DialCops

Dialcops Access Control

DialCops is a licensing system that safely and easily allows distributors to control access to the computer resources (programs and data) that are sent to their customers. This is accomplished by providing an access-code over the telephone or via the net. With this access code, the expiry date of the product can be extended or the allowed number of users can be increased.

DialCops DOS and Windows protections run on IBM compatible PC hardware (8086 - pentium) running DOS, Windows 3.X, Win95/98, NT 4.0, WIN2000 or WIN-OS/2 .

You can protect both programs and data (electronic books, databases, pictures etc.) both for stand-alone and for network use.

The expiry date and the number of simultaneous net-users can be controlled via the access-code.

The protected items are locked to one machine or one server, and the user can perform normal back-up and replacement of RAM, extension cards and peripherals.

A new access-code must be given if the user moves the software to another machine or exchanges motherboard.

DialCops has been tested on numerous network types and works boths on peer-to-peer networks such as Lantastic or Windows For Workgroups as well as on dedicated server types such as Novell or LAN manager.

Regardless of whether you distribute programs for DOS, Windows, or Networks, DialCops allows you to give customers temporary or permanent usage of these programs. If your product is data, whether it be books, moving pictures or sounds, DialCops lets you decide who is allowed access and for how long.

DialCops was designed for organizations who want individual control of databases, executables or other resources distributed via any data transfer technique. The scrambled resources can be distributed freely, at little or no initial cost to the end-user. Payment is made when he decides to buy and receives the code.

DialCops is unique in that it restricts the allowed use to a single machine or network. Thus, an access-code is needed for each user or group of users, and this code cannot be transferred to another machine or network. This is achieved by uniquely identifying the inner signature of the computer or server - a technique which was invented by LINK Computer in 1987 and has been used worldwide since then.

The access code for a particular package will therefore depend on a Machine ID and is unique for each user. The user reports this Machine ID and receives an access code which then opens the specified package. The access code works only on the machine or network in question, and a new code must be purchased if the package is to be used somewhere else.

The access code can also be time limited to expire after a specified date. After the expiry date is exceeded, a new code can be given. In any case, the distributor is guaranteed payment. This principle is extremely well-suited for demonstration purposes or for program leasing.

On a network, the installation is made by the system operator. The number of simultaneous users is determined by access code. The number of users can be increased or decreased by issuing a new access code.

Software protection

The executable program itself is protected. The first time the program is executed, a message is displayed asking for an access-code. If a user tries to run the program on an unlicensed machine, an error code is displayed and the program terminates. DialCops also includes a program protection scheme which does not require source changes.

Data Protection

The data protection scheme assumes that the data in question is scrambled, while the browser or text retrieval software itself is unprotected. An access code is required to decrypt each data file the end-user wants to use. Decryption is possible on the target machine only.

Installation Protection

This version of DialCops protects the installation process itself. The distributed programs are encrypted so that they are unusable. An access code is necessary to enable the installation, and programs are decrypted on-the-fly. Once installed, the programs are fully enabled and are identical to programs purchased via normal channels.