License Sharing Method and Apparatus

• US 20170161470A1
• Filed: 02/17/2017
• Published: 06/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Feng, Aijuan
• Granted Patent: US 10,445,476 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/105 Arrangements for software license management or administration, e.g. for managing licenses at corporate level
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1078 Logging; Metering

Abstract

A license sharing method and apparatus are disclosed. The method includes receiving, by a license server, a first registration request sent by a first apparatus, where the first registration request includes an identity of the first apparatus, attribute information of a license used by the first apparatus, and information of a manufacturer of the first apparatus; obtaining, by the license server according to the attribute information of the license, license resources to be used by the first apparatus, where the license resources belong to one license in a license library; establishing, by the license server, an association relationship between the identity of the first apparatus and the license; and sending, by the license server, a first registration response to the first apparatus.

Claims

1. A license sharing method, comprising:

receiving, by a license server, a first registration request sent by a first apparatus, wherein the first registration request comprises an identity of the first apparatus, attribute information of a license used by the first apparatus, and information of a manufacturer of the first apparatus, wherein the manufacturer of the first apparatus is the same as a manufacturer of the license server;

obtaining, by the license server according to the attribute information of the license, license resources to be used by the first apparatus, wherein the license resources belong to one license in a license library;

establishing, by the license server, an association relationship between the identity of the first apparatus and the license; and

sending, by the license server, a first registration response to the first apparatus, wherein the first registration response carries indication information, wherein the indication information is used to indicate that the first apparatus shares the license with a second apparatus, wherein the second apparatus is provided by the manufacturer of the first apparatus, and wherein a type of the second apparatus is the same as a type of the first apparatus.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein an address of the license server is preset on the first apparatus, and wherein receiving, by the license server, the first registration request sent by the first apparatus, comprises receiving, by the license server, the first registration request sent by the first apparatus according to the address of the license server.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first registration request further carries information of a customer using the first apparatus, and before obtaining license resources to be used by the first apparatus, the method further comprises determining, by the license server according to the information of the manufacturer of the first apparatus and the information of the customer using the first apparatus, that the first apparatus is authenticated successfully.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein before receiving the first registration request sent by the first apparatus, the method further comprises:

sending, by the license server, a second registration request to a management apparatus, wherein the second registration request comprises information indicating an access mode for accessing the management apparatus by the license server and information of the manufacturer of the license server; and

receiving, by the license server, a second registration success response sent by the management apparatus, wherein the second registration success response is sent after the management apparatus authenticates the access mode and the manufacturer of the license server successfully.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the management apparatus is an element management system (EMS) when the first apparatus is a physical network element, or wherein, when the first apparatus is a virtual network element, the management apparatus is an orchestrator and a virtualized network function manager (VNFM), or an orchestrator and a VNFM and an EMS.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the license comprises license resources of at least one non-statistical type, and after the sending, by the license server, a first registration response to the first apparatus, the method further comprises:

performing, by the license server, a classified statistics operation to obtain remaining available resources in license resources of each non-statistical type in the license; and

allocating, by the license server, resources from the remaining available resources in the license resources of each non-statistical type to the first apparatus.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein performing the classified statistics operation comprises:

sending, by the license server, a first request message to the first apparatus and the second apparatus separately, wherein the first request message sent to the first apparatus is used to obtain license resources of each non-statistical type that are actually used by the first apparatus, and wherein the first request message sent to the second apparatus is used to obtain license resources of each non-statistical type that are actually used by the second apparatus;

receiving, by the license server, the license resources of each non-statistical type that are actually used by the first apparatus and sent by the first apparatus;

receiving, by the license server, the license resources of each non-statistical type that are actually used by the second apparatus and sent by the second apparatus;

summating, by the license server, the license resources of each non-statistical type that are actually used by the first apparatus and the license resources of each non-statistical type that are actually used by the second apparatus in order to obtain resources already used in the license resources of each non-statistical type in the license; and

obtaining, by the license server, the remaining available resources in the license resources of each non-statistical type in the license according to the resources already used in the license resources of each non-statistical type in the license.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein when license resources of a first non-statistical type to be used by the first apparatus are insufficient, the method further comprises:

receiving, by the license server, a second request message sent by the first apparatus, wherein the second request message is used to notify the license server that the license resources of the first non-statistical type to be used by the first apparatus are insufficient;

obtaining, by the license server, remaining available resources in license resources of the first non-statistical type in the license;

determining, by the license server, whether the second request message carries a value of license resources of the first non-statistical type that are currently still required by the first apparatus;

allocating, by the license server, resources from the remaining available resources in the license resources of the first non-statistical type to the first apparatus when the second request message does not carry the value of the license resources of the first non-statistical type that are currently still required by the first apparatus;

or

determining, by the license server, whether a value of the remaining available resources in the license resources of the first non-statistical type is greater than or equal to the value of the license resources of the first non-statistical type that are currently still required by the first apparatus when the second request message carries the value of the license resources of the first non-statistical type that are currently still required by the first apparatus; and

allocating, by the license server, resources from the remaining available resources in the license resources of the first non-statistical type to the first apparatus according to the value of the license resources of the first non-statistical type that are currently still required by the first apparatus when the value of the remaining available resources in the license resources of the first non-statistical type is greater than or equal to the value of the license resources of the first non-statistical type that are currently still required by the first apparatus;

or

allocating, by the license server, all the remaining available resources in the license resources of the first non-statistical type to the first apparatus when the value of the remaining available resources in the license resources of the first non-statistical type is less than the value of the license resources of the first non-statistical type that are currently still required by the first apparatus.

