Method of queuing requests to access a communications network

• US 20040073670A1
• Filed: 09/11/2003
• Published: 04/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alvaria Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Aspect Software Incorporated
• Inventors: Chack, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,552,166 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/105 Arrangements for software license management or administration, e.g. for managing licenses at corporate level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources

Abstract

A method is provided for queuing requests for access to a software through a communication network having a limited amount of licenses to the software. In one embodiment, the invention includes a server having the software receiving requests for access to the software from a plurality of remote users and allowing access to the software on the server to some of the plurality of remote users such that the number of remote users allowed access does not exceed the set number of available licenses. The remainder of the plurality of remote users can be placed in a queue. The method can further include sending alerts to remote users as licenses become available, and allowing access to the software on the server to the queued remote users.

Claims

1. A method of queuing request to access to a server having software with a set number of available licenses, the method comprising:

receiving requests for access to the software on the server from a plurality of remote users;

allowing access to the software on the server to some of the plurality of remote users such that the number of remote users allowed access does not exceed the set number of available licenses;

placing the remainder of the plurality of remote users in a queue;

sending alerts to remote users as licenses become available; and

allowing access to the software on the server to the queued remote users.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a message to the remote users that are placed in the queue.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the queued remote users is allowed access to the software on the server only after the remote user responds to the alert.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote users in the queue are prioritized based on when the requests are received.

5. A server comprising:

a receiver to receive requests for access to a software on the server from a plurality of remote users, the software having a set number of available licenses;

a processor to allow access to the software on the server to some of the plurality of remote users such that the number of remote users allowed access does not exceed the set number of available licenses, and to place the remainder of the plurality of remote users in a queue;

a transmitter to send alerts to remote users as licenses become available;

wherein

the processor allows access to the software to the queued remote users.

6. The server of claim 5, wherein the transmitter sends a message to the remote users that are placed in the queue.

7. The server of claim 5, wherein each of the queued remote users is allowed access to the software on the server only after the remote user responds to the alert.

8. The server of claim 5, wherein the remote users in the queue are prioritized based on when the requests are received.

9. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon data representing instructions that, when executed by a processor of a server, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving requests for access to software on the server from a plurality of remote users, the software having a set number of available licenses;

allowing access to the software on the server to some of the plurality of remote users such that the number of remote users allowed access does not exceed the set number of available licenses;

placing the remainder of the plurality of remote users in a queue;

sending alerts to remote users as licenses become available; and

allowing access to the software on the server to the queued remote users.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to send a message to the remote users that are placed in the queue.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein each of the queued remote users is allowed access to the software on the server only after the remote user responds to the alert.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the remote users in the queue are prioritized based on when the requests are received.