JP2002032138A - Software providing system, restriction releasing information providing system, software providing method, medium recording software providing program, restriction releasing information providing method, and medium recording restriction releasing information providing program - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] As the number of attachments of utility software to a peripheral device product or the like increases, the license fee paid by the peripheral device provider increases, and the selling price of the peripheral device increases. SOLUTION: A software value score, a purchaser value score, and purchaser authentication information are accumulated, and a purchaser is authenticated when a software provision request is made. Further, the purchaser value points accumulated when the software provision request is authenticated are reduced and updated, and the software according to the provision request is provided to the purchaser. Therefore, it is possible for the purchaser to arbitrarily select and receive the provision of the software within the range of the initial value of the purchaser value score, and reduce the license fee paid by the product provider with the provision of the software, and Cost performance can be improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a software providing system, a restriction release information providing system, a software providing method, a medium recording a software providing program,
The present invention relates to a method for providing restriction release information and a medium recording a program for providing restriction release information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the rapid spread of computers in recent years, demand for peripheral devices such as hard disk drives and MO drives has been increasing. The performance of these peripheral devices is evolving day by day, and the performance difference between each peripheral device is an important indicator for the user to select a product. Therefore, not only the performance difference, but also the service difference at the time of product purchase such as cost performance and added value is a more important index of product selection. As such added value, for example,
Utility software such as a formatter may be attached to the hard disk drive. A CD-ROM is included in the hard disk drive product package, and a plurality of utility software are recorded on the CD-ROM.

[0003]

The above-mentioned conventional software provision has the following problems. That is, when the provider of the peripheral device such as the hard disk drive is different from the provider of the utility software, the provider of the peripheral device pays a license fee to the provider of the utility software. Therefore, as the number of utility software attachments increases to improve the service, the license fee paid by the peripheral device provider increases, and the selling price of the peripheral device increases. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a software providing system capable of reducing a license fee paid by a product provider along with provision of software and improving cost performance of the product, and providing restriction release information. It is an object to provide a system, a software providing method, a medium recording a software providing program, a restriction release information providing method, and a medium recording a restriction release information providing program.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is a software providing system for providing a purchaser of a product bundled with the software with the software. Software value point accumulating means for accumulating value points given in advance to software, purchaser value point accumulating means for accumulating value points possessed by the buyer, and for authenticating whether or not the user is an appropriate purchaser Based on the authentication information stored in the purchaser authentication information storage means for storing authentication information of the purchaser, the software provision request reception means for receiving a software provision request from the purchaser, and the purchaser authentication information storage means,
Purchaser authentication means for performing authentication as to whether or not the software provision request by the software provision request receiving means has been made by the purchaser; and the purchaser when the software provision request has been authenticated by the purchaser authentication means. The system is provided with software providing means for reducing and updating the purchaser's value points accumulated in the value point accumulation means, and providing the purchaser with the software according to the provision request.

[0005] In the invention according to claim 1 configured as described above, when providing the software to the purchaser of the product with which the software is bundled, only a limited number of software that can be provided is provided. The purchaser can select desired software within the range of the purchased purchaser value points. For this reason, the software value point accumulating means accumulates the value points given to the software in advance, the purchaser value point accumulating means accumulates the value points possessed by the purchaser, and the Stores authentication information for authenticating whether or not the user is a proper purchaser.

[0006] The software provision request receiving means receives the software provision request from the purchaser, and the purchaser authentication means based on the authentication information stored in the purchaser authentication information storage means. Authentication is performed as to whether or not the software provision request by the reception unit has been made by the purchaser. The software providing means reduces and updates the purchaser's value score stored in the purchaser's value score storage means when the software provision request is authenticated by the purchaser authentication means, Is provided to the purchaser.

[0007] That is, a purchaser value score is given to the purchaser in advance, the software value score is accumulated for each software, and the total of the software value score is the range of the own purchaser value score. The purchaser can arbitrarily select and receive the software as long as it falls within the range. Therefore, the product provider can provide a large amount of software, but has a limited license fee corresponding to the purchaser's value score, or a license fee for only those who actually provided the software. And the license fee charged to the provider is reduced. Further, the reduction in the cost imposed on the provider directly leads to a reduction in the product selling price, and it is possible to provide the user with a product with high cost performance.

Here, the present invention can be applied to a case where software is bundled with a product. In addition to the above-described computer peripheral devices, the present invention is applicable to a case where software is bundled with a computer main body. Can also be applied. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to a case where software is bundled with a software product, such as when a plug-in or an upgrade module for a predetermined application program is provided. Furthermore, a CD-R on which various software is recorded as an appendix of a magazine
The present invention is also applicable to a case where an OM is provided. The purchaser authentication means only needs to be able to authenticate whether the software provision request has been made by the purchaser based on the authentication information stored in the purchaser authentication information storage means, and various modes can be adopted. is there.

For example, a product ID and a purchaser authentication ID are assigned to each product in advance, and the correspondence between the product ID and the purchaser authentication ID is stored in the purchaser authentication information storage means.
Then, upon receiving the software provision request, the product ID and the purchaser authentication ID are received at the same time, and by comparing the accumulated product ID with the purchaser authentication ID, it is possible to authenticate that the user is a proper purchaser. it can. In this case, the product ID and the purchaser authentication ID are the authentication information. Needless to say, such a configuration is an example. For example, a user is registered by a web or a postcard, and a user-specified password is described at the time of registration.
It is also possible to use such a password for authentication by registering with the server. Furthermore, a product ID is assigned to each product, and a software ID is assigned to each software.
By accumulating and storing the authentication ID and receiving the authentication ID and the software ID at the same time, the authentication of the purchaser and the software selection request can be performed at the same time.

