Intelligent Time Detector Service for Software Trial Enforcement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users often employ hacks to manipulate software trial periods, such as modifying system dates, deleting software files, or modifying registry key values, to extend or bypass software trial limitations, leading to unauthorized access and revenue loss for software vendors.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an Intelligent Time Detector (ITD) module that synchronizes with the system clock to accurately track and enforce software trial periods, using a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) for encryption and secure storage, ensuring the trial period cannot be tampered with or extended, and automatically decommissioning the software when the trial period expires.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If software trial period tracking is implemented using system date and basic file storage, then the software can be easily installed and accessed during the trial period, but users can manipulate the system date or delete files to extend or bypass the trial period
Solution Approach 1:
The trial period tracking is divided into multiple independent components: a counter stored in the operating system registry, a separate service process (ITDService) that monitors the counter, and encryption using Trusted Platform Module (TPM). This segmentation ensures that manipulating one component (e.g., deleting software files) does not affect the overall trial period enforcement, as the counter and service operate independently from the main software application.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary service process (ITDService) is introduced between the software application and the trial period tracking mechanism. This service runs independently, monitors the counter in the registry, and enforces the trial period expiration. The intermediary approach prevents direct manipulation of trial period data by the application or user, as the service validates and controls access based on the encrypted counter value.
2Speed
If software trial period data is stored in easily accessible locations for verification, then the software can quickly check trial status, but hackers can easily access and modify this data to extend trial periods
Solution Approach 1:
The trial period counter is pre-stored in the operating system registry with encryption before the trial period begins. The Intelligent Time Detector (ITD) service is pre-configured to monitor this counter and enforce expiration. This preliminary setup ensures that the trial period tracking is established before any potential manipulation can occur, and the encrypted storage prevents easy modification by hackers while allowing quick verification by the service.
Solution Approach 2:
The trial period data is transformed from plain text to encrypted format using Trusted Platform Module (TPM) encryption. This parameter change in the data storage format protects the trial period counter from manipulation while maintaining quick verification capabilities. The encrypted counter can be rapidly checked by the ITD service without requiring complex decryption processes, thus maintaining speed while enhancing security.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the software allows fresh reinstallation after trial period to enable users to try again, then user flexibility is improved, but users can repeatedly delete and reinstall software to use it indefinitely without license
Solution Approach 1:
The Intelligent Time Detector (ITD) service is designed to be universally applicable across multiple software installations and reinstalls. It monitors the encrypted counter in the registry and enforces trial period expiration regardless of which specific software application is running. This multi-functional approach ensures that the trial period enforcement remains reliable even when users attempt to reinstall software, as the service continues to track and enforce the original trial period based on the persistent encrypted counter.
Data Source
AI summary
One example method, includes checking, by an intelligent time detector service running on a computing system, a trial period duration of software on the computing system, starting, by the intelligent time detector service, a counter for the software, and the counter is operable to generate a counter value based on a clock of the computing system, storing, by the intelligent time detector service, a counter value of the counter, and decommissioning, by the intelligent time detector service, the software after the trial period has expired.