Information processing device, information processing method and information recording medium and system for information processing

Abstract

The object of the present invention is to implement, by a simple arrangement, means for making the same information recording medium function selectively as a product version or as a demo version, and to provide a method of information processing whereby illicit use by a third party can be prevented. In a method of information processing according to the present invention, game software (a CD ROM) on which a game program is stored is inserted into a game device (step A 1 ), and the content of back-up memory is read (step A 2 ). A determination is made as to whether or not license information is written in the back-up memory (step A 3 ) and, if no license information is written therein, the game software is made to function as the demo version (step A 8 ). If license information is written therein, license checking is performed (step A 4 ) and, as a result of the checking, the game software is made to function as the product version or as the demo version (steps A 6, A 7 ).

1 . An information processing device that reads information recorded on an information recording medium and performs prescribed information processing, comprising: 
 first means for storage that stores first identification information that is individual to said information processing device;    means for reading second identification information that is individual to said information recording medium;    second means for storage that stores prescribed information including operation restriction of said 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 said information recording medium when said first identification information and said third identification information coincide and said second identification information and said fourth identification information coincide, in accordance with said prescribed information; and for restricting the operation content of said information recording medium under a predetermined condition when said first identification information and said third identification information do not coincide or said second identification information and said fourth identification information do not coincide.    
     
     
         2 . The information processing device of  claim 1  wherein said prescribed information is information that determines the period of use or condition of use etc. of said information recording medium.  
     
     
         3 . The information processing device of  claim 1  or  claim 2  wherein said prescribed information, said third identification information and said fourth identification information are sent to said information processing device from a prescribed terminal device through a communication circuit.  
     
     
         4 . The information processing device of  claim 3  wherein said prescribed information, said third identification information and said fourth identification information are sent to said information processing device in encrypted form.  
     
     
         5 . The information processing device of any of  claims 1  to  4  wherein said second means for storage is a portable recording medium externally mounted on said information processing device.  
     
     
         6 . The information processing device of  claim 5  wherein said externally mounted portable recording medium is back-up memory.  
     
     
         7 . The information processing device of any of claims  1   6  wherein said information recording medium is an information recording medium on which a game program is stored.  
     
     
         8 . An information processing method for reading information stored on an information recording medium and performing prescribed information processing comprising the steps of: 
 storing the first identification information individual to said information processing device;    reading second identification information individual to said information storage medium;    storing prescribed information including an operation restriction of said information recording medium, third identification information individual to some information processing device, and fourth identification information individual to some information recording medium; and    restricting the operation content of said information recording medium when said first identification information and said third identification information coincide and said second identification information and said fourth identification information coincide, in accordance with said prescribed information; and restricting the operation content of said information recording medium under a predetermined condition when said first identification information and said third identification information do not coincide or said second identification information and said fourth identification information do not coincide.    
     
     
         9 . The information processing method of  claim 8  wherein said prescribed information is information determining the period of use or condition of use etc. of said information recording medium.  
     
     
         10 . The information processing method of  claim 8  or  claim 9  wherein said prescribed information, said third identification information and said fourth identification information are sent to said information processing device from a prescribed terminal device through a communication circuit.  
     
     
         11 . The information processing method of  claim 10  wherein said prescribed information, said third identification information and said fourth identification information are sent to said information processing device in encrypted form.  
     
     
         12 . The information processing method of any one of  claim 8  to  claim 11  wherein said second means for storage is a portable recording medium externally mounted on said information processing device.  
     
     
         13 . The information processing method of  claim 12  wherein said externally mounted portable recording medium is back-up memory.  
     
     
         14 . The information processing method of any one of  claim 8  to  claim 13  wherein said information recording medium is an information recording medium on which a game program is stored.  
     
     
         15 . An information recording medium capable of being read by a computer wherein is stored a program to cause the computer to execute an information processing method of  claim 8 .  
     
     
         16 . The information recording medium of  claim 15  wherein said prescribed information is information determining the period of use or condition of use etc. of said information recording medium.  
     
