SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRANS-VENDOR LICENSE REGISTRATION AND RECOVERY

• US 20080222043A1
• Filed: 03/07/2007
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Pickover, Clifford Alan, Mastrianni, Steven J., Chefalas, Thomas Edward
• Application Number:
  US11/683,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20080222043A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/59
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1464 for networked environments
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1469 Backup restoration techniques
• 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]

Abstract

Computer implemented method, system and computer usable program code for recovering application software in a data processing system. A computer implemented method for recovering application software in a data processing system includes receiving user data and application data from a plurality of users over a computer network, wherein the application data relates to application software of the plurality of users and includes application license data for applications that include a license. The received user data and application data are stored. A request is received over the computer network from a user of the plurality of users to recover application software of the user, and the requested application software is provided to the user over the computer network, wherein the provided application software is enabled and configured based on the user data and application data related to the provided application software.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for recovering application software in a data processing system, the computer implemented method comprising:

receiving user data and application data from a plurality of users over a computer network, wherein the application data relates to application software of the plurality of users and includes application license data for applications that include a license;

storing the received user data and application data;

receiving a request over the computer network from a user of the plurality of users to recover application software of the user; and

providing the requested application software to the user over the computer network, wherein the provided application software is enabled and configured based on the user data and application data related to the provided application software.

2. The computer implemented method according to claim 1, and further comprising:

authenticating the user before providing the requested application software to the user.

3. The computer implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the application data further comprises at least one of user settings data, user customization data, operating system specific settings data, auxiliary file data, and patches/updates to applications.

4. The computer implemented method according to claim 3, wherein the auxiliary file data comprises at least one of a user dictionary, special fonts, clip art, sound files and model geometry files.

5. The computer implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the user data comprises user identification data.

6. The computer implemented method according to claim 1, and further comprising:

encrypting the user data and application data from the plurality of users before receiving the user data and application data over the network.

7. The computer implemented method according to claim 1, and further comprising:

notifying the user regarding one or more available upgrades relating to the requested application software.

8. The computer implemented method according to claim 7, wherein notifying the user regarding one or more available upgrades relating to the requested application software, comprises:

notifying the user regarding an available alternate application.

9. The computer implemented method according to claim 1, and further comprising:

providing an upgrade of the requested application software to the user.

10. The computer implemented method according to claim 1, and further comprising:

mining the stored user data and application data for providing sales information regarding the plurality of users.

11. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer usable program code for recovering application software in a data processing system, the computer program product comprising;

computer usable program code configured for receiving user data and application data from a plurality of users over a computer network, wherein the application data relates to application software of the plurality of users and includes application license data for applications that include a license;

computer usable program code configured for storing the received user data and application data;

computer usable program code configured for receiving a request over the computer network from a user of the plurality of users to recover application software of the user; and

computer usable program code configured for providing the requested application software to the user over the computer network, wherein the provided application software is enabled and configured based on the user data and application data related to the provided application software.

12. The computer program product according to claim 11, and further comprising:

computer usable program code configured for authenticating the user before providing the requested application software to the user.

13. The computer program product according to claim 11, wherein the application data further comprises at least one of user settings data, user customization data, operating system specific settings data, auxiliary file data, and patches/updates to applications;

and wherein the user data comprises user identification data.

14. The computer program product according to claim 11, and further comprising:

computer usable program code configured for encrypting the user data and application data from the plurality of users before receiving the user data and application data over the network.

15. The computer program product according to claim 11, and further comprising:

computer usable program code configured for at least one of notifying the user regarding one or more available upgrades regarding the requested application software, and mining the stored user data and application data for providing sales information regarding the plurality of users.

16. An application software recovery system for recovering application software in a data processing system, comprising:

an application software recovery service provider for receiving user data and application data from a plurality of users over a computer network, wherein the application data relates to application software of the plurality of users and includes application license data for applications that include a license, and wherein the application software recovery service provider includes;

a data store for storing the received user data and application data;

an input mechanism for receiving a request over the computer network from a user of the plurality of users to recover application software of the user; and

an output mechanism for providing the requested application software to the user over the computer network, wherein the provided application software is enabled and configured based on the user data and application data related to the provided application software.

17. The application software recovery system according to claim 16, wherein the input mechanism comprises an authentication mechanism for authenticating the user before providing the requested application software to the user.

18. The application software recovery system according to claim 16, wherein the application data further comprises at least one of user settings data, user customization data, operating system specific settings data, auxiliary file data, and patches/updates to applications, and wherein the user data comprises user identification data.

19. The application software recovery system according to claim 16, and further comprising at least one of a mechanism for notifying the user regarding one or more available upgrades regarding the requested application software, and a mechanism for mining the stored user data and application data for providing sales information regarding the plurality of users.

20. The application software recovery system according to claim 16, and further comprising application recovery software installed in each of the plurality of users for enabling communication with the application software recovery service provider.