9. The method according to any claim 1, wherein the license comprises license resources of at least one non-statistical type, and after sending the first registration response to the first apparatus, the method further comprises:

receiving, by the license server, a request sent by the first apparatus and for applying for license resources of a second non-statistical type, wherein the request for applying for the license resources of the second non-statistical type carries a value of the license resources of the second non-statistical type that the first apparatus applies for; and

performing, by the license server, a resource allocation operation;

wherein the resource allocation operation comprises;

determining, by the license server, whether a value of remaining available resources in license resources of the second non-statistical type in the license is greater than or equal to the value of the license resources of the second non-statistical type that the first apparatus applies for; and

allocating, by the license server, license resources of the second non-statistical type to the first apparatus according to the value of the license resources of the second non-statistical type that the first apparatus applies for when the value of the remaining available resources in the license resources of the second non-statistical type in the license is greater than or equal to the value of the license resources of the second non-statistical type that the first apparatus applies for.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein after allocating license resources of the second non-statistical type to the first apparatus, the method further comprises:

receiving, by the license server, a resource change request sent by the first apparatus, wherein the resource change request comprises a value of license resources of the second non-statistical type that are actually still required by the first apparatus;

using, by the license server, the value of the license resources of the second non-statistical type that are actually still required by the first apparatus as a new value of license resources of the second non-statistical type that the first apparatus applies for, wherein the value is carried in the resource change request; and

performing a resource allocation operation.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein after allocating license resources of the second non-statistical type to the first apparatus, the method further comprises:

receiving, by the license server, a resource change request sent by the first apparatus, wherein the resource change request comprises a total value of license resources of the second non-statistical type that are required by the first apparatus, wherein the total value of the license resources of the second non-statistical type that are required by the first apparatus is greater than a value of the license resources of the second non-statistical type that are already allocated to the first apparatus;

using, by the license server, a difference between the total value of the license resources of the second non-statistical type that are required by the first apparatus and the value of the license resources of the second non-statistical type that are already allocated to the first apparatus, as a new value of license resources of the second non-statistical type that the first apparatus applies for; and

performing a resource allocation operation.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein after allocating license resources of the second non-statistical type to the first apparatus, the method further comprises:

receiving, by the license server, a resource change request sent by the first apparatus, wherein the resource change request comprises a total value of license resources of the second non-statistical type that are required by the first apparatus, wherein the total value of the license resources of the second non-statistical type that are required by the first apparatus is less than a value of the license resources of the second non-statistical type that are already allocated to the first apparatus;

subtracting, by the license server, the value of the license resources of the second non-statistical type that are already allocated to the first apparatus from the total value of the license resources of the second non-statistical type that are required in order to obtain a value of license resources of the second non-statistical type that need to be reduced; and

reducing, by the license server according to the value of the license resources of the second non-statistical type that need to be reduced, the license resources of the second non-statistical type that are allocated to the first apparatus.

13. A license sharing method, comprising:

sending, by a first apparatus, a first registration request to a license server, wherein the first registration request comprises an identity of the first apparatus, attribute information of a license used by the first apparatus, and information of a manufacturer of the first apparatus, wherein the manufacturer of the first apparatus is the same as a manufacturer of the license server; and

receiving, by the first apparatus, a first registration response sent by the license server, wherein the first registration response carries indication information, wherein the indication information is used to indicate that the first apparatus shares one license with a second apparatus, wherein the second apparatus is provided by the manufacturer of the first apparatus, and wherein a type of the second apparatus is the same as a type of the first apparatus.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein an address of the license server is preset on the first apparatus, and wherein sending the first registration request to the license server comprises sending, by the first apparatus, the first registration request to the license server according to the address of the license server.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the first registration request further carries information of a customer using the first apparatus, so that the license server performs authentication on the first apparatus according to the information of the manufacturer of the first apparatus and the information of the customer using the first apparatus.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the license comprises license resources of at least one non-statistical type, and after receiving the first registration response sent by the license server, the method further comprises:

receiving, by the first apparatus, a first request message sent by the license server, wherein the first request message is used to obtain license resources of each non-statistical type that are actually used by the first apparatus; and

sending, by the first apparatus, the license resources of each non-statistical type that are actually used by the first apparatus to the license server.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein when license resources of a first non-statistical type to be used by the first apparatus are insufficient, the method further comprises sending, by the first apparatus, a second request message to the license server, wherein the second request message is used to notify the license server that the license resources of the first non-statistical type to be used by the first apparatus are insufficient, so that the license server allocates license resources of the first non-statistical type to the first apparatus according to the second request message.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein the license comprises license resources of at least one non-statistical type, and after receiving the first registration response sent by the license server, the method further comprises sending, by the first apparatus, a request for applying for license resources of a second non-statistical type to the license server, wherein the request for applying for the license resources of the second non-statistical type carries a value of the license resources of the second non-statistical type that the first apparatus applies for, so that the license server allocates license resources of the second non-statistical type to the first apparatus according to the value of the license resources of the second non-statistical type that the first apparatus applies for.