The software value score accumulating means, the purchaser authentication information accumulating means, and the buyer value score accumulating means only need to be able to read and write predetermined information, such as a hard disk drive, a magnetic optical disk, and a RAM. Various storage devices can be employed.
The purchaser value points indicate the upper limit of the total software value points to be provided, and can be changed as appropriate according to the provider's ability to pay license fees, product prices, necessity of license fees for software, and the like. Further, the software value score can be determined based on various indices. As an example, the invention according to claim 2 is as follows.
In the software providing system according to the first aspect, the software value points accumulated in the software value point accumulating means are provided in accordance with a price of the provided software.

In the invention according to claim 2 configured as described above, the software value points assigned according to the software price are stored in the software value point storage means. In other words, the license fee paid by the product provider usually depends on the software price, so if the software value point is not linked to the software price, the license fee generated for the same purchaser value point may differ. It is assumed that the calculation of the license fee becomes complicated. However, if the software price and the software value score are linked to some extent, it is preferable that the license fee can be uniformly determined based on the purchaser value score. On the other hand, if the price of the software and the software value score are linked in the selection of the software by the purchaser, the purchaser can clearly judge the value of the software to be provided and decide the software to be provided. It will be easier.

Further, as an example of another index for determining the software value score, the invention according to claim 3 is the software provision system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the software value score accumulating means is provided. The software value score accumulated in the above is configured to be given according to the degree of the function restriction of the provided software. In the invention according to claim 3 configured as described above, the software value points assigned according to the degree of function limitation of the software to be provided are accumulated in the software value point accumulation means.

[0013] That is, in providing the software, a trial version is provided for the time being, or the software is provided in a state where the functions are restricted by limiting the number of days of use.
It is conceivable to release this function restriction after authentication has been performed. In this case, the purchaser can determine whether to actually receive the software after trialing the software, and can provide more various services. In addition, there may be a case where the software provider does not request a license fee if the software provider provides the software with a trial version or a limited function. In such a case, a license fee is generated together with the release of the function restriction, so it is preferable to calculate the software value score according to the release of the function restriction. Further, the function restriction can be performed in various modes, and if the software value score is given according to the degree of the function restriction, the range of choices for the purchaser can be expanded according to his / her own needs. Can be provided.

Further, in realizing the present invention, the invention according to claim 4 is an example of a mode suitable for indicating a value score or the like to a user.
In the software providing system according to any one of the above, the purchaser is provided with a value point given to the software, the purchaser value point at the time of purchase of the product, and authentication information required for authentication of the purchaser. Is provided as a list. In the invention according to claim 4 configured as described above, in providing the product,
A list is provided. That is, since the purchaser cannot enjoy the benefits of the present invention unless the purchaser can know the above-mentioned value points, it is possible to easily provide necessary information by writing the value points, etc. in such a list. it can.

Further, as another configuration example suitable for expressing a value score or the like for a user, the invention according to claim 5 is as follows.
The software providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the purchaser is provided with data indicating a value score given to the software and the purchaser value score at the time of purchasing the product. And data indicating authentication information necessary for authentication of the purchaser are recorded on a computer-readable recording medium.

In the invention according to claim 5 configured as described above, a purchaser is provided with a computer-readable recording medium, and data indicating a value score assigned to the software and the product are provided on the medium. The data indicating the purchaser value score at the time of purchase and the data indicating authentication information necessary for authentication of the purchaser are recorded. That is, since the value score data and the like are read by the computer via the recording medium, the computer that has read the data executes a predetermined program, thereby automating the software provision request, authentication, and the like. It can be configured to be executable in a format.

It is preferable that the predetermined program be recorded on the recording medium. Further, if the program is configured to be automatically executed when the recording medium is loaded into a reading device of a computer, the work performed by the purchaser Is reduced,
More preferred. Of course, various types of recording media can be adopted, and it is preferable to adopt FD or CD-ROM, etc., which are widely used, but other magnetic recording media or magneto-optical recording media may be used. Alternatively, the same can be applied to any recording medium to be developed in the future.

Further, the software provision request accepting means only needs to be capable of accepting a software provision request from a purchaser. As an example of such a configuration, the invention according to claim 6 is based on claims 1 to 5 described above. In any one of the software providing systems described above, the software providing request receiving means is configured to receive a software providing request from the purchaser via a network line.

In the invention according to claim 6 configured as described above, the software provision request receiving means receives a software provision request from the purchaser via a network line. In other words, the software providing system according to the present invention and the computer from which the purchaser makes the software provision request are located at a distance, and the purchaser can access the software provision system via his / her own computer. For example, a software providing system according to the present invention is configured as one function of a WEB server, and a purchaser can use the W
It is preferable that the EB server be accessed so that the purchaser can receive the service according to the present invention at home at any time.

Further, according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the software providing system according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the software providing means includes software for the providing request via a network line. The configuration is provided to the purchaser. In the invention according to claim 7 configured as above, the software providing means provides the purchaser with the software according to the provision request via a network line. That is, in a situation where the software providing system according to the present invention and the computer from which the purchaser makes a software provision request are located at a distance, and the purchaser can access the software provision system via his / her own computer, Software can be downloaded.

In this case, since it is not necessary to attach the software itself to the product, even if the number of software that can be provided becomes very large, there is no need to attach a large-capacity storage medium to the product, which is preferable. In addition, software that did not exist at the beginning of the product sale can be additionally provided. Also in this case, as described above, the software providing system according to the present invention is configured as a function of the WEB server, and the purchaser operates the WEB server via the Internet.
It is preferable that the server be accessed so that the purchaser can receive the service according to the present invention at home at any time.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the software providing system according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the software providing means includes a password for appropriately executing the software. There is a configuration to provide. Claim 8 configured as described above.
In the invention according to (1), it can be said that the software is provided by providing a password for appropriately executing the software.

