Real-time license enforcement system and method

• US 20050256805A1
• Filed: 07/25/2005
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Satkunanathan, Lingan, Raden, Gary P., Merchant, Sameer Yusufali
• Granted Patent: US 7,676,437 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/59
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1408 by monitoring network traffic monitoring network traffic per se H04L43/00

Abstract

A license enforcement system is disclosed herein. The system receives digitized licenses associated with computer applications in a secure license store. The licenses are then monitored and compared with the actual use by users to determine compliance with licenses. If users employ an application in violation of licensing terms then corrective action can be taken such as providing warnings and/or shutting down or denying access to a licensed application. Additional security features are employed to ensure that license store data is valid and that the system is constantly monitored except where a bypass component is properly utilized. Furthermore, a user can utilize a plurality of different wizards such as an add license wizard, a backup license wizard and a restore license wizard, to facilitate easy step-by-step interaction with the license system.

Claims

1. A license enforcement system, comprising:

a monitoring component that determines a current number (M) of users logged on to an application under a license; and

an enforcement component that dynamically takes corrective action if M exceeds an authorized number (N) of users permitted under the license.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein corrective action includes providing a warning to one or more users.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the corrective action comprises denying one or more users access to a license target, the license target including one of the application, a system and a device.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a license store for securely storing license data.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a validation component that periodically checks stored license data to ensure it has not been corrupted.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a backup store that contains copies of stored license data.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the validation component restores corrupted stored license data by copying data in the backup store to the license store.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising an oversight component that observes the monitoring component to ensure that it is operating.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the oversight component restarts the monitoring component if is stops operating.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the oversight component shuts down the application if monitoring component cannot be restarted.

11. A license enforcement system comprising:

a monitoring component that monitors use of a licensed application by one or more users in accordance with a license agreement; and

an enforcement component that takes corrective action upon notification by the monitoring component that there has been a violation of the license agreement.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the monitoring component monitors user logins.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the monitoring component monitors hardware associated with the execution of an application.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the monitoring component monitors use of other applications being executed concurrently with the licensed application.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the corrective action corresponds warning one or more users of the licensing agreement violation.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the corrective action corresponds to shutting down the licensed application.

17. A method for enforcing licensing agreements comprising:

monitoring license data in a data store and use of a licensed application;

determining license violations; and

initiating corrective action in response to detection of a license violation.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein determining license violations comprises comparing the number of users licensed to utilize the application against the number of users actually using the application.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein determining license violations comprises comparing the number of licenses to the number of devices, a violation occurring where the number of devices is greater than the number of licenses.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein determining license violations comprises monitoring computer hardware configuration and comparing it with an allowable configuration specified by the licensing agreement.