Universal sofeware key process

Patent 5754761 Issued on May 19, 1998. Estimated Expiration Date:

August 29, 2017. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

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Inventor

Willsey, John A.

Application

No. 920577 filed on 08/29/1997

US Classes:

713/189DATA PROCESSING PROTECTION USING CRYPTOGRAPHY

Examiners

Primary: Treat, William M.
Assistant: Maung, Zarni

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Thompson; Daniel V.

International Class

G06F 012/14

Abstract

A process of creating software key files, the software key files being adapted to bind a plurality of software programs to a hardware key without the programmers of the software programs knowing in advance the responses of said hardware key. The process includes an instruction file for a software program containing instructions on what codes will be transmitted to the hardware key by the software program and describing where the software program will look in a file for responses transmitted back by the hardware key. A description file contains formula descriptions of the responses of the hardware key, and a software key creation program reads in the instruction file and following its instructions, creates a software key file containing hardware key responses, responses to codes listed in the instruction file and calculated according to the formula descriptions in the description file.