In other words, if a CD-ROM is attached to a product and the software recorded on the CD-ROM is provided, a password is required for installing the software. -R
Even if the OM is attached to the product, it can be said that the software was provided only after the password was provided. This configuration can be applied to the configuration for downloading software as described above. However, as described above, the software may be recorded on a CD-ROM and provided, and the password may be provided via a network line. It is preferable if the communication fee can be reduced.

The above-mentioned invention is to provide the software attached to the product in a usable manner, the use restriction is imposed on the software, and the use restriction is released within the range of the purchaser value score. It can be said that it can be done. In this sense, the present invention can be applied not only to the use of software attached to a product but also to the release of restrictions on use of various other products. As an example of such a configuration, the invention according to claim 9 is a restriction release information providing system that provides restriction release information for releasing a use restriction of a product to which a use restriction is imposed. Information storing means for storing a value point and a product value point given in advance to the product to which the use restriction is imposed and information for identifying the user; and a product for which the user has requested the release of the use restriction. Cancellation request information acquiring means for acquiring the information shown and the information for authenticating the user, the information for authenticating the user acquired by the cancellation request information acquiring means, and the user stored in the information storage means. A user authentication unit that authenticates a user who has requested release of use restriction based on information for identification, and a release request based on the obtained release request product information by referring to the information storage unit; The value score discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the product value score of the product is within the user value score, and the product value score is discriminated as being within the user value score by the same value score discriminating means. In some cases, the system includes a restriction release information providing unit that provides restriction release information for releasing the use restriction of the product to the user.

In the ninth aspect of the present invention, the use restriction is given to the product, and the use restriction can be released by receiving the provision of the restriction release information. That is, the present invention can be applied to a case in which not only software but also hardware and the like have usage restrictions. In addition, at the time of product purchase, the above-mentioned value points are for providing the attached software, but the software value attached to the product is increased by increasing the user value point according to the payment of the user's new fee. The present invention can be applied to a case where general software other than the above is provided. Here, the restriction release information may be configured to provide a predetermined password, an ID number, or the like, or may be used by directly controlling hardware connected via a network line to use the hardware. It is also possible to cancel the restriction.

Further, in such a software providing system and a restriction release information providing system, a predetermined program is executed, and the program is based on a predetermined control procedure corresponding to the above-described means. It is natural that there is an invention in the procedure. Therefore, the present invention can be applied also as a method, and the invention according to claim 10 or 12 basically has the same operation. That is, the present invention is not necessarily limited to a substantial system, and is also effective as a method.

Furthermore, as described above, in the software providing system and the restriction release information providing system, the above-mentioned predetermined programs are executed, so that the invention can be regarded as a medium in which these programs are recorded.
Therefore, in the invention according to the eleventh or thirteenth aspect, basically the same operation is obtained. Here, the computer-readable recording medium may be a magnetic recording medium or a magneto-optical recording medium, and any recording medium to be developed in the future can be considered in the same manner. Further, the duplication stages of the primary duplicated product, the secondary duplicated product and the like are equivalent without any question. further,
Although different from the above-mentioned medium, if the supply method is performed using a communication line, the communication line is used as a transmission medium and the present invention is used.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, the purchaser can arbitrarily select and receive the software within the range of his / her own purchaser value score. Therefore, the product provider has to pay a limited amount of license fee while making much software available,
License fees charged to providers are reduced. As a result, it is possible to provide a software providing system in which the product sales price is reduced and the software can be provided while providing a product with high cost performance to the user. According to the second aspect of the present invention,
The license fee of the product provider can be clearly determined, and the product purchaser can easily select the software. Further, according to the invention of claim 3, software can be provided in various forms.

Further, according to the invention of claim 4,
The product purchaser can easily provide necessary information. Further, according to the invention of claim 5, it is possible to configure so that a software provision request, authentication, or the like is automated or executed in an interactive manner, so that various services can be provided. Furthermore, according to the invention of claim 6, the purchaser can easily receive the service according to the present invention at any time. Furthermore, according to the invention of claim 7, even if the number of software that can be provided becomes very large, there is no need to attach a large-capacity storage medium to the product. In addition, software that did not exist at the beginning of the product sale can be additionally provided. Further, according to the invention of claim 8, when using a network line, the communication fee can be reduced. Further, according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a restriction release information providing system applicable to various objects.

Further, according to the tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a software providing method in which a product selling price is reduced and software can be provided while providing a product with high cost performance to a user. be able to. Furthermore, according to the invention according to claim 11,
It is possible to provide a medium on which a software providing program capable of providing software while providing a product with high cost performance to a user with a reduced product sales price is provided. Further, according to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a method of providing restriction release information that can be applied to various objects. Further, according to the thirteenth aspect, it is possible to provide a medium recording a restriction release information providing program applicable to various objects.

[0031]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 illustrates a hard disk drive package product configured to provide software using a software providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the hard disk drive package product is a hard disk drive (HDD) 10 as a product body, a point display card 11 on which a serial ID, a purchaser's point, etc. are described, and a CD-R on which a plurality of software programs are recorded.
OM12. That is, the point display card 1 is included in the hard disk drive package product.
1 and the CD-ROM 12 are bundled, and the purchaser installs the program recorded on the CD-ROM 12 into a general-purpose computer, thereby receiving the software bundled with the hard disk drive 10. I have.