     
         17 . The information recording medium of  claim 15  or  claim 16  wherein a game program is recorded in a prescribed recording region.  
     
     
         18 . An information processing system comprising a plurality of information processing terminals that read prescribed software recorded on information recording media and execute this, and a server connected to said information processing terminals through a network and that manages the operating environment of processing at the information processing terminals, in which 
 said server mutually associates and stores registration information including first identification information that is individually allocated to each information processing terminal, second identification information that is allocated beforehand to each type of software, and third identification information that is allocated to each said information recording medium in respect of software of the same type such that there is no overlap;    said information processing terminal, on executing the software recorded on said information recording medium, transmits said first identification information and second identification information to the server and requests registration condition confirmation;    upon receiving said registration condition confirmation request, the server looks up the registration information, and, if a combination that has been sent from said information processing terminal of said first identification information and second identification information coincides with the registration information, sends to said information processing terminal a first checking result and sends a second checking result if said combination is not present;    an information processing terminal that has received said first checking result executes said software under the ordinary operating environment, and an information processing terminal that has received said second checking result sends said third identification information and requests the server to register the third identification information;    upon receiving this registration request, the server looks up once more the registration condition and, if said third identification information that has been transmitted from the information processing terminal is not associated and registered in respect of any other information processing terminal, associates and registers this third identification information with said information processing terminal, and sends a first registration result to said information processing terminal; and, if said third identification information is associated and registered in respect of any other information processing terminal, or if there is abnormality in at least any one of first information, second identification information or third identification information, sends a second registration result to said information processing terminal; and    said information processing terminal, which has received the first registration result, executes said software under the ordinary operating environment, and said information processing terminal, which has received said second registration result, executes said software under a restricted operating environment.    
     
     
         19 . An information processing system comprising a plurality of information processing terminals that read prescribed software recorded on information recording media and execute this, and a server connected to said information processing terminals through a network and that manages the operating environment of processing at the information processing terminals, in which 
 said server mutually associates and stores registration information including first identification information that is individually allocated to each information processing terminal, second identification information that is allocated beforehand to each type of software, and third identification information that is allocated to each said information recording medium in respect of software of the same type such that there is no overlap;    said information processing terminal, on executing the software recorded on said information recording medium, transmits said first identification information, second identification information and third identification information to the server and requests registration condition confirmation;    upon receiving said registration condition confirmation request, the server looks up the registration information, and, if a combination that has been sent from said information processing terminal of said first identification information and second identification information coincides with the registration information, sends to said information processing terminal a checking result to that effect and if said combination is not present, if said third identification information is not associated and registered in respect of any other information processing terminal, associates and registers this third identification information with said information processing terminal, and sends a first registration result to said information processing terminal; and, if said third identification information is associated and registered in respect of any other information processing terminal, or if there is abnormality in at least any one of first information, second identification information or third identification information, sends a second registration result to said information processing terminal; and    after it has said information processing terminal, which has received said checking result or first registration result, executes said software under the ordinary operating environment, and said information processing terminal, which has received said second registration result, executes said software under a restricted operating environment.    
     
     
         20 . The information processing system of  claim 18  or  claim 19  wherein said information processing terminal, when it sends said third identification information to the server, reads this third identification information that has been stored beforehand in external memory, and sends this to the server.  
     
     
         21 . An information processing terminal that reads and executes prescribed software recorded on an information recording medium wherein, as a processing step prior to execution of said software, registration information including first identification information allocated individually to the information processing terminal, second identification information allocated beforehand to each type of software, and third identification information allocated to each said information recording medium in respect of software of the same type such that there is no overlap is mutually associated and stored, and said first identification information and second identification information are sent and a registration condition confirmation request is made to a server connected to this information processing terminal through a network, 
 if a checking result is received to the effect that the combination of said first identification information and second identification information coincides with registration information managed by the server, said software is executed under the ordinary operating environment,    if a checking result is received to the effect that this combination does not exist, third identification information is sent and a registration request of the third identification information is made to the server, and    if a registration result to the effect that registration was performed correctly is received, said software is executed under the ordinary operating environment, but, if registration was not performed correctly, said software is executed under a restricted operating environment.    
     
