Software license agreement management based on temporary usage

• US 20080183626A1
• Filed: 01/31/2007
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Romero, Francisco, Guerette, Michael James
• Application Number:
  US11/701,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20080183626A1
• 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

Abstract

A computer-automated system manages license agreements in a server that is partitioned into multiple partitions including physical partitions and/or virtual partitions operative in separate operating environments executing independent operating system and applications with resources dynamically allocated among the multiple partitions. A licensed software element is executed on the dynamically-allocated resources and charges are assessed based on execution of the licensed software element on the dynamically-allocated resources.

Claims

1. A computer-automated method for managing a software license agreement comprising:

dynamically allocating resources among multiple partitions including physical partitions and/or virtual partitions operative in separate operating environments executing independent operating system and applications;

executing a licensed software element on the dynamically-allocated resources; and

assessing charges on a basis of execution of the licensed software element on the dynamically-allocated resources.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

assessing the charges on a per-processor basis as number of processors upon which the licensed software element executes changes over time.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

assessing baseline licensing charges on a basis of a selected baseline number of processors on the server and a selected distribution of the processors to different partitions on the server; and

assessing temporary software licensing charges on a basis of execution of the licensed software element for time on processors above the baseline number of processors.

4. The method according to claim 3 further comprising:

dynamically modifying the number of baseline processors.

5. The method according to claim 3 further comprising:

installing baseline licensing with the licensed software element; and

installing temporary software licensing into the server independent from installation of the licensed software element.

6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

monitoring compliance with a licensing agreement comprising;

discovering a number of baseline processors in individual partitions;

discovering a number of baseline licenses per partition;

discovering a number of temporary software licenses;

discovering a timestamp for the licenses;

monitoring a balance of temporary software license usage in comparison to baseline usage; and

communicating notifications as balances near or exceed exhaustion.

7. The method according to claim 6 further comprising:

detecting resource activation and/or migration; and

monitoring compliance with a licensing agreement at the resource activation and/or migration; and

enforcing compliance with the licensing agreement.

8. An article of manufacture comprising:

a controller usable medium having a computable readable program code embodied therein for managing a license agreement in a system that partitions a server into multiple partitions including physical partitions and/or virtual partitions operative in separate operating environments executing independent operating system and applications, and dynamically allocates resources among the multiple partitions, the computable readable program code further comprising;

a code adapted to cause the controller to monitor execution of a licensed software element on the dynamically-allocated resources; and

a code adapted to cause the controller to assess charges on a basis of execution of the licensed software element on the dynamically-allocated resources.

9. The article of manufacture according to claim 8 further comprising:

the computable readable program code installable as a standalone product independently of installation of the licensed software element further comprising;

a dummy code installable to record timestamp and for discovery.

10. The article of manufacture according to claim 8 further comprising:

a code adapted to cause the controller to dynamically allocate resources among multiple partitions Including physical partitions and/or virtual partitions operative in separate operating environments executing independent operating system and applications; and

a code executable as the licensed software element on the dynamically-allocated resources and installable independently of the code adapted to cause the controller to assess charges on the licensed software element execution.

11. The article of manufacture according to claim 8 further comprising:

a code adapted to cause the controller to assess the charges on a per-processor basis as number of processors upon which the licensed software element executes changes over time.

12. The article of manufacture according to claim 8 further comprising:

a code adapted to cause the controller to assess baseline licensing charges on a basis of a selected baseline number of processors on the server and a selected distribution of the processors to different partitions on the server; and

a code adapted to cause the controller to assess temporary software licensing charges on a basis of execution of the licensed software element for time on processors above the baseline number of processors.

13. The article of manufacture according to claim 12 further comprising:

the licensed software element that is installable with baseline licensing; and

the licensed software element that is installable with temporary software licensing independent of baseline licensing.

14. The article of manufacture according to claim 8 further comprising:

a code adapted to cause the controller to monitor compliance with a licensing agreement comprising;

a code adapted to cause the controller to discover a number of baseline processors in individual partitions;

a code adapted to cause the controller to discover a number of baseline licenses per partition;

a code adapted to cause the controller to discover a number of temporary software licenses;

a code adapted to cause the controller to discover a timestamp for the licenses;

a code adapted to cause the controller to monitor a balance for the temporary software licenses as partitions using temporary software exceed baseline; and

a code adapted to cause the controller to communicate notifications as balances near or exceed exhaustion.

15. The article of manufacture according to claim 14 further comprising:

a code adapted to cause the controller to detect resource activation and/or migration; and

a code adapted to cause the controller to monitor compliance with a licensing agreement at the resource activation and/or migration; and

a code adapted to cause the controller to enforce compliance with the licensing agreement.

16. A server comprising:

a plurality of resources;

a controller configured for partitioning the server Into multiple partitions including physical partitions and/or virtual partitions operative in separate operating environments executing independent operating system and applications, and dynamically allocating the resources among the multiple partitions;

a licensed software element executable on the dynamically-allocated resources; and

an executable license agreement manager configured for assessing charges on a basis of execution of the licensed software element on the dynamically-allocated resources.

17. The server according to claim 16 further comprising:

the executable license agreement manager configured for assessing baseline licensing charges on a basis of a selected baseline number of processors on the server and a selected distribution of the processors to different partitions on the server, and assessing temporary software licensing charges on a basis of time of execution of the licensed software element on processors exceeding the baseline number of processors.

18. The server according to claim 16 further comprising:

the executable license agreement manager configured for monitoring compliance with a licensing agreement by discovering baseline processors in individual partitions, baseline licenses per partition, and temporary software licenses.

19. The server according to claim 18 further comprising:

the executable license agreement manager configured for monitoring a balance of processors executing software under a temporary software license in relation to baseline, and communicating a notification as balances near or exceed exhaustion.

20. The server according to claim 18 further comprising:

the executable license agreement manager configured for detecting resource activation and/or migration, monitoring compliance with a licensing agreement at the resource activation and/or migration, and enforcing compliance with the licensing agreement.