In this embodiment, the CD-
The software recorded in the ROM 12 can be installed as a trial version without any restrictions. Here, software points are given to each software, purchaser points are given to the purchaser, and the purchaser of the hard disk drive package product calculates the total of the above software points as his purchaser point. Any password within the range can be selected to receive the software password. The purchaser can use the password to change the installed trial version software to the full version and release the usage restriction, and if the provision of such password has provided the software, I can say. In the present embodiment, the software value points correspond to software points, and the purchaser value points correspond to purchaser points.

As described above, these points are provided to the purchaser in a state described on the point display card 11, and in the present embodiment, the point display card 11 displays each point in a layout as shown in FIG. are doing. In the figure, the purchaser points are described at the upper left of the point display card 11, and "10" points are initially given to the purchaser. A serial ID is described below the purchaser point.
In the center of the point display card 11, the CD-R
Software name and software I recorded in OM12
D are listed in correspondence with each other. In the present embodiment, the serial ID is the hard disk drive 1
0 is an ID uniquely assigned to each software, and the software ID is an ID uniquely assigned to each software.
D. These serial IDs and software IDs are used to authenticate whether or not the user is a proper purchaser, as described later, and correspond to the authentication information.

Further, a software point is described on the right side of each software ID.
D and software points are given. For example, the software I of the software "Copy"
D is “C0012ab” and the software point is “3”. In the present embodiment, the software described on the point display card 11 is all utility software for the hard disk drive 10, and “Copy” is software for mutually copying data between the hard disk drive 10 and another hard disk drive. "Partition1" and "Partition2" are disk partition management software, "Format" is format software, and "Defragmentation" is software for diagnosing / optimizing the fragmentation status of the hard disk drive 10. Yes, “compression” is software that performs compression / decompression at the time of data access and makes the logical storage capacity of the hard disk drive 10 appear to be larger than the physical storage capacity. Of course, such software is merely an example, and other software such as a backup utility can be provided, and software unrelated to the hard disk drive 10 can also be provided.

In the present embodiment, the product provider configures the server as a software providing system by causing a server connected to the Internet to execute a predetermined function, and purchases a hard disk drive package product as described above. Makes the software providing system according to the present invention available. FIG. 3 shows an outline of a network constituted by a server configured by a provider of the product and a client used by a purchaser, and illustrates one mode of use of a software providing system according to the present invention. In the figure, a server 20 is connected to an Internet network 15 via an Internet dedicated line, and a purchaser can connect to the Internet network 15 via a public line using his / her general-purpose computer. In this case, the general-purpose computer used by the purchaser becomes the client 30 to the server 20 in the software providing system.

In such a network configuration, the purchaser accesses the server 20 via the Internet 15 while using the client 30, and transmits data indicating the serial ID and the software ID to the server 20. Has become. The server 20 performs the above-described software provision request, calculates the number of points, authenticates the purchaser, and the like, and outputs the password of the software related to the provision request. When the password is received by the client 30, the password is notified to the purchaser, and the CD-ROM is
12 can be released from the use restriction.

The network configuration described above is an example, and the purchaser can access the server 20 by another configuration. For example, a store client 300 that can access the Internet network 15 at a store where the above-mentioned hard disk drive package product is purchased may be configured. According to the store client 300, even if the purchaser does not build an environment that can connect to the Internet using his or her own computer,
By requesting a store clerk or the like, a password of the software to be provided can be obtained. In addition, it can be configured to be accessible from a portable information terminal, a home game machine, or the like possessed by the purchaser.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic configuration of the server 20. In FIG. 4, the server 20 has a communication interface (I
/ F) 21 and a hard disk drive 23. Under the control of an operating system (OS) 22 executed by a CPU or the like (not shown), provision of web page browsing information, purchaser authentication, and transmission of a password for software provision. Is configured to be executable. Communication I
/ F21 can access the Internet network 15 by TCP / IP to perform two-way communication, output an HTML file 25 for browsing a web page, input a software provision request, input a serial ID and software. Input with an ID, output of a password, and the like are performed.

The hard disk drive 23 stores a CGI program 24, an HTML file 25, and a database file 26. HTML file 2
Reference numeral 5 denotes an HTML file for providing an interface screen when the purchaser receives the provision of the software.
The program 24 is executed to receive input information such as a software provision request input in the client 30. The database file 26 is a database file in which the purchaser authentication information, the serial ID, the password to be provided, and the like are stored.
Performs authentication of the purchaser based on the database file 26 and the input information, calculates points, and outputs a password.

FIG. 5 shows an example of data stored in the database file 26. In the figure, software points 26a are stored in the database file 26 as a kind of stored data. The software point 26a is the same as the point display card 11
In this case, the same points as the software points given to the respective software are stored as data, and the points are stored while being associated with the respective software names as shown in FIG. Further, in the database file 26, the serial ID column 26b, the purchaser point column 26c, a plurality of software ID columns 26d, and the password column 26e are stored. As described above, in the present embodiment, the software value score, the purchaser value score, and the purchaser authentication information are stored as the database file 26, and the hard disk drive 23 stores the software value score storage means and the purchaser value score. A storage unit and a purchaser authentication information storage unit are configured.

As described above, since the serial ID is unique to the hard disk drive 10 and the software ID is unique to the software ID, the combination of these is also unique. So, CG
The I program 24 determines whether the combination of the serial ID and the software ID input from the client 30 matches the combination of the serial ID and the software ID stored in the database file 26, and thereby determines whether the proper purchaser Is authenticated. Further, since the software ID is unique to the software, the CGI program 24 can identify the software that the purchaser wants to provide by receiving the software ID.

