system comprising: a monitoring means for monitoring the operation of the network system.