CD-ROM software protection system

Details CD-ROM software protection system CD-ROM software protection system

1997-07-21

2000-08-08

Trammell, James P.

Data processing: financial, business practice, management, or co

Automated electrical financial or business practice or...

380 4, 380 5, 369 47, 369 48, 369 58, G06F 1760

Patent

active

061014761

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION

1. Introduction
This system is used for the protection of CD-ROM software (for PC compatible computers) from illegal copying. This method can be used for CD disks of any size and any CD-ROM format. This system prevents the illegal copying of the PC software using as a "protection key" a specially processed CD-ROM. A very high degree of software protection is provided due to the fact that this specific CD-ROM can not be copied and due to the existence of an advanced method for the verification of the CD-ROM authenticity.
This system consists of two parts:


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view diagram of an optical disk of the present invention showing a series of homocentric ring areas, the ring areas being an application code area followed by at least one protection ring in alternating succession with another application code area, with the inner most and outer most rings being application code areas.


DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOFTWARE PROTECTION SYSTEM

2.1 Modification of the Protected Application Software
The protected Application Software (hereafter referred as Application Code) combines with the special Protection Software (hereafter referred as Protection Code) to form a new Composite Application Code. The Protection Code is placed before the Application Code in order to carry out the initial checks for the verification of the CD-ROM authenticity prior to the execution of the Application Code.
The integration of the Protection Code into the Application Code can be carried out in either the form of objective code or in the form of executable code.
2.2 Glass Master Production
The Composite Application Code that resulted from the procedure defined in paragraph 2.1 together with the rest of the Application files are copied on the Glass Master with the use of special CAD/CAM tools that control this process. Special attention is given to the spatial distribution of the software on the Glass Master. As seen in FIG. 1 that shows this special Glass Master, a specific ring (3) with width of a few mm is reserved, so that the central region (4) is mechanically processed during a following step, while the adjacent areas on either sides contain the Protection Code and special Encrypted Data that are checked by the Protection Code. This area will be referred hereafter as Protection Ring (3). The Application Code and the Data are stored in the areas (1) & (2) of the Glass Master. The inspection ring (4) included in a protection ring (3) comprises permanent destruction of the optical properties of one or more specific ring areas in the middle of the inspection ring of the Glass Master which is achieved with the use of mastering equipment that creates a continuous spiral track that has the form of a continuous pit.
2.3 Mechanical Processing of the Glass Master
During this phase, the Glass Master undergoes a special mechanical treatment with the use of special equipment that is used for the Glass Master manufacturing. Thus, a homocentric ring (4) of 10 .mu.m width is produced within the central part of the Protection Ring. This ring marks the specific region and is checked by the Protection Code for the verification of the authenticity of the CD-ROM disk and will be referred hereafter as Inspection Ring (4). The polar coordinates of the Inspection Ring are very critical for the verification of the authenticity of the CD-ROM. These parameters are included in the Data of the Protection Code since the polar coordinates of the Inspection Ring are predetermined.
This very special treatment can only be carried out with the use of special CAD/CAM package that controls the Glass Master production machine. The Inspection Ring (4) is seen in FIG. 1 that shows the special Glass Master that contains the Software Protection System. The Composite Application Code with the Data are stored in adjacent areas (1) & (2) to the Protection Ring (3) on both sides. The Inspection Ring (4) is located in the middle of the Protection Ring (3). The Glass Master (FIG. 1) is used subsequently for the productio

REFERENCES:
patent: 5881038 (1995-04-01), Oshima et al.

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