Licenses that include fields identifying properties

• US 20040098277A1
• Filed: 11/18/2002
• Published: 05/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: LaMacchia, Brian A., DeTreville, John, Atkinson, Bob
• Application Number:
  US10/298,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20040098277A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/59
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply

Abstract

A computer-implemented mechanism for granting rights to a resource is described. Trusted issuers and other entities may define properties and criteria for determining whether an entity possesses a property. A license may be used to assert that a principal possesses the property. A trusted issuer may then issue a second license that authorizes any entity that possesses the property the right to utilize a resource.

Claims

17. A computer-implemented method of granting a principal a right to a resource, the method comprising:

generating a first license that asserts that a principal possess a property; and

generating a second license that grants principals that possess the property the right to the resource.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the first license is formatted in accordance with a trust management language and the property is not defined by the trust management language.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the first license is formatted in accordance with a trust management language.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein the trust management language is a derivation of XML.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein the license is created with a computer programming language.

22. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a license data structure, said license data structure comprising:

a first field identifying a principal;

a second field identifying a right to possess a property; and

a third field identifying the property.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, where the second field further includes an identification of one or more entities that the property is possessed relative to.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the license data structure further includes:

a fourth field identifying at least one condition that must exist prior to the principal exercising the right to possess the property.

25-1. The computer-implemented method of claim 25, wherein (b) comprises analyzing one or more additional licenses possessed by the principal.