Further, the purchaser points are stored with the purchaser points described on the point display card 11 as initial values, and can be updated by accessing the CGI program 24. That is, the CGI program 24 refers to the software points 26a after the above-mentioned authentication and performs an operation of subtracting the number of points from the accumulated purchaser points. Therefore, the purchaser can arbitrarily select and receive the software password provided that the total of the software points is within the range of the purchaser's point.

In the present embodiment, by managing the serial IDs and the like by the database file 26, a system which is very expandable and can provide various services is realized. That is, by using a serial ID uniquely corresponding to a product, it functions as a system that provides bundled software for various products as well as the above-described hard disk drive. For example, when providing software to be bundled with the MO drive, data such as “MO000001” is added to the database file 26 as a serial ID corresponding to the MO drive, and the purchaser points, software ID, etc. By simply adding data to the MO drive, the server 20 can be used as a system for providing software attached to the MO drive.

Further, only by changing the initial value of the purchaser points stored in the database file 26, the number of software that can be provided to the purchaser increases. For example, a certain number of points are increased for a limited time. It is possible to promote the product by conducting a campaign or the like, and it is possible to increase a customer's attraction of the product. In addition, it is easy to add software that can be provided, and it is also possible to newly give buyer points for product upgrades and model changes. Furthermore, the purchaser points of the purchaser who already has the serial ID can be configured to be diverted to other products, so that the same product provider can be prompted to purchase another product.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the configuration of the client 30. Any computer connectable to the Internet 15 can be the client 30. In FIG. 1, the client 30 includes a communication I / F 31, a hard disk drive 33, a display 32a, and an input device 32b. The hard disk drive 10 according to the present embodiment can be used as an additional hard disk drive of the client 30 and is connected as a slave of the hard disk drive 33. The OS 32 is executed by such a configuration and a CPU (not shown) or the like, and the purchaser can perform a predetermined input operation with the input device 32b while visually recognizing the display 32a, and execute various applications. In the present embodiment, a browser 34 is stored in the hard disk drive 33 as one of executable applications.

The communication I / F 31 is capable of accessing the Internet 15 via TCP / IP and performing two-way communication, receiving the HTML file 25 for browsing the web page, and receiving the serial ID and software. Transmission with an ID, reception of a password, and the like are performed.
Accordingly, the purchaser performs a predetermined operation with the input device 32b to start the browser 34, thereby enabling the purchaser to provide the HTML provided by the server 20 connected to the Internet network 15.
The file 25 can be downloaded, displayed on the display 32a, and browsed. In the present embodiment, as described above, since the HTML file 25 is a file for displaying an interface screen when software is provided, it is necessary to perform a predetermined operation while browsing the HTML file 25 with the browser 34. Accordingly, the purchaser can use the software providing service according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a display screen 34a in a state where the purchaser operates the client 30 to access the server 20 by the browser 34 and browses the HTML file 25. The display screen 34a shown in the figure is a state in which a URL for specifying the attached software provision screen of the server 20 is accessed, and the HTML file 25 serving as the interface is displayed. The display screen 34a includes a serial ID input box 34b, an inquiry button 34c, a purchaser point display box 34d, a plurality of software ID input boxes 34e, and a provision request button 34f.

The serial ID input box 34b is a box for inputting a serial ID to be transmitted to the server 20, and is used not only as the authentication information but also when the purchaser inquires his / her own purchaser point. You. That is, the purchaser enters the serial ID written on his point display card 11 in the serial ID input box 34b.
Is input, and purchaser point data is transmitted from the server 20 when the inquiry button 34c is clicked on with a mouse.
The current value of the buyer points is displayed in the buyer point display box 34d. On the other hand, the software password is provided by clicking the provision request button 34f. At this time, the purchaser refers to the point display card 11 and enters the software ID of the software desired to be provided in the software ID input box 34e. To enter.

The serial ID is input to the serial ID input box 34b, and the software ID input box 34
When the provision request button 34f is clicked while the software ID is input to e, the serial ID and the software ID are transmitted to the server 20 via the Internet 15 and are properly authenticated by the server 20. When that happens, the password of the corresponding software is returned. When the password is returned, the browser 34 updates the screen and displays the password. FIG. 8 shows a display screen 34g for displaying a password. On the display screen 34g, based on the password output from the server 20,
The software name and the password are specified, and the updated purchaser points are output, and the current value of the purchaser points is also specified.

The password providing process executed by the server 20 in response to the purchaser's browser operation will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Server 2
0 functions as a web server connected to the Internet network 15 on the premise of providing a password,
It is waiting for an arbitrary client to access the URL designating the attached software providing screen. When the purchaser accesses the URL using the client, the CGI program 24 starts up and the HT
Let the client download the ML file 25,
The password providing service using the browser 34 is started.

The server 20 executes the browser 3 as described above.
After the display screen 34a is displayed in Step S100, Step S100
Determines whether or not the inquiry button 34c has been clicked. In the same step S100, an inquiry button 34c
If it is determined that is clicked, step S1
At step 05, the serial ID input to the serial ID input box 34b is received, the corresponding purchaser point is recognized by referring to the database, and the purchaser point is returned to the client 30. As a result, the current purchaser points are displayed in the purchaser point display box 34d.

In step S110, it is determined whether the provision request button 34f has been clicked. If it is determined in step S110 that the provision request button 34f has been clicked, the client 3
The serial ID input box 34b transmitted from 0
Is received in step S115, and the serial ID input to the software ID input box 34e. Further, in step S120, the received serial ID is searched for in the serial ID column 26b of the database file 26 with reference to the database file 26.

