Data processing system and method with copy protection

Abstract

A data processing system includes readout means, device ID storage means, storage medium writing means, first determination means, and processing means. The readout means reads out data that have been stored on a storage medium, the storage medium removably mounted in an external storage means. The device ID storage means stores a device ID that is peculiar to a device. The storage medium writing means writes the device ID that has been stored in the device ID storage means to the storage medium. The first determination means makes a determination as to whether the device ID that has been written to the storage medium and the device ID that has been stored in the device ID storage means are in agreement. The processing means carries out either first processing or second processing depending on a determination made by the first determination means.

1 . A data processing system, comprising: 
 a storage medium device for reading data from a storage medium;    a storage element for storing data; and    circuitry;    wherein the storage medium device reads first data from the storage medium; and    wherein the circuitry determines from the first data whether the storage medium has been previously used for an authorized installation of second data from the storage medium to an installation storage element, and in the event that the storage medium has been previously used for the authorized installation, the circuitry causes the second data and third data, which are read from the storage medium by the storage medium device, to be stored in the storage element and the circuitry associates the second data stored in the storage element with the third data stored in the storage element.    
   
   
       2 . The data processing system of  claim 1 , 
 wherein the storage medium device is at least one of a CD-R drive and a CD-RW drive.    
   
   
       3 . The data processing system of  claim 1 , 
 wherein the first data comprises an authorized flag.    
   
   
       4 . The data processing system of  claim 1 , 
 wherein the second data comprises a program.    
   
   
       5 . The data processing system of  claim 1 , 
 wherein the third data comprises a device ID.    
   
   
       6 . The data processing system of  claim 1 , 
 wherein the third data is the same as the first data.    
   
   
       7 . The data processing system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an expansion board slot for mounting an expansion board, the expansion board having an expansion board storage element for storing data;    wherein the circuitry determines whether fourth data stored in the expansion board storage element and the third data stored in the storage element are in agreement, and in the event that the fourth data and the third data are in agreement, the circuitry carries out first processing based on the second data stored in the storage element, and in the event that the fourth data and the third data are not in agreement, the circuitry carries out second processing that is different from the first processing.    
   
   
       8 . The data processing system of  claim 7 , 
 wherein the fourth data comprises a device ID.    
   
   
       9 . The data processing system of  claim 7 , 
 wherein the fourth data and the third data are in agreement when the fourth data is the same as the third data.    
   
   
       10 . The data processing system of  claim 7 , 
 wherein the second data comprises a program; and    wherein, in the event that the fourth data and the third data are in agreement, the circuitry carries out the first processing by executing the program.    
   
   
       11 . The data processing system of  claim 10 , 
 wherein, in the event that the fourth data and the third data are not in agreement, the circuitry carries out the second processing by executing the program and changing an output of the program during a time period.    
   
   
       12 . The data processing system of  claim 10 , 
 wherein the program comprises a program for producing a sound output; and    wherein, in the event that the fourth data and the third data are not in agreement, the circuitry carries out the second processing by executing the program and performing at least one of inserting noise into the sound output, periodically muting the sound output, and changing frequency characteristics of the sound output.    
   
   
       13 . The data processing system of  claim 7 , 
 wherein, in the event that the fourth data and the third data are in agreement, the circuitry carries out the first processing by transferring the second data to the expansion board and setting an authorized flag; and    wherein, in the event that the fourth data and the third data are not in agreement, the circuitry carries out the second processing by transferring the second data to the expansion board and resetting the authorized flag.    
   
   
       14 . The data processing system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an expansion board slot for mounting an expansion board, the expansion board having an expansion board storage element for storing data;    wherein the storage medium device can write data to the storage medium; and    wherein, in the event that the circuitry determines from the first data that the storage medium has not been previously used for the authorized installation, the circuitry causes the second data read from the storage medium by the storage medium device to be stored in the storage element and the circuitry causes fourth data stored in the expansion board storage element to be stored in the storage element and the circuitry associates the second data stored in the storage element with the fourth data stored in the storage element and the circuitry causes the storage medium device to write the fourth data to the storage medium.    
   
   
       15 . The data processing system of  claim 14 , 
 wherein the fourth data comprises a device ID.    
   
   
       16 . The data processing system of  claim 14 , 
 wherein the circuitry allows for carrying out first processing based on the second data stored in the storage element only when the expansion board having the expansion board storage element storing the fourth data is inserted into the expansion board slot.    
   
   
       17 . The data processing system of  claim 16 , 
 wherein the expansion board slot allows for mounting at least one of a plurality of expansion boards; and    wherein the circuitry allows for carrying out second processing that is different from the first processing when a different expansion board than the expansion board having the expansion board storage element storing the fourth data is inserted into the expansion board slot.    
   
   
       18 . A method for providing copy protection for first data stored on a storage medium for use with a data processing system, the data processing system having a storage element for storing data, a storage medium device for reading data from the storage medium, and an expansion board slot for receiving an expansion board, the expansion board having an expansion board storage element for storing data, the method comprising the steps of: 
 reading second data from the storage medium;    determining from the second data whether the storage medium has been previously used for an authorized installation of the first data to an installation storage element;    reading, in the event that it is determined that the storage medium has been previously used for the authorized installation, the first data and third data from the storage medium and storing the first data and the third data in the storage element;    reading fourth data from the expansion board storage element;    determining, in response to a request to execute processing based on the first data, whether the third data and the fourth data are in agreement;    performing, in the event that the third data and the fourth data are determined to be in agreement, first processing based on the first data; and    performing, in the event that the third data and the fourth data are determined to not be in agreement, second processing that is different from the first processing.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , 
 wherein the second data and the third data are the same data.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , 
 wherein the third data comprises a device ID.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18 , 
 wherein the fourth data comprises a device ID.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 18 , 
 wherein the first data comprises a program.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of determining, in response to a request to execute processing based on the first data, whether the third data and the fourth data are in agreement, comprises the step of: 
 determining, in response to a request to execute processing based on the first data, whether the third data and the fourth data are in agreement by determining whether the third data has a same value as a value of the fourth data.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 18 , 
 wherein the first data comprises a program;    wherein the step of performing, in the event that the third data and the fourth data are determined to be in agreement, first processing based on the first data, comprises the step of: 
 performing, in the event that the third data and the fourth data are determined to be in agreement, first processing by executing the program; and  
   wherein the step of performing, in the event that the third data and the fourth data are determined to not be in agreement, second processing that is different from the first processing, comprises the step of: 
 performing, in the event that the third data and the fourth data are determined to not be in agreement, second processing by executing the program and changing an output of the program during a time period.  
   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 18 , 
 wherein the first data comprises a program for producing a sound output;    wherein the step of performing, in the event that the third data and the fourth data are determined to be in agreement, first processing based on the first data, comprises the step of: 
 performing, in the event that the third data and the fourth data are determined to be in agreement, first processing by executing the program; and  
   wherein the step of performing, in the event that the third data and the fourth data are determined to not be in agreement, second processing that is different from the first processing, comprises the step of: 
 performing, in the event that the third data and the fourth data are determined to not be in agreement, second processing by executing the program and by performing at least one of inserting noise into the sound output of the program, periodically muting the sound output of the program, and changing frequency characteristics of the sound output of the program.