System, method and program product to identify unutilized or underutilized software license

• US 20060287960A1
• Filed: 06/21/2005
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Smalley, Thomas Martin, Marsnik, Jamie Beth, Nalamwar, Omkar Ashok
• Granted Patent: US 9,117,057 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/59
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/105 Arrangements for software license management or administration, e.g. for managing licenses at corporate level
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202

Abstract

System, method and program product for identifying at least one of a multiplicity of software licenses which are not needed by an entity. Each licenses a same type of software to the entity and includes at least one condition of installation or usage of licensed software. The multiplicity of software licenses are evaluated in a first sequence based on a first order of their respective types of conditions, by determining which installations or usages of the software can be considered licensed by an initial one of the software licenses in a first sequence. Afterwards, a determination is made which installations or usages of the software which could not be considered licensed by the initial software license in the sequence can be considered licensed by a next one of the software licenses in the first sequence. Afterwards, a determination is made if all installations or usages of the licensed software by the entity were considered licensed by prior software licenses in the first sequence and if there is at least one subsequent software license in the first sequence. The multiplicity of software licenses are also evaluated in a second sequence based on a second order of their respective types of conditions, by determining which installations or usages of the software can be considered licensed by an initial one of the software licenses in the second sequence. Afterwards, a determination is made which installations or usages of the software which could not be considered licensed by the initial software license in the first sequence can be considered licensed by a next one of the software licenses in the second sequence. Afterwards, a determination is made if all installations or usages of the licensed software by the entity were considered licensed by prior software licenses in the second sequence and if there is at least one subsequent software license in the second sequence.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for identifying at least one of a multiplicity of software licenses which are not needed by an entity, each of said multiplicity of software licenses licensing a same type of software to the entity and including at least one condition of installation or usage of licensed software, said method comprising the steps of:

evaluating said multiplicity of software licenses in a first sequence based on a first order of their respective types of conditions, by determining which installations or usages of said software can be considered licensed by an initial one of said software licenses in said first sequence, and afterwards, determining which installations or usages of said software which could not be considered licensed by the initial software license in said first sequence can be considered licensed by a next one of said software licenses in said first sequence, and afterwards, determining if all installations or usages of the licensed software by said entity were considered licensed by prior software licenses in said first sequence and if there is at least one subsequent software license in said first sequence; and

evaluating said multiplicity of software licenses in a second sequence based on a second their respective types of conditions, by determining which installations or usages of said software can be considered licensed by an initial one of said software licenses in said second sequence, and afterwards, determining which installations or usages of said software which could not be considered licensed by the initial software license in said first sequence can be considered licensed by a next one of said software licenses in said second sequence, and afterwards, determining if all installations or usages of the licensed software by said entity were considered licensed by prior software licenses in said second sequence and if there is at least one subsequent software license in said second sequence.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the subsequent steps of:

determining a potential cost savings by terminating said at least one subsequent software license in said first sequence; and

determining a potential cost savings by terminating said at least one subsequent software license in said second sequence.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2 further comprising the step of:

comparing the potential cost savings by terminating said at least one subsequent software license in said first sequence to the potential cost savings by terminating said at least one subsequent software license in said second sequence.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said conditions is selected from a group consisting of:

a geographic location of a CPU on which the licensed software can be installed or used, a total number of copies of the licensed software that can be installed or used, and a specified CPU on which the licensed software can be installed or used.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said initial one of said software licenses in said first sequence has a condition on a geographic location of a CPU on which the licensed software can be installed or used.

6. A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein said initial one of said software licenses in said second sequence has a condition on a total number of copies of the licensed software that can be installed or used or a specified CPU on which the licensed software can be installed or used.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

one of said prior software licenses in said first sequence licenses a fixed number greater than one of copies of the licensed software, and if all installations or usages of the licensed software by said entity were considered licensed by said prior software licenses in said first sequence, further comprising the step of determining if said fixed number of installations or usages were considered licensed by said one prior software license.