Then, in a step S125, it is determined whether or not there is a software ID corresponding to the received software ID among the software IDs associated with the searched serial ID. That is, the combination of the serial ID and the software ID received by the above processing is
It is determined whether the combination of the serial ID and the software ID stored in the database file 26 matches. If it is not determined in step S125 that the combination of IDs match, an error message is output in step S145, and the error message is displayed on the browser 34 of the client 30.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the purchaser is authenticated by the combination of the serial ID and the software ID, and the provision request is issued while the software ID is substantially specified by inputting the software ID. We can say that we accept. Therefore, the processing of steps S110 and S115 corresponds to the software provision request receiving means, and the processing of steps S115 and S120 corresponds to the purchaser authentication means.

If it is determined in step S125 that the combination of IDs match, step S1
At 30, it is determined whether the total software points for the requested software are within the current purchaser points. That is, the software point 26a
, It is determined whether or not the total of the software points indicated by the received software ID is within the purchaser points of the purchaser who made the software request. If it is not determined in step S130 that the total number of software points of the requested software is within the current purchaser points, an error message is output in step S145 as described above, and the error message is output to the browser 34 of the client 30. To display an error message.

If it is determined in step S130 that the total number of software points of the requested software is within the current purchaser points, in step S135, the password associated with the software ID is extracted. Then, output to the client 30. Since the provision of this password can be said to substantially provide software, the above-described step S1
30 and S135 correspond to the software providing means. Further, in step S140, the total number of software points of the software for which the password has been output is subtracted from the purchaser points of the software purchaser and updated, and the updated result is output to the client 30. Thus, the browser 34 of the client 30
Is displayed as shown in FIG. 8, and a series of password providing processing is terminated.

An example of the password providing operation in the above configuration and processing flow will be described below. In this description, the purchaser of the hard disk drive package product installs and trials the trial version of the software recorded on the CD-ROM 12 on the client 30, and as a result, the purchaser obtains “Copy” and “Partition”.
1 "will be described.
The purchaser can always refer to his / her own purchaser points using the browser 34. For the reference, the purchaser refers to the point display card 11 and enters his / her serial ID "HD000110". Serial I above
The user clicks the inquiry button 34c while inputting the data into the D input box 34b.

As a result, the server 20 executes step S10
In step S105, it is determined that the purchaser point corresponding to the serial ID "HD000110" is "10", and it is determined by the client 30 that the purchaser point corresponding to the serial ID "HD000110" is "10". Send. As a result, the received result "1" is displayed in the buyer point display box 34d of the client 30.
"0" is displayed. Further, the purchaser makes a request for provision, so that the software IDs “C0012ab” and “P10” of the “Copy” and “Partition1” are used.
001a ”in the software ID input box 34
Enter e.

In this state, the provision request button 34
When f is clicked, the server 20 executes step S
At 110, it is determined that there is a provision request, and step S11 is performed.
5, the serial ID "HD000110" and the software IDs "C0012ab" and "P10001a" are received. Further, the server 20 refers to the database file 26 shown in FIG. 5 in step S120.
In this reference, first, the received serial ID “H
D000110 ”is detected in the serial ID column 26b, and then“ C0012ab ”and“ P1 ”are selected from the software IDs associated with the serial ID.
0001a ". Accordingly, it is determined that the combination of the received serial ID and software ID matches the combination of the serial ID and software ID stored in the database file 26.

According to this determination, the user is authenticated as being a proper purchaser. Further, in step S130, "Copy" and "P" are referred to by referring to the software point 26a.
It is calculated that the total of the software points with "artition1" is "5", and it is determined that the total points are within "10" which is the accumulated purchaser points. That is, the purchaser can receive the provision of these software “Copy” and “Partition 1”.
py "passwords" AaaaBc "and" Part
“AbcDe”, which is the password of “tion1”, is output. In step S140, the purchaser points are updated to “5 (= 10−5)”, and the updated point number “5” is output.

In the client 30, as shown in FIG. 8, on the display screen 34g, the password of "Copy" is "AaaaBc" and "Partition" is displayed.
"1" is displayed as "AbcDe".
Further, a display is made to the effect that the current purchaser point is “5”. As a result, the purchaser can release the use restriction using the password in the installed software “Copy” and “Partition1”, and the software “Copy” and “ "Partition1" is not a trial version but a full version.

In the present embodiment, the purchaser can arbitrarily select and receive the software within a limited range. Therefore, while providing the software to satisfy the purchaser, the product provider can provide the software. License fees paid are reduced, and the cost performance of the product is improved. Thus, in order to configure so that the purchaser arbitrarily selects and receives the provision of the software within a limited range, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the above-described embodiment, and various embodiments can be adopted. For example, the interface used by the purchaser is not necessarily limited to the browser.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing a second embodiment according to the present invention. In the figure, the mail server 202
Is a web server and is specified in the subject of the received e-mail, and if the e-mail content is appropriate authentication information and a software provision request, it will return the password of the corresponding software. I have. More specifically, when the purchaser intends to receive the password providing service according to the present embodiment, it is necessary to send an e-mail describing necessary items to the e-mail server 202. 342a
Shows a state in which a message to be transmitted first when a password providing service is received by a predetermined mailer is displayed.

The purchaser who receives the password providing service according to the present embodiment is "Server@****.ne.
It is necessary to send an e-mail to the e-mail address “jp”, and in the new message 342a, “Client @
*****. ne. jp ”is sent to the destination by the above“ Server@****.ne.
jp ”is specified. In the new message 342a, the subject is "Softwar"
e Request ", and the description indicates that the purchaser intends to receive the password providing service.

The message content specifies the serial ID and the software ID of the software to be provided. In the new message 342a, the serial ID “HD000110” and the software ID of the software to be provided are “C0012ab”. Is specified. The buyer has such a new message 3
42a, the mail server 202 receives the new message and the subject is "Softwar".
A series of password providing services is started by determining that the request is "e Request".

