Locking programming interface
View Patent ↗A locking programming interface (LPI) which prevents piracy of device-related user software. An LPI Code is generated from a variety of different parameters, including a software product ID, a Production Key, and a number of device-specific parameters for the device that the user software supports. The LPI Code is burned into a memory of the device using a Production Utility process which utilizes the Production Key supplied by the software manufacturer. When the user software is installed in a host machine such as a user's computer system, the software performs basic device validation and then validates the LPI Code burned into the device against codes embedded into the user software.
1. A method of generating a secure program interface for software intended to be used with predetermined hardware comprising the steps of
providing as a first input at least one device specific identifier,
providing as a second input one software specific identifier, and
generating as an output a production key adapted to be operatively associated with the software;
wherein the at least one device specific identifier includes at least two device specific identifiers selected consisting of MAC address, chipset ID, vendor ID, serial number, and address range;
wherein the same production key is used for a plurality of different ones of the hardware; and
wherein a unique copy of the software is associated with each of the plurality of different ones of the hardware.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one device specific identifier includes MAC address and at least one other device specific identifier.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one device specific identifier includes a unique serial number and at least one other device specific identifier.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one device specific identifier includes a chipset ID and at least one other device specific identifier.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one device specific identifier includes a chipset ID and at least one other device specific identifier.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one device specific identifier includes a vendor ID and at least one other device specific identifier.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one device specific identifier includes an address range and at least one other device specific identifier.