19. A license server, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a first registration request sent by a first apparatus, wherein the first registration request comprises an identity of the first apparatus, attribute information of a license used by the first apparatus, and information of a manufacturer of the first apparatus, wherein the manufacturer of the first apparatus is the same as a manufacturer of the license server;

a processor coupled to the receiver and configured to;

obtain, according to the attribute information of the license that is received by the receiver, license resources to be used by the first apparatus, wherein the license resources belong to one license in a license library;

establish an association relationship between the identity of the first apparatus and the license according to the license resources to be used by the first apparatus that are obtained by the processor and the identity of the first apparatus received by the receiver; and

a transmitter coupled to the processor and configured to send a first registration response to the first apparatus, wherein the first registration response carries indication information, wherein the indication information is used to indicate that the first apparatus shares the license with a second apparatus, wherein the second apparatus is provided by the manufacturer of the first apparatus, and wherein a type of the second apparatus is the same as a type of the first apparatus.

20. The license server according to claim 19, wherein an address of the license server is preset on the first apparatus, and wherein the receiver is further configured to receive the first registration request sent by the first apparatus according to the address of the license server.

21. The license server according to claim 20, wherein the first registration request further carries information of a customer using the first apparatus, and wherein before obtaining the license resources to be used by the first apparatus the processor is configured to determine, according to the information of the manufacturer of the first apparatus and the information of the customer using the first apparatus that are received by the receiver, that the first apparatus is authenticated successfully.

22. The license server according to claim 20, wherein the transmitter is further configured to send a second registration request to a management apparatus before the receiver receives the first registration request sent by the first apparatus, wherein the second registration request comprises information indicating an access mode for accessing the management apparatus by the license server and information of the manufacturer of the license server, and wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a second registration success response sent by the management apparatus, wherein the second registration success response is sent after the management apparatus authenticates the access mode and the manufacturer of the license server successfully.

23. The license server according to claim 22, wherein the management apparatus is an element management system EMS when the first apparatus is a physical network element, and wherein the management apparatus is an orchestrator and a virtualized network function manager (VNFM), or an orchestrator and a VNFM and an EMS when the first apparatus is a virtual network element.

24. The license server according to claim 20, wherein the license comprises license resources of at least one non-statistical type, and the processor is further configured to perform a classified statistics operation after the transmitter sends the first registration response to the first apparatus in order to obtain remaining available resources in license resources of each non-statistical type in the license, and wherein the processor is configured to allocate resources from the remaining available resources in the license resources of each non-statistical type to the first apparatus.

25. A first apparatus, comprising:

a transmitter is configured to send a first registration request to a license server, wherein the first registration request comprises an identity of the first apparatus, attribute information of a license used by the first apparatus, and information of a manufacturer of the first apparatus, wherein the manufacturer of the first apparatus is the same as a manufacturer of the license server; and

a receiver in communication with the transmitter and configured to receive a first registration response sent by the license server, wherein the first registration response carries indication information, wherein the indication information is used to indicate that the first apparatus shares one license with a second apparatus, wherein the second apparatus is provided by the manufacturer of the first apparatus, and wherein a type of the second apparatus is the same as a type of the first apparatus.

26. The first apparatus according to claim 25, wherein an address of the license server is preset on the first apparatus, and wherein the transmitter is further configured to send the first registration request to the license server according to the address of the license server.

27. The first apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the first registration request further carries information of a customer using the first apparatus, so that the license server performs authentication on the first apparatus according to the information of the manufacturer of the first apparatus and the information of the customer using the first apparatus.

28. The first apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the license comprises license resources of at least one non-statistical type, and wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a first request message sent by the license server after receiving the first registration response sent by the license server, wherein the first request message is used to obtain license resources of each non-statistical type that are actually used by the first apparatus, and wherein the transmitter is further configured to send the license resources of each non-statistical type that are actually used by the first apparatus to the license server.

29. The first apparatus according to claim 28, wherein when license resources of a first non-statistical type to be used by the first apparatus are insufficient, the transmitter is further configured to send a second request message to the license server, wherein the second request message is used to notify the license server that the license resources of the first non-statistical type to be used by the first apparatus are insufficient, so that the license server allocates license resources of the first non-statistical type to the first apparatus according to the second request message.

30. The first apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the license comprises license resources of at least one non-statistical type, and wherein the transmitter is further configured to send a request for applying for license resources of a second non-statistical type to the license server after the receiver receives the first registration response sent by the license server, wherein the request for applying for the license resources of the second non-statistical type carries a value of the license resources of the second non-statistical type that the first apparatus applies for, so that the license server allocates license resources of the second non-statistical type to the first apparatus according to the value of the license resources of the second non-statistical type that the first apparatus applies for.