Here, the mail server 202 has the same database as that of the first embodiment, extracts the serial ID and the software ID from the file of the new message 342a, and executes steps S115 to S115 in FIG.
The same processing as in step S130 is performed. Then, the password of the designated software “Copy” is changed to “Aaaa”.
Bc "and a mail specifying the remaining points of the purchaser. Received message 342b in FIG.
Is the message returned in this way. In this way, the purchaser can know the password “AaaaBc” from the received message 342b, and can use the password to use the trial version software “Copy”.
Can be changed to the full version.

Further, various types of database files, password assignment methods, and purchaser authentication methods can be adopted. FIG. 11 shows the point display card 113 according to the third embodiment, and FIG. 12 shows the accumulated data of the corresponding database file 263. In the present embodiment, the point display card 113 displays each point in a layout as shown in FIG. In the figure, the purchaser points are described in the upper left of the point display card 113, and the serial ID is described in the lower left. Further, a purchaser ID is given to the upper right portion of the point display card 113, and only software points are given to each software without giving an ID. In the present embodiment, the serial ID is an ID uniquely given to the hard disk drive, and the purchaser ID is an ID uniquely given to the purchaser. It is determined whether or not the purchaser is a proper purchaser based on a combination of the serial ID and the purchaser ID. That is, by determining the combination of the serial ID and the purchaser ID, the serial ID can be appropriately determined.
The person who has input such information is not recognized as a purchaser.

On the other hand, the database file 263 contains
The point display card 11 for each software name
Software point data similar to the points described in No. 3 is stored, and a password is stored for each software name. Serial ID and Buyer I
D is stored in the database file 263 while being associated with it, and the purchaser's point is also associated with the serial ID and stored so as to be updated at any time. In such a configuration,
The server according to the present embodiment is provided with an interface for inputting a serial ID and a purchaser ID in an HTML file and selecting provided software.

That is, when the purchaser inputs the serial ID and the purchaser ID while visually recognizing the interface based on the HTML file by the client, and selects the software, the server determines the serial ID and the purchaser ID. It is determined whether or not the combination matches the combination of the serial ID and the purchaser ID stored in the database file 263. If they match, it is determined that the request is from a proper purchaser, the software points requested by the purchaser points are reduced and updated, and the password of the requested software is output. As a result, the purchaser can obtain the password and use the password to release the software use restriction. As described above, in this embodiment, the ID and password of each software are
Since there is no need to accumulate data for each D, the capacity required for the database file 263 is reduced as compared with the first embodiment.

Further, as in the above-described embodiment, a general-purpose browser or mailer may be used, and the software according to the present invention may be provided using an interface dedicated to the present system. FIG.
Shows a display screen of the client in the fourth embodiment. In the present embodiment, the hard disk drive package product includes a floppy (registered trademark) disk on which an installation program for installing provided software is recorded. The same serial ID and software ID as described above are recorded on the floppy disk. When executing the installation program, the serial ID and the software ID are used.
And the software ID are read.

FIG. 13 shows an interface screen of the installation program. In the interface screen, software names are listed, and check boxes corresponding to the respective software are provided. The buyer checks the software he / she wants to install, and clicks the install button so that the total points do not exceed his / her purchaser points. The installation program has a communication function, communicates with a server similar to the above, and transmits the read serial ID and software ID. In the server, these serial I
The purchaser is authenticated by using D and the software ID, and when authenticating that the purchaser is a proper purchaser, the password of the software relating to the provision request is output.

The installation program receives the password, and installs only the software for which the password has been received from the attached CD-ROM. As described above, in the present embodiment, the purchaser does not need to perform operations such as inputting each ID, and can install software only by selecting software to be provided. The work from the actual delivery of the software is very simple.

Further, as described above, various modes can be adopted to realize the software providing system according to the present invention. In addition to the mode in which the password is provided, the software program itself is connected to a network line. It can also be configured to transmit via the Internet. With this configuration, it is possible to easily add software even when newly providing software to be provided or when providing an upgrade module.

As described above, in the present invention, the software value score, the purchaser value score, and the purchaser authentication information are accumulated, and the purchaser is authenticated when the software provision request is made. Further, the purchaser value points accumulated when the software provision request is authenticated are reduced and updated, and the software according to the provision request is provided to the purchaser. Therefore, it is possible for the purchaser to arbitrarily select and receive the provision of the software within the range of the initial value of the purchaser value score, and reduce the license fee paid by the product provider with the provision of the software, and Cost performance can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a hard disk drive package product using a software providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a layout diagram of a point display card.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a network configured by a server and a client.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a server.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing accumulated data of a database file.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a client.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display screen of a browser.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display screen of a browser.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a password providing process executed by the server.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing a second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a layout diagram of a point display card according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing accumulated data of a database file according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a display screen of a client according to the fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Hard disk drive 11 ... Point display card 12 ... CD-ROM 15 ... Internet network 20 ... Server 21 ... Communication interface 22 ... Operating system 23 ... Hard disk drive 24 ... CGI program 25 ... HTML file 26 ... Database file 26a ... Software point 26b ... Serial ID column 26c ... Buyer point column 26d ... Software ID column 26e ... Password column 30 ... Client 31 ... Communication interface 32a ... Display 32b ... Input device 33 ... Hard disk drive 34 ... Browser 34a ... Display screen 34b ... Serial ID input Box 34c Inquiry button 34d Buyer point display box 34e Software ID input box 34 ... providing request button 34g ... display display screen