8. A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein if less than said fixed number of installations or usages were considered licensed by said one prior software license, further comprising the steps of determining how much less than said fixed number of installations or usages were considered licensed by said one prior software license and notifying an operator that said one prior software license is not fully utilized.

9. A computer implemented method for identifying at least one of a multiplicity of software licenses which are not needed by an entity, each of said multiplicity of software licenses licensing a same type of software to the entity and including at least one condition of installation or usage of licensed software, said method comprising the steps of:

evaluating said multiplicity of software licenses in a plurality of sequences, where said plurality of sequences are based on a respective plurality of orders of the types of conditions in said software licenses, by determining for each of said sequences;

which installations or usages of said software can be considered licensed by an initial one of said software licenses in said each sequences, and afterwards, determining which installations or usages of said software which could not be considered licensed by the initial software license in said each sequences can be considered licensed by a next one of said software licenses in said each sequence, and afterwards, determining if all of said installations or usages were considered licensed by prior software licenses in said each sequence and there is at least one subsequent software license in said each sequence.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9 further comprising the subsequent steps of:

determining a potential cost savings by terminating said at least one subsequent software license in said each sequence.

11. A method as set forth in claim 10 further comprising the step of:

comparing the potential cost savings by terminating said at least one subsequent software license in each of said sequences to each other.

12. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein each of said conditions is selected from a group consisting of:

a geographic location of a CPU on which the licensed software can be installed or used, a total number of copies of the licensed software that can be installed or used, and a specified CPU on which the licensed software can be installed or used.

13. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein said initial one of said software licenses in said each sequence has a condition on a geographic location of a CPU on which the licensed software can be installed or used.

14. A method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said initial one of said software licenses in said each sequence has a condition on a total number of copies of the licensed software that can be installed or used or a specified CPU on which the licensed software can be installed or used.

15. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein:

one of said prior software licenses in said each sequence licenses a fixed number greater than one of copies of the licensed software, and if all installations or usages of the licensed software by said entity were considered licensed by said prior software licenses in said each sequence, further comprising the step of determining if said fixed number of installations or usages were considered licensed by said one prior software license.

16. A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein if less than said fixed number of installations or usages were considered licensed by said one prior software license, further comprising the steps of determining how much less than said fixed number of installations or usages were considered licensed by said one prior software license and notifying an operator that said one prior software license is not fully utilized.

17. A computer program product for identifying at least one of a multiplicity of software licenses which are not needed by an entity, each of said multiplicity of software licenses licensing a same type of software to the entity and including at least one condition of installation or usage of licensed software, said computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium;

first program instructions to evaluate said multiplicity of software licenses in a plurality of sequences, where said plurality of sequences are based on a respective plurality of orders of the types of conditions in said software licenses, by determining for each of said sequences;

which installations or usages of said software can be considered licensed by an initial one of said software licenses in said each sequences, and afterwards, determining which installations or usages of said software which could not be considered licensed by the initial software license in said each sequences can be considered licensed by a next one of said software licenses in said each sequence, and afterwards, determining if all of said installations or usages were considered licensed by prior software licenses in said each sequence and there is at least one subsequent software license in said each sequence; and

wherein said first program instructions are stored on said medium.

18. A computer program product as set forth in claim 17 wherein:

one of said prior software licenses in said each sequence licenses a fixed number greater than one of copies of the licensed software, and further comprising second program instructions, responsive to all installations or usages of the licensed software by said entity being considered licensed by said prior software licenses in said each sequence, to determine if said fixed number of installations or usages were considered licensed by said one prior software license; and

wherein said second program instructions are stored on said medium.

19. A computer program product as set forth in claim 18 further comprising third program instructions, responsive to less than said fixed number of installations or usages being considered licensed by said one prior software license, to determine how much less than said fixed number of installations or usages were considered licensed by said one prior software license and notify an operator that said one prior software license is not fully utilized;

and wherein said third program instructions are stored on said medium.