Periodic software licensing system

• US 20040019565A1
• Filed: 07/25/2002
• Published: 01/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Orbach, Julian J., Smyrk, Martin, Lenard, Rohan, Goringe, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 7,707,115 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/59
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

The period software licensing system allows the customer to create a software license schedule that includes one or more time periods during which application file usage is allowed and identifies the maximum number of concurrent application files allowed during the corresponding time period. The software license schedule may include a plurality of time periods each having a different corresponding maximum number of concurrent user allowed. The software management system authorizes concurrent usage of application files based on the time period during which an application file usage request is received and the number of concurrent users presently authorized.

Claims

1. A periodic software licensing system for authorizing concurrent usage of a plurality of application files corresponding to a plurality of software licenses to a plurality of users, the system comprising:

a means for selecting a time period during which concurrent usage of said plurality of application files is available; and

a means for authorizing concurrent usage of said corresponding subset of said plurality of application files during said time period.

2. The periodic software licensing system of claim 1 further comprising:

a means for allocating a subset of said plurality of software licenses for concurrent usage of a corresponding subset of said plurality of application files during said time period.

3. The periodic software licensing system of claim 2 further comprising:

a means for assigning two or more different time periods wherein a corresponding one of said subsets of said plurality of software licenses corresponds to each one of said two or more different time periods.

4. The periodic software licensing system of claim 1 wherein said authorizing means comprises:

a means for determining a present time during which a usage request is received from one of more of said plurality of users; and

a means for authorizing said usage request if said present time is within said time period.

5. The periodic software licensing system of claim 4 further comprising:

a means for processing said usage request and authorizing said usage request if said present time is within said time period.

6. A periodic software licensing system for authorizing concurrent usage of a plurality of application files to a plurality of users, the system comprising:

a plurality of software licenses corresponding to said plurality of application files, wherein each one of said plurality of software licenses authorized usage of a corresponding one of said plurality of application files;

a means for scheduling a time period;

a means for allocating a subset of said plurality of software licenses for concurrent usage a corresponding subset of said plurality of application files during said time period;

a means for determining a present time; and

a means for authorizing concurrent usage of said subset of said plurality of application files when said present time is within said time period.

7. A periodic software licensing system for authorizing concurrent usage of a plurality of application files corresponding to a plurality of software licenses to a plurality of users during, the system comprising:

a time period during which said plurality of software licenses corresponding to a said plurality of application files are available for authorization;

a means for processing for determining a present time and authorizing concurrent usage of an application file corresponding to one of said plurality of software licenses when said present time is within said time period.

8. The periodic software licensing system of claim 7 further comprising:

a subset of said plurality of software licenses corresponding to a subset of said plurality of application files, wherein said subset of said plurality of application files is available during said time period.

9. The periodic software licensing system of claim 8 further comprising:

two or more time periods, wherein a corresponding one of said subset of said plurality of application files is available during said two or more time periods.

10. The periodic software licensing system of claim 7 wherein said means for processing comprises:

one or more usage requests from one or more of said plurality of users;

a processor for processing said one or more usage requests and authorizing concurrent usage of one or more of said plurality of application files when said present time is within said time period.

11. A software management system for authorizing concurrent usage of a plurality of application files corresponding to a plurality of software licenses to a plurality of users, the system comprising:

one or more time periods;

one or more subsets of said plurality of software licenses corresponding to said one or more time periods, wherein one or more subsets of said plurality of application files corresponding to said one or more subsets of software licenses are available for authorization during a corresponding one of said one or more time periods;

one or more usage requests from said plurality of users;

a means for determining a present time;

a processor for processing said one or more usage requests and authorizing concurrent usage of one or more of said plurality of application files corresponding to said one or more subsets of said plurality of software licenses when said present time is within a corresponding one of said one or more time periods.

12. A method for a software management system to authorize a plurality of concurrent uses of a plurality of application files by a plurality of users, each one of said plurality of application files corresponding to one of a plurality software licenses, the method comprising:

scheduling a time period;

processing a usage request from one or more of said plurality of users;

determining a present time; and

authorizing concurrent usage of a one of said plurality of application files if said present time is within said time period.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein authorizing concurrent usage comprises:

receiving one or more usage requests from said plurality of users;

processing said one or more usage requests; and

authorizing a usage of a corresponding one of said plurality of application files when said present time is within said one of said two or more time periods and the number of usage requests authorized is less than the subset of said plurality of software licenses.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

allocating a subset of said plurality of software licenses for concurrent usage during said time period.