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (54) [Title of the Invention] Describes a software providing system, a restriction releasing information providing system, a software providing method, a medium recording a software providing program, a restriction releasing information providing method, and a restriction releasing information providing program. Recorded media

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A software providing system for providing software to a purchaser of a product bundled with the software, comprising: a software value score accumulating means for accumulating a value score previously assigned to the software; A purchaser value score accumulating means for accumulating value points possessed by the purchaser; a purchaser authentication information accumulating means for accumulating authentication information for authenticating whether or not the user is an appropriate purchaser; A software provision request receiving means for receiving a software provision request, and an authentication as to whether or not the software provision request has been made by the purchaser based on the authentication information stored in the purchaser authentication information storage means. And a software authentication request by the buyer authentication means. And a software providing means for reducing and updating the purchaser's value points stored in the purchaser value point storage means when the certificate is issued, and providing the purchase request software to the purchaser. Characteristic software providing system. 2. The software providing system according to claim 1, wherein the software value points accumulated in the software value point accumulating means are given according to a price of the provided software. system. 3. The software providing system according to claim 1, wherein the software value score stored in the software value point storing means is determined according to the degree of function limitation of the provided software. A software providing system, which is provided. 4. The software providing system according to claim 1, wherein the purchaser is provided with a value point given to the software and the purchaser at the time of purchasing the product. A software providing system, wherein a list of value points and authentication information necessary for authentication of the purchaser is provided. 5. The software providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the purchaser is provided with data indicating a value point value given to the software and a value at the time of purchase of the product. A software providing system provided with a computer-readable recording medium on which data indicating the purchaser value score and data indicating authentication information necessary for authentication of the purchaser are recorded. 6. The software providing system according to claim 1, wherein the software providing request receiving unit receives a software providing request from the purchaser via a network line. Software providing system. 7. The software providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the software providing unit provides the purchaser with the requested software via a network line. Characteristic software providing system. 8. The software providing system according to claim 1, wherein said software providing means provides a password for enabling the software to be appropriately executed. Offer system. 9. A restriction release information providing system for providing restriction release information for releasing a use restriction of a product to which a use restriction is imposed, wherein a user value score possessed by the user and the use restriction are imposed. Information storage means for storing a product value score given in advance to a product and information for identifying the user, and information for indicating the product for which the user has requested release of the usage restriction and for authenticating the user. Request information acquiring means for acquiring the information of the user and the information for authenticating the user acquired by the cancel request information acquiring means and the information for identifying the user stored in the information accumulating means. User authentication means for authenticating the user who has requested the use restriction cancellation, and referring to the information storage means, the product value score of the product requested for cancellation based on the acquired cancellation request product information is determined as described above. Value point determining means for determining whether or not the value is within the user value point; and when the product value point is determined to be within the user value point by the same value point determining means, A restriction release information providing means for providing restriction release information for releasing the use restriction of the product. 10. While referring to a database that stores value points previously assigned to software, value points possessed by a purchaser, and authentication information for authenticating whether or not the purchaser is an appropriate purchaser, A software providing method for providing software to a purchaser of a product bundled with the software, the software providing request receiving step of receiving a software providing request from the purchaser, and authentication information stored in the database. A purchaser authentication step for performing authentication as to whether or not the software provision request has been made by the purchaser based on the software provision request receiving means, based on the above, when the software provision request is authenticated by the purchaser authentication step In the meantime, the purchaser's value score stored in the above database is reduced and updated. A software providing step of providing the purchaser with the software according to the providing request. 11. A medium storing a software providing program for providing software to a purchaser of a product bundled with the software, the software value storing a value point given in advance to the software. A point accumulating function, a buyer value point accumulating function for accumulating the value points possessed by the buyer, a purchaser authentication information accumulating function for accumulating authentication information for authenticating whether or not the user is an appropriate purchaser, Based on the software provision request reception function for receiving the software provision request from the purchaser and the authentication information stored in the purchaser authentication information storage function, is the software provision request received by the software provision request reception function made by the purchaser? Buyer authentication function that authenticates whether or not the software A software provision function for reducing and updating the purchaser's value points stored in the purchaser value point accumulation function when the provision request is authenticated, and providing the software relating to the provision request to the purchaser; Recording a software-provided program that causes a computer to realize the above. 12. While referring to a database that stores a user value score possessed by a user, a product value score previously assigned to a product to which use is restricted, and information for identifying the user, A restriction release information providing method for providing restriction release information for releasing a use restriction of a product to which a use restriction is imposed, wherein the method is to authenticate the user and information indicating a product for which the use restriction release has been requested. A release request information obtaining step of obtaining the above information and whether or not the product value score of the product requested for release based on the obtained release request product information is within the above user value score. A value point determination step of determining whether the product value point is within the user value point in the same value point determination step. A restriction release information providing step of providing restriction release information for releasing the restriction release information. 13. A medium storing a restriction release information providing program for providing restriction release information for releasing a restriction on use of a product to which a restriction on use has been imposed, comprising: a user value score possessed by the user; An information storage function that stores the product value score and the information for identifying the user that are given in advance to the restricted product, the information indicating the product for which the user has requested the release of the usage restriction, and the user. Release request information acquisition function for acquiring information for authenticating the user, information for authenticating the user acquired by the above release request information acquisition function, and information for identifying the user stored in the information storage function A user authentication function that authenticates the user who has requested the release of the usage restriction based on the above, and the information storage function is referred to, and based on the acquired release request product information, A value score determination function for determining whether or not the product value score is within the user value score; and when the product value score is determined to be within the user value score by the same value score determination function, A medium storing a restriction release information providing program that causes a computer to realize a restriction release information providing function of providing a user with restriction release information for releasing use restriction of the product.