Method and System for Determining Software License Compliance

• US 20090249493A1
• Filed: 03/27/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Computer Associates Think Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Computer Associates Think Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bash, Lee B., Wu, Nan, Disciascio, David
• Application Number:
  US12/057,031
• Publication Number:
  US 20090249493A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/31
• 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

According to one embodiment, a method includes receiving data regarding a plurality of licenses. Each license is associated with one or more respective software products. The data is partitioned such that first and second licenses of the plurality of licenses are grouped together. The first and second licenses are each associated with at least a first software product of the one or more respective software products. A first group identification is assigned to the first and second licenses.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving data regarding a plurality of licenses, each license being associated with one or more respective software products;

partitioning the data such that first and second licenses of the plurality of licenses are grouped together, the first and second licenses each being associated with at least a first software product of the one or more respective software products; and

assigning a first group identification to the first and second licenses.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining first and second license counts corresponding respectively to the first and second licenses;

determining an instance count of the first software product; and

determining whether the instance count can be apportioned to the first and second licenses, such that neither the first or second license counts are exceeded.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining first and second license counts corresponding respectively to the first and second licenses;

determining an instance count of the first software product; and

apportioning the instance count to the first and second licenses, such that neither the first or second license counts are exceeded.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining first and second license counts corresponding respectively to the first and second licenses;

determining an instance count of the first software product; and

apportioning the instance count to the first and second licenses, such that a minimum number of first and second license counts are applied to the instance count of the first software product.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the data is further partitioned, such that a third license of the plurality of licenses is grouped together with the first and second licenses, the first and third licenses are each associated with at least a second software product of the one or more respective software products, and the first group identification is assigned to the first, second, and third licenses.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the data is further partitioned, such that a third and fourth license of the plurality of licenses are grouped together, the third and fourth licenses are each associated with at least a second software product of the one or more respective software products, and the first group identification is assigned to the first, second, third, and fourth licenses.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the data is further partitioned, such that a third and fourth license of the plurality of licenses are grouped together, the third and fourth licenses are each associated with at least a second software product of the one or more respective software products, and a second group identification is assigned to the third and fourth licenses.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

disassociating the first license from the first software product;

repartitioning the data, in response to the disassociation of the first license, such that the first and second licenses are grouped separately; and

assigning a second group identification to the first license, the second group identification different from the first group identification.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the data is partitioned in response to a detected event.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the data within a computer-readable medium.

11. Logic encoded in tangible computer-readable media and when executed operable to:

receive data regarding a plurality of licenses, each license being associated with one or more respective software products;

partition the data such that first and second licenses of the plurality of licenses are grouped together, the first and second licenses each being associated with at least a first software product of the one or more respective software products; and

assign a first group identification to the first and second licenses.

12. The logic of claim 11, wherein the logic is further operable to:

determine first and second license counts corresponding respectively to the first and second licenses;

determine an instance count of the first software product; and

determine whether the instance count can be apportioned to the first and second licenses, such that neither the first or second license counts are exceeded.

13. The logic of claim 11, wherein the logic is further operable to:

determine first and second license counts corresponding respectively to the first and second licenses;

determine an instance count of the first software product; and

apportion the instance count to the first and second licenses, such that neither the first or second license counts are exceeded.

14. The logic of claim 11, wherein the logic is further operable to:

determine first and second license counts corresponding respectively to the first and second licenses;

determine an instance count of the first software product; and

apportion the instance count to the first and second licenses, such that a minimum number of first and second license counts are applied to the instance count of the first software product.

15. The logic of claim 11, wherein the data is further partitioned, such that a third license of the plurality of licenses is grouped together with the first and second licenses, the first and third licenses are each associated with at least a second software product of the one or more respective software products, and the first group identification is assigned to the first, second, and third licenses.

16. The logic of claim 11, wherein the data is further partitioned, such that a third and fourth license of the plurality of licenses are grouped together, the third and fourth licenses are each associated with at least a second software product of the one or more respective software products, and the first group identification is assigned to the first, second, third, and fourth licenses.

17. The logic of claim 11, wherein the data is further partitioned, such that a third and fourth license of the plurality of licenses are grouped together, the third and fourth licenses are each associated with at least a second software product of the one or more respective software products, and a second group identification is assigned to the third and fourth licenses.

18. The logic of claim 11, wherein the logic is further operable to:

disassociate the first license from the first software product;

repartition the data, in response to the disassociation of the first license, such that the first and second licenses are grouped separately;

assign a second group identification to the first license, the second group identification different from the first group identification.

19. The logic of claim 11, wherein the data is partitioned in response to a detected event.

20. The logic of claim 11, wherein the logic is further operable to store the data within a computer-readable medium.