License file serial number tracking

• US 20040044901A1
• Filed: 08/30/2002
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Serkowski, Robert J., Walker, William T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,228,567 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/121 Restricting unauthorised execution of programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination

Abstract

A system for monitoring licensing eligibility of a computational component, the computational component being associated with a unique identifier, is provided. The system comprises (i) an input and/or interface 120 operable to receive a request to authorize operation of at least part of the computational component; (ii) a memory, such as licensing database 128, comprising licensing database information associated with the identifier, the information comprising a licensing state indicator; and (iii) an activator, such as remote feature activator 112, operable to (a) authorize operation of the at least part of the computational component when the licensing state indicator has a first state and (b) not authorize operation of the at least part of the computational component when the licensing state indicator has a second state other than the first state.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring licensing eligibility of a computational component, the computational component being associated with a unique identifier, comprising:

receiving a request to authorize operation of at least a functional part of the computational component;

retrieving from a licensing database information associated with the identifier, the information comprising a licensing state indicator;

when the licensing state indicator has a first state, authorizing operation of the at least a functional part of the computational component; and

when the licensing state indicator has a second state other than the first state, not authorizing operation of the at least a functional part of the computational component.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request comprises the identifier and causes transmission of a license file.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the information also comprises an identity of a customer, a system identifier, a modification identifier and a user identifier.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first state indicates that the identifier is valid and eligible for licensing and wherein the second state indicates that the identifier is either invalid or valid and not eligible for licensing.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first state is valid inactive and the second state is valid active and wherein the licensing state indicator can have third, fourth, and fifth states, the third state being invalid open, the fourth state being invalid returned, and the fifth state being invalid scrap.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein when the licensing state indicator has one of the third, fourth, and fifth states the at least a functional part of the computational component is not enabled.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when the licensing state indicator has the first state, assigning the second state to the licensing state indicator.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the information is in a current table and further comprising:

maintaining a historical table containing noncurrent information associated with the identifier.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the enabling step comprises:

generating a license file, the license file comprising a header and at least one application definition, the header including the identifier and the at least one application definition including at least one feature to be enabled and a duration of the license; and

transmitting the license file to the computational component.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to disable the at least a functional part of the computational component;

disabling the at least a functional part of the computational component; and

assigning to the licensing state indicator a third state, wherein the third state indicates that the identifier is not eligible for licensing.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a notification that the at least a functional part of the computational component is being returned to service and

reassigning the first state to the at least a functional part of the computational component.

12. A computer readable medium comprising instructions to perform the steps of claim 1.

13. A logic circuit for performing the steps of claim 1.

14. A system for monitoring licensing eligibility of a computational component, the computational component being associated with a unique identifier, comprising:

an input for receiving a request to authorize operation of at least a part of the computational component;

a memory comprising licensing database information associated with the identifier, the information comprising a licensing state indicator; and

activation means for (a) authorizing operation of the at least a part of the computational component when the licensing state indicator has a first state and (b) not authorizing operation of the at least a part of the computational component when the licensing state indicator has a second state other than the first state.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the request comprises the identifier and causes transmission of a license file.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the information also comprises an identity of a customer, a system identifier, a modification identifier, and a user identifier.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the first state indicates that the identifier is valid and eligible for licensing and wherein the second state indicates that the identifier is either invalid or valid and not eligible for licensing.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the first state is valid inactive and the second state is valid active and wherein the licensing state indicator can have third, fourth, and fifth states, the third state being invalid open, the fourth state being invalid returned, and the fifth state being invalid scrap.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein when the licensing state indicator has one of the third, fourth, and fifth states the at least a part of the computational component is not enabled by the activation means.

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

means for assigning the second state to the licensing state indicator when the at least a part of the computational component is enabled.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the information is in a current table and further comprising:

means for maintaining a historical table containing noncurrent information associated with the identifier.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein the activation means (a) generates a license file, the license file comprising a header and at least one application definition, the header including the identifier and the at least one application definition including at least one feature to be enabled and a duration of the license and (b) transmits the license file to the at least a part of the computational component.

23. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

when the input receives a request to disable the at least a part of the computational component, deactivation means for disabling the at least a part of the computational component and wherein the assigning means assigns to the licensing state indicator a third state, wherein the third state indicates that the identifier is not eligible for licensing.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein, when the input receives a notification that the at least a part of the computational component is being returned to service, the assigning means reassigns the first state to the at least a part of the computational component.

25. A system for monitoring licensing eligibility of a computational component, the computational component being associated with a unique identifier, comprising:

an input operable to receive a request to authorize operation of at least a functional part of the computational component;

a memory comprising licensing database information associated with the identifier, the information comprising a licensing state indicator; and

an activator operable to (a) authorize operation of the at least a functional part of the computational component when the licensing state indicator has a first state and (b) not authorize operation of the at least a functional part of the computational component when the licensing state indicator has a second state other than the first state.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the request comprises the identifier and causes transmission of a license file.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the information also comprises an identity of a customer, a system identifier, a modification identifier, and a user identifier.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the first state indicates that the identifier is valid and eligible for licensing and wherein the second state indicates that the identifier is either invalid or valid and not eligible for licensing.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein the first state is valid inactive and the second state is valid active and wherein the licensing state indicator can have third, fourth, and fifth states, the third state being invalid open, the fourth state being invalid returned, and the fifth state being invalid scrap.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein when the licensing state indicator has one of the third, fourth, and fifth states the at least a functional part of the computational component is not enabled by the activator.

31. The system of claim 29, further comprising:

a manager operable to assign the second state to the licensing state indicator when the at least a functional part of the computational component is enabled.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the information is in a current table and wherein the manager maintains a historical table containing noncurrent information associated with the identifier.

33. The system of claim 25, wherein the activator is operable to (a) generate a license file, the license file comprising a header and at least one application definition, the header including the identifier and the at least one application definition including at least one feature to be enabled and a duration of the license and (b) transmit the license file to the at least a functional part of the computational component.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein, when the input receives a request to disable the at least a functional part of the computational component, the activator disables the at least a functional part of the computational component and wherein the manager assigns to the licensing state indicator a third state, wherein the third state indicates that the identifier is not eligible for licensing.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein, when the input receives a notification that the at least a functional part of the computational component is being returned to service, the manager reassigns the first state to the at least a part of the computational component.