Software & license and physical/virtual machine asset management library application with check-out/check-in, front-end asset load, tracking, reporting, reconciliation and associated methods

• US 20080028218A1
• Filed: 06/12/2007
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jonathon Simon
• Original Assignee: Jonathon Simon
• Inventors: Simon, Jonathon
• Application Number:
  US11/811,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20080028218A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/170
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/105 Arrangements for software license management or administration, e.g. for managing licenses at corporate level

Abstract

A method for providing software/license and physical/virtual machine management is disclosed for a specialized asset management system. The specialized asset management system aggregates physical and online software assets and their corresponding license(s), as well as physical and virtual machines into a unified library system wherein assets can be managed, used, reserved, tracked, reconciled, and reported on using a library check-out and check-in paradigm.

Claims

1. A method of managing software and license assets using check-out and check-in, comprising:

providing a server system;

coupling the server system to a network;

coupling the networked server system to an authentication source;

coupling the networked server system to a web server;

coupling the networked server system to a backend RDBMS;

coupling the networked server system to a SMTP system for email delivery of checked-out software and license(s).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the networked server system provides a web portal to a comprehensive search utility used to search the software and license assets for a desired entry, followed by a check-out feature.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the server system is hosted on the Internet.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the server system is hosted on an isolated corporate network.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the server system manages the software and license assets of multiple owners.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the server system email contains details of the checked-out software and/or corresponding license, such as, but not limited to, software name, # of license(s) checked-out, a URL link to online software, and a URL link to license key.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the server system email contains details of the checked-in software and/or corresponding license, such as, but not limited to, software name, and # of license(s) checked-in.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the server system administratively expires the email URL link to the online software and license after the end-user or administrator has reconciled the software and/or corresponding license back into the library via a check-in.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein a software check-out is not permitted because of pre-defined license terms, or lack of available licenses.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein a license reservation is not permitted because of pre-defined license terms, or lack of available licenses.

22. The methods of claims 1 and 11, wherein the web pages served up by the web server are accessed via a dedicated centralized library kiosk.

23. The methods of claims 1 and 11, wherein the server system provides a dynamic user-editable knowledge-base for all managed assets, which is accessible to all users, either single owners or multiple owners.

24. The methods of claims 1 and 11, wherein the server system provides a queuing utility, which enables users to add themselves to the next available check-out in the event that a managed asset has no current availability.

11. A method of managing physical and virtual machine assets using check-out and check-in, comprising:

providing a server system;

coupling the server system to a network;

coupling the networked server system to an authentication source;

coupling the networked server system to a web server;

coupling the networked server system to a VM (Virtual Machine) manager;

coupling the networked server system to a backend RDBMS;

coupling the networked server system to a SMTP system for email delivery of checked-out physical/virtual machines(s).

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the networked server system provides a web portal to a comprehensive search utility used to search the physical and virtual machine assets for a desired entry, followed by a check-out feature.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the server system is hosted on the Internet.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the server system is hosted on an isolated corporate network.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the server system manages the physical and virtual machine assets of multiple owners.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the server system email contains details of the checked-out physical or virtual machine, such as, but not limited to, device name, network address, a URL link to more granular details such as point of contact, project allocation, location, and logon credentials.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the server system email contains details of the checked-in physical or virtual machine, such as machine name, time of check-in, point of contact, project de-allocation, and future availability.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the server system administratively expires the email URL link to the granular details for the physical and virtual machine after the end-user or administrator has reconciled the physical or virtual machine back into the library via a check-in.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein a physical or virtual machine check-out is not permitted because of pre-defined terms, or lack of available resources.

20. The methods of claims 5 and 15, wherein each of multiple owners has its own properties file, yet shares common Meta Data in the back-end RDBMS.

21. The methods of claims 5, 15, and 20, wherein the online software and license(s) of multiple users are shared across the entire landscape of multiple users for storage efficiency, based on license compliance terms.

25. The method of claim 11 wherein the virtual machine assets are integrated into the library system for check-out and check-in.