Regional network licensing system

• US 20060106731A1
• Filed: 12/28/2005
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1996
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GraphOn Corporation
• Original Assignee: GraphOn Corporation
• Inventors: Coley, Christopher D., Wesinger, Ralph E. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US11/321,835
• Publication Number:
  US 20060106731A1
• 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: G06F 21/105 Arrangements for software license management or administration, e.g. for managing licenses at corporate level
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/121 Restricting unauthorised execution of programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/602 Providing cryptographic facilities or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2135 Metering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/56 Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 applying security measures for digital rights management data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for commerce, e.g. marketing, shopping, billing, auctions or e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/062 for key distribution, e.g. centrally by trusted party cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving a central third party H04L9/0819
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0838 Key agreement, i.e. key establishment technique in which a shared key is derived by parties as a function of information contributed by, or associated with, each of these network architectures or network communication protocols for key exchange in a packet data network H04L63/061
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/12 Transmitting and receiving encryption devices synchronised or initially set up in a particular manner
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3297 involving time stamps, e.g. generation of time stamps

Abstract

A regional network licensing system is disclosed. A client licensing module is provided that is associated with a protected client software application. A plurality of regional license servers are provided that include a licensing module. The client licensing modules are configured to monitor the use of the client software applications and send a license inquiry request to the licensing module of the geographically nearest regional license server.

Claims

1. A regional network licensing system comprising:

a machine including a client licensing module associated with a client software application disposed therein;

a plurality of regional license servers, each of the regional license servers including a licensing module; and

wherein said client licensing module configured to monitor the use of said client software applications and send a license inquiry request to the licensing module of a geographically nearest one of said plurality of regional license servers.

2. The regional network system of claim 1, wherein said client licensing module and said geographically nearest regional license server are in communication through an IP-compliant network.

3. The regional network system of claim 2, wherein said geographically nearest regional license servers sends license inquiry information regarding said client licensing module to a central license server.

4. The regional network system of claim 3, wherein said central license server uses the license inquiry information to prepare a billing statement.

5. The regional network system of claim 4, wherein said plurality of regional license servers further comprise an audit tool for monitoring use of said client software applications.

6. A regional network licensing system comprising:

a machine including client licensing module means associated with a client software application disposed therein;

a plurality of regional license servers, each of the regional license servers including licensing module means; and

wherein said client licensing module means includes means for monitoring the use of said client software applications and sending a license inquiry request to a geographically nearest one of said plurality of regional license servers.

7. The regional network system of claim 6, wherein said client licensing module and said geographically nearest regional license server are in communication through an IP-compliant network.

8. The regional network system of claim 7, wherein said geographically nearest regional license servers further comprises means for sending a license inquiry information regarding said client licensing module means to a central license server.

9. The regional network system of claim 8, wherein said central license server further comprises means for utilizing the license inquiry information to prepare a billing statement.

10. The regional network system of claim 9, wherein said plurality of regional license servers further comprises audit tool means for monitoring use of said client software applications.

11. A regional network licensing system comprising:

a client licensing module associated with a client software application;

a plurality of regional license servers, each of the regional license servers including a licensing module; and

wherein said client licensing module configured to monitor the use of said client software applications and send a license inquiry request to the licensing module of a geographically nearest one of said plurality of regional license servers.

12. The regional network system of claim 11, wherein said client licensing module and said geographically nearest regional license server are in communication through an IP-compliant network.

13. The regional network system of claim 12, wherein said geographically nearest regional license servers sends license inquiry information regarding said client licensing module to a central license server.

14. The regional network system of claim 13, wherein said central license server uses the license inquiry information to prepare a billing statement.

15. The regional network system of claim 14, wherein said plurality of regional license servers further comprise an audit tool for monitoring use of said client software applications.