System and Method for License Reclamation

• US 20130262401A1
• Filed: 04/01/2013
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Branch Banking & Trust Company (Truist Financial Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Branch Banking & Trust Company (Truist Financial Corp.)
• Inventors: Bishop, Chris, Pedone, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 9,916,342 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/689
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2365 Ensuring data consistency and integrity
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance

Abstract

The present disclosure describes systems and methods for managing and implementing an asset license reclamation program across a network. The status of an asset, such as computer software, is automatically determined and if the asset does not meet particular use criteria, the asset may be flagged for reclamation and/or redeployment, either within the same network segment or in a separate network segment.

Claims

1. A method for managing an asset in a network, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) automatically querying a plurality of workstations connected to the network to determine presence of the asset;

(b) generating a first list of workstations based on results of the querying;

(c) determining, for a first workstation on the first list, a date of last use of the asset;

(d) determining, for the first workstation on the first list, a frequency of use of the asset during a first predetermined time interval;

(e) for the condition where either the date of last use is earlier than a first predetermined date or the frequency of use is less than a predetermined threshold, determining if the first workstation is a member of a predetermined group of workstations;

(f) for the condition where the first workstation is not a member of the predetermined group, sending to the first workstation a first message regarding the asset;

(g) receiving from the first workstation, within a second predetermined time interval, a second message regarding the asset, otherwise sending to the first workstation an instruction to remove the asset;

(h) receiving from the first workstation confirmation of removal of the asset;

(i) updating a first database with a status of the first workstation regarding the asset; and

(j) updating a second database with an indication of availability of the asset.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

(k) receiving from a second workstation a request for use of the asset;

(l) verifying, from the second database, availability of the asset;

(m) providing the asset to the second workstation for installation;

(n) determining if the first workstation and the second workstation are in a same segment of the network; and

(o) for the condition where the first workstation and the second workstation are in different segments of the network, updating a third database with a disposition of the asset.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of providing the asset to the second workstation includes generating a default invoice and sending the default invoice to fourth database.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first predetermined time interval is 90 days.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the second predetermined time interval is 30 days.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first predetermined date is 90 days prior to a current date.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined threshold is two.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first message includes a notice to remove the first asset.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the second message includes a request to opt out of removal of the asset.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the first database includes the first list of workstations.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the first database further includes information regarding which of the plurality of workstations is a member of the predetermined group of workstations.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the second database includes information regarding an availability of a license for the asset.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the second database provides access by ones of the plurality of workstations for use of the asset.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein ones of the plurality of workstations are in a first segment of the network and wherein others of the plurality of workstations are in a second segment of the network.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the automatic querying occurs at a third predetermined interval.

16. A system for managing an asset in a network, the system comprising:

circuitry for automatically querying a plurality of workstations connected to the network to determine presence of the asset;

circuitry for generating a first list of workstations based on results of the querying;

circuitry for determining, for a first workstation on the first list, a date of last use of the asset;

circuitry for determining, for the first workstation on the first list, a frequency of use of the asset during a first predetermined time interval;

circuitry for determining if the first workstation is a member of a predetermined group of workstations;

circuitry for sending to the first workstation a first message regarding the asset wherein the first message is sent upon the condition where the first workstation is not a member of the predetermined group;

circuitry for receiving from the first workstation, within a second predetermined time interval, a second message regarding the asset;

circuitry for sending to the first workstation an instruction to remove the asset;

circuitry for receiving from the first workstation confirmation of removal of the asset;

circuitry for updating a first database with a status of the first workstation regarding the asset; and

circuitry for updating a second database with an indication of availability of the asset.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

circuitry for receiving from a second workstation a request for use of the asset;

circuitry for verifying, from the second database, availability of the asset;

circuitry for providing the asset to the second workstation for installation;

circuitry for determining if the first workstation and the second workstation are in a same segment of the network; and

circuitry for updating a third database with a disposition of the asset, when the condition where the first workstation and the second workstation are in different segments of the network is met.

18. A method for managing assets;

the method comprising the steps of;

(a) transmitting a first usage message from a first processor to a plurality of workstations;

(b) receiving at the first processor a second usage message from each workstation in a first subset of workstations in the plurality of workstations;

(c) transmitting from a second processor to the first processor a first asset management message;

(d) transmitting from the second processor to a second subset of workstations a second asset management message;

(e) receiving at the second processor a third usage message from each workstations in a third subset of workstations;

(f) transmitting from the second processor to the first processor a third asset management message based at least in part on the received third usage messages;

(g) transmitting an asset control instruction from the first processor to each workstation in a fourth subset of workstations;

(h) removing a predetermined item from each of the workstations in the fourth subset of workstations in response to receipt of the asset control instruction; and

(i) transmitting a fourth asset management message from the second processor identifying the predetermined item and the workstations in the fourth subset of workstations.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of receiving a removal message at the second processor from each of the workstations in the fourth subset of workstations.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the workstations in the second subset of workstations are also in the first subset of workstations.