     
         22 . An information processing terminal that reads and executes prescribed software recorded on an information recording medium wherein, as a processing step prior to execution of said software, registration information including first identification information allocated individually to the information processing terminal, second identification information allocated beforehand to each type of software, and third identification information allocated to each said information recording medium in respect of software of the same type such that there is no overlap is mutually associated and stored, and said first identification information, second identification information and third identification information are sent and a registration condition confirmation request is made to a server connected to this information processing terminal through a network, 
 if a checking result is received to the effect that the combination of said first identification information and second identification information coincides with registration information managed by the server, said software is executed under the ordinary operating environment,  
 if a registration result is received to the effect that, the third identification information being unregistered in respect of any information processing terminal, registration of this third identification information was performed correctly, said software is executed under the ordinary operating environment, but, if a registration result is received to the effect that said registration was not performed correctly, said software is executed under a restricted operating environment.  
 
     
     
         23 . A server which is connected through a network with a plurality of information processing terminals that read prescribed software that is recorded on an information recording medium and execute this, and that manages the operating environment of processing at these information processing terminals; 
 which mutually associates and stores registration information including first identification information individually allocated to each information processing terminal, second identification information allocated beforehand to each type of software, and third identification information allocated to each said information recording medium in respect of software of the same type such that there is no overlap;    which receives a registration condition confirmation request including said first identification information and second identification information sent to this server by said information processing terminal as a processing step prior to execution of the software;    which, as a result of looking up said registration information, transmits a first checking result to the effect that said software is to be executed under the ordinary operating environment to said information processing terminal, if the combination of said first identification information and second identification information that is sent from said information processing terminal coincides with registration information;    which, if this combination does not exist, sends to said information processing terminal a second checking result seeking the registration of third identification information in respect of said information processing terminal;    which, if a registration request for this identification information is received together with said third identification information, again looks up the registration condition, and, if said third identification information that was sent from the information processing terminal is not associated and registered in respect of any other information processing terminal, associates and registers this third identification information with this information processing terminal and sends a first registration result to said information processing terminal to the effect that the software is to be executed under the ordinary operating environment; and    which, if said third identification information is associated and registered in respect of some other information processing terminal, or if at least any one of said first identification information, second identification information or third identification information contains abnormality, sends to said information processing terminal a second registration result to the effect that said software is to be executed under a restricted operating environment.    
     
     
         24 . A server which is connected through a network with a plurality of information processing terminals that read prescribed software that is recorded on an information recording medium and execute this, and that manages the operating environment of processing at these information processing terminals; 
 which mutually associates and stores registration information including first identification information individually allocated to each information processing terminal, second identification information allocated beforehand to each type of software, and third identification information allocated to each said information recording medium in respect of software of the same type such that there is no overlap;    which receives a registration condition confirmation request including said first identification information, second identification information and third identification information sent to this server by said information processing terminal as a processing step prior to execution of the software;    which, as a result of looking up said registration information, transmits a checking result to the effect that said software is to be executed under the ordinary operating environment to said information processing terminal, if the combination of said first identification information, second identification information and third identification information that is sent from said information processing terminal coincides with registration information;    which, if this combination does not exist, if said third identification information is not associated and registered in respect of any other information processing terminal, associates and registers this third identification information with this information processing terminal and sends a first registration result to said information processing terminal to the effect that the software is to be executed under the ordinary operating environment; and    which, if said third identification information is associated and registered in respect of some other information processing terminal, or if at least any one of said first identification information, a second identification information or third identification information contains abnormality, sends to said information processing terminal a second registration result to the effect that said software is to be executed under a restricted operating environment.    
     
     
         25 . A recording medium for a terminal on which is recorded a procedure to cause a computer to function as an information processing terminal according to  claim 21  or  claim 22 .  
     
     
         26 . A recording medium for a server on which is recorded a procedure to cause a computer to function as a server according to  claim 23  or  claim 24.