Electrical computers and digital processing systems: memory – Storage accessing and control – Control technique
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-17
2003-01-21
Verbrugge, Kevin (Department: 2187)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: memory
Storage accessing and control
Control technique
Reexamination Certificate
active
06510502
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to information processing devices such as games devices. In particular, it relates to a security system whereby means for altering (for example so as to cause the same information recording medium to selectively function as a demo version or as the product version) under prescribed conditions the processing content of a program stored on an information recording medium, such as game software, can be implemented by a simple construction and illicit use by a third party can be effectively prevented.
BACKGROUND ART
Game software used in game devices is distributed in the market by being recorded on portable information recording media such as for example CD ROMs or game cartridges. Such game software may comprise a regular product version which the user uses by obtaining a license from the licenser and a demo version (sample version) with the object of introducing an outline of the game to the user, subject to restrictions on some, of the processing content of the game. By introducing such a demo version on the market, it is made possible for the user to try out the demo version of the game software, and, if he likes this, to obtain a license from the licenser so as to be able to enjoy the regular product.
However, since, conventionally, the demo version was prepared separately apart from the regular product version, it was necessary to manufacture two types of information recording medium in respect of the same game software. This meant that a large amount of storage space was required for the product, increasing production costs. Also, since it was necessary to stock two types of product, namely, the product version and demo version, there were problems such as that it took time before a user could be supplied with the product version after purchasing the demo version. In view of these circumstances, it was desired to realize means for making it the same game software function selectively as a product version or as a demo version. In such cases, in particular, it was desired to realize means for effectively preventing the game software from being used as the product version by illicit use by a third party.
Also, the present applicants, in Laid-open Japanese Patent Publication No. H. 11-53183, proposed a technique for altering the setting of processing content of a game program in accordance with the results obtained by ascertaining whether the game recording medium was being employed in the user's own game device or was being employed in another game device. By such a technique, since it becomes possible to produce a difference in the operating environment by differentiating game recording media employed in the user's own game device from game recording media employed in other game devices, the value of a game recording medium employed solely in the uses own game device can be raised.
However, with this technique in order to ascertain whether or not the game recording medium was being used in the user's own game device, a writable region was provided on the game recording medium, and the aforesaid decision processing was performed by writing identification information (for example an ID number) of the recording medium in this region. This technique therefore could not be applied to read-only media such as CD ROMs or DVD ROMs, owing to the difficulty of providing a writable region. Furthermore, with this prior art technique, there was the risk that the identification information written on the game recording medium might be rewritten by illicit means to enable its use on another game device.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to provide an information processing device, information processing method and information recording medium with a simple arrangement whereby the processing content of a prescribed program stored on the same information recording medium can be altered under prescribed conditions.
Also, a second object is to provide an information processing device, information processing method and information recording medium whereby illicit use by a third party can be prevented.
Furthermore, a third object of the present invention is to provide an information processing system that without providing a writable region on an information recording medium, can decide whether or not software recorded on the information recording medium was processed by a user's own information processing terminal and that can realize by a simple arrangement means for varying the processing content of the software in accordance with the result of this decision and an information processing terminal and server that can be applied to this information processing system.
Furthermore, a fourth object is to provide an information recording medium on which is recorded a procedure to make a computer function as an information processing terminal or server as aforesaid.
The first object of the present invention is solved by an information processing device comprising: first means for storage that stores first identification information that is individual to the information processing device; means for reading second identification information that is individual to the information recording medium second means for storage that stores prescribed information including operation restriction of the information recording medium, third identification information individual to some information processing device, and fourth identification information individual to some information recording medium; and means for restricting the operation content of the information recording medium when the first identification information and the third identification information coincide and the second identification information and the fourth identification information coincide, in accordance with the prescribed information; and for restricting the operation content of the information recording medium under a predetermined condition when the first identification information and said third identification information do not coincide or the second identification information and the fourth identification information do not coincide. In particular, the prescribed information including operation restrictions of the information recording medium may be information specifying period of use or conditions of use etc. of the information recording medium (hereinbelow in this specification called “license content information”).
With such an arrangement the information including license content information, third identification information and fourth identification information (hereinbelow in this specification called “license information”) is supplied from the licenser to the user. This license information is stored on a suitable recording medium such as for example a portable storage medium such as back-up memory.
When an information processing device according to the present invention executes a prescribed program (for example a game program) that is recorded on an information recording medium, it determines in accordance with a prescribed algorithm whether or not the information recording medium is one for which a license has been granted (hereinbelow in this specification this is called “license checking”). If, as a result of the license checking, it is determined that the information recording medium is one for which a license has been granted, the information processing device can function to perform information processing of the information recording medium as a product version; if it is determined that the information recording medium is one for which a license has not been granted, it can function to perform information processing of the same information recording medium selectively as the product version or as a demo version, by subjecting the program that is stored on the information recording medium to prescribed restrictions.
The second object of the present invention is solved by sending license information to the inflation processing device through a communication circuit from a prescribed terminal device. In par
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
Verbrugge Kevin
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