초록 ▼

Apparatus which discourages the use of unauthorized program software with proprietory computer hardware. The computer hardware reads a DATA TABLE from a specified location in separable software and displays the content of that table in human recognizable form. The displayed data is then compared wit

Apparatus which discourages the use of unauthorized program software with proprietory computer hardware. The computer hardware reads a DATA TABLE from a specified location in separable software and displays the content of that table in human recognizable form. The displayed data is then compared with reference data which is stored in the proprietory hardware. The hardware blocks further execution of programs contained in the separable software if the displayed data and reference data are not congruent. In a preferred embodiment 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.

대표청구항 ▼

In electronic apparatus which includes: digital computer means which functions to produce a sequence of two or more output signal states which are at least partially determined by stored program instructions; connecting means attached to the computer means which functions to receive stored program i

In electronic apparatus which includes: digital computer means which functions to produce a sequence of two or more output signal states which are at least partially determined by stored program instructions; connecting means attached to the computer means which functions to receive stored program instructions from a source which is physically separable from the computer means and to supply the received instructions to the computer means; and display means which functions to produce an audible and/or visual message and/or display in response to one or more distinct output signal states of the computer means, which states are at least partially determined by the received program instructions; the improvement comprising comparison means attached to the computer means, which includes recorded reference information, which functions to detect congruence between said one or more distinct output signal states of the computer means and the reference information, and which inhibits the computer means from producing at least one output signal state in the absence of said congruence.