Mechanism for secure rehosting of licenses

• US 20080243683A1
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sharma, Vikram, Harvey, Andrew G., Pandharikar, Anand, Patel, Anand, Chandrasekaran, Balachander
• Granted Patent: US 7,769,693 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/39
• 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: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce

Abstract

In one embodiment, a licensing authority receives a rehost ticket indicating proof of removal of a license from a first device. The licensing authority receives a request for a license for a second device. The licensing authority validates the rehost ticket to ensure that the license on the first device has been removed from the first device. The licensing authority provides a license for the second device if the rehost ticket is successfully validated, wherein the license that has been removed from the first device and the license for the second device provide the same license capabilities. The first device and the second device are associated with the same customer. Payment has been received for the license associated with the first device but payment has not been received for a separate license capable of being applied to the second device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a rehost ticket indicating proof of removal of a license from a first device;

receiving a request for a license for a second device;

validating the rehost ticket to ensure that the license has been removed from the first device; and

providing a license for the second device if the rehost ticket is successfully validated, wherein the license that has been removed from the first device and the license for the second device provide the same license capabilities;

wherein the first device and the second device are associated with the same customer;

wherein payment has been received for the license associated with the first device but payment has not been received for a separate license capable of being applied to the second device.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request for permission to remove the license from the first device; and

providing a permission ticket to be applied to the first device, enabling the license to be removed from the first device.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the request for permission to remove a license from the first device and the request for a license for the second device are received in a single request to move the license from the first device to the second device.

4. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

determining whether to provide the permission ticket prior to providing the permission ticket.

5. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

receiving proof of possession of the first device from a customer; and

receiving proof of possession of the second device from the customer.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the license that is removed from the first device identifies the first device and the license that is provided for the second device identifies the second device.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving proof of possession of the license that has been previously issued and installed on the first device.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether to provide a license for the second device based upon one or more business policies prior to providing the license for the second device.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein determining whether to provide a license for the second device comprises:

ascertaining whether the license capabilities are supported on a product type of the second device.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein determining whether to provide a license for the second device comprises:

ascertaining a license type of the license that has been previously issued and installed on the first device; and

determining whether the license type can be rehosted.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein receiving a rehost ticket indicating proof of removal of a license from a first device, receiving a request for a license for a second device, validating the rehost ticket, and providing a license for the second device are performed by a licensing authority.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the rehost ticket indicating proof of removal of a license from a first device and the request for a license for the second device are received via a web site.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein providing a license for the second device comprises:

providing a license for the second device via email.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein providing a license for the second device comprises:

installing a license on the second device.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, at least one of the processor or the memory being adapted for;

receiving a rehost ticket indicating proof of removal of a license from a first device;

receiving a request for a license for a second device;

validating the rehost ticket to ensure that the license has been removed from the first device; and

providing a license for the second device if the rehost ticket is successfully validated, wherein the license that has been removed from the first device and the license for the second device provide the same license capabilities;

wherein the first device and the second device are associated with the same customer;

wherein payment has been received for the license associated with the first device but payment has not been received for a separate license capable of being applied to the second device.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving a rehost ticket indicating proof of removal of a license from a first device;

means for receiving a request for a license for a second device;

means for validating the rehost ticket to ensure that the license has been removed from the first device; and

means for providing a license for the second device if the rehost ticket is successfully validated, wherein the license that has been removed from the first device and the license for the second device provide the same license capabilities;

wherein the first device and the second device are associated with the same customer;

wherein payment has been received for the license associated with the first device but payment has not been received for a separate license capable of being applied to the second device.

17. A method, comprising:

receiving a permission ticket by a license manager of a first device, the permission ticket indicating permission to rehost a license on the first device;

removing the license by the license manager from the first device in response to receiving the permission ticket; and

generating or providing a rehost ticket by the license manager, the rehost ticket indicating proof of removal of the license from the first device, thereby enabling the license to be rehosted on a second device.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, further comprising:

generating a temporary license by the license manager for use on the first device.

19. Logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution and when executed operable to:

receive a permission ticket by a license manager of a first device, the permission ticket indicating permission to rehost a license on the first device;

remove the license by the license manager from the first device in response to receiving the permission ticket; and

generate or provide a rehost ticket by the license manager, the rehost ticket indicating proof of removal of the license from the first device, thereby enabling the license to be rehosted on a second device.

20. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, at least one of the processor or the memory being adapted for;

receiving a permission ticket by a license manager of a first device, the permission ticket indicating permission to rehost a license on the first device;

removing the license by the license manager from the first device in response to receiving the permission ticket; and

generating or providing a rehost ticket by the license manager, the rehost ticket indicating proof of removal of the license from the first device, thereby enabling the license to be rehosted on a second device.